Disclaimer: "The Rookies" is owned by Spelling/Goldberg Production. The plot is mine, but not the characters. This story is meant for enjoyment purposes only. No infringement is intended.

Author's Note: I have been reading The Rookies fanfiction since it was first posted to this site. I finally got up the nerve to write my own version of my favorite love story, Mike and Jill. I hope you enjoy. This story has eight chapters and will be posted one a day until it's finished. I need to send a huge "THANK YOU" to my beta, my BIFF, who stepped out of her fandom and into mine! She is truly a treasured friend and an English Geek Extraordinaire!

Friday, August 1972

"Come on, Mike, tonight let's not go to The Open House. Let's try somewhere new." Officer Willie Gillis begged.

"Willie, why is going to O'Malley's so important to you tonight." Mike Danko asked as his curiosity at the younger man's request piqued.

"Well, I've heard their food is better than The Open House and they have a pool table."

"William, both Terry and I have told you we won't play pool against you anymore. You cheat."

Just then the door to Mike's apartment opened and in walked Terry Webster.

"I don't cheat, Mike. I just had to find another source of income during my college days. I've had a lot of practice."

Terry laughed as he grabbed a beer out of the refrigerator. "Willie, give it up, tell Mike the real reason you want to go to O'Malley's. Willie's met the woman of his dreams today and she's going to be at bar tonight with her friends."

"Terry, what does Mike care about true love? We've known him for 6 months now and have never seen him even look at a woman. He's an old man who has given up on love."

"I have not given up on love, I have just been putting all of my energy into the police academy." Mike scowled at the younger man. Sometimes, Willie could be a pain in the ass. Mike knew he was young but his constant need to find the perfect woman could get on his nerves. "I thought you were practically engaged to Nancy back home."

"Yeah well, Nancy won't even discuss moving here. She wants me back in Ohio working for the local sheriff in our home town. She doesn't understand my need to work this program. It's such a new approach to police work. So, until she decides to move here, we are no longer a couple. I'm hoping she'll come for a visit in the next few months and see for herself what we are doing here. In the meantime, I can and will keep looking."

"How about it Mike, should we put William out of his misery and go some place new tonight? I have to say this chick was very pretty." Terry said.

"Okay, I give. What is your dream girl's name?"

"Well, I don't know. I saw her while eating lunch at Mel's Diner today. She was with a friend who was talking her into going to O'Malley's tonight. I figured it would be easier to talk to her at the bar then approach her table during lunch. Man, is she beautiful, dark hair, long legs, innocent with a hint of mischief in her eyes. I think it could be true love this time"

Mike laughed as the three rookies left the apartment. He couldn't believe he was going to a bar to help Willie pick up this unsuspecting woman. 'I hope the food's good at least.'

The three friends ate dinner and decided to play pool to pass the time. With Willie distracted, Terry and Mike might have a chance to win.

"Hey Willie, isn't that your true love coming our way?" Terry asked as Mike started to turn around.

"Yes. Mike don't look, I don't want her to know I was looking for her." Willie grabbed Mike's shoulder as the dark haired beauty approached the group.

Just as she stopped behind Mike, Willie started to say hello. Instead, the mysterious woman tapped Mike on the shoulder, making him turn.

As soon as Mike was facing her, the woman reached around his neck pulling his head down towards her, capturing his lips is a heated kiss. Mike's arms instinctively wrapped around her small frame pulling her closer and deepening the kiss.

In the six months that Terry and Willie had known Mike, they had never seen him even look at a woman. When Terry had questioned Mike one day while driving around on duty, Mike had told him that he had found true love and lost it. He was still in love and wasn't ready to move on in his life yet. Well, Terry guessed he was ready now. Meanwhile, Willie was devastated. How did Mike do it?

As the couple slowly separated, Mike began to speak but the woman quickly covered his mouth with her fingers.

"I'm sorry to bother you and if you knew me, you would know this is not something I would normally do. You would also know that I have never turned down a dare. You see, my friends over there," gesturing towards a table of 5 women, "and I play a game where we all write down three dares. We each take turns pulling them out of a hat. Once they are all pulled, we take turns completing them. Well, my three were to buy a good looking man a drink. That was easy. My next turn was to approach the best looking man in the bar and kiss him without explaining why until after the kiss. Since my third dare is so outrageous, I had to complete this one. When I looked over and saw you, I just knew it had to be you. I really hope you didn't mind and I promise you I won't bother you again."

"What if I wanted to be bothered again?" Mike asked with a twinkle in his eye. His arms still wrapped around her waist.

"Well, then I would buy you a drink for allowing me to kiss you and not have me arrested."

"Would that also take care of your first dare? I really like helping out damsels in distress. I would be willing to help you out with all three dares if you want."

"I already completed my first dare. That kiss was my second but as I said, my third is outrageous. I think my friends just wanted to see how far I would go to keep my record of always accepting dares."

"I would be willing to help if you need me to, Milady."

Stammering, the woman began, "this is really embarrassing, you see my friends dared me to go home tonight with a stranger, not exchanging names."

"Did the dare say go home with a stranger and have sex or was the sex implied? I'm good either way, just wondering what services I'm offering." Mike chuckled.

"The sex was implied but I couldn't ask you to help out with this."

"Milady, you are not asking, I'm offering and if sex is involved, well I guess I grin and bear it." Mike laughed, "Your reputation is at stake. You wouldn't want your friends to know that you do not accept all dares that are put forth."

