Title: The First Night…
Rating: M (Mostly language this time)
A/N: Dick Wolf Owns LOCI characters, Tynie Wilman's character belongs to me. Thanks to a Kickass VDO Vixen for the pitch that brought about this story.
It's a cool Friday night in NYC, around eight at night, and Tynie's on her first shift as a bartender. She's 35, 5 foot seven, thin and blonde. Sticking by her manager through on-site training, Tynie sees a bearish guy belly up to the bar. "What can I get ya?" Tynie ponders, noticing a somber look on the man's face. "Glenlivet, neat." Bobby barks. Hustling to get his drink, Tynie notices the serious and lonely look in Bobby's eyes through the bar-wall mirror. Serving him, Tynie smiles, but doesn't say anything. "I should have known, when they started calling me the whack-job that I wouldn't even get a retirement party." Bobby bristles.
"Who calls you that?" Tynie asks, alarmed. "The NYPD, I used to be a Major Case detective. The name's Bobby Goren." Bobby returns. "Well, you don't seem to be any sort of whack job to me, Bobby. I'm Tynie." Tynie decries, offering to shake his hand. Taking her hand in his, Bobby inquires "What's a beautiful thing like you doin' working in a dive like this?" "I'm new to New York, moved from Illinois. Long story." Tynie answers. Seeing him release her hand, Tynie also witnesses Bobby go for his wallet with one hand, holding the Glenlivet in his other. Extracting a business card from his wallet, Bobby also has a pen handy, scrawling his cellphone number. "I take it you don't want to talk about that long story here, so call me sometime so we can get to know each other better. I've got all kinds of time." Bobby offers. Little does Tynie know right now, her meeting Bobby will actually save her life tonight.
Pocketing the business card, Tynie promises "Alright Bobby, you got it. Now let me know if you need anything." With a nod, and a howling back of Glenlivet, Bobby agrees. Tynie handles other patrons from there, one grabbing her by the arm. "Hey asshole hands off!" Tynie yells, spurning Bobby's attention. The patron holding Tynie there won't release her, and she's trying to pull away until Bobby taps the man's other shoulder. "The lady said hands off, asshole! Now let her go or face me, I don't give a fuck if there is security here or not!" Bobby threatens. Standing to face Bobby, the patron takes Tynie with him at first, until she wriggles from his grasp.
"You got a problem with me trying to get some, you geezer?" The man angrily poses. "I have a problem with you battering women in my presence, yes." Bobby growls. The next thing Bobby knows, the drunken patron takes a swing at him, and Tynie jumps back. Able to take the drunken patron down, Bobby drops his head to the man's ear, intimidating "You're outta here. If you come back and I catch you battering women again, you go to jail. Understand me?" "You can't kick me out, you're not security." The drunken man mumbles. "Yeah, I'm ex-NYPD. I just retired, so I can get you sent upstate a hell of a lot faster than security can around here! Keep your shit up and I will!" Bobby grumbles. All the while, Tynie's manager is checking on her, Tynie whispering "We do have bouncers in this motherfucker…right?"
"They're getting fired. This isn't the first time a patron has had to defend staff around here. Tynie, I know tonight's your first night, but I'm calling you off. You still have a job here, but there's a new policy. Once a staffer here gets battered by a patron, they're off with pay until the case settles." Tynie's manager resolves. "Bobby, my boss wants me to press charges! I just found out! My boss is getting evidence pictures as I say this! How fast can you make that happen?!" Tynie hollers, her boss then taking those mentioned pictures. "Immediately." Bobby claims, bringing the man up to a barstool. With one phone call, the drunkard patron gets arrested. When police arrive, Tynie and Bobby both testify, as does Tynie's boss. "Ohh God, that fuck's gonna know where I live. I'm so screwed." Tynie worries. "No, you're not. You can stay with me, it's no problem." Bobby counters, wrapping an arm around her. Leaning into him, Tynie requests "Officers, can you add to the report that if my property and apartment are in any way fucked with inside the next week I'm holding the bastard you have in custody as liable… as in he ordered it to happen by some means?" "You mean conspiracy charges, where the current perpetrator is the ringleader. But yes, we can make that happen." The officer clarifies.
