black, blue

vanessa caan. thirty. head detective, morris p.d. previously from oakland.

[vanessa-caan-blog]

jvcksonknight:

it’s not that he has anywhere to be that drives the initial irritation to the surface when jack’s stopped but rather just the fact that he’s been stopped, and even that fades within seconds: specifically, the moment where he locks eyes with the woman and is instantly filled with empathy for her. god knows how many times he’s been in that position with his baby brother, back when he was still a baby; the kid would wander as kids tend to do, and immediately he hopes that this is the case for the stranger – for her kid’s sake. but all the same, he knows firsthand that it’s rarely that simple, especially at night. jack stops and his typically neutral expression softens into concern, and beyond that, it becomes focused. “ hey, hey, okay, lady – look at me, okay? take a breath, freakin’ out isn’t gonna help. i been there, i know. what’s your kid look like? what they wearin’? bout how old? i know this place like the back of my hand – i got you. ” he means that from the bottom of his heart, and with the firm but sincere look in his eyes, it shows. 

as he waits for a response, he darts his eyes around the corners of the area and thinks about where a kid might be drawn to — or worse, a predator. god, don’t be that, and god, don’t be someone i know. looking back at her, he asks a final question, “ how long’s it been? a couple seconds? he ain’t far, there’s nowhere to go but two ways. we can split up. ”

Vanessa's panic was slowly giving way to desperation -- she couldn't help but list all of the enemies she's made at work throughout the years and what they would do to her son. At first, the stranger she stopped seemed annoyed. However, he quickly became very helpful. "He's almost four, about this tall, blonde hair. His name is Harrison -- he's wearing a grey tee shirt," she said, without pause. He was right, she needed to take a moment and calm down so she could focus on finding him. "Thank you," she said for the first time, stealing a glance at his eyes.,

Vanessa nods, "Okay, we'll split up. You take that street and I'll go here," she pointed to two streets which ran parallel. She wasn't sure how Harrison would react to the man, but she was so desperate to find him that it didn't matter. Vanessa placed her hand on the gun tucked between her jeans and her back. She had no idea what to expect -- part of her hoped that Harrison had just wandered off, but realistically this was not likely.

[vanessa-caan-blog]

badgirl-harley:

Harley was baked put of her mind, she had decided to enjoy the beauty of the fountain by running her hands through the water when a cute little boy ran up to her. Harley had been arrested so many times she knew the officers like the back of her hand an their families too. Doing her best to sober up and be responsible she got up taking Harrison’s hand firmly,her green eyes scanning carefully until she spotted Officer Caan.”Excuse me officer.”she interrupted the older woman’s conversation with the stranger.”I found this little boy and I swear i could of just kept him.”

The stranger was trying to console Vanessa, which was the opposite of what she wanted right now. Instead of helping her find Harrison, the older woman was patting her shoulder and telling her everything will be okay. She turned quickly when the familiar figure approached with her son in tow. Immediately, Vanessa dropped to her knees and hugged Harrison to her. "Thank you so much," she said to Harley. She'd seen the girl at the precinct before, usually for petty crimes and drugs. It was quite clear that she was under the influence of marijuana, but because she'd just retrieved her son, Vanessa turned a blind eye. She ruffled her son's hair and looked him in the eye, "Let's not do that again, okay? You scared me." She kissed his forehead as he nodded. Vanessa looked again at Harley, "It was really good of you to bring him to me. Thank you."

[vanessa-caan-blog]

most attractive people?

I just got back from a fourteen-year absence, so I don’t really anyone’s names. There’s this mechanic who’s cute, but way too young. And that baker isn’t bad looking! plus he has cake, so… no downside. I guess I’m obligated to say Leo, because he’s my friend, right? Fifteen-year-old me was crushing pretty hard on him, I will admit.

[vanessa-caan-blog]

Who gives you the most problems when you're on the job?

off the record, the police chief is most definitely sexist. he always doubts my ability to accomplish the most menial tasks. it’s ridiculous.

other than him, I’ve always been involved in shutting down gangs which gets tough because they’re so complex and connected – and there’s usually a dirty cop or two involved.

[vanessa-caan-blog]

what's your ideal type?

my ideal partner is someone funny and honest, respectful, and who likes kids. specifically my kid. he has to be okay with me wearing the pants in the relationship sometimes (read: most of the time). I don’t know, honesty is the most important thing to me. 

[vanessa-caan-blog]

One minute, Harrison was tugging on her arm to go see the fountain. The next, he was gone. She watched him stand on his toes to see the bottom of the fountain and then her phone rang. She glanced at it for a second, ignored the call, and looked back up -- but now her son was gone. She immediately kicked into freaked-out mom mode. She cursed herself and against her better judgment, expected the worst. What if someone she arrested was trying to get revenge by kidnapping her kid? The worry apparent in her eyes, she stopped a stranger, "Excuse me, can you help me find my kid? Shit, shit, shit."

