Ray walked in, dragging his feet.  He had a fat lip and his face was emotionless.  "Hi," he said dryly.

"What happened?"  She came over to check him for bruises.  "Did we have a riot at the station for muffins?"

He gave a cheerless laugh.  "We had perps coming in fighting," he told her.  "They wouldn't quit.  We had to physically break them up.  Huey and Stan both have black eyes and Stan's got a sprained wrist. He got one guy back."

"It's a good thing Harding is understanding," she soothed, leading him into the bedroom.  She shooed the cats off the bed then helped him out of his jacket. "What would you like me to order for dinner?" she asked gently.

"I'm not hungry," he told her.  He straightened up when she went to work on his shirt, noticing she was paying a lot of attention to it. "They're normal buttons."  He tipped her face up when she didn't answer, seeing the blush.  "You like well-dressed men?" he teased.

"I've got a thing for men in dress shirts," she admitted, going back to her undoing.  She undid everything but his collar buttons, they were small and annoying.  Then she smoothed the shirt over his chest, making him moan.  "Silk," she said happily.  "I love silk."

"You'd never know from your closet," he chided gently, smirking at her.

She shrugged. "I hate paying to do laundry."  She ran her hands up underneath the shirt, making him shiver.  "Sorry."  She pulled back but he grabbed her and moved her closer again.  "Are you enabling my kink?" she teased.  He nodded, watching as she played with his shirt for him. She rubbed her cheek against it, then against his undershirt-covered chest.  "Very nice.  You've got that smell too," she groaned, sniffing him.

"Sweaty?"

"That too," she admitted.  "But some people smell gross when they sweat.  Some people smell like spices.  You smell like incense.  That smoky undertone with a nice scent on top of it."  He shivered and sat down, sitting her on his lap. "I'm too heavy, I'll hurt your knee," she protested.

"You're not," he assured her, kissing her gently.  "I've never been complimented that way."  She moaned, sniffing his neck.  "I take it you're up for cuddling?"

"Ray, shh."  He chuckled, letting her have her way with him.  He could stop her if she got out of hand or went too far.  She undid his belt and tossed it aside, startling the cat coming in to check on them.  He stroked up her injured arm, making her moan.  "Let me get out of these," he told her.  She shook her head, pushing him back onto the bed.  Apparently she was desperate.  His breath caught as she bent to sniff him again. Then she moved his shirt out of the way and did it again.  He didn't notice what her hands were really doing until she moved back and slid his pants off him, putting them onto the dresser.  He moved back until he was resting on the pillows, unused to being the one who was pounced, but she was still being nice.  Nothing too hard or scary.   She licked up his chest, staring up at him.  He pulled her up, kissing her again.  She straddled his lap, kissing him harder.   He pulled back to help her out of her top, looking at the silly pajamas.  "The fabled kitten ones," he teased.  "Stanley said they were cute."

"He likes me doing girly things."  She licked across his pulse in his neck, making him clutch her harder.  "Ray, breathing," she told him.  "Trying to be naughty here."  He let her go a little so she went back to her exploration.  He pulled her off his neck to look at her.  "What?" she asked innocently.

"No marks," he said firmly, touching her chin.  "You're too old for that."

"I am not."

"Okay, then I'm too old for that," he said with a small smile.  He kissed her gently.  "We can't.  Neither of us thought ahead far enough to buy stuff."  She shrugged, giving him a look.  "I'm gonna be insistent about that."  He shut her up again.  "I know we're both clean but I want to be with you because I want to be, not because I have to be."  She nodded, resting against his shoulder.  "Soon, little one."

"Ray, I'm not little," she protested.  "In no way can I be considered little."

"You're shorter than me, you're little," he said firmly. He stroked over her back.  "Besides, we've still got to talk, Catherine."  She moaned.  "I took a leaf from your book and did some research."

She pulled back with a sigh.  "It's true. I've got some nerve damage from being overweight and the diabetes.  It's harder than hell for me to get off."  He nodded, paying attention.  "Ninety-three times out of a hundred, it doesn't.  I can get close and it feels good, but then it cuts out and I have to start again or it'll plateau and stay at the same level, never moving up or down."

"That's got to be frustrating," he said, arching up to kiss her again.  "Does time matter?"  She shook her head.  "Then I'll keep that in mind.  I'll do the best I can."

"Good."  She grinned wickedly at him.  "I like that attitude.  I also like cuddles and gropes."

"We can do that," he promised, pulling her back against his chest.  "Have you been fighting off this urge the whole time?"  She nodded, nipping him on the neck.  "Catherine."

"Sorry, couldn't resist.  Is it too warm for turtlenecks?"  He swatted her, rolling them over so she was under him, kissing her again.  "Wow.  For that I might just have to get personal with your dry cleaner."  He laughed, shaking his head as he went to tease her.  "Ray!" she said, swatting him when he tried to suck on her neck.  "I will get teased by Stan."

"Stan'll be the least of your worries," he promised.  "Huey will get you too."  He pulled back, kissing her again.  "I wish I had the gift of foresight.  I was at the pharmacy earlier to get something for my headache."  She gave him a kiss on the forehead.  "That works nearly as good as the advil," he joked.  She nodded.  He gave her a quick kiss then rolled to his side to hold her.  "We should probably share other things.  I know there's things I don't do."

"I suck at giving blowjobs," she told him.  "I always did."  She traced patterns on his stomach and chest.  "Ever since my first one."

"That's okay," he promised. He shifted, letting her glue herself to his front again.  "You comfortable?" he joked.  She nodded, giving him a squeeze.  "Going to take a nap?"

"I'm trying to keep myself from turning you into dinner," she told him.  "Shh."  He laughed so she nipped him on the adams apple.  "I mean it, Ray.  I have very little self control sometimes and this is one area where it comes out.  I don't have impulse control.  You will become my dinner tonight."

He groaned, giving her a squeeze. "Wait a few hours," he promised.  She shook her head, nipping him again.  He moved her back so he could look at her.  "I promise.  We'll make a stop on the way to dinner."  She gave him a look.  "Dress up for me?"  She grinned and rolled off the bed, heading for her closet.  "Should I be surprised?"

"Sure.  It'll take me a few minutes.  Unless you don't care if I don't shave."

He grimaced.  "Not this time.  Next time I won't care if you've got hairy legs."  She grinned at him.  "Fine, I'll go change."  He headed for the spare bedroom, but she came in and handed him an outfit. "You're sure?"

"Yeah," she said with a little smirk.  "You look hot and dangerous in it."  He gave her a look.  "That way no one will try to steal me."  She went to the bathroom, going to shave her legs and armpits.  It was only nice of her after all.  She even trimmed her other hair and got rid of her belly button and big toe hair for him.

Ray walked out to the kitchen, writing out a note for the interrupting duo.  They'd probably come over tonight; it was like Stan lived with them some days.  He looked over as his girlfriend came out of the bedroom, his mouth falling open.  No wonder she wanted him to look dangerous.  "Is that skirt legal?" he asked as she walked closer.  Her two inch heels were clicking on the floor.  The soft skirt was flowing around her thighs, falling about two inches above her knees.  Her shirt was untucked and it looked like silk.  He touched it, giving her a look.

"Yes, I wash silk on delicate," she admitted with a little smirk.  Then she kissed him.  "Like it?"

"I do," he agreed. The green in her top complimented his eyes and the black of her skirt and shoes matched his suit.  He walked around her, nodding.  "I do like you in that outfit."

"It's only for special occasions.  It's not like I can work in this."  She grabbed a purse out of the closet and stuffed her wallet and badge into it.  "We set?"

He put on his own badge and gun, just in case.  "If that was bigger, you could fit your own piece in it," he pointed out.

"Then it'd be a theft risk," she reminded him.  She moved her shirt out of the way, letting him see her smaller backup against the small of her back.  "See?"  She took his arm, picking off a piece of cat hair.  "Blair obviously loves you as much as I do," she teased, letting him grab the keys and walk her out.  She leaned against his arm as he locked the door.  "Should we be really cute and take the bike?"

"No," he told her, taking her down to her car.  It was smaller, newer, and also black.  It suited his mood at the moment.  He handed her into her seat then got in to drive, taking her to one of his favorite places.  As promised, he did stop for condoms, picking up an extra box just in case.  Then they went to dinner. The waiters all gave him and her long looks, then smiles.  They got the best service he had ever had that night.  She was like a new woman.  She was flirting and cute without it being overpowering.  This was not The Bitch Queen of Death he was tempting with a slice of fried cheese, it was all Catherine.  She sucked it off his fingers, making him smile.  "Tempting," he told her.

"I try," she admitted coyly.  "I've never had to flirt with a handsome man before."

"For not being experienced, you're very good at it," he promised.  His cellphone went off and he groaned, pulling it out to look at it.  "It's Welsh."

"Fuck him," she said quietly.  He gave her a look and she sighed.  "Fine, but make it quick or I might have to tease myself."  He nodded, dialing the station.  "Tell him I said I'm not happy with him."

Ray heard the comment and looked at her.  "He said he's not happy at the moment either.  What?  We're having a dinner out."  He listened, then groaned.  "It's not something Stan can handle?"

She took the phone.  "Harding, you're interrupting.  I even shaved."  She winced.  "Tell Cris I'll be right there."  She glanced at Ray.  "Or have Stan take him to my place.  We'll be there in about an hour."  She hung up, handing it back.  "One of the wiccans I work with."  The phone rang again and she sighed, answering it.  "What?" she whined.  "When?"  She listened as her friend panicked.  "She's still in custody, Cris.  I checked last month."  She sighed.  "Okay.  Can you stay there?  Please.  It'll take us some time to get stuff for a picnic on the rug tonight."  She hung up, handing it back.  "Candlelight dinner on the rug?"

"Works for me," he agreed, giving her a gentle pat to the hand.  "How bad?"

"His daughter was taken.  His wife was a cult member and did it once before."  He winced.  "She's still in the hospital."

"Maybe.  They're getting antsy up there."  He waved for a waiter, saying something in quiet Italian, getting a nod.  Then he stood up, putting money down on the table.  She gave him a look.  "You can buy the wine for the picnic," he promised, leading her out of the restaurant.  "Will we have to go bust this cult?"

"Damn I hope not.  They nearly sucked me in the last time," she told him.  "They're very good at brainwashing and I was undercover."  He groaned so she looked over as someone walked up to them.  "Dear?" she asked quietly.  He gave her a look and a small smile.  "Ray, please don't hurt him," she begged.  "I don't want to go play with the handcuffs alone."  She leaned against his chest, making the guy staring at them stop and turn around.  "Please?"  He smiled and kissed her gently.  "Thanks.  Your set or mine?"

"Yours.  Mine are smaller," he told her, leading her to the car.  "Mario is calling Maria and she'll bring the food home for us," he promised. "It'll give him another chance to try and woo her away from Tony."  He looked at the guy, then smirked.  "What?" he asked casually.

"New woman?" he asked.  "Finally?"

"Mine," Ray told him.  "You can't have her."

He snorted.  "She's much too *nice* for me," he retorted.  "How good is she in the sack?"

"Don't know.  We haven't made it to the bed yet," she said, getting out to face him down.  She smiled at him and stuck out her hand.  "Catherine.  AKA the Great.  The Bitch Queen of Death.  Ray calms me down."  He gaped at her.  "Are we gonna have a problem?  Ray *loves* keeping me calm," she said with a little smirk and a stroke up Ray's arm.

He looked at Ray.  "Never mind.  A woman like her is a full time job."

"Not really.  She's very comfortable with me.  Even transferred in and promised to quit going into things alone."  The man gaped.  "That's right, I tamed her," he said smugly.  "Hence the dress."  The man backed away.  "Got another issue?"

"No, man, I'm in awe.   No wonder Frankie never says your name anymore."  He walked around her, glancing back as she got back into the car.  He and Ray locked eyes and he shook his head.  "You're the man, Vecchio.  I wouldn't even try."  He continued on to make a report.  This was interesting news.

Vecchio got in and Catherine gave him a kiss.  "The man.  Should I have a desk plaque made?" she teased.  He shut her up by kissing her again.  "We should probably answer the desperate plea."  He nodded, starting the car.  She continued to sit closer than necessary.  He kept giving her sideways looks.  "I can lean against the door if I'm making you nervous," she purred, stroking up his arm to play with one of his shirt buttons.  He smacked her hand and she pouted.  "Meany."

"You can play with the buttons later," he promised, shooting her a wicked smile at a red light.  He moved on, heading down to the precinct, where he helped her out and inside on his arm.  Everyone stopped to stare at them.  "Mine," he called as they went up the stairs.

Welsh came out of his office as soon as he saw them, his mouth falling open when he saw her outfit.  "Sorry, Catherine," he admitted.  "He is panicking.  I can't find his ex."

"She should be in the state mental hospital," she noted, sitting down at Stanley's desk to work on his computer.  She was sitting sideways so she crossed her legs.  She finally found the file and opened it, humming in irritation.  "They were supposed to tell you," she told him, looking at her friend.  He ran his hands through his limp blonde hair then adjusted his wire rimmed glasses.  "No letters?"

"Not a one," he admitted.  "I haven't heard a thing."

"They're probably behind again," Ray said bitterly.  "I still haven't gotten one about Frankie getting out on parole."  He shook the guy's hand. "I'm Ray."

"I heard, and saw," he admitted, grinning at him.  "You're very good to her.  Keep her calm.  It'll only help in the long run."  He walked over to look at the screen, frowning at it.  "Where is she?"

"Supposedly at a halfway house," she told him.  "We can call."  She picked up the phone and dialed out, grunting in irritation at the surly answer.  "This is Detective Demoranth.  I'm calling to check on a recently released inmate.  Cynthia Wales?"  She tapped her fingers impatiently.  "Yes, her," she agreed.  "Because her child was kidnaped and she has done so in the past.  Is she there?  Has she made check-in?"  She picked up a pen, making notes.  "Thank you.  Do you know who her officer is?"  She wrote that down too.  "That's fine.  Please forward her file to the 27th.  If she's not there then she's in violation of her release.  Yes, she is, sir.  Because she is a dangerous and desperate woman.  Yes, she is.  I sincerely doubt that they fixed her mental difficulties or her desires to stab people with shiny sacrificial blades on altars.  Thank you."  She hung up and leaned back.

"She's not been there since the second day, last week.  "That is a violation of her release.  Her watch officer is on vacation.  I tried to talk to him last week."  Ray sighed.  "It's not that bad.  I know the officer filling in for him.  Let me call him and give him a head's up."  She dialed the number for the pager for the on-call in Parole, hanging up again.  Within a few minutes, someone answered.  "Hi.  This is Detective Demoranth.  We have a small situation.  One of Peterson's cases has disappeared from her release halfway house and her child was kidnaped.  No, she's done it before.   Yes, she is.  She was mentally locked up."  She grimaced. "That's not my problem, dear.  That's your problem."  She looked at the phone and hung up with a sigh.  "The on-call tonight is an idiot.  He said it's not his problem if she's disappeared.  I'll be talking with his boss tomorrow."  She stood up.  "Okay.  Let me do some searching, Cris.  There's only so many places this cult can reform.  If so, we can find them.  I'll make it my priority."  He nodded, looking depressed. "Who's at your house?"

"Sydne."

"Fuck."  She rolled her eyes.  "She's not the one I would have chosen."

"Most everyone's busy," he pleaded.

"I understand.  I'm already figuring it out.  You know how I work."  He nodded, giving her another hug.  "Call me at ten in the morning for an update.  Got it?"  He nodded, handing over a picture.  "Oh, she's hit puberty."  She looked at him. "Boyfriend?"  He shook his head.  "Girlfriend?"  He nodded.  "I'll want everything."  He nodded, heading to do that for her.  "I'm doing it, Cris.  You know what I'm like when I need to be."  He gave her a grateful smile and headed down the stairs.  She looked at Ray and sighed.  "We've got maybe four hours."  He gave her a look.  "Seriously.  I work better when I'm doing two or three other things.  Even though the mood has broken," she said with a small smile.  Welsh coughed.  "Oh, fuck off," she told him.  "He's wearing a very nice shirt.  It's silk," she told him.  He blushed and walked away.  She walked closer to him, giving him a kiss on the cheek.  "I know, it sucks.  The universe is against us. That doesn't mean we can't sit and cuddle."

He gave her a real kiss, making her moan.  "That's fine with me.  We'll kick Benny and Stan out."  She grinned and winked, walking in front of him.  He followed, watching her backside.  It was very good.  "Don't you need your files?"

"Nope.  I knew Cynthia for about five years before this."  One of the officers opened the door and she smiled at him. "Thank you."  She looked back at Ray, giving him a steamy look.  "Take my mind off the new case and make it work without my help?" she asked with a seductive look.  He nodded, taking her arm to walk her across the rough asphalt.  He got her inside the car and kissed her again.  "That's what I need."  He smirked at her. "I know, I'm obvious. "

He nodded, walking around to get in.  "Obvious is fine.  Even distraction is fine.  How long will this one take to solve?"

"That depends on Cynthia and her cult leader.  This guy was better than average.  Blount ended up taking over from me.  They hired him because of this case."  Ray groaned.  "Even he said this guy was smarter than average.  If he's active again, we've got a body trail already.  I can easily call the guys in Homicide and ask them.  Or Blount.  I have his home number for emergency negotiations."  He nodded, starting the car.  She put a hand on his arm and he turned it back off.  "If he's active, the first person he'll go after won't be her.  This was all Cynthia.  If he's back as well, then we can trace him.  He's looking for a specific brunette."

"Tell me it's not you," he begged.

"It's not.  If I was still thin, I might come close but I'm not and it'll be fine on that level.  I went in as a dyed blonde.  He won't recognize me.  I was mid weight gain at that time.  Mara helped me get in.  She was his study buddy."

"Should we find her?"

Catherine shook her head.  "No.  If he's in town, she's with him."  His mouth fell open.  "They're friends.  It's more like what Benny and I are growing between us.  That good friendship that's not quite as close as Stan and I are."  He nodded, resting against the steering wheel.  "He's going to do his best to hide from me. He knows me, Ray.  He knows I can find him this time too.  I solved it without Blount.  He gave me a really good profile so I could find him, but I had the case all but solved before he came in.  I was having problems finding him.  He thinks like a street rat for all that he was privileged."  He looked at her and nodded.  "He's got strong instincts for who's wrong and who's not. The only reason I got in was because Mara vouched for me.  This time, if it's him or the group, we'll have to take them head-on.   His second-in-command was a hacker.  That's why I had problems finding her file earlier.  I didn't want to worry Welsh.  There's two others that I checked and they're hidden too."

"Is he back?" he asked.  She nodded.  "Then we need to tell Welsh.  He can get us the old files."

"He can't.  The Feds took them and him.  He was *useful*."  Ray let out a bitter moan.  "I'm not sure if my files are intact.  If they are, then there's three copies in existence.  Mine, Blount's, and one I hid as an incase.  It's in my bank.  It's in my safety deposit box."

"Why tell me this?" he asked.

"Because his first move last time was to neutralize the first detective on the case.  He did so by taking out a good portion of their team at a restaurant."  He opened his mouth.  "That's why."  He nodded, looking calm.  "Stan knows about the file.  He was leaving when it came in.  He nearly stayed."

"Okay.  Anything else?"

"Yeah, Cris' daughter is too old for his purposes.  From now on all she's good for is bearing heirs according to his beliefs.  Only the children are pure.  They're all about rediscovering the inner child and living it."

"Wonderful.  Let's go back inside," he said quietly.  "I want to get a bug detector."  She nodded and they got out, heading inside to go up to SWAT.  The night shift commander gave them a scared look. "Business, not pleasure," Ray said firmly.  "I need to check out a detector."

"Why?"

"Remember the cult about nine years ago?" she asked.  He whimpered.  "Their members were released.  One of them's possibly taken her daughter.  I want to be panicking."

"I want you to be panicking too," he agreed, walking them to the storeroom to get them the device they had asked for.  He let them check it out jointly.  "Remember, it's only good in a ten-foot radius," he warned.  Ray nodded.  Someone came running.  "What?"  The man whispered in his ear.  "You're sure?"  He nodded.  "Detective," he said, looking at Catherine.  "There's a young girl asking for you downstairs."

"Please let it be her," she said, hurrying down to talk to her.  "Shit!" she said, hugging her.  "You had us freaked, Stephie."  The girl pulled back.  "Your mother's out."  Her eyes widened. "So are the others who made it into the system.  Someone hacked your mother's files."

"Fuck," she whispered.  "No, dad and I had a fight, I promise," she said, looking at Ray.  "I know you."

He nodded.  "Lots of people do.  This her?"

"Thankfully."  She hugged her again.  "Call sixteen forty-two."

"Exchange?" he asked dryly.  She waved a hand around.  He nodded and called it, getting a beep then someone picked up.  "This is Detective Vecchio.  Is there a Cris there?"  Someone on the other end yelled so he moved the phone away from his ear.  "She just showed up.  No, Catherine's telling her.  Sure."  He hung up.  "He'll be right down."  He looked at the girl.  "We're still keeping our ear out for them," he told his girlfriend.  She gave him a grateful look.

She let go of her goddaughter and came over, sitting in his lap to kiss him.  "Thank you for understanding, Ray."

"I'd do the same thing," he agreed, stroking her back under the shirt.  "Home?"

"Home," she agreed with a small wink.  He laughed and helped her up, standing up himself.  He could hear someone running up the stairs.  The father grabbed his daughter, holding her tightly.  "She knows about her mom," she told him.  "I'll still be watching."  He nodded, giving her a grateful look.  "Next time, Stephie, run to my house, okay? Lots of people are freaked out right now."  She gave Cris a look.  "Then you two can talk.  Be careful."  He nodded, leading her away.  She grinned at him.  "I guess the unlucky streak was broken," she told him.

"Hopefully."  He took her arm, leading her back to the car.  They found it being extinguished.  "Or not.  What happened?"

"We're not sure, Detective.  Can we give you two a ride home?" he asked, doing a double take when he saw Catherine's outfit.  "Never mind, we'll call you a cab," he promised, going to do that.  She was wearing heels, it was a special occasion.  She had even shaved, he was apparently her choice.

Ray helped her into the cab once it came, giving her a look.  "Almost gone," he told her.  She giggled and kissed him on the cheek.  "We left everything in the car."  She opened her purse and pulled something out, handing it to him.  He looked at it, then at her.  She grinned and winked, settling into her own seat.  He tucked it into his pocket, leaning over to kiss her.

"Please don't," the cabbie complained.  "They tape that shit."  He pulled onto their street and headed to the building, going faster.  "Someone in your building moving?" he asked.

Catherine sat up, looking at the stuff.  "It's not mine," she told him, relieved.  She looked at Ray.  "I don't recognize it."

"Me either," he admitted, letting her pay for the ride then helping her out on his side.  He kissed the back of her hand.  "You still look amazing."

"I should.  I hardly ever try.  For you, I did.  Tonight anyway," she admitted with a small smile.  She led him up the stairs, past the complaining landlord, who was moving his own stuff outside, and into their apartment.  They found boxes on the counter and the note had a post-it on it.  She glanced at it, then grinned.  "Stan said to be good.  He stocked my dresser."  She went to look at the food, sniffing gently.  "Damn, that's good," she moaned.  "Real adult food."

He came over, taking the box from her.  "Take off your shoes and get comfortable," he ordered, pointing at the rug.  She sat down, giving him a look as she reclined.  He put down the food and came over, kneeling between her thighs to kiss her again.  "You look good in that," he told her between kisses.  She laid back, letting him do whatever he wanted.  She'd get her treat later.  Someone pounded on the door.  "Go away," he snapped.  "We're busy!"  They knocked again.  He sighed and shook his head, going over to answer it.  "What!"  The landlord handed him a set of keys.  "What's this?"

"I've got to move in with my sister.  She just had an accident.  The owner's been notified and he'll be appointing someone.  Keep those.  They go to the front door."  He walked away, heading down to finish packing his car.

Ray shut and locked the door, putting them aside. "Interesting."  He came back, pulling her up and into his arms, making her wobble.  "I told you to take off the shoes," he said smugly, picking her up.

"Ray!" she squealed.  "I'm way too damn heavy."

He pinched her.  "Shut up."  He carried her into the bedroom, depositing her on the bed.  Then he went to look in the top drawer of her dresser, eyes going wide.  "Damn, Stan has some exotic tastes."  She walked over, looking over his shoulder.  "Flavored ones.  Lube.  All sorts of stuff."

She nipped his ear.  "He knows what I like to play with now and then."  She turned him around, working on his suit.  He stood there and let her play with his shirt, then let her take it off him.  She looked up at him as she leaned closer and took a long sniff.  "You put on aftershave?"

"It's in the suit," he told her.  He undid her shirt and tossed it with his clothes.  "I like you in silk."  She grinned as she backed away from him, sitting on the bed.  "Is it clean?"

"Very," she agreed. She stroked the flannel sheets.  "We put Chocolate in the cage earlier.  We can let her out before we go to bed."  She switched to stroking her stomach.  "Come here, Ray."  He followed her order, laying down beside her so he could kiss her again.  She flipped him onto his back, undoing his pants.  He groaned and she stopped, looking at him.  "Problems?"

"No," he promised, puling her up to kiss her.  "Having nasty thoughts."

"Ray, focus," she demanded.  "You'd make me do the same thing."

"Of course I would.  I wasn't thinkin' about a case, just something dirty."  She grinned and kissed him again.  He pulled back.  "How does Stanley know what you like that way?"

She sighed and put her head on his chest.  "Because he got nosy one night and went digging while I was trying to get someone's blood off me in the shower."  She looked up at him.  "Really.  I could never sleep with Stan."

"I didn't think you had," he assured her.  "It got stuck in my head.  Don't you think odd thoughts?"

"Not when someone else is in bed with me," she said impatiently.  She got up and went into the bathroom, slamming the door, locking it.  "Let Chocolate out."

"Sorry."

"Maybe later," she called.

He heard the water be turned on and got up, shaking his head.  "Way to go," he told himself.   He went to let the cats out, giving them a look.  "Would you explain that to me please?" he asked the Oz kitten.  Oz gave him an 'are you stupid' look and headed for the bed to take a nap.

***

Catherine came out of the bathroom, heading for the closet, grabbing the first thing she knew she liked.  A quick trip into her underwear and bra drawers and she was ready for the day.  She walked out to the table, storing last night's food once she noticed it still sitting there.  Then she picked up Ray's phone and checked the phone book, hitting the button to call her partner.  "Hey, it's me," she said quietly.  "Can I get a ride in?  Yes, I'll keep your hours today," she sighed.  "Because the last time I saw mine, it was on fire in the parking lot at the precinct."  She snorted.  "Sure.  I'm already ready.  All I need are shoes."  She hung up and grabbed a granola bar, munching as she found her flats and slipped them on.  "Mommy loves you guys, you guys be good and I'll be back in a few hours," she promised, slipping outside.  She walked back inside, emptying her purse and finding her thigh holster and her underarm one.  Both her guns were going with her today.  She checked noses, then took Oz and Nessa out of the hall before closing the door again.  "Mommy loves you guys, you guys be good kittens while I'm gone.  I love you and I'll be home in a few hours."  She walked down the stairs, putting on one of her holsters as she walked.  The other she sat outside and slid it on over her thigh and under her dress.  This one was flowing enough to cover it totally.  Huey pulled up a few minutes after she was done and she got into his car.  "Morning."

"Morning."  He gave her a look.  "Why didn't you ride in with Vecchio?"

"He's still asleep," she said with a touch of bitterness.  "Besides, I've got to do some research."  She hit herself on the head.  "Laptop."

"Your spare's in your desk drawer," he reminded her.

"I forgot I had done that.  Thanks, Huey."  She got comfortable in the seat.  "There was a small glitch with last night and he decided he needed to sleep more."  He glanced at her.  "Not that one."

