In the Springtime - Anne
Title: In the Springtime
Author: Anne
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 2060
Spoilers: Mentions details from V.M. 2.13
Summary: There wasn’t much to do in Fresno as a twenty-two year old deputy.
Author’s Note: Pre-series fic, Keith/Lianne. Written for lex_83’s Ask Qustions Later Challenge. Scenario at the end of the fic.
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In the spring a young man’s fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love. - Alfred Tennyson
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There wasn’t much to do in Fresno as a twenty-two year old deputy. That is, until spring rolled around, and then, as every year, a young man’s fancy turned to . . . baseball.
Keith settled into his favorite seat, with its dead-center view of the pitcher’s mound, and dug into his peanuts with a contented sigh. When he was four years old, his father had taken him to Dodger Stadium for the first time and he’d fallen in love with it all, the smell of the ballpark, the roar of the crowd, and the sight of the tiny white ball flying through the sky. He’d spent every Sunday after that sitting on his father’s lap, watching as Sandy Koufax led the Dodgers went all the way and beat the Twins in the ’65 World Series that year.
He’d wanted to be a baseball player from that moment. Announced it to everyone who’d listen, carried around his glove as though it were another appendage and spent glorious afternoons in their small backyard practicing, practicing, practicing as his dad threw one ball after another.
He shook his head at the memory as he signaled to the vendor for a dog, just mustard, thanks, as the Fresno Grizzlies took the field. His father had died three years later, shot in the line of duty, and his tiny world had changed. He still loved the game, playing all through high school, though a back injury had ended his hopes of college ball. But he’d lost his dreams of the diamond to his destiny as the third generation of Mars men to join the thin blue line.
One criminal justice degree later, and here he was. A green deputy, alone in a new city, spending time with his first love. He leaned forward as Terrence Cook took the mound, whistling in appreciation as the ball blazed across the plate. That guy was going places.
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Keith fiddled with the radio as his partner slid into the passenger seat of the cruiser.
“So what we got tonight? We stuck with the college kids again?” Ellis asked.
Keith flicked the knob until the announcer’s voice came through, tinny across the A.M. frequency as the opening plays were called. “Yeah.”
“Ohh, grumpy are we?” Ellis raised an eyebrow. “Smith wouldn’t let you trade out another Friday night?”
Keith reversed the car and pulled out of the station parking lot. “No. And I had a great seat for this one. Cook’s up to pitch tonight.”
Ellis shook his head. “Man, you do love baseball.” He shrugged, “Well, what you gonna do?”
“Listen to as much as I can if you’ll pipe down over there. Maybe we’ll get lucky, it’ll be a quiet night, and I’ll actually get to hear the game.”
Ellis laughed and threw up his hands in mock defense. “Let’s play ball.”
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It was nearing ten and luck had been with them as the announcer called the final pitch of the night and the Grizzlies left the field victorious again, with a near perfect outing by Cook. Keith snapped off the radio with a smile.
“So I can talk again?” Ellis asked.
“You know you like it too,” Keith replied, turning on the street where the majority of the frat houses for Fresno State were located. It was a little early for the Friday night parties to be getting out of hand yet, but it never hurt to make their presence known.
The neighborhoods bordering the campus were full of young co-eds, infected by the warmth of spring and the nearness of finals and freedom.
“Think we’ll have to break up any keggers tonight?” Ellis asked.
“Don’t we always?” Keith smiled.
“Free beer for Sunday, then.” Ellis grinned.
The radio crackled, interrupting their banter. “Unit 489, come in.”
Ellis picked up the receiver. “This is Unit 489.”
“We’ve got a Code 9 at 512 Jefferson St. Party with possible D&D called in.”
“We’re on it. 489 out,” Ellis replied. He turned to Keith. “Maybe we’re gonna get some action tonight after all, Mars. Drunk and disorderly, here we come.”
