I can not think of a greater honor then to lay down my life in the protection of another. For that reason alone, I got up when my radio automatically turned itself on and took Lester for our morning jog. Took my shower, got dressed, feed Lester his breakfast and had mine. I left earlier than usual. A good 15 minutes earlier. I drove to work, the feeling of dread did not subside, in fact it only grew, and I decided to concentrate on meeting with Dan and trying to find out about my new partner before they actually arrived.

"What? Beaumont! God Dammit, Dan! Why could you not have assigned me some one who is not so green and not too mention has something to prove?" I shot up of my chair when I heard who my new partner was going to be, I was practically shouting, if I had not remembered exactly where I was.

Dan came around his desk and shut the door a little, just leaving it open a crack. As if to remind me, to keep my voice down. "A BLUE-BLOD with something to prove, is that not what you really mean to say, Nora? I know your thoughts on the matter. I know how you feel about rookies and especially about the blue-bloods of our community. But, she’s the only detective without a partner, well excluding yourself. It is most certainly not my fault that opportune timing presented itself." He returned to behind his desk, plopped down in his chair, propped his elbows on the armrest, laced his fingers together resting them under his chin, and looked up at me as if it was no big deal. I could swear he knew I’d blow-up like this and he’d been preparing for it all morning long. Damn him and Damn this Beaumont character.

"That’s laughable! She just got her gold badge the same night the captain received his official promotion and you started to adjust that chair that you are all so comfortable to have your ***** rooted to. Why did you have to take this promotion anyway? You won’t be able to be out on the streets as much, this office will start to close in on you, and you can count on having to play interference with the bosses downtown and the media, not too mention all the family members that will be holding you responsible for anything and everything that will go wrong on any and all cases. You could not have possibly have really wanted this. I thought after 10 years that there was no separating us, you were my partner, you are my best friend and now I won’t be able to see you everyday. Instead, you’ve got me practically babysitting the Head of The City Council’s and the richest-most powerful man’s daughter. I don’t know if you did this out of your warped sense of humor or if, you really are trying to hurt me!?" I rhetorically iterate.