O'Malley's Tavern
July 17, 1992
6:15 PM
Kate O'Hara lit a cigarette and inhaled deeply. "I'm tellin' ya, Em," she began, "I think I need another pitcher of beer."
"Was court that bad?" Emily Matthews asked, refilling both of their mugs from the nearly empty pitcher.
"It wasn't court. I was in and out with no problem this morning. Actually, the day seemed like it was going to be good…until I got a call to go down to the 27th Precinct."
"Oh no, another cop story…"Emily laughed, having learned to enjoy stories her friend's legal battles with arresting officers.
"Yeah, but Mike Logan is not just another cop. He's arrogant, obnoxious…" she took a deep drag and exhaled. "He thinks he's God's gift to women…"
"Don't they all?"
"Yeah, but this one…" she shook her head.
"Got under your skin, huh?" Emily teased.
"Yeah…like a jagged piece of glass…." She laughed, then shook her head. "I'm not here to rehash my afternoon with Mike Logan, I'm here to drink the memory away."
"Then you need to keep drinking!" Emily laughed, holding up her mug in a mock toast.
9:30 PM
Kate sat at the bar, waiting for a cup of coffee. Emily had left with her boyfriend half an hour earlier, but Kate wasn't quite ready to go. After a quick game of darts with two other ADA's, she decided a cup of coffee would set her straight before her cab ride home.
She waited, reading the drink menu and deciding that next time, she'd have to try something other than beer. Feeling a presence sit down in the empty stool to her right, she looked up.
"Ms. O'Hara," Logan began, with a wry smile.
She guessed that he'd had just about as much to drink as she did. "Detective Logan."
"You here alone?" he asked, as the bartender set a glass of amber liquid in front of him.
"I was with friends," she said, wondering why she was telling him. It was none of his business. "I'm just grabbing a cup of coffee before I leave."
"You're leaving? It's early yet. Come on, I'll buy you a drink…" he said, then, smiled. "Guess I owe you one, huh?"
Kate raised a brow. Was he actually admitting he'd been an idiot today?
"Well? What do you say?" he coaxed.
"I say, give me what you're drinking," she laughed, deciding one more drink wouldn't hurt.
The bartender approached and Logan ordered her a Jamison's rocks, then looked at her. "You sure you can handle it?"
Kate rolled her eyes, "Don't go there, detective," she said, then looked at the bartender. "Make mine a double."
The bartender nodded and walked off.
"The lady likes her whiskey."
"The lady can handle her whiskey, too," she smartly returned.
"Does the whiskey make you drop the chip on the shoulder act or does it make it worse?" Logan laughed, "Cuz if you take a swing at me, I'll hit back."
"I figured you would," she laughed. "You know, you're not a bad cop…if you'd only just stop and take a minute to think before you do things."
"You're just like me and you know it," he challenged.
"No, I think about the consequences of my actions much more than you do," she returned with a smart smile, watching the bartender set her drink in front of her. "Thank you," she smiled to the bartender, then picked up her drink. She held it up in toast, "Thank you."
"My pleasure," he returned, watching as she took a healthy drink, then set it down on the bar. "Somebody's heading for a power load."
"Spare me; I've had a couple of beers…after eating dinner. I could sit here all night…"
"Sure, if you say so."
"What? I can't keep up with you because I'm a woman?"
"I didn't say that," he laughed.
"Then what are you saying?"
"Ah…whiskey makes the chip bigger…"
She narrowed her eyes at him, "Is it always about size?"
Logan laughed, "I like you, O'Hara," he decided. "You've got bigger balls than half the guys in the court house…"
"Thank you? I think?" she laughed.
"You're welcome," he nodded, then, "And yeah, I know, I lead with my mouth more than my head…"
"Wow, he admits it," she laughed, sipping her drink.
"It ain't nuthin' I haven't heard before…" he took a sip of whiskey. After swallowing, he smiled. "I think the first time was in Kindergarten…"
"Let me guess, Catholic School?"
He nodded, "You?"
"Was there anything else when you grow up Italian Catholic?" She noticed he was wearing a sly smile. "What?"
"I'm pleading the Fifth…"
"Tell me you're not picturing the school uniform …" she winced, watching as his smile turned into a grin. "Oh…Logan, I actually had hope for you prior to that."
"Hey, you're a good looking woman, so sue me."
"Two compliments in one night? She laughed. "How'd I earn that?"
"Very funny," he deadpanned. "See how fast I compliment you again."
"Sorry I ruffled your feathers," she laughed.
11:15 PM
"You owe me twenty bucks, Logan," Kate said, sitting back on her bar stool.
He pulled a twenty from his pocket and threw it down in front of her, "How'd you pass the field sobriety test? You've had as much to drink as I have..."
She tucked the twenty into her bra, then smiled, "I learned how to mask it really well when I was a teenager. Sneaking in on my Pop and acting like I wasn't half loaded."
