Miami Dade Picnic

It was a warm afternoon on a Saturday, the shining sun with some scattered clouds made the day perfect for a picnic that included most of the Miami Dade Police Department and everyone from the CSI lab. Everyone gathered in the Maurice A. Ferré Park with tables spread out for seating while others held cooked food like grilled hotdogs, burgers, sides set in covered dishes, and various snacks or drinks. A band was playing on a low platform but not very loud for respect of those who were passing by. The park was very spacious but we tried not to be too scattered so we didn't overtake the public. I tried to stick close to either Calleigh or Natalia, but occasionally would wander off in the midst of the crowd. They all had sense grown used to me and knew I wasn't a touchy feely kind of canine. All except for the kids who liked to periodically run close enough to touch me or actually stop for a pat or two before running off again. I never fussed over that. Kids will be kids.

Calleigh was wearing a white tank top with blue jeans with her sunglasses over her eyes for style. Natalia was in her turquoise blouse and white jeans, also sporting her own shades. Even with the partial cloud cover, it was still kind of bright out. No matter where they went or what they were wearing, their badges were always on the side to be noticed. I wish I had one, I thought to myself. When we were off duty, I had a studded collar that I approved of. Normally I wouldn't but when out in public, I had to show proof I wasn't wild. Looking in the mirror at the day of purchase, I realized that it didn't look too bad. The tuft from my neck fur almost covered it anyway.

While they both sat down on a bench, each enjoying a hotdog, I took my place at their feet as they chatted away to fellow officers who either were off or came over on their lunch break. Natalia was eating her hotdog and then feeding me pieces of mine between her bites. When Calleigh took a big bite out of hers, a bit of ketchup and mustard dripped, holding it at just the right angle to where it miraculously landed on her arm rather than her pants or shirt. I looked to watch her search for a napkin, failing at every direction she turned. Getting up, I casually went over to her and without any hesitation, gave her arm a couple licks making sure all evidence of any sauce was gone. Calleigh smiled at me, "Thanks Wolf. Didn't realize I forgot a napkin." She gave my head a long stroke which led down my neck and then a scratch behind my ear. Without another thought, Calleigh gave me the remaining piece of her hotdog, which was quite a large piece. I took it in one bite, my tail wagging all the while.

Laying there in the grass at Calleigh's feet, I heard a faint sound in the distance that caught my attention. It was unlike all the other noises that were common around the busy park. I first turned my right ear toward it before allowing my head to follow. It was a panicked sound, a woman in distress. She was in trouble and I needed to figure out the right direction. Getting up quickly, I walked through the crowd to where I believed it to be coming from. While I was scanning the distance, I also heard behind me when Calleigh called for Horatio. As I got to the outer edge of all the people, Horatio told Eric and Ryan to be ready. They all knew something was up when they watched how I was acting. I never even noticed how the talking around us grew quiet.

My muscles were tense, waiting for the next scream. The wait was barely a second when her voice carried over to my ears. Wasting no time, I bolted toward a couple small buildings on the other side of the park. It was pretty far, but thanks to my canine senses, I heard her cries for help over everything else around me. My paws were pounding hard on the ground, digging my claws into the dirt to help propel me faster. As the woman's pleas and protests were getting louder, I was still able to pick up several sets of feet behind me trying to keep up. When I got to the buildings, I pin pointed instantly the cause of such fear I now smelled in the air to be right between them, blocked by stacks of boxes. Once in view, I saw a dark haired man struggling to pulled down the pants of a young brunette woman. He already had his pants down, ready to violate her the second he could.

Without hesitation from my full run, I lowered my head and like a changing bull, slammed into him. The force knocked him to the ground, nearly winding him in the process. He looked up in shock, seeing a large wolf standing over this woman, growling at him with its teeth showing. The man didn't even have a chance to get up before he was forced on his stomach by Eric, having to be assisted by Ryan due to him resisting. Seconds later Calleigh and Natalia came around the corner and saw me standing overtop this woman who was scared from the man, and now me. They came over as I stepped aside to let them help her. It was then that I was able to get a good look at her. She was really pretty. Brown hair, hazel eyes, soft toned skin, and smelled of cherry blossoms.

The fear coming from her was strong, causing me to lower my ears slightly and wagging the end of my tail. When she watched Calleigh giving me praises and petting my head, the woman that I learned to be called Aubrey, started to calm down. She realized that I was no threat to her. Aubrey actually reached out to me with a shaky hand. I leaned forward and allowed her to pet my head, "Thank you for saving me." I stayed there for a few more strokes before backing up so Natalia could help her up. As she was helping fix her pants, Tripp showed up in his crown vic to put the attacker in the back. When he drove off, Aubrey got checked out by a medic and then afterwards gave her statement to a deputy.

