A/N

Hi guys! So this is my first attempt at actually publishing fan fiction. Unfortunately, I do not own Nikki and Nora, though I definitely wish I did. I love them; their relationship, their sassiness, just everything about them! Please please please, read and review! I have other chapters prepared, but I want to make sure there is at least a teensy bit of interest before I post them! Thanks!

Chapter 1

"Look, I'm not saying you can't do this, I'm saying be careful."

Nikki rolled her eyes and finished pulling on her tight red tank top. Nora looked her over, doing her absolute best to avoid staring at the officer's chest as she pursed her lips.

"What?" Nikki asked coyly, sidling up to Nora, "you don't like what you see?"

"You know that's not it," Nora rolled her eyes, stepping away and looking out the window of their apartment, the sun was just beginning to rise over New Orleans, but the streets were already alive with sounds and smells.

"No one should be allowed to see you like that but me. Nikki, these people, they're different. They aren't high society bureaucrats like you're used to. These are the lowest of the low, scum of the earth, and I won't be there to back you up. This isn't, you shouldn't-"

"Hey," Nikki murmured, wrapping her arms around Nora, "This isn't my first party. I'm going to be fine."

"I should be the one going in, not you," Nora shook her head, tightly gripping Nikki's arms around her torso.

"I can't let you have all the fun," Nikki laughed quietly, gently brushing the honey blond hair off of Nora's neck and pressing her lips to the smooth skin.

"Besides," she continued, resting her chin on Nora's shoulder, "It's about time you got to see what its like to wait in the background, worrying about whether or not I'm going to walk through the door every night."

"Please," Nora stepped away and turn to glare at the frustrating brunette, "I'm already freaking out enough, I don't need you to remind me that you might not come back. That isn't even remotely helping my mood."

"Nora," Nikki stepped forward and gripped her hands, "I'm going to be fine! I can handle myself, you know that. And I know for a fact that you're going to figure out a way to have my back. You always do."

The blonde looked unconvinced, her perfect lips pursed slightly, her brow crinkled with worry. She was so used to being the bad ass in the relationship; I mean yeah, Nikki could handle herself, but Nora was always the one jumping on the dangerous undercover assignments because she hated the idea of having to sit around helpless while Nikki put her ass on the line.

"Do you remember a few weeks ago, when you and I worked the bar down on South street?" Nora asked quietly, moving to the couch and sitting down heavily. Mister took his opportunity and jumped up, wagging his tail as Nora absently scratched behind his ear.

"I remember how hot you looked in that waitress uniform," Nikki sighed dreamily, perching on the chair across from the couch.

"I'm being serious," Nora insisted, and her tone sobered Nikki up.

"Of course I remember it," she muttered impatiently, "Why is it so important?"

"When that meat head took you down," she took a shaky breath, running a hand through her hair. She closed her eyes for just a moment as the memory overtook her; coming into the alley just in time to see Nikki thrown to the ground and then against the wall. He had left Nikki lying on the ground, writhing in pain, and tried to run away.

Everything had gone red when Nora saw Nikki in that much pain, and her ears were roaring as she charged the guy. She didn't think, just stuck her elbow out and lunged at him, smashing into his face. He crumbled, more surprised than anything else, but Nora planted her knee on his chest and trained her gun right in front of his face.

"Just give me a reason you son of a bitch," she had snarled, and then looked to Nikki, who by then had managed to stand up, using the wall for support.

"Nikki!" she had shouted, and she had thanked god and anyone else watching out for them, when her partner gave her a dismissive wave.

"Nor."

Nora was pulled back to the present by a gentle hand on her arm. She looked up into Nikki's eyes, staring at her with worry.

"Nikki, when you went down, my life ended," she rubbed a hand over her eyes, "The only reason I dove at the guy like a psycho was that there was literally nothing left for me. I stopped caring about my own safety the second I saw you like that, because there is no point in hell for me to keep going in a world that doesn't have you in it."

"Nora."

"I can't go through that again," Nora pressed on, ignoring Nikki and staring straight ahead, "I am not strong enough to go through that again, especially when there isn't a god damn thing I can do to protect you."

"Nora," Nikki repeated, this time moving to kneel in front of her partner, taking both her hands.

"I am going to be fine," she insisted quietly, reaching up to brush a lock of hair behind Nora's ear, "You just have to trust that I can handle myself. I won't make any reckless mistakes, I won't try to be a hero, and I will do only what needs to be done to close this case. I will keep myself safe, because I know I have you to come home to."

"I love you," Nora smiled, and the brunette rolled her eyes.

"Of course you love me," she grinned, "I'm fantastic."

"And ever so humble," Nora muttered, but she couldn't hide the grin that danced on her lips.

"Now come on," Nikki grinned pulling Nora up into her arms, "we have to get to work or Dan's going to kill us."

"I'm sure we can keep Dan waiting for just little while," Nora whispered, tightening her grip and pressing her lips softly to Nikki's. She pulled away and cocked an eyebrow at Nikki, whose face was already slightly flush.

The stare down lasted about 5 seconds before Nikki began to devour Nora's lips. The kiss was deep, passionate, the promise of something more. Nikki wrestled with Nora's belt buckle as the as slender fingers tangled themselves into thick dark hair.

"You right," Nora pulled away quickly, grinning devilishly at the aching look in her girlfriend's eyes, "We really should get to work; we don't want to be late."

With that, she untangled her fingers, planted one final, sensual kiss on her breathless partner's lips, just enough to make her want more, before turning on her heel and heading towards the door.

"Damn it, you are evil," Nikki muttered when she recovered.

"Ah but you love me anyway," Nora laughed, leaving the apartment.

"Fair enough," she amended, following close behind.