Captain Rodriguez’s Office
Ramirez walks in the captain’s office.
Captain Rodriguez: “Sit down, son and keep your voice down.”
Ramirez: “Captain, I don’t know what to say. Thank you. This is—”
Captain Rodriguez: “Don’t thank me yet. This wasn’t my idea. Your Captain reached out to me last week after the Henderson situation. He said that you had been requesting this transfer for months but there were never any openings. Then when Henderson targeted Santos and you saved her life, the big boys decided to follow through with your wishes.”
Ramirez: “I’d been requesting a transfer for months?”
Captain Rodriguez: “According to your file, yes you have. Which is interesting timing, considering you only met Santos two weeks ago.”
Ramirez: “Okay, —This is how it all started. I saw Santos at a multi-precinct training six months ago. She was running the self-defense demonstration. She took down a guy twice her size in under thirty seconds. I was… impressed.”
Captain Rodriguez: “Impressed. Is that what you call it?”
Ramirez: “Captain, I’m being serious. I’ve been trying to get assigned to this precinct since then. But I didn’t know if she’d remember me, or if she was seeing anyone, or if I even had a shot. Then I got assigned to the Henderson case, and it brought me here, and—”
Captain Rodriguez: “And now my precinct sounds like a damn weather report. Hurricane this, Tsunami that. Yesterday I heard someone call you two ‘The Storm Squad.’”
Ramirez couldn’t help but laugh.
Ramirez: “That’s actually kind of catchy.”
Captain Rodriguez: “It’s ridiculous is what it is. But Ramirez, let me be clear about something. You’re a damn good detective. Your record speaks for itself. I’m happy to have you on my team. But—”
Ramirez: There always a but.
He leaned forward, with a serious look on his face.
Captain Rodriguez: “—if your relationship with Santos becomes a distraction, if it interferes with the job, if it causes problems in my precinct, I will separate you two faster than you can say ‘natural disaster.’ Are we clear?”
Ramirez: “Crystal clear, Captain. I promise you, Santos and I are professionals. What we do on our own time is our business, but when we are here, the badge comes first.”
Captain Rodriguez: “Good. Now get your ass out of my office and go tell your girlfriend the good news. And Ramirez?”
Ramirez: “Yes, Captain?”
Captain Rodriguez: “Welcome to the team.
Try not to destroy any more of my officers’ ability to function like normal human beings.”
Ramirez: “I’ll do my best, Captain. But I make no promises.”
Captain Rodriguez: “Get the hell out of here.”
The Bullpen
Ramirez walked out of the Captain’s office trying to look professional and composed.
The grin on his face could have lit up the entire city.
He walked straight to Santos’s desk. Every eye in the precinct followed him.
Santos looked up from her paperwork.
Santos: “So? What did the Captain want?”
Ramirez: “Oh, nothing just wanted to welcome me to the team.”
Santos’s eyes went wide.
Santos: “Wait, what?”
Ramirez: “I’ve been transferred. Effective immediately. Looks like you’re stuck with me, Tsunami.”
Santos jumped out of her chair and—forgetting where she was, forgetting every eye watching—threw her arms around Ramirez’s neck.
Santos: “Are you serious? You really staying?”
Ramirez caught her, holding her close despite the very public setting.
Ramirez: “Yes, I’m really staying. Hope you don’t mind having Hurricane Tongue around full time.”
Santos: “Mind? Ramirez, this is the best news I’ve gotten all year!”
Officer Matthews: “Aww, look at the Storm Squad!”
Officer Chen: “That’s actually adorable.”
Officer Martinez started a slow clap, and soon the entire bullpen was applauding.
Santos finally remembered where she was and stepped back, her face was burning red.
Santos: “Right. Professional. We’re being professional.”
Ramirez: “Very professional. Extremely professional.”
Captain Rodriguez’s deep voice boomed from his office.
Captain Rodriguez: “SANTOS! RAMIREZ! Save the celebration for off-duty hours! We have actual police work to do!”
Santos: “Yes, Captain! Sorry, Captain!”
She sat back down at her desk, still smiling. Ramirez leaned against her desk, lowering his voice so only she could only hear.
Ramirez: “So, partner, want to grab lunch later? There’s a supply closet on the third floor that supposedly soundproof.”
Santos: “Ramirez, we only been working together for exactly three minutes and you’re already propositioning me?”
Ramirez: “I’m an overachiever. It’s one of my best qualities.”
Santos: “It’s one of your most dangerous qualities.”
Ramirez: “You say dangerous, I say exciting.”
Captain Rodriguez: “RAMIREZ! Your desk is over there! Use it!”
Ramirez straightened up, giving Santos one last smile before heading to the desk that had been set up for him—conveniently right across from Santos’s.
As he sat down and started organizing his new workspace, Officer Matthews rolled his chair over.
Officer Matthews: “Ramirez, buddy, I gotta ask—is the Hurricane Tongue thing real or is it just hype?”
Ramirez: “Matthews, ask your……..” to see if just hype or real.
Their fellow coworkers started laughing and the other said Ohh!
Officer Matthew’s: Okay, you got one
Officer Chen joined in the conversation.
Officer Chen: “And the tsunami thing? Santos actually said that. Out loud. In front of everyone.”
Ramirez glanced over at Santos, who was trying very hard to look busy with her paperwork and trying to hide her smile.
Ramirez: “What can I say? I’m very dedicated to my craft.”
Officer Martinez: “Dude, teach me your ways.”
Ramirez: “Sorry, Martinez. You got to be born with it. Natural talent. Years of training. Can’t be taught.”
Santos spoke out from her desk without looking up.
Santos: “He’s not lying. It really can’t be taught. Trust me, I’ve analyzed it extensively. It’s like a superpower.”
The bullpen erupted in laughter.
Officer Matthews: “Oh man, they might be perfect for each other.”
Officer Chen: “The Storm Squad rides again!”
Captain Rodriguez came out of his office, looking like a man who deeply regretted every life choice that led him to this moment.
Captain Rodriguez: “Alright, enough! This is a police precinct, not a dating show! Everyone back to work! And someone please explain to me why this precinct on a Monday morning sounds like the Weather Channel!”
Everyone scattered back to their desks, but the energy in the room had shifted. It was lighter, happier.
Because everyone could see what Santos and Ramirez had—the chemistry, the connection, the genuine affection underneath all the teasing and nicknames.
As the morning went on and everyone settled into actual work, Ramirez caught Santos’s eye across their desks.
Ramirez: “Lunch?”
Santos: “Third floor supply closet.”
He grinned.
She grinned back.
Captain Rodriguez, watching this entire exchange, mumbled to himself:
Captain Rodriguez: “I’m going to need some therapy when it’s all said and done. And possibly a vacation. Definitely a raise.”
But even he was smiling.
Because despite the chaos, despite the nicknames, despite everything—his precinct had just gotten one of the best detectives in the city.
And Officer Santos had never looked happier.
Sometimes storms will bring destruction.
But sometimes—just sometimes—they bring exactly what you needed.
Even if it came with an unusual nickname and a tongue that should be registered as a lethal weapon and a tsunami that will wet you up completely.
TO BE CONTINUED…