Chapter Text
Calli marches down the hall, the heels of her well-worn boots clicking against the linoleum and snapping nearby uniformed officers into attention. She waves them back to work, and the room slowly returns to its bustle. Calli passes officers diligently taking down statements, looking up only to give her a quick nod before going back to their notepads and pens. Around her, several clerks mill about with stacks of case folders and evidence boxes to be tagged. A few detectives are in a corner, sipping their morning coffee as they discuss their latest case.
Amidst all this activity, Calli heads straight for the one quiet desk by the window.
"Detective Watson?" Calli gazes warily at the mountain of dusty case folders before her. A tuft of blond hair peeks out from behind it.
"Calli, save me," the detective groans, "I'm drowning in paperwork."
Calli leans over the mess to see that Amelia means it literally, slumped over her desk with several open folders over her head. She suppresses a snort, and with as much solemnity as she can manage, pulls out a holstered revolver and gently sets it down on the desk.
There is a rustle, and then a squeal as Amelia bursts through the pile of documents to reach for the revolver. Calli swipes it away just in time.
"Provisional basis only," Calli warns, pausing between each word with a wave of the gun as emphasis. The detective, now wide awake, follows the path of the metal with hungry eyes. "If you misfire one more time, so help me Watson-"
"Yeah, yeah, I got it," Amelia brushes her off impatiently. Calli can only take a second more of her expectant puppy eyes before she sighs and hands the revolver over. Something about seeing the detective hug the cold metal to her cheek with a squeal makes her smile.
"Detective Watson is back in business!" Amelia yells, and the entire department pauses to look at her.
"About that," Calli says, turning to wave the officers back to work once again, "I'm not putting you on a case this time."
"What? But I've learned my lesson," Amelia whines. "I'll take anything. Just get me out from behind this desk, I'm begging you."
"I know you're anxious to get back out there, but you know that underwater city that made contact with us recently? They want to send a delegation up here, and I need you on protective duty."
"That sounds boring," Amelia says simply.
"You said you'll take anything. "
Amelia huffs. "Alright, so which beardy old politician am I babysitting this time?"
"The Princess of Atlantis."
Amelia's eyes light up instantly, but before she can say anything, Calli cuts her off with a raised hand.
"I know what you're going to ask, but before I answer that, I need you to know that I can only trust you with this," Calli says solemnly. Amelia watches her quietly.
"She's the darling of Atlantis, and if anything happens to her," Calli trails off, pinching her nose bridge between her fingertips. For the first time today, Amelia notices the dark circles beneath her eyes.
"Yeah, you can count on me," she whispers, guilt settling in. "Being a sheriff's not easy, is it?"
"Tell me about it," Calli exhales heavily as she leans against the desk. "I want to go back to our academy days."
"With all those extracurriculars you took on in school I'm not entirely sure you were better off then," Amelia teases, a cheeky grin returning to her lips. "So, about the other question."
Calli shoots her a defeated look. "Yes. She's cute. Will you do it?"
"Anything for you, Sheriff."
Calli can only sigh.