"I'm from out of state, just moved here. I didn't know the term for that here; I'm used to having to describe it because Illinois cops are about as dense as the amount of hair gel in that bastard you now have custody of's hair. Swear to God." Tynie vows. "Understandable, you're not the first person to say that about Illinois cops. Trust me." the officer speaking to Tynie retorts. "Oh and my appearance in court is mandatory. Not by ethics rules or decency, but due to a new policy in this place: if I don't appear for the case and I'm not hospitalized or fuckin' dead.. it's my job." Tynie warns. "She speaks the truth. Officers, you'll also be arresting my former security staff. They refuse to leave. Hell, I suspect they were in on Tynie's attack." Tynie's boss verifies. Taking care of the requested arrests, the officers leave Tynie and Bobby alone.
"Yes, I do cuss a lot. Never believed in censorship, and I can tell you're curious. It's all over your face, Bobby." Tynie notifies. "I wasn't curious about that, I'm just glad to know I don't have to hold my tongue around you." Bobby reacts. "Handsome, can we please get the hell out of here?" Tynie queries. "Sure thing." Bobby chuckles, surprised that a young woman finds him to be anything along the lines of attractive. Escorting her to his car, Bobby's surprised when Tynie spouts off "Holy shit, a 65 tan Shelby Mustang, V6 four on the floor, cherry. Damn Bobby, this beautiful thing is yours?!"
Letting her in, Bobby retorts "Yes. I'm just finding out all kinds of things about you, Tynie." Closing the door, Tynie smiles, Bobby overtaking the driver's seat. "Want to know more or not?" Tynie dares, Bobby driving them towards his apartment. Waving for her to go on, Bobby hears why Tynie "left Illinois." "I figured being here in NYC; I could clean-slate my life. I wasn't really wanted by my family, and didn't have many friends that wound up giving a fuck after my ex-husbands abused me." Tynie closes. "You've been married twice?" Bobby prods. "Yes, and both were mistakes. Thank God I didn't have kids. I can't, had to have a hysterectomy as a result of my second husband's abuse." Tynie relates, then going into the details on that one. "I'm just dumping on you and you just saved my life. The hell's wrong with me?!" Tynie self-debases in closing. Pulling up to his apartment, Bobby debunks "I wanted to know that kind of thing, Tynie. I'm bound to dump on you anyway, I mean… if you'll ever let me." "I don't mind that, but no more doing it in a car this amazing. That, to me, is a form of Mustang abuse." Tynie objects. With a laugh, Bobby nods, and takes Tynie into his domicile.
Securing it behind her, Bobby sees Tynie standing dead-center in his apartment, almost afraid to move. "Make yourself at home; we'll get your stuff later. I insist." Bobby invites, Tynie then moving to the couch. Settling onto it, Tynie gets served a beer, Bobby then joining her. "Did I mishear you when you said you want my stuff in your house after we just met tonight?!" Tynie asks, sheerly stunned. "No, you didn't. I saw on your license where you live, and I don't think it's safe. Especially not with what you asked the cops to do tonight involving that bastard. You know the one from the bar. If you don't want to, we don't have to." Bobby absolves. "I'm just amazed Bobby. I've never met a man as chivalrous as you in my whole life. You heard my life story, so you know I'm not lying about that. As for where I live now? Yeah, it's what I could get on my pay. Oh and you can pretty much presume I don't have much property-wise to speak of. It'll all fit in your trunk, and I'm not even unpacked yet. Just moved here last week." Tynie retaliates. Sipping her beer, Tynie's floored when Bobby avows "I'm getting you the hell out of that apartment. Tonight, so this is the last beer for both of us until that's done. You won't get hurt, I'll see to that myself."
"Wow. Thanks." Tynie squeaks, stunned. Finishing those beers, Bobby's phone goes off, one of the cops from earlier calling him. Taking that call right in front of Tynie, Bobby sternly deposes "There's more to it than you know right now. I've just learned that Tynie Wilman suspects her two former husbands collaboratively set up this attack, and somehow paid the bar security to be involved. Since you work the 1-9, be ready to be called out to her address. I'm getting Tynie the hell away from that apartment tonight." Accepting that readily, the cop hangs up, Bobby pocketing his phone. "OK, how'd you know I suspected that one?" Tynie probes. "I connected it after you told me about your two ex-husbands, especially with the conspiracy charges you wanted leveled against that bastard from the bar." Bobby informs. Clearing from the drinks, Tynie makes her way to the restroom, without another word. "I hope Bobby knows I'm overtaking the damn couch. There's no way I'm taking the master bedroom from him, not after all this." Tynie mumbles, on her way back to Bobby. "You don't have to do that, you know. In fact, I don't want you to." Bobby overrules, having heard her. "I take it you have a plan. Oh, but no Mustang abuse this time." Tynie cautions. Telling her "his plan," Bobby finalizes "Trust me Tynie, it'll all work out."
