This story is based both off the music video for the song "Stay" by Safety Suit, and the song "Sirens" by Lee Brice. It's a mix of the two. I thought it was interesting, and cop!Austin and Criminal!Ally was something I couldn't put down, so here we go. I'm posting this is two parts, and today you get the first half.

Let me know what you think. Enjoy!

Rookie Detective Austin Moon walked into work one early summer morning, his mind still tucked underneath the covers of his full size bed, and his body somehow moving without it. He sucked down the mud-like coffee, hoping it would do its damn job in time. Granted, the man should've been used to it. They all hadn't left the station until well after midnight the night before, having enough paperwork to sink a ship. Still, somehow his chatty partner, Dez Wade was already at his desk, piecing through what looked to be a newspaper, feet up and humming from behind the gray pages.

"Morning, Moon."

Austin grumbled as he collapsed into his seat, wondering if he could catch a five minute nap before Captain Jimmy Star came walking into the room. He would never be that lucky, of course:

"Dude, Captain wants you."

"For what?"

He barely managed to raise his head enough to see his partner give him a teasing smile. "Dunno. It sounded important though. I wouldn't keep him waiting."

He grimaced, forcing himself to stand and glance toward the office. The door was open, but he couldn't see much else from where he stood. His boss was a hard ass and wanted nothing but the best from his entire force. Austin could respect that, but in that moment, he truly just needed a few more minutes of composure. He settled for slugging the last of his coffee and tossing the empty container in the garbage can beside his desk before he headed that direction.

"If he fires my ass, I don't know what I'll do."

"He won't fire you," Dez snorted.

Austin rolled his eyes and walked the remaining way to the office, stopping short when he heard the older veteran man on the phone. He waited until he was off, hearing bits and pieces of what seemed to be a conversation about some sort of burglary. Finally, he walked into the highly decorated office filled with awards and other glory shots from his boss's own detective days.

"Good morning, Detective Moon."

"Morning, Sir. Wade said you wanted to see me?"

"Yes," the man agreed, waving his hand. "Shut the door and take a seat."

Austin swallowed hard. He'd only made detective status a few months ago, he didn't want to already watch his career wallow away. He had a life to live, a family to eventually have… a wife out there somewhere just waiting for him to dazzle her with his wonderful smile and… he was getting carried away. Right then, he had to focus on Captain Starr's voice and whatever the hell he was going to tell him. If he fired him, there wasn't much he could do about it. They weren't exactly the NYPD or LAPD, but their little humble town of Miami did quite well in crime and other needs. Hell, he'd even saved a cat or two in his day.

"Hope you got some sleep last night," the man started with, raising his own cup of coffee. "Lots of jokes for us in this field about coffee, but I don't think we'd survive without it. Thank you for being on time and with us this morning, Moon. I appreciate that."

He didn't understand where this was going, but he wouldn't turn down a compliment.

"Sure thing. What's going on though?"

And maybe a little bravery while he was at it.

"I was made aware this morning of a burglary chain that has been going on in the area. A young woman that we haven't caught the name of, or tied to anything but the string of robberies has been quite busy with some smaller bank chains. She's struck mainly at night, but sometimes early morning before the managers get in. She takes whatever she can and is out the door before the cops arrive. She's managed to disable cameras and leave behind not many clues." He reached for a piece of paper, handing it to Austin. "We only have this photo of her, taken by a nearby security camera of a convenience store down the street. And we also have a witness that says he saw her at his bar several times in the last few weeks. She doesn't stay long, only enough time to pick up a guy or two, and then leaves. He only noticed it was her because of us surveying the area. We're pretty sure his woman and ours is a match."

Austin listened carefully as his boss spoke, not sure why this wasn't going to the main office. Seemed like they were on a pretty big mission to stop this woman.

"That's where you come in."

Brought back to his attention, Austin furrowed his brow and looked at his boss with confusion.

"Me?"