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It was a typical house party, lights ablaze, college students spilling out onto the lawn with paper cups of amber liquid clutched firmly in their hands. Nothing out of the ordinary.
Keith exited the car, Ellis close on his heels as they mounted the steps and entered the open front door, subject to more than a few curious looks.
“Officer, what can I do you for?” A young man stepped forward, just intoxicated enough to feel no fear.
Keith smiled. “We had a call that someone was causing a few problems here, getting a little out of hand. We’re not looking to stop your party, just want to make sure everyone’s safe. Now, can you tell me your name?”
“Mike. Mike Fielding. But we haven’t had any problems, officers. Just some friends kicking back, having a good time.”
The girl at his elbow spoke up. “Maybe Lianne called them.”
Mike glared at her. “Why would Lianne do that, Stacy?”
Stacy rolled her eyes. “Cause Jeff was getting all jealous again about Jenny. You know how he gets when he’s drinking.”
Keith turned to her. “Stacy, that’s your name?” She nodded. “Stacy, can you tell me a little more about Jeff and Jenny?”
Stacy shrugged. “Sure. Jeff and Jenny are like a couple, right? But he’s all crazy possessive and thinks she’s gonna leave him for some other guy. He was yelling earlier about seeing her with Rick on campus, telling her he was never gonna let her leave him.”
Mike took her arm. “Stacy, that’s bullshit and you know it. Jeff was just talking to her.” He turned to Keith, “Officer, I’m sure this is all just a big misunderstanding, we’re all cool here.”
Stacy rolled her eyes. “Whatever, Mike. You’d think you could see what a psycho he is, what with being his roommate and all. Lianne’s just worried about Jenny.”
“How about you tell us where Jeff and Jenny are, we’ll check on them, and if everything’s fine, we’ll leave you to your party,” Keith suggested.
A scream rent the air from the upper floor, and suddenly even Mike looked worried. “Are they up there?” Keith asked.
“Yeah, his room’s at the end of the hall,” Mike responded.
Keith glanced at Ellis. “Keep everyone down here,” he directed to Mike as the two officers drew their guns and mounted the stairs.
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As they reached the landing above, they found a group of frightened students gathered around a door at the end of the hall.
“Are they in there?” Keith waved the group back.
One girl stuttered, “It’s Jeff, he’s got a gun and he has Jenny and Lianne. He has th door locked.”
Keith and Ellis exchanged a look. Ellis began to herd the group back towards the stairs. “Ladies and gentleman, please, we need you to move away and head downstairs.”
Keith jiggled the knob and found it locked. He knocked on the door, speaking calmly. “Jeff, my name is Officer Mars. I need you to open the door, please.”
A girl began screaming hysterically from inside the room, “He’s going to kill us, he’s got a gun, he’s got a gun.”
“We’re going to need back-up.” Ellis nodded as he moved to the end of the hallway to radio in quietly.
Keith moved back to the door. “Jeff, can you hear me?”
“Get away. I’m not letting her leave. She’s mine.” The boy’s voice was high and full of terror. “I’m not letting her leave me.”
Keith exchanged glances with Ellis as he came back towards the door and spoke quietly. “He sounds pretty hysterical.”
Ellis nodded. “You think you can keep him talking until back-up gets here, get him to open the door?”
Keith shrugged. “I can try.” He turned back to the door. “Jeff, we’re here to help you. Your girlfriend, her name’s Jenny, right?”
“Why, has she been running around with you too?” Jeff yelled back. “You two - stay over there, in the closet.”
Keith glanced as Ellis. “If he’s got them in the closet, you think we can distract him? Get the door open?”
“Let’s try it. You go round outside, see if we could use the window.” Ellis nodded and headed back down the stairs.
Keith turned back to the door. “Jeff, I’m here to help you. If you open that door, we can talk. I’m sure that Jenny doesn’t want to leave you.”
“She does. She’s moving to New York after graduation,” Jeff wailed through the door.