[vanessa-caan-blog]

howellbaking:

“Garrett”  he said shaking her hand and smiling.  “I guess we’ll be seeing a lot of each other. 

“Wow sublime I like that”  he said thinking of the name.  “Its supposed to taste like lemon Italian ice”  he said as he watched her eat it.  “I’m going for summer ideas.”

She laughed, "Wait, do you have a lime flavor? You should name that one sublime. Wow, I'm a genius." She nodded, picking out another sample. "These are all fantastic. Seriously, I've never tasted anything like it."

[vanessa-caan-blog]

it's HONEST HOUR, my dudes!

[vanessa-caan-blog]

drxleo:

        Holding her again in his arms like he had done so many times in the past still had the same affect on him as it had when he was just a foolish teenager. Holding her like this crumbled down the wall he always carefully build between himself and other people. Back when they knew each other better he embraced this feeling, he found it soothing not having to be anything but himself but right now it terrified him. “I’ve missed you too, freak” He breathed out, a hint of a smile playing across his lips while his face was buried in her blonde locks before reluctantly pulling himself away from her. “Not bad? Wow should I be offended? I look great, I’m like a fine wine that only gets better with each year that pasts” He rambled on, his words too fast and blending together like they did whenever he was nervous or, well whenever he felt guilty about something and right now he sure as hell felt guilty. He should have picked up the phone when she called. He had been sitting in bet with yet another warm body that he hadn’t even bother with learning the name of when the phone rang and he simply couldn’t do it anymore. He was an idiot, he knows that know. He should have picked up and tried to do whatever in his power to keep their friendship going. He should have but he didn’t and there’s nothing he could do about it right now other then to talk to her and learn what he has missed in those years they were apart. “Yeah I’m off and starving” With slow and lazy movement he stood up from the chair and walked across the waiting room until they reached the front door which opened for them, embracing them with warm spring wind. “So… A lot has happened, huh? Let me guess are you married and disgustingly in love?”

For a split second, Vanessa felt like a kid again. She remembered all of the trouble she and Leo used to get in and laughed to herself. They were crazy, but they shared everything. It'd been a long time since she'd felt that close to someone. Though it had been years since she'd seen him, everything about him was familiar. He was comfortable, but not boring. His comment ruined the moment and laughter burst out of her chest, "You're such a dick." Vanessa ran a hand through her hair and rolled her eyes at Leo. She crinkled her nose, "Hmm, I don't know about wine. Maybe cheese. You've definitely aged and you kind of smell weird, but still good." She remembered her relationship with Harrison's father and it was completely different; it was never so carefree and friendly. She'd loved him, but never like this. It wasn't fair to compare every guy in her life to Leo, but she did it anyways. "Thank God, so am I," she said. Had she remembered to eat lunch? Vanessa followed him out of the hospital and took a deep breath of the fresh air. His question lingered in the quiet as she considered her answer. Of course, she wanted to tell him about Harrison, but she didn't know how to explain it. Honestly, she was a little afraid of his reaction -- people either congratulated her or judged her. She wasn't completely sure how he'd react. "Nope, I'm all independent and focusing on my career and all that feminist bullshit." She glanced over at him, laughing. "What about you? I don't see a ring."

[vanessa-caan-blog]

ffsmitchweston:

Mitch chuckled, “I work down at the auto shop.”

"Good guy to know for when my car inevitably breaks down," she commented. "I'm Vanessa."

[vanessa-caan-blog]

howellbaking:

“Yeah I’m working the cake walk trust me they will be there”  he laughed then nodded.  “yeah these ones aren’t for sale yet… Sshhh dont tell anyone the cake walk is my testing kitchen.  So tray any of them on this table.”

Vanessa smiled, "Oh? Well, so I am I. I'm Vanessa." She stuck her hand out to shake his. It was about time she started meeting new people in this town. Her eyes lit up at the sight of the test cakes. She had no idea what flavors they were, but she didn't much care. She took a bite out of a yellow and white swirled cake and closed her eyes, savoring the burst of sweetness in her mouth. "Shit, I don't know what it is but it's sublime ."

[vanessa-caan-blog]

haydenmills:

Coming to the carnival was probably a poor idea on her part. She was more of a homebody nowadays and clearly forcing herself out just made her think about how poor her life was in comparison to others. Happy couples, younger people, the occasional familiar face. She felt ashamed that she had come back to this town such a failure. So, before she headed home, she took advantage of any food truck selling alcohol. She hadn’t even realized how drunk she had gotten until she was stumbling over herself. “Wh-huh?” she looked over to the woman who was speaking. “Man.” she sighed, doing her best to steady herself. The last thing she needed was a ticket, or worse, jail time. “Do you know the guy?” she wondered about the cop. “Thanks for the tip, though. I…I didn’t mean to get like this here. Shit. Um, coffee. Yeah.”

