Chapter Text
Detective Jay Brady walked into Major Crimes to get his first look around. He was a few minutes early for his appointment with his new boss, Captain Simon Banks. As he scanned the room, he wondered which one would be his. He was used to the best after all. It was an important decision. It could make all the difference in the world. He wasn't looking for a desk. He was looking for a partner.
The first person to catch his eye was an attractive lady, talking on the phone and typing at the computer at the same time. She glanced up at him briefly, but she appeared to be caught up in her work. He decided to pass on her. Not that he had anything against working with women, he just didn't think he could keep it all business with this one. She was his type, and that Australian sounding accent was already driving him crazy.
Nope, he'd save this one for off duty hours. He had a rule about keeping romance out of the office, but there was always room for compromise. When she looked up again, he flashed her one of his award-winning smiles. Contact. She smiled back at him shyly before nearly dumping her coffee into her lap and tuning back into her phone interview.
Jay allowed his gaze to travel. It next came to rest on a handsome, dark-haired man in an expensive suit. Very professional. This man was deep in conversation with a bald black man in a flower-print shirt and jeans. They were quite a contrast to each other, yet they seemed to meld well. Natural, easy. They were obviously partners. Jay decided to check out their records. Maybe he would break up the team and take the best one.
None of the other occupants in the buzzing bull pen caught his eye. They were either too old, or out of shape, or...whew...that guy was ugly. Jay knew he couldn't work with him. Too distracting. No, Jay would be particular about his partner. His partner had to be able to keep up. And Jay was not the easiest man to keep up with. He was a man of action. Of course, he would take whoever the boss gave him. To start with anyway. Ultimately though, he would pick his own partner. Someone he could trust. Someone he could work with on a daily basis. Someone to watch his back. Even way back in his college quarterback days he knew the importance of good linemen.
Then HE walked in. Tall, broad shouldered, definite military bearing. As the man settled at a desk he checked Jay out as well, with ice cold blue eyes. That had to be Ellison. Jay had only been in the station for an hour and a half, but already he had heard Ellison's name three times. Physically, he and Ellison would make a formidable duo. Might be a problem if nobody wanted to be Robin. Batman and Superman, maybe. Taking off his hat, he decided to introduce himself when a door swung open and a tall black man stepped out.
"Brady?"
***
Simon watched the man who stepped through the door into the Major Crimes bull pen and slowly sized up the place. It had to be his new detective, Jay Brady, hired sight unseen away from Houston PD's best homicide squad. Simon liked to hire from within the department, but pickins had been slim, and the position needed to be filled right away.
This man's resume had crossed his desk at the right time. Have gun, will travel. Simon moved to the door of his office to get a better look at him. The man's body language screamed cop as he took in each detail of his surroundings, categorized it and filed it away for future reference. Brady stood every bit as imposing as Jim Ellison. He radiated a familiar confidence and certainty. The man's record was impressive. Simon wondered, after seeing the man, if he could handle another hardass, hardheaded detective.
Suddenly the man smiled. It lit up his face and softened his features, reminding Simon of another someone who frequented the bull pen. Brady pulled off his Stetson and ran a hand through his thick brown hair. It wasn't a crew cut, but well within department regs. Full, but not long. He wore new jeans and a button-down shirt under a sport coat. And cowboy boots. Real honest to God goat ropers, all shined up, with a point so sharp you could kill a cockroach in a corner.
Simon pushed the door open and called to the man, "Brady?"
"Captain Banks?" the man asked as he moved toward his new boss. His brown eyes warmed as he smiled and held out his hand. "Nice to meet you, Sir," he boomed in a deep Texas drawl.
Simon shook the offered hand, noting the firmness of it, and gestured him into his office. "Come on in. Have a seat."
Brady entered the office and took the offered chair. "Thank you, Captain." He placed his briefcase flat on the floor and sat his hat carefully on it, brim up.
"You're right on time. I like that," Simon began. "How was your trip."
"Just fine, Sir. Let me say how happy I am to be here. I can't wait to get settled in and do some police work."
"Well, there's plenty of it around here," Simon agreed. "We need to get you into personnel this morning, though."
"Already taken care of, Sir. I stopped by this morning and started the ball rolling. All I need now is a desk and a partner."
***
"Hey, Jim, What cha working on?" Blair said as he hung up his jacket and dropped his backpack to the floor. He kicked it gently under the edge of the desk to get it out of the way. Jim stood and began to rummage through the uncharacteristic clutter on top of the desk.