Keith moved into position, waiting for Ellis as he continued to speak soothingly. “That’s tough, Jeff, really tough. Maybe Jenny just needs a little space. You unlock the door and we can talk, settle this without anyone getting hurt. You wouldn’t want to hurt Jenny, would you?”
“I’m not letting her leave. She can’t ever leave me.” The bark of a pistol fired once, blending with a woman’s scream.
Keith cursed under his breath as he slammed into the door and broke the flimsy lock. He scanned the room quickly, gun drawn as he saw the boy holding the gun in a shaking hand as he knelt next to a sobbing girl cradling her friend in her arms. The blood spread in a growing pool across the wounded girl’s shirt.
Keith raised his gun, aimed. “Drop the gun, Jeff, or I will shoot you.”
Jeff stared at him, ashen faced, eyes blank for a moment as he glanced back to the body in front of him. He grabbed the girl kneeling beside him, holding the gun to her temple. “Let me go. I didn’t mean to. Just let me go, or I’ll shoot Lianne.”
Keith tightened his grip on his weapon. “Jeff, you don’t want to hurt someone else. If you just let her go, maybe we can get help for Jenny there. You don’t want her to die, do you?”
He edged closer slowly, hoping to find a clean shot, but the darkness of the room and the way Jeff had the girl held made a safe angle hard to find.
“Stop, it. Stop moving or I’ll-” Without warning Jeff jerked wildly and swung the pistol towards Keith, who swerved and found the opening he needed to take his shot. The echo of the guns sounded together as both men fell to the floor.
Lianne Reynolds glanced down at Jeff’s slack body, a bullet squarely through his forehead, and crawled across the debris of the room to the officer who had just saved her life. She touched him gently. “Officer? Are you okay?” She looked for blood, her hands patting frantically along his chest as his eyes slowly fluttered open.
“You’re alive! Did he miss?” Lianne gasped in surprise.
Keith groaned and slowly sat up with her assistance. He felt along his collar and slowly unbuttoned his shirt to reveal the pool of silver resting above his heart, flattened in the mesh of his bulletproof vest. He touched the flattened metal lightly.
“He didn’t miss. Guess it’s just my lucky night.”
She placed her hand over his as the room filled with officers and the wail of sirens drew nearer.
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There wasn’t much to do in Fresno as a twenty-two year old deputy. That is, until spring rolled around, and then, as every year, a young man’s fancy turned to . . . love.
Lianne visited him in the hospital until he was released with a diagnosis of cracked ribs and bruising that would make his chest a colorful map for several weeks. He assumed she came at first from a sense of gratitude for what he’d done, but as she continued to call and drop by the station as the weeks passed, he accepted that it was possibly something more.
They were married in September, after she’d graduated and he’d learned that he’d landed the job in Los Angeles. He watched the final game of the Grizzlies winning season the night before they moved, as Terrence Cook pitched his last Triple A game on his way up to the majors. He hadn’t been back to Fresno since.
Twenty years later, Lianne was gone, and his career in law enforcement was over. But he still had his first love, baseball. Until Terrence Cook sat across from him, larger than life, and destroyed that as well.
One day he’d learn that you needed more to shield your heart than a bulletproof vest.
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My scenario was: How to Take a Bullet
Frank Horrigan: I normally prefer not to get to know the people I’m protecting.
Lilly Raines: Oh yeah? Why’s that?
Frank Horrigan: Well, you never know. You might decide they’re not worth taking a bullet for.
-In The Line of Fire
The action hero faced with taking a bullet will have only a moment to react, and in that moment you must be prepared to give up your life. Remember, the assailant in the situation always has the upper hand - he knows what he’s about to do. You do not. And so, you must be prepared. You must be resolute and focused. And you must protect yourself with body armour whenever possible - at the very least, with a bulletproof vest or a bible over your heart. Try to keep your head low, and use these steps, compliments of security specialist Shawn Engbrecht, to stay alive and alert.