Vanessa studied the girl as she steadied herself. "You're Leo's siter? I'm a friend of his," she explained. She didn't know much about Hayden, only that she used to play soccer and then had some sort of accident. Vanessa placed a hand on the girl's shoulder to steady her and lead her away from the crowd. "Yeah, I work with him," she chuckled. "No harm, no foul. I'm Vanessa, by the way." sister? I'm a friend of his," she explained. She didn't know much about Hayden, only that she used to play soccer and then had some sort of accident. Vanessa placed a hand on the girl's shoulder to steady her and lead her away from the crowd. "Yeah, I work with him," she chuckled. "No harm, no foul. I'm Vanessa, by the way."

[drownedintofiction]

[vanessa-caan-blog]

drxleo:

         It was in a way a surreal feeling, sitting there in the buzzing waiting room looking at the one person he had known everything about, but now after all these years she had become nothing more then just another stranger he hadn’t even recognized at first sight. It was strangely tragic how someone so important could completely disappear from his life. Not that it was either of their fault, she had to leave and he had to stay. Yes they called each other for a while but eventually the phone calls became shorter and the conversations eventually became forced. There was nothing they could do about it, they were just kids, but now they were all grown up. She was a detective and he was a doctor and it seemed as if both of them had their lives together, so they did alright after being separated but it still felt all wrong. When they had been friends, when they had spend most of their days together he had never thought he would have a life without her in it. Leo’s eyes followed Vanessa’s every movement as she spoke on the phone to one of her co workers and he truthfully had no idea what he could tell her. Why was he here? Why hadn’t he picked up the damn phone when she called him that last time? “Why am I here? Well I could ask you the same question. I thought you would never step foot in Morris again” he dropped his arms and gave a long sigh, meeting her gaze. “Well I wanted to be closer to my family. They seemed to need me and I needed them, but I was only going to stay for a weekend but I guess I was homesick ‘cause I couldn’t leave again” The corners of Leo’s lips turned up into a lazy  smile. “Now you need to tell me about you. What have you been doing since the last time we’ve talked… Oh and Vanessa you look great”

Any thoughts of her job or the case completely left her mind at the sight of Leo. She hadn't realized how much she missed him -- how long had it been since they'd talked? Maybe four years? She remembered the last time she called. It was the day she got the news about being considered for police chief. She was elated and the first person she wanted to call was Leo. Feelings of disappointment rose in her chest, but she chastised herself. It was a good thing that he hadn't answered. It was good for them to move on. But now, here they were again and none of Vanessa's feelings had ever really left. It was strange to how now, even though they'd been apart for years, everything felt the same. She chuckled. He wasn't wrong. She had a cloudy memory of her sixteen-year-old self, spewing promises she never intended to keep about not returning to her hometown. She remembered how Leo had calmed her with his hushed tones and gentle words, he told her everything was going to be okay and that they'd keep in touch. He was everything she needed back then. Impulsively, Vanessa pulled him into a hug. "I missed you," she told him, suddenly embarrassed at her outburst of affection. A million questions ran through her mind. She wanted to ask about his family -- how was his sister? She wanted to know all of the details about what happened when he left. She couldn't help but wonder if he'd met someone. "Thank you. You don’t look so terrible yourself," she teased. Everything seemed so natural. "A lot has happened..." she trailed off, wondering how to even begin that story. "Listen, are you off work? Why don't we grab something to eat?"

[vanessa-caan-blog]

@haydenmills

Things at the cakewalk were slowing down, probably due to the concert at the other end of the carnival. Vanessa took the opportunity to walk around and see the rest of the attractions. She waved at a couple of officers from work but didn't stop to talk -- she was still relatively new and didn't necessarily want to meet their families at the moment. While she was walking, someone caught her eye. A young woman who looked to be in her twenties was quite obviously intoxicated. Vanessa approached her, "A word of advice, that man is a cop and he's a hardass. I wouldn't be surprised if he arrested you for public intoxication," she advised, motioning to her colleague. "Can I buy you a coffee?" she offered.

[vanessa-caan-blog]

howellbaking:

“Well that is the pan I’m planning on testing quite a few out on the cake walk”  He nodded then gestured at another.  “I also have a s’mores one i’m working on its not quite right yet”

She smiled eagerly, "Well, hey, if you feel like giving any donations for the cake walk, I'll be sure to give credit." Vanessa looked at the cake he motioned towards, "Are you offering me a sample?"

[vanessa-caan-blog]

ffsmitchweston:

“I don’t know, seems like an impossible deal to not take.”

She nodded, seriously. "You'd be an idiot not to take it. What do you actually do around here, anyway?"