"Oh.  Sorry to hear that," he said.  "What happened to your car?"

She shrugged.  "I don't have a clue.  We went inside to do a quick check for someone and then came out and they were putting it out."  She plucked a single cat hair off her clothes, putting it onto the floor.  "There, much better," she decided. "I'll rent something later today."

"Sure."  He pulled into the precinct, looking at her outfit.  "Why are you wearing that?  You look like some sort of modern age witch."

"Thank you."  She plucked at the stretchy black fabric.  "This is actually my favorite dress.  It's comfortable.  Anything I spill on it that's a liquid is wicked through to my skin instead of staining it.  It's breathable.  If I lose a few pounds or gain a few from water weight it covers it beautifully.  It even covers my thigh holster."  He looked impressed, checking her thigh.  "Plus, cat hair doesn't stick to it.  It's the same fabric as my black bodysuit a few days ago. It's about the only non-natural fabric I can stand."  She got out, shaking out her ankle-length skirt.  "There.  Perfect.  It doesn't wrinkle at all."  He gave it an impressed look.  "Plus, it's ever-changing. I match with everything."  He laughed at that and she led the way inside.  "Morning," she called.

Welsh came out of his office, glancing around.  "Vecchio?"

"Still in bed.  What happened to my car?"

"Your car?"

"Fine," she sighed, heading back downstairs to the patrol desk.  "What happened to my car last night?" she asked.

"Ma'am, do you have a permit for that thing?" the officer asked, giving her a look.  She pulled out her badge.  "Sorry, you don't look like a detective.  You look like someone's mother."

"Fuck you, kid.  I'm Detective Demoranth, not a soccer mom."  He swallowed.  "My car?"

"Let me check the logs, ma'....detective."   He brought out a higher-ranking officer.  "Her, sir."

"Detective, new look?" he asked dryly.

"Blood comes out of this outfit very easily," she said dryly.  "My car?"

"All we know was that it was set on fire, detective.  We sent the file upstairs once CSU took it."  He gave her a smile.  "Should we expect more problems from you?"

"Do I look like I've had coffee yet?" she asked.  He backed away.  "Which detective got it?"

"We handed it to Welsh as he walked in, detective.  Please go have a pot of coffee."

"Sure, kid.  Thank you.  Anything else I need to know?"

"No one's dropped off any zombies yet today," he noted, giving her a look.

"Hopefully we won't have another one of those this year."  She looked at the inter-office mail.  "Anything in there from Homicide for me?"

"I haven't sorted it yet.  What are you waiting on?"

"There's a possible revival of an old cult, they usually do infant and young child sacrifices ritually."

"If I see it, I'll have it hand delivered," he promised quietly.  She nodded.  "Please spare the world and go have coffee, detective.  Spare the poor patrol officers your usual morning wrath."

"Fine," she sighed.  "I'm sorry about threatening the kid.  Even though he called me a mom."  She headed up the stairs, listening as the officer told the younger guy off for taking his life in his hands that way.  She walked in and dug through Welsh's files.  "You were handed the file on my car."  He handed it over.  "Thank you."  She went back to her desk, pulling out her cheaper, less good laptop to do some checking.  Someone put a cup down on her desk and she gave it a sniff before taking a sip.  "Thanks, Huey."  He looked up, so she looked over and saw Stanley sitting down.  "Thanks, Stan."

He grunted and added some M&M's to his own cup, nodding at her.

She looked at Huey.  "Anything on the robberies?"

"I do actually.  I called one of the local auction houses.  They said they've had three of the pieces listed but not from those owners.  We have an appointment with them this afternoon. That way I didn't have to subject anyone to your morning personality."  She stuck her tongue out.  "What are you researching now?"

"An old cult case that may have reopened."  She picked up her phone and called homicide.  "Hey, Petrie, it's me.  Give me to Peterson or the Captain?"  She hummed with the music.  "Sorry to interrupt the morning briefing.  Cynthia Wales is out.  Yeah, she was on that case."  She leaned back, getting comfortable.  "Interestingly enough, her daughter went missing last night.  Her father called me.  She walked in about a half-hour after we began searching for her.  Did you know the files were hidden now?  All three of them."  She heard his dissatisfied grunt.  "Have you had any?"  She listened to him looking at case files.  "At all?  Okay, would they call you or Sex Crimes? Since they get the kid cases too."  She wrote down a name and number.  "Yeah.  I wanna hear.  Something wasn't right with how she showed up last night.  She looked more startled than distressed when she heard her mother was out when I think back.  Thanks."  She hung up, looking up as Welsh walked over.  "Did Stephie seem odd to you last night?"

"I don't know her.  Did she?"

Catherine frowned.  "Thinking back, yeah.  She was stiff.  She was startled, not distressed, not angry or upset."  He nodded.  "So I'm giving heads up."

"Fine.  Remember to call Blount."

"Yeah, if I need him," she admitted.  She picked up her phone and called Sex Crimes.   "Hey, is Detective Mitch in yet?"  She smiled.  "Okay, tell him to call Detective Demoranth in the 27th.  Tell him I'm checking on an old case of mine that's possibly coming up.  It routinely had ritual overtones done on little kids.  Homicide doesn't have anything yet but this is getting a bit too coincidental.  Thanks.  Yeah, if he doesn't understand that's fine.  Tell him that should make him call faster."  She smiled.  "Thanks."  She hung up, looking at her computer.  "I really don't like the odd feelings."  She sat up and typed in something quickly, getting a new window, where she put in a password.  It came up with nothing.  She tried again and it still came up with nothing.  She grimaced and tried another site, coming up with a single site, but it wasn't what she needed, though she did forward it to someone.  She tried a third search string and stood up.  "Oh, fuck no," she said.  "Welsh, they're in Oklahoma."

"Then call them," he called.  "That's not our problem.  It's outside Chicago's jurisdiction."

"Not if they're actively recruiting up here," she pointed out.

He walked out.  "You are in Chicago.  You can only take care of Chicago cases," he said firmly.  "If they're recruiting then get them on that.  You can't go work in Oklahoma, the heat will kill you. And call Blount about it.  Now."  He went back to his desk.

"Fine," she sighed, calling him.  "Hey, it's Catherine.  He in?"  She paused.  "Morning.  Remember the case that got you hired?  Cynthia Wales and the others were released.  Her daughter's acting odd, disappearing for whole long times and worrying her father.  I found them, they're in Oklahoma."  She listened.  "Yeah.  I forwarded you another by the way.  That way you can send it to your Fed buddies before they finish castrating the young men in the group."  She paced back and forth in front of her desk.  "You're sure?"  She nodded.  "Okay.  Yeah, found him by his nickname.  On the web, openly recruiting.  Sure, I can do that.  The same one?"  She waited while he checked. "That's me."  She hung up and forwarded that site to him too.  "Okay.  He's getting the Feds to do it.  They've got a new cult person," she said happily.

"Thankfully," Huey told her.  "I really don't want to deal with cults."  He gave her a look.  "Sit."  She sat and sipped her coffee.  "Are you going to have to rescue someone?"

"Only if he finds out it's active in Chicago.  For some reason, the Feds think Chicago is off limits to them."

Huey snorted and pointed at Ray's desk.  "Talk to him about that.  He did it."  He glanced at Stanley, who gave him an innocent look.  "He helped it too."

"Stan!"

"Sorry, they were bugging me," he told her with a grin.  "Need help on your robbery?"

"Hopefully not.  I know I haven't done many of them but it can't be that much harder than tracing back a drug pipeline.  Or the trail of money in the city's prostitution rings back to the Families.  Though, I doubt I'll get free vacations from robbery cases," she admitted dryly.

"Vacations?"

"Liaising with Miami and New York respectively," she told him.  "I always got at least one day while waiting on my flight back."  He groaned and shook his head.  "What?  You'd like my counterpart in New York.  He's doing Sex Crimes now."

"Wonderful," he said dryly.  "Is he sane?"

"That depends on who you ask," she answered, giving him a smug look.  "Miami's Vice people took me out dancing to show off their clubs.  I have never been in a place with as many sweaty people before."  Stanley broke out in laughs.  "Really.  Real Salsa dancing with real Cubans.  I learned from the people who invented it."  He shook his head and she grinned.  "It was kinda nice.  They're very damn efficient.  They're the ones I learned the whole 'let them hang themselves and pick them up at the end of the night' thing from."

Huey put down his pen. "You're kidding?"  She shook her head.  "No instant arrests?"

"Nope.  Not unless it's a sting.  But after a night of clubbing, we did have fifteen arrests."  His mouth fell open. "What? They were being bad.  One of the women down there suggested we arrest another couple for being white and trying to dance, but they told her it wasn't legal."  He groaned and shook his head.  "It's nicer that way.  That way you get to see all the major players without interfering with their culture and you pick up the worst people at the end of the night.  We got three dealers and the rest were higher because it was a shipment night.  Guards and pipeline people.  I spent two weeks down there doing that."  Ray walked in and she saw him head in to get some coffee.  "It was kinda fun.  New York was rainy when I was there.  I did a few of the museums after hours and between tracking people, and did some shopping while I was heading to the airport."

Huey gave her a look.  "You're insane."

"Not really.  Blount says I'm creative.  There's a difference."

He snorted.  "Sure there is.  That's why most artists are normal people," he said going back to his paperwork. "Don't you have other cases to work on?"

"Sure.  I've got court later this week for a few busts.  Then I've got to copy off my personal notes.  Then I've got to buy a new filing cabinet because my two-drawer is stuffed and out of order."  She snapped her fingers and called her old boss.  "Am I still working my last three cases?" she asked.  "I know I left them there but you've got green kids."  She laughed. "Sure."  She hung up.  "And I've got three cases left from Vice I've got to go pick up."

Ray came out of the break room with his mug.  "Stanley, no more sludge.  If you have to add water to the coffee so it looks like normal coffee, it's not coffee.  It's mud."  He sat down, glancing at her.  "You look nice this morning."

"Thanks.  It was the first thing I grabbed."  She stood up and leaned into the office.  "Do you have *anything* for me to do?  Huey's giving me annoyed looks."

Welsh looked at her.  "Not presently.  Give me a few hours.  Anything on your car?"

"I figured I'd give the CSU guys a few more hours.  I'll be finding a rental in a while.  Probably on my way back from Vice.  I left three open cases and her staff is *green*."  He nodded.  "That fine with you?"

"Go," he said tolerantly.  "You have court when?"

"Wednesday and Friday, tentatively," she told him.  He nodded, marking it down.  She grabbed her phone and walked out, heading to the patrol desk.  "Cab's number?" she asked.

"Which way are you heading, Detective?" the young officer asked, looking at her.

"Vice.  I need to pick up my three open cases and then rent a car."

He smirked.  "Rentals are easy.  There's a nice place up the street.  We can give you a ride to Vice. We're taking one of their new detectives over."

She laughed when he pointed at the mousy woman waiting off to the side.  "Please," she agreed.  She walked over, sticking out her hand.  "Detective Demoranth.  You're taking over my vacated spot?"

The woman shook her hand.  "I think so.  I'm Detective Bronski."

Catherine smiled.  "Cool.  We're sharing a ride over.  I left three open cases I volunteered to solve."  The other woman smiled and pushed up her glasses.  "What's your area, or do you specialize?" she asked.

"I do very well with the street girls.  I did some undercover with them in my patrol days."  Catherine gave her a look and she laughed, sounding very geeky.  "I know, I don't look the part."

"Neither do I, but I did a great number of ho strolls during my days."  They shared a smile.  "I wish you all the luck.  Bets is a great Captain to work under, just watch out for her Midol moments.  They routinely happen every Monday morning and for at least three days after any extensive time off on her part."  That got another geeky laugh.  "Seriously.  Also, watch out for Biggers.  He's the Sergeant of the boys and girls downstairs.  He's a lech.  He'll make some comment, he always does.  I hit him a few times over his mouth."  The other woman looked awed.  "Seriously.  If he hasn't reformed, then ask Bets first then hit him.  She appreciates warning about things like that."  A female patrol officer walked up to them.  "You giving us a ride?"  She nodded.  "Cool."  She followed.  "Want us in the back or should we split up?"

"It doesn't matter, Detective."  She looked at her.  "Did you really slap Biggers?"

"Once.  Once I got him in the nose with a book.  It stopped his comment about my attributes quite well."  The other detective looked at her like she was something special.  "Don't worry about it. The Captain is really good. You'll enjoy it over there.  Of course, the first thing she'll tell you is that you're not superman.  I never took that lecture to heart."  The detective gaped and the patrol officer chuckled.  "Seriously.  You guys are lucky, you're starting out with a full staff.  I wish you many years of not needing your vest and many years of backup on the streets."  She got into the back, letting the other detective get in wherever.   She even buckled up.  "Did anyone see anything about my car last night?"

"We did a tape review, Detective, there was some punk kid in the parking lot before then.  That's all we know."

"Cool.  My fourth car in six years," she sighed.  "My insurance company is going to fry my ass now."

The detective looked at her, pushing her glasses back up.  "Did you have to do much undercover work recently?"

"Not really.  I did a lot of clubbing and watching.  If you want, I've got to go back to Club Tangent to close one of my open ones.  I can take you with me and introduce you to the bouncers and the owner.  She's cool.  We get a corner of the bar to sit and watch."  The woman nodded.  "I also go and remove runaways and take them to shelters without arresting them.  I have friends in the leather scene who call me whenever a new one shows up."  The patrol officer backed out of the parking lot.  "Otherwise, there's not been much for me.  I'm not the ideal body-shape to go undercover most of the time.  The last one I did was...."  She looked up as she thought back.  "Three years ago I think."  She looked at the younger woman.  "I'll introduce you to Bets personally.  You two will get along fine.  She's great to work under."  The detective smiled.  "Is that a wig?"

"Actually, it is," she admitted, smiling at her and losing all traces of geeky woman.  "Am I good enough?"

"Definitely.  It was the laugh, a bit too much."  The patrol officer looked at them in the mirror.  "What? It's a necessity.  Vice requires you to be an actress sometimes."

"When I did patrol with them, I did so many ho strolls," the other detective told her.

"Oh, I remember those fondly. I still have the outfits," Catherine sighed.  "I pulled out a skirt last night."  The patrol officer gaped at them.  "Green light, officer."  The car moved again.  She grinned.  "I refused to do any more street walks.  I did the high class girl thing.  I haven't looked like a starving waif in nearly as long as I've been a detective.  They give those jobs to the rookies and the patrol kids we steal."  The other woman nodded.  "Never go to Vice unless you can act and you can have multiple personalities without having problems."

"I won't," she agreed.  "I like the 27th.  I grew up around here," the officer told her.  She pulled up outside the Vice squad.  "Here we are, Detectives.  Let me let you out."  She got out and let them out, watching them go.  "Damn," she whispered once they were gone, getting back in to start her rounds.  "I never want to make Detective if they're all like that."

Catherine walked the new girl in past the desk, flipping off the Sergeant when he gave her a dirty look.  "Picking up and dropping off," she told him.  They took the stairs up, their heels clicking on the quiet floor.  She looked in the new squad room.  "Hmm.  Three fewer desks.  Not good."  She walked her into the Meeting Room.  "I found her wandering around the 27th," she announced.  "Detective Bronski, these are your new playmates.  Captain, I think you'll like her," she said with a grin, taking the case files. There was a whole stack.  "Ooh, you really do miss me," she said with a faked happy sigh.  "What are these?"

"Things you need to finish typing up and sign.  Things for court.  Your *five* cases, not three."  She gave her a look.  Then looked at her outfit.  "That old thing again?"

"I like this dress," she defended.  "It covers the thigh holster well."  She shifted the stack.  "Anything else?"  She shook her head.  "You're sure?"

"Definitely.  Go, have fun with the husband."  She smirked at her.  "You are so gonna get it when I tell Peter."

She snorted, then rolled her eyes.  "Already got an e-card from him.  Anything on the old cult?"  She shook her head.  "Then have fun.  Bronski, push his feet out of the chair," she told her.  "If he's that arrogant, he'll get to do ho stroll first."  She winked at the Captain when the man looked horrified.  "Have fun.  I only have one case on my present desk."

"Fuck, woman, I'll send you some if you want.  Speaking of, I'll need you to take some people to your clubs."

"I already told Bronski I can get her into Tangent.  Give me a day.  I have to go there anyway."

"And Torment," she said firmly.

"Yeah, because you've got someone in the leather scene?" Catherine retorted.  "It's not a problem, I can keep that up.  It won't interfere.  They call when they need me."  The Captain nodded, giving her a smile so Catherine blew a kiss.  "Have fun without me but call if these kids don't work out.  I'm off to rent another car."  She headed out with her stack of files.  There was a nice rental place up the street and they knew her there.

The Captain looked at her new people.  "That was Detective Demoranth.  She was here for nearly sixteen years, starting as a patrol officer.  That is why she's the way she is.  I'll expect better from you."  All the new guys nodded, giving her a horrified look.  "She's also our cult expert.  Anything like that, you give her a call and give me a head's up."  She turned the page on her book.  "Back to the reference manual."  She tossed one to Bronski.  "Aren't you usually a redhead?"  She nodded.  "Good!  We need someone to take her place as the chameleon.  Welcome to Vice, Bronski."

"She's married?" one of the guys asked.

"To Vecchio.  That's why they let her stay," she told him.  "Otherwise she'd be in Homicide.  Like I said, strange shit goes to her.  Ignore her swearing and attitude.  She gets odd sometimes."  They all nodded, going back to their manual.  "Good.  Let's move to email privileges."

***

Catherine walked back into the 27th, holding up her keys to the desk officer.  "The blue sedan is mine," she told him.  It was a new guy.

"And you are, ma'am?" he asked.  "Do you have a permit for that weapon?"

She sighed and pulled out her badge.  He went pale and backed away.  "Thank you.  The blue sedan without the sticker is mine, it's a rental," she said patiently, carrying her work upstairs.  She put her stack down, noticing there was a sealed envelope on her desk.  "This is?" she asked Huey.

"Delivered from Sex Crimes."  He looked at the stack.  "I thought you said three."

"Apparently I had five and the rest are things I need to finish up."  She sat down, opening it.  Then she laughed and picked up her phone, dialing the number on it.  "That's a standard sex magic marking," she told the other detective.  "Anything on the cult?"  She listened to his rundown.  "No, those aren't.  We're talking full ritual.  Marked with oil on the forehead, sexual mutilation."

"Eww," Huey said, getting up and heading into the break room.

"Sorry, Huey.  I forgot."  She talked quieter.  "Yeah, that case.  Yeah, I'm sure.  Because Cynthia Wales' daughter disappeared last night for no reason and she came back odd.  No, strong odd feeling thinking back.  Yeah.  Sure.  I know they're in Oklahoma, but if they're here in town recruiting it'll have to be stopped.  They like little kids."  She smiled at his promise.  "Great, thanks, man.  You too.  Anytime.  Welcome."  She hung up and opened the first file to sort it.  "Open case," she muttered, sorting through things.

Welsh came out of his office, handing her another two.  "What are those?"

"Things I need to look over and sign, things for court, and my open cases."  She took those, glancing at them and put them into the right pile.  "Give me ten and I'll get to work on those."

"You're not going to get a stack like Stanley, right?" he asked dryly.

She looked up at him.  "I went through 20 cases a month," she told him, looking upset.  "This is nothing."  Everyone in the room looked at her.  "Hello, Vice, understaffed?" she reminded them.  They all looked away.  "Most of these are sign and send back stuff."

"Good. I'll expect the same speedy service here."  He went back to his office.  "Vecchio, Demoranth, in here," he called a few minutes later.  They walked in and he shut the door.  "What happened?"

"Mismatch of nighttime agendas," she told him.  "Why?"

"He didn't even say anything to you this morning," Welsh told her.  "After last night?"

"It's fine, Harding.  Leave it alone," she told him.  "I'm a big girl, I can fight with Vecchio if I want to fight with him, and still cover his back on the street."  Ray gave her a look.  "I can."

"I'm sure you can, but you're going to be doing paperwork for most of the day."

She broke out in laughter.  "I'm what?"  She shook her head.  "I type fifty words a minute, Ray.  That's a few hours of work.  That's nothing."  She rolled her eyes, shaking her head as she walked back to her desk, finishing her sorting.  Then she pulled out her palm pilot and the first case, opening her notes for it so she could transfer them onto the forms.  Her notes were ready to be transferred in already.  That's why she had this thing to make notes on instead of an older notepad.  By the time lunch came around, she had cleared all the old stuff, setting aside the ones she needed to copy for her personal notes.  Then she backed up her palm pilot onto her laptop so she could add those files to her other ones that needed printed and filed.  Half of her files were on that thing and she couldn't lose them.  She handed the stack to Welsh for his signature as her present commanding officer, then went to get more coffee, but found her cup full. She looked over and saw Ray glance her way.  She gave him a look and sat down again, reading the first new case.  It was fairly routine. A robbery.  Nothing major.  She checked the other one.  Both robberies.  Fine, she could handle this switch in duties.  Robberies never were her favorite thing.  She picked up the first to reread the details, wincing when she saw what was stolen.  Jewelry and cash.  Hard to trace.  She found a list of all the pawn shops in the stack and looked at her partner.  "Thanks."

"Welcome.  I figured you hadn't worked robberies in a while."  He nodded at those.  "Both of them?"  She nodded.  "You okay to handle those?"

"Yeah, it's been a while but I remember how to," she said with a small smile.  "I'll let you check my methods later."  He nodded, giving her a faint smile.  She stood up and grabbed the keys off her desk, taking the two files with her and the list.  "I think I'll go do that," she told him.  "I'll see you after lunch."

"How did you get those forms done so quickly?" Huey asked. "I'm being nosy."

"I put all my notes into my palm pilot then spend an hour every night turning them into my reports.  That way all I have to do is cut and paste."  She grinned.  "It's handy."  She left.

Huey looked back at Vecchio.  "She does?"

"I guess," he admitted with a shrug.  "She hasn't had anything to do that with recently. I haven't watched her playing with it."

"Oh."  He nodded.  "If they're that handy, I might have to invest and get one.  It beats reading my handwriting."

"It's hard to find a good one that you can type quickly on," Stanley told him, rolling his chair over.  "Hers had problems for months until she got the conflicts out.  Computer Tech was updating theirs so they wrote software to put on them.  I asked about getting one and they said hers was much better than theirs, more memory and all that, but that it ran around six hundred."  Huey winced.  "They do have a cheaper one, it's about four hundred and a bit, but it'll only hold 50 megs of stuff.  She updated hers to hold about a Gig.  She's got case files in it going back five years."  Huey gave him a look.  "Carefully backed up. The last time she lost it for a few days she had to nearly stop working.  Her phone book, her case notes, everything is in there.  She gets real paranoid without it."  He went back to his stack of paperwork, typing it into the computer instead of doing it in the files.  Then he could print it and Welsh couldn't say anything about his handwriting again.

Huey looked at her desk.  "Wow."

"Very," Ray agreed, glancing at her desk.  "Stanley, why are you printing those?" he called.

"Because we're not hooked up fully to the system yet," he admitted.  "Welsh told me to put them into the folders for at least another month but to save copies."

"Fine."  He printed his own, going to hand them in.  He had gotten two files done that morning.  "Maybe I should take typing lessons," he said dryly, looking at his forms as they came out.  "This is much faster."

"Plus you can do it the next time you can't sleep," Stanley told him, giving him a look.  "What's wrong?  Did it freak you out?"

"No.  The thought of you knowing what those were and what to buy did," he snapped.  "Stay out of it, Kowalski."

"Fine," he agreed.  "I'd learn the meaning of the word 'apologize' soon though.  Remember, she's got a short memory."  He went back to his typing.  He got up and grabbed the case off her desk about her car, taking it as his own.  She wouldn't care.  "Who's ordering today?"

"You are," Ray told him, heading back to stuff his reports into the folder.  Then he handed them in. "Here."

"Thank you. Only sixteen more to go," Welsh said dryly.  "Did you need extra time on lunch?"  Ray gave him a dirty look.  "Not saying you'll be buying flowers or anything, but you two can eat together.  I'm not going to keep you apart that way."  He looked them over, highlighting two typos and handing back that file, then signing the other.  "Fix those, hand it back in.  That's the nice thing about computers.  You can go right to the mistakes and not have to retype everything as long as you've saved them."

Ray grunted, going to do that.  This was not a good day for him.  Catherine came back a few hours later and he looked at her.  "How are you saving these down?"

She came over and showed him how to do that, then typed in a case name.  "I usually do it by the perp's last name and first initial.  More if there's more than one case."  She kissed him on the forehead. "For the headache you seem to have," she said lightly, going back to her desk.  She pulled out a granola bar to nibble on while she transferred notes.  "What do you do if the guy ran into traffic and got hit?  Mark it as an accident?"

Huey looked at her.  "He did what?"

"He was giving it back and saw me and my gun.  So he took off running and I couldn't catch him before he ran into the middle of the street and got hit."  She looked at him and shrugged.  "He was nearly a block ahead of me.  I'm not that fit anymore."

He groaned.  "Why does this stuff happen to you?"

"Because I'm special," she told him dryly.  "How would I put that into my report?  I've already filled out the other paperwork for Homicide and IA."

"Put it in as detailed as possible.  I'm sure they'll call you over it," he told her.  She nodded, typing quickly.  "Can I see your handheld?"  She handed it over and he looked it over, checking the software programs available.  "Word transfers?"

"No, I use Lotus Notes for case notes.   Word is for interesting articles and stuff."

"Ah."  He checked her file folder, then winced.  "You're about full."

"I know.  I've got to do another save to my home laptop.  Speaking of, Stan.  If you still want it, let me get my notes off there and print them down for my filing cabinet.  It'll be this weekend since I have to find a new filing cabinet and printer."

"Sure, Catherine," he agreed.  "How many files are you printing?"

"Sixteen hundred," she told him.  Everyone stared at her.  "Again, Vice, understaffed.  Multiple drug dealers at each arrest," she told them.  "A file for each."  They all looked shocked, even Welsh came out to stare at her.  "It's not that hard.  I've had cases with up to twenty arrests at a time.  The hard ones are the ones with pictures.  I've also got the ones I've helped on in the past."  Welsh shook his head. "Know where I can find a good filing cabinet, Welsh?"

"Office Max," he told her. "Get three, they're small."

"I've been using a little two-drawer and keeping the rest on my computer but I'm getting nervous and I told Stan he could have my old one."  She shrugged and went back to backing up her notes and sorting them out.  Then she printed it and signed it, handing him the file.  "Por vous," she said with a flourish.

"Demoranth, you have to eat a real lunch so you don't get sick," Welsh said, reading it.  He looked at her.  "He did what?"

"Had a bout of conscience and handed it back, then saw me and ran.  He ran into traffic and got hit by a light blue pickup and then a dark green Ford sedan, I'm not sure what model," she admitted.  "All I know about cars is that they drive and the symbols on the front."  Welsh nodded, taking Stan's pen to sign it and put it into the outgoing.  "I've already filed it with Homicide since I called them in to deal with it.  That's what I had to do when I've had perps die on me before," she said at his glance.  "IA came too."

"That's the usual procedure," Welsh agreed.  "Thank you for saving us some work."  He nodded at her palm.  "That work for you?"

"Oh, hell yeah," she said happily.  "I put in my notes and then cut and paste most times.  It's very time saving during the day."

"Good.  What about your other case?"

"I went and reinterviewed the victims.  They had more details about what they're missing but it's jewelry and cash.  None of the pawn shops had anything similar, or any unexplained jewelry that I could find.  I was gonna get with Huey this afternoon after we went to talk to a professional who deals in antiques for our serial one."

"Good.  During lunch, help Vecchio learn the computer system."  She nodded.  "You can both eat real food at his desk."  He walked back into his office, closing the door.

She looked at Ray.  "Did anyone put in an order?"

"Not yet," Stanley told her.  "Did you want to?"

