The rookie

Morning roll at Mid-Wilshire was the same kind of chaos it always was. Grey was trying to start announcements while half the room talked over him, Tim looked bored out of his mind, and Nolan sat near the back with a coffee in hand, completely unaware he’d left his lunch sitting on the kitchen counter that morning. “You’re all acting like children,” Grey muttered. “Can I get five minutes of silence?” The bullpen doors opened before anyone could answer. At first nobody paid attention. Then conversations slowly started stopping one by one. A woman walked into the station wearing dark sunglasses, an oversized jacket from set thrown over casual clothes, confidence practically radiating off her. She looked familiar enough that people immediately started whispering. “Wait…” “Is that Florence Pugh?” “No way.” You ignored the attention completely, carrying a paper bag and coffee tray while scanning the room until your eyes landed on Nolan. The second he saw you, his expression dropped. Not upset. Panicked. “Oh, no,” he mumbled under his breath. You walked straight over toward him like you belonged there. Which, technically, you did. “You forgot your lunch again,” you said casually, placing the bag down in front of him. “At this point I’m starting to think you do it on purpose.” A few people laughed quietly. Nolan stood quickly, lowering his voice. “What are you doing here?” “I was filming nearby,” you shrugged. “And unlike you, I remember basic human survival needs.” Lucy watched the interaction carefully, clearly confused by how familiar the two of you were. Tim noticed too. Grey folded his arms. “Nolan… you wanna explain why a famous actress is bringing you lunch?” You leaned against Nolan’s desk before he could answer. “He’s my dad.” Silence. Complete silence. Aaron blinked. “Your WHAT?” You pulled your sunglasses down slightly, looking around the room. “Wow. He really never told any of you?” Every single officer in the bullpen was staring now. Lucy looked between you and Nolan in disbelief. “John has a daughter?” “Yep.” “But we know Henry—” “Little brother,” you confirmed casually. Celina looked genuinely confused. “Hold on. How old are you?” “Thirty.” That somehow made the room even quieter. Tim looked at Nolan slowly. “Nolan…” “Don’t,” Nolan warned immediately. “You had a kid at fifteen?!” Half the bullpen started talking at once. “No way.” “FIFTEEN?” “That’s insane.” Grey looked like he had about ten new questions and a headache forming at the same time. Meanwhile, you looked completely unbothered by the attention. Nolan sighed heavily, rubbing his forehead. “Can we not do this during roll call?” “Oh please,” you laughed. “You kept me a secret for thirty years. I think they deserve a minute.” Lucy was still staring. “I genuinely cannot believe this.” You smiled slightly. “Yeah, that seems to be the common reaction.” Despite the teasing, there was obvious affection between you and Nolan. Comfortable familiarity. The kind that couldn’t be faked. You handed him his coffee. “Eat the sandwich before noon this time,” you told him. “Last time I checked, caffeine isn’t an actual meal.” “Yes, mom,” Nolan muttered. You grinned instantly. “Careful. I will start packing apple slices.” A few people laughed while Nolan looked entirely done with the situation. You started backing toward the doors again, slipping your sunglasses back on. “Anyway, have fun processing your coworker being a teen dad,” you called casually. “Nolan!” Tim shouted the second you walked away. John closed his eyes briefly. “What?” “You have a secret Florence Pugh daughter and NEVER mentioned it?!” Morning roll at Mid-Wilshire was the same kind of chaos it always was. Grey was trying to start announcements while half the room talked over him, Tim looked bored out of his mind, and Nolan sat near the back with a coffee in hand, completely unaware he’d left his lunch sitting on the kitchen counter that morning. “You’re all acting like children,” Grey muttered. “Can I get five minutes of silence?” The bullpen doors opened before anyone could answer. At first nobody paid attention. Then conversations slowly started stopping one by one. A woman walked into the station wearing dark sunglasses, an oversized jacket from set thrown over casual clothes, confidence practically radiating off her. She looked familiar enough that people immediately started whispering. “Wait…” “Is that Florence Pugh?” “No way.” You ignored the attention completely, carrying a paper bag and coffee tray while scanning the room until your eyes landed on Nolan. The second he saw you, his expression dropped. Not upset. Panicked. “Oh, no,” he mumbled under his breath. You walked straight over toward him like you belonged there. Which, technically, you did. “You forgot your lunch again,” you said casually, placing the bag down in front of him. “At this point I’m starting to think you do it on purpose.” A few people laughed quietly. Nolan stood quickly, lowering his voice. “What are you doing here?” “I was filming nearby,” you shrugged. “And unlike you, I remember basic human survival needs.” Lucy watched the interaction carefully, clearly confused by how familiar the two of you were. Tim noticed too. Grey folded his arms. “Nolan… you wanna explain why a famous actress is bringing you lunch?” You leaned against Nolan’s desk before he could answer. “He’s my dad.” Silence. Complete silence. Aaron blinked. “Your WHAT?” You pulled your sunglasses down slightly, looking around the room. “Wow. He really never told any of you?” Every single officer in the bullpen was staring now. Lucy looked between you and Nolan in disbelief. “John has a daughter?” “Yep.” “But we know Henry—” “Little brother,” you confirmed casually. Celina looked genuinely confused. “Hold on. How old are you?” “Thirty.” That somehow made the room even quieter. Tim looked at Nolan slowly. “Nolan…” “Don’t,” Nolan warned immediately. “You had a kid at fifteen?!” Half the bullpen started talking at once. “No way.” “FIFTEEN?” “That’s insane.” Grey looked like he had about ten new questions and a headache forming at the same time. Meanwhile, you looked completely unbothered by the attention. Nolan sighed heavily, rubbing his forehead. “Can we not do this during roll call?” “Oh please,” you laughed. “You kept me a secret for thirty years. I think they deserve a minute.” Lucy was still staring. “I genuinely cannot believe this.” You smiled slightly. “Yeah, that seems to be the common reaction.” Despite the teasing, there was obvious affection between you and Nolan. Comfortable familiarity. The kind that couldn’t be faked. You handed him his coffee. “Eat the sandwich before noon this time,” you told him. “Last time I checked, caffeine isn’t an actual meal.” “Yes, mom,” Nolan muttered. You grinned instantly. “Careful. I will start packing apple slices.” A few people laughed while Nolan looked entirely done with the situation. You started backing toward the doors again, slipping your sunglasses back on. “Anyway, have fun processing your coworker being a teen dad,” you called casually. “Nolan!” Tim shouted the second you walked away. John closed his eyes briefly. “What?” “You have a secret Florence Pugh daughter and NEVER mentioned it?!”