"And finally, next month, we'll be voting for our new union rep. Per the MOA, all candidates are given the opportunity to address the troops. So, please help me welcome your first, your last, your only candidate, Smitty." Grey says during roll call.

Ana claps along with the other cops.

"Thank you, Sarge. Look, I don't want to bore you with a long speech. I've been union rep since 2006. You know me. You love me. Vote Smitty!" Smitty does a dramatic show of placing a donut down on Ana's desk and people laugh.

"thank you" Ana giggles, eagerly munching on her donut.

Nolan raises his hand.

"I'm not really taking questions." Smitty responds.

"Just a quick one about the next round of union negotiations -- What do you think about pushing for a change to the MOA where county mental health is dispatched alongside us for all calls involving mental illness?" Nolan asks.

"Great question. And I assure you that I have your back. Have a button." Smitty grins, handing Nolan a button.

"All right, that's it. Let's get to it. Be safe out there." Grey says, dismissing them.

"So, Bradford. I'm gonna need you to catch any 100 calls that come in for the next hour or so. I'm gonna pay Elijah Stone a visit." Grey approaches Tim and makes a gesture for Ana to wait a moment.

"You need back-up?" Tim asks.

"Well, that's the second bit. I wanna use nugget" Grey explains, gesturing to Ana.

Tim turns to look at Ana. "would you be okay with meeting Elijah Stone?"

"yeah" Ana nods, softly.

"she's just... good with criminals" Grey says, a little scared of Tim becoming overprotective.

"she is" Tim agrees. "I don't control her, it's her choice, just keep her safe"

"I'll go, sir" Ana agrees, softly.

"great, and Bradford?" Grey turns back to Tim.

"yes, sir?" Tim turns back around.

"could you tell Harper I'm stealing Ana for the day?" Grey requests.

"Go-fer, go tell Harper that Grey is stealing Ana for the day" Tim orders Lucy.

[Timeskip]

"Sergeant. What can I do for you? The kitchen's closed, but I'm sure we could, uh, you know, whip you up a little somethin'-somethin'." Elijah offers. "and who's this?"

"Officer Ana Cabrera, sir" Ana replies, softly, extending her hand for Elijah to shake.

Elijah tilts his head, lookin at Grey for a moment before shaking Ana's hand.

"Pleasure to meet you, Officer Cabrera" Elijah says.

"you as well, sir" Ana answers, softly.

"and why are you here, Officer Cabrera?" Elijah questions.

"to talk to you, sir, about the shooter" Ana responds, softly.

"the shooter, I don't know what you mean" Elijah replies, playing dumb.

"last week, killed a man you made enemies with" Ana says, softly and simply.

"it's not ringing a bell" Elijah pouts.

Ana doesn't get mad or upset, keeping the smile on her face.

"we know the shooter is yours, we can't prove it, but we know it" Ana explains, softly. "and it's not going to end well."

"is that a threat?" Elijah questions, taking a step closer to Ana and Grey's hand goes to his holster.

"no, I'm just-..." She stops herself, looking up at Elijah.

Something in her brown eyes makes Elijah hesitate for a moment.

"I don't want something to happen to anyone else" Ana finishes, softly.

[Timeskip]

"you're an interesting one, Officer Cabrera" Elijah hums, standing up from her couch when Ana returns home that night.

"where are Lucy and Tamara?" Ana asks, her hand going to her holster.

"Lucy is out helping a friend of yours... Aaron Thorsen, the kid who murdered his best friend, and Tamara is staying with a friend" Elijah replies.

"why are you here?" Ana asks, softly. "because I've already been kidnapped twice by powerful criminal leaders and I'm not excited to do it again"

"I'm here, because I've done some research on you" Elijah replies.

"what kind of research?" Ana questions, softly.

"Born in Havana, Cuba, raised in a one bedroom hut, father killed by corrupt police at 11, rest of family died at 13, moved to the US as refugees with your grandparents at 14, spent the rest of your teenage years traveling around the US, teaching yourself English, math, history, and science, kidnapped by serial killer Rosalind Dyer at 16, raped and tortured, got a scholarship at 17 to UCLA, moved to Los Angeles, joined the Academy and now you're here" Elijah says, doing a quick run down of her life story.

"that doesn't answer my question, why are you here?" Ana repeats, softly.

"I'm here because you intrigue me" Elijah responds. "a friend of mine, Wesley, you carried his child and were kidnapped because you were the surrogate, yet you still go to dinner with them every Sunday night"

"it's not their fault that I was kidnapped" Ana replies, softly.

"you're right, it's not, but it's their fault that I'm here right now" Elijah answers.

"what do you mean?" Ana questions, softly.

"Wesley, he's been doing work for me" Elijah answers.

"You're a criminal, he wouldn't do work with you" Ana shakes her head.

"ah, but he would" Elijah smirks.

Ana's eyes get watery and she chews on her lip. "he wouldn't"

"no, it's that, that" Elijah takes a step closer to her but Billy, her cat, hisses at him and he doesn't move.

"it's what?" Ana murmurs.

"that, you trust and care and sacrifice so easily, and then when someone betrays your trust you're hurt but you don't stop loving them" Elijah points out. "you're not mad or angry at Wesley, no, you're saddened, heartbroken, but not angry"

"you don't control what I feel" Ana sniffles.

"you're right, I don't, but I'm intrigued by it. I'm intrigued because you've had a terrible life, yet here you are, doing everything you can for everyone else, giving all your time and energy for them, and what do you get in return?" Elijah asks.

"friends" Ana says. "I get friends."

"ah, but you had "friends" in college, giving your all to them but they stabbed you in the back at the end, didn't they?" Elijah argues.

"my friends now won't do that" Ana insists.

"how do you know?" Elijah questions.

"because I love them" Ana responds.

"your love for them doesn't mean they won't betray you, in fact, do they love you?" Elijah asks.

Ana scrunches her nose. "I don't know, but it doesn't matter. I love them and that's not going to change"

"oh" Elijah clicks his tongue. "you're so naïve, you trust and care and sacrifice and love too much, you're doomed, Officer Cabrera"

"I'm not naïve" Ana insists.

"oh, but you are. I'm here, aren't I? You haven't reached for your gun since you found out that Tamara and Lucy were okay. In fact, I could kill you right now, see, even now, you're putting trust in someone who doesn't deserve it" Elijah points out.

"then why haven't you?" Ana sniffles.

"because, like I said, you intrigue me. you're naïve for this world, but you represent what the world should be" Elijah replies. "you trust me, even though you shouldn't, you care for me, even though you shouldn't. And for that, Officer Cabrera, you've earned my protection in return"

"what?" Ana whispers.

"whatever happens, you will be safe" Elijah promises.

"Then all of my friends should get protection to" Ana decides.

Elijah smiles, a genuine smile, when there's a knock at the door. Elijah disappears out the window while Ana tries to wipe her tears and answer the door.

"Fire" A man standing in the doorway says, creepily, handing her a note before vanishing as quickly as he had come.

Ana stares down at the same cryptic letter, a few tears hitting the page.