Corruption

Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters. I am just borrowing them.

Thanks to Christina for being my editor.

Chapter 1 – Stephanie POV:

Times were good for me, for once, Joe was fully recovered from his broken leg, and I was back to work at Vinnie's. I had also decided that I may have missed my apartment, but I missed Joe more when I wasn't with him. So when my lease was up at the end of October I moved in with Joe for good. It was just after New Year's and Joe and I were starting the New Year together and happy. It was a Tuesday night and I'd just finished rounding up my last skip of the day, picked up my body receipt and dropped Lula off at the office. While at the station, Carl mentioned that Joe had already gone home for the day. He told me Joe had a tough one and that I should be nice to him. Uh, I'm always nice to Joe. I had every intention of stopping to pick up some food for dinner, but I was lost in thought and the next thing I knew I was pulling up in front of the house. Wow, not Joe's house, but the house. Next thing you know I will be calling it our house, wait it is kind of is our house.

The front windows were open and you could hear the sounds of Sports Center coming through the windows. A smile crossed my lips because I realized that Joe was inside, waiting for me to get home and I liked the thought of that. I opened the front door and braced myself for an all out Bob assault, but nothing. Just the sound of Sports Center, but no Bob or Joe, I walked toward the couch and Joe was lying on his back stretched out on the couch. He had a beer in his hand that rested on his chest. He was sacked out and on the floor next to the couch was Bob. There were two beer bottles on the coffee table and a bag of Fritos. There were also bits of Fritos on the rug and around Bob so I'm guessing they shared the bag. My heart clutched at the sight of Joe. His features softened while he slept: he looked like an angel with his dark complexion and thick dark lashes. I see the man everyday and I know his body better than I know my own, but the sight of him still made my heart skip a beat and butterflies race around my stomach. I quietly walked around the couch and took the beer from his hand. As I did this, he mumbled something and wiggled deeper into the couch.

I slipped out of my shoes and crawled on the couch with Joe. I nestled my head in its spot, on his right shoulder with my face angled toward his neck so that I breathe in his scent. Joe, never waking, wrapped his arm around me and snuggled me into him, while at the same time shifted on the couch slightly giving me a little more room which prevented me from falling off the couch too easily. I closed my eyes and just relaxed into him. It was absolute heaven. The slow rise and fall of his chest, the beating of his heart while my hand rested over it, our legs intertwined with each other as naturally as the days go by. My body and mind slowly gave into sleep, being content to sleep in the arms of the man that I love, now if I could just tell him.

My next conscious thought was that I'm hungry. I felt and heard my stomach growling. I opened my eyes, Joe was still asleep with his arms wrapped around me and we were still on the couch. I looked up that the clock, noticed that is almost midnight and I needed food. I tried to wriggle my way out of Joe's arms, but he put a death grip on me. I realized that the only way I will get any food is to wake him up. I put my hand gently on his cheek and brushed my thumb lightly over his face. I borrowed his trick of rubbing a thumb gently over the lips and that seemed to work. I get an "mmm" and a smile. I leaned up and lightly kissed his lips, I get a louder and longer "MMMMM" along with a bigger smile, but still his eyes didn't open. I knew he was awake because his fingers lightly brushed against my arm.

I decided to go with the soft approach, "Joe," I whispered softly. "I need food. I'm starving." His smile grew slightly, but he did not let go of me.

"Joe, really let me get up to get some food. I promise I will be right back." He didn't budge. "I will bring you some, too. I am sure your Fritos are played out by now." Slowly his grip loosened, I hopped up, and gave him a kiss on the forehead. He went back to sleep, which was weird because Joe is not a "sleeper", not like me and Bob. We could sleep all day and just get up for meals and be totally content. I went into the kitchen and made two sandwiches, peanut butter and olives for me and peanut butter and grape jelly for Joe. I also brought in two glasses of milk.

