++ On a typical day the drive from the downtown LVPD office to my home in the Summerlin suburb of Las Vegas proper takes about 20 minutes. Barring any traffic that is. Today however the drive took about 90 minutes. And it wasn't because there was an accident or any other unavoidable catastrophe but the reality of the situation I now faced forced me to take a very, very long detour. What is my situation exactly? Well let's start with what just happened. Captain Burrell the head of the Intelligence Unit offered me what any Officer still wet behind the ears would classify as an opportunity of a lifetime. 99% of officers would have jumped at the opportunity instantly and part of me, a big part of me wanted to do just that. But it isn't that simple. For the last several months I was at the Police Academy unable to see my wife but one day a month and even then it wasn't for a whole day, merely a few hours. Now that I have graduated the expectation, in fact the understanding was that now I would work a standard Officer rotation and when not working I would be at home helping my wife prepare for our child. I was excited about that, my wife was beyond excited about that but now a monkey wrench the size of Russia has been thrown into the mix.

The truth is that part of me is afraid to go home. Afraid to even broach the topic of what Captain Burrell offered me with Emma but I know that that unenviable task is also an unavoidable one. I can't make this decision on my own. That right was forfeited the day Emma and I exchanged vows. As I mentioned previously Emma is already struggling with the fact that I am a Police Officer. But having to tell her that if I accept this assignment she will most likely not see me at all for the next 6 months, possibly longer while she is left to go through the process of pregnancy on her own. Well....it's a bit much for anyone and my fear is that me even bringing this to her might be the straw that breaks the camels back and honestly I'm not sure that I could blame her.

So here I am, sitting in the driveway of our condo some 90 minutes after leaving the Captain's office. I tried to think of what I was going to say to Emma but no matter what I came up with it ended poorly. I'm anticipating tears, possibly some yelling. Unfortunately there is no more delaying the inevitable. As the great Kevin McAllister said in the classic "Home Alone", "This is it. Don't get scared now."

I got out of the car, buttoned the top button of my jacket, took a deep breath and walked in the front door. There sitting on the couch folding laundry was Emma looking as radiant as ever. Her head snaps around when she hears the front door close. She smiles from ear to ear when she sees me and then proceeds to fold up the last bit of laundry, place it in the laundry basket and then places the laundry basket on the floor. She then taps the now empty seat on the couch with her right hand signaling for me to have a seat next to her, which of course I do. Here we go. ++

"So tell me, how did it go?"

"It went well. Very well actually."

"That's great. It was a longer meeting than I had expected."

"To be honest it was actually pretty quick."

"Oh? Did you stop somewhere on the way home?"

"No. I just drove around for about an hour and a half thinking about the conversation you and I were going to have."

++ Emma looks at me, the expression that covers her face is one of profound confusion. ++

"I don't understand? Why would you need to drive around for an hour and a half instead of just coming home to talk. Did he not offer you a job?"

"He did."

"Well then what's the matter? This is good news. You should be happy."

"I am happy and it is good news but it's a little more involved than that."

"What do you mean?"

"Well the Captain did offer me a job in his unit but the first assignment he wants me to take involves me going undercover."

"Ok...?"

++ And now for the boom. ++

"Well the standard operating procedure for something like this would involve me living somewhere else as part of the persona that I am to take on. I would not be allowed to see you at all. Which is for your own protection as well as for my own peace of mind."

"And what about my peace of mind?"

"Right and there in lies the issue."

"How long would you be gone?"

"I don't know exactly but the Captain thinks at least 6 months. Maybe longer."

"6 months? The baby is going to be here in 6 months."

"Yes I know. That's what makes this all so very difficult."

++ In the span of just a few short minutes my wife's face has gone from elation, confusion and now frustration. ++

"And what if you turn down the job?"

"Well he could offer me another job in the unit or I could be left to find a job in one of the other precincts where I would most likely be partnered up with someone where we would ride around in a squad car for 8 to 12 hours a day."

"And is that such a bad thing?"

"Lacking any other options no not really. It's what 99.9% of the people who graduate from the Academy expect to do."

"But you have another option."

"Exactly."

"And you want to take it?"

"Yes I want to take it but..."

"Well it sounds to me like your mind is made up. I'm not sure why we are even having this discussion then."

"Because my mind isn't made up. I didn't accept the job. I told Captain Burrell I would get back to him within the next day or so. This isn't just my decision to make Emma.This is a big decision and it's not just about me, it's about us and the baby. I appreciate that you have been as accepting as you have been with all of this. And I know that this is a big ask and that while you would never say it out loud I know that you wish I was doing just about anything other than being a Police Officer. But it's who I am. It's who I was born to be. It's all I have ever wanted and now I have an opportunity of a lifetime to be part of the most important unit in all of Las Vegas. This has the potential to open up doors for me locally and potentially nationally. But none of that matters if the end result is you being angry, unhappy and feeling abandoned. "

"That's just it Garrett. I'm not angry. I'm not sure I'm even unhappy. What I am is sad. Sad for you. Sad for me. Sad for us. You're right this is a big ask and as much as I want to tell you that you can't do this the reality is that's not who I am. I am not a selfish person and telling you no would be 100% self serving."

"Sometimes it's ok to be selfish."