"You fit the description of the men she picks up. Blond, in good physical condition… easy on the eyes kind of deal," he said, giving him a teasing smile. "That makes you a perfect plant for our sting. She's been moving into bigger and larger branches of banks, we think it's only a matter of time before she hits one big and because there are so many different banks in the area, it would be hard to patrol each one and there just isn't enough manpower for that. Our only hope is to get undercover. We suspect she works with these men a time or two, pays them off, and then moves on… you would be her new beau, essentially. What do you think, Detective Moon?"

He was surprised his boss was throwing such a large task at him.

"What else should I know? Is she armed?"

"We assume so, yes. If you don't want the task, I can let chain of command know. I'm sure we can assign this to someone else." Austin wasn't stupid. He knew this could make his career and if he said no, he not only did not look good in front of his own boss, but in front of the higher ups in the Miami police departments.

He swallowed hard. "Okay. What do I have to do?"

Sirens

"I can't believe you're going undercover! Who am I going to ride around with now? Who will I talk to during the day? What about the long weekend shifts when nothing happens? This is horrible!" Dez was a bit dramatic. He also was one of the best cops he'd ever met. Dez was one of those who if you saw him on the street outside of work, you'd never believe he was a cop. But in the zone, he was one of the best.

Austin had known him since their extreme rookie days and had watched him grow into the man he'd become. Now married with a newborn baby boy, he couldn't be more pleased for his best friend and partner.

Still, he was a moron.

"Dez, you'll be fine. It's only for a little while. I just got to get a girl to trust me and I'll be back."

"You're with a criminal!" Dez reminded him. "A woman who has robbed half a dozen banks and gotten away with all of it except for ONE picture. Do you know how incredible that is?"

"I read the file, Dez. Yes. I do. I'll be fine." He looked in the mirror, staring at his reflection. He was set to leave the building in a half an hour, not to come back until his undercover was complete. He'd been given a lot in the last few days: new wardrobe, a new phone, and even a fake apartment until it was all said and done. His new identity was Austin Lynch, and he was an upcoming musician from the area. Hopefully this mystery girl liked someone who could make a song or two.

"I worry about you, man. You know, ever since…"

Austin rolled his eyes. "Dude, you got shot that day."

Dez flicked his wrist, exposing the flesh wound and only proving just how ridiculous he was being. "Yes! Taking a shot that was meant for you!"

"Relax. Dude. I'll be fine."

Dez huffed. "Fine. Excuse me for giving a fuck."

"Oh shut up. I'll see you soon." He waved to his partner and then made one last stop in his boss's office before he would leave. Jimmy Starr smiled at him when he entered, shaking his head.

"You look like a pop star, Moon."

"That's Lynch," he said back. "And I feel a bit grungy. Is that how this works?"

"Something like that. You have your burn phone on, right? It's linked to the main office as well as my personal phone and your partners. If you ever feel you need help, you know who to contact. There is also a weapon and several other useful items at your disposal in the brief case. Try to stay at the bar as long as you can. We need every chance we have to catch her. Hopefully no one has spilled and spooked her from this location."

"Gotcha, Captain."

He gathered up his things.

"And Moon?"

"Yeah?"

His boss nodded his head. "Stay safe."

Stay safe he thought as he got the key to his new apartment. This hadn't even crossed his mind until his partner and boss were drilling it into his head. He slid the key into the hole, trying to ignore the thoughts now in his head and let himself in. Inside the apartment was furnished, though sparsely, and he took a seat down on the couch to look over the woman's file and the notes he'd been given.

Much like his boss told him, they didn't have much on her. A few witness accounts that didn't all add up and a blurry picture of what looked like a dark haired girl wearing extremely tight clothing with her hair tied up. He squinted at the picture, bringing it closely to his face. In his mind, he heard his partner teasing him that he needed glasses. With a snort, he set it down and went back to the written file.

Suspect has fled the scene of six robberies through the suburbs of Miami, leaving each with well over one hundred thousand dollars. Suspect is quick; evidence is slim.

