#Calley is the hero next door

[masterjarthub]

Here's Chug Patroller Calley! 🔴🔵⛑️🚨

Since this is her current form, I actually drew this one before I drew the original Calley.

I still can't forgive the fact that she was one of the characters cut from S6, not only is she the first responder of Chug Patrol, she was the original rescue chugger, a big mentor to the trainees, and one of the most vital characters in the show overall. So writing her out of the series was just an absolute crime...

[masterj]

It's time I posted more art! ＼(^-^)／ :)

Here's Calley with here fire and rescue cars!🔥👩‍🚒⛑️🧯

"Breakdown chugger coming throo-ooough!"

[sinsiriuslyemo]

Good morning guys!!! Here is another chapter of Making an Agent!! Thank you guys so much for reading this story :) I’m so happy that you’re enjoying it!!

Chapter Nine: Not Alone

Charlie was lying on her hammock in the living room of her condo, trying to pinpoint why she was having such a hard time with the fact that she’d turned Rafael away. It seemed so simple to know in her mind that she was not just attracted to him physically, but the more they got to know each other the more she felt drawn to him. At first she’d fooled herself into thinking that what was holding her back was the risk of being taken off of active status again.

This job was her life now, and the thought of losing it was too much for her to think about. Still, somehow, she felt something different with Rafael than with any other partner she’d gotten physical with. It was a true connection, a deep-rooted attachment.

Was that what she was afraid of? Something that was so close to what she had with Jake? A bond that was meaningful and could turn into something real?

Sighing heavily, she looked over at his file sitting on her coffee table where she'd left it.

It seemed like forever ago he was merely a sexy piece of eye candy for her to protect, though it had only been a little over two weeks.

So what if they did become physical? What was the worst that could happen? He could suggest that they be no more than that; friends with benefits...or in this case partners with benefits.

She could live with that...couldn’t she?

With another sigh, she got out of the hammock and went to her closet, pulling out a shoebox from the back and bringing it over to her bed. Sitting down, she opened the box and took out the photo of Jake that she kept inside.

Her grief came and went in waves; most of the time she could put up a front for the outside world, smile and be happy, but at night when it was just her with her thoughts, the pain took over. For months, her way to numb that pain was meaningless sex with anyone she was partnered with. Man or woman, it hadn’t ever mattered as long as there was a warm body next to hers.

The one thing she’d never done after Jake was killed was cry, and now she was realizing it was likely because she’d never let herself really feel the grief.

Setting the picture back into the box, she sighed and put the lid back on, shoving it back into the closet. One thing she knew for sure was that she did not want to be alone right now.

Not bothering to put shoes on, she left her condo and walked up to Rafael’s door. Her hand came up, but she hesitated for a moment before finally knocking. It didn’t take more than a couple of minutes for him to come to the door, already in pajamas.

“Hi,” he mumbled, clearly surprised to see her. “Is everything alright?”

“Yeah, I just...couldn’t sleep. I was hoping I could take you up on that drink,” she answered.

“Sure,” he replied, moving to let her in.

He poured them a couple of scotches while she went to sit on his couch, getting comfortable against the corner. She smiled up at him when he handed her the drink and sat down next to her, keeping a respectable distance between them.

“Why couldn’t you sleep?” he inquired softly, taking a small sip from his scotch.

“I think too much when it’s quiet,” she answered, earning a nod of understanding from him. “I didn’t interrupt some important bedtime routine, did I?”

He snorted a little, shaking his head as he took another sip from his scotch.

“I don’t really have a bedtime ritual beyond putting on my pajamas and getting into bed,” he answered. “Do you have a bedtime ritual?”

“I like to burn some incense. It relaxes me,” she replied. “Sometimes, depending on the day I smoke a little pot.”

“I didn’t hear that last part,” he said with a smirk, shaking his head.

“There’s nothing wrong with a little pot.”

“Other than the fact that it’s illegal,” he replied, still smirking as he looked over at her.

“It’s natural,” she argued. “It’s been decriminalized in most states, and it legal for medicinal purposes in New York.”

“Only nonsmokable forms of marijuana qualify for medicinal marijuana use.”

She couldn’t think of an argument and stayed staring at him for a moment before she rolled her eyes.

“Damn lawyers,” she muttered playfully, sipping her drink.

“That won’t interfere with...you know, work, will it?” He had to ask; if he was meant to trust her with his life, he needed to know that she was dependable.