Author: Anne
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 2060
Spoilers: Mentions details from V.M. 2.13
Summary: There wasn’t much to do in Fresno as a twenty-two year old deputy.
Author’s Note: Pre-series fic, Keith/Lianne. Written for lex_83’s Ask Qustions Later Challenge. Scenario at the end of the fic.
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In the spring a young man’s fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love. - Alfred Tennyson
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There wasn’t much to do in Fresno as a twenty-two year old deputy. That is, until spring rolled around, and then, as every year, a young man’s fancy turned to . . . baseball.
Keith settled into his favorite seat, with its dead-center view of the pitcher’s mound, and dug into his peanuts with a contented sigh. When he was four years old, his father had taken him to Dodger Stadium for the first time and he’d fallen in love with it all, the smell of the ballpark, the roar of the crowd, and the sight of the tiny white ball flying through the sky. He’d spent every Sunday after that sitting on his father’s lap, watching as Sandy Koufax led the Dodgers went all the way and beat the Twins in the ’65 World Series that year.
He’d wanted to be a baseball player from that moment. Announced it to everyone who’d listen, carried around his glove as though it were another appendage and spent glorious afternoons in their small backyard practicing, practicing, practicing as his dad threw one ball after another.
He shook his head at the memory as he signaled to the vendor for a dog, just mustard, thanks, as the Fresno Grizzlies took the field. His father had died three years later, shot in the line of duty, and his tiny world had changed. He still loved the game, playing all through high school, though a back injury had ended his hopes of college ball. But he’d lost his dreams of the diamond to his destiny as the third generation of Mars men to join the thin blue line.
One criminal justice degree later, and here he was. A green deputy, alone in a new city, spending time with his first love. He leaned forward as Terrence Cook took the mound, whistling in appreciation as the ball blazed across the plate. That guy was going places.
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Keith fiddled with the radio as his partner slid into the passenger seat of the cruiser.
“So what we got tonight? We stuck with the college kids again?” Ellis asked.
Keith flicked the knob until the announcer’s voice came through, tinny across the A.M. frequency as the opening plays were called. “Yeah.”
“Ohh, grumpy are we?” Ellis raised an eyebrow. “Smith wouldn’t let you trade out another Friday night?”
Keith reversed the car and pulled out of the station parking lot. “No. And I had a great seat for this one. Cook’s up to pitch tonight.”
Ellis shook his head. “Man, you do love baseball.” He shrugged, “Well, what you gonna do?”
“Listen to as much as I can if you’ll pipe down over there. Maybe we’ll get lucky, it’ll be a quiet night, and I’ll actually get to hear the game.”
Ellis laughed and threw up his hands in mock defense. “Let’s play ball.”
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It was nearing ten and luck had been with them as the announcer called the final pitch of the night and the Grizzlies left the field victorious again, with a near perfect outing by Cook. Keith snapped off the radio with a smile.
“So I can talk again?” Ellis asked.
“You know you like it too,” Keith replied, turning on the street where the majority of the frat houses for Fresno State were located. It was a little early for the Friday night parties to be getting out of hand yet, but it never hurt to make their presence known.
The neighborhoods bordering the campus were full of young co-eds, infected by the warmth of spring and the nearness of finals and freedom.
“Think we’ll have to break up any keggers tonight?” Ellis asked.
“Don’t we always?” Keith smiled.
“Free beer for Sunday, then.” Ellis grinned.
The radio crackled, interrupting their banter. “Unit 489, come in.”
Ellis picked up the receiver. “This is Unit 489.”
“We’ve got a Code 9 at 512 Jefferson St. Party with possible D&D called in.”
“We’re on it. 489 out,” Ellis replied. He turned to Keith. “Maybe we’re gonna get some action tonight after all, Mars. Drunk and disorderly, here we come.”