"I don't know where you guys order from.  Vice ordered Thai food half the time and pizza the rest."

"We have Chinese, Japanese, and Italian," Huey told her, handing over the menus.  "If you do, I want a salad."

"Sure."  She looked at Stan, who shrugged.  "Sandwich?"

"The usual," he agreed.

"Chicken and mustard?"

He grimaced.  "No, the...."  He came over, writing it down for her.  His and Ray's.  "Ray, usual?"

"Sure," he agreed.  He popped his knuckles.  "How much easier is this thing?"

"No handing in folders, no carrying folders.  Instant filing?" she suggested.  He gave her a look.  "It's nicer, trust me.  I've seen New York's and it's a lot more complicated than ours.  We stripped their system back down to the minimum.  All the forms are on there, they're all linked so you don't have to retype, and you can copy and paste when it's not linked."  He looked impressed.  "It cuts the paperwork down by half because the forms are more extensive and covers many of them at once.  All the arrest forms are on one in the computer."  She looked at Huey. "Which salad?"

"Caesar, dressing on the side and an iced tea."

She checked the menu, making the call.  It meant she was firmly accepted as an equal, that's how cops worked.  You only trust your food to the ones you trust with your back. "Hi, I need to place an order for the 27th precinct, detectives squad."  She looked at the list.  "We need one caesar salad, dressing on the side.  Yeah, Vecchio, Kowalski, Huey, and I need a calzone, cheese and mushrooms.  Huey said he wanted an iced tea.  Ray?"

"I'm good."

"I need some soda," Ray told her.

"And three cokes.  Yeah, thanks."  She hung up.  "Twenty minutes."  She looked at them.  "Am I buying?"

"We have an account with them," Huey said with a bigger smile.  "It's usual."

She snorted and shook her head.  "Great."  She pulled out money for hers, putting it under her desk blotter.  Then she stood up and walked over, bringing her chair so she could help Ray.  "See," she said, opening the correct form.  "The other database is for the specialists," she said quietly.  "Vice, Homicide, Sex Crimes."  He nodded so she let him look through this one.  "It's all the forms in one without the carbon copies and all that good stuff."  He gave her a look. "Plus, once we're fully integrated, you can upload it automatically, then it'll send it to Welsh for him to sign and forward.  Plus, there's a really good spell checker."  He chuckled.  "Every once in a while I need it myself," she assured him.  She walked him through the menus, letting Stan take the orders and her cash when they came.

***

Ray walked Catherine back into the apartment, letting her sit on the couch.  "How about we talk?" he suggested, sitting next to her.  She gave him a look.  "I'm sorry."  He gave her a kiss on the cheek.  "I was stupid and insensitive."  She nodded.  "But I won't do it again.  Stanley reamed me good."

She gave him a hug.  "I'm glad."  She stayed against his side, letting him stroke her arm.  "Are we okay?"

"I'm fine. You're probably still wrinkly under that thing from your bath.  Did you ever get out?"  She shook her head, giving him a small glance.  "That's dangerous."

"The bathtub's not big enough to drown in, Ray."

"Still," he said. "I don't wanna lose you already.  So stay careful."  He gave her a squeeze when she nodded. "Good.  Should we go to an office place?"

"I ordered online," she admitted.  "They'll deliver so I don't have to try and help you carry them up the stairs."

"Good, I like that," he agreed.  Someone rang a doorbell somewhere so he got up to go answer the bottom door.  He signed the forms for the UPS guy, letting him hike the boxes up the stairs with his dolly.  He heard a squeal and winced.  "Books," he said, shaking his head.  He caught the cat trying to investigate the outside and closed the bottom door, heading up check why she had ordered seven large boxes of stuff.  "Did you get more bookcases too?" he asked hopefully.  She gave him a happy look, stroking the cover of one.  "You'll need them."

"Yeah, I will," she agreed happily.  She handed over the money and the UPS guy nodded and walked out.  "I'm happy now," she told him.

"Good.  We've still go nowhere to put 'em."

"Walmart," she told him, going back to checking her order.  She handed a few to him.  "For you.  That way you can read too."

He smiled at the mysteries, then laughed.  "Thank you, Catherine."

"Welcome," she said happily.  "Come look, guys.  Mommy got you *boxes*!"  The Blair cat came out to sniff at the boxes, then meowed for attention, which she gave him.  "Yes, mommy got more of those paper things that you don't like her to pay attention to," she told him.  "You guys can have the boxes for now."  She glanced at the answering machine.  "I think your mother called, Ray," she said, nodding at it.

He walked over to play it, listening to his sister complaining about him.  "It was Frannie."  He played the next few hangups, then his mother's voice came across, making him laugh.  "We're to eat dinner there tonight.  Ma said so."  He put his books onto a shelf and came over, taking her away from her rapture.  "Come on.  Let the cats lay on the books and get them fur covered."  He helped her out of her holster, then grabbed the keys, heading out with her.  "When are the filing cabinets coming?"

"Tomorrow sometime.  I can come let them in when they call.  I told them so."  He nodded, handing her into the Riv.  "Are you sure I shouldn't change?"

"You're fine," he told her.  "I need to pick up more clothes anyway."  He got in to drive, watching as she buckled up.  "Saying I'm a bad driver?" he teased.

"No, just being careful.  I want to read most of those."  He chuckled, shaking his head as he started the car and drove off.  "My rental is a clunker.  I emailed my insurance agent, I'm expecting a rant back any day now.  Oh, and I uploaded all my files onto a secure online storage site until I can get it all printed and stored, I've been feeling odd again."

He nodded.  "That's fine.  Maybe you can show me your system?"

"Sure. It's not that hard.  Normally I'd have everything in alphabetical order but the cabinets are messed up."  He nodded, turning onto another street.  "Ray, doesn't your mother live in the other direction?"

He drove her to a small park and parked before he kissed her.  "I can't do that in my mother's house," he told her.  "She'd give me a harsh look and insist I marry you right then."  He kissed her again.  "So I'm stocking up."

"I like that idea," she agreed, letting him take charge.  She found herself pulled across the bench seat, letting him do whatever he wanted. "At least there's no gear shift," she teased.  He laughed and moved down to her neck.  "Ray, are we doing this here?"

"No, I'm playing."  He moved back to kiss her again.  "Unless you want to move this into the back seat."

"I didn't bring any condoms."

"Neither did I," he admitted.  "But I like this kissing and groping so far."  He dove in again, making her moan under him.  Someone tapped on their windows.  "I will shoot them."  He looked up and pulled his badge, flashing it at the cop, who walked off.  "Good."  He went back to kissing her, making her moan as his hands wandered.  "I don't want to do this in the car," he admitted, pulling back. "Our first time should be on a bed."  She nodded, giving him a little kiss.  "I'm horrible, right?"

"No, this one I can forgive," she promised, giving him a smile.  "Thinking about my near- brother while we're making out again will only get you hurt."  He laughed and gave her one last kiss, then made her go back to her own side of the car.  "You're sure?"

"I'm sure.  I like that dress. It's easy to get around."

"It should be, it stretches very well," she told him, ordering her hair.  "Dinner, Ray, I'm hungry."

"Yes, dear."  He started the car again and drove off, heading to his mother's house without any more delays.  They'd be late otherwise.  They barely got there in time to wash up before they sat down and said grace.  Catherine was respectfully silent.  He gave her a happy smile and she reached over to touch the hand he had off the table.  He gave it a squeeze and put it back in her own lap.   She gave him a smile.  "Behave," he hissed.

"I am."  She took a large bite and looked up at Ma, who was giving her a smile.  "Sorry we were so late," she said once her mouth was cleared.  "I got a big shipment of books.  I've always wanted one of those."

Ma smiled brighter.  "What sort?"

"Mostly sci fi and fantasy. That's most of what I read.  Though I did order two diabetic cookbooks."  Maria gave her a look.  "I am diabetic, even though my blood sugar is down again.  Besides, it's also got some food allergy stuff that'll be helpful at the house."

"You have food allergies?" Tony asked.

She nodded.  "I'm allergic to all beans and extremely allergic to soy.  I've also got drug allergies."  She ate another bite.  "Fortunately I don't have to worry about the pesky vegetable oil here."

"No, we only use olive oil," Maria agreed.  "Ray does too."

"She's only got corn oil," he said dryly.

"It doesn't make me break out in hives," Catherine defended.  "If you want olive oil, put some in the cart next time."

He laughed and nodded. "I will be."  Ma let out a happy sigh.  "Ma, you okay?"

"Just fine, Raymondo.  The cats have adjusted wonderfully once the little ones learned not to stalk them.  Even the wolf is appreciating them.  They get the little crumbs he leaves."

"Benny was here?" Ray asked.  "When?"

"Last night.  He hid your birthday present," she told him, giving him a look to say she knew what it had really been. Then she ate a bite.  "I'll remember not to feed you beans," she told Catherine.  "Any others?"

"The doctor said more could pop up as time went on since I only started having allergies in my twenties," she admitted once her mouth was free.  "So far the chlorine was has been the hardest.  I used to love to swim."

"You're allergic to chlorine?" Maria asked.  Catherine nodded since her mouth was full.  "That's gotta be bad.  You can't clean either?"

"I can use 409 and Pinesol," she admitted.  "Plus those new environmentally friendly orange cleaners are great.  They're safe to use around the cats, my cats hate the scent, and I don't itch when I use them.  I'm usually okay unless I'm physically touching them.  The department uses bleach in the bathrooms and I've been okay with it most of the time as long as it's already dry."

"They clean those bathrooms?" Tony asked.  "The last time I was up there it didn't look like it."

"Okay, Vice used to have theirs cleaned," she admitted with a grin for him. "I haven't had to visit the ones in the 27th yet."

"Don't," Ray told her.  "Our cleaners aren't that good."

"That's because it's been guys so far," she quipped.  "I met the nicest detective today. She's going to take my place in Vice apparently.  Bronski?"  He smiled at her. "I've got to go to Tangent tonight anyway.  Wanna come, Ray?"

"Sure," he agreed.   "We'll go watch the young kids mosh or whatever."

"Tangent's usually so crowded there's not much room to move on the dance floor. They more stand in place and wiggle there.  For moshing I usually head to Bikz.  It's a metal place. Lots of metal in the decorating too."  He gave her a look.  "I can show you if you want."

"That's okay.  Metal is not my thing," he said dryly.  "Eat."  She ate another large bite.  "Should I force you to eat real food for lunch from now on?" he teased.  She nodded.  "Fine."  He looked at his mother.  "She ordered a calzone and ate it and half of my sandwich for lunch."

"Good," Ma agreed.  "Eating better will help her blood sugar."  She looked at her.  "May I look at those cookbooks?  A few of my friends are diabetic as well.  I've been wondering about sugar substitutes."

"Sure," Catherine agreed.  "For that I usually use Splenda.  It's atrociously expensive but it's good.  Or you can use the unrefined sugars sometimes.  I wouldn't do if they're really bad diabetics but it works sometimes."  She ate more, making Ma happy and Ray pleased.  She looked down at her outfit, then his.  "We probably won't even have to change.  Cops usually get a corner of the bar.  I've went in there in my black outfit a great number of times."

"Sure," he agreed.  "Think the cats have gotten the books out yet?"

"Nah, they'll be laying on them to scent them.  Rubbing against the boxes and all that stuff.  Wait until we bring home big plastic bags and paper bags.  Those are really fun."  Ma laughed.  "I take it Mistress Kitty did that a few times?"

"She did," she agreed.  "Should I get them some toys?  They seem like they do nothing all day."

"Ma, they're cats," Tony reminded her.

"Get a few of the fuzzy mice and a bag of catnip, scent a few in the catnip and put down a few handfuls somewhere you can sweep up the remains. Those and balls of paper and tinfoil are the best and favorite toys of mine."  She looked around.  "You've already made them leave the dining room alone, I'm impressed."

Ma laughed.  "I took one of your squirt bottles.  It seems to work."

"It does," she agreed.

Maria cleared her throat.  "Where did the cats come from?"

"My neighbor."

Ray coughed.  "He died in his sleep and we were going to find a good home for them before Ma stole 'em," he told her.  "The kids okay with them?"

"One of them likes to curl up with them," she told him, smirking at him.  "It's cute.  He's the daughter's teddybear."

Catherine snickered, shaking her head until her mouth was clear. "My cats won't let me do that.  I've got ones who'll steal the blankets from me, but they'll only sit in your lap when they want to.  No matter how many times I've tried."

Maria snorted.  "I saw your cats, they're spastic."

"They don't like people very much."

"Is that why they like Stan?" Ray asked.  She hit him on the arm.  "Ow."  He smiled at her.  "Don't hit me. I'll have to retaliate."

She stuck her tongue out.  "Try it.  I'll force you to dance with me tonight."   He laughed and shook his head.  "Yes, I will.  I have been told I have a very convincing pout."

"If you want to go clubbing, take Stan.  He's still young enough to like those sort of things.  Then maybe you can fix him up with someone."

"I've been looking," she admitted. "No one's met up to my high standards yet."

Ma shook her head.  "Good mates are hard to find.  So many young people want to do something quick instead of a long-lasting relationship."

"Truly," Catherine agreed. "Fortunately I outgrew that after my wild youth."

"Was that when you were dating girls?" Tony asked.  Maria hit him.  "Sorry.  Didn't mean to be rude," he apologized sheepishly.

"No, that's okay.  I'm very open about my past relationships.  The way I see it, I'm looking for certain qualities.  Since one of them is listening to me when I'm having a whiny moment, it's hard to find it in a man," she said dryly.  He laughed and nodded.  "So I did date women.  I've also dated men in the past.  I nearly married one of them actually. Then I figured out he didn't want me to think for myself.  He only wanted a broodmare and a mistress who could throw parties."  Tony gaped.  "He's a judge right now."

"Wow.  It's a good thing Ray's not like that."

"That's also true," she agreed.  "Ma did a great job of making him a decent man.  They're really hard to find sometimes."

Tony smiled.  "So are good women."

She grinned.  "I know."  He laughed again and Maria groaned.  "Sorry."  The younger women shared a grin and an eye roll.  "Hey, Maria, you wanna help me shop for a couch sometime soon?  This one's getting more frayed than I like."

"Stanley will whine," Ray warned.  "He struggled hard to get that thing into the new place."  She sighed.  "Maybe a slip cover?"

"That might work," she agreed.  She gave him a look and then looked at her watch and hit herself on the head.  "The house."

"They sold it," he told her.  "I found the same ad and called them to check on it too," he admitted at her quizzical look.  "It went to a college student."  She sighed.  "We'll keep looking."

"You two want your own house?" Maria asked.  She looked at Catherine, knowing what was really going on by her look.

"Eventually," Catherine admitted.  "I hate moving."  Maria smiled at that.  "I do.  Moving sucks, even when other people do it for you.  You have to adjust to everything and all your things aren't in the same places as they were before.  Even if you manage to find apartments that are perfectly alike, you still manage to misplace things and little differences are highlighted.  I want a real library to store all my books in.  Plus a tv room for all the tapes and the tv."  Maria gave her a smile.  "Besides, I've got way too much furniture for an apartment."  Ray nodded, rolling his eyes.  "Sorry, dear."

"It's all right.  The new bookcases will only add to it.  How are you doing them?"

"I was going to get three-shelf ones and use them to separate out the living room from the dining room.  Then I'm gonna move the table sideways to give it more room.  The others will go into the spare bedroom."  He thought then nodded, liking that idea.  "It's either that or we'll be moving into something like a warehouse and use them to separate out the big space."

"The cats would hate it," he told her.  "Chocolate wouldn't have a place to hide."

"Yeah, but Smiles is selling his place," she told him with a grin.  "That big top half of a warehouse?"

Ray shuddered.  "Too industrial.  It's huge and drafty.  He gets horrible power bills."

"Yeah, but it'd give the cats a chance to roam around and find all new way up high spots for Oz."  He chuckled, he had pulled Oz off the top shelf of a cabinet last night.  "We need to baby proof the kitchen when we get the new bookcases."

"Sure."  He gave her back a stroke.  "Walmart is open all night, or it can wait until tomorrow."  He gave her a look.  "You only had one at the old place."

"Yes, because I used to have a lot more wine glasses until the acrobatic little Oz and her tail of destruction got onto that shelf," she told him.  "Her tail wiped out six of them at once."

"Baby proof?" Maria asked.  "You mean like the cabinet locks?"  Catherine grinned and nodded.  "Good idea.  Ma, we need to do that again."

"Yeah, I found one cat playing in the potatoes this morning," Tony agreed.

Catherine chuckled.  "As I've often said, cats are like three-year-olds.  They don't understand why they can't play with that, they don't understand why you're upset with them when they do play with that, and they get very hurt when you don't love them when they apologize, even if they're going to do it again.  Treat them like you would toddlers and it'll be fine.  At least until they try to trip you up on the stairs first thing in the morning.  We had a small bout of that until Oz nearly got stepped on."

Tony gave her a look.  "Really?"  She nodded. "Just like toddlers?"

"Time outs and all," she agreed.  "I've got a cat who likes to get pissed and use the bed as litter box in protest of things.  She's got her own little room where she's sat when she's in trouble with water, food, and a litterbox all her own.  She always comes out being very loving and making sure you still love her, but she does it again even though she knows she's not supposed to."

"Fortunately, the thicker plastic mattress covers don't rattle," Ray told him. "That and she figured out a way to clean the mess up as soon as she finds it."

"Yeah, take the sheet off, most of the time there's nothing that's really soaked through to puddle. Spray with rubbing alcohol, let it dry, then use the pet descenter."  Ma smiled at her.  "Just make sure you mark the bottle with the rubbing alcohol.  They get very upset when you spray them with it instead of the water bottle."

Maria gave her an interested look. "I'll have to remember that for the kids.  It's probably not much different."  Catherine shook her head.  "How long did it take you to get a plastic cover?"

"Nearly six months of flipping the bed.  I was using the alcohol for most of it but yeah, six months. I got some really funny looks as I surfed the bedwetting sites online at work."

Tony snickered.  "I bet you've got stories better than Ray's about stupid criminals."

She beamed at him.  "Oh, do I," she agreed, taking another bite when Ray nudged her. Her phone rang so she put down her fork.  "'Scuse me," she said, taking it out into the hall. "Yeah?  Yes, this is."  She listened then smiled.  "Hey, Bronski.  No, I wasn't gonna hit there until about nine.  Wear something comfortable, you don't have to look like one of them, they'll know anyway.  Sure.  We'll meet you out front somewhere near nine.  Great.  Bye."  She hung up.  "Sorry, I'm helping some of the new Vice cops get into the clubs I used ta bust in," she explained.  "I'm meeting Bronski at nine if you still want to go, Ray."

"I said I would," he reminded her, checking his watch.  It was only seven-thirty.  "You have better stories?"

She beamed at him. "I had one guy walk into the downstairs and complain that his *girl* took his drugs and left with her pay for the night without giving him his cut."

"Huh?" Tony asked, glancing around.  "No kids, you can be graphic."

"I was trying to spare Ma," she told him.

Ma waved a hand.  "I know about such things existing."  She smiled.  "Though it is nice that you don't swear around me, dear."

"Okay, so I had this pimp come in and say his employee stole his drug stash and his cut of her take for the night.  They kindly referred him up to us.  So I got him to tell me the whole story, give me a description, then arrested him and went for her."  Tony laughed.  "Oh, it gets better," she told him.  "She left the small time pimp to go to one of the bigger Family run operations.  They didn't know she was selling drugs as well as her time.  Mr. Demarlin was not impressed with her when we busted his operation because of her.  So not only did I get the minor pimp, and his girls got free of his abusing ways, but I also got a good stable of call girls and he promised he was gonna go straight so he never had to deal with me again," she said dryly.  "He even helped us go in to get someone he didn't like who was using his services a few times.  He did not like the Columbians or the Peruvians who were muscling in on his business."  Ray gaped at her.  "Not that he'll admit he knew that there was a Vice cop in there to bust them," she said sweetly, grinning at him.

"That was you?"

"No, that was my rookie.  I was his monitor."  Ray started to laugh, but then stopped and looked at her making her nod.  "Really," she agreed. He laughed again.  "If you mention it to him he'll beat you though."

"I'd never do that," he promised, shaking his head.  The things Stanley did for a bust.

She looked at Maria and Tony again.  "Just today I had a thief run away from me and decide he'd rather be hit multiple times by cars in lunch traffic instead of facing me."

"Wow," Tony said.  "You are one tough woman."  Maria hit him again. "She is!" he defended.  "I bet she could take Ray in a fair fight if she wasn't injured."

"Not really.  I suck at brawling," she admitted.  "I'm more a baseball bat girl.  Or whatever's at hand," she admitted.  "I hit a desk sergeant once with a book for a comment about my chest."

Ray laughed.  "I heard about him. Biggers spread it around to try and get you fired or shunned."

"It nearly worked until he made another comment about another female detective in front of her Captain.  Then her captain got onto him and chewed him a new one."  She smirked.  "It ended that bout of pettiness very quickly.  It only took a day.  Some male officers still don't like to deal with me, but they quickly realize it's okay as long as they're respectful."

"I bet you got a lot of looks for being a pretty female cop," Tony told her.

"Some.  Back in my thinner days I got asked out all the time.  Then I gained weight and it slowed down at lot.  That's the only thing I'm thankful for with it."

"Ray can help you lose it again," Tony suggested.  Maria groaned and shook her head.  "What?  I meant he could help her work out and stuff.  I wasn't making a snide comment."

Ray coughed.  "I haven't even had time to go to the gym recently," he admitted.  "When I go I'm dragging her with me."  She gave him a disbelieving look and a head shake. "Yes, I am.  That way you can chase after the perps."  He gave her a look and she glared at him.  "Just a few pounds. I don't care about your weight but the next guy in line for Chief is talking about doing physical reviews for Detectives and up.  That means passing the obstacle course."

"If he does, he's going to have to fire himself," she said bitterly.  "It'll never happen, Ray, and I'm mostly fit enough for the job.  I may not be able to chase someone for blocks anymore but half of that is the arthritis in my knees, not my weight.  I don't need to be drug to a gym."

"Fine.  What do you do to work out?" he asked.

"I take Stanley out and have fun in the clubs," she said dryly, still frowning at him.  "That and I've also had a very active career.  It's not like I'm gaining any."

"Fine," he agreed.  "I'd still appreciate someone to talk to when I work out."

"Stanley," she said firmly.  "That young guy with too much energy and the never-ending stamina who likes to run and jog."  He grimaced.  "Then you can make him calm down and take a nap on Saturday afternoons."

"Fine.  Not even any strength training for your arms?  You don't hit that hard."

"I know I don't hit that hard, and my knees are already dragging together.  I don't need to be in more pain."

"Fine," he said again, nodding.  "You can still help me."

"Sure, I'll sit on your feet and read while you do situps," she told him, starting to smirk again.  "Or sit on your back while you do pushups."

"Maybe you two can start taking some long walks," Maria offered.  "Tony and I do that a lot."

"We get into trouble," Ray told her.  "The bank, the drug store last night nearly.  Her car.  People like to do odd things around us."

"Bank?" Tony asked.

"Hold up," she told him.  "I had my badge in the open so I got to play hostage for them so they'd release everyone else."

"Then she got grazed and passed out because her blood sugar was too low," Ray said dryly. "Another case of not eating right."

Ma chuckled.  "She has some of the cutest pajamas.  When I went over to check on them, she went out in this cute little fish set." Ray groaned.  "She looked adorable," she told him.

"She did look cute," Ray agreed.  "She went into the bakery, the station, then back to the bank like that, arresting someone in it without any handcuffs or her gun. Then she came back to the station and went home."

Maria gave her a look.  "You're much braver than I am.  Ray gets fussy about clothing stuff."  She looked at the dress Catherine was wearing.  "That's cute.  Did he help you pick it out?"

"No, I got it a few years back from Lane Bryant.  It's totally fake fabric, but it's so comfortable."  She got up to let her feel the skirt.  "It's stretchy, doesn't wrinkle, won't let cat hair stick to it, doesn't stain, and anything liquid is wicked through to your skin instantly.  A third of my wardrobe is in this stuff.  It's amazing for not being natural."  She sat down again.  "Plus, it's flowing enough that you can't see when I've hidden things under it."

"Wonderful.  I need some of that.  Ray, find me some," Maria ordered.  He snorted and nodded, chewing again.  "What else did you do today, Catherine?"  She ate a bite and Catherine picked up her fork again.

"Mostly paperwork."  She ate a bite and chewed quickly.  "I had some cases I needed to finish the paperwork for and hand in.  Plus two new robbery cases hit my desk and three older Vice cases.  Two more got added but they're nothing.  Minor dealers getting uppity.  Nothing too bad."  She shrugged and ate another bite.  "Ray?"

He grimaced.  "I have enough on my desk.  She's making us look bad," he told his sister.  Maria chuckled, shaking her head.  "She does.  She's like a cross between Benny and Stanley.  She clears quickly and then does the paperwork instantly.  Now if only I could get her to take Huey with her."

"He's working on our primary cases," she reminded him.  "Those serial robberies.  We got handed another one this afternoon when we came back from the auction house."  She made a face, then turned her head and sneezed.  "Sorry."  She wiped her mouth, then went back to eating.  "I hate that.  I spit when I sneeze."

Ray shrugged.  "We all have our little habits.  You drool too."  Maria gave him a shocked look.  "It's either sleeping next to her, on a lumpy couch, or on the daybed.  And the cats won't let me have the couch."

"I thought you two were married," Tony said, looking confused.

Catherine sighed.  "Technically, the marriage is for an assignment," she told him.  He looked like he got it.  "So Ray's taking the top of the sheets and getting his own set while I have the bottom set.  He's being very proper."  Maria looked mollified and Ma looked happy at that.  "And the cats really won't let him have the couch.  It's underneath the windows."

"Fortunately, they do like each other," Ma offered.  "I'm expecting them to keep dating after this."

"That's up to your son, Ma.  You know I like him."

"It's clear you two deserve each other," Tony told her.  "You and Ray both look really happy, even when you argue."  Ray gave him a look.  "You do.  You would have ordered anyone else to go to the gym with you."  He smirked proudly. "Otherwise someone else will snatch her up and take her away from you."  Ray growled.  "See!" he crowed. "I knew it."

"Fine, I'm jealous," Ray sighed. "Drop it, Tony."

"Sure, Ray," he said smugly.  "As long as you realize that she's the one for you."

"Don't push," Maria warned.  "He'll turn stubborn and she'll have to kiss him again."

"I did that earlier," Catherine told him.  "He was scowling at the new computer they gave him."

Ray gave her a look.  "I don't think my forehead was what they were talking about."  She smiled at him. "And I'm still not making out in my mother's house," he said quietly.

"Wasn't going to suggest it," she told him, staying quiet.

Ma coughed.  "I don't mind.  It's clear we'll have another wedding within a year."  Ray gave her a look.  "Go ahead," she offered, waving a hand.  "If she hurts you, we'll hunt her down for you, but then again we'll take you back to her if you ever leave her."

Ray gave her a small kiss. "There, happier?" he asked his mother.

"You call that a kiss?" Tony teased.  "Even I can do better than that."

"Tony!" Maria said, hitting him again, making him smile at her and laugh. "Not in front of Ma!"

Catherine blushed.  "I don't think a demonstration of his kissing technique is really necessary at the table," she told him.  Tony laughed and shrugged. "Besides, I'm taking him somewhere dark and smoky later."

"How do you feel about kids?" Tony asked.

"I love the little things, but I'm much happier when I can hand them back after I've sated that nasty maternal instinct," he told her.  He gave her a look.  "I'm ninety-percent infertile, Tony.  There's a very slim chance."

"Which I don't really mind," Ray said quickly.  "You and Maria are repopulating the earth for us." Maria threw her napkin at him.  He grinned at her.  "You are. When's the next coming?"

