3.1.2 – Up to My Neck

[whedonist]

3.1.2 – Up to My Neck

It’s cold, rainy and there’s no moonlight which means that I can barely see twenty feet in front of us. The few street lamps that are lit provide only a small pool of light directly under the bulb. Pulling my jacket tighter around me, I slouch further in my seat and wait on our current piece of scum to come out of his apartment.

This is also the main constancy in my career, the one tried and true rule: stakeouts suck!

I sneak a peek at Nikki in the passenger’s seat and see that she’s having as much fun as I am. Well, I could try for conversation. At least we’d have more to do than stare at a door thirty feet away. “So,” I start, knowing full well that I just suck at small talk. “How was your one day off?”

She looks over at me and shrugs. “I did some laundry, went to lunch with my C.I.” She turns a bit on the bench seat and directs more of her attention to me.

“You have lunch with your C.I.’s?” It’s not a common thing. The few criminal informants I’ve used, well, the only thing I’d do for them is buy them some hand sanitizer and deodorant.

She smiles and says, “He’s a special guy. Maybe if you’re good I’ll introduce you.” She props her head on her right hand and looks past me, not really at anything as her eyes become unfocused. “He’s the one that gave me the tip about our latest suspect.”

“Ah,” I say, not sure what else to say. It’s Sunday and I would be at home doing laundry myself, trying to avoid phone calls from my mother if I wasn’t here.

“What about you, detective, how was your Saturday?” Her attention is once again focused on me and I wonder how long she’s been looking at me.

“Cleaned up, spent a really long time in the shower.”

She smirks and her eyes travel over me. In the dark of the car, it appears innocent. Almost.

“No boyfriend to make it up to?” she asks.

I shake my head. “Sorry to spoil, but I’ve not met a man yet that can keep up. You?”

“Not even close. There are two men in my life, one of them I share fifty percent of my D.N.A. with. The other’s family. What about your family? I mean we’re partners. We should at least get to know one another on a more personal level, don’t you think Nora?”

I nod. “I don’t think that could hurt, seeing as how we’re gonna be sitting here for a while.”

“Well.” Her attention is fully on me now. Her left leg’s bent at the knee resting on the seat between us with her back against the passenger door. “Let’s see, you are obviously a native of our beautiful city. Family?”

I shrug. “We’re pretty boring.” I smile and offer more, “Irish, Catholic and all of us are in some type of civil service. We blame my grandfather the first Delany in a line of many, my dad was a cop, I’m a cop, my youngest brother, Bobby’s a cop. Patrick, the eldest, is in the Marines and my other brother, Terry, is with the National Guard stationed in Baton Rouge.”

She nods and asks, “Mom? Dad?”

I sigh. “Mom’s a career house wife and the occasional pain in my ass, but I love her. My dad passed away awhile back, it’s been nearly three years.”

“Oh, sugga, I’m sorry.” She reaches out and rests her hand on my knee, squeezing it in an attempt to comfort me.

“It’s alright. It wasn’t fun, but I’m just glad he’s not suffering anymore.”

She nods sympathetically and I notice that her hand hasn’t moved from my knee. It rests there causally, heating up the skin underneath my blue jeans.

I won’t complain.

“What about you, Nikki. Family?”

“Only my daddy and me left. My momma passed when I was six so I remember a little, but not a lot.”

“Ah, so you’re a daddy’s girl?” I smile, teasing her.

Her eyebrow lifts as she proudly says, “Through and through. I bet that you are too.”

“Yeah,” I laugh and shake my head, “I was.” Trying to be delicate, I ask, “How’d your mom die?”

“A heart defect. It was quick and no one really caught it in time. Daddy was devastated.”

“And you?” I wonder aloud.

“I was too young. It’s different when you’re a kid. Kids are resilient, ya know?” I look her over and she seems okay with it.

She’s also right, kids are way better at handling things like that.

“So,” she says, “Boyfriends?” Her eyes sparkle in the glow from the ambient light as she asks.

“None.”

“But you and Dan?” she probes.

“Were partners only.” I emphasize partners and follow up, “He asked, I declined. He’s not…don’t get me wrong, he is nice to look at, there really isn’t a flaw on him, but he’s not my type.”

Her eyebrows go up mildly surprised. “So what exactly is your type?”

“Not Daniel Harney.”

She scooches over on the bench seat so that our shoulders are touching and purrs, “I will have to file that away for later.”

