far from any road

"Of course I am dangerous. I'm a cop. I can do horrible things to people with impunity."

[deeochman]

Dee was so confused by everything that was happening. She could have never guessed that she would get stuck with such a sourpuss as a partner in a million years or that he would act like she was just going to quietly go along with whatever it was he thought a partnership was supposed to be. And when his gaze stared right through her, she turned around to see people she didn’t know gathered around a desk who started to shuffle off towards their own respective desks when Queenan’s eyes met theirs. Were they afraid of him?

She wasn’t sure how people around this precinct usually acted towards him, but Dee had never met such a cliche and surely wasn’t about to just follow him around like a lost puppy. She had a career to think of. And her own safety in the field. “That may be what works best for you, but that’s not what works best for me, and if we expect to get any cases solved and not get fired, I think it might be in both our best interests to compromise,” she said, folding her arms across her chest. “I’m not trying to be admirable, or asking you to change. I’m not sure what sort of ideas you have about me in your head, but I’m trying to make sure both our asses are covered in the streets, Queenan, and if you can’t accept that, I suggest you put in for a new partner.”

[leonqueenan-blog]

Somehow knowing that their business was far from unfinished, Leon began to walk once more. He just knew that she would follow along and he also knew that the eyes of every single one of their co-workers would be doing the same. Ochman didn't know what she had signed up for (and surely she was kept in the dark on purpose) but she would soon learn and, given his history, probably request a transfer. It was the same old vicious cycle but at least he was honest about who he was. Leon despised it when people hid their true nature, when they sugar coated things because they wanted to seem likable or fit in. He often wondered if he used to be that person before Sofia died but the thought of her often brought that feeling of his chest being crushed and wiped it from memory.

Did it matter? This was how he was now and he highly doubted some new hire could change that. "And what is it that you propose when you speak about 'compromise'?" Leon asked, not turning to look at her as he made a sharp right. "I have no idea's about you. I don't care to. The only thing I care about is you not getting in the way. Believe me, this isn't my first rodeo when it comes to partners demanding certain things from me. If I could work alone, I would and if I had the choice of choosing my partner, I would love that too. However, this isn't the kind of world we live in."

[deeochman]

Her sneakers nearly squeaked on the tile floor as she dug her heels in the ground to stop when Queenan stopped so aburptly. Her brow knit together in the middle of her forehead as he spoke, and she began to wonder if what people had told her before was true. Delilah Ochman was essentially an open book. Had always been when it came to work. And this wasn’t her first rodeo—in fact she had been a detective for nearly five years now and she and her previous partner had been something of best friends to each other. They knew what move the other would make before the person knew what they would do themselves, which is what made them such a good team.

She held her hands up in confusion, shaking her head as she tried to process it all. “So what you’re basically telling me is that everything I’ve been told up until now is wrong?” She scoffed, and pushed stray hairs out of her face that were starting to unplaster themselves from her forehead. “Forgive me if I have a hard time agreeing with you. I’m not asking you to be my best friend, have drinks with me after work, or meet my cat. I’m asking you to earn my trust so that you can earn mine and we can be real partners instead of playing pretend.”

[leonqueenan-blog]

Leon did respect where she was coming from and he could tell that she would be a good partner in terms of being trustworthy—and most definitely kind even. She had that kind of aura to her; a naturally inviting person and he didn't know her back story besides what the captain had shared with him regarding work (which happened to be all good things), but he could sense nothing but good in her. It wasn't that he wasn't excited about having a new partner, or was putting her through the ringer, so much as he was just plain uninterested. People came, and then, they left. His last partner did at least and it wasn't before they bruised each other up real bad, with Leon nearly breaking his jaw against the back bumper of his truck. The one before was shot to death and the very first couldn't handle his level of "pessimism." He wondered what her excuse would be.

When it was all said and done, he felt bad for her. It had been a long time since he had been an agreeable man. "No. I'm telling you what would work best between us," Leon replied, his eyes traveling to the other colleagues he saw gossiping on the corner. Rewarding them with a stare that said he knew what they were up to, his turned his attention back to his new partner. "That's very admirable. However given how long it's taken me to reconcile my nature, I can't figure I'd forego it on your account, Ochman. We'll see what happens."

[deeochman]

Dee had heard things about her new partner and she chose not to put too much stock in all the rumors because everyone deserved a good first impression. Or at least the chance to make one. And if she wasn’t keeping a strong, somewhat brisk pace, Dee might have stopped in her tracks at his words. She had a good record, impeccable almost, and a certainly immaculate sparring record, and yet he chose to complain about coffee that was never any good anyways. “Uh, coffee?” She asked confused, slipping her hands through the sleeves of the jacket she was holding and zipped it up before the cool air of the office could make an effect on her body. “Sir, would it really have made a difference if you had coffee or not when introducing myself?”

[leonqueenan-blog]

Leon had never been one to explain himself or his methods; he just did or said what he felt at the time. He was a simple man. There wasn't much a person truly had to do to understand him yet many people often questioned his methods or his habits; why he constantly doodled extremely detailed sketches of the victims that had haunted him, why he never want out for late night drinks with the others yet could always be found sitting at the same bar by himself, and why he refused to talk to others without having his first cup of coffee.

He didn't expect Dee to understand, she was new, and for that he wouldn't fault her but, like most of his former partners, she would have to learn his ways quickly so that there would be no friction between them. It had been brought to his attention many times that plenty of people took his brutally honest, stoic behavior personally. So instead of explaining, he simply sighed. "Listen, Dee was it?" He began, coming to a halt. "We don't need to be buddies, or know little secrets about each other, or build a close bond because we're partners. The only thing you need to do is watch my back and I'll watch yours. How is that for an introduction?"

[deeochman]

leonqueenan

Dee laid eyes on who she assumed to her superior officer as he swept past her as she was leaving the gym without even a second glance. “Hey! You’re Officer Queenan, right?” She asked, catching up with him in the hallway. “I’m Dee. Dee Ochman. I’m supposed to be your new partner.”

[leonqueenan-blog]

Leon had just barely managed to step out of the locker room before he heard someone call out to him. It most definitely wasn't a voice he recognized but, as he turned to make eye contact with the stranger, he knew who she was. The Captain had informed him of her transfer and he was dreading it a bit just because he hated dealing with someone new. Naturally, he eyed her from head to toe as she introduced herself; she was attractive which meant that she probably was going to have problems with the others, looked green, and no doubt, young. Still, he wouldn't judge her on her appearance alone. "Right." He said, keeping his pace as she caught up to him. "You could've at least waited until I had a cup of coffee to make introductions."