"Never.  I'm not having another one.  Three is enough.  Nag Frannie."

"No, thanks," Catherine told her.  "I've seen her latest boyfriend hanging around.  He reminds me of Cyrano."

"The Vecchio nose is pretty big," Tony pointed out.

"This one is three times the size of Ray's or Frannie's," Catherine told him.  "Those poor kids would be cursed with trunks like their father."

Maria snickered.  "I know who you're talking about now," she admitted.  "His nose is a trunk," she agreed, closing her eyes to laugh.

"Who?" Tony asked.  She whispered in his ear and he burst out laughing.  "Yeah, that is one big nose."

"Who?" Ray asked.

"Think flower delivery guy," Catherine told him.  "The one who looked so hurt today when she wasn't there."  Ray's mouth fell open.  "Him."

"Those poor kids," he said, shuddering.  "He's the sort they made nose jobs for."  Everyone else nodded.  The door slammed and he looked back, being able to see down the hallway.  "Speak of the devil," he muttered.  He nudged Catherine and gave her a look.

"I'm good," she reminded him.  She looked at Maria.  "I believe he thinks Frannie just came home.  Oh, Frannie," she called.  "We're having dinner if you wanted to join us." Maria gaped at her.  "I'm cool," she told her.  "It's okay."  Frannie walked in with a young man, not the one they had been talking about.  "Hey, sit," she suggested.  She ate another bite and took Ray's hand to hold.  That was the only thing she'd do.  She caught Ma's eye and smiled at her, getting a nod in return.  She smiled at Ray.  "Finished?"

"No."  He took another bite, nodding at the new guy.  "Welcome.  You are?"

"This is Mario," Frannie said, looking at the joined hands, then at her mother.  "We just showed up so I could change.  He's taking me out tonight."

"Be home at a decent hour," her mother said firmly.  Frannie nodded, going up the stairs.  "Ray, did you need to pick up more clothes?"

"I did," he admitted.  "I'm almost out of suits and I have to go to the cleaners soon."  She smiled at him.  "Besides, she likes to see me dressed up almost as much as I like to pick out her clothes for her."

Catherine blushed.  "Ray!"  He smiled at her.  "Keep it up and I'm wearing flannel tomorrow."

"Your flannel pajamas are in the wash," he teased.  She sighed, rolling her eyes.  "And we're not gonna have time to do laundry tonight."

"Ray, I have more than one set," she pointed out.  "Plus, I've got flannel pants too."  He groaned. "So behave and I won't have to find them until this winter."

"Fine," he agreed.  "Wear the blue outfit tomorrow?"  She raised an eyebrow.  "Yes, that one."

"I'd be uncomfortable all day.  I can't imagine chasing someone in that."

"Are you a cop?" Mario asked.

Catherine nodded.  "A detective actually."  She looked at Ray again.  "I'm not wearing a short skirt to work."

"Fine," he agreed with a grin.  "How about the blue shirt and your black pants then?"

She considered it, then nodded.  "Sure.  As long as it doesn't bother my shoulder."  He nodded, adding more food to both their plates.  "Ray!" she sighed.

"Eat," he said firmly.  "You're hungry, you were earlier."

"Good point."  She looked at Mario.  "What do you do?" she asked before eating another bite.  "Sorry, but I've got to go back to work tonight," she admitted between bites.

"Oh, I'm a ...a, um, driver," he admitted.  "I do pickups for a local mortuary."  Frannie came back in and he smiled at her.  "That looks very nice on you."

"Frannie, you've got lint," Ray told her.  He reached over and brushed it off her hip.  "There, better."  He gave his little sister a look.  "Have fun and be safe, we'll be on a minor stakeout tonight."

"Fine," she agreed, leading Mario off.  "I'll be home later, Ma.  Don't wait up."  The door slammed after them.

Ma snorted.  "In her dreams," she said firmly.  "What does he actually do?"

"He delivers bags for the Carmani's," Catherine told him.  "Mostly payoffs from the smaller hoods.  He doesn't collect the tithes, but he does deliver.  Though he might actually work for a mortuary too.  They're cheap bastards."  She ate another bite.

Ray sighed.  "They are," he agreed.  "That's why their people turn on them all the time.  It's amazing how often they lose people to the other families.  I'm surprised Don Cornelius hasn't stepped in yet."

"He has.  He said last month he got tired of it," Catherine told him.  "I think he's had to up his pay rate recently.   Will we have to deal with the fallout?"

"No," he promised.  "They live over in the 23rd's territory. Anything would happen over there."  She grinned and ate another bite.  "You can slow down."

"Ray, we're gonna be late," she reminded him.  He looked at his watch, showing her.  It was only just eight.  "Remember, you wanted to go look at that one place," she reminded him. "By the park?"  He smiled and nodded, eating some more.  "We don't really mean to eat and run," she told Ma, "but sometimes duty calls.  We still on for Saturday?"

Ma nodded.  "Definitely.  Ray can come over to look after the lawn and you can help me with the cats.  Should we bathe them?"

"They do a pretty good job of that, worry more about brushing them once a week."  Catherine looked over at a meow.  "Got the squirt gun?"

"Out!" Ma ordered.  The cat walked in and rubbed against her leg, making her sigh and pick her up to take her out.  "You are not allowed in there," she said firmly, pointing her finger at the cat as she talked down to it like she would one of the children.  "Not allowed in there.  No, that is not a room for the cats."  She gave it a pet then went back to the table.   Both her son and her future daughter-in-law were nearly done.  "When were you going to come over?"

"Probably just after noon," Catherine told her.  "I like to sleep in."  Ma gave her a smile.  "Don't worry about lunch.  Saturday is my juice day.  I have this stuff I drink each week to get the smoke I inhaled in the clubs out of my system.  I'll bring some over, it's really tasty for being organic."

"If you want," Ma agreed, giving her a smile.  Both of them got up and gave her a kiss, and Catherine gave Maria a hug and Tony a pat on the head before leaving.  She smiled at Maria.  "I think they were embarrassed to kiss in the house."

"I felt the same way when I was dating Tony," she reminded her.  "It'll be okay, he'll loosen up again.  It's just the newness."  Tony snickered.  "You, behave.  No more teasing her about her former women."

"I'd never dream of it," he promised, smiling at her.  "You sure we can't have any more?"

Maria nodded.  "Yes, I am.  Even if you have to sleep on the couch for the rest of our marriage."  He pouted.  "That's not helping you any.  I'm not having any more."

"Think maybe I can change your mind?" he asked, leaning over to nibble on her ear.  She swatted at him so he caught her hand, using it to pull her closer so he could kiss her.  "I can be persuasive when I want."

"No more grandchildren, do it for the joy of being together," Ma said firmly.  "Three is enough for any woman."

Maria nodded. "Definitely.  After the last one I thought I'd never get back into shape."  Tony nibbled on her neck, making her swat him.  "Not at the table, Tony, I'm hungry!"  He pulled back, giving her a smile.  "If you bathe the kids tonight, I'll let you persuade me."  She smiled at him, and he knew he had her then. All her resistance was for show. She ate another bite, still staring at him, and he drooled, eating his own dinner quicker.

Ma smiled at them.  It was nice to have happy couples around her again.

***

Catherine walked up to the bouncer a little after nine, giving him a hug.  "Morning.  Is Bronski here yet?"  He nodded, nodding inside.  "I transferred to the 27th.  She's gonna be the new one from now on."  He smiled and nodded.  "Oh, this is Ray," she said, nodding back at him.  "He's like me."  She drew Ray inside past the little teenagers, watching their horrified looks.

The bouncer looked at the line.  "They're the party poopers.  That's why there's no drugs allowed."  A few people slipped out of line and decided to party elsewhere.  "Popular clubs get them all the time," he told the other bouncer coming out.  "Catherine's changing over for that redhead."

"Interesting.  The redhead was younger, she'll have more fun."  He smiled and they high- fived.  They had a better shot with the redhead than Catherine.

Catherine walked up to her usual position at the bar, waving at the bartender.  He nodded at the back room so she led Ray that way.  "Hey, Miriam," she said, giving her a hug.  "This is Ray.  I see Bronski's already introduced herself."  She looked at her.  "I said to wait for me."

"It's chilly," she defended.

"That's why I wear real clothes.  I look like the club's designated driver."  She smiled at her ex again.  "I guess you've been told I transferred."

"I did," Miriam agreed, looking at Ray.  "I've noticed he's different than your past lovers," she said with a smile.

"Not all of them," Catherine told her.

"You two used to date?" Bronski asked. Ray nodded, shaking her hand.  "Oh, hey, you're Vecchio.  Bets told me to watch out for you, that you're a fierce and overprotective cop."

He snorted.  "Only of what's mine."  He looked at Miriam and saw her smile.  "Catherine said she's got one last case in here."

"That's fine," she agreed with a wave.  "Bronski, you can act your age in here," she instructed.  "You guys are given a spot at the end of the bar nearer to the floor.  I don't want drugs in here anyway and I don't really like the rent kids working in the johns."  She stood up, walking around her desk to get in Ray's face.  "You'd better protect her, or else I'm going to steal her back," she warned with a smile.

Ray smirked at her.  "Try."

"Guys," Catherine sighed, shaking her head and walking out.  She took her usual diet coke and sat down, watching for her mark.  All she needed was proof he was running pros out of the club.  She found him in a back corner talking to a new girl and her start to please him.  She choked and groaned, putting down her drink.  The bartender put it under the bar for her as she walked over, coughing loudly as soon as she got closer.  "No blowing others in the main club," she pointed out dryly.  He smirked at her.  "Honey, up from under the table.  We can all see you down there.  It's not like the table isn't see-through."  The girl climbed out and gave her a look before running away.  "Up, scuzfart."  He continued to smirk.  "Now."  He didn't even try to zip himself up.  "Now!"  He still didn't move so she hauled him up with her good hand, turning him around.  "I've got you for statutory rape," she told him, cuffing him.  She walked him out like that, handing him to Bronski.  "Did you catch the girl?"  She nodded.  "What's her ID say?"

"She's too young to have one.  Her school ID said St. Mary's Catholic Junior High."  Ray shuddered.  "What was he doing?"

"I know he's been running pros out of the club.  He has been for months.  We had enough for an arrest warrant, including pictures, but she was too damn young and doing him in the club.  Gee, that adds a count of public fornication and public indecency in addition to the statutory charge."

Ray moved in front of him.  "Won't he complain that he's exposed?"

"I gave him the chance to zip himself up.  If he hasn't it's his own fault," she said firmly.  "Let him explain it to his lawyer."  A patrol car pulled up and an officer she knew got out.  "Got him," she said dryly.  "Statutory.  In the club at one of the booths with the clear plastic tables."  She saw the look at the guy's open fly. "I told him to stand up three times, he didn't move to fix himself.  It's his own fault."  She handed him over.  "You know the rules, no touching genitals unless you're patting them down.  We can't zip him up, it can be misconstrued."  The officer smirked at her and set him into the back while Bronski put the girl into the front.  "Okay, that's one open case," she said, heading back inside.  Some of the kids gave her a wide berth.  "I'm not here for you.  You're not that dumb," she told them.  She took her soda back as she sat down, sharing a look with the bartender.  "At one of the clear tables," she said in disgust.  He laughed, going to get another kid a drink.  Ray sat down next to her while Bronski went to check the bathrooms.  "I'll point out later that eleven is a better time to do that," she told him, stealing a kiss.  He smiled at her.  "Like my style better now?"

"Much.  You didn't get to see his face.  It fell when you said you couldn't do it for him."  She giggled, leaning against his side.  "How's the shoulder?"

"Fine," she promised, smiling as Bronski came out without anyone.  "Eleven," she told her.  "Forgot to warn you.  You've got the kids of a few patrol officers who shop here too.  Usually I don't hassle 'em unless they're being dumb.  I do threaten to tell their parents.  One of them I had to bust, he got badly hurt and didn't tell his dad when he got taken to the hospital."  She sat down with a wince.  "Aren't you cold in the lace top?"

"A little.  You really come in here like that?"

"Oh, yeah.  There's a big sign above the door that says no drugs will be tolerated and monitors are employed.  I'm a monitor."  Bronski laughed.  "It's fine.  There's no way anyone outside their own age can fit in.  We look like chaperones or designated drivers."  Her gaze was drawn to the floor as one girl was exposed in the mass.  "There's something off about that blonde," she said, taking another sip, watching her as the crowd swallowed her up again.  Even when the song ended she kept dancing.  So did some of the other kids but there was something different about her.  "I've never seen her before," she said, thinking about it.  Someone got between them so she looked at the bouncer.  "Who's she?" she said, nodding.  The blonde was in the open again.

The bouncer shrugged.  "Not a clue.  Which one of you is Catherine today?"  She raised her hand.  "Phone."  He handed it over.

"Yeah?"  She listened.  "No, I'm here."  She squinted. "You're kidding.  Cool.  Yeah.  Fine.  Great even."  She smiled.  "I've got just the person to handle that.  Sure, give me an hour."  She hung up.  "Hey, Bronski, who's got the female role for high ho?"

"Right now I do," she admitted.  "Why?"

"Because that was one of my snitches.  We've got a Cartel Lord coming into town."  Bronski nearly drooled when they shared a look.  "Dominick," she said, letting the name drip off her tongue like honey.  "Wanted by ten different governments, including ours.  You up for a quick change?"  She nodded.  She kissed Ray hard.  "Watch that blonde.  Something's up with her.  We'll be back in about three hours."  He put a hand on her arm.  "I'm fine, Ray.  We're not gonna be in any trouble.  I can call Stan if you want, or I saw one of the new Vice guys coming in."  He frowned.  "Seriously.  We're fine."

"I can help," he reminded her.

She gave him a hard kiss. "Of course you can. You wanna play pimp?"  He snorted and smiled, giving her a look.  "Please?"

"Fine," he agreed, standing up.  "I'll have to dress down."

"Well, yeah," she admitted.  She waved the new Vice guy over.  "This is Miriam's club.  You sit here and watch the kids.  Don't do a bathroom sweep until eleven.  Watch out for the officer's kids. Watch the blonde on the floor, something's off about her."  He frowned and nodded.  "We just got a tip that we've got to follow.  This is Steer.  Let him guide you.  Steer, this is the new bottom boy of Vice.  The young and pretty.  Show him the ropes?"  He nodded.  "Cool.  Tell him who you really are."  She took Ray's arm, leading him out.  "Bronski, go change.  Put on something high class call girl.  Then come to my new place."  She handed over a copy of her address.  "It's closer to the airport."  She nodded, hurrying to her own car.  "I believe I need to dress up for him."  She smirked at him.  "Lucky you, you're gonna get to see something only some very lucky people have.  The return of Synth."  He gave her a look as he turned the car around, heading back to the house.  "You might like Synth.  She's fun."

***

Catherine walked up to the wanted man, leaning against his arm.  "Hi, Dominick," she purred.  He gave her a look so she opened her light blue zip jacket some, showing off her tight halter top.  "Jimmy said you called.  I'm the trainer.  Meet my new girl, Preston."  She waved at Bronski, who was leaning against a roof support.  "We good enough for you tonight?"

"You're a little bigger than I like my girls," he said, looking her over.  She did look fine.  "But you're pretty enough to train."

She simpered and cooed.  "I'm much more than that.  I'm Jimmy's right-hand girl."  She led him over to where Bronski was leaning.  "Preston, meet Dominick."  She shivered.  "He's the best.  He tips well and he's very *good* at what he does."  She smiled shyly up at him.  "You'll have to excuse her manners, she's new to this.  We only acquired her the other day.  Poor little college girl."

Dominick gave her a smile and a nod.  "I like smart women."   He let her take his free arm, walking them out together.  He noticed the man following them.  "A bodyguard?" he teased Catherine.

She nodded, giving him a look.  "Because I'm very talented and Jimmy's *sure* someone's gonna steal me.  I know all about his stuff.  I'm doin' his books for him along with everything else and trainin' her."  She gave him a coy smile and a sultry look.  "She's a good little girl.  I've had the most problems getting her to talk dirty."

"Jimmy's branched out?"

"Just a few lines," she agreed.  She opened the back door of his rental for him.  She climbed in beside him and Bronski climbed in on his other side.  "Do you have your own driver or can our guy do it for you?" she purred, playing with his shirt buttons.

"Mmm.  You are Synth," he said.  She nodded, giving him a look.  "You're highly thought of from what I hear.  Jimmy made good choices.  Sure, let him drive.  I want to have some fun.  Let's see how new she really is."  He looked at Preston, who blushed.  He hummed and pulled her closer to kiss her.  The driver got in and he didn't even take a good look at him or where they were going.  When they stopped, he frowned at the building.  "This isn't my hotel."

"No, it's mine," Catherine told him.  "Come with me, Dominick.  I'll show you things you've never thought of enjoying.  You've heard how I can be."  He nodded, getting out and walking behind her into the back entrance of the precinct.  She suddenly pushed him against the wall and kissed him while Bronski got the cuffs on him.  "Surprise," she purred, leaning against his chest.  "You're under arrest."

He gaped.  "You're a cop!"

"I'm a cop," she agreed, blinking up at him.  "Come with me, I'll find a nice bottom boy for you for the night."  She took his cuffs and walked him up the stairs, keeping him stunned.  His eyes were trying to see past her halter.  Tits made men stupid, it was a tightly held belief of hers.  She backed up the stairs, glancing at Ray.  He was right behind them.  "Come on, sweetie."  He nodded, leaning closer to kiss her.  "Hmm, tits really do make men stupid."

Ray stepped up and removed his head from her chest, slapping him hard.  "Welcome to Chicago's finest."  He took the cuffs from the women, walking him up the stairs.

"I know you, you're Lagostini," he said, sneering at him.  "You're a cop?"

"No, I'm the one who took his place after he died," he sneered, walking him into the squadroom.  Stanley, who was still typing on the computer, looked up.  "Look what the girls caught."  He shoved him into the chair, making his teeth rattle.  "She's mine, asshole.  Learn that."

"Damn.  You handle all that?" he said, looking at Ray.  "Synth's internationally famous for her skills."

Ray looked at Catherine.  "Really?"  She nodded.  "What skills?"

"I'm known for my erotic reading, my eating, my tits, and a few times for bodychecking those who needed it.  The rest is an exaggeration," she told him smugly.

"Good," he said firmly, frowning at her.

She sighed and rolled her eyes.  "Stan, you're done, right?"  He nodded.  "Good.  Bronski, feel free to use our cells for him.  Stan, you're taking me out.  I'm dressed up with a pissed off man."  He smirked at her and stood up, letting Ray have his computer.  Then he walked her out.

Bronski looked at him.  "You let him take your wife?" she asked.

"He's like her little brother," he said grimly.  "Besides, I know where she lives."  He looked at the man in the chair, making him whimper.  Apparently he had his pissed off look.  "You want first paperwork or us?"

"You take it, I don't want to testify in this case.  It's dangerous."  She smiled and waved.  "Have fun, Ray."  She trotted out, going to put on some real clothes.  Her shirt was gaping.

Ray sat down at Stanley's computer, opening the new database he had learned earlier, glaring at the man in the chair.  "Yo, you got a last name, *Dominick*?"

He nodded, returning to smug.  "Yeah, you want it, you've got to blow me, bitch."

Ray gave him a look.  "My wife just left me after wearing that outfit for me.  Do you really want to say shit like that?"  The man's eyes widened.  "Yeah, she's mine, all mine," he said smugly.  "Name, *bitch*.  Before I find the biggest dom down there to make your night pleasant."

The man swallowed.  This man was scarier than all the Feds he had ever taunted.  "You won't keep me."

"Yay, and?  I only gotta fill out a few things and then you can go into a cell until my wife's very short memory kicks in."  The man whimpered as Ray stood up.  "Now."

"Dominick Penya," he said, giving him a terrified look.  He was known for cutting off balls, but this man would rip his off, he knew that look!  His own father had been like that about his girlfriends!  He would not be bothering this man or his wife again!  "Is the other yours too?" he asked fearfully.

"Hers," he said smugly.  The man groaned and shifted.  "I can cut that off for you if it'll help you focus," he warned.

"Yes, inspector," he said, staring at him fearfully.

"This is the US, we're detectives around here."  Ray sat down and filled out the parts he had to have done to stick him downstairs, then pulled him up and down the stairs.  He handed him to the guard.  "Put him somewhere fun," he sneered.  "He thinks my wife's pretty and charming."

The guard laughed.  "Your wife?"  He looked at him.  "You think The Bitch Queen of Death is cute?  Are you suicidal?"  Ray growled so he dragged the guy off.  "Not that she isn't, detective, but I like my heads where they are.  She's known for being a tough bitch."  He opened a cell and stuck him in, then undid the cuffs and gave him a push.  "Be nice to the new bitch.  Catherine the Great brought him in.  She stunned him with her tits."

The man inside gave him a look.  "You're fucked.  Her husband is connected and vengeful."

Dominick whimpered.  "Fuck!  I knew this was going to be a bad trip!"  He sat down to sulk.

"Nope, that's my bunk," the guy told him.  "They both are.  The only way you're gonna be in it is if you're with me."  Dominick gave him a horrified look.  "Aaah, is the little boy scared?" he sneered.

Ray walked away, satisfied that the guy was gonna be sorry.  He went down to the patrol desk.  "Which way did my wife head with Kowalski?"

The Sergeant gave him a look, then shrugged.  "Was she the whore?"  He growled and lunged so the sergeant ducked and scurried back.  "Let me check, detective!  Sorry, sir!"  He shut the office door, putting out a general call over the radio.  "Vecchio is looking for his partner, anyone seen Kowalski?" he asked desperately.  "Before he kills me?"

One of the people in the field chuckled over the radio.  "Did you insult his wife?"

"Fuck you."  Then he covered his mouth.  "Just give me a damn location so he can leave!  She was dressed up like she was working a Vice case."

"His car's at Club Lexington," a male, amused voice said.  "I just passed there.  She didn't look half bad in that outfit if she was wearing what I think I saw her in."

"Thank you."  He put down the radio and walked out, standing far enough away to be out of reach.  "Detective Kowalski's car was reported at Club Lexington, Detective Vecchio.  Have a nice night," he called as Vecchio walked out.  Then he went limp before going to pee.  He put a note on the desk for the morning people to duck when they saw them coming in.

***

Ray looked at the bouncer.  "Morning," he said grimly.

The bouncer gave him a look, then grimaced.  "You're not exactly our normal sort, sir."  Ray pulled his badge.  "Oh, you're with her.  I thought she was dressed up.  Celebrating a bust?"

"My wife," he said, heading inside.  He saw her, she and Stanley were on the floor dancing together.  Or actually, they were writhing together in the middle of the crowd.  He walked out there and pushed Stanley out of the way, latching his mouth onto hers.  She smiled up at him and started to dance with him.  "I don't know how to do this!"

"Just move," she told him.  "It's all good."  He sighed and moved stiffly. "Nearly there," she teased.  She turned around, backing against him.  His hands found her hips and he soon got into it.  She winked at Stanley, who went to dance with a blonde who had caught his attention.  She turned back around, having to lean against his chest as the crowd moved around him.  "Let the passion out, Ray," she said into his ear.  "This is what it's about."  He got a little less stiff and she smiled at him, dancing just for him now.  He smirked at her and let her lead for a while, then he got tired and led her out to a table, forcing her into the inside.  "Still jealous?"

"Intensely," he told her firmly.  "Almost always."   She gave him a look. "Even if it is rumors."

"Fine.  Be that way then."  She leaned over, nibbling on his ear.  He shivered and kissed her.  "Ah!  None of that.  You'll get us tossed out."

He made her stop and looked at her.  "Behave, woman."

"Me?" she asked innocently.  "Behave?"  He nodded. "Fine.  I'll quit teasing you."

"Good."  He looked down at her chest, which was shown magnificently in that outfit.  "That's tighter than I'm used to seeing you in."  She beamed and winked.  Stanley came over, handing them drinks and flopping down across from them to collapse in the seat.  "Stanley, go play with people your own age," he ordered.

Stanley gave him a look.  "Jealous?" he taunted. But he did get up to do that.  Ray was a bear about what was his.  He found another dance partner and sipped his drink while he danced. He had needed this.  He glanced back then down at her, winking.  "My sister."

She smiled and moved closer. "I nearly worried.  Who's the stud?"

"Her husband.  He's jealous."  He winked and grinned.  "But then again, I'm free."  She laughed and they got a little closer, dancing a little harder as the next song came on.

Catherine gave Ray a steamy look.  "If I wasn't myself, I'd invite you into the bathroom," she said into his ear.  He gave her a look.  "Yes, I am occasionally naughty, Ray."

He stood up and hauled her up by her good arm, leading her out of the club and to his car, taking her to his favorite spot to be hidden.  No one would bother them out here.  Not in the least.  The old factories were shut down and no one ever came out here but some of the homeless and they never bothered people in cars.  His phone went off and he rolled down the window, tossing it out.  Then he went back to kissing her senseless.  She climbed into his lap with little prompting, making it easier on him.  She wasn't wearing any panties as he discovered. He pulled back to look at her.

"I did it to tease you, not the slimebag," she promised, nipping the tip of his nose.  "You like?"

"I do," he agreed, teasing her gently. She shivered and ripped his t-shirt off him, then went to work on his jean's buttons.  His phone went off again so he rolled back up the window most of the way.  She impaled herself on him, going back to his lips.  He moaned, pushing up into her.  Fuck the consequences.  She was his and only his.  He switched them, letting her lay down on the seat, thanking God that he liked older cars with bench seats.  It was an uncomfortable squeeze but she wasn't complaining as he pounded into her as hard as he could.  She was making little whimpering noises, turning him on greatly.  "Tell me," he told her.

She nodded, knowing what he meant.  She wouldn't be getting off this time, but close enough for her.  He wanted to know when.  She arched up as his fingers came down to help, making her tense up around him.  He groaned, kissing down her neck to suck on it.  Someone coughed outside their car so she kicked the door.   He chuckled and sped up, starting to make groaning noises.  She liked them.  She squeezed around him again, making him tense up and come.  He teased her a bit more until she went limp, having went past her threshold.  She gave him a gentle kiss and a smile so he quit.  "Damn, Ray.  You're better than I hoped," she whispered, kissing him again.  "Home?"

"Home," he promised, kissing her.  He was liking this dating thing.  He had missed this passion with someone.  She reached down to tease him, making him groan.  "Don't do that, it'll be a while."

"Fuck time, Ray. It'll be sooner than you think."  He pulled back to look at her and realized he was slightly hard again.  She smirked and shifted, making him sit up so she could do it that way this time.  It would be a longer ride.  Someone knocked.  "Unless you want shot, I'd leave," she called.  "I am a cop."  The person shuffled away and she grinned at him, squeezing as she slid down him again.

His eyes widened and he grabbed her hips, playing until he had something else to play with.  His hands came up and underneath her halter, moving it out of his way so he could have another target for his mouth and hands.  She moaned, rubbing herself on him as she posted.  He nipped her then went back to her lips, using his hands to tease her lower half again.  Someone else tapped on the window.  "Fuck off!" he called.  "We're cops."

"Sir.  Your cellphone is going off," the voice said.  It was put back through the little opening in window then they left again.

Catherine turned it off and tossed it into the back seat.  "Fuck Harding," she growled, diving in to kiss him again.  "If he gets in the way of my needs again, I'm gutting him."  He chuckled and pushed up harder, making her groan and grind down on him.  "Damn it, I need more, Ray."  He gave her a little swat and prompted her off, getting behind her.  She caught her breath as he slid into her again, helping him along this time while he played with her back.  She felt his mouth attach to her neck but she didn't care.  She had given him a hickey too.  She squealed, working harder, getting closer than she had in a long time.  She could feel the pressure building, making her incredibly happy. He groaned into her back. "Not yet," she pleaded.