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It was a typical house party, lights ablaze, college students spilling out onto the lawn with paper cups of amber liquid clutched firmly in their hands. Nothing out of the ordinary.
Keith exited the car, Ellis close on his heels as they mounted the steps and entered the open front door, subject to more than a few curious looks.
“Officer, what can I do you for?” A young man stepped forward, just intoxicated enough to feel no fear.
Keith smiled. “We had a call that someone was causing a few problems here, getting a little out of hand. We’re not looking to stop your party, just want to make sure everyone’s safe. Now, can you tell me your name?”
“Mike. Mike Fielding. But we haven’t had any problems, officers. Just some friends kicking back, having a good time.”
The girl at his elbow spoke up. “Maybe Lianne called them.”
Mike glared at her. “Why would Lianne do that, Stacy?”
Stacy rolled her eyes. “Cause Jeff was getting all jealous again about Jenny. You know how he gets when he’s drinking.”
Keith turned to her. “Stacy, that’s your name?” She nodded. “Stacy, can you tell me a little more about Jeff and Jenny?”
Stacy shrugged. “Sure. Jeff and Jenny are like a couple, right? But he’s all crazy possessive and thinks she’s gonna leave him for some other guy. He was yelling earlier about seeing her with Rick on campus, telling her he was never gonna let her leave him.”
Mike took her arm. “Stacy, that’s bullshit and you know it. Jeff was just talking to her.” He turned to Keith, “Officer, I’m sure this is all just a big misunderstanding, we’re all cool here.”
Stacy rolled her eyes. “Whatever, Mike. You’d think you could see what a psycho he is, what with being his roommate and all. Lianne’s just worried about Jenny.”
“How about you tell us where Jeff and Jenny are, we’ll check on them, and if everything’s fine, we’ll leave you to your party,” Keith suggested.
A scream rent the air from the upper floor, and suddenly even Mike looked worried. “Are they up there?” Keith asked.
“Yeah, his room’s at the end of the hall,” Mike responded.
Keith glanced at Ellis. “Keep everyone down here,” he directed to Mike as the two officers drew their guns and mounted the stairs.
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As they reached the landing above, they found a group of frightened students gathered around a door at the end of the hall.
“Are they in there?” Keith waved the group back.
One girl stuttered, “It’s Jeff, he’s got a gun and he has Jenny and Lianne. He has th door locked.”
Keith and Ellis exchanged a look. Ellis began to herd the group back towards the stairs. “Ladies and gentleman, please, we need you to move away and head downstairs.”
Keith jiggled the knob and found it locked. He knocked on the door, speaking calmly. “Jeff, my name is Officer Mars. I need you to open the door, please.”
A girl began screaming hysterically from inside the room, “He’s going to kill us, he’s got a gun, he’s got a gun.”
“We’re going to need back-up.” Ellis nodded as he moved to the end of the hallway to radio in quietly.
Keith moved back to the door. “Jeff, can you hear me?”
“Get away. I’m not letting her leave. She’s mine.” The boy’s voice was high and full of terror. “I’m not letting her leave me.”
Keith exchanged glances with Ellis as he came back towards the door and spoke quietly. “He sounds pretty hysterical.”
Ellis nodded. “You think you can keep him talking until back-up gets here, get him to open the door?”
Keith shrugged. “I can try.” He turned back to the door. “Jeff, we’re here to help you. Your girlfriend, her name’s Jenny, right?”
“Why, has she been running around with you too?” Jeff yelled back. “You two - stay over there, in the closet.”
Keith glanced as Ellis. “If he’s got them in the closet, you think we can distract him? Get the door open?”
“Let’s try it. You go round outside, see if we could use the window.” Ellis nodded and headed back down the stairs.
Keith turned back to the door. “Jeff, I’m here to help you. If you open that door, we can talk. I’m sure that Jenny doesn’t want to leave you.”
“She does. She’s moving to New York after graduation,” Jeff wailed through the door.
