While not an exact replica of the show Mathew fondly remembered from his past life, the Mid-Wilshire Patrol Division captured its essence with remarkable fidelity. The building featured expansive, airy spaces illuminated by tall glass windows that allowed natural light to flood in, creating a bright atmosphere.
From his spot next to his mother's desk, Mathew played with his thumbs while a paper cup of coffee sat beside him.
The next morning followed his encounter with Caleb and his rescue of Officer Lucy Chen. The night before, he had already given a statement about the events, but today, he was called in again to provide another statement with a clearer mindset.
Standing up, he surveyed the station and noticed several officers casting curious glances in his direction. Word of his actions had quickly spread among the Wilshire officers and staff. Even in a police station, people still tended to gossip as if they were in high school.
Ignoring their inquisitive stares, Mathew turned to where his mother and several of the show's original main cast stood within Sgt. Grey's office.
Well, calling them characters from a show is weird considering their real people. Mathew thought while taking a sip of his drink.
Officers Tim Bradford, John Nolan, Jackson West, Nyla Harper, Nick Armstrong, Angela Lopez, and Wade Grey gathered around Sasha, their expressions a mix of apprehension and determination. The atmosphere was tense as they exchanged quiet words, analyzing the situation at hand.
After ten minutes that felt like an eternity, they began to disperse, each Officer moving with purpose. Sasha followed closely behind, flanked by Bradford, West, Harper, Nolan, and Grey as they made their way forward.
"I'd like to thank you, Mathew. What you did saved my rookie- I mean, Officer Chen." Bradford said while holding his hand out.
Mathew, having stood up on their arrival, shook the man's hand.
"It was nothing, sir. I was just in the area and happened to see her being taken." Mathew said sheepishly. "I should have called you guys first and let you handle it. But I couldn't stay still."
"Even so, you acted bravely in the face of danger. As the Watch Commander responsible for the safety of my officers, I want to thank you, Mathew. Your actions may have prevented a tragedy." Grey smiled appreciatively before turning to Sasha. "You've raised a fine young man, Detective."
"Thank you, Sergeant. Sometimes, that bravery of his can be a double-edged sword." Sasha sighed in frustration but ultimately stared at Mathew with pride in her eyes.
"Trouble seems to keep finding you, huh, kid?" Harper had an amused look, causing Mathew to rub the back of his head.
"Seems that way."
"Still, your actions helped save our friend. For that, you have our gratitude." Nolan said while West nodded beside him.
"How is Officer Chen doing? Is she alright?" Mathew asked while looking at the officers.
"Her doctor said she would be alright. The drugs Caleb gave her should wear off soon, and she's expected to wake up any minute now," Grey said.
"That's good... That's good." Mathew sighed. The memory of the event penalty flashed across his mind.
[Failure: Lucy Chen will die.]
In the original show, just as the tension reaches its peak, Bradford arrives in the nick of time to rescue Lucy. Moments earlier, in a desperate act, she had flung her ring into the ground near the very spot where Caleb had buried her. This simple yet poignant gesture serves as the critical clue that guides him to her secret location—ultimately saving her life.
But if what the system indicated ended up happening if he failed, did that mean that the future in this timeline wasn't predetermined to follow the original show's timeline?
Was his involvement somehow messing everything up?
Or could this all be due to the system's influence?
"Has… has anyone talked to him?" Mathew asked in a low tone before muttering. "I should have punched him harder."
Hearing this, Bradford chuckled. "Sorry, Mathew. We can't tell you. From this point on, we're taking charge. You've done enough."
"He's free to go, Detective. You can take him home anytime you want." Grey turned to Sasha, who nodded.
"Thank you, Sergeant. I'll return once I drop him off at home." Sasha smiled in thanks and placed a hand on Mathew's shoulder.
Before they could leave, Bradford stepped in and handed Mathew a few cards. "Here. If something ever comes up and you can't reach your mom, feel free to give any one of us a call."
Mathew accepted the cards, noticing they belonged to all the officers who had gathered in Grey's office. He smiled, thanked Bradford, and he and Sasha promptly left the police station.
"So… am I grounded?" Mathew asked hesitantly as they navigated through the bustling morning streets of Los Angeles.
"What do you think?"
••o••o••o••
During the week of his grounding, Lucy Chen visited Mathew's home to thank him for saving her. They had a brief conversation before saying their goodbyes. Before leaving, Lucy told Mathew that she owed him a debt, and if he ever needed assistance, she would be there to help him.
After that, Mathew's life gradually settled back into its familiar rhythm.
With the winter break wrapping up, the return to school restored a sense of normalcy that he had dearly missed.
With classes back in session, Mathew found comfort in the monotonous classes others found boring. The structured nature of assignments, projects, and homework allowed his mind to ease into a state of focused relaxation.
It also helped that his friend's absurd antics brought a much-needed dose of laughter and lightness back to his days.
This return to normalcy helped him forget about his run-in with the psycho killer Caleb.
Still, the reward Mathew won from his mystery box for completing the event made risking his life a fair trade.
[You have won: Batman's Grapple Hook! A hi-tech pistol that can fire a small Grappling Hook fitted on high-tensile wire. This tool can be used to scale buildings and swing to areas from long distances. It can also be used to offensively to pull enemies or object towards the user.]
A very cool reward, in his humble opinion.
Despite everything, life moved forward, and Mathew began training for the California Junior Boxing Tournament.
Training, in which Natalia would help him develop further as a boxer.