The morning after his night shift, Jack lingered at the Boulevard St. Brieuc police station, his eyes heavy with fatigue but softened by the thought of a day off with Lizy. The station hummed as the morning shift rolled in.
Officers trickled into the locker room, shrugging off coats and trading yawns. As they spotted Jack, their faces brightened—Jack, A regular police officer with a knack for making everyone feel like they mattered.
"Good morning, Jack," Peab called, his voice warm as he clapped Jack's shoulder.
Jack managed a tired grin. "Morning, Peab."
"Hey, Jack," another officer chimed in, leaning against a locker.
"Hey," Jack replied, his tone easy but distant, his mind already halfway home to Lizy.
"Anything happen last night?" Peab asked, eyebrows raised, fishing for a story.
Jack shrugged, keeping his gear in his locker with a soft clank.
"Anything happen last night?" Peab asked, his voice light but curious, leaning closer.
"Surprisingly little," he said
The station buzzed to life, phones ringing, chairs scraping. Jack snapped his locker shut and headed for the door, his steps quickening with the promise of a day with his daughter.
Officer Hughes stepped in, his presence cutting through the morning chaos. Jack paused, straightening instinctively. "Good morning, sir."
Hughes's sharp eyes softened for a moment. "Running home already?"
"Aye, sir," Jack said, a flicker of warmth breaking through his fatigue. "A day with my daughter."
Hughes nodded, the ghost of a smile on his lips. "Good day, then."
"Yes, sir," Jack replied, his voice steady but laced with quiet relief as he turned toward the door, the weight of the night shift lifting with every step toward Lizy.