Keith moved into position, waiting for Ellis as he continued to speak soothingly. “That’s tough, Jeff, really tough. Maybe Jenny just needs a little space. You unlock the door and we can talk, settle this without anyone getting hurt. You wouldn’t want to hurt Jenny, would you?”
“I’m not letting her leave. She can’t ever leave me.” The bark of a pistol fired once, blending with a woman’s scream.
Keith cursed under his breath as he slammed into the door and broke the flimsy lock. He scanned the room quickly, gun drawn as he saw the boy holding the gun in a shaking hand as he knelt next to a sobbing girl cradling her friend in her arms. The blood spread in a growing pool across the wounded girl’s shirt.
Keith raised his gun, aimed. “Drop the gun, Jeff, or I will shoot you.”
Jeff stared at him, ashen faced, eyes blank for a moment as he glanced back to the body in front of him. He grabbed the girl kneeling beside him, holding the gun to her temple. “Let me go. I didn’t mean to. Just let me go, or I’ll shoot Lianne.”
Keith tightened his grip on his weapon. “Jeff, you don’t want to hurt someone else. If you just let her go, maybe we can get help for Jenny there. You don’t want her to die, do you?”
He edged closer slowly, hoping to find a clean shot, but the darkness of the room and the way Jeff had the girl held made a safe angle hard to find.
“Stop, it. Stop moving or I’ll-” Without warning Jeff jerked wildly and swung the pistol towards Keith, who swerved and found the opening he needed to take his shot. The echo of the guns sounded together as both men fell to the floor.
Lianne Reynolds glanced down at Jeff’s slack body, a bullet squarely through his forehead, and crawled across the debris of the room to the officer who had just saved her life. She touched him gently. “Officer? Are you okay?” She looked for blood, her hands patting frantically along his chest as his eyes slowly fluttered open.
“You’re alive! Did he miss?” Lianne gasped in surprise.
Keith groaned and slowly sat up with her assistance. He felt along his collar and slowly unbuttoned his shirt to reveal the pool of silver resting above his heart, flattened in the mesh of his bulletproof vest. He touched the flattened metal lightly.
“He didn’t miss. Guess it’s just my lucky night.”
She placed her hand over his as the room filled with officers and the wail of sirens drew nearer.
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There wasn’t much to do in Fresno as a twenty-two year old deputy. That is, until spring rolled around, and then, as every year, a young man’s fancy turned to . . . love.
Lianne visited him in the hospital until he was released with a diagnosis of cracked ribs and bruising that would make his chest a colorful map for several weeks. He assumed she came at first from a sense of gratitude for what he’d done, but as she continued to call and drop by the station as the weeks passed, he accepted that it was possibly something more.
They were married in September, after she’d graduated and he’d learned that he’d landed the job in Los Angeles. He watched the final game of the Grizzlies winning season the night before they moved, as Terrence Cook pitched his last Triple A game on his way up to the majors. He hadn’t been back to Fresno since.
Twenty years later, Lianne was gone, and his career in law enforcement was over. But he still had his first love, baseball. Until Terrence Cook sat across from him, larger than life, and destroyed that as well.
One day he’d learn that you needed more to shield your heart than a bulletproof vest.
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My scenario was: How to Take a Bullet
Frank Horrigan: I normally prefer not to get to know the people I’m protecting.
Lilly Raines: Oh yeah? Why’s that?
Frank Horrigan: Well, you never know. You might decide they’re not worth taking a bullet for.
-In The Line of Fire
The action hero faced with taking a bullet will have only a moment to react, and in that moment you must be prepared to give up your life. Remember, the assailant in the situation always has the upper hand - he knows what he’s about to do. You do not. And so, you must be prepared. You must be resolute and focused. And you must protect yourself with body armour whenever possible - at the very least, with a bulletproof vest or a bible over your heart. Try to keep your head low, and use these steps, compliments of security specialist Shawn Engbrecht, to stay alive and alert.