Leslie had been sober for exactly eleven months, and hit a road block as a different anniversary came. Some cases stick with you and this one had been brutal. And she failed, so she turned away from the bar or liquor store and went to an emergency AA meeting. It wasn't her usual time or group but it helped. She was leaving the meeting when she got a phone call. "Hey Dot! How's my favorite bar tender?"

"Hey Les, I'm alright, miss your ugly mug around here. Listen, I have a favor. I know you are not a beat cop any more, but I have a 10-51. Only she's a sweetheart and celebrating a year away from an abusive ex. She party a little too hard and doesn't want to go home but I do. I don't want to get her in trouble, she's really a good girl. Just struggling." Leslie could hear her old friends stress.

"Hey hey okay calm yourself. You know me Dot, I got you. Need to get the car I'm just leaving an emergency meeting and have my bike give me twenty." Dot came back with a concerned "Oh honey are you okay. I can call the beat guys if this is a problem."

"No problems. Just anniversaries I guess. I'll be there." And she was. Entering the bar wasn't an issue, she came by for coffee sometimes too chat and play some pool. The smell didn't make her thirty or sick like it used to. She could almost reclaim this space as hers without the link to booze. She didn't need Dotty to point out here party gal, they were the only two people left in the bar. 

At the strangers words she offer a soft smile, "No of course you haven't done anything wrong, but I still need you to come with me. Will you do that for me?" She was soft and gentle, ready to catch the drunk woman should she over balance. "See Dotty here is tired and wants to go home now. So will you come with me please? I'll take you someplace you can be safe and sleep off the hangover. How'd that sound?" She refrain from using terms of endearment, thanks to Dots comment about a toxic ex. It would do no good to trigger the young lady. 

As with any none aggressive drunk she was gentle and talked her into letting Les take her away. She didn't cuff the woman, there was no need for that. Just gentle guiding hands to get her to her car and soft voice as she let her know she's going to put her seat belt on. She offer an unopened bottle of water even though she's had her drink a glass in the bar. "Okay, if you start to feel sick hug this bucket for me please?" This was her personal car and she didn't really want to clean vomit out. 

Once they had made it to the station she was again soft hands and gentle voice, as she took her to the drunk tank, there was no one in the ladies so she was able to settle the woman on a bunk and got her a blanket and bucket. "Alright. Now you just rest here. It gets better, it takes time but all things do. It's worth working for. Someday you will be happily and safely in love with someone who will worship you. Just hang in there." She tuck her in and left.

In the paper work she detailed that the pick up was extremely agreeable and nonviolent. But judging by Dots concern, she added that some therapy might be helpful. She'd been thinking psychiatric therapy, not alcoholism therapy. The uniform manning the desk asked so she answered, "oh she wasn't causing problems, just an old friend who was ready to go home and didn't want to bother you guys with a boring pickup. Dotty knows you boys like the rowdy pick ups. But be nice to get will ya? She's been through the ringer. Give me a call if you do have problems though Sean. I'd rather handle it if she's upset, my fault she's here type deal. If she gets abusive you don't deserve it."

"You are an odd one Clay you know that?" She smirked

"Course I do. Gotta keep you lot on your toes don't I? If I was 'normal' I wouldn't be nearly as good at my job." She'd said normal in a bored drawl. 

"Maybe but you wouldn't be single anymore." He grumped then gulped because the look on the detectives face was a cross of hurt and murder "wait Les I di-"

"You all think I don't hear you whispering about poor old Clay, girl just can't get it together. Going to be sad and lonely til some smuck gets lucky and kills her. Ever think I'm perfectly okay with that and just counting the days till someone gets fucking lucky?" Sean the big mouth uniform cringe then recoil when her offer of aid was withdrawn "and I take it back, if she gets angry and abusive don't call me. She's your job to protect. I find a hair out of place, I'll have your job are we clear  uniform?" What he said had hurt her when she was already struggling, she didn't normally attack like this but he'd crossed a line. Calling her out for being odd didn't matter she liked that about herself, but calling out her emotional struggle was uncalled for and it took her back to the streets where she had to hide everything about herself to be safe. She should be safe feeling sad and lonely in her place of work, but apparently that wasn't the case because she hadn't exaggerate. She had literally heard those words spoken by coworkers. Leaving the station she really wanted a drink again. But it was late... Or very early, and her mentor was out of town. She drove home and climbed out onto the fire escape with her pipe and a bag of weed, and found herself wondering about the redhead.