What the…

Her breath warms my neck and I manage to control the shiver. Trying to turn the tables, I say, “What about you? Boyfriends?”

“I haven’t had one of those in a very, very long time.” She smiles at me.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone more beautiful when they smile.

And I need to stop.

I cough and say, “There’s always Dan.”

She smirks and says, “He’s really not this southern belle’s type.” Her hand twitches on my knee and she squeezes it again, moving just a fraction of an inch higher than where it’s sat for the past few minutes.

Oh, really. “And what would be your type, Ms. Beaumont?”

Her eye’s look out of the windshield for a brief moment and she hisses, “Shit.” Looking back over at me, she smiles apologetically. “We’ll talk more later. Our suspect just came out.”

Shit. I wasn’t even paying attention.

I scramble for the door and she follows me out of the driver’s side. The rain hits every free surface, pasting my hair to my head in an instant.

We run across the street and stop on the sidewalk about five feet in front of the kid, Jackson Aguire, that we think is responsible for dumping the body of our victim, Sean Von Temp, early this week. His eyes go wide as he sees us, they dart from my face to Nikki’s and then to the badge that’s displayed on my hip.

The fucker’s gonna run.

And he does. It takes a second longer, but he turns heel and darts away in the pouring rain.

Unthinking, I take off after him. The cold and rain forgotten as it all becomes about me tracking down my prey.

This kid’s not too bright.

He’s quick. I’m quicker as I gain ground on him. I look past him and see the street is ending. He’s got one of two choices, stop and fight or try to jump the eight-foot tall brick wall ahead of us.

I go back to focus on him and can almost reach out and touch him, I’m that close on his heels.

Fuck it.

I take one giant leap and tackle him from behind. My arms close around him and I drag him to the ground kicking. I hit the ground and the wind is briefly driven from my lungs. The water soaks through my jeans and even through the nylon of the supposedly waterproof jacket I’m wearing. Rolling, we slam against the brick wall and I manage to pull a hand back, driving a fist into a kidney.

He cries out, but stops moving.

My free hand tangles in his shirt collar and I position us so that he’s face down in a soppy puddle of grass, while I straddle his back to start locking the cuffs around his wrists. Some of my ambient light gets lost and I blink up into the rain to see Nikki gun drawn with the muzzle pointing at Jackson.

She’s almost as soaked as I am and she looks pissed.

“You have the right to remain silent,” I begin to Mirandize our suspect, hauling myself up and bring him with me. “Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney, if you can’t afford one, one will be appointed to you by the state.” I start to frog march him back to my car as Nikki holsters her gun and follows me. I hear her cursing under her breath. “Do you understand these rights as I have read them to you, you stupid piece of shit?” I cuff him in the back of his head and he stumbles against the car.

I look between him and June Lee and realize I have two options: Let him sit between Nikki and me on the way back to the station house or use Nikki’s set of cuffs and make him ride in the bed of my car.

“Nikki, give me your cuffs,” I demand.

I look over at her and she’s trying to figure out why, but she doesn’t ask as the pair she has materializes in front of me hanging from the tip of her right index finger.

“Thanks,” I chirp, take the cuffs and begin to hoist our collar into the back of June.

“Hey,” he starts to protest, “What the fuck are you doing?”

“Shut up and get in the back,” I growl and let him clamber in the rest of the way. Once he’s sitting down, I clap one cuff on his wrist and the other I snap around a utility bar that’s hidden under the lip of the bed’s side.

He looks between the both of us shocked at where he’s going to be riding. “You can’t do this!” he shouts.

I ignore him and get into the car. Nikki jogs around to the passenger side a small smirk playing at the corners of her mouth. As she closes the door, I start up and begin to pull away from the curb, but she stops me with a hand on the steering wheel.

Before I know it, she’s next to me taking my chin in her hand. “You’re bleeding,” she says as she wipes away some of my hair. Her hand comes down in front of my eyes wet with blood.

I reach up and feel my forehead, wincing as I start to feel the gash in my forehead. Shit.

I shake her off. “Let’s get him back to the station and worry about me later.”

She nods, but stays next to me, using a couple of tissues she pulled from her purse to press against my forehead. I look at her like she’s crazy and she says, “Just drive.”

The look she shoots me tells me that I better not argue.