His fingers came around to help, teasing a different spot as he continued to pound into her. "Not even close," he promised in her ear.  He heard her cry out and moved harder and faster, trying his best.  He wanted this for her this time.  She screamed and tensed up, driving him over the edge too.  Then she went limp, crying softly.  "Shh," he soothed, picking her up to hold her.  "What happened?"

"Good pain," she told him, kissing him again before putting her head on his shoulder.  He stroked her back.  "Thank you, Ray.  I haven't had one of those in forever."

"It hurts?"

"A little.  More like an overuse sort of pain," she admitted.  "It'll be fine."  She lifted her head, kissing him again.  "I'm fine.  I enjoyed it."  He smiled and kissed her again.  "Damn, you're good.  That guy was right, you're the man."

He laughed and hugged her.  "I'm happy to be the man.  It's probably better that I'm not a woman."  She kissed his neck so he let her go.  "How's the shoulder?"

"It's throbbing but I don't care," she told him happily, licking across his lips.  "More?"

"No, no more.  Not for a few hours," he told her, trying to get her calmed down. She pouted so he tried to tease her but she didn't get quite as far up this time. "There, better?" he asked when she was limp and sated.   She nodded, sliding sideways to cuddle with him.  He heard a pager go off and sighed.  "I'm thinking that's either your little brother or the boss."

"Both of them need laid like I got," she said sleepily.  He chuckled, making her smile up at him even though her eyes were closed. "They do.  It'd make them happier.  It did me.  I might not even need coffee in the morning."  The pager went off again.  "Fuck."  She sat up and sighed, leaning over the back of the seat to find his phone.  He swatted her, making her give him one back before she gave him his phone.  Then she righted her clothes and sat in his lap while he turned on his phone to listen to the voice mails first. Maybe it could wait.  She played with his chest, earning a swat to her hands.  She grinned at him, getting between him and the phone, kissing him hard.

Ray moaned into the phone.  "You yelled, sir?" he said once he could breathe again.  "Stop that," he said quietly, smirking at her.  He listened to the rant.  "Yes, sir, internationally wanted," he agreed, checking the time on his watch.  She moved down, sucking on his neck again.  "Catherine!" he groaned.  "No, sir, I wasn't calling you by her name.  Finding out she has incredibly talented lips in relation to my neck, sir."  The other side went silent so he hung up and put the phone on the dashboard, kissing her until she went limp again.  "Naughty," he chided, but he was laughing.  "What would Ma say?"

"Probably the same thing Stanley would and you did," she admitted with a grin.  "More?"

"Not yet, minx," he said.  "Later."  He kissed her then reached back for his shirt, looking at it.  "At least you only took it off me, you didn't rip it for real."  He had thought she had, but it had only stretched a seam or two.  He put it back on and tucked it back in, arching his hips up to redo his pants.  "We should probably go humor him.  He wanted us in."

"Ray, do you really want me to walk into the precinct wet and dripping for you?" she asked.  He shook his head, smirking at her.  "Or pantiless?"

"No, I don't."  The phone rang again.  "I don't think he's going to be understanding though."  His phone beeped to show he had a new voicemail.

She sighed.  "Fine, we'll go up there and make him have a heart attack."

He smiled and kissed her.  "Hopefully not.  It'd be harder to watch you go into the field if I had to take over tomorrow."  He checked his watch again.  "Today," he corrected.  He started the car and pulled out of his hiding spot, heading back into town from the factories.  By the time he got there, Stanley was back and so was Huey. "Is my watch wrong? It says it's only one in the morning," he said dryly.

"I was sending them out to find you!" Welsh said, coming out of the office.  He stopped when he saw them, groaning.  "I don't want to know."

"Then don't keep interrupting while I'm trying to jump him!" she said firmly, glaring at him.

"Fine, sorry.  Do the paperwork so Huey can go home and you can go change."

She let out a bitter laugh.  "With as many warrants as this guy has?  We might be here in the morning, Welsh."  He glared so she went to her desk with a sigh and went to start the paperwork.  "Have the Feds called yet?"

"No.  Make it worthy of them though.  I'm sure they will be.  And put on a damn jacket!"  He slammed his door to have a breakdown in peace.

She frowned, looking down at herself, then at Stanley. "Isn't my jacket in your car?"

"I think it's at the club.  We'll get it tomorrow," he told her, handing over his overshirt.  She took it with a grin, then went back to finding the paperwork she needed. "I guess we're not needed, Huey," he said, shaking him out of his shock before Vecchio growled at him again.  "Let's head home.  Catherine, cats?"

"Sure, go feed them and make sure Chocolate hasn't peed on the bed again. Thanks," she told him.

Ray held up the front door keys.  "For the bottom door.  Make a set for yourself and Benny, then bring them back."

"Sure thing, Ray.  I'll leave it unlocked tonight for you in case you get home."  He looked at her outfit, then shivered.  "You've got a ...." he said, but Vecchio was growling at him now he looked at him.  "She does.  So do you!"  He hurried out before Ray could grab him and make him sorry.

Huey grabbed his jacket, taking the long way around their desks so he wouldn't have to walk around Vecchio.  "Happy paperwork.  Good catch," he congratulated, heading out and back home.  He was glad it wasn't him.  They'd be here long past morning check-in.

"Hey, Welsh, do I fill out the specialist forms or not?" she called.

"Fill them both out, Demoranth.  Now!" he called back, opening the door.  "You too, Vecchio.  Now."  He groaned as he sat down at his desk to do that.  "Thank you.  And for the other one too, Demoranth."

"Sure thing, I can sit here without any underwear on and in my outfit from my bust earlier," she said dryly. "It's not like anyone's going to say anything."  She gave him a look.

He smirked at her.  "You should have thought about that before you went out without backup again."

"I had backup!  I had Bronski and Vecchio with me!  He came in without any guards.  For that matter, I had him coming up the stairs without him realizing more than I had some very nice cleavage."

"She did, sir," Vecchio agreed. "I got a bit jealous because he refused to pay attention to anything else and tried to kiss them."

"Gee, I wonder why," he said smartly, glaring at her.  "Aren't you too old for that?"

"I don't know, Ray, am I too old for that?"

"No, dear, but no more sex in the car."  He stretched up and his back popped, making him sigh.  "Oh, that's better."

Welsh whimpered and left, heading home.  He didn't want to know.  He really didn't want to know.

"Gee, I think I infected you with my naughtiness," she said smugly.  "Good job."  He grinned at her and looked at the form, groaning in complaint.  "Did you save it on another machine?"

"It saved to whatever default Stan has."

"That would be his machine," she said, pointing at it.  "What's his last name?"

"Penya."  He moved to that desk, feeling his age now.  He walked over to kiss her, making her smile at him again. "Better."  He trudged back to Stanley's desk.  "Take off his shirt," he requested.  "It looks bad with that skirt."  She did so, stretching a little until her back popped as well.  He hummed but forced himself to do the paperwork, no matter how many times he had to erase the word 'breast' from the report.

***

Benny was one of the first ones in the next morning, hopping up the stairs happily.  He was free for the whole day to help Stanley and Ray with their paperwork.  He found two people sipping coffee doing paperwork already.  He had to stop and stare for a moment.  She was wearing less than appropriate clothing, including a top so small her breasts were nearly coming out of the top of it.  Ray was wearing jeans and a t-shirt.  He cleared his throat.  "Are we roleplaying?" he asked.

Ray gave him a dirty look.  "No, Benny, we're not.  We're here doing paperwork after a bust last night."

"Morning, Benny," she said, waving a hand.  "What time is it? Would you please be a dear and make some good coffee?"

"Of course.  Would you like my shirt?  I have one in Stanley's locker," he offered.

She smiled at him.  "I'm fine.  Why?"  He blushed and stammered so she looked down.  "Oh, sorry.  They're messed up from some mild fooling around at four."  She adjusted herself, making him run for the safety of the break room.  Ray smirked at her, raising an eyebrow.  "Sorry, Benny, you can come back.  I'm more tastefully dressed again."

"I'll be right out," he called, running water.

Ray shook his head, typing more.  "This is easier.  The stack would be pages high."

"It is," she agreed dryly. "There's still too many forms.  I feel like putting in 'see form' and a number on the rest."  He chuckled.  "It'd work.  These are the only ones that haven't been linked."  She cut and pasted again.  "Did I teach you how to cut and paste?"  He shook his head so she stood up and leaned over his desk, teaching him how to do that.   She saw Benny come out and turn around to go back into the breakroom again.  She smoothed down the back of her skirt as she stood up.  "How's that?"

"Better," he admitted, smiling at her.  He pulled her closer, kissing her hard so she moaned.  That's when Huey walked in.  "Morning," he said.

Huey was blushing bright enough that you could see it even through his dark skin.  "Morning," he squeaked, heading into the breakroom.  "They still haven't changed?" he hissed.

"They've been like this all night?" Benny asked.  Huey nodded.  "Why?"

"They busted an internationally wanted drug lord," he hissed.  "In those outfits, then went to have cheap sex."

"It wasn't cheap," Ray said from the doorway.  "Coffee ready yet?"  Benny shook his head.  "Tell me when it is.  We're about to crash out here.  Add some real sugar to hers too, okay?  She needs it."  He went back to his desk, stopping to nip her on the neck, making her move her head out of the way.  "You are so naughty," he told her.  "If it wasn't eight, I'd be having you over the desk again."  She purred and stretched her non-aching arm up to pull him closer for a kiss.  "You behave and we'll take today off," he promised.

"No you won't," Huey told him as he came out with the pot and the requested sugar packets.  "We've got a great lead on our robbery."  He poured her coffee for her, then handed the pot to Ray.  "I will let her go get dressed since she's not wearing more than underwear."

"I'm wearing underwear?" she asked, adding the sugar.  Huey blushed and left again.  Ray chuckled.  "I am?"

"You're sleep deprived," Ray told her, smiling at her before pouring his own coffee.  He took her spare sugar packet.  "I've got court in an hour," he realized.  She chuckled and shook her head.  "Well, I guess I'm going in this.  We were told we had to finish the paperwork so we could hand him over at lunch to the Feds when they called."  She nodded, sipping at her hot coffee.  "Did he make it strong?"

"Weak," she told him.

Ray sipped.  "Perfect. You and Stanley need to appreciate real coffee."

"Stanley makes me coffee," she told him.  He shuddered. "Sorry, Ray."  He took the pot back into the break room, leaving it in there and coming back to kiss her again before going to do his last few forms.  "Why do I have more forms than you?  Is this another moment of sexism in the workforce?"

"It's because you went in as Vice," he taunted.  "And that second arrest."

"Oh, yeah."  She finished that one, filling it in and sending it to the printer. She saved down each file as she closed it, making her happy that she wouldn't have to redo it.  She found one last one that needed to be filled out and groaned.  "We didn't use our weapons. Why do I have to do a dangerous weapon report?"

He gave a pointed look at her chest.   "Gee I wonder," he said dryly, smirking at her.   She groaned and put her head down, shaking it.  "Just one more and it's a short one," he promised.  "It's not like they can refute which deadly weapon you used."

"I've only suffocated one person," she retorted, frowning at him.  "Meanie.  See if I surprise you with an attempted blowjob later."  He chuckled, shaking his head.  She opened that form and filled it out quickly, listing 'breasts' under the question asking which weapon had been used.  Then she sent it to the printer and saved it down before closing it.  "Done!" she said happily.

"Good.  I've still got one more," he complained, cutting and pasting.  It beat typing any day.  He watched as she walked over to get her forms out of the printer, groaning as she bent across Frannie's desk chair.  "Don't do that. I'll never make it to court."

She blew a kiss and answered the phone.  "27th Precinct.  Demoranth."  She listened. "Hold on.  Let me give you to Detective Huey."  She put him on hold.  "Huey, it's a snitch with a South American accent," she called, bending down to sign in the appropriate places.  Ray was watching her, she could feel it.  "Ray, court."

"Fuck," he groaned, going back to his paperwork.  He had to erase an entry and redo it but that was all right.  It was one he had to type in.  The next one was easily fixed as well and he was finished as well.  He sent them to the printer, making sure everything saved down.  He was going to be obsessive about that for a while.  Stanley walked in and gave him a look.  "Yours was on earlier," he admitted.  "I saved it on here."  He sent the last one and saved it down, then got up.  "Make sure I saved them all before you close them," he warned.  "I'm not doing this again."

Stanley looked at the window count and whimpered.  "Shit, I never want this."  He resaved each one before he closed it, finding two that hadn't been saved.  "Printing two more," he said.  "Just in case. You hadn't saved them."  He got all the way out of the system before he was done, not watching what he was doing until it beeped that he couldn't do something.  He looked at the screen. "When did we get an IM system?"

"We don't," Catherine told him.  "They're illegal on department resources, even if they would be damn handy.  Why?"

"I just got told to quit staring at you."

"I agree," Ray said dryly, signing his last form.  His sister came in, back from her mandatory time off for bad behavior. "Morning," he said, getting out of her way. "We need another printer."

"Why?  Now that we've got our own computers, we can do most of the searches she does.  She can make up for it by gathering and stapling for us," Stanley told him.  He smiled at Frannie.  "No offense, but it's handier than having to wait on you."  He shook his head, finding himself staring at the tight, stretchy blue skirt.  "Catherine, would you please put back on my shirt?"

"Sure, Stan, let me find the spot I missed. I know I missed something."  She found it and grinned, writing in that section.  Then she stapled them together and tossed them at Welsh's desk.  She grabbed Stanley's shirt and turned around to find her partner grabbing his jacket.  "Do I have time to change?"  He shook his head.  "Okay, but if I turn an ankle, I'm not working tomorrow outside my desk and I'm doing it in my jammies."  She followed him out, grabbing the long jacket she left for emergencies.  She did make a stop at her locker for a better tank top from her gym bag, putting it on over top of her halter.  "There, less trashy," she decided, walking out to meet Huey in the parking lot.  He gave her a look. "Better?"

"Not much," he said bitterly.  "What did you two do last night?"

"Dominick Penya.  Internationally wanted Cartel Lord."  She shrugged and slid in, keeping her knees together.  "Are you sure we don't have time for me to change quickly?" she asked as she felt the air conditioner turn on.  She moved it away from her lap.  He gave her a horrified look.  "What?  Filling out paperwork all night was not on my agenda!"

"The suspect's in the other direction and expected to leave within an hour," he said, shutting his door. "Don't you keep spare clothes in your locker?"

"I haven't gotten around to it with this one," she admitted.  "I've been here how many times?" she reminded him at his look.

"Good point.  You'll just have to put up with it until lunch."  He pulled out of the parking lot, heading for his suspect's location.  "You do have a gun, right?"

"Oh, yeah.  My backup's tucked in my waistband," she promised. She shifted, putting it into her jacket pocket.  "There, more safer."

"Thank you."  He mentally groaned.  Why did this happen to him?  He glanced up, mouthing that.  Then he heard her giggle so he glanced at her, noticing she had her palm pilot.  "What?  Cute message?"

"Yeah, Stan put something on it yesterday.  It's a new puzzle game and he put pictures in for me."  She continued while he drove, glancing up now and then.  She knew the neighborhood.  "Gee, I used to live around here about ten years ago.  Where are we heading?"

"Lexie's Bar."

"I know him.  He's a sweetie."  She finished her puzzle and giggled at the manipulated picture. It was mean.  Ray wasn't Dumbo.  She closed it out to save her battery, then put it back into her pocket.  Fortunately she had done a data dump late last night.  It would be fine.  As long as someone didn't do something dumb to her laptop.  "Do you think Frannie will do something to my laptop at work?"

"No.  She knows she's in for it.  Why?"

"I did a backup and moved some of the files onto it," she admitted. "Right before we left last night."  She grimaced. "I backed it up online but I'm not sure that's safe either."

"It'll be fine.  She can't reformat, you security passworded that, right?"

"Yeah, definitely," she agreed. "But I still worry.  My memory sucks sometimes."  She brushed her hair back again.  "I'm getting it cut today," she decided.

"I'm sure Ray will like that."  He turned into the right parking lot, looking around.

"Behind the shopping center," she instructed. "The wooden building."  He nodded, going that way carefully.  There were all sorts of potholes.  "Needing new shocks?"

"I've had this car for ten years," he told her.

"How?"

"Easy, I'm not a trouble magnet.  Try not to do that with me, okay?  I like this car."  He got out, heading inside with her right behind him.  The bartender gave him a look until she walked around him and took his arm.  "I take it I'm not the usual clientele?" he asked dryly.

"Hi, Lexie," she said, smirking at him.  "This is my partner, Huey.  We got a tip that someone we wanted was here."

"Who?"

Huey looked at his notes.  "Carl Roastachern?" he said, looking at him.

"Carl's about to go upstairs," he said, looking at her.  "Room two, sweetie."

"Oh, fuck you, Lexie.  I'm still a cop," she said, her eyes flashing.  He gave her a look.  "I can still rip off your adams apple too," she reminded him.  He backed away from her.  "Fine.  Is that only way out?  It's not like *I* went upstairs."

"Yeah.  There's a window but no fire escape."

"Fine. We'll be talking when I get back," she decided, walking up the stairs.

Huey looked at him.  "Did you just admit to running an illegal brothel?"  The bartender laughed so he pulled out his cuffs. "Turn around."

"Little man, I can break you.  And her."

Huey laughed. "She's Vecchio's girl now.  You gonna go after him too?"  That shut him up, Vecchio was well known.  "Should I call Kowalski to back her up too?"  He heard her scream so he cuffed the guy to the bar rail and ran up the stairs, finding her kicking the hell out of their perp.  "Hey!"  He lifted him up.  "I thought you had your gun and cuffs."

"I do," she said, pulling them out to cuff him.  Then she slapped him again.  "He just said he was gonna rape me and teach me a woman's place, underneath his heel."  She hauled him up and winced, taking a deep breath.  Huey gave her a look.  "I haven't had anything for it since last night."  She pulled out her phone, calling her old desk.  "Hey, it's Demoranth.  I just found an illegal brothel while searching for a robbery perp.  You want?  It's small, only three girls and a trannie owner-slash-pimp.  Yeah, Lexie's place. Thanks.  Yeah, I think he's cuffed.  Send a squad, okay?"  She hung up and glared at the perp, who was sneering at her.  "You want to see what a woman can do, shitbag?  I can show you what a woman can do.  It's not like I dressed like this for your pleasure."  He spit at her but she moved and grabbed his chin, squeezing hard and making him cry out.  "Do it again," she hissed.  "I am a leather bitch from way back.  I've broken bikers.  You're nothing on that scale, and a nothing in general."  He tried to move but she had one of her legs around his, stopping him unless he wanted to fall.  "Try it," she offered. He went still so she backed off.  "Now what do you think of this little woman?" she sneered.  "Happier now that you've ben subdued without me having to pull anything?"

"Check your pockets," Huey told her.  She patted herself down, frowning.  "It fell out in the car," he told her, walking him downstairs and out to the car so she could get her handheld again.  He gave her back a look, scared now.  "Did you get any sleep?"

"No."  She typed in something then stored it in the car, turning to look at him.  "Actually, I had a wonderful dinner with Ray's family, then we went to Tangent so I could show some of the new Vice kids around a safe club they were free to bust at anytime.  Then we got a tip about Penya so we went to bust him, hence the clothes.  Then Ray tossed a small jealousy fit so Stanley and I went to Lexington until Ray found us.  Then Ray and I had wonderful sex in his car until we had to come back and fill out paperwork."  His mouth was hanging open.  "So I'm a little short on blood sugar, very short on temper, and there's not enough Midol in the world for people like him on the best of days."

"Okay," Huey agreed, more to soothe her than anything.  The perp struggled so he handed him over.  "Here, I'll take credit for the collar, but you subdue him again."  He watched as she got him onto his knees and begging within moments by hitting some spots that always made him ache.  No bruises, no telling what she had done.  Nothing that would count against her.  "Did you learn that in the leather bars?"

"Yeah, actually I did," she said with a grin. The perp tried to move so she immobilized his head by tipping it back as far as it would go.  "Make me more mad at men in general, face the man of the family."  He gave Huey a look.  "No, sweetheart, he's my partner, not my man.  My man's Vecchio."  He got free and laid down on his stomach in the gravel.  "Good boy."  She looked over as the squad finally parked.  "Morning," she said bitterly.  "The working girls are in one room, locked in with a broken lock courtesy of my heel.  Lexie, the pimp, is locked to the bar.  This perp is going back to the 27th.  Wait for Vice."

"My car can't transport people," Huey protested.  He waved the young patrol officer over. "Make sure he's locked into the seat.  We haven't patted him down yet."

"I'm keeping myself from ripping things off his body," she told him.

"Ma'am," he said hesitantly.  "Who are you?"

"Fuck you, kid."  He looked hurt.  "I'm Detective First Class Demoranth.  I was on an undercover bust last night and got caught up in the paperwork.  Quit staring at my crotch."  He moved his eyes.  "Thank you," she snapped.  She pulled out her phone and called the precinct.  "May I take ten minutes to change, Welsh?  Because otherwise I'm gonna rip the dick off this perp for saying he was going to rape me and then hit a rookie patrol."  She smiled and handed the phone over.  "For you."

"Hello?" he asked, listening to the quiet voice of authority.  This man obviously knew her and he recognized her name.  "Yes, sir," he agreed, handing it back.  "Detective," he said, looking only at her face.  "He said the Feds came early and you're needed back there ASAP because they can't get the guy out of his cell."  He blinked a few times.  "I'm so sorry," he said quietly.  "I was a frat brother.  It was the numerous alcohol poisonings I had," he pleaded.  The voice on the phone had told him to apologize to keep her calm.

"In the future, learn that all women, even the ones who are real working girls, deserve respect, young man.  From grandmothers on down, women are equal entities to men and not only deserve your respect, but your attitude had better change before you find a long term relationship."

"Yes, ma'am," he agreed, nodding quickly.  "I've learned my lesson.  I will never be so dumb again."  He stepped back as the other people pulled up, looking at his sergeant. Then at her.  She gave him a subtle head shake and he sighed in relief, she wouldn't be reporting him.  "Sir," he reported.  "They need this suspect patted down and transported back while the rest of you raid this questionable establishment."

"Fine," the sergeant agreed, looking at her. "Detective Demoranth.  Cute outfit."

"Long bust and paperwork crash afterwards," she admitted.

"I've seen those in the past, detective.  Are you all right?  I've got the spare glucometer in my trunk."

"No, I'm pretty good.  My blood sugar's actually been low recently," she admitted.  "This is being up all night."  She shrugged. "Your officer and I just had a talk about how he respects all women, especially women whom he doesn't know the status of.  It was a refreshing change after Biggers and his crew."

"Good.  That's the sort of thing I like in a man," he agreed, smiling at his man for being that smart to suck up to her.  "Men who respect all women get promoted."  He smiled at her.  "It's good to find a good one under my command.  I'll make sure to watch him for further good behavior.  The department needs more like him."  He smiled at her and let the rookie take their perp and watched as he patted the guy down by the book.  "Very good, Billy," he praised.  "She's right, you're going to be a great cop and you'll go far in the department."  He smiled at Huey. "He's only just out of his rookie year," he admitted.

"He looks like he'll be a good cop," Huey admitted, knowing that sucking up was one of the most important qualities there was sometimes and obviously the Sergeant and the rookie had it in spades.  He smiled at the rookie.  "Take him back to the 27th and up to the squad room."  The rookie nodded and walked him over to his car, hitching him into the back.  He nodded at the Vice commander as she walked over.  "Morning."

"Hey, Bets."

"I thought you didn't care about Lexie."

"He insulted my ass.  I'm tired today."  She shrugged.  "I helped get an internationally wanted drug lord last night.  I'm happy enough."

"Have fun with that paperwork," she said with a smirk.

"Already done.  Hence the clothes."  She blew a kiss. "Have fun.  I broke the lock with my usual skill.  The girls are upstairs in the room over the sitting area.  Lexie was handcuffed to her bar."

"That was a her?"

"Oh, yeah, she's up for reassignment surgery," she shared.  "It's the hormones."  She got in and picked up her palm pilot, tapping her report into it.  "Let's go, Huey."

"Can you, um, push down your skirt?"  She wiggled and did so.  "Thanks."  He started the car and drove off, mentally wondering if today was going to be a good day or not.  After her pronouncement last night, it was doubtful.  "I'd stop at your house but the Feds probably won't wait."

"Nope, they won't. I'll have to run home later to let in the delivery guys anyway so I'll change then," she promised.  She suddenly shivered as a thought hit her.  "Ray needs to change too.  He's not exactly up to his usual standards."

"Maybe for lunch," he suggested.  She gave him a sideways smirk.  "How many more Vice cases do you have left?"

"I cleared one last night.  The others are pickups.  I can do them this afternoon."  He nodded, speeding up as they hit the main road.  "I haven't been able to keep a car for more than a year and a half.  You've really had this one for ten?"

He nodded.  "I like this one.  Lots of people manage it."

"Weird."  She shrugged and shook her head, going back to her report.  Once it was done, she saved it.  "What was his last name?"

"Carl Roastachern."  She tapped in something, then put it back into her pocket.  "How old is that thing?"

"Four years," she sighed.  "It's time for me to upgrade but I love it."  She patted her pocket.  "Don't tell Ray but I bought a new one for a backup and transferred everything onto it the last day I was out on leave.  It's my backup of my backup."  He nodded.  "I'm too damn careful for my own good but it's necessary with my memory."  She winced and grabbed the dash as they stopped suddenly.  "Huey?" she asked.

"What is that?" he asked, pointing on his side of the car.

"A holdup in progress," she sighed.  She picked up the radio.  "Dispatch, this is Demoranth.  We're at...."  She looked up at the building's sign. "Outside Hooey's Liquor and Stuff on East 6th.  There's a holdup in progress.  Send backup.  These guys are wearing armor.  Detective Huey and I are going in."  She put it down as he parked and checked her ammo. "I've only got the one clip on me."

"Me too," he said grimly.  "I almost never have to pull."  He glanced at her as they got out.  "Your shoulder?"

"Aches like fuck already.  Also, I'm not the shot Stanley is.  I make qualifications."

"That's fine," he agreed, tossing over the portable radio.  "Keep it, just in case."  He glanced at her.  She wasn't wearing her vest.  Neither was he.  Fuck.  He crept closer.  "Freeze!  Police!" he ordered, pointing from behind a parked car.  She was on his left.  The thieves turned and fired at them, so they returned fire, hoping for poor body armor.  She got one in the neck.  He got two center mass but they only grunted in pain and took off running.

"Go," she ordered.  "You're faster. There three inside that I can see."  He took off running and she called it in.  "Dispatch, this is Demoranth.  Huey is on foot chase of three perps.  We're short on ammo.  Backup?"

"ETA four minutes," she said.  "How many more?"

"One down, two of his are injured.  They're wearing armor.  Two or three inside the store.  I can't be sure."  She put it back into her pocket and shifted a little.  "You, out of the store!" she yelled.  "Now!  Failure to comply will mean that SWAT comes!"

Someone drove past her and honked.  "Hey, baby!  What a big gun for such a little thing."  When she didn't answer they drove back by.  "Whatcha doin' with the piece?" he sneered.

"I'm a fucking cop, asshole.  Leave.  Now.  This is an active holdup."  She glared back at him then ducked when gunshots were sent her way.  "Fuck this shit."  She checked them.  They had killed the irritating thing. She pulled out her radio but it was fritzing already.  "Bad batteries.  Have to fix that if we both survive."  She walked around the end of the car, glancing inside.  They weren't paying any attention.  The downed guy's gun was nearly in reach.  He surely had more ammo.  So what if her shoulder was killing her, it'd be better than being dead.  She snuck around and grabbed it, resting against the side of the building as someone came out.  She used her last bullet in her backup to hit him in the head.  He was inches away, not even she could miss.  "Yo, a little of Stanley's luck, okay?" she hissed.  "Please, Goddess?  If not, last night was one hell of a going away party."  She stuck her gun back into her pocket and checked the rifle.  "Five shots.  Okay."  She glanced into the window then pulled back quickly before the bullets came again. She took a deep breath.

