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Work was as it had always been, predictably unpredictable and yet- somehow oddly routine.

Patrols had been mostly uneventful; three tickets were written, two of which were traffic stops. Felt like karma had a bit of a hand in those; sure the camera would have caught them, but the fact that they sped through a very clearly red light while she was in the turn lane going the opposite way.

Fate definitely had a hand to play in that.

There was, however, a domestic dispute call that she had responded to the day before. It had been resolved by the book and without an escalated incident but the state of the house almost made her feel sick, it wasn’t filthy-per se… but had signs of violence that she couldn’t ignore. What made it worse though was that there were toys out, not many but a couple of stuffed animals and a child-sized blanket on the couch.

When she walked through, there was no sign of a kid, and was informed that the mother had shared custody with her husband and he had picked their kid, Bethany, up earlier that day. The woman was adamant that these fights never happen when she’s around but the look on her boyfriend's face seemed to suggest otherwise.

Still, no crime had actually been committed. Only a concerned neighbor had called because the yelling had gotten too much for them and it was too late for anyone to be hollering.

Half past noon the next day, Erica finally finished her report and for a while, sat at her desk in deep contemplation. Mind wandering from one thing to the next where a single thought led to another so many times that what was currently on her mind had no relevance to what she had first been thinking about.

So lost in thought, she didn’t hear when one of her co-workers approached her from behind or asked her a question. She did, however, jump nearly out of her seat when he put a hand on her shoulder to get her attention.

“I’m sorry… what?” Erica turned, partly annoyed part confused, and quite a bit embarrassed.

“I asked what’s goin’ on in that head o’ yours!” His dark brown eyes were alight with absolute amusement by her reaction. “Sittin’ there chewing on your nail like you’re worried ‘bout somethin’” Patterson was by no means a new recruit, he’d joined not much before she did. He had a firefighter physique and could throw her over his shoulder easily if something were to happen; he’d done it before to prove how light she was to him so she knew it still to be true.

It also helped that he was almost a solid foot taller than she was; tall dark and handsome. Made ladies at the Starbucks line swoon seeing him in uniform but Erica was just glad eyes were not on her. Might be easy to brush her off or try to challenge her; but with him, it became a ‘yes sir’/ ‘no sir’ situation real fast. Because of that she honestly didn’t mind patrolling with him from time to time.

“The only thing going on in this head of mine is me wondering when the lot of you will get logged back in so I can take my lunch.” She relaxed considerably raised her arms above her head and felt the sweet sweet release of both shoulders popping. Such a wonderful yet cringe worthy sound.

“Oh? That all?” He raised a skeptical brow eyeing the phone she had been absently tapping her finger on for the last solid minute.

“Stop that-” Her lips pursed and eyes narrowed at him.

“Just sayin’. You look worried. If it’s a family thing then you know I’d be happy to help.” He winked and flashed a charming smile at her. One-hundred percent playful and not at all serious but the offer was made regardless. “If someone’s botherin’ you now well-” Patterson cracked his knuckles.

“It’s not either of those things.” Erica laughed, pushed her seat back, and stood up to clap him on the shoulder. “Just trying to figure out plans since I actually have Friday off this week.”

“Not going to go to the bar with the lads?” Patterson mockingly flinched when she hit him a second time.

“Nah- I have some hiking plans coming up before the weather get too cold out.” Except for the fact the trails she planned to go on were arctic in temperature already and that the Fall or Winter months wouldn’t do much to keep her from going to her Wonder and exploring the tunnels. “I have a friend I’m looking to take with me but not sure if we can work it in with his schedule.”

“Oh-”

“Don't…” Erica pointed a finger at him and Patterson, wisely, shut his lips. But the thought had already crossed his mind. “It’s not a date. It’s quite literally a shared hobby.” And that was the absolute truth as far as cold Homeworlds and Wonders went. “Anyway. I’ll see you in an hour.” She snatched her phone off her desk after locking her computer. “I’m starving and you have your own reports to finish. Nodding at his pile of papers in his inbox she watched his amused expression turn almost grim

“Yes, mam’” Patterson sulked like a scolded child that had been told to go do their homework. Fortunately, he listened and left her well alone so she could leave and message Ilya when she got out to her car.

For all the shady s**t that happened when Jeremy had gone missing, Erica held in her heart the idea that there were still a few among them that were not involved with the politics involved with dark dealings with chaos. The Negaverse had their fingers in all facets of news media and the inner workings of the city; but she also knew that there were those like herself who remained blissfully unaware or not easily swayed or manipulated and remained skeptical as Jeremy had been, and still was from the last time they spoke.