"Damn, Chief. We were going to work on that home invasion case today, weren't we?" Jim said as he pulled on his jacket and gathered a handful of papers. "The file's right there if you want to read up on it for me. I'll pick up Chinese on the way home and you can fill me in over dinner."
"Where are you going?" Blair asked, looking a little hurt he hadn't been invited along.
"Meeting with the new DA over the McNeil homicide."
"Right, the new 'let's keep the civilian out of the court room' DA," Blair supplied.
"Sorry, Chief." Jim smiled a little, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. He had been looking forward to working with his partner today. The DA had tied him up two days in a row now and probably would continue to do so until the case went to court on Thursday.
"Hey, I hate to testify. No skin off my nose," Blair lied as he slipped into the vacant chair and began to shift through the haphazard stack of files.
“I know you’re the one who made the connection between McNeil and his murderer,” Jim acknowledged. “I will remind the DA you’re the one who made the case. I just don’t think it will make a difference.”
Blair nodded as Jim tapped him on the head with the papers in his hand and made his way around the desk to head for the elevator. "See ya, Chief."
***
Simon was impressed with his new detective. He had none of the attitude he had expected from such an over achiever. And none of the lone wolf quality either. Simon realized he had been anticipating another Ellison. As good as Ellison had been when he joined Major Crimes, he had also been a royal pain in the ass. With time and guidance, he had matured into the best detective on the team. Probably the best in the whole department.
And since the arrival of Sandburg a little over three years ago his arrest record and solve rate had skyrocketed. Of course, that also corresponded with Jim's newly awakened Sentinel abilities as well. Sometimes Simon wondered how much of the increase was merely the presence and quick thinking of Jim's shadow. Inwardly he grudgingly gave the kid a lot of the credit. Outwardly he would never admit it.
Simon was stunned as Brady spoke again, apparently reading his mind. "I understand you have an anthropologist working with your department."
"That's right," Simon answered as he studied the man carefully. "How did you hear about that?"
"I'm always a detective. I asked some questions when I got here this morning. After I heard about the legendary Jim Ellison someone mentioned there was a PHD candidate that worked here as well."
"Yeah, well. He's sort of a consultant. An unpaid observer."
"That's incredible. When will I get to work with him?" Brady asked sincerely.
Simon blinked. He had never considered the possibility that anyone else would want to work with Sandburg. "Sorry, Brady. You won't. Sandburg, that's his name, Blair Sandburg, works with Detective Ellison."
"I see." Brady seemed disappointed. He looked out into the bull pen. Ellison was gone, but in his place sat a smaller man with long curly hair and glasses. "That must be him," Brady said. "He's not exactly what I expected."
"How so?" Simon asked defensively, ready to read the riot act to the cowboy. If Brady didn't readily accept Sandburg as an equal, there would be hell to pay. It might, in fact, cause serious disruption within the unit, and not just from Ellison. All of the Major Crimes detectives were protective of the kid. Even Simon himself. He might just put the man back on a plane to Texas himself.
Brady shrugged, still studying the young man through the window. "I thought he'd be older," he managed at last. "He looks smart. You can see it in his eyes."
Simon nodded. He agreed that when you got past the hair and the earrings you were left with an impression of intelligence in the animated face.
"My guess is we're lucky to have him," Brady continued.
Simon didn't miss the we. Brady already considered himself a part of the team. Simon nodded in approval. "Wait until you meet him and then tell me how you feel," he teased. The phone rang and Simon snagged it himself since he had sent Rhonda down to records to pull some files for him earlier.
"Banks," he said into the receiver. "Damn. I'm on my way." Simon hung up the phone and turned to Brady as he put on his overcoat. "Sorry, Brady. I've got to run over to the mayor's office for an emergency meeting. Make yourself at home. When my secretary gets back have her introduce you around."
***
Brady moved to the door and watched the tall man leave. He stood there a moment to take in the bustle of the bull pen. Phones rang, papers shuffled, people moved in all directions. Over in the corner was an oasis of calm. The dejected looking figure read with his head down, oblivious to the sea of confusion that surrounded him.
Always ready to try new things, Jay had been excited about what he considered to be a progressive approach to police work. Having an anthropologist in the unit seemed like a genius idea. After all, crimes were committed by people. Who better to have on the team than somebody who studied people for a living. Brady didn't wait well, so he made a decision and went to work.