"Lets not let Ray kill me for this, okay?  A clean death or no more injuries."  She ducked under the window, going to the door.  It opened and someone came out.  She took him out by sweeping his feet with the rifle, making him fall.  Then she put one into his leg and took his rifle, tossing it out of the way under the car she had been hiding behind.  Then she walked inside.  "Freeze, police!" she ordered. She heard someone else chucking and realized then she had miscalculated.  She stiffened, waiting for him to move closer, they always moved closer.  He actually walked around her, holding his gun on her.  She glared at him.  "I'm not gonna die today.  I've got way too much to live for."  He pulled back the hammer.  She fired from the hip, taking out his leg with a graze, then she ducked out of the way of the other guy, mentally counting.  She fired one and it went wide.  She fired a second and hit him in the body armor.  She ducked up and had to move again, switching aisles.  He was trying to circle around her.  She hit him again, still in the body armor.  This one had leg coverings.  She winced, then stood up and fired at his head, missing him completely.  So she threw the rifle at him and hit him, making him duck.  The next thing to hand was a box of tampons so she threw that and headed for the liquor section.  It had bigger things to throw with convenient necks to grab.  She got him with a fifth of vodka and he backed away.  She pulled her empty backup.  "Freeze!" she ordered.  "Now!  I've got your ass pinned. On the fucking ground now!"

"You don't want to do this, lady."

"Fuck you, asshole, my proper title is Detective First Class."  He gave her a look.  "Yes, even in this outfit.  Down, now!"

"My boss will kill you for this."

"Bigger and badder have tried.  I'm not worried about some pansy-assed, snot-nosed crook.  Down!  Now!"  He got to his knees and she walked around him, using the belt of her jacket to tie him up.  She was good with knots and ropes.  She pulled him up and patted him down, taking his weapons for her own use.  Hers went back into her pocket.  His went onto the floor except for the one she confiscated to use on him.  "Out," she said, making him walk in front of her.  "Do not fuck with me after the night I've had."  Patrol cars were screaming up.  "Detective Huey's on foot chase," she ordered, pointing in that direction.  A few patrol officers took off.  She glared at one.  "Not going to help?"

"You're not a detective."

She pulled her badge and showed it to him.  "Get it now?" she asked dryly.  He took off after them.  "Thank you!  Someone give me some fucking cuffs and call an ambulance."  One of the officers came over to take the perp from her and get everyone else.  She leaned against the car as another detective came to take over the scene.  She had been involved, she couldn't handle anything.  "I put his weapons on the floor except this one," she said, handing it over to Welsh when he got out of the car.  "I took one of their rifles, it'll be next to the ice machine.  I tossed the one under this car under there.  Huey's on foot after a few, most of whom are wounded from shots to the vest."  He gaped at her.  "We only had one clip, Lieutenant!"

"Fine.  Stay there."  He walked aside, letting the ambulance crew take that guy in there.  "You called in two or three?" he asked.

"There were four, I didn't see one," she said.  "He's the one they just removed.  The guy gotten in the leg came out and so did the guy with the bullet in his head.  The walking one and the injured one were also inside.  The one with the wound in the neck was already downed, he came out initially."  She pulled her backup.  "This is mine, I'm surrendering it for ballistics," she said, putting it into a bag from the car behind her.  She handed it to him then leaned against the car.  "I ache, sir.  Do the Feds still need my help?"  He nodded, blinking at her.  "Permission to do that since you're here?  Huey!" she said, walking over to hug him.  "You okay?"  He nodded, giving her a tired look.  "Dead?"

"Two," he admitted, handing over his gun butt first.  "One got away, Lieutenant."

"Go sit in my car," he ordered gently.  "We'll do a walk through soon."  They both groaned.  "Proper procedure....." he started, then he noticed how pale they both were.  "Go sit.  Now."  They went to sit in his car, letting him handle it. "I am going to staplegun their vests to their bodies," he said as he went inside to hand over the weapons.  "The silver one out of the bag is the perp's.  The one in the bag is Demoranth's weapon.  The other is Huey's," he told the lead CSU person.  "Demoranth said she used then tossed the rifle beside the ice machine and the one under the car was just tossed.  She said there's a pile of weapons around here from the walking one."  The CSU nodded, writing that down.  "Do you need them?  She looks like she's bleeding from the shoulder and inappropriately dressed due to a late night bust."

The CSU looked at him.  "Demoranth has a bad memory.  Will she be able to recreate in three hours?"

"I don't know," he admitted.  "She's still bleeding from her recent shoulder shot."

"Fine.  We'll do it in a few minutes."  He stood up, walking him around the store pointing out things.  "We're not sure about this," he said, pointing at the tampon box.

Demoranth cleared her throat.  "I was out of ammo, I tossed it then headed for the liquor section to throw bottles at him."  She stepped back there, giving him a tired look. "Can we please hurry this up?  I've been up all night.  I'm tired of people staring at my ass."

"Who shot the civilians?" the CSU asked her.

"One of the suspects," she told him. "Huey had just taken off after three who went running.  They drove by to harass me.  Then they came back when I didn't answer.  I told them I was a detective and told them to leave.  They didn't in time."  The CSU nodded, writing that down as well.  "Let's do the walk through," she suggested.

"Fine.  I know you're in a lot of pain."

"Lot of pain doesn't cover this, Investigator Bethes.  Lot of pain is my ankles and feet from the shoes.  My shoulder is in screaming agony from having to haul up someone last night, having to haul up someone today and then having to fire with a two-week-old gunshot wound."  He winced.  "Do we get me here?  I'm at the end of my rope and my desk has my demerol.  Can we *please* do damn the walk through now?"

"Of course.  Why were you this way?"

"We arrested a robbery suspect," she admitted, walking out to the car.  "Huey spotted them from the street," she said, pointing.  "I called it in as he parked.  We both noted we only had one clip of ammo.  We came over to shelter behind the car."  She walked that way, limping a little.  Those shoes were not comfortable.  "He ordered them to freeze.  They shot at us.  The guy with the neck injury came out with the three who took off.  I think I hit him," she admitted.  "Huey got two in the vests."  He nodded, letting his notetaking go while his tape recorder got it.  "Then I told him to go since he's more fit and I've got on heels."

"Why are you dressed like that?"

"Detectives Vecchio and Bronski went with me last night when we went to bust Dominick Penya, internationally wanted drug lord.  We brought him back, left, got called back to do the paperwork.  I've been up all night and haven't gotten the chance to change."

"No clothes in your locker?"

"I only switched precincts three weeks ago.  I've been in the actual building maybe seven times.  I'm doing that today."  The CSU gave her a look for her snide tone.  She gave him a glare.  "Then, after he left me here, I again identified and yelled 'freeze' after calling in an update to dispatch.  I did a quick mental bullet count and noticed the gun I later tossed was close enough to grab.  I inched around the front of the car," she said, walking that way.  "I grabbed the neck-injury's gun, then hit the side of the building."  She walked over there, shuddering at the cool breeze.  "I checked, got shot at.  The head injury came out and I got him with the last round in my weapon.  By the way that's my usual backup not my usual service weapon.  It fits better when I want to hide it."  The CSU nodded, making a note of that on his form.  "When the head injury came out and I got him, the one with the leg injury came out.  I tripped him with the rifle, then incapacitated him when he was down."  She yawned.  "Sorry.  I've been up since this time yesterday if not earlier."

She walked inside.  "I walked in, expecting there to be one last one.  I had five shots in the rifle, now four after hitting him in the leg.  The last injured person came out of wherever I hadn't seen him, walking around me until he was standing in front of me.  I let my baser instincts take over and I yanked his chain verbally, then I got him.  Again, a leg injury I think."  The CSU nodded.  "The last guy and I faced off for a second then I ducked into an aisle, where I tried to hit him unsuccessfully.  When that didn't work, I went back to women's fighting and started to throw stuff, starting with the tampon box as a distraction as I made my way to the liquor section.  The first thing that hit him out of that was the vodka fifth and he tried to back away.  I pulled my empty gun and followed, ordering him to drop his.  The bluff worked.  I got him tied up with my jacket tie, and then patted him down, dumping his shit onto the floor and walking him out, where I then took shit from the idiots on patrol who don't know to follow orders, even if I'm not openly carrying my badge."

"That is protocol, Detective," the CSU noted.

"Protocol left us waiting a shitload of time for backup and my partner on foot for over ten minutes by himself with two injured suspects and a third healthy one while low on ammo. Protocol kept me here since there were more inside and also low on ammo.  I don't give a damn if I'm naked, you don't do that to other cops."  She looked at Welsh.  "I'm going back to the precinct now," she said calmly.  "And I'm going to take out my aggression and anger on one of the Feds.  Then I'm going to go home, change clothes, and take some pain medicine.  Unless it's a God-fucking emergency, you're not getting me out of the station again today."  She walked off, waving at Huey.  "Your turn.  You can drive him back."  She got in and used the keys she knew Welsh kept under his seat.  He always had.  She drove herself back and headed inside, flipping off the desk sergeant when he opened his mouth. "Just in a shootout, I know about the Feds," she said as she walked.  "I'm heading to lockup now.  If it's something else, give me ten, I'll be walking back out then."

"Yes, Detective.  It's from Homicide.  I'll hold it for you."

"Thank you."  She walked into the lock up and took the keys from the guard.  "Which one?"

"The next to last on this side," he said, sniffing at her.  "Gunpowder?"

"Shootout at a holdup.  Low on ammo.  Had to use a perp's gun.  I just did a round with CSU Bethes."  He winced.  "Yeah, so I'm in a *good* mood."  She opened the door, pointing at her suspect.  "You, up!" she ordered coldly.  He gave her a sneer.  "If you knew the day I've had you wouldn't do that.  I'm already running short on patience."  He didn't move, he stretched in fact.  "Fine.  Have it your way."  She walked in.  He grabbed her by the sore arm, making her scream in pain, but she grabbed him by the balls and squeezed.  "Now," she said through grinding teeth.  "Out of the fucking cell before I twist and rip them the fuck off and feed them to you raw."  She backed out, taking him with her.  The Feds stepped forward so she let him go.  "Keep him in a fucking cell forever or I'm going to get him again," she warned, leaning against the opposite cell.

"Detective," the guard said. "Are you all right?"

"No," she squeaked, moving her shoulder.  "He grabbed my wound."

"Let me get someone to look at it," he said calmly, closing the door again.  The other prisoner hadn't moved.  She shook her head.

"What wound?" one of the Feds asked.  She took her jacket off one arm and shook it off the other, making them all flinch.  "That's bleeding," he noted.

"It has been since I shot at someone," she said, glaring at him.  "Take him, put his ass in a cell, and keep him there.  Now.  Your paperwork is done."

"I had a question," one of them said, then walked around the suspect.  He winced.  "Never mind, now I know why you called your breasts a deadly weapon."

"You guys said you wanted that form, I filled it out," she hissed.  "Out!"  They took their suspect and left.  She slumped and the guard caught her.  "Upstairs," she told him. "Please."

"Of course, Detective.  Can't I please get you a paramedic?"

"No, it'll only make Ray worry."  They walked her past the front desk, one of them grabbing the envelope for her.  "Thank you," she said once she was in her chair.  She was the only one in the room except Frannie.  "Frannie, can you please get me some water?" she asked once the guards were gone.  Frannie gave her a cold look.  "Fine, I can sit here and bleed, but if I'm I pain for much longer I'm going to become homicidal.  All I want is a little water so I can take my pain pill. And then I can go home."  She noticed her vision was tunneling and forced herself to stay calm.  She would be fine.  She would not pass out in front of the irritating person who didn't like her.  Frannie went to get her a bit of water, then handed it to her with another cold look.  "Thank you," she said quietly.  She opened her desk drawer once her cup was down, pulling out the pill bottle.  She looked at it, then sighed and put it upside down on the desk to do the push part of the instructions.  She braced the cap against her monitor's base and turned it popping it open.  She turned it onto its side and picked up one, taking it quickly.  Then she sat there, panting in pain.  Her vision started to go again but she kept herself awake.  At least until someone else got there.  She heard running up the stairs and sighed, letting herself go.

Frannie looked over as she heard a thump, then sneered.  "Bitch.  Teach you to steal my brother."  She picked up the phone to call the front desk.  "We have an unconscious prostitute up here," she told him.  "Yeah.  I think she's drugged.  It looks like she took one of Detective Demoranth's pain pills."  She hung up and went back to her surfing.  It took nearly ten minutes for the paramedics to get there and she waved a hand.  "Her."

"Detective," one of them said, kneeling beside her head.  "Detective?"  She made a small noise.  "It's all right, Detective.  I'm a paramedic and I'm going to take good care of you.  Just relax and let it go again."  She made another noise. "Check her pulse and prepare a finger stick," he told his partner.  "She's diabetic and has drug allergies."  He stood up, scooping up the pills to put them back into the bottle.  He heard footsteps and looked at the familiar figure.  "Constable," he said in greeting.  "She passed out."

"That's probably what the guards downstairs were saying," he said, kneeling beside her head.  "Catherine, can you hear me?"  She didn't answer.  "Detective."  She made a small noise.  "Catherine, it's Constable Frasier.  Benny.  Please, wake up."

"Don't," the paramedic told her.  "Talking to her is fine.  Do her blood sugar whenever you've got it set," he ordered, writing down the drugs on the form.  "How many did she take?"

"Like I was watching?" Frannie snorted.

Benny glared at her.  "You will stay there until someone in authority comes back," he ordered. "Preferably from upstairs."  He got up and headed up the stairs.  He gave the civilian aide for SWAT a worried look.  "Is no one in?  We've had a small incident downstairs and no one else is in."

She shook her head. "No, but I can get one of the sergeants from downstairs to come help," she offered.  He nodded, going back to deal with this for Ray.  She was being loaded onto a stretcher. "Is she all right?"

"Not really, Constable," the paramedic in charge noted.  "Her blood sugar's a little high but not critically.  She's still unconscious and I'm not so sure she didn't just wear herself out in a gunfight."

"She and Huey were in a shootout," a familiar female said as she walked in.

"Elaine," Benny said in relief.  "Please keep Francesca here until someone else gets back.  I need to make a report but I need to go with her more."

"Sure," she agreed, sitting down at her former desk.  She patted the scarred surface that hadn't been nearly that bad when she had been the civilian aide instead of a patrol officer.  "What happened?"

"Francesca reported her as a pill-stealing prostitute," Benny told her, walking behind the stretcher.  "I'll call from the hospital.  Ray is in court, I'm not sure where anyone else is."  She nodded, so he hurried after her.

Elaine Bresbiss looked at Frannie Vecchio and shook her head.  "Your brother's going to kill you if Kowalski doesn't."  She sneered and flounced off.  "No, Frannie, he said keep you here," she said, pulling her cuffs and putting her into a chair, handcuffing her to it.  "That means keep you here."  She picked up the phone, calling Welsh's cellphone.  "Sir, I'm the only officer here.  I've detained your civilian aide for calling in a false report.  No, sir, Constable Fraser went with the ambulance and your female detective to the hospital. I'm sure, sir.  Thank you, Lieutenant.  I'll stay until you're back."  She hung up and looked at Frannie.  "You are in such deep shit.  We all heard about what you did before."  She got comfortable, then remembered to call downstairs.  "Sergeant Grimes, this is Bresbiss.  I'm upstairs in the detective's squad room holding down the fort since they're all gone and their civilian aid is presently being held.  No, Lieutenant Welsh knows but he's in the field over that shootout, sir.  He asked me to stay until he got back."

She smiled.  "Of course, sir.  No, he went with the ambulance."  She winced at the yelling.  "I'm sure she's fine, sir.  She managed to open her pill bottle by herself."  She listened to the careful instructions then hung up and called the Chief of Detectives once she found his number.  "Sir, this is Patrolman Bresbiss.  Sergeant Grimes told me to call you and tell you that all the detectives for the 27th are in the field or injured.  Yes, sir, injured.  Yes, sir, her.  She was just taken out of here."  She considered it.  "She was unconscious.  She was in a shootout earlier, sir.  Yes, sir, with Detective Huey from what I overheard on the radio."  She nodded, making notes.  "That's fine, sir.  I believe he's in the field.  I can try to transfer you if you want."  She smiled.  "Thank you, sir.  No, sir, I was instructed to stay here until the Lieutenant got back personally. Yes, sir, of course, sir.  Thank you, sir."  She hung up.  "Hey, a long lunch," she said happily

***

Ray frowned as his cellphone went off.  "May I?" he asked the judge, pointing.  "I am on- call."  The judge nodded so Ray answered it, listening to the people.  "Why are you calling me?"  He winced when he heard the answer that his girlfriend wasn't answering her phone.  "No, that's fine.  Are you already there?"  He listened.  "Okay, try the front door."  He listened while they did that.  "Great.  Go ahead and put it inside, then lock the door again.  Yes, that's fine.  We're the only ones there. Thank you."  He hung up and called the precinct.  "Where's she?"  He listened to Elaine's concise report.  "Thank you.  No, you stay there.  Benny's got a phone now.  Thanks, Elaine."  He hung up and cleared his head of the violent thoughts he was having.  "Sorry, one of our detectives passed out in the middle of the squadroom after a shootout earlier," he said.  The judge gave him a look and Ray remembered this was her ex.  "I'm needed back as soon as possible."  He looked at the lawyers.  "Hurry up," he said as he sat down.

"Detective, to make this brief, how did you come to believe that my client was the source of that smell that turned out to be gas?" the defense attorney asked.

"She had it on her when we walked past her.  My unofficial partner, Constable Frasier, smelled it on her and had me stop her to question her."

"I see.  And did you find anything damming on her at the time?"

"A pin that later turned out to be a gas canister pin, as identified by expert testimony.  I brought her in under suspicion until we could get her cleared through the system and see if she had also been infected with it.  Since the doctors who treated the others said that the gas was something that could make you do odd and dangerous things we thought it safer in the long run if she was simply infected."

"Is that legal?" he asked.

"It is.  She wasn't under arrest, just under suspicion.  She didn't try to leave."

"Wasn't my client too high to know anything at that point?"

Ray shrugged.  "How would I know?  Did she looked stoned?  Yes.  Did she act stoned? Yes, but that's typical from what the doctor told us.  We had reasonable cause to pull her from the general population for her own good in case she was infected.   After finding that pin and having Benny tell me it looked like it could have come from a gas canister or grenade we had reasonable cause to suspect her.  We did verify it with an expert in military hardware, the Colonel who testified directly before me."

"I believe you mean two before you," the attorney said dryly.  "Are you high, detective?"

"Tired.  I've been up all night filling out forms for the Feds."

"Anything similar?"

"Internationally wanted felon in drugs."

"Oh."  His face fell.  "Fine. I reserve the right to call him back at a later date so he can attend this emergency."

"Detective, one question," Stella asked.  "I noticed you were not your usual self.  Why?"

"Doing that bust last night and the paperwork all night," he said dryly.  "Let's see you pull an all day, an all night, and then start on a second day, DA Kowalski."  He looked at the judge, who nodded and waved him away.  He grabbed his jacket and phone, heading back to the precinct.  He found Elaine still there, eating her lunch like nothing unusual was happening.  He noticed his sister handcuffed to a chair and glared at her.  "What did she do?" he asked.

"Called the detective in as a drug stealing, unconscious prostitute."  She ate another bite of her sandwich.  "The paramedic recognized her.  All I know is that the guards downstairs said she came in dragging butt, then she had to get one of the people out of the cell to give him to the Feds because he wouldn't budge and they didn't want to resort to a strike offensive in front of the Feds.  She came up here and she was bleeding from the shoulder and no one said she came in like that."

Ray groaned and headed down there, taking her coat from the desk sergeant.  He patted it down.  "Her palm pilot?"

"Not in there, detective.  We found a broken radio from the shootout earlier," he admitted, holding up the bag.  "Nothing else."

"Okay.  She's got a silver palm pilot, a good one, that she's always carrying."  He headed down to lockup.  "Her palm pilot was in her pocket," he told the supervisor who came jogging over as soon as he saw him.

The supervisor turned and looked at his people.  "There's a missing palm pilot.  We're not sure if it's here."  They nodded, going to check the cells that she had been near.  They came back shaking their heads.  "Sorry, detective.  We're also sorry the little punk grabbed her shoulder and made her bleed.  She looked like she had a rough morning."

"She did, and then my sister added to it," he admitted bitterly.  "If you find it, it'll have her case notes in it.  Send it upstairs."  They nodded.  "Thanks, guys."  He headed back upstairs, finding Welsh with a familiar device.  "Thank you."  He checked it.  "Is it dead?"

"The battery was beeping at her," Huey admitted tiredly.  "Where is she?"

"Hospital.  She passed out and Frannie made a false report."

"I heard," Welsh said.  "Her charger's in her desk. Plug it in for her, then go change and shave.  Bring her some real clothes too."  Ray nodded, yawning.  "Bresbiss, drive him," he ordered.  "Then come back here to make a report."

"The guard supervisor said one of the prisoners caught her shoulder," Ray told him.

"Thank you, detective.  Go change and go to the hospital."  He nodded, leading Elaine out to his car.  Welsh looked at Huey.  "Bethes is an asshole.  Deal with it when it happens," he warned.  "You're clear as far as I'm concerned."

"Thanks, Lieutenant," Huey said tiredly.  "She's fucking amazing.  The perp this morning was subdued by her without having to use her weapon."

"I saw him.  I had him sent down to holding for you."  Huey gave him a tired look.  "Get some coffee and some food before dealing with him."  Huey nodded.  "Eat real food, not a salad, you'll need it."  He went into his office to call his boss.  "I'm back.  Bresbiss will be back soon.  Vecchio said a prisoner downstairs opened her shoulder.  No, probably the drug lord they brought in last night.  Yeah, him," he said tiredly.  "The shootout is in the clear.  They went by the book.  Bethes is in the lead if you needed to check with him."  He smiled.  "Thank you, Chief.  Yeah, we'll be fine.  Kowalski is coming in soon too.  He had his perp but a busted engine.  He was waiting for a ride from a patrol.  Thank you, sir.  Sure, I'll tell her when she comes back in a week."

He smiled. "Oh, yes, she will.  I sent Vecchio to bully her."  He laughed.  "You should have seen the outfit she came in, and she said they were tight now."  He smiled.  "Yeah, he's good for her and she wears out his ill humor."  He laughed again.  "If you say so.  No, he was in court.  I sent Bresbiss to take him home, then he'll bring her back before going to the hospital.  Sure.  I'll forward Vecchio's arrest report up to you as well.  Which one?  Yeah, they both did.  That's why Vecchio went to court wearing jeans and a t-shirt and she was dressed like a rent girl."  He snickered.  "No, she can still pull it off, sir.  There were a great many beat cops who learned exactly who she was this morning.  Bethes got onto her about it too.  She snapped his head off.  No, verbally.  Though, if we did fire him it'd save us a lot of money," he offered.  He laughed. "Sure.  Anytime.  No, Vecchio's accepted his spot and he can order her around.  He's jealous but he can do it.  Thank you, sir.  Have a nice lunch."  He hung up.  "Bring Vecchio in here," he called when Stanley walked in with his sweaty and grimy suspect.  "What did you do to him?"

"I made him push the car," Stanley said, leaning in the door.  "Catherine?"

"Fine.  The Chief of Detectives called over.  She passed out from pain.  Between the shootout and the guy downstairs, she was in a great deal of pain.  She got a pain pill into her from what Frannie said when she made the false report."  Stanley's face went perfectly calm.  "Do not hurt her," he warned quietly.  "Just bring her into Interrogation Three and have her wait in there without you being in the room."

"Fine," Stanley agreed, heading to take her in there.  Chair and all, making her drag it.  He pushed her into the room and locked the door, putting up the occupied sign.  Then he went to call Benny's cellphone.  "It's me.  How is she?"  He slumped in relief.  "Good.  Thanks.  No, Ray's on his way.  Keep her there, he's got real clothes."  He smiled.  "Good.  Tell her I'll come borrow some books later.  Stay with her or she'll leave."  He hung up, looking back at the office.  "She's awake.  She's fine.  She's complainin'."  Welsh snorted and shook his head.  "The nurse thought her outfit was cute."  Welsh burst out laughing.  "She hit on her."

Welsh got up and closed his door, shaking his head.  He'd let Vecchio deal with that.

***

Ray walked into the observation ward and everyone pointed at the room.  He laughed.  "She being a problem?"

"No, not at all," one nurse said sarcastically, giving him a look.  "Who are Blair and Oz?"

"Two of her cats," he said, heading that way.  He knocked then walked in, handing over the pajamas.  Decent ones without anything on them.  "Get changed and we can go home," he promised.  She got up and hugged him as hard as she could with one arm taped to her chest. "Doesn't that hurt?"

"Hell yes, I'm taking it off once I get home, even if it does pull every damn little hair out of my armpit."  She headed into the bathroom to change, coming out with it mostly on.  "Can we go?  Shoes?"  He held up the fluffy slippers.  "Bless you, Ray.  I take it I'm not going back to work today?"

"Not until your doctor okays it," he told her, watching as she put it on.  Benny went to get a wheelchair and he gave her a gentle kiss.  "You okay otherwise?"

"I got a short nap," she said.  He gave her a look. "I'll be fine with more sleep.  I'm sure the cats are going insane right now."  He nodded.  "The bed?"

"Is a mess, but the couch is already made up and waiting on you.  Your palm pilot is charging so we can see whether or not it works."  She grimaced.  "It fell out in Welsh's car. Frannie's under arrest and Ma said she had to stay there."  He helped her into the chair, taking the medicine and forms from the nurse.  "Your pendant?"

"It's in the bag," Benny told him.  "It got in the way of the x-ray so they put it in with her things."  He held up the bag.  "Fortunately they were able to take it off her without any cutting.  She was partially conscious by then and complaining about her poor wardrobe being ruined."

"I'd do the same thing," Ray quipped, following the wheelchair out.  He yawned.  Benny gave him a look. "I'm fine to get us home but you can heft the new filing cabinets when we get there if you want to."  He opened the door, letting Benny in the back first to steady her, then helped her inside.  "We'll drive through somewhere for lunch," he promised.  He looked at the nurse.  "How was her blood sugar?"

"A little high when she came in but it's back to normal now," she told him.  "Get her a salad or something healthy.  She refused to eat what was for lunch today."

"Food allergies," she said tiredly.  "I'm lettuce phobic too."  She gave her a tired smile.  "I hope I never have to come back here."

The nurse laughed.  "We do too, detective. Have a nice nap."  She nodded, closing her eyes.  "We gave her a mild sedative about a half hour ago.  Get her whatever you want her to have," she told him, giving him a gentle swat to the arm.  "Make her see sense too.  She needs to slow down.  A woman her age should not be wearing clothes like that to a scene.  Of course that man told her he was going to hurt her.  The retaliation didn't help her any either."  She went back inside, taking the wheelchair to the observation ward.  "She's gone," she said happily.  "Now she's got two stubborn people with her."  They all cheered before going to do a patient check.  Two stubborn men about equaled a stubborn woman.

***

Ray opened the door, letting his mother and Stanley in.  "Hey, Ma, Stan," he said, kissing her cheek and letting Stanley fall down to caress the books.  "Since you're here, you can arrange those for her.  She's still asleep."  He looked down at the meowing cat.  "No!"  He closed the door, then went to check the hall, coming back with the missing cat.  "You live in here," he said, looking in her eyes.  "Figure that out, Nessa, before your mommy has to yell at you again."  He put her down and petted Oz to make sure she stayed inside too.  He closed the door again and heard a pitiful noise.  He opened it and Xander trotted back inside. "Feel better now?" he asked sarcastically.   He counted noses, then closed the door again, opening it for Benny when he knocked.  "You too?"

