Slow Burn

                                    

                                          
Chapter 19: Jump Into the Fire
                          
Cailin fought to keep control of the department issued sedan. She skidded as a group of teens skulking around walked out into the street without looking. She laid on her horn, thinking about pulling over and linking them all up; deciding instead to call it in to dispatch and get a patrol car out. This was how she had spent most of her evening so far; slowly creeping along the slick streets, calling in anyone that appeared opprobrious.
                          
Freezing because the heater was spotty at best and needing a bathroom break after her endless cups of coffee, Cailin decided to stop by 51, knowing if she showed her face at the precinct, she would get reamed. 51 was a brightly lite refuge in the darkness, this time for more that just her, having opened their bays to the neighborhood. It was a hub of activity as Cailin made her way through the house, stepping over and around people, finally making her way to the kitchen.
                          
An overwhelmed Cruz was begging Clarke to head to the corner store for more food stuffs, Cailin couldn't help but smirk at Clarke's mock salute. "Want a ride?" she asked as he stood up and walked around the island.
                          
"Cally, hey," Clarke replied, stopping himself just in time from going and and greeting her in a more friendly matter than he should in the middle of 51. At least not until they had talked about it. He took in her duty belt and said, "on the clock, huh?"
                          
She gave him a nod, stepping slightly back to avoid invading his personal space in the middle of the mess hall. "You know it, thought I was about to catch a breather and then this damn blackout, did you have the call out?" Clarke mirrored her nod, but stepped towards her, reflexively. "Damn drunk out in this, hit a little girl." Anger flashed in his eyes, before he cleared his throat. "I need to get down to the corner, walk me out?"
                          
"Sure you don't want a ride?" she said following him out the side door, realizing how much she had missed him over the past couple of days, how grateful she was for him being by her side at Jules' funeral.
                          
"Nah, I could use the walk, it's kind of...loud in there." Clarke saw the slight downturn of her mouth, making him correct, "not trying to duck you, Cally, just need the quiet."
                          
Cailin knew what he meant, the noise and lights and people had been crushing when she entered and she hadn't been to war. She was slightly embarrassed he had seen her reaction though. "I probably should get back to running the roads anyway."
                          
Clarke did reach out to her this time, lightly encircling her wrist with his index finger and thumb. "Watch your six, Callahan, remember you're running without backup."
                          
He looked at her with enough concern that she moved her hand to thread her fingers through his, giving it a squeeze. "I'm staying inside the lines, promise, Jeff. You can ask dispatch how many times I've called them to send a unit out. Now you better go get that food before I have to come back here for crowd control," she replied with a wry smile, enjoying even the small connection of their entwined hands.
                          
Clarke looked around before giving her a quick kiss and pulled her to his chest, breathing in her scent before releasing her. "We really need to work on getting our schedules coordinated, Cal," he said as he let her go and stepped away, knowing he did need to go on his appointed errand.
                          
"Tell that to the delinquents," she said, giving him a small wave. She watched him walk off, rounding the corner, into the darkness. Cailin stood there in the relative quiet for a moment, wondering where she stood with him; not wanting to forcibly define anything but also wanting some sort of control over the situation. She was pondering this when the side door flew open and Severide pitched a sketchy looking guy out into the night.
                          
Cailin had to jump out of the way, her hand immediately resting on her holster as she heard the words exchanged, taking in Boden and Otis behind Severide. "You want me to take him in, Lieutenant?" Cailin asked, moving her coat so her badge was displayed, catching hold of the guy's hoodie.