Klara Eklund ran behind Magnus Martinsson, gun drawn, body crouched low as they approached Kurt Wallander's house. Kurt had run out of the suspect's home, worried that he was after Linda, Kurt's daughter. He was right. Magnus peaked through the window, then crouched back down to face Klara.

"There's a gun on Linda," he said. "Kurt's gun is drawn. Stay here in case he runs."

Klara nodded and watched as Magnus went into the house. He yelled for Kurt to get down, and there were two shots. She didn't dare take her focus off the door, but those few seconds of not knowing who fired the shots felt like hours. Panic hit when a form came through the door, followed by immediate relief when she realized it was Magnus. He faced away from her as he gripped the side of the house and wretched. Klara, gun still drawn, went inside to see Kurt holding his daughter on the floor. They were both safe. She holstered her weapon and returned to Magnus. He stood straight when she touched his back.

"Are you okay," she asked.

"Fine."

"You probably saved both their lives. You know that, right?"

Magnus looked into her eyes for just a second before glancing away, and he nodded.

"I'll call the station and get the team out here."

Magnus nodded again, and Klara pulled out her mobile. She made the call as she watched Magnus walk to the car and sit on the edge of the back seat with his feet on the ground. When she disconnected, she walked over to him, pulling an evidence bag out of her pocket.

"I'm going to need your gun."

Magnus pulled his gun from the holster and released the clip before placing it all in the bag.

"Do you want to write down what happened now, while it's still fresh in your mind?"

"Yeah," he said, finally speaking. "That's a good idea."

Klara handed Magnus a pen and notepad before she went back inside to check on Kurt and Linda. She got them out of the house to clear the crime scene. Kurt put Linda in the back of his car, and joined Klara inside the house. Kurt walked her through what happened when he arrived. He would have to do it again when a more senior officer showed up, technically she was even under Magnus, but it gave him something to do, and let him process exactly what happened. Klara saw the change from frightened father to seasoned detective as his recall became less emotional and more technical. The rest of the team soon arrived, and Kurt pulled her aside.

"Thank you," he said.

"Just doing my job, sir."

He nodded. "Take Martinsson and Linda back to the station. Nyberg and I will finish up here."

"Yes, sir."

Klara got Linda from Kurt's car, and she held her arm around her as they walked to Magnus'. Klara asked him for the keys, but he shook his head."

"I'll drive," he said.

"Are you sure?"

He nodded and tucked his long body behind the wheel. Linda got in back. The ride back to the station was quiet. There would be more talking to come as they all retold the events of the day to different people from higher ranks.

Svedberg's funeral was the next day. As they all left the service, Kurt suggested they go have drinks. One by one, the others began to decline, but Klara agreed. Magnus, who was going to pass, decided to go along. They arrived at the pub in separate cars, but waited until they were together to go inside. Magnus pointed out a vacant booth in a far corner, and they wove their way through the crowd, staying close together. Klara stared down at Kurt's feet to avoid stepping on his heels, and she felt the light brush of Magnus' hand at her back as he followed. Klara sat and scooted toward the wall. Kurt sat across from her while Magnus sat next to her.

They waited for ten minutes before they realized the waitresses didn't even notice they were there.

"Maybe I should just go to the bar," Magnus said.

"No," Kurt said, "this was my bright idea." A small smile tugged at his lips. "I'll go. Drinks?"

"Beer's fine," Magnus said.

"Same," said Klara.

"Going easy on an old man, are we?"

The two younger officers smiled at him. No one doubted Kurt Wallander's ability to remember a few simple drinks. He took in more details on a case than seemed humanly possible at times.

Once they were alone, Magnus turned slightly toward Klara.

"I never got to say thank you," he said.

"For what?"

"For keeping it together so well yesterday. For keeping things moving in a professional manner... and for not bringing it up after."

"Then why are you bringing it up," she asked with a grin.

"Because I felt it deserved a thank you. So... thank you."

Klara nodded. "You're welcome."

Kurt came back with their beers, and they toasted to Svedberg. Halfway through their second round, Kurt's mobile rang.

"It's Linda," he said as he checked the caller I.D. "Excuse me."

He stood and walked outside to take the call, and was back a moment later.

"I'm sorry, but Linda wants to talk. Considering what happened yesterday I..."

"Go," Klara said.

Magnus nodded. "Of course. Go."

