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Chapter 2 - The call

Joshua and I only had an hour and a half left on our shift. After our first call this morning, Joshua decided to let me drive for the rest of the day.

It was typically quiet on Wednesday's, nothing much going on besides disturbances and normal traffic stops. It was starting to get dark, mostly all the tougher stuff starts happening around this time. But I clock out before it happens.

I didn't feel like cooking when I got home today, so I suggested we stop at a taco stand or a fast food place. Joshua agreed, and we decided to eat at a place where they made great sandwiches.

"I'm going to be honest, Cruz. I expected you to be an awful driver." Joshua said after he swallowed a bite of his sandwich. "Rookies are usually bad at driving when they're dispatched"

"I'm glad I got to prove you wrong." I say as I took a sip from my soda. Joshua sat back in his chair, taking a drink from his soda as well. He chuckled.

"I really underestimated you, I've seen the short car you drive. I thought you wouldn't know how to drive the SUV." Joshua says with a grin on his face. I laughed, then ate another bite from my sandwich.

"You didn't get a chance to answer my question this morning." I reminded him. His grin slightly disappeared and he looked at me confused. I decided to risk it and ask.

"I thought you were going to propose to her, what happened?"

Joshua shifted in his seat, clearly uncomfortable. He sighed. "I did propose, but she didn't accept. She came clean about sleeping with other men in the unit. This morning, she told me she was moving out" He said. He didn't make eye contact with me.

Him and his girlfriend have supposedly been together since junior year of high school. He was now 25. They've been together for 8 years. I could even feel his pain just by the sound of his voice. I hated the idea of someone hurting Joshua, he was the strongest one out of everyone in the station, not to mention the best. He hardly ever showed his true emotions either.

"Joshua, I'm really sorry to hear that. It'll get better over time, I promise." I said, saying his name instead of his last. Right now, I was talking to him as a friend, not as partners.

He shook his head. "I hope it does, it's awkward now when I see her around the station." He says. I try to think of a solution. "If you want I can take over paper work for the next few days until the tension dies down" I suggest.

"I appreciate it, Jackie. But I can handle it." He says. I nod and finish my sandwich. I sip my drink from time to time as we continued talking about the job and random family details.

I was thinking about inviting him to the get together, but I was interrupted when dispatched contacted us on our radios. "We got an active shooter, possibly gang activity. Multiple victims, Officer down. We need all units responding"

Joshua and I got up from our seats and ran out of the restaurant, towards the SUV. Joshua got into the passenger side as I quickly got in and turned the key into the ignition. I started the sirens and the lights and drove out of the parking lot.

Joshua grabbed his radio on his shoulder. "10-4, Officer Daniels and Cruz responding, what's the location?" Joshua asked. Dispatch gave us the location, and I stepped on it.

I've never had a call on an active shooter before. I tried to remain calm and focus on the rode. They got one of our officers, how many shooters are there?

"Cruz!" Joshua said trying to get my attention. "Stay focused, remember your training. When we arrive open the trunk for me, got it?"

"Yes sir" I say before turning onto the rode. This wasn't a good neighborhood, me and Joshua have been here before about drug trafficking, prostitution, and assaults.