The police work was thorough, but much like stated, what they had was slim.

He didn't even really know what to look for tonight when he got to the bar.

But he knew why he was doing this and what it meant for him as a person. Criminals were criminals; anyone who tried to deny that was simply an excuse for the person. Austin couldn't think of a reason to defend someone who had broken the law in a way that was cemented. After all, his childhood best friend had dealt with one all of his life before he met his demise. And he was sure that no one had defended Jace. Plenty defended the scumbag who beat him to death, though. Austin didn't stand for that. It was why he went into law enforcement. He wanted to make the difference.

Maybe he couldn't save Jace, but he could save others.

Sometime later, he had fixed his hair and himself, getting ready to head for the door. In the briefcase he was given, he found several weapons, including a small handgun that he tucked into the back of his jeans. Hopefully if he did score with this woman, she wouldn't catch it before he'd be able to remove it. He also slipped the burn phone into his pocket, and a few other things that were probably important. By the time he was done, it was well past ten pm and he was on his way.

The bar wasn't anything fancy. The lights glowed beneath the street, one or two looking like they might go out at any second. There were a few customers outside smoking cigarettes, chatting about their weeks and bitching like most would. He didn't get stopped at the door like you would in some of the fancier places, he was able to let himself in and find an empty seat toward the middle. A busty bartender smiled at him and offered him service. He asked for a beer. He could be here a while, he wanted something he could sip and drink a while so that he wouldn't end up sloshed and unable to do his job.

He people watched for a while, allowing what he hoped looked like a laid back personality as he scanned the room for anyone who might meet her description. The art of undercover work was hard to master, and he was barely a novice. Besides, there was still the chance that rumors had spread and the woman that already left the area and moved on. He could only hope that the owner had been right and that she would come back.

Two hours later, and Austin was losing hope. He'd burned through three beers and was getting a suspicious eye from the bartender, and he desperately had to pee. Austin didn't want to get up though, afraid he'd somehow miss her if he headed to the men's room. But his bladder didn't give a damn any longer, and he rose from the tall chairs and turned toward the back of the bar, almost immediately bumping into someone.

He recognized her immediately. The same soft looking face stared back at him, except this time her hair was down and she was wearing a cocktail dress. She was like something out of a damn movie. He could've believe something as delicate but stunning was responsible for something so… well, criminal. And if he was being honest, she was checking him out. Austin quickly put a smile on his face.

"Hey, sorry. I didn't see you there."

The woman's lips curved into a smile. "Right."

"Do you want this seat? I'm gonna run to the men's room."

"I don't know," she answered. "Are you going to come back and keep me company after?"

Austin had an easy in, clearly. "Sure." He offered her what he hoped looked like an interested smile, then nodded to the bartender. "Whatever she orders, add it to my tab. I'll be right back."

"I'll be here," she purred.

Once alone, he hurried into one of the stalls instead of the urinal, texting his captain as he relieved himself, alerting the others that he'd made contact. Quickly, then he checked for his gun on his back. Finding it there safely, he went to the sink and quickly washed up. By the time he was done, the girl was already sipping on some sort of cocktail.

"What are you drinking?" he asked, slipping into the stool next to hers.

"Rum and coke," she said easily.

Disgusting, if he were honest. "Make it two," he said to the bartender. "So, what's a girl like you doing here by yourself?"

She snorted, "What a line. That's the best you got for me?"

He put up his hands, laughing easily. "Jeez! It was just a question. I'm not so good at this."

"Yeah? Why's that?"

Austin pretended to rub his neck, then leaned closer to her so that their faces were only inches apart. "I just got out of a long term relationship. My skills are a bit rusty."

She stared into his eyes. "Hmm."

"Hmm?"

"But your eyes are so interesting," she answered, her lips curving again. He had to give her credit. For a suspected criminal, she surely had a beautiful smile. Especially when it was clearly flirting with him. The dress she wore hung tightly to her petite frame, her curves practically screaming at him. She wasn't overdone in make up either; it was mainly natural except for a dark pink lip stain and some eyeliner that stood out. Mystery girl was beautiful.