"Maybe. But this isn't one of those times. I love you Garrett and if this is something that you feel you should do and it certainly sounds that way then we can make this work. I can get someone to come and help me out around the house that shouldn't be too difficult."

"Actually the Captain said that the Department would pay for someone to come and help you out. I figured that would be preferable to my mother moving in."

++ For the first time since right after I walked in the front door Emma smiles. ++

"You know I love your mother."

"I do. And I also know that her version of being helpful can many times be more stressful than helpful."

"But wouldn't her feelings be hurt?"

"Maybe but I can explain it to her in a way that should minimize those hurt feelings. Are you sure about this though? Once I start this assignment you won't see me at all for 6 months."

"What about phone calls or Skype?"

"I'm honestly not sure. I would think phone calls would be acceptable but probably not something that would happen daily. As for Skype, I doubt it but I can ask. "

"Can you tell me about the assignment?"

"No."

"I didn't think so."

"Do you want to think about it some more? Maybe sleep on it and we can discuss it tomorrow?"

"No I don't think so."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. I do have a question though. Well probably several but for the moment one. When will you have to start this assignment?"

"I would imagine right away. Is that ok?"

"I suppose you don't have a choice but it would have been nice to get some things done together. Like the nursery, getting a crib, supplies all that stuff."

"I'm ashamed to admit it but I didn't even think about that. I'll go see the Captain tomorrow and see if I can't push things back a week. I can definitely get the nursery done by the end of the week if he is willing to give me the time. We just need to figure out color patterns, furniture all that stuff. Are you really sure about this? Really really sure?"

"Yes 110% sure."

"Not 150%?"

"Ok 150% sure."

++ I reached out and take Emma in my arms and hug her as tightly as I can without hurting her. I want her to feel how much I love her. She truly is the most selfless person I know. She is far better than I ever deserve. ++

"What was that for?"

"Because you deserved it. And so much more."

++ I released my my wife, get up from the couch and pick up my car keys which I had thrown on the small table next to the front door upon entering the condo. ++

"Where are you going now?"

"We. We are going to Lowes, maybe Babies R Us, Target. We have a lot of work and little time."

"You want to get started now?"

"There's no time like the present."

"I can't go out looking like this."

"Well then get moving darlin."

** The next day **

++ Emma and I talked about Captain Burrell's offer one more time before I left the house this morning. Emma remained steadfast in her approval of the decision we came to yesterday. Again I entered the LVPD building and again I was stopped by the same African American woman at the desk and again we did the same dance that we did the day before only this time was allowed to proceed to Captain Burrell's office without needing an escort. Notice I said without needing one and not without one. That's because no sooner did I walk through the doors of the Intelligence Unit did the man that I assume will be playing the role of my arch nemesis Lieutenant Taylor decided to escort me from the entrance of the unit all the way into the Captains office. And he did this all without saying a single word to me. Once inside his office the Captain looked up from his desk to see the Lieutenant and I approaching from the door way. ++

"Back so soon. I figured you would take a day or two. I hope you have good news for me."

"I am and I do."

"Excellent."

"I do have one request though."

"Name it."

"As you know my wife is pregnant and we had planned over the course of the next few months to do some work around the house in preparation for the baby. Turning my office into a nursery, getting furniture, a crib stuff like that. Obviously I don't have months to do it so I am asking for a week. Let me get done everything or at least as much as I can by the end of the week and come back next Monday bags packed and ready to go."

"We've waited this long for someone to step into the role, what's a few more days? If you want I could even have some of the fellas show up to your place to help you get the painting done. I assume you are going to want to paint the nursery? True story when my wife was pregnant with our first she had me paint the nursery 4 times before she settled on a color she really liked."

"That's insane."

"That's not even the best part. The best part is that the color she actually settled on was the one I suggested at the very beginning. And I haven't let her live it down since."

"That's very big of you sir."

"Isn't it though? So tell you what; when you and the wife get a color picked out give me a call and the Lieutenant and I will be over to help paint. All I ask is that you provide some beer."

"You don't have to do that Captain."

"You're right. We don't. But this unit is among many things a family. Besides it will give me a chance to meet your wife and I promise while you are on assignment the Lieutenant and I will be sure to keep an eye on her. Make sure she is doing ok. I've been undercover. So has the Lieutenant so we know what it can be like for our partners."

"Thank you Captain that means a lot."

"Don't mention it kid. If you have sometime I'd love to have the Lieutenant take you down to our HR department and have you fill out some of the standard paper work. Then you can come back here and sign some of the unit specific paper work while I work on getting you a badge and department issued gear. Do you have a preference on a gun? We have a few different options."

"Actually I am a bit partial to the H & K USP .40 cal."

"A man after my own heart. See I told you this kid would be good for us. Didn't I say that Taylor?"

"Yes you did sir."

"Alright well the Lieutenant will take you where you need to go, once you're done with all that paper work and of course a piss test you come back here and we'll get this stuff wrapped up so you can get back to the Mrs. Oh and welcome to Intelligence Officer Lincoln."

"Thank you sir. It's an honor."

"Yes it is."

++ Lieutenant Taylor led me back through the Intelligence unit and then upstairs to a small section in the back of the building marked Human Resources Administration. It was there that I will begin the process of becoming a member of the LVPD Intelligence Unit. ++

F A D E 2 B L A C K