Recognized

[Rudy Cooper/ Brain Moser]

Today seems like it's going to be a long one. Rudy didn't get much sleep last night - way too much on his mind. There's just so much to keep straight: who knows what, what lies (and truths) he's told, his own agenda... it can get very exhausting.

When he arrived at the hospital and pulled into HIS parking spot, he felt like backing out and returning home. But he had to keep up appearances and even has two new patients on his schedule today, so in he must go.

He gathered his belongings, got out of his car and headed toward the entrance. While walking he had a strange feeling, like someone was following him. Yes, this is the hospital and people go in and out all the time, but it felt different.

He continued to walk at a calm, normal pace and just as he was about to enter the doors, he turned around and saw someone that looked familiar. When they made eye contact, Rudy asked, "Do I know you from somewhere? You look very familiar."

[Scott Martin]

If Rudy felt as though somone was following him, it was probably because he had not only 2 eyes on him, but 4. Scott and his police dog Nino were headed into hospital to talk to a woman who had witnessed a murder. She was traumatized at the scene and wasnt able to give them any information. The EMTs took her to the hospital, and Scott was sent to follow up, to see if she she knew anything.

Normally for a job like this he wouldnt have brought his dog with him, but since he was coming from the police department he had him with him, and the hot Miami sun wouldnt do well with leaving the dog in the car.

Scott was surprised by how Nino was acting ever since they got to the hospital, he was pulling more than normal as they followed in one of the employees (as Scott could tell by where he had parked). Scott pulled Nino back and looked up as the man turned around. He did look familiar, but Scott couldnt place him right now.

"You look familiar too...to both of us I think" Scott said, wondering if this was why Nino had reacted that way, he was now more calmly standing by his side. "I'm Scott Martin, I work for the Miami PD" He introduced himself hoping this would help the other man place how they recognized each other. He wasnt even sure if they had ever met before but maybe they saw each other somewhere in passing.

[Rudy Cooper/ Brain Moser]

When Rudy turned around and asked the man if he knew him, he was not expecting a dog, let alone cops. But Rudy being quick, calm and cordial, he then said to the dog in such a friendly and non threatening manner, while holding his hand out for the dog to sniff him, "And do I know you buddy?"

The dog calmy sniffed his hand and seemed to be kind toward Rudy. When the man responded that Rudy did, in fact, look familiar to him too, he racked his brain trying to pinpoint the time or location, but just could not. "Scott Martin? Hmm, it doesn't ring a bell. I'm Rudy Cooper."

Rudy wasn't surprised when the dog calmed. It's a strange thing, animals never seemed bothered by Rudy. Was it because he genuinely found animals likeable and intruiging? Or was he just such a good manipulator and truly believed his own deceptions? Either way can be beneficial, he thought.

"Sorry I can't place you, maybe you have one of those faces?" Rudy said as he continued to search for the internal answer. "So what brings you here to the hospital?"

[Scott Martin]

Scott was relieved that the man was so friendly and hadnt been put off by him and Nino interuppting him on his way to work. After getting his chance to sniff Rudy's hand Nino calmly wagged his tail, feeling better having investigated the person in front of them.

"Rudy Cooper" Scott repeated the name, hoping something would come to him but he couldnt place him either. "I'm not sure either, but its nice to meet you." He said extending out his hand. Maybe he hadnt met this man before. Some people you just got that familiar feeling from.

"I'm here to question someone" He told Rudy. "You work here? I saw you come from staff parking"

[Rudy Cooper/ Brain Moser]

"It's nice to meet you, too." This is going to frustrate Rudy. He knows him from somewhere; it's not just because he has one of those faces. There's a lot to go through in his mind. Did he know him from here, in Miami or somewhere else?

"Have you always been here in Miami or did you transfer from another place? Maybe that could trigger something for me." Rudy had to ask but did not want to dig too deep in fear of arousing suspicion. Knowing him before could've been good or bad, so he didn't want to jump to any conclusions.