"You never told me your name," he realized.

The girl leaned back, breaking the moment. "I'm Ally. And you?"

"Austin," he replied. The bartender brought him his drink. "What's your story?"

"My story?"

"I told you mine. I got dumped. Hence the bar. What's yours?"

"Can't a girl drink without reason?"

Austin smirked, "Sure. But you gotta give me something."

"Is that so?"

The two of them looked at each other with teasing eyes. "Well, yeah. It's only fair."

"I came to let off some steam," she finally shrugged. "It's been a long week."

"I hear that," he answered.

Sometime later, mystery girl turned Ally had told him about her supposed job as a nanny and how she only recently moved to Miami and that she was hoping to finish school to become a physical therapist. He listened intently, picking up anything that he could deem useful. And not to his surprise, when he glanced at the clock and saw it was almost two, she was still talking to him.

"So, they're closing soon," he started, eyeing the bartender, who was still giving him shifty eyes. "Why don't we get out of here?"

Ally nearly purred, "You are out of practice. I thought you'd never ask."

"My place?"

"Sure."

Ally made herself comfortable on his bed while he excused himself for a weak bladder a second time, hiding his gun in a place that she wouldn't look. He quickly splashed some water on his face and alerted his command a second time, then reentered his bedroom to see her sprawled out on the bed, giggling at him.

"Your bed is comfy," she stated.

"Is that so?" he asked, teasing her like she'd teased him.

Sitting down next to her, she curled into him. "Oh yeah."

"So, where were you from before you moved here for school?"

"All over," she said easily, as if her answers weren't clues for him. "I have lived all over Florida and the south before my parents died."

"I'm sorry."

"It's alright. I've gotten over it. What about you? You a beach boy all your life?"

"Pretty much."

"You never told me what you do for a living," she realized.

Austin shrugged, "I'm a musician. Working my way up in crappy bars."

"You mean you could've gotten on that old stage they had and serenaded me but you didn't? Damn, you dropped the ball."

He ignored her teasing, giving her a look. She sat up in bed, pulling the straps off of her dress so that he could see a little more. Her eyes darkened and her lips pulled into a pout. Holy shit, he thought. They had to give me an undercover assignment that was some sort of goddess. At least it made it easy.

Sometime later, clothes were shed and she was on top of him, proving just how experienced she was. He enjoyed it, glad that she was doing the majority of the work. He would get in on it in parts, but she worked her way around his body, making him ache in places he never realized he could. He was far from a virgin, but this girl knew how to have him hard, keep him there, and then relieve him too.

The clock read almost five am by the time he glanced at it as she slept peacefully beside him. Austin got up, heading for the bathroom so that he could make sure she was truly asleep first. He wanted to go through her small bag, see if he could find anything, but he knew if she woke and caught him doing that, he'd never have another chance. It was so small though, what could she have in there? He'd seen her reapply her lip stain at some point, and saw a small phone and other necessities, but he wanted to be concise in his report that he didn't miss a thing.

But he didn't trust that Ally wasn't a light sleeper. So, he waited.

And somehow fell back asleep beside her as the sun rose in the apartment.

He could've kicked himself when he woke up to see that she was gone. She even cleaned up his clothes, having folded them and left them on the chair near his bed. Austin groaned, knowing he should've done something last night. Instead, he pleased himself. Then, he noticed a piece of paper tucked underneath the clothes and rushed over, picking it up.

Austin,

Sorry I had to go, but I promise you I had a good time last night. ;) So… if you did too, maybe you could meet me here, later:

151 Main St

Miami, FL

-Ally

P.S. You sure aren't out of practice in bed.

