<span style="color: #FF80FF"> <span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 150%; line-height: 116%;"><div style="text-align: center;">Lea Stevens</div></span></span> </span><br/><div style="text-align: center;"><a class="postlink" href="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn24/SociallyToxicBeauty/036e0d3a-b28c-47ec-b858-0eaea6c67e4d.jpg">[ img ]</a></div><br/><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 150%; line-height: 116%;"><span style="color: #FF80FF"><div style="text-align: center;">"Jazz"</div></span></span></span><br/><br/>Lea paused as she listened to Carlos, though she hadn't really believed his words. She could admit that they had worked very well together. They were one of the best teams in the force, but that was swept under the rug in her mind as Lea denied herself to feel any happiness from Carlos' words. It wasn't until they were stopped at a light that he could look at her, and when his eyes caught hers, her breath caught in her throat.<br/><br/>Carlos legitimately believed the words he said to her and her eyes began to water, her chin quivering. She looked away suddenly and willed herself not to cry, telling herself that if she cried her makeup would be ruined.<span style="color: #FF80FF"> "O-oh. Ok-k-ay," </span>she finally stuttered out in reply, overwhelmed by the realization that Carlos was being honest with her.<span style="color: #FF80FF">"Alright...alright,"</span>she consented, her voice still watery. She looked back up at him,<span style="color: #FF80FF">"I'll work with you..." </span><br/><br/>Working with Carlos again would be like a dream come true for Lea, one that she had always refused to acknowledge. And he was right, it would allow her to finally walk away from the slum life she had cultivated. Still, she had her doubts. Who would want an ex-stripper/drug addict to work for them? Sure, she would have the connections for the underbelly of the city, but still...<span style="color: #FF80FF">"Carlos, how long have you been thinking about doing this?"</span>she asked, curious eyes looking back at him once more.<span style="color: #FF80FF">"I mean, I know you've wanted to do investigative work for a long time...are they really treating you that badly at the precinct? Has it gotten worse?" </span>she asked worriedly. Carlos had always been treated unfairly and the news that he hadn't reached detective because of his race had been a blow to Lea's heart, but the fact that Carlos was willing to start from the ground up all over again told her that it had to have only gotten much worse.