Kurt threw some money on the table and left. Klara sipped at her beer. Magnus leaned back and stretched his legs out under the table. He had one hand on his mug, and the other rested in his lap. He played with the condensation on his mug as the silence stretched on.

"I know you thanked me for not bringing it up," Klara said after a while, "but if you do ever want to talk about it..."

Magnus nodded. "I just... I never killed anyone before."

"I know."

"It's different than I thought."

"You didn't think it would upset you?"

"No. He was the bad guy. He was about to kill Linda. What choice did I have?"

"It's not about choice. I'm not saying what you did was wrong, or that you had another option. I'm saying that he was still a person. Maybe we shouldn't be okay with taking a life... even a bad guy's. Maybe it should affect us."

"Maybe."

Klara sat back and covered the hand on Magnus's leg with her own.

"You did great yesterday," she said.

"So did you."

Magnus turned his hand in hers and squeezed. Klara stared at their joined hands as Magnus leaned toward her. His nose nuzzled into the hair by her ear, and she leaned into it, despite the warning sounding on her head.

"I've only been with the team for seven months," she said.

"And I've wanted to do this since day one."

"Isn't there some kind of rule against this?"

"Probably," he said as he nuzzled her neck.

"Maybe we should stop before we get carried away," he said. She tilted her head to give him more room.

Magnus pressed his lips to her neck. Just a light touch. "Do you want to stop?"

A sigh escaped Klara's lips, and Magnus had her answer. He stood from the booth and threw a few more bills on the table, then extended his hand to Klara. She pushed herself from the booth and took the offered hand. They walked down the block until they got to his car. He put his hands to her hips and pushed her back against the passenger door. She leaned back as his lips brushed against hers. Her breath stilled with anticipation.

Magnus sighed and looked into her eyes. "You're not sure about this, are you?"

"I want to. I do. It's just... we work together, and I love my job. I don't want to get transferred to another department because of an office affair."

"That implies we'd get caught," Magnus said with a smile. He put a hand to her face. "I understand."

"Do you?"

"I do. But I desperately want to kiss you."

"And I want you to kiss me."

"Just not desperately," he asked with a grin.

"Very desperately. It's just..."

"You worry."

"Yes."

"You're always worried about something, Klara." Klara just shrugged, and Magnus sighed. "Look, why don't we go back to my place and talk?"

"Not a good idea," she said shaking her head.

"You don't trust me?"

"I don't trust myself."

Magnus smiled and took her chin between his thumb and forefinger. He gently pressed his lips to hers, and her body gave in and relaxed against him. His hand slipped around to the back of her head as the kiss deepened.

Noise from the busy pub spilled out into the street as someone left, and broke the little world they were in. Magnus pulled away, and Klara whimpered.

"Do you want to go back inside," he asked. "Have another beer? Talk?"

"That sounds safe."

"You must think I'm an animal," he said with a chuckle.

"No, I think you're very attractive... and that kiss was amazing. I told you, it's me I don't trust."

Magnus brushed his lips over hers once more before he took her hand and led her back inside. Their booth was now occupied, but he found a small table at the back. He pulled his chair around the table, next to hers, and put his arm around her.

"We can take this slow," he said. "Make sure this is what we both want."

"Be honest with each other if it's not... no hard feelings..."

"Right," he said. "So it won't affect our work."

Klara nodded. "We need ground rules for work."

"You do love your rules," he said with a smile. "Such as?"

"No one at work can know we're even attempting to date. No one. So, no kissing, no hand-holding, no long looks-"

"What if I already stare at you?"

"Do you?"

"Sometimes. Don't you stare at me?"

Klara blushed. "Yes, I do."

"Okay, then. So, we can stare at each other. If we suddenly stop, people may get suspicious. The key isn't to make it seem like nothing is going on between us. The key is to make sure that we don't act any differently at work than we always have."

"Good point."

They talked for a while longer before heading back outside. He walked her to her car.

"You okay to get home," he asked.

"I'll be fine. So... after work tomorrow, you'll meet me at my place?"

"Absolutely. I'll bring the take away."

"Sounds good."

Klara unlocked her car, but Magnus grabbed her wrist. When she looked up, he pulled her against his chest and captured her lips with his. The kiss was firm, and Klara parted her lips just a bit to his pull his lip between her own, which drew a soft moan from Magnus. The kiss stopped, but their lips still touched.

"Do you really think we can do this," she asked.

"If we really want to, we will."

"I want to."

Me, too."