Disclaimer - I do not own heavy rain.

Rating - Will rise to M at some point. Rated for drug use (obviously), swearing (naturally) and sex (consensual).

Norman Jayden stepped out of his office and looked blearily around the station. He had spent the last few hours in ARI, going over case files. The investigation against Korda had been botched and there was a possibility he was the killer, so he concentrated on that, though Jayden's intuition told him it was a dead end. He let Blake get on with interviewing Nathanial, he already knew the man was innocent.

Jayden trailed a hand down his face. It tremored slightly and he pyramided his hands together, a nervous habit he had developed lately. He glanced quickly around him, a group of cops stepped out of the nearby toilets and walked past, talking among themselves. The secretary, he didn't know her name, was sat at her desk, back to him. No-one had noticed.

He stood and watched the people milling round the station. For a moment he had the strange sensation that none of this was real, no more than ARI anyway. They were just a backdrop. The cops at their desks, the witnesses, the criminals, they all felt so separate from him.

He shook the feeling off. He needed to concentrate on doing his job. Put everything else out of his mind. And he had plenty of work to do. The files were full of leads and loose ends not followed up. It seemed like half the victims families hadn't even been interviewed. How the hell had the investigation been handled so incompetently?

Speaking of incompetent…

"Jayden!"

Blakes shout carried over half the station. "Get ready! Were heading out!" The lieutenant stalked over to his desk, looking like he wanted to punch the room out.

Guess he didn't get much out of Nathanial, Jayden thought. "Sure." he answered and headed towards the toilets. He needed to compose himself. He hadn't had a hit since he arrived, and it was getting to him.

He splashed water on his face and examined himself in the mirror. He looked ok. His face didn't scream junkie at least. The withdrawal periods were getting fewer now, if only he could keep it up.

As Jayden walked over to the urinals the door opened behind him. He looked back to see Blake walk in. Great.

Blake stood at the urinal next to him. Jayden resisted looking to the side. He had to admit, the first time he saw Blake, out on the wasteland in the pouring rain, he had felt something, the guy wasn't bad looking. But that had quickly disappeared under the waves of antagonism Blake constantly sent his way.

"Why didn't you shoot?"

The question came out of nowhere, surprising him. "Sorry?" Jayden hurriedly zipped up and looked at Blake.

"Well back there, Nathanial could've had a gun. Could've killed me. Why didn't you shoot?" Blake insisted.

Mood swings, Jayden's inner profiler said. And violent outbursts. One minute Blake was raging at everyone and everything, now suddenly he seemed almost, vulnerable. "I prefer to have all the information before I make a decision." Jayden said, non-committal. "I try to make rational choices when possible." That probably sounded cold, but fuck it, he couldn't deal with this right now.

"Come on, you had a fraction of a second to react. He could've whacked me before you had time to move." The anger was back in Blake's voice.

What was this guys problem? Blake hadn't missed a chance to get at him since he arrived, now he wanted him to apologise for not unnecessarily killing a man? "Oh, I'm sorry. I thought you were a tough guy, a street cop who's been through the mill. I didn't think you'd scare so easily." Jayden said sarcastically.

"Why don't you fuck off, Norman."

Jayden smirked at Blakes expression as he turned and walked to the door.

As he pushed it open he felt the tremor again, through his hand and racing down his arm. Clasping his arm to his body he strode swiftly towards his office, shoving open the door and collapsing against the desk.

Jayden heard the door open and looked up. Blake had followed him. "What the fuck is it with you? You come here acting like some FBI hotshot, acting like you're so far above every…" His eyes narrowed as he took in Jaydens state. "What's wrong with you?"

Jayden reached into his pocket. He needed it. With Blake here he needed to regain some control. As he pulled out the blue vial Blake reached out, grabbing it out of his hand. Jayden sagged back against the desk, breathing hard.

"What's this? Tripto?" Blake took a good look at the tube and then back at Jayden, smiling. "You don't see this too often round here. Do your superiors know about this?"

Stress always made these times worse and this was one of the very worst. Jayden was having trouble staying upright, breathing. He needed the tripto. Unsteadily he reached his hand out, looking up at Blake.

Blake carelessly tossed him the vial and Jayden used the last of his co-ordination to grab it. He unscrewed it hurriedly and inhaled, sinking to the floor. He heard Blake give a low chuckle and saw him start for the door. Jayden reached out and grabbed Blake's hand. "Please…" he gasped out "don't…" unable to say more yet.

Blake looked down at him, amused smile all over his face. "Oh, you want me to keep this our little secret? … I'll think about it." He shook off Jayden's grip and left.

Jayden leaned back against the wall, regaining his composure. Outside he could hear the everyday sounds of the station, going on as before. They didn't feel so unreal anymore, and he didn't feel so separate.

He wasn't optimistic about the future of his career.

A/N - I'm not too happy with this chapter. The pacing feels off and I don't like the ending. I'm trying to improve my writing so I'd really love some constructive criticism. Next chapter is better I promise. Please review.