I reach over and crank the heat. We’re both soaked. Her body presses against mine and I can’t tell if I’m shivering ‘cause of her closeness or the cold.

Maybe it’s her that’s shivering.

I relent and let her do what she wants as I press the gas pedal and head towards the station.

If this is how all our stakeouts are going to end, with her next to me, I might actually learn to like them.

---

“Nikki,” I protest, “This isn’t really necessary.” She hasn’t let go of my hand since we got out of the car. I get led up the steps to her apartment as she ignores my protests. I sigh and give up. After we processed Aguire, she demanded we go get my head checked out at the hospital.

Four stitches and explicit instructions from the doc and all of a sudden she’s Florence Frickin’ Nightingale. The doctor said concussion and I wasn’t to be left alone. Nikki volunteers and not only do I agree for some insane reason that I’ve yet to figure out, but I also let her drive my car!

Bobby’s driven it once. And that was because it was for Ann. That’s it. He hasn’t gotten to touch it since. And now, not only am I actually letting her take care of me, I let her drive my car, my baby, my June Lee.

After only knowing her six days!

That’s it.

I know what my problem is. I just need to get out and get laid. It’s been a while, between work and taking that vacation, I should call Casey, see what she’s up to. I mean it’s been years and we’ve kept it casual which in and of its self is nice and rare.

She’s had relationships that she’s floated in and out of and I’ve well, I’ve had work. She’s always been there in a pinch though. And given this bout of insanity, I’m sure she’d be available.

And what does that say? A causal relationship that’s lasted for, my mouth pinches as I think and I receive a funny look as Nikki looks back at me. She is pretty. Just look at that mouth. It’s very…I draw in a breath and shake it off. What was I…oh that’s right, Casey, it’s been like four years or so and it’s like perfect.

I get to have sex with the gender that I’m attracted to while not having to deal with the crap and hell a relationship would wreak on my personal and professional life.

As we reach the front door, I’m starting to wonder if maybe I’m not just a bit stoned from the pain meds they gave me. Nothing strong, but I.V. Percocet for someone who only takes Motrin is a bit much.

Darting through the open doorway, we manage to get inside just as a bolt of lightning illuminates the sky and a crack of thunder echoes around the complex. I stand there while she bustles about. She strips me of my coat and hangs it up in a closet by the entryway. My medication bag and the bag that’s holding my soaked clothes are set behind the couch.

I look around and take in the home of Nikki Beaumont. It’s…simple. Not like Spartan simple or me simple, ‘cause me simple’s just well, I think my mother thinks that I could live in a hut. I mean my place isn’t bare, it’s just the basics. I’m not home much, why bother sprucing it up when I barely get there to sleep and shower.

But Nikki’s place is, it’s got that home like feeling. Everything’s done in these rich, vibrant colors that draw you in. The tan leather sectional sofa takes up a lot of space in the living room. There’s a fireplace off to the side with a door to a balcony on the left of it. The main wall is hidden by a large entertainment center with movies and books. And, hey look at that, she likes to read.

See, I knew she was smart.

The kitchen is open and off to my left and straight ahead is the hallway that Nikki disappeared down. I would muster up the feeling to be offended if watching her walk away wasn’t such a treat.

I squint my eyes; even in the low lighting it’s still bright. There are a few pictures on the wall, some of her and friends and/or family. I shuffle further into her apartment and move towards the entertainment center. I look at the framed photographs. There are only four stacked on two shelves. The top right has a photo of a little girl, who can only be Nikki with a man and woman. I’m pretty sure that’s a family photo. My eyes dart down and I see her standing sandwiched between a black woman and black man. All three are smiling. It looks like it was taken at some party. I look right of that picture and see the same man sitting with Nikki in a booth at a restaurant.

They look happy together. So that’s the type of guy she likes? I mean, well, he looks…he looks like some of the people I’ve busted, but…

I shake my head, that’s not fair. Looks don’t mean everything and I’ve seen plenty of wolves in sheep's clothing.

I glance up to the last picture, the one next to the family photo. This picture has the girl from the one below it and Nikki. They’re looking at each other and I squint harder as my mouth drops open a little.

That isn’t the way you look at a friend. It’s a candid shot of two people very much in love.

Well…

“Nora?” Nikki’s voice pulls me from my revelation and I look at her with glassy, dazed eyes. I blink and she says, “I’ve made up my bed for you. Come on. Fresh sheets and all.”

