In The End

15

      "All units be on the lookout for a man approximately twenty-nine years of age, 5'10", blonde hair, blue eyes. Last seen in CHP uniform on police motorcycle heading east on Park Street. Be advised, man may be suicidal. All units responding switch to frequency two"
      "7-David responding. Hey Sarge, is this Jon we're looking for?" Jebidiah Turned asked suprised. "Yeah it is" Getraer responded glancing over at Ponch. He was gripping the handles and gritting his teeth. "7-Adam responding. Suicidal? Jon?" "Just a precaution Bear"
      "Man, I should have laid off when he told me to" Ponch said shaking his head. "You didn't ask if he was capable of doing his job, I did. I just hope we get to him before it's..."
      The sergeant didn't want to dwell on the thought any longer than he had to. His best officer was out there somewhere hurt, alone, and upset. If Getraer's heart hadn't completely broken for Erika it was completely broken now. Losing two of his best officer and his best friends. What is going on... why can't I control this?
      "Sarge, do you think he'd be at the hospital?" Ponch asked as they came to a stoplight. "Maybe. Oh, I don't know anymore" Getraer said. "Hey, don't you fall apart on me too Sarge. There would be no one else to put up with me" he said laughing a little. Joe scoffed. "Don't worry. But you're a good officer... you should know that"
      Ponch wasn't sure if his sergeant was trying to lighten the mood or if Joe was afraid of losing him too.
      "I'm not going anywhere. Let's swing by the hospital though. They may have seen him" Getraer nodded and the turned the corner. Ponch glanced at the LAPD building that was approaching on the right.
      He remembered meeting a few of Erika's close friends from there though he'd never been inside.
      "Wait! Sarge!" Ponch exclaimed suddenly. He slowed down and pulled over to the curb waiting for Getraer. "What is it Frank?" Ponch smiled staring at a single motorcycle that was different from the rest. "Gotcha partner"
******
      Joe and Ponch felt a little out of place walking into the LAPD. Everyone was dressed in sharp, navy blue uniforms. It gave the officers a sophisticated and important look.
      Things seemed to be running smoothly and there was only one person waiting in the front room.
      "So this is what Erika was used to before the CHP... why on earth did she switch? This is like the fancy private school of police stations" Ponch commented looking around. Joe groaned at his joke and headed for the desk.
      "He was a nice guy though. Kept apologizing for holding us up and insisting that we should just forget about him and 'go about our lovely days'" an officer was saying as they walked up.
      Another officer chuckled in response. "Oh yeah, real nice of him" he joked back before looking at the two men. "Well what brings the CHP to my station, huh?" He said with a smile.
      "We're looking for someone and we think he might be here... sir" Ponch said, adding the "sir" after seeing his stripes. The LAPD sergeant looked at him confused. "I can't say as I've seen another CHP officer here today. Philips?" The younger officer frowned. "Nope. Sorry."
      "We saw his motor parked outside. Can we ask any other officers if they've seen him?" Joe asked. "Of course, anything to help. I'm Sergeant MacDonald and this is Luke Philips"
      "Poncherello and Sergeant Getraer. We really appreciate this" Ponch replied gratefully. Mac shook his head dismissing it. "Right this way. Catch ya later Luke" "Alrigh' Mac"
      They started down the hall and the two officers kept a sharp lookout. "The CHP huh... I wonder... if you happen to know a friend of mine" Sergeant MacDonald said slowly. His curiosity was killing him. Ponch however wasn't as interested. In fact, he was quite annoyed that the LAPD sergeant wasn't even trying to look for Jon.
      "Probably" Ponch said before quickly ducking his head into a room and then back out again. "Erika" Mac said. Both officers froze and looked at the man guiding them.
      His back was turned slightly. "She's... she's very important to me and the rest of the LAPD. Used to babysit her when she was little and I was a good friend with her father along with some other officers here. We've been following what happened" he explained quietly.
      It suddenly registered in Ponch's mind that this was indeed where Erika's father had worked. Tons of officers had known and loved him. Of course they would be close to her. It must have been difficult losing another Lasky to the CHP but another Lasky's life?
      "I'm very sorry" Ponch said making the sergeant smile sadly. "We all are. Just as long as you promise to take care of her" Mac said. He was only half joking.
      Ponch didn't have the heart to tell him that she may not be going back to the CHP because of her leg, so he just nodded and smiled. 
      Mac shook his head to clear it and put on a brave face. "But back to your friend. A lot of the officers hang out in the break room if they're here. Might be worth a shot"
      The CHP officers nodded and followed him into a room with tables and coffee machines. Joe scanned the room for a moment and smiled when he found his officer safe and... happy? Jon and Officer Pete Malloy were sitting and talking at a table in the back of the room. He was smiling slightly and even laughing a little.
      Joe knew what they were talking about. Jon had talked with him in the exact same way. He always talked about Erika with laughs and smiles and a few blushes. Getraer finally understood that maybe it wasn't Jon's fault for being out of it at all. It was mostly their's.
      No one really knew Erika like he did. They couldn't talk with him about the good memories, just the recent bad ones. They didn't understand how he felt or what he was trying to do, which was to work and just get his mind off of things. No one was letting him get away from it.
       "Jon!" Ponch eclaimed rushing forward to greet his friend. Joe glared at the young officer and sighed in annoyance. His sense of timing and his decision making is absolutely flawless, he thought sarcastically.
      Jon quickly put his wall back up and looked down into his coffee. The smile left and there wasnt even an echo of his laughter. Jon tapped his thumb on the handle of the mug he had and clenched his jaw. Ponch watched disappointed before Getraer stepped in.
      "Jon" he began gently, "please we weren't suggesting that you should be suspended or fired. We want you at the CHP more than anything. And we definitely don't want you to just end your life... you're pretty special to all of us" he sat down slowly and folded his hands while watching the blonde officer.
      Baker looked up confused and glanced over to Officer Malloy in front of him. The senior officer shrugged equally confused.
      "Uh, end my life?" Baker asked. "Well you said that you were done and finishing everything. You told us you were tired of this world" Ponch explained. Jon chuckled lightly. "I meant I was finishing what this murderer was doing. I came to talk to the detectives and see if they'd help."
      Joe let out a breath of relief and laughed. "Oh gosh, we're sorry Jon. Listen, I'll make sure the captain knows that you're more than fine to do your job" Getraer slid his badge across the table. Baker looked at it for a moment before picking it up.
      He ran a finger over the cold metal before looking back up to his sergeant. His blue eyes were soft and grateful but then Joe noticed a bit of alarm enter them. He slowly took the ring box out of his pocket and passed it discreetly under the table. Jon finally relaxed.