“No, absolutely not. I never smoke while I’m out on assignment, and I don’t smoke that often anyhow,” she answered honestly.

He nodded his head, drinking a little more.

“Okay. I trust you.”

“Good,” she replied.

For a moment he just looked at her, deciding she looked really beautiful in this lighting.

“By the way, I absolutely agree, cedarwood is really pleasant in here,” she said, smiling at him. “Very manly,” she teased.

He smirked at her, arching a brow.

“I told you.”

“You did,” she replied.

A few moments of silence passed between them, the only sounds being the muted chorus of New York City from outside. A comfortable silence with an underlying tension in the air, and Rafael glanced around the room, eyes falling on the TV against the wall in front of them.

“Would you like to watch some TV?” he asked.

She smiled at him, nodding his head as he reached for the remote.

“Have you ever watched Bring It?”

“Bring it on? No, not my kind of movie,” he answered.

“Not Bring It On, Bring It. It’s a TV show about a group of hip hop dancers,” she clarified.

“Can’t say I have.”

“Can we watch that?” she inquired.

“Sure,” he replied, handing her the remote control. “Were you a dancer?”

“No,” she mumbled around a smile. “We couldn’t afford for me to take dance classes. I always wanted to, though. These girls are amazing, they deliver the wow factor every time.”

“It’s never too late,” he mused, looking over at her.

“Yeah right, I am way too old to be dancing hip hop,” she chuckled, subconsciously moving a little closer to him.

“You’re not old,” he mumbled.

“I never said I was old, I said I was too old to start learning dance,” she clarified. “But thanks.”

“Fair enough,” he replied, smiling softly. “I’m almost done with my training,” he said after a while.

“You think you’re ready to officially be an active agent?”

“I don’t know. I think so,” he answered.

“Well, you know just because your formal training is done, doesn’t mean you’re automatically an expert, so...you’ll still be learning until you get the hang of it,” she replied softly. “You did pretty well at the gala, and getting the DNA sample from Calley. Better than I thought, actually.”

“I think that will just come with more experience…”

“It will,” she agreed, nodding her head. “Once you finish your training, we can start working out together. Work on your hand to hand combat technique.”

“I’d like that,” he answered. “It’s completely out of my comfort zone, I usually use my mouth to fight.”

“I know...I read about your first case with SVU. Did you really ask the defendant to choke you with a belt?” she asked.

He nodded his head, pursing his lips around a smirk.

“I did everything and said everything I could to bait him, and he fell for it.”

“And almost choked you out in the process,” she observed with a smirk of her own, to which he shrugged.

“It was as effective as I’d hoped it would be. Besides, the victim was subjected to far worse. The least I could do was put my neck on the line for her.”

Charlie nodded, her eyes studying his profile as he took another sip from his scotch.

“I’m sure she appreciated that,” she said sincerely. “Not many prosecutors would fight that hard for a victim.”

“After what they survive, when they’re willing to walk into the lion's den of a trial, have their character attack, scrutinized...the least I can do is walk in front and try to shield them as much as I can. They’re the heroes, not me.”

She smiled softly, moving her elbow to lean against the back of the couch so that her head could rest in her palm.

“Well most lawyers I know are only interested in  the win,” she replied. “It’s refreshing to see someone different.”

“And, how will it work when we get an assignment? Will I have to take a leave?” he inquired.

“If I were to venture a guess, we’ll likely always have an assignment that’ll keep us in the city, so you won’t have to take a leave. If we do happen to get an assignment out of state, we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it,” she answered. “Let’s just take it one day at a time. Right now, we need to stay out of sight, so we stay out of sight. As far as the DA is aware, you’re in the witness protection.”

“And that just supposed to mean that he won’t try to find me?” he asked sarcastically.

“Oh no, he probably already is trying to find you,” she answered honestly. “He won’t though. He can look under every rock, pull every string, and he still won’t find us.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“You don’t think after the first attack on HQ we didn’t learn a few things?” she replied with a smirk, arching a brow at him.

“I’m just asking…”

“He won’t. Trust me.”

He nodded his head, looking at her in the eyes.

“I do.”

Turning back to the TV, they watched the dancing show, talking every so often until after three hours, he looked over and found her asleep beside him. Moving carefully, he set their empty glasses on the coffee table, gently laying her down and grabbing the throw that was draped on the back of the couch, placing it over her and moving a cushion under her head. He softly stroked her hair for a moment before going into his bedroom and going to sleep.