ex seal

– Ow, my head. – Ava groaned, pushing herself up on an elbow. The sunlight streaming through the blinds was doing her no favors, assaulting her already throbbing skull. Her hand instinctively went to her temple, rubbing at the dull ache.

A low murmur from beside her reminded her she wasn’t alone. She turned her head slowly, wincing at the movement, and saw him. Tim Bradford. Still asleep, his face relaxed, a faint stubble dusting his jaw. Last night came rushing back in a hazy, alcohol-fueled montage: the bar, the easy laughter, the shared stories, the undeniable spark, and then… this.

A flush crept up her neck. She wasn’t one for one-night stands, not really. Her life in the Navy had been too structured, too focused for casual encounters. But last night had been different. There was something about Tim’s intensity, his quiet confidence, that had drawn her in. And the way he’d looked at her, like he truly saw her, not just the tough exterior she usually presented.

She swallowed, her throat dry. This was… complicated. She was starting her new life, a rookie cop in the LAPD, and now she’d apparently started it by sleeping with a detective. Or was he a patrol officer? Honestly, she couldn’t quite remember his rank or specific unit. Another detail lost to the tequila.

Carefully, so as not to wake him, she slipped out of bed. Her clothes were a scattered trail from the door, a silent testament to the passion of the previous night. She gathered them quickly, pulling on her underwear and then her jeans. Her shirt was a bit wrinkled, but nothing a quick smoothing couldn’t fix. Her motorcycle jacket, her armor, was slung over a chair. She grabbed it, feeling a familiar sense of security as she pulled it on.

As she reached for her boots, a small sound escaped Tim. She froze, her heart thumping. He stirred, his eyes fluttering open. Blue, intense, and now, a little confused.

– Morning, – he mumbled, his voice rough with sleep. He blinked, clearly trying to piece things together. His gaze landed on her, already dressed, and a flicker of understanding, and maybe a touch of disappointment, crossed his face.

– Morning, – Ava replied, her voice a little too clipped. She felt a sudden urge to flee, to escape this awkwardness. She wasn’t good at this. The morning-after small talk. The unspoken questions.

He pushed himself up, leaning against the headboard. The sheet dipped, revealing his bare chest. Ava’s gaze lingered for a moment, appreciating the lean muscle, before she forced herself to look away.

– You’re, uh… leaving already? – he asked, a hint of something she couldn’t quite decipher in his tone.

– Gotta get to work, – she said, pulling on her boots. She avoided his eyes, focusing on the laces. – Big day. First day as a rookie.

A beat of silence. Then, Tim let out a low chuckle, a sound that sent a strange warmth through her.

– Rookie, huh? – he said, a smirk playing on his lips. – Well, good luck with that. It’s a tough gig.

She finally met his gaze. – I can handle tough.

– I bet you can, – he said, his eyes crinkling at the corners. The smirk softened into a genuine smile. – Well, it was… memorable.

– It was, – Ava agreed, a small smile touching her own lips. The awkwardness eased a fraction.

– Maybe I’ll see you around, then, – he said, his eyes lingering on her.

– Maybe, – she replied, a sudden flutter in her stomach. She turned and headed for the door. – Thanks for… everything.

– Anytime, – he called out, and she could hear the amusement in his voice.

She closed the door behind her, letting out a long breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. She made her way out of his apartment building, her mind a whirlwind. First day. Rookie. And she’d just slept with a fellow cop. This was going to be interesting.

***

The morning air was crisp and cool as Ava parked her motorcycle in the designated rookie lot at the LAPD station. She took a deep breath, trying to calm the jittery nerves that had been building since she woke up. This was it. The start of her new life. No more Navy, no more deployments. Just the streets of Los Angeles.

She walked into the station, the controlled chaos of it all immediately washing over her. Officers milled about, some grabbing coffee, others already suited up and heading out. The scent of stale coffee and cleaning supplies hung in the air, a strangely comforting smell.

She found her way to the locker room, where a few other rookies were already gathered, a mix of nervous energy and eager anticipation radiating from them. A tall, lanky guy with kind eyes introduced himself as Jackson West.

– Hey, I’m Jackson, – he said, extending a hand. – You must be Ava. Heard there was another new one starting today.

– Ava Sharp, – she replied, shaking his hand firmly. – Good to meet you.

– You rode that beast in? – Jackson asked, eyes wide as he gestured towards the window, through which her motorcycle was just visible.

– Had to, – Ava said with a shrug. – My car’s still in storage.

Another rookie, a bright-eyed woman with a quick smile, joined them. – Hey, I’m Lucy Chen. – She looked at Ava with an admiring glance. – That’s a seriously cool bike.

– Thanks, – Ava said, feeling a warmth spread through her. It was nice to be among people who appreciated her ride.

– So, anyone else absolutely terrified? – Lucy asked, a nervous laugh escaping her.

– A little, – Jackson admitted. – My dad’s Captain West, so… pressure’s on.

