In A Million Years

Epilogue: A New World

Eleven months passed. Alyssa graduated from the police academy, ranking high on all levels. She earned the respect of her fellow cadets and of her instructors. Everyone knew that she would do very well on the streets.

She hadn't seen Alex in nine months. He seemed to have gotten the hint and stopped contacting her shortly after their last conversation. The last time she had seen him was one day when she first started the academy. He came into their class to speak on traumatic experiences in law enforcement. She had greeted him in the hallway and walked away.

Now, she walked into the Clinton Police Department. This time, in her own police uniform, wearing the weight of her own utility belt and bullet proof vest. She felt pride flow through her veins as she walked to the briefing room. Familiar faces passed her in the hallway. Cadets from her class. They looked nervous. If she was honest, nervousness wrestled with the pride that she felt.

As she entered the briefing room, she scanned it. Her eyes stopped on one of the officers in the room. Alex. She quickly ducked her head slightly and sat down near the front of the room. She didn't think he had seen her, but it was only a matter of time before he did.

Rachel made her way to the front of the room a few minutes later and the room fell silent. Alyssa sat straight and tall as she listened to Rachel assign responsibilities to the officers. Finally, she announced the new cadets, introducing them to the others.

When Alyssa's name was called, she stood, following suit of the cadets who had come before her. As she did, her eyes met Alex's for just a moment before she quickly looked away and sat back down.

"Captain Breaker has written the partner arrangements," Rachel continued. "Corporal Barkley, you're riding with Officer Yatton. Sergeant Latrell with Officer Simone. Corporal Walton, you're riding with...Huh!" Rachel hesitated for just a moment. "You're with Officer Hunter."

Alyssa's face flushed red as she nodded slightly, acknowledging the assignment. The rest of the briefing went by, but she didn't retain much. A knot formed in her stomach. Almost eleven months of going out of her way to avoid Alex and now, they had partnered her with him? The excitement and pride the night had brought suddenly disappeared.

Rachel dismissed the briefing, instructing the rookies to meet with their training officers. Alyssa took her time to walk over to Alex. They both stared at each other for a moment before she broke the gaze to look around at everyone else.

"We better get going," Alex spoke up.

"Of course, Corporal Walton."

She followed him silently to their cruiser, pausing only so he could get a stack of papers out of his file. He still had the same cruiser that he drove when she had ridden with him before. She sighed, remembering how fun that night had been.

"Before we leave," he continued speaking with authority. "I want to see what you know. Get your rifle, disassemble and reassemble it. You'll be timed."

"Yes, sir." She obeyed.

The task came easily. Disassembling and assembling a gun had been something her father had drilled into her when she was thirteen. He had made her do it every night for an entire year. So, doing it now was a breeze. Alex timed her and stopped the clock when she finished.

"Impressive," he commented. "Fifteen seconds."

"I've had practice," she replied.

"Rachel tells me you were top of your class," he continued. "In marksmanship, procedures, everything. That is very impressive."

Alyssa bit her lip to keep herself from saying anything that she would regret. He knew that she was good. He had known and told her so before their disagreement. The surprised tone in his voice now, though, hurt her a little bit.

She pushed the feeling away. Alex was her training officer now. She had to be ok with that. Her professional mode kicked in as she got into the car. From now on, she wouldn't think about the past. That was then. This was now. If she was going to survive and thrive in this job, she would have to stay focused, no matter who she was working with.

"Lincoln-47 to central, I'll be 10-8, riding with Robert-29 and going as Lincoln-47. Put us as a west side unit." Alex's voice sounded professional and strict. As they pulled out of the department, he took a deep breath. "So, if we're going to be partners, I guess we better break the ice."

"Don't worry about it," she replied quickly. "It doesn't matter what happened between us in the past. As long as I know that you have my back, and you know I have yours. That's what's important."

Alex chuckled. "That's it?"

"I'm not mad at you anymore, Alex--uh--Corporal Walton." She smiled. "And I think it was silly to break up a friendship over a disagreement. It was my fault because I took it in a way that I don't think you meant for me to take it. I see that now. This past year, I've grown a lot and I'm sorry for how I treated you after all that you did for me. I want to start over. I want to be friends again, even if it is a little different now. You're my training officer, but I want to be friends too."

Alex smiled. "Thanks, Aly. I want to be friends too." He pulled into a parking lot and looked at her carefully. "We good?"
"We kinda have to be," she chuckled before she nodded. "Yea, we're good."

"Good. I'm looking forward to being your FTO."

Alyssa smiled. "Let's go catch some bad guys." She winked.

THE END