Chapter 3: Saved Numbers

Soap POV

I pick up Maddie, taking her out of the carseat, putting her on the ground. I grab her backpack, putting it around my shoulder, Ok first day on the job, hopefully things will go good for me. I close the car door, I look at my phone for a second, Nothing, I put it away, I offer my hand down to Maddie, she quickly grabs it. Grabbing hold of two of my fingers with her tiny hand, "You ready Maddie?" I ask her, she quickly nods her head.

We start walking towards the building, Maddison reaches for my other hand, I grab it. I lifting her, putting her on my shoes, waddling with her. She starts humming a tune, I smile down at her, she's enjoying her time on my shoes. She still hasn't responded, I need her to text me back, hopefully soon.

I look up, Now that I think about it, I haven't texted Simon since we saw each other last, I put his number in my phone but I didn't do anything with it. Should I have texted? I mean, what do we even have to talk about, we didn't talk about much, I get Maddison off my feet. We walk into the building, Maybe today will be a step in the right direction. Maddison let's go of my hand and runs away from me, "Maddie wait for...".

I look up and see Simon leaning back on the wall, Skull mask.. Maddison runs over to him, I watch as she waves up at him. He reaches down, putting his hand on her head, she smiles up at him happily. I walk over, Simon looks up at me, he removes his hand from Maddison's head, "MacTavish" he says formally, getting up from the wall, "Sir" I respond, giving him a small smile.

Maddison grabs Simon's hand, examining his fingers, "Dropping off your daughter?" Simon asks. "Yeah, I'm actually here for onboarding thanks to you" I say crossing my arms, "That's why I'm here" Simon says. I tilt my head, "So you we're waiting for me?" I ask, he ignores my question and looks down to Maddison. Who is now comparing her hand size to his, Simon wiggles his fingers, going along with whatever Maddison is doing, keeping his focus on me.

I grab her hand, pulling her away, "Ok Maddie, it's time to go with Ms. Traves, say goodbye" I tell her. She waves to Simon, giving him a big smile, I walk her over to the the entrance, Ms. Traves is waiting next to her room. I kneel down to Maddison, giving her a tight hug, I kiss her forehead. I whisper to her, "Be a good girl, daddy loves you very much" I say.

She hugs me back, she lets go, waving bye to me, I stand waving back to her. I watch her as she runs into the room, the door closing behind her. They grow almost too quick, I turn back to Simon, he's standing with his arms crossed. I walk past him opening the door for him, "Lieutenant" I say, he nods walking through it.

We start walking, "During this, I just need you to fill out a couple papers, all formality, but I do suggest that you thoroughly look over all documents that I give you" Simon explains. "Heard sir" I respond,  we walk to his office, I sit while Simon pulls out papers from a file cabinet.

I watch his eyes as he flips through the pages, his dark eyes hidden behind his lightly colored lashes, I wonder if other people see you like I do. "You're staring again, MacTavish" Simon says, sliding over the papers to me. "Apologies sir" I say, I start to look through the papers, Accident and injury, personal information, just normal forms.

I hand the papers back completed, he takes them putting them in a folder, into the file cabinet next to him. A moment goes by, Should I... Say something? I adjust myself in my seat nervously. I start to look around the room, trying not to look at him, I pull my phone out looking at it for a moment, Still hasn't gotten back to me. I hear Simon make a sound, as if he was going to say something but he cuts himself off. I turn to him, noticing his focus is on the cabinet.

Ghost POV

"MacTavish" I say, he looks back to me, "Yes sir?" he says curious, "The other day.. In the parking lot..." I say. I look up to him, I tense up looking at his eyes, Just ask, he won't think less of you if you ask, he raises his eyebrow curiously. I take a breath, "Did you-", John looks back down next to him, I stop myself, "Is there something wrong?" I ask, he digs into his pocket and pulls out his phone.

He looks at it for a moment, showing a disapproving face, he turns back to me. "Sorry, I have to make a call real quick" John says, he stands walking to the other side of the room. I fall back in my chair, I look to my lap feeling the material of my gloves. This is fine, I can ask after his call, I hear his phone start to ring, he starts to tap his foot impatiently.

The call quickly ends, he grumbles something under his breath, he turns back and sits down. "Is everything all right?" I ask, he puts his phone away, looking back to me. "Yeah, I've been trying to contact my ex-wife but she's not picking up" John says. My question doesn't seem as important, "If you have to leave to handle it, that's fine" I say, staying professional.

