Nothing but a refreshing, caffeinated, drink to start the first offical day in the precinct. It's an indulging, pleasant, feeling to have hundred of calories of coffee rushing in your veins. I need it all to tolerate the bullshit coming my way. Dad, much as I do love him, had stacked ongoing case files involving drug dealers that ran a large in Miami alone not given me time of day to get settled in. Desk phones were ring-ing every second, probably for bookings, and it was enough that I could feel a headache form.

" Well, look who we have here, as I live and breathe. Lisa? Cómo estás? It's been years girl. finally decided home was good enough for you, I see." I know that voice anywhere. Rita Secada Miami's finest lieutenant. I stand, two fingers on my head saluting her, using a light hearted laugh. " Ri. It's good to be back. The promotion dad gave, looks mighty fine on you. Come here. It's been too long I agree." Bringing her close I case my arms and rock her body. She chuckles.

" It's nice to finally have a familiar face back in the force. Let me tell you, it has not been fun dealing with these idiotas. I'm one snap away from having a manslaughter conviction on my clean record."

She strains her hands as to pretend she is strangling someone. Her shorten raven hair springs back from the movement.

" I have so much to tell you, Mija. But first it's time for us to clock off early."

She grins and I tilt my head.

" Captain wants all of us to down at the local club. One of our very own just became an abuelo. You probably won't know him. But I will introduce you. Come on." I can't say I won't attest to the offer of free alcohol. I fold one of the open files close and stand up to take off my coat from my seat. 'I would be the biggest idiot if I said no to drinking my body weight in beer and a good authentic burger.'

Miami boulevard pavilion is full of street life and eccentric restaurants. If there is one thing positive about the place I call home is we know how to put on a good party. Sat in a tavern, a Heineken beer in hand, I case out the joint of all the people here from work. Some even are strangers coming in on the celebrations. Dad was standing by clean shaven, buzz cut, short in size man I came to learn name is 'Marcus' raising his drink for a toast. " We're here to celebrate and raise a glass to on of our own."

Rounds of whooping clamour in my ear, it's clear there was early signs of people becoming drunk already. I felt a buzz in my system but not enough for considering myself as such.

" ..I sincerely hope that someday your namesake follows in the footsteps of his old-ass grandpa.. to protect and serve our fair city." I sip on my Heineken, I was a Corona girl but it would do, smiling slightly at my dad being sentimental. I remember times he would celebrate my own achievements even if they were minuscule to begin with. My first period, at twelve, as a good example.

" To Marcus." I raise my glass in his honour.

" To Marcus." I murmur swigging the last gulp of my drink down my throat.

" May the name Marcus Burnett strike fear in the hearts and minds of assholes for years to come." I choke on a piece of lettuce, coughing, putting down the southern chicken burger I ordered. 'Oh great. He is here. Just when I think my night could get better or for worse. I have to deal with that.' I groan bringing up a finger and start to pinch the bridge of my nose. Marcus began a speech as I turn my head.

" Mike and I, we're going on twenty five years of working these streets. I like to think we made a difference. You all are the best. And I thank you. It's been a real honour." Okay that is a sweet analogy, starting to point, of a speech. Patrons in the bar began chanting his name in his honour. My phone chimes, alert for a voice message coming from a blocked out number, which doesn't set off alarms as I was habitually dealing with teleprompter issues. I roll my eyes throwing my cell on the counter.

" I see we meet again, beautiful. You can't get enough, of me, now you are resorting to being a stalker I see." And cue the internalised groan. " Mike. Leave the poor girl to her burger, man. Come on. I'm sorry 'bout Mike, you'll have to forgive the old son of a bitch. it's been too long since he actually spoke to a girl and treated her as a human." Marcus apologises, taking a seat on the island stool, saying a quick 'Oh shit.' At losing balance and struggles to sit still. Mike is on my left not leaving space for me to breathe. I could asphyxiate on his stinking beer breath.

" back off of her, Mike. Real smooth. don't get up all in her face like that. Let her eat. Go on, sweetie, you eat that burger." Marcus slaps Mike on the head, which I could hear his skin being connected with. Mike snaps. " Di... did you just slap me, motherfucker. I know you did not just lay a hand on me."

So much for having my burger in peace. I feel a twitch in my eye at the arguing, it's though I am not literally sitting here right in the fucking middle of them. I made a sweet smile to Mike. That catches his eyes, they twinkle in desecration, at my attention. I mentally roll my own eyes.