I don’t move and instead point to the photos. She comes over and takes my hand giving it a squeeze. She looks between me and the photo of her and that woman. She sighs and runs her free hand through her hair. “I think, darlin’ we’re gonna hafta talk in the morning, but tonight, we need to get you some rest.”

I mutter, “The doctor said no sleep for six hours.”

“I know, we’ve got five to kill.” She smiles and tugs me towards the bedroom.

I swallow and ask, “Just how exactly are you going to keep me awake?” And holy crap I’m going to be in the same bed with her.

I’ll be lucky to survive the night.

She smiles back at me as she pushes her bedroom door open. “You are going to read to me,” she says it so innocently that it makes me break out into a grin.

“Do you like being read to?” I ask.

She shrugs. “Depends on who’s doin’ the reading.” She has some pajamas laid out on the bed for me and says, “Go ahead and change. I’ll step out and use the powder room.”

I nod dumbly and watch her close the door to her bathroom. I fumble for a minute or two and finally manage to get undressed into the soft cotton pajamas. I sniff the sleeve and my stomach tightens.

They smell like her.

Collapsing onto the bed, I cradle my head in my hands and try to get the fog to clear. I know that I’m…more uninhibited right now. It’s exactly how I don’t need to be, especially around her, but here I am and here she is and…

I’m screwed.

I look up as she comes out of the bathroom wearing a similar set of pajamas and I smile. She returns my smile, plucking a book from the dresser next to her. She walks over and stops in front of me, setting the book on the bedside table.

I’m eye level with the underside of her breasts and I feel my cheeks heat up. Her finger hooks under my chin and she tilts my face up to look at her. Her free hand tucks the hair that’s escaped from my ponytail behind my ear and she’s still smiling.

I grin stupidly at her and say, “Ya know, you’re awful pretty. Like when I first saw you, I could like barely speak, pretty.”

She laughs and I turn red.

I can’t believe that I just said that. I may never be able to meet her eyes again.

She surprises me too and says, “That made two of us, sugga, but this isn’t something we should talk about now.” A hand ghosts down the side of my face and she sighs, “We’re gonna hafta talk. Not tonight. Tonight, you get to read to me,” she looks at the spine of the book, “How does, Fall On Your Knees, sound.”

My face scrunches and I say, “Painful.”

She giggles. Actually giggles and backs away from me. “Well, you’re just gonna have to suck it up. I’ve been told it’s a helluva book.”

I sigh and shrug. “Fine, but I get the left side of the bed.” Scrambling around to the other side of the mattress, I make myself comfortable and prop a few pillows against the headboard.

Nikki crawls in next to me and places the book on my lap. She situates herself in a similar fashion and I crack the spine on our reading material. I look over the first few pages and begin. Nikki scoots over to me; laying her head on my shoulder. I smile as the first chapter gives way to the second.

Maybe this whole stoned, concussion thing will work in my favor.

---

Consciousness laps at the edges of my sleeping mind. It’s the muffled sound of two people talking that pulls me from my slumber and there a few things that register before I even attempt to open my eyes. I tick them off in my head; one, I’m not at home, two, I’ve got a nasty headache and three, I’m pretty sure that if I open my eyes my head will explode.

Bravely I crack one eye open and am thankful that there are blinds covering the two large windows. Almost no light gets in that way and the only illumination comes from the cracked doorway where the voices are coming from. Opening the other I try to sit up and with a groan flop back on to the mattress.

Yeah, that worked.

Pushing away the pounding, I try again and stay up this time. Mopping my face with my hands my fingers grazes the stitches and it all comes back to me or at least some of it. I remember running that kid down, the car ride to the station, the booking and the hospital. I’m lost after the hospital.

Where the hell am I?

I look around and know this isn’t Casey’s place. I look over at the dresser and a picture of Nikki and a group of cops looks back at me.

I’m at Nikki’s.

Well, that explains fuck-all of nothing.

I growl and stand, preparing to make it out into other parts of the apartment. I move gingerly as taking large steps seems to make my head hurt worse. I near the end of the hall and the voices carry clearly.

“Darius, this is serious,” Nikki whines.

“Kouzin’,” the man I’m to assume is Darius answers, “you got problems. My advice, you want it or not?”

I hear her groan and whine some more, “Fine.”

“Keep it in your pants, Nik. She’s your partner. You can’t touch that. You know it. She should know it and I know them people you work for know it,” he answers.

