deird1: Fred looking pretty and thoughful (Default)
[personal profile] deird1 posting in [community profile] still_grrr
Title: On Duty
Author: [livejournal.com profile] deird1
Rating: PG
Word Count: 1050
Prompt: 114 (sword)
Characters: two OCs from Sunnydale




On Duty

At 2300 hours, October 14, 2000, at the corner of Figaro and Pike, a Caucasian woman with blonde hair walked across the road absentmindedly, carrying a sword and a severed head, and narrowly avoided being hit by their police car.

He hit the brakes sharply, skidding the car to a stop. “Shit! Did you see that?”

Sanchez looked up, far too nonchalantly, spotted the woman (who had just reached the sidewalk), raised an eyebrow, and said, “What the hell – we might as well. After all, it’s a slow night.”

Slow?

Dave was rapidly coming to the conclusion that Sanchez was delusional. Or schizophrenic. Or just plain nuts.

They’d only been partners for three days, and so far, they’d broken up about fifteen bar fights, stopped two robberies, failed to stop three more, investigated ten missing persons cases, and found nine people bleeding to death in alleyways from neck wounds.

And every time they got back to the station, Sanchez’s entire report was a shrug and “it’s pretty quiet out there”.

Slow night? Yeah, ’cause women running round with swords was so uneventful.

At least Sanchez wanted to stop her.

Dave opened the car door, and did a quick inventory. Badge, gun, notebook, cuffs, emergency backup gun… yep. All present and correct.

He sighted the suspect, cautiously reached down and unclipped his holster, and carefully-

“Put the gun away, Anders.”

He paused.

Sanchez was looking exasperated. “What, you’re planning to shoot someone before we’ve even talked to her?”

“But she-”

“That might be how you did things in Missouri, but we’re in Sunnydale. Just… follow my lead.”

…and he just walked after her, not even bothering to check his surroundings.

Dave hesitated, and then followed him.

“Excuse me, miss. One moment.”

She jumped, and spun to face them, putting her hands behind her back. “Er… yes, officers?”

Sanchez talked slowly, politely – clearly doing a slow lead-in to the Dramatic Arrest Of Dangerous Suspect Carrying Disassembled Body Parts. (Dave started mentally writing up his report, and almost missed what his partner was saying.)

“I noticed you crossed the street back there.”

“Yeah, I did.”

“In the middle of the road. With cars everywhere.”

“Um…”

“You are aware that jaywalking is illegal, and can carry a fine?”

“…yes?”

Sanchez was actually threatening to write her up for jaywalking? Jaywalking?

“Do you have a driver’s licence on you, miss? Or any other form of identification?”

She’s carrying a severed head! And a big sword! Why do you need-

“Just a moment.” The woman tried to pass the head (which was now dripping some sort of ooze) from one hand to the other, behind her back, but wasn’t successful. “Oops.” She looked sheepishly at Sanchez, and passed him the sword, using her free hand to pull a wallet out of her back pocket. “It’s in here, I think.”

Big dripping head! Pay attention!

Dave decided to interrupt. “Ma’am, I’m afraid I’m going to need to caution you that-”

“Miss Summers – of Revello Drive.” Sanchez was talking as if Dave hadn’t said anything. “Is this still your address?”

“Yep. That’s my place. Err… my mom’s place, anyway.”

“I see.”

SHE IS CARRYING A HEAD. IT’S DRIPPING WEIRD ORANGE BLOOD ALL OVER THE SIDEWALK. IT’S RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU, SANCHEZ YOU FOOL.

Sanchez cleared his throat sternly. “Well, Miss Summers, you understand that jaywalking is prohibited for a reason? No matter how careful someone thinks they’re being, ignoring the road rules can still get them hurt. And I’m afraid the law is the law, no matter who you are.”

“Yeah. Um… sorry about that.”

“If I see this kind of behaviour again, I will have to fine you.”

She nodded, trying to look contrite. “Thanks, officer. I understand. Really – no more jaywalking. Bad jaywalking. Got it.”

This was just insane.

Sanchez smiled. “Well, that seems to be all.” He passed the sword back to her, commenting, “That’s really a very nice sword – plastic, is it?”

“Uh, yeah.” The woman took the sword in an orange-ooze-covered hand, and it slipped out of her grasp and hit the ground with a very loud clang. She and Sanchez both seemed not to notice. She wiped her hand on her jeans, and picked it up again. “Plastic. Uh-huh.”

There was nothing for it. Dave was going to have to take control of the situation. He reached for his cuffs. “Ma’am, please turn around and put your-”

Sanchez cleared his throat loudly. “Thank you, Miss Summers. You have a nice night.”

“Thanks!”

“Good luck.” He nodded politely, and turned back to the car, steering Dave along with him in a vice-like grip.

“What-”

“Shh.”

“But you-”

“Just get in the car. Trust me.”

Dave pulled out of his grip, and protested, “But she was carrying a weapon! A dangerous weapon! And… and a head! Severed head!”

Sanchez raised an eyebrow. “Really?”

“You just let her go!”

A sigh. “Look, if you want to go back to the station and tell them you saw a blonde girl running down the street carrying a sword, go right ahead. It’ll be entertaining.” He opened the car door, and got in.

Dave followed him, still upset. “Look, Sanchez, you can’t just ignore the law just to make things easier. That’s completely-”

“Shut up, Anders.” Sanchez picked up the radio. “Hey, this is Sanchez.”