He waves, "No need, after work I usually drop my daughter off at her mother's house, but I guess since she's not answering my calls or text, I can just take her to my house" John explains. I nod looking back down, "You wanted to ask me something?" John questions, I tense up. "Yeah" Just spit it out and ask, I stare at him, the words struggle to come out.

A curious look shows on John's face, If I bring up my number... A moment goes by, "Did you save my number?" I ask, not showing my nervousness. "I did, you said it was for information but never sent me anything" John says, "Well I don't have your number because you didn't text me" I say. He lets out a small laugh, "Sorry I must have forgot, I'll send you one now" John says.

As he pulls out his phone I feel a wave of relief wash over me, I take a deep breath, Worried over something small. I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket, I take it out, looking at it. A sea of notifications, I notice one from an unsaved number. 'John MacTavish' with a soap emoji next to it, I scoff, smiling at his message under my mask.

Soap POV

I look back up to him, his eyes down in his lap, "What do you want me to save you under?" I ask. I don't think saving him under a skull emoji is the most appropriate thing to have your boss as, He looks back up at me, his eyes are slightly intimidating to meet. I feel myself tense up, Stupid question, I look back down to my lap. I edit the contact, 'Lt. Riley' Seems appropriate, a message pops up, 'Simon'.

I smile, "MacTavish?" I hear him say, I look up to him. His eyes softer than before, "Should I continue to tell you about your onboarding process?" he asks. I sit up straight, trying to regain my serious demeanor, "Yes sir" I respond. "Today will be your first day, you won't be doing anything by yourself, so instead you'll be shadowing someone for the time being" Simon says.

"Ok, who am I going with today sir?" I ask, Simon stands, "Good question". He walks over to the door opening it, the first person that walks by, he grabs them, pulling them into the office. "This is Corporal Bishop" Simon introduces, the man shows a confused face, but reaches his hand out to me. I shake it, nodding to him, "Bishop, this is John MacTavish, he's a new recruit who will be shadowing you today" He explains.

"Heard Lieutenant" Bishop says,  he turns to me, "Afternoon rookie, how long you with us today?" Bishop asks. I put my hands behind my back, standing straight, "Until five sir" I respond, "Until nine, things work fast here" Bishop says. I can't drop off Maddison if I'm here till nine, "No can do sir" I say, the corporal shows a stern face.

"Why doesn't nine work?" he asks, I tense up, "Personal reasons, sir" I say. Bishop crosses his arms, "Rookies don't keep their jobs working 3 hour shifts, MacTavish" Bishop says, in a condescending tone. I furrow my brow, Oh this motherfucker, "Sir I-" I was cut off by Simon, who places his hand on Bishop's shoulder. "Make it work, after today, we'll sort it out" Simon says, his voice commanding, leaving us speechless.

Bishop and I eyes one another, I watch as his attitude quickly shrinks in size, I smirk a bit as his eye twitches slightly. "No more arguing in my office, he can only stay until five today, so go over the basics and give him a tour, anything else can wait. Understood?" Simon asks. "Understood sir" Bishop says, "Heard sir" I respond, Simon removes his hand from Bishop's shoulder. He walks over to the door, opening it, looking back at us, meaning for us to leave his office.

Bishop walks out first, I start to walk out behind him, Simon grabs my wrist, I look back to him confused. His eyes meet with mine, Dark eyes, "I'll do this once, get your schedule in order by tomorrow" Simon says quietly. He lets go of my wrist, I give him a soft smile, "Thank you, Simon" I whisper back. He rolls his eyes at me, "Heard, MacTavish".

Ghost POV

He walks into the hall, I closes my office door, I stare at it for a few seconds, not letting go of the doorknob. I rest my head on the door, closing my eyes, I grip my fingers into a fist, "Damn it.." I whisper to myself. I grip my fingers, feeling my glove rub against the skin of my hand, I wince. I slowly take my glove off, the blood on my knuckles slowly scabbing over.

I run my finger over the bruising, the callous on my hand hides past scars, that doesn't stop me from remembering why they're there. I lift my head up from the door, taking a deep breath, pulling my mask off. I grip it in my hand, taking a more clear, defined breath.

"Tomorrow.."

{Hello! I don't really have any notes for this week, hope you enjoyed!}