Calleigh and Natalia headed back to the picnic with me in tow, followed by Eric and Ryan behind me. I didn't realize how far we had run until we started walking. That made me be more amazed at how well I could hear. With that happy thought, I sped up my walk a little so that I could be between my two owners, causing them both to trade turns petting my head. When we got close to our picnic, there began the sounds of hand clapping all over. It turned out that they all heard what I did on the radio and were applauding me. My head perked up with my wagging tail, actually enjoying the attention for once. As I pushed passed the crowd, several people petted my back and head. I normally didn't like that but I simply allowed it this one time. The occasion definitely called for it.

The next ones to stand in front of me was the Chief of Police and the Mayor. I looked up at them, sitting up straight as they praised me as well as Calleigh and Natalia for my training. "No training here," Calleigh told the Mayor. "Oh? Did she not undergo any police canine training," the Mayor asked. My heart started racing. This could ruin all of this if he doesn't see I'm not any threat. "No sir," Calleigh answered before continuing, "She found us at a crime scene and helped us find all the physical evidence on her own. A wolf doesn't train for that. She thinks the same way we do. Sounds weird but it's true." Natalia nodded, "She follows rules the same way as you and I. Her protective instinct is strong, but she knows actually harming anyone is always a last option. She approaches any suspect using the least amount of contact as possible." I took a chance and nodded in agreement.

The Chief and Mayor looked at each other, then back at me. The Mayor then said to us, "With what I heard today, and with that hostage family on how fast she resolved it without anyone harmed, I believe it. Which brings me to this action today." We all stood silent, only hearing my heart racing inside my head. With a smile, he walked up to the stage where the band had just ended a song. "I would like to have everyone's attention please." Everyone stopped to look at the Mayor, waiting to hear what he had to say. "Very recently, we had something happen that has never happened in the history of any crime scene investigation. A wild wolf shows up and actually assists in catching the killer. The next day, she resolved a situation where a family was held hostage without a single scratch or bite. Today she rescued a woman being attacked without anyone asking her to. This is alongside several cases she has assisted in solving very quickly. Finding out today that she's doing this all on her own freewill. I'm astounded. Today, I want to make her official. Calleigh Duquesne, Natalia Boa Vista, could you bring Fire Wolf up here?"

My legs began to shake as I followed them up to the stage. When we all got up there, The Mayor brings out a plaque and a thin box. Handing the plaque to Calleigh, he knelt in front of me and opened the box. My mouth dropped when he showed me what it was. "I would like to present to you, Fire Wolf, your very own badge." I lightly touched it with my paw, feeling it's cool metal under my pads. This was beyond amazing. My tail started wagging as I looked up at the Mayor and nodded. After handing it to Natalia, he reached his hand down. I put my paw in it and shook his hand. "Thank you for everything you do." A few firm shakes before releasing, allowing me to put my paw back down. Everyone in the crowd clapped for me. Calleigh scratched one side of my head while Natalia scratched the other.

Getting down from the stage was kind of hard with all the 'Congratulations' I was getting. But eventually we were able to make it to an empty bench. I sat on the grass while they took the seats. Calleigh was smiling, "I was not expecting that." "Neither was I," Natalia agreed. "But that's a good thing though. Now she's official and no one can attempt to take her from us." I did a small whine at them with my ears partly down. Seemingly reading my mind, Natalia leaned over and put her forehead on mine, "Your secret is still safe with us." I actually smiled when she said that. Calleigh put her hand on the side of my face as Natalia sat up, "Exactly." Closing my eyes, I leaned into her hand. I think can be okay with everyone thinking I'm just a super smart wolf.

After rubbing my face a couple times, Calleigh said, "All that running burned off that last hotdog. I could go for another. How about we go see if there are any more?" Natalia stood up, "That sounds like a great idea. Wolf, you in?" I did a single nod and followed them to the food table. They each got one for themselves while Calleigh got an extra for me, helping me eat it in between bites of her own. She even assisted me in drinking out of a water bottle. It was tough but I was able to get it. I felt the stares of other people, more out of curiosity than anything. Ignoring them, we carried on the rest of the day with being social and eating snacks until it got late.

That night I stayed with Natalia where we watched a movie and I attempted to play checkers. The hardest part for me was the jumping, but she helped me with that. These claws weren't meant for gripping small things. I'm still figuring out how to do things with paws, slowly making progress here and there. It's all on time and patience to have any results I'm aiming for. It also helps a lot to have my friends to aid me. Their own patience is very rewarding.

When we were finally getting into bed, Natalia settled in onto her side facing me and began rubbing her fingers up and down the side of my neck. Every few strokes she would guide them down my throat the top of my chest. We looked at each other for several minutes before she spoke, "I'm so glad you came into my life. Well, our lives. It's like you were the missing piece we didn't know we needed." Wagging my tail made her smile. Pulling me toward her until I was against her chest and her head was sitting on top of my head. I find myself in this pose a lot with both of them and has always been one of my favorites. It's an embrace that never lets go. Physically maybe, but mentally and emotionally is right here permanently. As she reached around me, I lifted my front left leg so that it was resting across her side. This was the first time I ever returned her hug with a hug of my own. With a kiss between my eyes, Natalia settled more against me and we both fell asleep in a protective embrace. No one was more glad to have come into their lives than I was. There is nowhere in this world I would rather be.