Austin bit back a laugh. He sat down on the bed, shaking his head. He recognized the address as a well known coffee shop downtown, and quickly alerted his boss to the new details of his case. So far, she hadn't admitted to anything crime related, and he couldn't exactly ask her about it. What would he say? "So, what do you do in your spare time? Rob banks?" That would clearly ruin their cover. Still, his boss told him to head to the shop and be ready for whatever she was going to throw at him.

Austin dressed a lot more comfortably this time, in jeans and a loose fitting blank t shirt. He ran his hands through his hair, going for the rockstar persona, and then grabbed what he needed. He didn't have a time to meet Ally, and he wasn't even sure if she would show. There was definite chemistry, but a part of him wondered just how attached she would get to someone as a criminal.

By the time he got there, it was almost noon. He ordered a black coffee with a bagel and took a seat near the back, so that he was able to watch whoever came in. And much to his surprise, just as he sank his teeth into the first bites of his bagel, Ally strolled in wearing a pair of tight jeans and a tank top, hair dangling and sunglasses on her face. Holy shit, was she hot. Austin shifted in his seat. He'd have to complain about that to Dez later. Next time, he wanted to work undercover where he wouldn't have to worry about that.

"Glad you came," she said as she found him, slipping into her seat. She ordered a coffee of her own, taking off her sunglasses. "Sorry it took me a while to get here – not sure how long you've been waiting."

"Not long."

"I was visiting someone."

"Yeah?"

He noticed her entire posture change; her flirty quips disappear. In those seconds, he noticed she looked older, more worried much unlike the girl he met last night. Ally eyed him, studying him as if looking for something. Then, she sighed. "I suppose it doesn't matter if I tell you. You showed up, so you clearly like me."

Austin leaned forward, wondering if she was about to spill about her life of crime.

He got something he didn't expect instead.

"Remember how I told you my parents died?" He nodded. "Well, my brother was in the car with them when they had the accident. Some punk ass moron was texting and driving. Hit them going about 60mph, killing my parents instantly. My little brother was in the backseat, so he survived – but barely. He sustained serious damage to his head… they didn't think he was going to make it. His brain swelled constantly for weeks on end, and he was in a coma for four months." She wiped away some tears, and Austin put his arm on hers. "He's not the same Brad anymore… he hasn't been and he never will be. My little brother's life was taken that night, you know?"

"I'm so sorry, Ally."

She smiled at him through the tears. "So, if you want to run, go ahead. I don't usually tell people about that."

"No, no. I won't leave you. I'm glad you trusted me enough to tell me."

"Yeah, well… that's new too. Anyway, he's in a treatment facility a few miles away. He works with physical therapists every day so that he can walk again, speech therapists and all that… but it's not enough. His brain is too damaged. Some days, he doesn't even remember who I am. He gets terrible headaches, he has days where he just is angry. It can be so hard."

Austin swallowed hard. He never expected something like this from her, but he wondered at least a little if it was all an act. Sometimes criminals could be great storytellers.

"Anyway," she said, wiping her tears. "That's enough. I didn't come here so that I could make you pity me." The man brought her her coffee. "Thanks." She sipped it. "So, what do you have planned for today? Doing musician things?"

He chuckled, "No, just going to spend the day relaxing. What about you?"

Her expression changed again, becoming more serious and he shifted in his seat, uncomfortable. "What are you doing tonight?"

"Jeez, moving that quickly?" he teased.

Ally didn't humor him, "Are you busy?"

"No," he said honestly, trying to keep calm. "Why?"

"Do you think you could help me with something?"

"Sure, what's up?"

She relaxed. "I'll tell you later, but it wouldn't be until probably late, late tonight, maybe even the morning. You have a car, right?"

"Of course."

Ally sank back. "Great."

"Do you want to do dinner first?" He might as well continue to earn her trust. He had a sinking suspicion that whatever she wanted tonight would not be legal. He could only hope it would lead him to an arrest.

"Sure. But you'll have to drop me off after and I'll call you when I'm ready."

"That's fine. I'm in no rush."

Ally shook her head. "You're very easy going. I like that."