As I walked back into the living room, I noticed the chill in the air from the still opened windows. I sat everything on the coffee table and walked over to close the windows. I locked the windows and front door and headed back to the couch. Bob was sniffing around the food and had not noticed the fresh kibble in his bowl. I nudged Joe with my knee in an effort to wake him. I finally had to reach down and shake him to get him to wake up.

Joe sat up and flashed a half grin at me as he picked up his sandwich. He took a bite before looking up at me. "Thanks."

I sat down next to him and took a bite of my sandwich. I noticed that Joe looked tired, not the 'I have been at work all day and up all night having gorilla sex with my girlfriend', but the emotionally drained kind of tired.

I brushed some hair off of his forehead while asking, "How was your day? I was told to be nice to you tonight."

Joe just smiled and replied, "My day was fine." Nothing was ever good if Joe said his day was fine. "I spent the entire morning reviewing cases that I had worked with Duncan and then had to sit through interviews and questioning about Duncan all afternoon. I left the station when IA left at 3:00. I came home had some drinks and Fritos with Bob and I guess fell asleep on the couch."

Joe stretched as he finished recounting his day and I heard his joints popping and was mesmerized by watching his muscles stretch and move beneath his skin. I knew with the mention of Duncan that Joe had indeed had a rough day and needed some TLC. Duncan was a Vice cop with Joe. He had been Joe's mentor and father figure. About six weeks ago, Duncan was relieved of his duties and placed on leave without pay. He was under investigation for taking money from some "operations" and looking the other way at times to help these "operations" avoid being questioned by the police.

I guess that all this recounting the day's events wore him out. He grabbed my hand and led me towards the stairs turning off lights as we went. At the top of the stairs we both headed into the bathroom to take care of teeth brushing and face washing on my part. I changed into my favorite night shirt; an old Navy T-shirt of Joe's and put my hair up in a pony tail. Joe was done way before I was. He was moving around in bed trying to get all the sheets just the way he likes them. I crawled into bed with Joe. I had just finished adjusting the pillows when Joe snuggled into me and pulled me close to him. Even though he had brushed his teeth, I could smell liquor on him mixed with toothpaste and peanut butter. It was not the best combinations of smells, but he still smelled like Joe so I did not complain. He nuzzled his face up by my neck and I could feel his breath on my neck. He had wrapped himself around me so I did what any good girlfriend would do, I just held him.

By morning we were not in the same position. Joe had been restless all night. He now was on his side and had me pulled up flush against him. I had my head resting on his arm and his other arm was draped over my stomach. I knew he was awake because his fingers were gently moving against my T-shirt. This led to thoughts of where I wanted those magical fingers to go. I snuggled into him to let him know I was awake. He slowly moved his lips closer to my ear, whispered "Good Morning", kissed me below my earlobe and then he got out of bed. I found this behavior very strange for Joe. We did not make love last night and now he got out of bed without much attempt at it this morning. This investigation was definitely getting to him and I was going to do everything in my power to help him through this.

I heard the shower start and I decided to join him. I figured maybe we could work some things out in the shower; it is one of the places where I do my best thinking. As I slipped into the shower, a smile crossed Joe's lips. He pulled me into his arms and just held me. The oddest feeling came over me, not one of lust or desire, but of contentment and love. It seemed that this was just what Joe needed. I slowly pulled away and grabbed my shampoo and started to lather up the hair, when Joe suddenly started massaging my head and working the shampoo through my hair. It felt like heaven. He turned me around, rinsed my hair, grabbed my conditioner and went to work. He was very good at this. I was always teasing him about his hair massages and saying that he should open up his own business. I tried to return the favor by grabbing my shampoo for him. He grabbed my wrist, "I don't think so Cupcake. Today is not a day where I can be distracted by smelling like you all day long."

"So I distract you?" I ask coyly.

"You know you do, but in a good way. You are all clean, go get dressed and quit being a distraction. I can't be late today." He then leaned over and kissed me on the forehead. I opened the shower curtain, toweled off and then start drying my hair to get ready for the day.