Ava just nodded. She understood pressure. She’d lived under it for years. But this was a different kind of pressure. The kind where a wrong move could cost someone their life, or yours.

Soon, a stern-faced officer, a Sergeant Grey, called for roll call. The rookies, along with the other patrol officers, gathered in a large room. Ava stood tall, her posture military-straight, trying to project an air of calm she didn’t quite feel.

Sergeant Grey went through the usual announcements, the dry statistics, the upcoming training schedules. And then he got to the assignments.

– Alright, rookies, listen up, – he boomed, his voice echoing in the room. – This is where you find out who’s going to be molding you into proper police officers. Don’t disappoint them. Don’t disappoint me.

He started rattling off names. Jackson West was assigned to Officer Lopez. Lucy Chen to Officer Bradford.

Ava’s breath hitched. Bradford. Lucy Chen was assigned to Officer Bradford. Her mind raced. The Bradford she’d just spent the night with? No, it couldn’t be. It had to be a different Bradford. There were probably dozens of Bradfords in the LAPD.

– And finally, Ava Sharp, – Sergeant Grey continued, his eyes sweeping over the room until they landed on her. – You’ll be riding with Officer Bradford.

The air seemed to leave Ava’s lungs in a rush. She felt a sudden, dizzying sensation. Her eyes darted to the front of the room, searching for the face she now knew far too intimately.

And there he was. Tim Bradford. Standing a few rows ahead, his back to her, but she could feel his presence, his intensity. He was in uniform, the crisp blue fabric and shining badge a stark contrast to the relaxed, shirtless man she’d woken up next to just hours ago. He turned slowly, almost imperceptibly, his eyes meeting hers across the crowded room.

A flicker of surprise, then a slow, almost imperceptible smirk spread across his face. His blue eyes held a mixture of amusement and something else she couldn’t quite place. Recognition. And a whole lot of "Oh, *this* is going to be interesting."

Ava felt her cheeks flush. This was a nightmare. A hilarious, mortifying nightmare. Her new Training Officer. The man who was supposed to teach her the ropes, to be her mentor, her guide… was the man she’d slept with just a few hours before her first shift.

She tried to maintain a neutral expression, to project professionalism, but inside, her stomach was doing somersaults. This was not how she’d envisioned her first day. This was not how she’d envisioned anything.

Sergeant Grey dismissed them, and the room erupted in a low buzz of conversation. Rookies sought out their TOs, introductions were made, and the day officially began.

Ava, still reeling, found herself walking towards Tim, her steps feeling oddly heavy. Lucy and Jackson, their faces alight with nervous excitement, were already heading towards their respective TOs.

Tim was leaning against a wall, arms crossed, watching her approach. His expression was unreadable, a cool mask she hadn’t seen last night.

– Officer Bradford, – she said, her voice steady, despite the tremor in her hands.

– Rookie Sharp, – he replied, his voice equally devoid of emotion. His eyes, however, held a spark of something she recognized. The same spark from the bar, from his bed.

– So, – she began, trying to find the right words, – this is… unexpected.

– Is it? – he asked, a corner of his mouth twitching upwards. – I’d say it’s par for the course in this city. Never a dull moment.

She stared at him, a million questions swirling in her head. How were they going to do this? How were they going to maintain professionalism when they’d just… How was she going to learn from him, respect his authority, when she knew what he looked like without his uniform?

– Look, – she said, lowering her voice, – we need to set some ground rules. This can’t affect our work.

– Agreed, – he said, his gaze unwavering. – What happened last night, stays last night. In here, you’re my rookie. Nothing more.

His words, though firm, carried a hint of something that made her stomach clench. A challenge? A promise?

– Good, – Ava said, trying to sound confident. – Because I’m here to be a cop, not…

– Not what, Rookie? – he cut her off, his eyes narrowing slightly. – Not get distracted? Not let your personal life interfere with your professional duties?

She met his gaze, her own resolve hardening. – Exactly.

He pushed off the wall, standing tall. He was undeniably imposing in his uniform. – Good. Because I expect nothing less than your absolute best. You’re going to work harder than you ever have before. You’re going to make mistakes. You’re going to want to quit. But you’re not going to. Not on my watch.

He paused, his eyes sweeping over her, a thorough, appraising look that made her feel both scrutinized and strangely seen.

– Now, let’s go. We’ve got a city to protect. And you’ve got a lot to learn.

He turned and started walking towards the patrol cars, leaving Ava to follow, a whirlwind of emotions warring within her. This was going to be the longest, most complicated first day of her life. But as she fell into step behind him, a strange, undeniable thrill coursed through her. Maybe, just maybe, this unexpected twist wasn’t such a bad thing after all. Maybe it was exactly what she needed to keep things interesting. And Ava Sharp, ex-Navy SEAL, motorcycle-riding, hard-exterior-hidden-softy, was nothing if not interested.