Chapter Text
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Part 1 – The Booth
The recruitment booth was impossible to miss.
Set up in the middle of a crowded community fair in Los Angeles, the LAPD tent stood tall with blue banners snapping in the warm breeze. A patrol cruiser was parked beside it, polished to perfection. Kids were taking photos inside it, parents asking cautious questions, officers smiling through well-practiced explanations about benefits, academy life, and service.
Tamara Collins stood at the edge of the crowd, staring at it.
She hadn’t meant to stop.
She’d just been walking past with an iced coffee, enjoying her afternoon off. But then she saw the sign:
“Now Recruiting – Be the Difference.”
And she froze.
For a moment, she saw herself a few years ago — scared, alone, bouncing from place to place, trying to survive. If someone had told that version of her that she’d one day even consider becoming a cop, she would’ve laughed.
But people change.
Because people help.
And Lucy Chen had helped her.
Tamara stepped closer.
Behind the folding table stood Officer Aaron Thorsen, looking effortlessly composed as he handed a pamphlet to a college student. Next to him was Sergeant Grey, watchful and commanding even while standing casually. A few other Mid-Wilshire officers milled around — Celina talking animatedly to a group of teenagers, Nolan answering questions with his usual warm patience.
Tamara’s stomach flipped.
This wasn’t just any recruitment booth.
It was their booth.
Aaron was the first to notice her.
He blinked. “Tamara?”
Sergeant Grey followed his gaze. His eyebrows rose slightly in recognition.
Tamara suddenly felt very aware of the fact that she hadn’t thought this through.
Too late now.
She walked up.
“Hey,” she said, trying to sound normal.
Aaron’s expression shifted into a grin. “Didn’t expect to see you here. You looking for Lucy?”
Tamara shook her head slowly.
“No. Actually… I’m thinking of joining the LAPD.”
Silence.
Not loud silence. But heavy.
Sergeant Grey straightened.
Aaron’s grin faded into something more serious.
“You’re what?” Aaron asked carefully.
“I’m thinking about it,” she corrected. “Just… thinking.”
Sergeant Grey studied her the way he studied all potential recruits — assessing, measuring, weighing. But there was something softer there too. He’d seen her at the station enough times to know who she was to Officer Chen.
“You understand,” Grey said evenly, “this isn’t something you do on a whim.”
“I know,” Tamara replied. “That’s why I’m here.”
Aaron exchanged a look with Grey.
“You talk to Lucy about this?” Aaron asked.
Tamara hesitated.
“…Not yet.”
Grey exhaled slowly. “You probably should.”