Animal - Ch. 2

[whedonist]

This Is How It Goes

Consistency. It’s a way to cope. Like where my coffee cup is on my desk, to my left - handle to the left so that all I need to do is reach out, grab the handle and sip the sludge that’s stained the inside of the mug.

Huang’d probably read some bullshit into why I like things a certain way, but the truth is…truth is, it’s a comfort. So I reach for my mug of sludge, glance up from my current report and wonder, not for the first time today, what the hell crawled up Liv’s ass and refused to leave.

Got in at the usual time. She was here. Not that that was a big shock to my daily routine. She’s here before me most mornings. Maybe we should get her a life.

Fuck it…I know what crawled up there. Cabot. Whatever they talked about yesterday put her in the mood to end all moods. To be a fly on that wall.

Scratch that. I wouldn’t have survived.

I wince from the hot liquid and maybe the taste too. Setting the mug down, I rap my pen on my write up of our visit yesterday. Poor kid. Nothing major. Doctor said she was bitten by a dog. We put Animal Control on it, but…there just – it was off. Didn’t feel right.

I push yesterday’s case from my mind as I feel someone enter the bullpen. Looking back, I offer a smile to our resurrected A.D.A. and say, “Cabot, two days in a row!”

Munch looks up from his desk and grins, “Counselor, I’m afraid to say that Stabler’s right, what warrants such an auspicious occasion?”

She smiles, taking the ribbing lightly. The slight blush on her cheeks the only indication of her embarrassment. “I needed to meet with Don on a few cases and then all of you on a one on one basis. I need information on some of the open ones.”

I look over at Olivia and she’s barely acknowledged Alex’s presence. I rub the back of my neck and nod my agreement for a meeting later in the day.

“Liv,” Alex says, walking over and resting herself against Olivia’s desk like she used to.

I watch my partner tense and look up. Her smile’s tight. Her eyes haunted. My lips press together and I stand up, offering, “My stomach can’t take whatever’s passin’ for coffee today. Who wants what?”

“Get our usual,” Munch says as he waves a hand between Fin and himself.

“Am I going to catch any shit asking for tea?” Olivia asks the barest hint of a smile in her eyes. The first I’ve seen all day.

Grinning, I hold my hands up and say, “Today, I’ll give you a pass. You ask for that shit on the way in tomorrow morning and only God knows what’ll be waitin’ for you in you’re locker.” I wink and turn my attention to Alex. “What about you, Councelor? My treat.”

It used to be hard to read Alex. I’m not sure if it’s just that I know her more now or something else, but I see her eyebrow raise and lower lightening quick in surprise. Her lips purse and she says, “I – uh…”

“Get her what I’m getting,” Liv answers for Cabot and I lift my eyebrow.

Looking between the two I decide shrugging’s the best response. “Fine. Two English Breakfasts English style with sugar, one Americano with soy and two regular coffees,” I rattle off the order. “I miss anything?”

No one responds so I grab my coat and hat and make my way out of the one-six. It’s colder today than yesterday and the wind-chill bites at the exposed skin of my face and neck. I’m halfway to the coffee shop down the block when my waist vibrates. I pull my phone free and check the display. It reads a County number and I answer, “Stabler.”

“Detective Stabler,” A soft female voice sounds into my ear, “I’m Crystal Frederickson with Children’s Social Services.”

My steps falter and I move off the sidewalk and rest my back against the cold brick of a building. “What can I assist you with Ms. Frederickson?”

“I was following up on a case that you and your partner, Detective Benson, took yesterday. Young girl was attacked and taken to the hospital. We’ve been trying to locate her parents, but we’ve just learned her father was found dead yesterday in Riverside Park.” She takes a breath and I hear paper shuffling in the background. “It appears the case was picked up by two veteran detectives from the twenty-fourth precinct. I was hoping you two could coordinate and help a haggard social worker out by tracking down next of kin?”

Her tone’s this side of pathetic and I roll my eyes. Like we ain’t got enough shit to deal with lady. I bite my tongue as the vision of the small girl flashes in my mind and I hear myself say, “If you can get the file over to us, I’ll see what we can do.”

---

I look up at the clock, again. Its stupid face mocks me. The irrational urge to smash it makes me want to smile.

I sigh and run a hand through my hair. Yep, definitely irrational.

There needs to be a serious rethink on Will’s part. I hate waiting in hospitals. Yet, here is where I’ve found myself more often than not. Waiting on her. She knows this. Jimmy knows this. Hell, I don’t think there’s anyone that knows me that doesn’t know this.