" if I did happen to have stalked you. Just know that wasn't me. because If you did catch me ever wanting to stalk an egocentric, hare-brained, asshole you would have to take my gun and shoot me in the head. Twice for a good measure."

Marcus mouth combusts open, spurting beer from his nostrils, snickering loud at my statement. Jaw hanging low on the floor mike stares, bewildered, at how straight for-ward I was.

" Shit, Mike. Do you need ice right now because that was a third degree burn right there."

There is a quick emotion that passes in his eye before it leaves and in its place a smirk graces his mouth. " You gotta whole lot of fire in you, baby. I fuck with it." The bars radio changes to an up-beat Spanish song, a language I learn being raised in Mexico for the most parts of my childhood. It became a precipitated integral part of my vocabulary to English. " I am done, Mike, man. You know?" Marcus proclaims and sighs. " Oh, here he goes again. Strap in, Sweet heart, you are going to witness Marcus Burnett speech on how he wants to retire." Mike teases, he held a place of the bar in front of me.

" I am dead serious here, Mike. when I looked in to that little baby's eyes, something changed. Oh! Shit. Here. Alessia? Right? Here. This is my new grand son, little baby Marcus Burnett Jnr. Named after yours truely." Taking out printed out pictures of him holding little Marcus, from his wallet, I had to smile. Kids have always been a soft spot for me. I stare at the cursively written date. " See. He has the Burnett smile. Look at his chubby, little, cheeks. It's enough to make a grown man cry. I want to spend my days watching that little boy grow. You know? Do you have a..any kids? Oh don't be stupid, Marcus, you can't ask and make that assumption. I'm an asshole."

He face palms cursing himself out for the idea of asking if I had my own children. I giggled at his reaction. " No. I don't. Unfortunately. I... I haven't exactly had to greatest track record of luck when it comes to kids. But to be honest i prefer focusing on my career." I frown, rueful, then Marcus takes notice of my mood change and he diverts the subject. Mike furrows both his brows, looking at me with dubious intent. I wave it off. " Man. Theresa does not what your ass sitting at home, getting fat and breaking all types of shit." He takes a hold of his drink, he ordered, bringing the glass up to gulp the liquid and I bite down in the burger I ordered.

" You know, Mike, we got more time behind us than in front. It's time to make some changes, for real." Marcus claims directing his pointed stare at Mike, to which Mike response in full effect pride. " You can miss me with that. I am living my best life." He put an arm around me, I sigh at his persistence. Not having any ounce of motivation to shrug his arm off.

" You're dyeing your goatee, Mike."

Marcus states, pointing out his ageing. I strain my head to glance over mike's short pointed goatee beard.

" Yeah. It's obvious, you are covering those grey areas, on your face. Old man."

I chuckle unclasping the cork on my third drink for the night.

" That's midnight cocoa bean. I recongnize that colour, anywhere." Marcus goes to touch mikes dyed beard, but is swatted off by him.

" Go 'head with that shit." He says through his teeth and laughs it off when he sees I am staring at him amused. " Let me ask you something. You want your legacy to be muscle shirts and a body count? Don't you know family is all that matters?"

Well— to be honest the word has a different meaning for everyone. For me, it's my dad and niece Callie. I have an older sister. But she hasn't exactly made an effort in her life, at all, to perpetuate and maintain an actual bond.

" Hey, granddaddy." Rita pops up putting an hand on Marcus's shoulder, giving a slight nod to me with a grin. Raising a close mouthed and questionable eyebrow towards mikes hand. I had forgotten about how it must be weird to see two strangers close. Unbothered Mike does one final gulp of his drink, chugging it all. " Oh no. It's Pop-Pop. He's going with Pop-Pop." He corrects, I take the photos and hand them over to Marcus. " I gotta head outside, my phone won't stop its racket, I swear these marketers are relentless. I won't be long. It's too noisey."

I excuse myself. Just when I think I am free of Mike, he puts a hand up to motion for me to stop. " I can't just let a lady leave by herself. No sir, not on these streets. Hold on, gorgeous." I fold both arms in my chest. He stands at to his full height, motioning for me to move forward. " I am capable of being on my own accord, you do know that, right. I don't need a body guard, Mike." I criticise his actions, just when I feel the effects of Floridas humidity stopping on a side walk. His lips ripple as he blew out air.