Question someone? Rudy wondered what the crime was? In Miami, it could be anything. "Yes, I work here. I'm a prosthetist, fitting artificial limbs on what remains on the person. It's very rewarding to see people regain confidence and mobility", he says with a genuinely artificial smile.

[Scott Martin]

Scott could tell by the look on Rudy's face that he still thought that he was familar. It was comforting to know that he wasnt the only one with that gut feeling right now but he wished he could place him.

"I've always lived in Miami, except for a few months after I got out of the academy. I went up to New York when I got Nino here. His training center was up there, and I got my own training there on how to work with him before coming back down here." Scott explained, wondering if that was where they had met before. It had probably been a year now, so it might explain why his memory of it wasnt crystal clear. "You ever been to New York?"

He then listened to Rudy's explaination of what he did here. It certainly sounded like a noble and worthwhile profession. "That does sound like it would be rewarding. Every day helping people to function again. Giving them back a piece of what they lost" He said very impressed.

[Rudy Cooper/ Brain Moser]

Rudy listened as Scott explained his training and where he acquired Nino. "Yes, I've been in New York before quite extensively actually; everywhere from upstate to Long Island, but spent most of my time in the city. But that was a few years ago. I've been back in Miami for a couple of years now."

There was a smile on Rudy's face when Scott complimented his profession. Rudy didn't enter this field with that appreciation in mind, but that's what he tells people. He has seen his explanations give people renewed hope and show kindness and respect toward him. That does help the facade. "Thank you."

Feeling there was nothing more Rudy wanted to learn about Scott, as least not now, he wanted to get into the hospital. "Sorry to cut this short, but I've got to get to work; busy day. Maybe we'll run into each other again? You take care." Rudy extended his hand before extending the same hand to say good bye to Nino with a pet on the head. "You, too Nino. Bye."

[Scott Martin]

"New York and Miami are both great areas. I think if I ever decided to live anywhere other than Miami I might go back up there" Scott said making polite small talk.

Scott watched him smile and thought this guy seemed nice enough, and he did have a great profession. "You're welcome" He responded.

Scott then nodded as Rudy said he had to get back to work. "Yeah, I should get back to work too. It was nice meeting you though" Scott said, shaking his hand, before Nino nuzzled his head up against it. "Bye"

[Rudy Cooper/ Brain Moser]

Rudy walked right up to his office on the 3rd floor. He settled in and looked at his appointments for the day. His first appointment was in 2 hours, so he had plenty of time to prepare. However right now, all he could think about is where he knows this Scott Martin from. Could it be NY or Miami?

Rudy opened his laptop and did some simple research. Nothing important and nothing that triggered his memory. Just then he came across an article in the Miami Herald, back in August 2003. It stated that Officer Martin was the first to respond to an assault. When he arrived it was still in progress and after jumping out of his car, the suspect began running at which time Officer Martin followed him. He was not able to apprehend him and a suspect was never caught.

Rudy sank in his chair. That's it! That's how he knows him. Rudy knew the assault the reporter was describing. Rudy was the attacker, but it was more of an attempted abduction that was thwarted by the victim putting up a nasty fight. He'll never forget it nor the officer who chased him. It set Rudy's confidence back several months, but he dusted himself off and refined his skill.

"Does Scott really remember him?" Rudy thought. He didn't think the cop got a good look at him with him being covered in dark clothing and wearing a hood.

Regardless, Rudy knew that Officer Scott Martin had to be avoided.

[Scott Martin]

(OOC: I love the story of how they know each other! Great job!)

Scott headed into the hospital and went for the ER. After speaking with the head nurse there, he found out that the witness he needed to question was moved to a private room to get some rest (and to get away from even more stressors that one would see in the Emergency Room). Scott easily found the room and spent the morning questioning her, getting as much information as possible.

Scott was much more distracted than he usually was. He kept thinking about the man he saw walking into the hospital. He knew he looked familar, someplace he had seen him before. He may have been able to brush off the feeling if Rudy hadnt felt the same way. But no matter how hard he thought he still couldnt place him, or shake the feeling that he knew him.

