Short Stories: Her Concerns for the Detective [Chapter 1: L's POV] [Lexie & Keira Version]

"Hey! Wait up!" Parker's voice calls out from behind, but Lexie barely registers it as she makes her way through the bustling evening shift staff.

She and Parker were finishing up their patrol when the news buzzed through the radio speakers: a body was discovered in the detective's office.

At that moment, everything in Lexie's vision blurred, and the dispatcher's further instructions faded into jarring white noise.

Another murder. In the detective's office. In Name's office.

Thankfully, Parker was at the wheel, but even so, each minute of the drive back to the station felt like an eternity. She tried to call Name repeatedly, her heart pounding with each unanswered dial tone, but there was no response.

Lexie bites her lip hard, tasting the metallic tang of blood as panic begins to rise within her. A lump forms in her throat, making it hard to breathe, and her body feels heavy, but despite the overwhelming sensations, she pushes forward because she knows it won't go away until she's sure Name is okay.

"Conlan! I said wait!" Parker's hand grabs her sleeve, but Lexie jerks away, though she halts and turns to face Parker, aware of the curious glances of passing staff. "What do you think you're doing?" Looking around nervously, Parker steps closer, their voice dropping to a half-whisper. "Nothing happened! We need to wait for the captain's further instructions," Parker reminds her sternly, causing her to frown.

Nothing happened? Lexie clenches her fists before forcing herself to relax, taking a deep breath, and stepping back.

"I need to check on Name," she says calmly, meeting Parker's gaze unwaveringly.

It's a priority that Parker may not understand, but the opinions of others hold little importance when Name's safety is at stake.

Because the body discovered in Name's office hardly qualifies as 'nothing happened' at all, and the anxiety in her chest feels like little needles piercing through her at the train of thoughts of what it might mean.

Is Name in danger? Is this a warning not to delve deeper? Could they be the next target? What if—

"I'll have to file a complaint against you for disobeying orders," Parker says, interrupting her thoughts, their tone is quite yet confident.

After a brief moment of silence, Lexie nods slowly. "I know, and I deserve it," she responds simply, turning away and resuming her stride.

"Lexie—"

Parker's voice fades into the background the moment she spots Captain Mathis near the briefing room, her feet guiding her toward him as if on autopilot. "Captain Mathis!" 

The captain frowns, turning to face her. "Conlan? What are you doing here?"

"Sir, I tried—" Parker starts, remembering to salute, but Lexie interrupts them.

"Captain Mathis, I've been unable to reach Nam— Detective Surname. Have you heard if they've arrived at the crime scene?" Despite the captain's frown, Lexie presses on, "What if something's happened to them, and I—"

"The detective is fine," a voice interrupts, and Lexie forces herself to maintain composure as the last person she wants to see emerges from the briefing room.

"Inspector Moreno." Parker salutes her, and after a brief pause, Lexie repeats the gesture but quickly lowers her hand.

"Is Name okay? Have they arrived safely? Or—"

"The detective is on their way. The rest is none of your concern, Officer Conlan," Keira interrupts sharply, her tone laced with steel, and Lexie purses her lips.

Lexie always disliked that arrogant bitch, not just for her attitude, but for something else she couldn't quite put her finger on. Something she sees in the inspector's eyes every time Name is mentioned—something that doesn't sit right with her.

And she doesn't like it.

"With all due respect, Inspector, Name is my friend, and their safety is my concern."

She notices the captain parting his lips to interject, but Keira cuts him off again. "You forget where you are? This is a job, not daycare. You have responsibilities you have to fulfill."

"Name already left work, and you called them anyway, even though they're probably in danger! They don't have to live their job." 

Unlike some, the thought races through her mind, but she refrains from speaking it aloud.

Still, the heavily furrowed brow and the swollen vein on Keira's temple indicate that her words have already stirred anger.

"Enough!" Captain Mathis barks sharply, redirecting his focus to Lexie. "Conlan, Parker, since you can't seem to stay put, take the Sector A1 route with Captain Olsen's division. You'll be back just as the detective finishes."

Lexie bites her tongue, barely managing to keep silent. It's better than just sitting around waiting for orders, but still—

"I suggest you extend their route," Keira interjects, lifting her chin defiantly. "The detective is scheduled to visit my office after the crime scene, so they'll be occupied. Unlike some," she adds, her gaze fixed on Lexie's.

Lexie's fists clench, and Keira purses her lips, not bothering to wait for a response before striding back into the briefing room.

What a despicable and utterly detestable—

"Conlan," the captain begins, his voice weary as he rubs his face. "I know you're worried, and if Surname finishes and attends the briefing, I'll tell them to call you once it's over. But right now, our priority is getting the job done." He places a comforting hand on Lexie's shoulder, and she only now realizes how tense she's been the whole time.

Forcing herself to relax, Lexie nods. The captain removes his hand, shifting his gaze between Lexie and Parker. "Execute the order. If you encounter anyone from our division, inform them that instructions will be provided by the dispatcher shortly. You're dismissed."

Both Lexie and Parker salute as the captain disappears through the briefing room doorway.

.

.

.

All along the route, Lexie is restless, eager to complete the task, with Parker maintaining silence beside her. Not that she cares.

All that matters is finishing the job and making sure Name is okay. She can't help herself, checking her phone as often as she can, despite it being against protocol.

Name is just busy, and they're fine. They're fine, and as soon as they're free, they'll call.

She tightens her grip on the steering wheel. Please, please let everything be okay…

.

.

.

The patrol's route was finished, but Name still hadn't returned her call. Ignoring Parker's objections, she heads straight to the inspector's office.

'The detective is scheduled to visit my office after the crime scene, so they'll be occupied.'

Shit!

She feels guilty. Guilty for encouraging Name to accept the detective position. She knows they likely would have taken it even without her input, but still, back then, she believed she was acting in their best interest.

If only she could turn back time and convince Name to stay away from all this. They wouldn't have become a detective, wouldn't have grown close to Detective Bergmann, and wouldn't have left so shattered after his death. 

They'd be here with her instead of that damned inspector!

She feels the nails dig into her skin, the physical pain bringing her back to reality. What am I thinking? 

She doesn't have an answer to that question, but she knows that guilt is weighing on her. Yet, there's something else too, something burning deep within her—a feeling she can't afford to acknowledge because they're friends.

Just friends...

She swerves into another hallway, and suddenly, her heart swells with joy, and all thoughts become clear, all doubts go away, and the surroundings brighten when she sees them.

"Name!"

Her thoughts resonate with her body before she can even process them, and she quickens her pace towards them.

Fear, anxiety, worry, guilt, and every other emotion she shouldn't be feeling... They all fade away as clarity takes their place when their gaze meets hers.

In less than a second, she's by their side, enveloping them in a tight embrace.

Name is safe. Lexie squeezes her eyes shut, holding onto her friend tightly. As long as Name is safe, as long as they are here, in her arms...

Nothing else matters.