"He didn't see through it?"
"He was usually half loaded, by that point, too," she allowed, then, "But, I think I'm getting to the end of my drinking for tonight."
"It's still early…"
"Yeah, well, I had a long day. This pain in the ass cop decided to piss me off this afternoon…"
"Shame on him," Logan said, not wanting her to leave.
"You wanna share a cab?"
"I doubt we live near each other…"
"I'm in Greenwich Village…"
"Washington Heights," he replied.
"Ouch…you like to live on the edge, don't you?"
"In case you didn't notice, NYPD isn't exactly paying us the big bucks…"
"My place in the Village is cheap," she said, "I live above this great lingerie store."
Logan raised a brow, "That's another mental thing that would piss you off."
Kate laughed, "Go on, have your sick little fantasy…" Despite the warning buzzers going off in her mind, she went on, "Let me tell you, though, the real thing is much better than the fantasy."
"You don't want to know where the mental pictures are going now…"
"I'm sure I could guess." She thought for a moment, "It's a shame you don't live closer, there is this awesome late night pizza place right around the corner from my place. I swear, this pizza is God's gift to drinkers…if I eat a slice or two before going to bed, I'm barely hung over in the morning."
"So, you're heading there now?"
"Yeah, why?"
"Maybe I don't want a hang over in the morning," he said, "Come on."
Gianni's Pizza and Pub
July 18, 1992
1:15 am
"So," Kate began, setting down her empty beer mug. "Was I right about the pizza?"
"It was good, but I'm still not buying the hangover cure part," he dismissed.
"You watch. I'm right…" she nodded, sure of herself. "If I'm wrong, I'll buy you dinner."
"And if you're right?" he asked, with a sly smile.
"You buy me dinner," she returned, as they stood and walked out of the restaurant.
"And just how am I supposed to get a hold of you tomorrow to tell you whether you're right or not?" he playfully asked.
"I could give you my number," she returned in kind. "Of course, if I do, you gotta promise not to crank call me next time we fight it out in the interrogation room."
"You have my word," he returned, slipping his arm around her shoulder.
She looked at him and laughed. "You know…twelve hours ago, I wanted to rip your throat out…"
"And now?"
"Now…I don't want to…" she mused. "I'm sure I will feel that way again…"
"I have no doubt…."
"But, right now…" The stopped walking and turned to face each other. "I think I almost like you."
"Is that a compliment?"
"Sorta…" she laughed, wondering why she was suddenly nervous.
"So listen," he began, "If I were to kiss you, would you knee me in the nuts?"
She smiled broadly, "I don't know…feel like trying your luck?"
"Yeah, I do," he replied, then leaned forward and kissed her. He pulled back a moment later and smiled.
"I guess tonight's your lucky night," she returned. The rational part of Kate's mind was telling her to say goodnight and walk the block down to her apartment alone. She didn't need to get involved with a cop, let alone a cop she argued with on a regular basis.
The irrational, alcohol fueled part of her brain reminded her that it had been a long time since she'd met a man who challenged her like Logan did. She found it exciting, in a strange sort of way. And, he was attractive, and a very good kisser. Ignoring her rational mind, she leaned forward and kissed him again, slipping her arms around his neck.
Logan held her close, kissing her deeply. After a few moments, she pulled back and studied his face.
"I live on the next block," she said, staring him down, almost daring him to refuse her. "Why don't you come up for a while?"
"You sure you wanna do that?" he asked, finding the staring strangely un-nerving.
"I wouldn't have asked, if I didn't want you to…" she returned, stepping out of his embrace. "Come on," she held out her hand.
Logan took her hand and allowed her to lead him down the street. On the corner, just as Kate had promised, was The Victorian Closet. From what Logan could see through the window of the closed shop, it was a very lacy, very tasteful, high end lingerie store.
"You weren't lying about the lingerie," he observed, as she stopped at the pastel pink door to the left of the entrance.
"I don't lie," she smiled, slipping her key into the lock and opening the door.
"Do they give you a discount?" he wryly asked, following her into the foyer.
"Of course," she winked, locking the door behind them. As she turned towards the stairs, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her deeply. She returned the kiss, wrapping herself around him, as he backed her to the wall.
It had been a long time since Kate had felt like this, and she reveled in the passionate kisses, the exploring hands that were loosening clothes, then slipping slowly, up the length of her thigh, under her skirt.
"Logan," she said, between kisses. "Logan…"
"What?" he asked, working his was along her neck.
"We can't just go at it down here…."
He pulled back and looked at her, "Sorry…" he said, his hand sliding slowly back down her leg.
"Let's go upstairs…" She took his hand. "Come on…"
Apartment of ADA Kate O'Hara
July 18, 1992
1:30 PM
Logan woke slowly. Opening his eyes, he took in his surroundings. It took him a moment to remember where he was. Kate O'Hara's bedroom.