Exhaling loudly, Tynie nods, Bobby then leading her out of his apartment. Securing it behind them, Bobby actually bumps into the landlord. Tynie sees the name on the patch on the landlord's shirt, silently noting it for a couple minutes. Roughly explaining the situation, Bobby's surprised when Tynie adds "Give me a couple weeks, I'll cover next months' rent for this apartment. I had to take a leave from my new job, all else you've just been told is true. Bobby's told you all we can tell you, pending courtdate and current investigation. You take money orders right, Mr. Keim?" "I will not take your money like that, not after what I just learned Tynie. Just sign a few forms, and we're good to go. If there's an issue with the rent, and you still live here, we'll revisit the money order situation. These forms are for my insurance for the building. Long as you're not a felon or drug dealer, you can live here. I know you're with Bobby, but that's policy for this building." Mr. Keim refuses.
"The strongest thing I've ever had against me court-wise was a traffic ticket for a busted taillight out of Illinois. I just moved to New York last week. Mr. Keim, no dishonor intended, but I need to use your pen." Tynie educates. Handling the forms right then and there, Mr. Keim extolls "Welcome to the building Tynie. Here's my card, you need anything, call." Pocketing that, Tynie nods, Mr. Keim going on his way. Leaving the building, Bobby's impressed and shocked at the same time. "Mr. Keim seems like a good guy. I offered what I did because it felt right to me, bumping into him and adding me to the lease like you did." Tynie self-defends under her breath. Leaning his lips to her ear, Bobby whispers "You shocked him. I've known the man for fifteen years and you're the first to offer that. He is a good landlord though." Nodding together, Tynie and Bobby head off to his Mustang. Driving to Tynie's address, Bobby sees from the corner of his eye that she's getting scared. "You don't need to worry." Bobby sates, Tynie then resting her head on the back of the seat. Arriving at Tynie's apartment, she's let out first, Bobby sticking close by.
Escorting her to the actual apartment, Bobby's shocked again when Tynie's entire set of belongings is shoved into one dufflebag and strung to her arm. "See, told you I don't have much." Tynie restates, Bobby's jaw dropping. Coming up on him again, Tynie sees her landlord gruffly approaching. "What's this I hear about you renting another apartment when you're on a daily lease here, bitch?!" Tynie's landlord debases. "Listen here, Karl. You don't have any right to talk to her that way!" Bobby defends. "She's my tenant; I'll treat her however the fuck I want!" Karl howls, causing Bobby to call in for cops. Arriving in a swarm, Karl's detained, as a sergeant bellows for Karl's arrest. Coming up on Tynie and Bobby, the same Sergeant identifies "Sergeant Alison, 19th precinct. We're here because of your call, and to arrest Karl Mansin on a slew of charges. Once I get your statement, you're free to go for the night. You'll be needed to appear in court."
"Bobby, I got this one." Tynie defers, giving quite the damning testimony against Karl. "Sarge, if I may call you that, search this bag. I totally consent. Look for a lockbox with a busted lock. You'll find all fuckin' kinds of evidence against Karl's ass. Yes, you can keep it. The evidence, not the dufflebag." Tynie obliges, tossing her dufflebag down. Other tenants see Tynie do that, and give similar offers to different officers, pointing to Tynie in the process. "You've started a trend, young lady. A good one, because us at the 1-9 getting THIS kind of compliance from the public is rare." Sgt. Alison commends.