“Go ahead, Sanchez,” came the response.

“We’re having a nice night out here. Excellent weather.”

“Ahh. Sunny, hot, practically summer?”

Sunny? Dave looked around, puzzled. No, it was definitely night-time…

“That’s right.” Sanchez paused for a moment, and then continued: “She was heading south – looks like she’d been coming from Sandon Park. You might want to have someone check it out tomorrow morning.”

“Sure. Anything else?”

“Seems to have some new equipment. Standard sword, I think.”

“Okay. Thanks, Sanchez.”

“Not a problem.” He put down the radio, and looked over, raising an eyebrow again. “Well?”

Dave glared at him. “What about the severed head?”

“Taken care of.”

“You just let that woman walk off with it!”

“Exactly.” Sanchez sighed, and motioned for him to start the car. “Give it a couple of years and you’re going to make a good cop, Anders, but you still have a fair bit to learn. Just stick with me – you’ll figure it out eventually.”


Date: 2009-04-19 11:27 pm (UTC)
ext_76909: (Default)
From: [identity profile] nothorse.livejournal.com
This is chuckle-out-loud brilliant. Love it.

Date: 2009-04-19 11:33 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] slaymesoftly.livejournal.com
I love it! Great glimpse into Sunnydale's finest and their lives. :)

Date: 2009-04-20 07:23 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] mabus101.livejournal.com
Bwah!

I usually take more serious looks at the stuff going on elsewhere in Sunnydale, but you remind me it's not all gloom and apocalypsey doom!

Date: 2009-04-20 08:46 am (UTC)
ext_7259: (Default)
From: [identity profile] moscow-watcher.livejournal.com
Incredibly clever story. I love that SD police has its own informal codes to talk about Buffy's activities. People *do* adjust to everything, indeed.

Bravo!

Image (http://photobucket.com)

Date: 2009-04-20 10:18 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ozma914.livejournal.com
Brilliant! That's a lot like how it goes between rookies and old guys even in normal towns!

I've been thinking for some time about doing a story about the Sunnydale Fire Department ...

Date: 2009-04-23 04:52 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ozma914.livejournal.com
There would be lots of chances to tie in with the series -- I ever planned out in my head the possibility of making is an AU crossover: with the Firefly cast as firefighters and paramedics.

But that would become long and complicated, and I'm trying to dedicate myself to write (and sell) more original fiction. I'm not stepping away from fanfic entirely, but I don't know if I'm ready to take on something like that.

Date: 2009-04-20 05:43 pm (UTC)
snowpuppies: (Default)
From: [personal profile] snowpuppies
Huh. This was so interesting. I never thought about the what the cops in Sunnydale must think. It was a nice device, pairing an outsider with a local - the contrast worked wonderfully.

Date: 2009-04-20 05:55 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] brunettepet.livejournal.com
It's great that not all the police are as terminally stupid as the Scoobies would have us believe! Buffy juggling her sword and that severed head while digging for her license was hysterical, as was Dave's bug eyed incredulity as the entire scene unfolded. I love that for force has their own code to follow Buffy's activities without sounding completely insane to the outside world.

Thanks for charing this fun, funny story.

Date: 2009-04-20 06:13 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] brutti-ma-buoni.livejournal.com
Hee! Well, how else to deal with Buffyness, I guess?

Date: 2009-04-20 06:21 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] louise39.livejournal.com
Sunnydale police know how to see what happens in their strange town, I guess. The new officer idea was inspired!

Date: 2009-04-20 08:09 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] wyvernwolf.livejournal.com
That was inspired! Nice peek into how the Sunnydale police force approach Buffy and her activities.

Loved Dave's inner thoughts during the whole thing.

Thanks!

Date: 2009-04-22 04:25 am (UTC)
snickfic: (Cordelia excited)
From: [personal profile] snickfic
Bwah hah hah! Fabulous. Oh Sunnydale, how very strange you are. I especially liked how the cops have their own code for dealing with Ms. Summers...

Date: 2009-04-22 08:17 pm (UTC)
angelus2hot: (Angel/Buffy surprise me)
From: [personal profile] angelus2hot
Hee!

Brilliantly written!!

Date: 2009-04-22 10:15 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] riccadonna.livejournal.com
Hey, this is excellent!
It actually explains a lot about Sunnydale police, and it was about time someone put things in their right place.
"Sunny, hot, practically summer": this line is priceless.

Date: 2009-07-04 04:16 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sam-arkand.livejournal.com
*dies happily*

Clearly post Mayor Wilkins, where the cops aren't under the Snakey One's thumb. Nice to see that a few aren't either idiots or corrupt.

Reminds me, I have got to do something with a plot bunny I had: Kate Lockley is hired by the Cleveland Police Department. Seems Elliot Ness (he was CPD Commish after his Untouchables career) set up a special squad once he got wind of Cleveland's *ahem* "underworld".

"Welcome to Unusual Crimes, Detective. Here's your badge, crossbow, coffee mug..."

Here from buffyversetop5

Date: 2010-01-16 07:30 pm (UTC)
yourlibrarian: Angel and Lindsey (Default)
From: [personal profile] yourlibrarian
“Ahh. Sunny, hot, practically summer?”

Ha, she has her own code phrase! I love this POV, and a great explanation for how she got away with so much over the years.

Date: 2010-01-17 05:10 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] draconin.livejournal.com
I missed this one! Very amusing and nicely understated. I half expected Carl to be on the other end of the radio. *g*

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