A set of doors open to my right. Hoping it’s my wife-to-be is an exercise in stupid as a gurney gets pushed through the doors. A young kid is tailed after a team of hospital workers and a frightened looking couple. I lean back in my chair and continue to wait.

I flip my wrist over, curl my fingers into my palm and gaze at the grime underneath them. I scrubbed for-like-ever, but the stupid things won’t come clean. My patrol with Jimmy last night turned up squat in the way of stupid vampires. It did however turn up a squishy demon that I wasn’t prepared to fight. Hence the grime.

I shudder as the feeling of its stinky, jell-o-y consistency ghosts over my hands and arms. I still can’t believe I nearly dived into the stupid thing. On the plus side, ripping out its heart was a total cakewalk. And cakewalk? What the hell’s a cakewalk? What kind of sense does that make?

A hand brushes over mine and I meet Willow’s exhausted gaze. “Will, what’s a cakewalk?”

She blinks and stares at me for a minute trying to catch up. “I…uh…” she stumbles and I grin.

Grabbing her hand, I stand and give her a peck on the lips before tugging her down the corridor. “Because I was sitting there thinking and that term just doesn’t make sense. So ‘spalin. Cake and walk, sense type thoughts?”

Finally, she catches up and laughs. “Buffy, have I ever told you that you have too many thoughts?”

I push the doors open and lead her out to the street. Turning back to look at her, I grin wider. “Nope.” Winking, I wave down a taxi and give him our new address.

The ride’s not too bad and during it Willow cuddles up to my left side. I wrap my arm around her shoulders and say, “We did good on the apartment, ya know?”

“Hmm-huh,” she mumbles into my shirt.

“And this new living arrangement with Jimmy’s working out better than I thought it would.” I lift a piece of hair that fell over her eyes and tuck it behind her ear. She’s nearly passed out. I sigh and decide to not have fun with her. She’s been going non-stop for days now.

The cab pulls up in front of our new place. I look back down at Will softly snoring into my shoulder and I just can’t muster up the heart to wake her up. Instead, I reach into my coat pocket and hand the driver a twenty. Pulling Willow into my lap, I cradle her and carry her out of the cab. I kick the door closed and walk towards the lobby. Our doorman’s eyes grow large as I approach.

He opens the door for me and trails me inside, asking, “Is she okay? Do you need me to call an ambulance?”

I shake my head and say, “Nope, just tired. But can you help me up to our apartment?” I try to not glare and snap at him. He needs to stuff his eyes back in his eye sockets. This looks weird yes, but I’m not gonna wake a woman that’s just spent four days straight at work.

Amazingly, he clues up and nods, waiting with me at the bank of elevators. Shifting a little, I reach in and grab my keys out of my jacket pocket and pass them over. The elevator dings and we’re on our way up. The doorman, I really should learn his name, opens our door and allows me to get inside.

I hear Jimmy in the kitchen. “Cupcake? Red?” his voice calls out.

“Yeah. Hang on,” I call out to him. Inside our bedroom, I lay Willow down and undress her to the best of my ability without waking her. I slide the comforter over her and kiss her forehead. Shutting the door, I make my way down the hall to the foyer where the doorman is still waiting. I give him a five-dollar bill and he hands me my keys. Seeing him out, I throw the deadbolt and head to the kitchen.

Jimmy’s hunched over a frying pan as I lean against the wall and arch an eyebrow. He looks up and smiles. “Where’s Red?”

I hook a thumb in the direction of our bedroom and shrug.

“She pass out in the cab?” He flips the burgers in the frying pan.

“Pretty much.” I gaze at the frying meat and look at him skeptically. “Tell me that’s not what you’re cooking for dinner?”

He looks mildly offended as he says, “It’s lean ground beef and there’s a salad in there. I also got Mac ‘n’ Cheese in the oven. It’s baked,” he says that with a bit more pride and a wiggle of his eyebrows.

Lifting my eyebrow further, I shake my head. “Did you hit your head and regress in age after I left you at the precinct?”

“Nope, just got a craving.” He takes a swig of his beer and I shrug. “Oh, speaking of work, I got a call after you left from a coupla D’s over at the one-six. Seems our floater had a kid. We’re meeting with both of them in the morning to discuss and share.”

I grab a bottle of water for myself and take down two plates. “That should be fun.”

He looks at me sideways as I smile curtly and let the sarcasm speak for itself.

---

I hover in the entrance to the bullpen just watching the detective at the desk. It’s so…I grasp for the words, but they don’t come to me in time. Olivia looks up from her desk and smiles as she sees me.