"Me as well," he agreed, handing over the bags. "The pharmacy and the store."  He went to help in the kitchen.  "The new bookshelves are still in the trunk of your car.  You told me to remind you."

"Thanks.  Those and the filing cabinets have to come upstairs," he agreed, going to put things away.  He walked out there, weathering the pitiful swats from his girlfriend when he tried to wake her up.  He kissed her and she pulled him closer, kissing him harder.  "Morning.  Ma's here."

"Hi, Ma," she called tiredly.  She kissed Ray again.  "My house, my rules."

He laughed.  "If you'll get up, I'll give you a pain killer," he promised.  She opened her eyes. "I know, it's the sedative they gave you.  It'll wear out soon."  She nodded, forcing herself to sit up.  He handed over the pill and the diet soda.  She took them then gave him another kiss.  "Feel better?"

"Much," she admitted.  "Thank you, Ray."  She smiled at him.  "I am saying that a lot."

"Yes, you are, but I like hearing it."  He tweaked her nose.  "Lay there and let the cats pamper you."  He went to get the boxes of new bookcases out of the back of the car, bringing them upstairs one at a time.  Then he tapped Stanley, making him help him get the other things.  Stanley put things where they were out of the way, letting her hook up her own printer later.  The cases of paper and folders were put on top of the filing cabinets for now.  Then the three of them sat down to figure out the shelves.

"Two matching bottom and top," she told him.  "Shelves are thinner.  The kick plate in the front is necessary even though it's ugly and the cardboard on the back stabilizes," she instructed.  They nodded and did as she said, only getting one shelf upside down at first.

"The ugly side goes in the back," Ray said, slapping Stanley across the back of the head.

"Sorry, Ray.  Geez, be more thankful!  You're not Mr.  Construction either."

"Yeah, but I know that the ugly side goes where it's hidden."  Stanley groaned and fixed it, then looked at Benny.  "You got comments?"

"They're surprisingly sturdy for having cardboard to stabilize them," he said.

"Real wood bookcases can wait until I never have to move again," she told him. She got up to go to the bathroom, coming out ten minutes later with the tape gone.  "I feel better now," she admitted, going to help in the kitchen once she had another soda.  Ma shooed her out so she sighed.  "Fine, I'll go order the menfolk around. Or we can call Huey and make sure he made it through today."

"He did," Stanley promised.  "Your suspect wanted you to come back because he was going to tell you everything.  Huey threatened him with you.  He spilled fairly quickly.  He even gave who he gave the antiques to."  She smiled at that.  "The shootout guy was caught later trying to steal a car.  A very nice rookie beat cop got him."  She choked, looking at him.  "Yes, Huey said it was the same guy; the rookie lectured him on the way in.  Welsh thought that was cute."  He grinned at her.  "He thought you made a positive difference in the life of another cop, outside of the ones downstairs.  One of the civilian aides came over to fill in with her daughter.  She was telling her all about you, telling her what a strong woman was really like on the force.  Her daughter wants ta be a cop someday too and was highly impressed.  She said something about cheese."  He shrugged.  "I didn't get it."  He grinned at her.  "How are we doin' these?"

"Four are going to separate out the living and the dining room," she said.  "So is one of the filing cabinets.  There's a view over there I don't want to see but it won't totally block the light."  Ray gave her a look.  "The guy the cats stare at in fascinated horror."  She patted one facing the couch.  "Start here, back to back, then turn the table sideways."  Benny got up to do that, moving the first one that way.  One of the filing cabinets was moved over too, Ray knew just which view she meant.  The last one was a little farther out than she wanted but there wasn't any room.  She frowned, tapping her non-numb fingers on her thigh.  "Shit."  Ma laughed and came to help, telling Benny to shift the filing cabinet on a diagonal and to push the bookcase in a little.  That made her give the couch a shove but there was room and it aligned it better with the tv.  The last two went into the spare bedroom.  Along with the present she had also ordered, which Ray found and came out to look at her for.  "I had them deliver the wardrobe last night," she admitted, grinning at him.  She was put back onto the couch by Stanley.  He grinned and winked, going to resort her books for her and play with the new titles.

Ray opened one of the boxes, looking at the non-fun reading books.  "Textbooks?"

"I want to continue my anthro studies," she defended.

"Not criticizing," he promised, coming over to tuck her back in.  "Stanley, we'd like to be able to walk tonight," he warned when he had to go around the mess he was making.

"Thirty minutes," Stanley promised.  "Where's A going?"  She shrugged her good shoulder.  "Beside the couch or the window?"

"Window," she decided.  He nodded, sorting four of the boxes of books but leaving room in case she found more she liked.  Benny came over to help with the other books, carrying boxes nearer to the bookcases they would be going on.  Stanley got to the end of his filing and went to help him, shifting some of the anthropology books next to the couch to make room.  By the time they got to the bedroom, dinner was ready.  Ma had put an extra leaf in the table so they could all sit around it and have room.  "Better," she sighed, looking at the window.  "No more fat, sweaty guy looking in the mirror."  Ray shuddered.  "Sorry."

"It's okay.  I'm glad I can't see it any more."  Oz made a spectacular leap from the bookcase onto the table next to him.  "Get down!" he ordered.

Ma calmly picked up the squirt bottle in the middle of the table and got her under the tail, making her run away.  "No."  She put it back down and ate another bite.  "Eat, Catherine.  You'll never get better if you don't eat.  Then Ray will have to quit to take care of you."

"I wouldn't let him do that," she pointed out but she did eat.  "Thank you, guys."

"You're welcome," Benny said with a smile.  "It is a rather cheerful spot now that the landlord isn't downstairs with his banging."

"He moved in with his sister.  She had some sort of accident," she told him.  "That's why we have the keys to the downstairs door.  Ray, I'm hiring a cleaner for the other apartment tomorrow.  The poor man's things have been gone for a few days and it's making me shudder."

"Okay," he agreed.  "I like that idea.  No more febreezing the clothes."  He ate a bite of his soup, humming in appreciation. Then he stopped and looked through it.  "Ma, beans?" he asked.

"I spooned her some out to warm without it," she promised.  "I am very careful about those things.  One of your nephews has a dust allergy."

"Then he's probably not gonna wanna come here," Stanley said.  "She hates to clean."

"It is a dying art," she agreed, smiling at Catherine. "Then again, you are busy.  You probably don't have time to clean each week."  Catherine shook her head.  "Have you found a good housekeeper?"

"I do have a number," Benny admitted.  "I left it on Ray's desk yesterday."

"I was wondering what that number was," Ray admitted.  "I'll call her tomorrow.  Who are you calling to do the one across the hall?"

"The real professionals.  The ones with the machines and the fans.  That way they can air out the apartment fully and get it really clean.  A little bit more expensive won't matter that much."

"That's good," Ray assured her.  "I still need to pick up more clothes and go to the dry cleaners."

"Do I need to lend you money until payday?" she teased.  He shook his head, giving her a look.  "Got any more silk shirts in there?" she asked with a naughty grin.  Stanley choked.  "What?" she asked innocently.

"You nasty thing," Stanley gasped.  "I don't know how you got attracted to people in dress  shirts but it's too odd to let go on."  He finally caught his breath, wiping his face off.  "Next thing you know you'll be traumatizing us by playing with his buttons at the station."

"There are multiple uses for broom closets," she said sweetly.  All three men blushed and Ma laughed.  "Apparently it's the conference room as well," she shared.  Ma nodded.  "Do they do that in your closets at home?"

"No, they go into the back yard.  Even if there was a blizzard," she said, giving her son a fond look.  "It's good you've found a woman who appreciates your fashion sense, son.  Hopefully she'll even help you shop from now on."

"Why not?  He helps me," she agreed dryly.

"I didn't stop you from buying the odd pajamas," he countered.  "Or the ugly bras."

"They're more comfortable than most torture devices."  She shrugged. "You'll get used to it or I'll stop wearing one again."  He whimpered and dropped his fork.  "Sorry, TMI?"

He looked at her, shaking his head.  "Welsh may tolerate the occasional lapse into pajamas if you're not on duty but he won't tolerate that."

"Who said anything about during work?"

He raised an eyebrow.  "No, I will not be seen in public with you undressed like that," he said firmly.  She gave a meaningful look at the bookcases.   He stared her down.  "I could say no dinners out."

"You could," she agreed.  "Then again, that means you have to cook."  She smirked.  "Which is probably healthier for me anyway."

He snorted.  "Keep it up, I'll rub soybean oil on myself some night, send into enough shock so you need your medicine, then tie you up while you recover."

"Ray!" his mother said, looking at him in shock.  "That is not nice!"

"Ma!"

"Ray, she is a free spirit, you will have to accept such traits in her if you will remain together.  You cannot remake her in your image.  That is not love, that is dominance."

"Which I happen to know something about," Catherine admitted dryly.  Ray gave her another look as he sipped his water.  "Deal?"

"Deal," he agreed. "And you dress up for me now and then.  Your closet has things that I've never seen before."

"That outfit? It was in the trunk in the bottom."  She winked. "I'll let you help me clean out my closet this Sunday if we're not busy."

"I'm not on call," he said smugly.

"I am and that means you're either going to have to play with the cats or go to your mother's for company unless the other boys want to play with you."

Benny coughed.  "I believe there's a game on this weekend," he noted gently.  "Stanley and I were going to watch it together."

"See, I can go with them," Ray agreed.

"We don't need a chaperone, Ray," Stanley said, eating another bite.  Ray looked at him, then grunted and shook his head, cutting into his food. "Thank you for not making a big deal of it."

"I figured you were when I first met you, then I saw Stella and it confirmed it.  Only a gay man or a masochist could love her."

"I did," Stanley defended.  "Enough to stay with her, but she couldn't get past it."

"You are?" Ma asked.  Stanley nodded.  "Benton?"

"Sometimes," he admitted quietly, looking at his plate.  "Where I'm from it's more finding someone that's compatible and then dealing with the gender issues."

Ma nodded firmly.  "That is fine.  Like my other children, there will be no making out in my house until you are married.  Maria and Tony will have to put up with it."

"Tony seems like a pretty open guy," Catherine offered.

"He doesn't understand gay men," Ray told her.  "Then again, no one really understands Stanley."  Stanley threw his spoon at him.  "Keep it up, I can quit feeding you," he offered.  Stanley went to get a new spoon, looking very remorseful for hitting him.  "Thank you.  Don't teach her any new tricks either," he warned.  "I like her how she is, she doesn't need to be odder."

"I'm only odd sometimes," she pouted. "Other times I'm perfectly normal."  She ate a bite of dinner.  "Ray, can we go for a ride tonight?" she asked.

Stanley looked at her, then at Ray.  "Remind me that we're taking my car from now on," he told Benny, who gave him a look.  "I'm not sitting in the back seat of his.  I might get Ray cooties."

Ray put down his fork.  "Stanley, never, ever, mention doing those sort of things to me again.  I didn't need the visual image I just got in my head."

Stanley grinned at him.  "I woulda made a play for ya, but that whole 'unwilling to have sex with me' thing kinda turned me off," he admitted.  Ray groaned.  "So it's good that you've got the female version of me."

"If she is, I'm taking away her chocolate for good," Ray said, looking at the eating Catherine, who gave him another of those innocent looks.  "No, no rides tonight, not until your shoulder is better," he told her.  "I want you to stay in this house and behave while I'm at work."

"And do what? Put on a set of pearls, an apron, and heels while waiting for you to come home?"

"I can't imagine you as June Clever," Benny said loyally.  Stanley smirked at him. "I can't."

"No, she's not the sort," he agreed, glancing at her.  He knew what she really meant. She'd meet him only wearing those three items then tease him all night to piss him off.

"Children," Ma sighed, putting down her spoon.  "As long as the act is done in love then there is nothing wrong with it," she said firmly.  "If it is not done in love then there are problems in the relationship and you should seek counseling from a qualified person, like a priest.  Though there should be no children on the way."

Catherine paused for a moment.  "I certainly hope not.  I'd hate to traumatize people with the mood swings."  She shook that thought off.  "Ma, not to be insulting, but I'm not sure I'd trust a man who's never been in a relationship with a tangible person to counsel me on relationship issues.  It'd be like going to an obstetrician who's never had kids."  Ma gave her a look.  "In this day and age, not back when you had Ray."  She shrugged.  "Besides, I'd get really fat if I got pregnant and then Huey would have to chase all the perps and he'd get really mad at me.  I don't think that would be very acceptable.  Even if it were possible."

"As long as you do not seek out other alternatives."

"Only the morning after pack."  Ma looked upset.  "It's not like having it terminated.  It's just a few doses of the Pill back to back.  Women have been doing it on their own since the pill came out.  All it does is make sure that if there's a chance fertilization it won't embed.  Which happens to thousands of women every month.  Only one out of every hundred thousand potential children or so ever implant and start growing and then the odds are against it because the body will attack anything in it that's not natural.  According to the doctors, women miscarry four out of every five pregnancy starts without ever realizing they were pregnant.  There's so many things that can go wrong."  Ma nodded. "Besides, the point is still moot because of the scar tissue," she reminded her.

"There are ways around that," Ma pointed out.

"Yes, but I don't feel like hormone injections.  With my life a kid would be in danger.  Shit, Stan's been in danger by knowing me and this week has been really hard on Ray too.  Imagine a kid in my life?"

"A child makes you rethink your priorities," Ma told her.

"I've got a good set of priorities.  I want to live through the next month and hopefully retire in comfortable wealth to not do much any day of the week...unless I take back up my studies."

Ma gave her a pat.  "Some day you may feel differently."

"Some day I may," she agreed, not wanting to burst her happy bubble.  "I take the attitude of 'if it happens, it does' and I won't do anything about it."  Ma gave her a happy smile.  "That would still take some creative interference from some form of higher being though."

Ma smiled at her son.  "Ray will make a good father."

"I agree," Catherine agreed.  "He will.  If he wants to find a surrogate, I'm fine with that," she agreed.  "As long as he tells me first and doesn't just suddenly show up with one some day."  Ray snorted, shaking his head as he looked at her.  "I would be."

Ray gave her a look. "Ma, kids are not on the agenda," he said firmly.  "If they were, we'd tell you.  If we ever decide to do something about that issue, then we'll be sure to tell you first."  Ma beamed and went back to eating.  "You eat too," he told his girlfriend.  She blew a kiss and picked up her fork to eat.  "Thank you."  He shook his head, looking at Benny.  "What about you two?"

"I have the desire for children some day," Benny agreed.  "I am young and my present life is not suited to it," he admitted.  "Until then I won't even think about it."

"If you do, we'll babysit sometimes," Catherine told him.  "Even if Ray and I don't make it in the long run."  Ma snorted. "It's possible.  Ray doesn't know everything about me."

"I was married for nearly twenty-five years and I did not know everything about my husband, or he I.  It is fated, I know it is."  She gave her son a look.  "Even your younger sister sees it now.  The judge said he saw it the last time you were in his court."

Catherine let her fork drop. "You were in my ex's courtroom and he didn't make fun of you?"

"No, they even hurried up so I could come be with you," he said conversationally.  He smiled at her.  "Eat, Catherine, or not even cuddles tonight after I fix the bed."  She picked up her fork, giving him an odd look.  "Seriously, I don't think he put us together.  It was his day on the arraignment bench."  He shrugged.  "It happens."  He ate some more.  "Eat or no dessert."

"Hey, Benny, wanna come back to my place tonight to play with the turtle?" Stanley asked to break up the impending sexual frustration the couple was building.

"If you want," Benny agreed, giving him a sideways look.  "Is she all right?"

"I think she's wantin' ta lay eggs," he noted.  "I had ta add more sand to the tank again.  I need ta do more turtle research."  He shrugged.

"I've got a few biology books but I'm not sure how helpful they'll be," Catherine offered. "I know snakes sometimes have parthogenic births."

"I hadn't heard that," Benny said.  "Without a father completely?"  She nodded, chewing again.  "Interesting.  I had heard that sometimes women did so when they were stranded far away from any males.  They're truly clones of their mothers however.  It would be interesting to see if any of the eggs hatched."  Stanley gave him a look. "Of course, you would need a bigger place to store all the tanks," he agreed.

Stanley shook his head.  "Baby turtles are a lot of work."

"I thought they were self-sufficient from birth."

"They may be, but I still spent a lot of time working on my girl's shell.  They're real fragile when they're born."  He coughed.  "Can I get the name of your landlord?" he asked.  "My place is really small."

"Sure," Catherine agreed.

"Being over there won't make you feel strange?" Benny asked.

Stanley shrugged.  "It happens, it's a natural part of life.  As long as I don't have to live with the body, I'm not gonna be freaked out by it.  I don't know it didn't happen in my present one.  Besides, he was a really nice old guy and maybe he'll give your dad someone ta talk ta."  He grinned at Benny.

"Then we'd never get any privacy," Ray pointed out.

"Sure ya would.  We wouldn't have ta worry about you two so we'd only pop around on occasion," Stanley said smugly.  "We could stay home and I could pop down to borrow books, and then we could ride in together.  Speaking of, I'll need one tomorrow 'cause mine's in the shop with a broken fan."

"How did you break the fan?" Catherine asked.  "I know I don't know much about cars, but the fan?"

"Metal fatigue. It's an old car," he reminded her. "It was used when we got it and restored it.  The mechanic said he can get one by tomorrow and put it in that same day, but I'm without a ride tomorrow."

"You can borrow my rental clunker.  Ray's sure I won't need it."

"I'll be calling tomorrow at odd times to make sure you won't be needing it too," he promised.

She gave him a smile.  "That's fine.  I'll be surfing the 'net."  He gave her a look.  "I will."

"You'll be printing off those files," he retorted.

Stanley nodded.  "That way I can have the old laptop."

She sighed and nodded.  "Sure, I'll start on that tomorrow," she agreed.  Stanley beamed at her.  "Any other revelations at work?"

"No," Stanley admitted.  "A routine day otherwise.  Even the guys downstairs got bored."

"Good," she said firmly.  "I like bored.  Bored is good."

"I believe someone made a bet to see if things would pick up once you came back again," Benny offered.

She cackled.  "I'm sure they will.  We'll see."  She grinned at Ray. "Since I'm going to be stuck here all alone with only the cats to keep me company, can I send you annoying stuff at work?"

"What sort?" he asked cautiously.

"Lunch?  Flowers?  Trashy romance novels?" she teased.

"I don't read them, tomorrow's our Chinese day, and if you want to send me flowers you can," he told her, giving her a look.  He was wincing mentally at what her mind was going to come up with.  She was creative.

She blinked, then sighed.  "You're no fun."

He smiled.  "Thank you."  He added more food to his plate, eating to quell his uneasiness.  Stanley caught his eye and grinned.  "What?" he asked quietly.

"You are so in for it.  The last time she had forced inactivity I got sent a stripper who was also a madam for my arresting pleasure."

Ray dropped his fork and grabbed his head.  "Please don't do that, Catherine."

"Fine," she sighed.  "I'll behave."

"Thank you."  He gave her a pat on the wrist. "If you're good, I'll bring you good ice cream," he offered.  She licked her lips, making him swallow.  "Or that," he agreed.  She smiled and nodded.

"Do it to Huey," Stanley suggested.  "Lighten up his day."

She cackled, shaking her head.  "Okay," she agreed, nodding at him.  "It'll be so cool!"

***

Huey looked up as a delivery man walked into the squad room.  He pointed at Ray's desk.  He had already gotten flowers, three roses in a crystal tube vase.

"Are you Huey?" he asked, looking at the form.  Huey nodded, sitting up straighter.  "Then this is for you, sir."  He held out the clipboard.  "If you'll please sign here?"

"Sure."  He signed his name and accepted the package. "Who sent it?"

"Carmani Enterprises," he said.  "They've been sending a lot of stuff through us.  It's not my usual route, but the other guy was out sick."  Ray coughed.  "Oh, bless you, Detective.  I know spring colds are horrible," he said, giving him a smile to show he really wasn't local.  He was way too nice.

Huey opened the package, then looked at the kid.  "Kid, let's go have a talk," he said, standing up and leading him into an interrogation room.  "You just delivered me a pound of Hashish.  Why?"

The man looked horrified.  "I did?  Shit!  That lying snake!  He got me this job!"  He handed over his cap and his clipboard.  "Here, I've got good notes downstairs with directions for my deliveries today, sir.  I had *no* idea."

"That's fine," Huey agreed, giving him a gentle smile and a pat on the back.  "Let's go get your notes.  We'll figure out if you're in any trouble.  Okay?"  He nodded, and Huey knew he wasn't involved.  He'd help the kid.  He walked the boy out, letting Ray bag the evidence they already had.  Then they called a DA in and had her meet them in the interrogation room.  "Carmani Enterprises.  Where do I know that name from?" he asked as he came back from interviewing the kid.

"Middle ground player in the local syndicate," Ray told him.  "Pays shit wages, his people turn on him all the time."  He looked over.  "There was a note too."

Huey looked at the note, which had been bagged separately.  Then he looked at Ray.  "Vecchio, can't you make your wife *rest*?" he asked dryly.  He shook his head.  "Fine, she set me up to do a buy.  Good.  It's a nice change."  He called the number he had for the delivery office.  "Hey, I just got sent a package from you guys as a birthday present but we're running short.  Yeah, that's me.  Yeah, Huey.  Sure.  No, we need about another two pounds.  We're celebrating the Penya bust," he said, sounding happy.  "No, he just left, saying something about calling his mother.  She paged him or something just before he came from what he was saying."  He grinned, nodding.  "Sure, that's great.  Nah, I'll come pick it up or we can meet somewhere neutral.  That way none of my coworkers know where I get the good stuff from."  He laughed.  "Of course."  He wrote down the address.  "Good for me.  Thanks, man.  One hour good?"  He smirked.  "Great!  Thanks for helping us out!"  He hung up and looked at Ray.  "They invited me over to the warehouse," he said, starting to laugh.

Ray snickered, shaking his head.  "Want backup or SWAT?"

"Shit, I'll take Stanley and Fraser.  One's bouncing and the other's giving him an odd look.  I never thought I'd see Fraser  in a hyper mood."  He stood up, taking the evidence down to the short-term storage and logging it in before he went to find Stan and Benny.  "Guys," he called out the back door.  "We're going to get more party favors.  Coming?"  Stanley gave him a look so he walked out, walking around the peeing wolf to hand him the note.

Stanley burst out in giggles, leaning on Fraser's shoulder. "That's so classic.  She sent me a stripper who was a madam the last time she was on her back."  He shook his head.  "Who?"

"Carmani."

"Cool," Stanley agreed, smirking at him.  "Let me grab our vests.  Benny, didn't we find you one?"

"It's in Ray's trunk," he offered, walking his wolf back inside.  He smiled at Ray.  "Coming?"

"I'd spook 'em," Ray noted.  "Besides, I've got two more files to go through."  He waved a hand.  "Have fun."  They left and he went back to copying his forms to make them go faster.  Someone coughed a few minutes later, making him look up.  It was a courier.  "Yeah?"

"Vecchio?" he asked.  Ray nodded so he handed over the package.  "Catherine the Great said to hand that to you personally and then tell you to bring it home and she might let you talk her into it."  He nodded politely and left.

Ray opened one end of the envelope, finding a letter overtop of whatever it was.  He pulled it out and raised an eyebrow, then got up.  "Sir, I'm taking a long lunch," he called as he grabbed his jacket.  "Huey and the others went to bust someone.  I'll be back as soon as I've...changed her bandages," he called, walking out before he could be stopped.  He knew he blew through two red lights on his way, but he was very happy when he walked up the stairs, pulling out the little green teddy.  "When did you buy this?"

She gave him a sideways look then went back to her file creation.  "On our shopping trip."

He pulled her up and kissed her until she went limp against his chest.  "Put it on," he ordered, taking off his jacket.  She walked into the bedroom, coming out a few minutes later to help him out of his shirt.  This time he had her on the couch.  It was a wonderful lunch.

***

Catherine walked in and the fighting and yelling in the squad room stopped.  "Nice to know I was missed," she said dryly, putting down her briefcase.  "I'm back," she said happily.  Huey gave her a tolerant look.  "What?  You didn't like my presents?"

"I did," he agreed. "Did you remember to fill out reimbursement forms?"

 She nodded, sitting down delicately.  "I did, and they've also been sent in.  That whole working from home thing was really good for me."  He gave her a look and she smirked. "Plus, the lunches were really nice.  Ray likes hot lunches."  She looked at the formerly arguing handcuffed people.  "You two, spill now."  They gaped at her.  "Or I could get up again," she offered.  They babbled at her, moving closer.  "One at a time," she ordered, holding up a hand.  "We'll go into the nice interrogation room and let each one of you tell your side of the story."  They swallowed.  "Or, like I said, you can wait for the people who haven't had a nice vacation in *years*."  They nodded, leading the way down the hall.  They knew just where the rooms were.

Huey laughed, shaking his head.  He looked around.  He was the only one in the squad room, so he went to share it with the Lieutenant.  "Sir, Demoranth is back.  She's taken our two arguing people to hear their sides of the story.  They were very grateful she'd just had a vacation."  He chuckled, shaking his head.  "Where is Vecchio? I haven't seen him all day."

"He said something about his mother and needing some personal time.  He's off today."  He waved a hand.  "I still need another form from you, detective.  Go find it for me."

"Sure.  Which one?"

"The one on the cult that you and Vecchio busted.  I've gotten his account, I need yours."

"Yes, sir, I'll run it off."  He went back to his desk and pulled out the palm pilot, plugging it in.  Then he ran the synching program and found the right file, opening it to make sure it was complete before running it off.  "That is really handy," he said, storing it back in his desk.  "When I get old and can't remember, I'll need that more."

Vecchio strolled in an hour later, looking around.  "No one home?" he joked.

"Your wife's in one of the interrogation rooms," Huey told him.  "There haven't been any deliveries yet."

"She probably won't have to now that she's back," he noted, going that way.  He found her by glancing in the viewing windows.  He found a few female patrol officers watching her with an amused look.  "Watch and learn, officers.  She is one of the better ones."  He tapped and walked in, pulling Catherine up to kiss her.  "Give her ten," he told the stunned suspect.  "I'll bring her right back."  He led her out, taking her to the broom closet.  Once locked inside, she leaned against his chest, kissing him hard. While she was distracted by his lips, he slipped something onto her finger, then pulled back.  "This weekend," he told her.

She looked down, then at him.  "A ring?"

"After this weekend, I want you to wear it all the time," he told her.  "No more undercovers unless we go together."  She smiled and kissed him again, pushing him back against the wall.  "Yes?" he asked between kisses.

"Fine," she agreed.  "Honeymoon?"

"Hmm.  We'll figure that out later," he said, pulling back.  He gave her a little pat.  "Go back to your talker.  We'll have lunch later," he said with a wink, leaving her there to gather herself together again.  He strolled out, heading for the apartment.  He had some preparations to make.  It was nice, her friend Cris worked in City Hall, in Records.  He was a handy man to know.

She looked down at the ring, smiling at the stone.  "He went with my birthstone," she said, heading back to the room.  The ring wasn't moving, yet it wasn't that tight.  It was nearly perfect and it had a low profile so she could still wear it on the job.  She smiled at the suspect.  "Sorry about that," she said, sitting down again, not trying to hide it.  He gaped at it, then at her.  "What?" she asked innocently.  "You were saying something about Hogerson?" she prompted when he didn't continue.

"He's yours?"

She nodded. "He's mine."

"Wow.  I know stuff on Hogerson, Richards, and Don Cornelius, but just little stuff."  She gave him the most beautiful smile.  "Please let me tell you?"

"Sure, sweetheart, you tell me anything you want me to know," she said, patting him on the hand.  "I *love* getting new information."  He beamed and nodded, staring down her top again.  Tits did make men stupid, it was a universal law.