"You're awake," Kate's voice began from the doorway.
"I think so," he said, sitting up and running his fingers through his hair.
"Want some coffee?" she asked, walking to the bed and holding out a large mug.
"Thank you," he sincerely said, taking the mug and drinking half of it. "I needed that."
"Tell me honestly, is the hangover feeling that bad?"
He smiled, "No, your pizza worked."
Kate laughed, sitting on the bed next to him. "See…I told you."
"Okay, you win on that one," he returned, taking another drink. He studied her for a moment. "What's that look for?"
"What look?"
"You've got this smug little smile on your face…" he teased.
"Oh, that," she shrugged. "Don't you think this is ironic?"
"What?"
"You and me? Shit, Logan, we're at each other's throats more than not, but last night…" she shook her head, "Last night was….good…"
"Just good?"
"Damn good?" she tried, with a laugh.
He laughed, "That's better. Come 'ere," he held his arms open and she leaned against him.
Kate smiled as he wrapped his arms around her. "You keep surprising me. I thought you'd be hightailing it out the door when we were done last night."
"Ouch, you think I'm that low?" he winced.
"You gotta admit, you're really good at that knuckle dragging persona."
"Yeah, well…" he shrugged.
"But, you've shown me a whole different side of you…and I like it."
"Do you now?"
"Yeah, I do…"
"Do you like it enough to have dinner with me?"
"I like it enough to cook you dinner," she returned, smartly.
"You cook?" he asked, not even trying to mask the surprise.
"I cook well," she nodded. "Do you like Italian?"
"Who doesn't?"
"Good," she decided. "You free tonight?"
"I can be…"
"Don't cancel any plans for me," she sniffed, playfully.
"What's in it for me?"
"An amazing home cooked dinner," she slyly said. "And possibly an amazing desert…"
"Desert, huh? Do I get to pick what I want for desert?"
"Depends on what you ask for?"
"You," he said, nuzzling her neck.
"That could be arranged," she returned, pulling away. "Now…if you want to have dinner tonight…you're going to need to let me go shopping."
"We don't need dinner," he dismissed, pulling her back.
"No…" she laughed. "We do need dinner."
"Fine," he returned. "I'll go home and grab a shower."
"Bring a change of clothes," she winked, "Just in case you end up spending the night."
Apartment of ADA Kate O'Hara
July 18, 1992
8:30 PM
"Dinner was amazing, Kate," Logan sincerely said, standing in the doorway to the small kitchen.
"I'm glad you liked it," she smartly replied, "Because you're taking home leftovers."
"Lunch for the week," he smiled. "Shit, Lennie's gonna be jealous."
Kate stopped washing dishes, just for a moment, her face expressionless.
"What? What'd I say?" Logan asked, picking up on it.
"Lennie…" she resumed washing dishes.
"What about him? Are you seeing him on the side or something?" he teased.
"No," she laughed, despite herself.
"Then what is it?"
"What are we doing, Mike?" she asked, her tone serious. "After tonight, I mean?"
Logan thought about playing dumb for a moment, thinking he could totally avoid the discussion, but he knew better. Kate wouldn't fall for it; she was too damn smart for that. "I don't know, Kate. What do you want to do?"
She thought for a moment, her brow furrowed. "Do you want to date me?"
He thought about it for a moment, "I do."
"Exclusively or just whenever?"
"I haven't thought that far," was his honest reply. "I was just trying to get through this weekend."
Her eyes opened wide, "Get through this weekend?"
"I didn't say that right, did I?" he laughed at her alarmed expression.
"God, I hope not."
"Relax," he gently said, pulling her into his arms. "What I meant is that I'm just trying to get through this weekend without screwing it up."
She looked at him with a dubious expression, "Nice come back, Detective."
"I'm serious," he said, tilting her face up so that he could study it. "You're a lot different from the women I usually date."
"In what way?"
"I dunno, you don't take my shit? You wouldn't fall for any line or story I could come up with."
"You didn't need a line or a story," she simply said. "I'm guessing that you were just being yourself last night."
He nodded, "Yeah, I was…"
"That's all I need."
"Be careful what you wish for," he laughed.
"Okay, don't totally let your guard down. I don't want to see you camped out on my sofa in your underwear watching old war movies or anything…"
"You ruined my plans for tomorrow," he teased, then grew serious. "You really pissed me off yesterday. I mean, you were a bitch…but you needed to be, to put up with my crap. When I offered to buy you a drink last night, I thought you'd either tell me to fuck off or pour it over my head. But you didn't do either…"
"I thought about it," she admitted. "But you look really cute when you're contrite."
"Contrite? Me?"
"Yeah, you," she slipped her arms around his neck. "So, I'll ask you again, Detective Logan…what are we doing here?"
"Playing it by ear?" he tried. "See where we go?"
She nodded, and then smiled. "That could work."