When Scott had decided that he had gotten as much information from the witness as possible he decided to see if he could find Rudy's office. He knew that if he didnt figure out how he knew this guy, it would drive him crazy. Maybe one more look would ring a bell. Plus it was close to lunchtime so he hoped he could catch the man while he was on a break, so that he wouldnt be interupting his work.

[Rudy Cooper/ Brain Moser]

(OOC: Thanks so much!)

Rudy finished up with his last patient before lunch. He cleaned up his supplies, put away his files and grabbed his briefcase. Rudy had another patient in an hour, and didn't have much time for lunch today, so he thought he'd grab a bite at the hospital cafeteria. They added many more choices and some of them looked quite delicious.

As he closed and locked his office door, he saw Officer Martin and Nino coming down the hallway. Rudy caught his eye contact, so he couldn't just leave and walk the other way. That would be disrespectful and may seem suspicious. He had to say something. As Officer Martin approached, Rusy asked, "So, how was your morning?"

[Scott Martin]

Scott smiled as Rudy caught his eye contact and waited for him to walk over. He didnt want to be coming off as some kind of creepy stalker guy, so at least it was refreshing that at least at this point Rudy was still acting friendly towards him. Scott knew that he recognized him from somewhere, it was only a matter of time, or so he hoped.

"It was pretty productive, thanks." Scott told him, thinking back to his interview. He hda gotten all of the information he could from the woman. "How was your morning?"

"I was heading to the cafeteria and thought I'd see if I could buy you some lunch...seeing as how you might be an old friend afterall" Scott said with a smile since they had both felt they knew each other "Or if not, maybe just a new one?"

[Rudy Cooper/ Brain Moser]

"My morning went well. The patients I had were coming in for follow ups so I can assess how they're physically and emotionally handling their new limbs." Rudy was being cordial to Scott. He is not someone to be disrespectful to, he thought.

Rudy listening to Scott's offer to buy him lunch. What would Scott think if Rudy declined? That he was rude, trying to avoid him, or just busy? He can't say no; he was already going to the cafeteria for lunch. How would that look? Should he go to be polite? But what where could the conversations lead? It could be dangerous for Rudy. He's been in situations like this before so he was confident he'd be fine, but there's always that uncertainly when you deal with another person.

"Sure, I was heading there anyway." Rudy said with a smile. "True, we both seem to know each other. Hope it was in a good way." Rudy said with a laugh, trying to see if Scott would think that's funny. Rudy continued, "Otherwise it's always nice to make some new friends." Rudy believed what he said. If Scott doesn't recognize him (and that's good), a new friendship and contact in the police department could be very beneficial for Rudy.

[Scott Martin]

Scott smiled as he listened to Rudy describe his morning. He really held a high respect for this man and his work. Just the way he spoke of it, and spoke of his patients, Scott thought he could feel how much this man cared for them, and how passionate he was about his work. “I’m sure that they appreciate your attentive care, they’re lucky to have you”

“Great!” Scott replied excitedly as Rudy accepted his offer to buy him lunch. Scott was always the person trying to make a good impression on people, so it was good to see that he didn’t appear to be annoying the man. He then laughed as Rudy added that he hoped it was in a good way. “I’m sure it is” He said, not able to imagine that he’d know this man in any other way. The worst he could imagine was if they fought in grade school, and even then, Scott figured they’d end up laughing about it now.

[Rudy Cooper/ Brain Moser]

Rudy enjoyed hearing Scott (or anyone) compliment him. It makes him feel more confident in his facade of being a good, non-threathening man. "Thanks, that's very nice to say."

When Rudy accepted Scott's lunch invitation, Rudy had seen just how happy that made him. Rudy thought was he looking for friendship or just wants to please people. Either way that didn't have to be a fault; he is a police officer after all.

So he thinks they were on good terms when they knew each other, huh? Rudy came to the realization that unless he slipped up in conversation big time, there's no way of Scott knowing he was the assailant in the assault... unless Rudy's intended victim recognized him and he crossed paths with her again after all these years. However he heard she moved away after that incident, but that was a few years ago, so what's the probability of that?