I'm still writing Revealing Eleven, so don't panic! It's just that this story wiggled it's way into my head and wouldn't get out! I'll be updating RE and GG alternately - or at least thats the plan...sometimes my muse doesn't alwaysco-operate! Hope you enjoy this, pls review - I'd really appreciate it!

Chapter 1

I looked around at the carnage of the playground and felt the euphoria slowly slip away. Yeah, I was alive, but I'd come real close dying.

Dying? Me? No, never! Denial reared her wonderful head and took residence in my mind.

Joe was talking to Robin Russel, securing the crime scene, doing cop stuff. Ranger was talking to a team of his Merry Men, making phone calls, doing mystery stuff.

I felt the adrenaline leach from my body and the shakes began. I wrapped my arms tightly around myself so nobody would notice.

Sally was sitting in one of the patrol cars, looking doped out. Shit.

I hesitated only a moment before pulling out the cell phone that Joe had leant me. I dialled a number I hadn't used in a while.

'Orr.' The phone was answered curtly.

'It's Stephanie.' I said. 'I need you to represent a friend of mine.'

'And why would I do a thing like that?'

'Because I'll give back all the pictures I have.'

Silence.

'All of them?'

'All of them.' I confirmed.

'Alright. Who is it?'

'Salvatore Sweet. He killed a load of Comstock Slayers. Hopefully it'll be ruled defence of a third party, but he's pretty doped up, I want you to make sure he doesn't tie himself up in knots.'

'Ok. Who was the third party?'

'Me.'

'You'll be willing to state that Salvatore was defending you?'

'Yes, and its Sally.'

'What?'

'Salvatore. He prefers to be called Sally.'

'Jesus, what kind of a man is he?'

'A drag queen.'

'Let me get this straight. A drag queen saved you from a load of Slayers?'

'Yeah.' I said, feeling weary of this conversation.

'What the heck kinda life do you lead!' He sounded like Valerie.

I ignored that question, 'be at the playground near Comstock in ten and you'll get all the pictures back.'

Dickie started to say something else, but I hung up. Hmm, this hanging up thing is kinda fun; Ranger might be on to something.

I put the cell away, and looked up to see Joe standing a few steps away, looking serious. Uh oh. It didn't take a genius to figure out what this conversation was going to be about, which is lucky cos no one's ever accused me of being a genius.

'Are you ok, Cupcake?' he asked, his voice soft.

I swallowed away the sudden lump in my throat, and smiled easily at him, 'sure. I'm peachy.'

'Peachy.' He repeated disbelievingly. 'Christ, cupcake: you've been kidnapped, beaten, nearly gang raped and murdered, and you say you're peachy!' his voice was level and controlled, cop-like. I could deal with the Italian temper and huge hand gestures, but not this. I felt my face relax into my version of the blank face; showing nothing.

'It's never going to work, is it?' he asked. He carried on speaking before giving me a chance to reply. 'I can't deal with this. My heart stopped half a dozen times getting over here, I broke the speed limits by epic proportions and I nearly ran over a dog. But I still would've gotten here too late. If it hadn't been for Sally...' He paused. Cop face fading, he rubbed a hand over tired eyes and blew out a sigh.

'I love you Cupcake, but it's not enough, is it?'

'I love you Joe.' I said.

'You say it now?' he said, with a hint of bitterness. 'When we're breaking up?' He shook his head slightly, and seemed to pull himself together. 'Nice blank face Cupcake.'

'Thanks, I practised in front of a mirror for ages.'

Joe smiled slightly at that. Then he leaned forward and pulled me into his arms.

'Just because we're not lover's anymore doesn't mean I'm not going to be in your life. We're friends, ok?' He whispered into my hair.

'You'll always be my friend Joe. One of the best I've ever had.'

'Back at you.' He replied. He stepped back and released me from his arms. We stood, neither of us saying anything, but unwilling to walk away.

'Morelli.' One of the cops called, 'Over here.'

Joe met my eyes for a moment longer, then he nodded and walked away.

I need ice cream.