“Alex how’s the evening?” she asks, reclining in her chair.

I gather my wits and finally walk into the room. Setting my bag down, I lean against her desk and answer, “Good. Tired. Greyleck left quite a few cases open.”

She offers me a sympathetic smile and nods. “So what brings you down here at this time of night? I’d have thought you’d be at your office buried under mountains of paperwork.”

I laugh and shake my head. She knows me entirely too well. “I would be; however, I needed to go over your upcoming appearance in the Mizakuri trial. I took a gamble and hoped you’d be around.”

She pushes back from her desk and stands. My eyes travel over her erect form, trying to hide my appreciation for the way she fills out the light tan slacks and royal blue blouse. I apparently don’t hide my appreciation for her very well as I notice the look she’s giving me. I blush and reach down for my bag to hide the red staining my cheeks.

As I pull the strap of my bag higher on my shoulder, she grabs her jacket and asks, “Food?”

An eyebrow rises at the question so she supplies more, “I haven’t eaten since this morning and I’m starved. If you don’t mind, I’d like to go grab something to eat while we go over the trial prep.”

“That actually sounds wonderful. The Snickers and Diet Coke from lunch quit being filling about four hours ago.” I follow her out of the building and we make our way down the street and around the block.

She stops in front of an all night coffee shop and holds the door open, ushering me in. “They opened this up a few years ago and it’s a solid place for decent coffee and light dinners.”

I select a large table towards the back as she goes to the counter to order. Half watching her and half paying attention to the papers in my bag, I pull a few folders out and grab a pen. She comes back and places a cup of coffee in front of me. I smile up at her in appreciation and ask, “Food?”

Sitting opposite me, she says, “They’ll bring it out when they’re done with the sandwiches. You still like turkey and avocado?”

“I do.” I smile genuinely for the first time tonight. “I’m surprised you remembered.”

She smiles back, “There’s not a lot I forget, Councelor.”

Conceding, I wade through my files and find the one I’m looking for. Our food comes shortly after and it takes us another half hour to go through the standard questions that I had prepared. As she answers the last of my questions, I close the file in front of me and lean back against the hard plastic of the bench. I close my eyes and finally take a small break.

The soft timber of her voice brings me back to reality, “That’s all?” she asks.

I suppose what most would consider a chuckle, or perhaps a chortle makes it way past my lips and I smile. “That’s it for work tonight, Liv.” I reach for my cold coffee and take a sip. The grimace is caught and she's up at the counter getting fresh refills for us both before I have time to protest.

“You want me up all night?” I ask as she sits the steaming beverage in front of me.

“No, I think you need sleep about as much as I do.” She leans back, folding her arms across her chest and smirks. “But, I also know you won’t sleep regardless of how much you drink so…”

“Sleep’s for those who don’t dream,” I half joke back. Turning a bit more serious, I tilt my head to the side and study her for a moment before coming to a decision. Inhaling, I feel the metaphorical bullet I’m about to bite already burrowing its way through my chest. “Liv, since I’ve been back, I’ve taken up a few of my mother’s charities for the family’s foundation. There's an event for one of them coming up soon. I don’t think it’ll be horrendous, but would you care to save me and accompany me as my date?”

Her face registers shock and then I see the rejection creeping into her eyes. I resist the urge to sigh; instead, I prepare myself for the inevitable. I knew the invitation was a long shot, but I couldn’t not try.

“I’d love to.” I look up shocked at her answer. She didn’t… “What day?”

My mouth opens and closes for a few seconds, struggling to find my voice. “I…It’s this Thursday.”

The right side of her mouth curls into a smile and she nods. “Good. I’m off that day and not on call. It’ll leave me time to find something to wear.”

I can feel the grin on my face. I wish with all that I have that I wouldn’t look so damn stupid like I know I do, but…

Fuck it. She just said yes.

“It’s a black and white theme. I’m sure you’ll be able to find something appropriate.” I take a drink of the coffee she brought me then say, “Are you still living in the same place?” Her nod is my answer. “I’ll have a car pick you up at seven-thirty.”

Stuffing the files back into my bag, I stand, put my coat on and pull my bag up my shoulder. She follows suit and we make our way out of the diner. We stand in the cold longer than we probably should. The air between us not quite comfortable, but not uncomfortable either. I bask in her presence. Cliché and utterly ridiculous, I feel better just being around her again.

I watch her waive down a taxi and open the door for me. Turning, I lean against the car and say, “Thank you,” before ducking inside. The door slams shut and I give the driver my address.

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