" What? Nah I didn't know you could handle yourself. It's not like I got my ass handed to me by you, yesterday. Which, by the way, if I am being extremely straight forward and honest I was turned on by that." I purse my lips tightly. I should have known he would be blunt, prude. I shook my head finally answering the phone and Mike smirk widens at my Silence.

" Hello? Detective Howard speaking. This is my private number, I don't know who this.."

My whole face pales hearing the one voice I never would have conceptualised hearing from again.

" Mi Flor. It is nice to finally hear your voice, after all of these years. Of not seeing or listening to you. I have to admit I am hurt you haven't tried to connect back with me."

I maintain a neutralised, calm, expression facing and staring at Mike covering the speaker. " I will be just a minute. It's an old friend of mine." Mike, though I did notice him questioning who is on the other side of my phone call, nods slowly.

" Armando." I breathe out, standing on a curb, my heart pounding in my ear sounding as if I was going to have palpitations. He chuckles, as I search the heard of hundreds of partygoers for sights of him, failing to see where is calling from. " it's good to hear that the illustrious, intelligent, and hermosa mujer I love still knows me by name. I miss our talks, you know, belleza." It startled me how soft he is speaking. I exhale, wanting to know what exactly he is wanting. After all of this time why call me now.

" marndo. Don't do this. I .. I am, genuinely, sorry for how I ended things. I know things did not go to plan and I.." he shushes my words. I hear his breathing pick up in pace.

" There is nothing to apologise for. It's okay. I just want to hear your voice, nothing if not what I want is to see you again. No ulterior motives. I am actually, coincidentally speaking, in town. And where you are right now."

Wait. What does he mean to say 'Where I am'? How did he know my current location. I am thorough when I say I check my phone for tracking chips or viruses. " I will be seeing you, sooner than you think, Mi Amor."

With it he ends the call. Frantically I search around at CCTV surveillance and street corner cameras. 'He couldn't have. No. It is not possible.' Revving of an engine, that belongs to a motorbike, caught my eye and on the road a motorist covered head to toe in all leather screeches to a halt stopping on a wheel.

It all happens quick, not sparing a second for a time to react, I scream out " Mike. Look behind you!" At Mike running in front of Marcus and I was too late.

Three open rounds are lodged in mike from a machine gun the man uses on him and I spring to action. Sprinting towards Mike, my academy training for these scenarios came in, I stop dead in my track falling to my feet applying the needed pressure for blood to stop flowing out.

" Mike. No. No. Hey, keep your eyes open, I'm here. Dad, dad, call for back up."

I shout out an order, directly at dad, he had his phone already on standby.

" Keep applying force on the wound, sweet pea. You are doing well. Yeah, I got an officer down. We're on ocean drive on seven hundred block. Gunshot."

Mike, though he is delirious and over exerts on his energy he needed to maintain to stay awake, starts muttering incoherent. But I could hear 'Alessia'. It broke my soul hearing him say my name when he is dying in my hands. " Stay awake. Please. Mike, save your energy. What is the status of that fucking ambulance. We need here, right now! He's fading from us." I know I should be calm. The adrenaline is spiking right now.

My head raises, panting as I fight back the croak in my voice from fear, and I glare down where the motorist evaded off to. I would get that son of a bitch for doing all of this damage to Mike. My sense for justice is real strong, right now, for a man I just met. I couldn't care less though. No one deserves to be shot. 'So much blood.' I thought, just when emergency services arrive on site for Mike. I check my hands, quivering, having his blood on them.

I stood away from all the officers in the ER, I was still painted red in mikes blood and not in the mood to change out of the clothes. I could see Rita watching Marcus hug his wife, Theresa I had heard Mike call her, in grief for him. Dad came around to where I stand, he had a grimace resting on his aging wrinkled face.

" You did well considering, Hon. I am proud for how you kept your head. It wasn't easy seeing that. Well.. it never is. Hey, Come here. I know. I know."

I hug dad tight. It was times, such as these, where I did consider a point in time of leaving this Job. I couldn't cry right now. I need to be strong for Marcus and dad.

'Please pull through, Mike.'

JASMINE SPEAKS;

I Updated! Finally. I am sorry for the delay of updating. I was focusing on writing chapters for my stranger things Jim hopper book, Out Of time. I didn't forget my other fan-fictions. It is just when I focus on one fandom it takes me a while to get back that attention for another, so I literally have to stop myself and redirect it to my books. It works sometimes. Anyway. I do however want to know.. what did you think of Mike and Lisa's interactions so far? Armando?

Leave it in the comments. I love reading them.