The first day of being a rookie felt like the longest day of your life. You barely slept, nerves jangling from head to toe, heart pounding loud enough to drown out the distant sirens outside. The uniform felt stiff, the badge heavy on your chest, the boots still clean but you were ready. You had to be.

It wasn’t long before you realized you weren’t just another rookie — you were their rookie, their boot. Sergeant Tim Bradford and Officer Lucy Chen. Two completely opposite forces who, somehow, found themselves sharing the responsibility of guiding you through the chaos.

Tim was the first to take notice. Tall, broad-shouldered, the kind of man who didn’t need to say much for you to feel the weight of his presence. His blue eyes cut through the crowd, and you could swear they were already watching you, analyzing every move.

Lucy was quieter at first, but she was there too. Always close enough to catch the smallest change in your expression, the faintest twitch of stress, the subtle bite of your lip when you doubted yourself. She wasn’t loud about it — her protectiveness was hidden behind a gentle smile and soft words, but it was as fierce as Tim’s.

During your first shift, you rode in the passenger seat while Bradford drove and Chen was in the back. All you heard were the 'clacks' of Officer Chen's keyboard until Bradford radioed in a suspect with a blue backpack running from a convenience store. "Looks like this is your first test, boot." Bradford stated as he unlocked the doors.