This is a little bit of a case fic, tied up with that "what will they do" horror scenario that seems to be hanging over our poor babies.

DISCLAIMER: Only this awful attack of allergies.


Misery - 1

The die was cast. Rubicon crossed. They were forced into it and after only 2 days, came up with a solution that made no one happy. They both recognized that no matter who transferred, there would be resentment. They decided to give themselves 6 months. After that time, they would talk again. Maybe being apart would give them time to assess their priorities. It was for the best. They knew going into this it would be flouting the rules. After all, they had tried to convince themselves, they were lucky to have gotten away with it for as long as they had.

So, they met with Hightower and gave her the decision. They chose their jobs. They assured her they were professionals and had made a mature decision. They were not sneaking around. She took in the tight set of their jaws and believed them. After reminding them this was not to be a soap opera, and she would tolerate no dramatics, she sent them back to work.

Tightly controlled, they kept their words. But they were both miserable. They each tried to pretend at work, but they were working with the worst people to try fooling. Jane was a former 'psychic', Cho was one of the best interrogators in the state and Lisbon was a seasoned, smart detective. They all knew. Jane tried to make light of the situation once. But after both Lisbon and Cho, each pulled him aside to tell him to leave them alone, he actually let it be.

This had gone on for a few months. Cases cam and went. Jane annoyed Hightower and managed to land on his feet each time. Cho tried to hide his happiness in his relationship. The whole tone of the unit had changed. Even when Wayne was pining for Grace, he was a happy guy. Now he was more serious. He wasn't morose all the time, for his good nature wouldn't allow that. But that big grin was harder to find.

Grace was quieter. She worked even harder, if that were possible. Lisbon tried not to pair them together too often at first. While she understand and respected Hightower's decision, she felt sympathy for the young couple. Over time, she began to put them together for short periods. After all, she couldn't run her unit around their broken hearts. And she knew those hearts were badly bruised.

At first, they barely spoke to each other. As cases needed to be solved, they managed to find a professional air that they used when they spoke to each other.

It would have all stayed in a holding pattern like that had the AG's niece's best friend not had the honeymoon from hell. Lisbon's team had just finished a hellacious case involving young boys being tortured. Hightower came into the bullpen and interrupted their case closed lunch.

"You have another case. I took a call from the AG on this one personally. He has a personal interest in this case and insists on our top unit. That's you. It involves a creep who has been blackmailing people on their honeymoon. We are assisting the sex crimes unit on this one. This person has been video taping people having sex on their wedding night and threatening to post it on line. His latest victim is best friends with the AG's niece."

They haven't been able to follow the money?"

Hightower wasn't surprised Van Pelt asked that question.

"No, because we only have two sets of victims willing to come forward. Each time the money transfer has been different. We need to catch the creep actually taping the victims and follow the electronic trail that the remote activated camera leaves. It could be an employee, or a someone who worked on this hotel."

"How do you plan to do that? If it's in the honeymoon suite, you would have to have someone acting like they are on their honeymoon…" Rigsby's voice dropped off as he realized what he was suggesting. Who would they get to do that?

As the five looked at each other, they each got an uneasy feeling about this. As it turned out, only two of them were right.

"They have to seem young, in love and good looking enough for this person to think he would make money on porn of them. The AG has given us carte blanche to solve this however we need to. I am aware this may be uncomfortable given the circumstances…"


Yeah this is probably cruel to leave this hanging, but the bunnies are in an angst mood today. Hoping those smutty ones get a chance to weigh in on this story.