Another groan of frustration and I decide to make my presence known. “Nikki?” I call out softly.

I step into the living area and Nikki is getting up from the couch while a skinny black man, the one from the photo…

Oh, shit!

It all comes back to me and I blanch.

I need to get out of here. I need to leave and never look Nikki Beaumont in the face again.

Instead, she comes up to me and smiles. The urge to flee flies away and I’m left standing there tongue tied.

“Morning, partner.” She steps to the side and waves a hand between Darius and me. “This is Darius Jamison. Darius meet my new work partner, Nora Delaney.”

He smiles and waves. I nod back and say, “I’d be more presentable but…”

He waves me off. “I was given the story. Look, Nik,” he turns to her, saying, “you needta think about this. It’s not what you need. You here?”

I look between the two of them a little lost. Instead of clarifying, he looks back to me and says, “Nice meeting you, but I’m needed elsewhere this morning.”

Neither say anything else as he grabs his coat off the back of the couch and leaves.

Well that was certainly interesting.

It’s way too early for this and I need coffee. A large vat of it that I can stick my head in and drown in.

Nikki starts toward the kitchen and I follow her. The coffee’s gotta be around here somewhere. I follow my nose. She watches me as I help myself to a mug off the dish rack by the sink and pour myself a cup.

I don’t even bother with cream and just drink it straight. Moaning, I know nothing has ever tasted this good. I close my eyes and take another drink.

“Nora,” Nikki says.

I open my eyes and look at her. My uninjured left eyebrow rises and I wanna say it’s too early for this conversation, but I look at the clock. It’s after eleven in the morning.

“Did you call Dan?” I ask, somehow knowing that she’s already taken care of it.

Her nod is my confirmation and she pulls out the chair next to her. “Come sit.”

I do as requested after pouring another cup of coffee.

“How much do you remember of last night?” she asks.

“Well, it was a little foggy until I saw Darius’ face. Then it sorta came back.” I set my coffee cup down and lean back in my chair.

“That wasn’t exactly how I had intended on telling you,” she says looking me over. Running a hand through her hair, she mirrors my posture and continues, “I guess the easiest thing is to just come out with everything and figure it out together.”

“I…,” I stop unsure of what to say exactly.

Amusement dances over her beautiful face while she talks, “Let’s be clear. I saw you and I’ll admit I was stunned. Darlin’, you are a sight. The fact that you’re just too cute for words when you get flustered has only added to my, shall we call it, my attraction.” She leans forward and takes the coffee cup from my grasp. Expecting her to take my hand, I laugh when she takes a sip.

“So you’re…” I stammer.

“The word you’re lookin’ for is gay, Nora dear.” She winks at me and for some reason I grin back. “As I was sayin’, I’m attracted to you. You, after your confession last night and the way you’ve been lookin’ at me are, I will bet my bank account, are attracted to me as well.”

I flush and she hands me back my coffee cup.

“I am,” I admit. “But, I know that…well, we’re partners Nikki. I didn’t…you were… are gay, I just…hell, I don’t know. I just know that…”

“We have a good connection,” she finishes.

I nod and sigh relieved that she gets it. The last six days have been good. Really good. I lied a little to Ann the other night. Nikki’s easy to work with. We click and it’s good.

“We can’t,” I say.

“I know,” she says.

We both laugh breaking some of the tension. We look at each other, searching one another for confirmation that this mutual confession will be enough. I resolve myself to make that commitment and finally, I see the same in her.

“Partners?” I extend my hand across the table.

She nods as she takes it and gives it a firm shake. “Partners,” Nikki confirms.

We smile at each other and then she leans over and smacks me on the arm.

“Ow!” I whine rubbing the spot she just hit. “What was that for?

Her arms fold across her chest and her mouth pinches together. After giving me the stink eye, she hisses, “You ever take off on me like that again and I’ll shoot you.”

I rub the back of my neck, embarrassed. She’s right, I broke protocol last night and it ended with me at the hospital.

I try for apologetic and give a tight-lipped smile. “Sorry?”

“Sorry my ass, you scared me shitless.” She glares a few seconds more and then, her face cracks into a room brightening smile. “I will say this though sugga, watchin’ you run is a thing of beauty.”

I swallow as I feel the temperature rise in the kitchen.

Yep, I can do this whole ‘partner’s’ thing. It’ll be a breeze.