"Well, I guess my reputation is blown whether I go with you or not so your place or mine?"

"Mine, Oh I'm Mi." Coming in for a kiss, the woman stopped Mike from continuing.

"No names, remember?"

"So, what am I suppose to shout out in the throes of passion if not your name?" Mike bantered back.

"I'm sure you will think of something."

"I'm sure I will. Goodnight guys, I'll see you tomorrow." Mike waved as he allowed the dark- haired beauty lead him, first to her table to collect her purse to say goodnight to her friends and then out the door.

"What the hell just happened here? I think Mike just stole my girl." Willie looked at Terry, the shock reflecting on his face mirrored the look on Terry's.

"I guess the old man still has game. Do you really think he is bringing her to his apartment? You don't think he would sleep with her, do you?" Terry was amazed at Mike's behavior. It was out of character for Mike. Looking over at a dejected Willie, Terry added, "Rack 'em up Willie. I'll go get another pitcher and let you beat me at pool to cheer you up."

Meanwhile, outside of the bar, Mike had Jill pressed up against the brick wall of the building kissing her senseless. "Oh God Jill, I have missed you." Mike groaned as his hands roamed Jill's sides.

"I've missed you too. I'm so sorry for hurting you Mike. Can you forgive me?" Jill wrapped her arms around Mike pulling him closer, if possible.

"Jill, you have nothing to apologize for. You leaving did hurt, but I understood under the circumstances why you felt you had to leave. Just answer me this before this goes any further. Now that you are back in my arms, in my life, are you here for good?"

Jill put a hand on Mike's chest pushing him back a little so she could make eye contact. When Mike's blue eyes looked into Jill's brown ones, Jill spoke softly. "I'm sorry I walked away from you. I have regretted it ever since and didn't know how to find you to ask you to take me back. If you will have me, I would like to stay in your life forever. I love you Mike, I need you more than I need air. My life ceased to exist since you have not been in it."

Pushing Jill into the wall so his whole body made as much contact with her as possible, Mike kissed Jill hungrily. Jill responded eagerly. Her hands landing on Mike's butt, pulling him into her, his need for her evident.

"Hey Danko, get a room!" Officer Tom Stewart yelled across the parking lot as he entered the bar.

Realizing their location, Mike slowly pulled away from Jill, putting his forehead against hers as they both tried to catch their breath. "I guess we should go somewhere to discuss what we both want and how to continue our relationship."

"Yeah, wouldn't want to wreck my reputation by being arrested for lewd and lascivious behavior now, would we?"

"Babe, I believe that your reputation has already been wrecked after the show you just put on in the bar." Mike laughed.

Mike brought his lips back to Jill's and then took her hand and led her to his car. Opening her door and then walking around to the driver's side, Mike couldn't believe that Jill was here. He had hoped to see her again but was afraid of hurting her. She had asked him to forget about her and to not contact her. He couldn't ever deny her anything even though it hurt like hell, he had walked away. Was fate bringing her back into his life for good?

Once Mike started to drive, Jill asked "Did you appreciate my approach?"

"How could I not? I turn around and suddenly I'm being kissed by a beautiful, sexy woman whom I happen to love. This is not what I expected tonight. I'm glad my friends talked me into coming here, though they probably think I've lost my mind. Why did you approach me like that? You could have just came up and said 'hi'"

"When I saw you walk in, I didn't know what you would say. For all I knew you are married with a child on the way. I was sitting in a dark corner and it made it easy for me to watch you without being seen. I didn't see a ring so I figured you weren't married. I also figured if you were involved that your girlfriend would arrive soon since it's a Friday night. You are not the type to go out with friends and leave your girlfriend at home. Nobody arrived. I needed to kiss you before you had a chance to walk away. If you had kissed me back, I would have a fighting chance to get you back. If you pushed me away, it was over but at least I got one last kiss." Jill smiled at Mike.

"I could never push you away." Mike reached across the seat to move a piece of hair behind Jill's ear so he could see her face. "I do believe you shocked my friends though. They have known me for six months and have never seen me with anyone. I think they were beginning to think I was gay."

"Six months and no dates, Mike, really?" Jill eyed him suspiciously

"Two years, Jill, and no dates, I've missed you." Mike answered her honestly.

Jill gave a sad little laugh and looked at Mike. "I've missed you too. I didn't know if I would remember how to kiss. Seeing you brought it all right back to me. Like riding a bike."

"So where to, Milady?"

"Well, to win the dare, I guess your apartment."

"Are you sure?" Mike asked hopefully

"Never more sure of anything in my life, Mike." Jill moved closer to Mike laying her hand on his thigh.

"Home it is then." Mike smiled as he looked at Jill

Back at O'Malley's, Officer Stewart approached Webster and Gillis. "Hey what's going on with Danko? Is he drunk or something? I've never seen him act that way."

"No, he's sober. What way?" Terry questioned.

"He's outside with some hot brunette pressed against the wall. That's more Willie's style than Danko's."

"It's also Willie's girl." Terry mumbled causing Willie to punch him in the shoulder. "I don't know what's going on with Mike. The girl picked him up and he left with her. That's the whole story."

Stewart walked away from the Rookies since he wasn't going to get any more information. He would have to wait until the gossip mill in the locker room had the information.

"You really don't think he would, do you?" Willie said once he realized that Mike continued his unusual behavior after he left the bar.

"Willie, I guess we will find out tomorrow. We are not knocking on Mike's door tonight." Wow, good for Mike, Terry smiling at the thought that his friend really did like girls.