The female patrol officers sighed in pleasure at how she was wrapping him around her finger without trying.  "I want to do that," the one who had given her a ride to Vice noted.  The others nodded.  Maybe being a detective wasn't so bad after all.  She'd have to study and find a good area.

***

Catherine walked into the apartment that Thursday, looking around at the bare floors.  She walked out and back down the stairs, knocking on the partially open door for the landlord's apartment. Ray smiled as she walked in.  "When did we become landlords?"

"When the owner showed up and asked why we hadn't rented the other apartment yet.  He assumed the other guy had hired us.  When he found out, he said we were hired.  This place has three times the space."  He pulled her closer, hugging her.  "The cats already love it and he had his brothers come move us."  He gave her a kiss.  "Stan and Ray get one of the apartments and we can hire anyone we need for any problems."  She nodded, stunned.  "You okay?" he teased.

"It's been one big day of surprises," she said, pulling out his check to hand it over.  "Yours."  She pulled out hers and held it up.  "Mine?"

He grinned.  "You knew someone was going to make that mistake," he said, tossing the envelope that said 'Demoranth-Vecchio' off to the side.  "We'll deal with them later, once you've figured out which way you want it to go."  He kissed her again, making her go limp.  "Did you get my present?"  She nodded, moving to play with his neck. "Are you wearing it?"  She took off her jacket, letting him see the outfit he had sent her.  It was naughty, yet very her.  He grinned and picked her up, carrying her into the bedroom.  Chocolate whined from her cage but she was comfortably ensconced on the fluffy perch.  He laid Catherine down, having fun playing with the satin and silk bustier and silk skirt he had sent her.  "I like you in this.  You need to wear this more often."

"I still can't chase perps in it," she reminded him, wiggling when his hand moved up her outer thigh.  "Ray," she moaned.  Chocolate huffed and got up, turning around.  "You, clean your ass or something.  No watching."  She smiled up at Ray, who was smirking at her.  "What else did you have planned?  Harding said he'd see me on Monday and it's only Thursday."

"Did you forget?  There's a conference this weekend," he reminded her.  He pulled her up, making her moan.  "We're going."  She pulled back, giving him a look.  "I've already packed for us."  His hand slid up her thigh again, making her shiver.  "No underwear?  Naughty, Catherine," he teased, taking her hand and leading her out.  The bags were in the trunk and Benny was on his way over.

"The cats," she said, pointing.

"The new neighbors."  He smirked at her.  "Benny said he wants Chocolate if you'll agree."  She gaped and nodded.  "Good girl.  She likes him better anyway."  He put her into the car, closing her in before walking around to get in to drive.  He smirked at her shocked look.  "They're on their way over with Stan's stuff."  He gave her another kiss.  "Buckle up.  We're a little late."

"Sorry, I had trouble with the bustier," she admitted.  "I had to get someone to tighten it for me and everyone kept giving me funny looks when I asked them."

He laughed.  "That's fine.  I understand fully."  He started the car and drove off.

"Ray, I'm not wearing underwear," she pointed out.  "Are we really flying to Baja with me being pantiless?"  He smirked at her.  "Okay.  New adventures in nudity.  And I thought the Vegas conference was fun.  Damn, I only played strip poker and lost there."  He chuckled, shaking his head.  "I did.  But I won on and double-or-nothing kiss round.  I think I'm still owed kisses actually."

"Good, then they can come visit you when we meet up with them at the convention.  That way they know you're taken."  He reached over, stroking over her soft knee.  "You even shaved," he said in appreciation.

"I had to do the outfit justice," she admitted.  "By the way, you owe Patricia in SWAT an explanation why you wanted to see me in this."

He smiled.  "Sure.  We'll send her pictures from the conference."  He smirked to himself.  Or from Vegas.  They had a small layover.   "How do you do on beaches?"

"I'm not really used to that big ball of lightbulbs," she told him.  "I burn very much."

He gave her knee another stroke as he got onto the road to the airport.  "Then we'll find you some good sunscreen.  I even packed you a book."

"A whole book?" she teased.

"Yup, for the times when I'm at the lectures and you're bored."  His hand drifted up but the car was pulling to the left so he put his hand back on the wheel.  He heard her unhitch and slip closer, then felt her hand touch his thigh. "Not while I'm driving.  I enjoy you too much to want to crash.  Besides, I'd miss this car."  She laughed and kissed him on the cheek.  "Buckle up," he ordered, "or no fun things in the bag."  She slid back and buckled up.  He saw a cop car behind them and rolled his eyes.  "Someone's having us tailed."

She turned around then waved. "It's Officer Brad," she said happily.  "He works downstairs."  His lights came on, so she looked at Ray.  "Were you naughty?"

"No!  Are you hitched in again?  I don't need the ticket," he said dryly, pulling over.  The officer jogged up to his window.  "What?" he asked impatiently.  "We're heading to the conference."

"Sir, there's a madwoman holding a daycare hostage.  She's calling for your wife."  He handed over the phone.  "Here you go, Detective.  Have a nice honeymoon."  He went back to his car and got in, driving off.

"Huh."  She cleared her throat as she activated the two-way feature.  "Yes?" she asked.  She nudged Ray.  "Drive, dear, we'll be really late," she reminded him.  He nodded, pulling back into traffic.  "Window?"  He rolled up his window. "Yo, a little cooperation here," she called into the phone.  "Otherwise I'm not going to play along."

"Cathy?" a female voice asked.

"Mara," she said dryly.  "You stupid bitch.  A daycare?  How dare you!"  The other woman started to cry.  "I don't care and that's not convincing anymore.  Give it up!" she snapped.  Her ex stopped crying.  "Thank you.  Now let the children go.  I'm sure there are adults there, keep one of them for now."

"Fine.  Come back to me?"

"Fuck no!  Do you really want to have conjugal visits in prison?"  Mara sobbed again.  "Again, not convincing," she said in her coldest voice.  "I don't care if you're suicidal, do it away from the children."

"Fine!  I will!" Mara yelled.  "You don't love me, you never did!"

"I did until you went and screwed the little party girls.  How's that working out for ya?" she asked.

Ray took the phone.  "Mara, this is Ray," he said patiently.  "You're interrupting our trip to a conference in Baja.  Her first real vacation in quite a while as well as mine.  Now let the children go and turn yourself in before you make her miss out on her wedding."  He hung up and tossed it into the backseat.  "I'm tired of her," he announced.  "How many more times will we be interrupted by her?"

"Probably at least once more."  The phone beeped so she sighed and stretched back, grabbing it.  "Ray, why is Dief asleep on the floor?"

"I'm not sure," he admitted honestly.  "I think he's trying to hide from the movers."  He shrugged.  "Don't answer that."

She frowned at him. "She might hurt the kids."

He sighed. "Fine."  He took the exit to the airport, listening as she sighed and answered it.

"What?" she demanded.  "I just got told I'm getting married today.  Can't you honor me by not doing this?"  She listened to the sobbing person on the other side. "Mara, straighten up.  Now," she said bitterly.  "Are the kids there?"  She rolled her eyes.  "Then get them out of the room, dear.  Open the door, I'm sure someone's on the other side.  It might even be Stanley."  She winced at the renewed ranting.  "Mara, I'm hanging up."  Her ex agreed, opening the door and letting the kids run out.  "Good.  Now put your shit on the ground and get onto it, face down.  If you're really lucky, you and Mycene can share a cell.  Then you two can bitch about me and how you fucked up by cheating on me."  She listened until someone yelled 'got her', then hung up and tossed it over her shoulder again.  "There, done," she said happily.  "We're getting married today?"

"We are," he said firmly.  "Ma said you had to marry me or she was gonna shoot ya again so I had more time to fuss over you and make you marry me while you were drugged up."

She laughed.  "Okay then.  I guess we're getting married.  This means you've got to put up with the impending dose of PMS."

He gave her a look.  "I figure I'd better learn now," he said dryly, pulling into short-term parking.  He took the ticket, then found a spot in the reserved section.  One of the security guards came over so he got out and flashed his badge.  "We're going to the conference.  I called ahead.  The wolf'll be picked up in a few minutes."

"Oh, yes, detective.  That's fine," he agreed, smiling as the nice looking woman got out.  "You and your wife?"

"No, that'll be happening on the way," she told him, and then he gave her a shocked look.  She looked down at her badge and shrugged.  "It gets us through security faster."  She gave Ray a look.  "Are you sure I can't put on underwear?"

"I didn't tell you to take off the old pair," he reminded her, grabbing their bags.  Then he armed the security system.  "There, let's go."  He walked her inside.  "I took half the reimbursement money for this," he admitted as they walked.  She shrugged. "You don't mind?"

"Hell, no.  We can get reimbursed for conferences too," she reminded him.  He smiled and took her hand to walk her across the street.  "Ray, the security rules have tightened, right?"  He nodded.  She pointed.  "Who are they?"  She pointed at a group of men with hands on their guns.  "I didn't think O'Hare was quite that paranoid."

"Oh, we're leaving while the president's in town.  That way we don't have to pull security detail."

She beamed at him.  "You got me a really nice present too," she said happily, kissing him.  "I love it!"  She kissed him a second time.  "All I got you was an envelope but you left it back there."  He held up her pay stub.  "Open it on the plane."  She walked ahead of him, letting him watch her ass move.

He smirked as he followed her, nodding at the Secret Service agent who held the door for them. "United," he said when she glanced back at him.  The line was small so he opened it, giving her a shocked look.  She smiled and winked, then turned back around.  He moved up beside her, giving her a deep kiss. "Naughty, minx," he told her, smiling at her.  "How did you do that?"

"Gee, I don't know," she admitted.  "But I'll expect good treats with this new raise."  She licked the tip of his nose, then grabbed their bags, moving up in the line.  A guard coughed and gave them a pointed look.  She turned so he could see her badge and he walked off, shaking his head.  "It's conference time," she called after him.

"We're newlyweds," Ray agreed.  The guard smiled at them and said something into his radio.  He smirked at her, then winked.  "Congratulate me on the plane?"

"Mmm."  She gave him another kiss.  "We'll see.  Maybe it'll have to be tonight?"  He smirked and nodded.  "Be a good boy and I might even be naughtier."

He moved them and their bags up to the blue line they weren't supposed to cross.  "Vecchio," he told the woman, handing over his credit card.  "Two for Vegas, with later connections to Baja?"

The woman typed it in and smiled at him.  "I have you right here, Detective."  She looked at the woman. "Oh, you're both detectives.  That's wonderful," she said perkily.  "Let me fix your records so you won't have a problem on the plane.  By the way, we will ask you to reload for the flight.  That way you're carrying the non-puncturing rounds."  She pushed a button and a security guard came out.  "These nice detectives are going to Vegas, then Baja," she told him.  "They need re-outfitted for the flight."  He grunted and she printed off their tickets, handing them over.  "Thank you, detectives.  Have a nice trip."

"Thanks," Catherine said, grabbing what had to be her bag, it was smaller, and following the guard.  Ray was right behind her.  She waited until they were out of hearing range to ask the important question.  "What do they feed them?  I've never seen a check-in girl that cheerful."

The guard laughed.  "Each hour they pipe some sort of gas in under their monitors to help them stay up," he told her.  He opened a door.  "In here please."

Catherine paused.  "I'm not doing a security detail for the president.  I don't believe in his political leanings."  The Secret Service guard looked at her.  "Besides, my fiancé said I'm getting married today.  I'm not staying in town."

"It's triple time," the agent offered.

Ray glanced in.  "No.  Sorry."  He looked at the guard.  "We'll temp as air marshals, but really."

He smiled.  "We were told to bring you here.  He's got your new bullets."  He looked at his watch.  "You've got an hour, detectives.  Just walk out the other side and through the *blue* door and you'll find yourself in the correct part of the terminal."  He left them there.

Catherine walked inside and pushed the agent against the wall, getting into his face.  "I don't need the money, I don't want the money, and I want that man out of office.  You're getting me at the verge of PMS and ruining my honeymoon and a conference.  Do you *really* want to bother us?"

"Catherine," Ray sighed.  "Don't threaten him.  He'll get upset and arrest you."  He walked in and kissed the back of her neck.  "I promise, they won't make us stay.  You can see the cute outfit I got for you."  She looked back at him.  "I promise, very cute.  Very you."  She smiled and turned, kissing him long and hard.  When he pulled back, he gave the stunned agent a bland look.  "Need anything else?"

"Your rounds are on the table.  We didn't know about the honeymoon, sorry, detectives."  He coughed and blushed, walking past them.  "Keep the spares for the trip back.  Remember, use the blue door on this side of the hall, second from the end."   He went to report to his boss.  They didn't have any local support.

"Only an hour?" she sighed.  He smirked and pushed her against the table, kissing her hard.  She squealed as his fingers found her shaved lower half, then teased it.  "Ray!  There's a camera!" she said, shocked.

"So?  They need some porn sometimes too.  It'll help the boredom."  He continued to tease her, making her groan against his lips as her lower half moved to the tune he was playing.  She finally squealed and clamped around him, making him smile.  "Better?"

"Much," she purred, smiling at him.  "Why do you call me a minx?"

"Your hair and eyes.  It's almost the color of a sable mink and you're definitely a woman of trouble."  He winked and backed off, licking off his fingers.  "Let's load and go?"  She nodded, grabbing one of the boxes and her two guns.  She pulled a third one but the bullets weren't made for that one.  "A derringer?" he teased.

"It went with the outfit," she said, giving him a coy look.  "It's a second backup in case my other one dies in the middle of another firefight."  She gave him a kiss.  "Should I try to tease you back on the plane?"  He nodded, giving her a smug look.  "Okay.  Remember to call someone about Dief."

"I already did," he promised.  "Stanley had an open mic in the car recently."  He grabbed the other box of ammo, clearing his clip into his pocket and reloading.  "We ready?"  She nodded, tucking the ammo into the bag she had. "That one's mine," he pointed out.

"Really?  I have more clothes than you do?"

"Well, you did have that dress thing," he admitted, taking the bags and walking away.  "Come on, Catherine."

"Coming, Ray."

"No, that's later," he promised smugly.  She pinched him on the butt, making him laugh.  "Behave or we'll miss our flight."  He found the right door, counting backwards.  "Was it the second blue door or the second door?"

She shrugged and opened one, then shut it.  "The second door. That one had more agents."  She walked down to the second-to-last door and opened it, walking back into the terminal.  "This is British Airways," she said, frowning around.  She walked over to a cleaner.  "United?  Ray, which gate?"

He looked at the tickets.  "Gate seventeen."

The custodian looked at him.  "You need to go back through the blue door and go one more door down on the other side of the hall.  That'll take you right to it," he told them.  They smiled and did that, making him shudder and walk off.  He called on his radio. "Yo, we're leavin!" he called.  "They're *both* here!  Let the targets deal with them."  He hurried off, meeting up with his people so they could leave.

Ray opened the correct door, letting her through first.  The gate guardian gave them a grateful look.  "We took the wrong door."

"That's all right," she said.  "We need you two to clear the plane before we can let anyone board."

"Sure," Catherine agreed, letting her look at their bags.  She let Ray lead this time, it was only fair.  She had gotten to threaten the agent.  Someone ran past them and she stopped him, then punched him in the jaw. "Ray, do we have to do paperwork on this?"

"Your laptop from the house is in your bag," he promised.  "We can do it on the plane."  He walked on and whistled.  "Yo.  We're here!  Anyone who's not supposed to be here, leave."  Another person ran past him and he noticed his girlfriend had cuffed them together in an awkward position.  "Good job."  He looked at the shaking stewardess.  "We're the temping detectives.  Which seat?"  She pointed it out for them and he got their bags stored.  Then they went up and down the aisles, finding another person hiding in the back.  "What?  Wanted a free ride?"

"Ray, he's tied up, I'm not sure this was a planned hiding," she pointed out.  She took the sock out of his mouth.  "And you are?"

"The copilot," he said sadly.

"Okay then."  She turned and went to knock on the cabin's doors.  "Morning."  She walked in, smiling.  "License and registration please?" she asked cheekily.  One of them looked at her, then over her shoulder, and then groaned and started to cry.  "Yeah, it's us.  You're postponing my wedding."

The man stood up and held out his arms, looking away as Ray cuffed him.  "I'm very sorry I did this," he told her.  "Please send me to prison instead of getting mad at me.  It wasn't my idea."

"That's fine," Ray told him.  "Walk down the ramp, take your buddies back to the gate, and tell the nice secret service agents all about it."  The guy nodded, heading that way.  Ray took her back to her seat, seating her next to the window.  "That way you can watch us take off and land.  I'm not really big on planes since the crash."

"You were in a crash?"

"Yeah, a small little prop plane with Benny.  I ended up carrying his blind butt halfway across the country."  He gave her a gentle kiss.  "Write one of your usual short and concise reports so I can sign it too."  She got up, reaching into the storage compartment to grab the bag, pulling out her laptop.  He carefully rezipped the bag, marveling at her lack of curiosity.  "You don't wanna know what I'm putting you in tonight?"

"I figure I'll be beautiful and stunning," she said with a smile for him.  "I'm sure you've picked out something that not only flatters my figure but makes me look stunning and wonderful, yet also happens to be sexy and naughty at the same time."  He shook his head.  "No?"  She gave him a long look.  "No to which part?"

"The naughty part," he told her, smiling at her.  "You'll like it."  He gave her another kiss as people started to come on.  The stewardess cleared her throat.  "What?"

"You really can't be working on a laptop during taxiing, takeoff, or landing," she explained.  "It's against NTSA rules, detectives.  They can wait for their paperwork."

Catherine gave her a small smile.  "Give me ten minutes and I'll be done before we leave the gate.  I'm known for short reports."  She went back to filling it in, putting both their names.  "Does this mean I'm hyphenating my name?"

"Whichever way you want," he promised.  "I know most people know you as yourself instead of 'my girl', though I have been hearing a lot more of that in relation to your name."

She gave him a glance.  "You realize the hyphenated version won't fit on any form?"

"Yeah," he said smugly.  "I don't mind if you don't take my name professionally.  Ma might but she knows about things like that."

"I'll figure that out before we get back."  She finished with a flamboyant stroke and turned it so he could see it.  "There.  Check the description."

"They ran.  A new record," he said happily.  He gave her another kiss. "Save it."  She did and turned off her laptop, putting it next to her.  He gave her another kiss and someone made a disgusted noise.  "Go away," he said firmly.  "She's my future wife."

"Hmm.  Future wife.  Sounds much nicer than fiancé.  I've had to spell that for people before."  She stroked Ray's thigh, making the woman walk on.  "So, Ray, which way do you want me to go?"

He kissed her forehead.  "If you take my name I might be disappointed.  You'd have to rebuild your rep among the beat cops."  She sighed and nodded.  "But if you wanted to hyphenate I'd be really happy."  She beamed at him.  "Good enough?"

"I like that idea then.  Even though it won't fit on the reports."

"Then use yours and the other the rest of the time," he told her.  She nodded, smiling at him.  He cleared his throat.  "Someone wanted me to go back undercover."

"Only if you're bringing me, and I'm fairly obvious," she reminded him.  He gave her a look.  "I mean it, Ray.  I don't care what you did undercover, I understand about that stuff, but if you go back under I'm going to send Oz to hunt you down and stay with you."  He chuckled.  "Seriously. I'll put a little homing device on her then bust in and kidnap you away from the crooks.  We can even make a pact.  No more undercovers."  He nodded, kissing her on the forehead.  "When did they come for you?" she sighed.

"Last night.  His son's in trouble and the Feds want me to solve it for them."

"Vegas?"

"No," he told her.  "I refused."  She leaned against his side.  "I promise, I'm not going under again.  I hated it."  She nodded, leaning harder.  "It'll be okay."

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but weren't you undercover in Vegas?" she asked.  He nodded.  "Don't the cops there want your ass?"

"Hopefully not as much as you," he told her.  She smiled.  "We good?"  She nodded.  "Quit worrying?"  She nodded again, giving him a trusting look.  "Even if they did, we can verify who we are.  You know some of the cops there."

"I was thinner then," she warned.

He laughed.  "I like you this way."  He gave her a hard kiss, grabbing the sides of her face.  "I'm not worried, you've got my back and I know that."  She beamed and nodded, giving him a light, nibbling kiss.  The stewardess cleared her throat again.  "Fine, take our fun."

She leaned down.  "That's why we have bathrooms," she told him firmly.  "Please."  He smiled and nodded.  "Thank you."  She checked the ramp then called the gate.  It was a booked flight but there were empty seats.  Two new people came running and got on, then she watched as Catherine got a confused look on her face as she watched them walk past where she was sitting. She closed the door, opening it for one last person, an odd one in her book but then again, cie la vie.  She closed and locked the door, then moved to start the safety lecture.

***

Catherine walked off the ramp, holding out the leash on the three handcuffed people.  "I come bearing gifts," she told the detective, blowing a kiss.  "Ray?"  He walked up behind her with their bags.  "This is my man.  Ray, this is Brass.  He owes me about six or seven kisses from that poker game I told you about."  She smiled.  "I'll email you the report."  She took her bag and Ray's hand, kissing him hard.  "Come on.  You promised to shock me with the outfit I should have looked at earlier."

He gave her a smug look.  "I did, didn't I?"  He checked his watch.  "We've got four hours.  Everything should be waiting on us to sign and do."  He walked her off.

Detective Brass turned around.  "Don't I know you?" he called.  "You look familiar."

Ray held up his badge.  "Ask the Feds," he called back.  He squeezed her hand. "You don't want to collect first, right?"  She shook her head and grinned, skipping beside him.  "Calm down and I'll buy you some good sugar-free chocolate," he offered.

"I'm excited.  This is really cool," she told him.  "No one's ever really wanted to marry me before."

He stopped her, kissing her hard.  "I do, so calm down."  She smiled and nodded, relaxing. "Thank you.  If I left you, Stanley would hunt me down and kill me. You know that.  And Ma would help him."  She beamed and nodded.  "Let's do this."

"Okay," she agreed.  She took his hand again, letting him lead the way.  She liked him taking some of the responsibility for things.  It was nice to sit back and plan.

The local detective looked at the three thieves.  "What just happened?"

The lead one smiled brightly.  "He's been teasing her the whole flight.   He planned everything and told her that they were getting married."

"It is romantic," one of the other two, the odd one, agreed.

The one in the hat nodded.  "It is.  He calms down her bitchiness."

The lead one laughed.  "I had forgotten about the last time we met her.  Never get her up at eight in the morning."  He let himself be led off, knowing they'd be escaping soon.

***

Ray handed her the dress bag, then gave her a look.  "It's all in there.  Cris helped me find it."  He blew a kiss.  "Ten minutes."  She gave him a horrified look.  "You'll be fine."  He left her in there, going to get changed himself.

She unzipped the bag, finding a white dress like her favorite black one in the bag.  She squealed and hugged it, pulling it out with the underwear for it. Ray had given her garters, how cute.  She put everything on quickly, then searched, finding a veil and a tiara.  On the tiara was a note.  "In this you look like a queen," she read, misting up.  "Oh, Ray," she sighed, smiling happily.  She checked herself in the mirror as she put it on, doing the combs as best she could.  Someone knocked.  "Having a bit of trouble with the veil," she admitted.  A woman came in and helped her fix it, then walked her out.  "I bet you see plenty of us."

"I do," she agreed, giving her a smile.  "I don't see many who are that happy though."  She left her at the doors.  "Enter whenever you're ready."  She stepped back.

Catherine took a few deep breaths, then flung open both doors, standing in the muted candlelight.  She saw Ray was wearing one of her favorite casual outfits, pure silk polo and pants.  She walked up the aisle, forcing herself not to hurry.  This wasn't the time to hurry.  She got up there and smiled at him, giving him a gentle kiss.  "You're right, I love it," she whispered.  He smiled and brushed a fallen hair off her nose.  They turned to the priest.  "Now, please?" she suggested.

He smiled and opened his book, looking at them.  "As bright as the stars in the night sky, love is even brighter and more eternal in the eyes of the God and Goddess; it is all the same as it is in the eyes of the God Jehovah.  Love is why we are here," he said, smiling at them.  Catherine was crying again.  Ray was patting her on the back.  He winked at Ray for his plans.  This was what the girl had wanted.

***

Ray walked into the conference, pulling the sleepy woman with him.  "Come on.  If you're really good, I'll put you in a car and let you try to run over me again," he said dryly. She laughed, then yawned.  "Come on.  Coffee's on the other side of the check-in desk."  The receptionist gave him a look.  "She's not a morning person.  We met when she nearly hit me with her car from lack of sleep and caffeine."  He watched as his wife went to swear at someone until they surrendered their coffee with a tolerant look.  "I guess she knows him."  He signed them in with a smug look.  "Change of plans," he said at her confused look.  "Layover in Vegas."  He walked over, taking her hand to pat while she drank the Dark God of her choice.  "Come on.  We can go lay on the beach later," he soothed.  She blew a kiss and went back to drinking.  "I'll buy you stock in Starbucks if you're really good for our honeymoon."

She put down the coffee cup and pounced him, pressing him against the table with brochures for activities. "I should have done that to you that morning instead of swearing at you," she told him, then she went to check them in.  The conference check-in man was giving her a funny look.  "Demoranth-Vecchio," she told him.  "Both of us."  He raised an eyebrow.  "Yes, married, now give.  I've only had the one cup of coffee and not near enough sex."  He fixed their badges and handed them over with the packet.  "Thanks.  Anything good in the next two hours?"

"No, Detective Demoranth-Vecchio.  Nothing special.  There's a weapon's seminar and a new SWAT demonstration.  That's about all."

"Huh.  I know our guys are here.  Maybe they'll get more tight the next time they come to a scene to help me."  She walked out, pinning Ray's badge to his beltloop.  "There, proper."  She smiled at him and grabbed their bags, carrying them up to their room.

Ray looked down at it, then snorted.  "Catherine, I didn't agree to take your name.  You haven't marked me yet."  He followed behind her, weathering the shocked looks.  "You have to mark me first," he reminded her when he caught up to her.

She flopped backwards onto the bed, stretching out.  "Come here, little boy, let me put pretty marks on your body," she teased with a sultry look.  He laughed and laid down on top of her to kiss her.  "That's a good little boy."  She grabbed his hair and pulled his head back, exposing his neck to her pleasure.  He moaned and let her do it.  When she was done she came up to kiss him again.  "Such a good boy.  On me is your reward if you can find it."

"Hmm, body cavity search," he said happily, starting with the top one.

"Thank you, Ray," she purred, shifting so he could do whatever he wanted.

Downstairs, some of the cops were looking at each other.  "Aren't they Chicago's trouble magnets?" one asked a counterpart from Vegas.

He nodded.  "Very.  She played strip poker with our guys a few years ago.  She was into women then."  He shrugged and went on to look at the new forensics exhibits.

The first one looked at one of the Chicago cops coming up to them, and the person with him.  "Constable," he said happily, giving him a hug.  "Good morning, Diefenbaker," he said politely. He smiled at the other man, holding out a hand.  "Sandburg," he introduced.

"Kowalski.  Did Vecchio and Demoranth come this way?"

Sandburg laughed.  "The Demoranth-Vecchio's you mean?" he asked.  Stanley smiled.  "I think they're taking a siesta.  She came in swearing and needing coffee."

Stanley laughed.  "That's how they met," he agreed happily.  "I knew they'd work out when I cut and left her with Ray."  He smiled at Benny.  "C'mon.  There's a new SWAT thing.  I wanna see what our guys are gonna pull outta their butts next time."  He led the way to the exhibit.

Benny smiled at Sandburg.  "I'll see you later, probably with Detective Demoranth- Vecchio.  She did her minor in anthropology and keeps up with her studies for occult cases."  He left, following his lover.

Sandburg looked up.  "Thank you!" he said to his personal God.  "People like me, finally!"  He went to find out all he could about this woman.  Maybe they could be email pals or something.

The End.