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It had been almost a decade since she had seen the inside of this station or the people in it. The DEA had kept Talia very busy, so busy that she missed out a lot of what happened here. Last she heard from anyone here was that Lopez got married to a Lawyer of all things and that was it.
When she walked into the bullpen a flood of memories flooded back to her. She smiled as she looked around and saw some familiar faces still there. Her trip down memory lane was cut off when she heard her name called.
“Bishop?” She turned around and saw her former rookie, John Nolan.
“Officer Nolan… It’s good to see you.” She paused for a moment with her smile only faltering slightly as she noticed the stripes on his shoulder. “Or should I say, Sergeant Nolan. Congratulations.”
“Thank you, I got my third strip about two years ago now. What are you doing here?”
“I have a joint operation I have to brief the Watch Commander on and I'm guessing it’s not Gray anymore?” She smiled hoping the old Sergeant did retire.
“Yeah. Gray retired about eight-ish years ago now. Sergeant Bradford and Detective Lopez should be in the office right now. I'm sure they would love to see you.” He pointed his thumb towards the Watch Commanders office. The blinds were drawn, but the door was open.
“Will do, it was good seeing you John.” She turned away after he bid his own farewells and made her way to the office.
When she entered she was more than surprised to find Lopez sitting in one of the chairs in front of the desk and none other than Lucy Chen sitting in the WC’s chair.
“Talia? It’s been forever! What are you doing here?” Lopez pulled her into a light hug.
“I’m here to talk to the Watch Commander, who I have been told is now Sergeant Bradford, about a joint DEA operation. Where is he anyway? Nolan said he was in here.”
Angela and Lucy looked at her with confusion. “What?”
“Wait, are you looking for Tim?” Lucy questions after a moment.
“Well yeah… unless there is another Sergeant Bradford here,” Talia jokes.
“No there is only one Sergeant Bradford here, but there are now two Bradford's though.” Angela laughs out.
“What are you talking about Angela?” Talia looks between the two, confused at what she is missing.
“Oh… Ooh Okay I see what's going on.” Lucy laughs and shakes her head. “If you need Captain Bradford, Tim is up in his office. If you need Sergeant Bradford… well you are looking at her.”
Talia's brain must have just short circuited. Had she just heard Chen… or rather Bradford right?
“Wait…Wha… You and Tim? You two got married? And he made Captain? And you made Watch Commander? When did this all happen?”
Angela guided the shocked agent to the open seat before Lucy continued.
“Well, we have been married for just over six years, together for eight. Tim made Captain about four years ago and I made Sergeant six years ago and Watch Commander two years ago. You missed a lot while you were gone.” Talia sat there for a moment, trying to process everything. She was beyond shocked that Tim of all people would get with their former rookie, almost as surprising that he is now the Captain of the Mid-Wilshire station.
It was then that Talia looked at Lucy’s uniform. The Three Stripes and Rocker clear as day, along with the Bradford name tag and Sergeant badge. She mentally smacked herself for not seeing it before this moment.
“Well… I don’t really know what to say…. Congratulations? I’m just a little shocked by this.” At that moment the man she was expecting to see in this office makes his appearance.
“Are you two ready to go yet or what?” Tim enters the room, only taking a second to recognize the women in the chair, even from behind.
Talia turned around and looked over her old friend. And she wasn’t being messed with, Tim had a two silver bar on his collar and a shining badge that says Captain.
“Bishop. I heard you were coming down.” He looked around at the three, all with different expressions. “What?”
“Bishop didn’t know you and Lucy were married.” Angela laughed.
“Oh, I thought It was kind of a known thing at this point.” He leans against the door frame and folds his arms. “You two ready? We are going to miss Rebecca’s recital if we don’t leave soon.”
The two officers nodded as they got up. Bishop followed them out of the room after a moment. “Wait, who should I talk to about getting some officers with me for a raid? And who’s Rebecca?”
“Talk with Nolan, he will be acting watch commander for the rest of the day…” Lucy turns around to address the agent properly. “It was good to see you again, stay in touch this time.” She turns and walks away with Angela.
“Here’s my card, if you need anything feel free to call. It was good to see you again Talia.”
“Yeah likewise and thanks.” Tim smiled before he turned and started to walk away. “Wait, who's Rebecca?”
“Our daughter. See you around Bishop.” He calls out before leaving the room entirely.
It had been almost a decade since she had seen the inside of this station or the people in it. In just a few minutes of being here again, she realized that a lot had changed with the people she once knew. Promotions, Marriages, Children, all of it in just a decade. To say she was shocked at some of the changes was an understatement for sure.
She smiled at thought though and played with the card in her hand. She was looking forward to being back in the area and getting to see whatever changes come next to her friends first hand.