THE CHASE - Connor x OC (I Am Sequel)

Chapter 10

Sometimes, when Nick is gone, I get the feeling that I'm the annoying one. When Nick is here, both of us are loud, and no one in the precinct cares. The second Nick leaves, the entire building goes silent, even though we're one of the busiest locations in Detroit. 

We were practically dead today though. We caught Asher Kam, and even though we have Agent Brant here, the building is relatively silent. Not even people booking, or regular old patrolmen with speeding tickets. Not to mention Nick's dog Kyle looked bored and depressed.

When Hank wandered in, I kind of hoped he would have some sort of look in his eye like he had a wild night. But I forgot Connor made him go sober. So Hank just has a perpetual headache now, and his bullshit tolerance is even lower than before. Honestly, Connor loves it, but he would never tell Hank that. So long as Hank thinks Connor is still 'getting used to the new him,' he'll keep up with it. The second Connor looks comfortable with it, Hank will go right back to his old ways.

"Where's my favorite guy?" Hank asked gesturing to Nick's empty desk. Connor looked incredibly offended, throwing his hands up in the air as if he'd never heard anything like it. Nick had managed to clean off his desk really quickly, shoving everything in his empty, barely used drawers. The only thing there was a mug of coffee that had gone cold since Brant had decided to set up shop there temporarily. Speaking of Brant, I hadn't seen him since he and Nick went off on one another.

"Nick is on paternity leave with Gavin," I explained, not wanting to go into details. 

"I thought he was just late. Why didn't you say so?" Connor asked jumping up.

"Because it's no big deal. Officers take off all the time," I shrugged.

"This is your best friend and partner gone," Hank responded. "And you're just fine with it?"

"Of course I'm not fine with it, but I'm trying to ignore it so I can do my damn job," I snarled back. Connor fell back into his seat, looking a little bit defeated. I shot him an apologizing smile. He didn't look satisfied.

"Speaking of which...what exactly are you doing?" Hank asked, suddenly interested in my work.

"For your information, there is a nice federal agent here by the name of Ethan Brant from the Behavioral Analysis Unit who is here to take Asher Kam, the man in interview room 1, to federal prison. So he needs to build his case. So we're going to be doing an investigation together," I said, throwing up jazz hands, only having explained this for the millionth time. Connor chuckled, apparently having forgiven me. 

"Frankly, I'm excited to be working with you, Charlotte," A voice called from behind me. I jumped, only to turn around and see Brant. 

"Oh, hi, Ethan," I said a little surprised.

"Good to see you, Charlotte," He said, walking back to the desk. Hank stared at Brant for just a second but didn't really care. Connor looked incredibly surprised, his smile having dropped the moment he saw him. 

"Ethan? Charlotte? We're on a first name basis?" Connor asked, gesturing between Brant and me.

"Well, he called me Charlotte. I was just answering," I explained. 

"What would be the problem with being on a first name basis?" Brant asked.

"Oh...it just struck me as odd. Having known her for less than 12 hours...and being on a first name basis," Connor said, smiling. His smile was dead though. Nothing behind it.

"Not odd. I promise," Brant answered. 

"That's my husband," I explained, gesturing to Connor. Brant chuckled.

"Oh, that explains it," Brant answered.

"Explains what?" Connor asked, laughing along. An incredibly fake, and dead laugh. Brant just shook his head. "Okay, okay. Meeting? Oh, Charlotte. Did you hear that? Captain wants us in his office!" 

Connor jumped up and started walking towards the Captain's office, while I followed, telling Kyle to stay. Quickly, he walked behind the room, grabbed my arm, and pulled me with him. We were out of sight from Hank and Brant, as well as most of the precinct. Only people coming to and from the back hallways and evidence lockers could see us.

"I don't like him," Connor said, very strictly. 

"I can't exactly replace him," I answered.

"Why is he being mean to me?" Connor asked. I could see just how sensitive he was, his eyes fluttering, and his cheeks blushing. I took the side of his face in my hand.

"He's not. He's really not. I think he's just got that biting sarcasm that I have, and that Nick sometimes has. He's just not as clear about it."

"I don't think sarcasm counts as just plain leaving me out," Connor answered. 

"He's not...I don' t think he's trying to leave you out. I just think he's trying to handle his case, and you're just...not a part of it. I guess he wants to be closer to me since we're going to be working together so much, so what's the point of building relationships with other people? It doesn't help that with him being a fed, everyone is sort of...naturally against him."

"I guess you're right," Connor said. 

"Listen, we can talk tonight."

"Can? No, we are," Connor ordered me. Every once in a while, Connor's voice would go from sensitive, to this deep, serious tone. It never lasts for long, just a moment, just long enough for him to make his opinion incredibly clear.

"Alright," I answered.

"Thank you," Connor sighed. He gave me a quick kiss on the forehead before rounding the corner and heading back to his desk. I followed him closely, while also checking the time.

"Brant," I said reapproaching the desks. "I think it might be time to go revisit our subject."

"Ah, you're right," Brant sighed, pulling himself up from the desk. "Would the peanut gallery like to join? We need cameramen."

Connor sighed. "I've got a case," he muttered.

"No we don't," Hank answered. Connor stared at Hank, burning a hole in his eyes. "Well, well. Connor just reminded me we do have a case. Many!"

"Actually, who's doing the interview?"

"Both of us," I explained.

"But you, more so?" Connor asked gesturing to me.

"About 60-40," I lied. Well, at least I'm the 40 in that response. 

"Okay. I'll watch then," Connor said standing up. I suppose he wants to make his point that he doesn't like Brant. The only two people in this entire precinct who can tolerate him seem to be Hank and I. Those are really terrible odds on my end...but I'll take them, I guess.