"Sarge, call me Tynie. The rest of the free world does." Tynie counters. Nodding at her, Sgt. Alison searches Tynie's dufflebag. Standing above him, Tynie continues "Sarge, I'm worried about those other folks. They're not gonna have anywhere to go after Karl's ass is jailed. He made us all pay daily, three hundred bucks a day and he demanded cash. Have your officers ask around, it'll get verified. I demanded receipts, evidence reasons." "Oh, they're fine. I can't say how that is right now, Tynie, but they are." Sgt. Alison provides, getting Tynie's evidence bagged up. "This court date's gonna cost me my damn job." Tynie frets. "Oh, no it won't. Trust me, I've been on the NYPD for fifteen years Tynie, you won't lose your job for this. By the way, where do you work?" Sgt. Alison rejects. "Kurtis' pub and bar, on 37th." Tynie names. "Ohh, dear God. Maybe you should forget that job, Tynie. That's the most unsafe bar in my precinct. We're always getting called out there. We got a call tonight in fact, from Bobby." Sgt. Alison rebukes. "Yeah, he's been busy saving my life since we met. Ironically that was just a couple hours ago. If I took your tellin' me to forget that job as Sergeant's orders, how fast would you relay that to Kurtis? I don't want that fucker who allows that shit to happen in his bar to come after me." Tynie proposes. "I'm on it as soon as this evidence is out of my hands Tynie. Good call." Sgt. Alison accepts. "Sarge, you don't have to worry about that, sir. I just got a call from dispatch. Apparently Kurtis' pub and bar was just torched. Arson and the building was a total loss." The CSU officer standing by reports. "Sarge, tell me for the love of God and the bravery of Bobby that shit can be treated as connected to this and the other call-out your precinct got from Kurtis' tonight!" Tynie panics. "Good call!" The CSU officer growls, pointing to Tynie. Standing before Tynie, Sgt. Alison ponders "By the way Tynie, were you a lawyer in a past life?" "Never gotten that one before! To answer your question: no." Tynie negates. "In that case, I'll see to it tonight's events are treated as connected criminal acts. Unfortunately, that means you and Bobby are the connecting links. I'm sorry." Sgt. Alison regrets. "Don't be." Tynie and Bobby refuse in unison. Confirming their contact information, Sgt. Alison returns Tynie's dufflebag, releasing her and Bobby afterwards.
With Tynie's bag soon packed into Bobby's car, Tynie stands tall, Bobby escorting her inside the vehicle. "I have to admit, I've never been connected to the love of God before." Bobby recalls. "Newsflash Bobby, I'm weird." Tynie snarks, making him laugh. Driving along, Bobby admits "I'm pretty strange myself." "We discuss that when we're not committing what I consider…." Tynie starts. "A form of Mustang abuse." Bobby finishes, both smiling. Returning to Bobby's, Tynie's smiling broader than she has all damn night. Once inside, Tynie secures the house, Bobby putting her bag away. Retrieving them beers, Tynie doesn't open those until Bobby's back in the kitchen. "Genius." Bobby gleams, getting served his. "Nah, just a dumb luck guess." Tynie denies, sipping hers. A few minutes pass, before Bobby stands closer to Tynie. "I'm done talking about me for the night, now's your turn. Spill it." Tynie challenges, smirking. "Alright." Bobby concedes, going into the details of his past. Only a few differences between them, Tynie realizes "Holy shit, you've been through hell!" "I'm still here, and I'm damn glad I am. I don't want to think what could have happened to you tonight if we didn't meet." Bobby self-gratifies. That remark sends a shudder up Tynie's spine, her shivering from it right before him. Settling their beers down, Bobby hugs her from behind. "This isn't too forward, is it?" Bobby worries. "Hell no, feels good actually." Tynie refutes, leaning against him. Tilting her head back, Tynie whispers "I owe you so much." "No, you don't. We're going to take this one day at a time, to start off. Once the courtdates are done, we'll take it from there. You can stay as long as you want." Bobby defies. "Sounds wonderful." Tynie beams, handing over his beer before reclaiming hers.
Sipping in silence, Tynie gets released from Bobby's arms to clear from them, offering "Want me to make us something to eat?" "No, you've been through enough for one day. You like Chinese takeout?" Bobby counter-offers. "Love it, haven't been able to afford it since I moved here and you know why." Tynie relays, causing Bobby to call for their meal. Retreating to Bobby's couch, Tynie's quiet as she sits down, Bobby soon joining her. Twenty minutes later, Bobby's bringing in their dinner, Tynie running a hand through her hair. When the apartment is re-secured, Bobby delivers dinner, taking a seat by Tynie. Opening the boxes and eating together, there's a companionable silence in the room. On a break from dinner, Bobby delineates "I don't want you thinking you have to work off staying here. I don't mind you clean up after we eat or something like that, but you're not to basically become my live-in maid. You have free reign of this apartment, just don't break anything. Let me know if something breaks when you use it, especially if we have to get Mr. Keim involved. I've known him longer, so that kind of thing goes through me. Oh, and no more offering to pay my bills like you did earlier unless something arises where I ask you to. That shouldn't happen thanks to my retirement pension, but still."
"Fair enough, just know I don't plan on looking for another job until all the shit from tonight is legally settled through the courts. I say that because I'm not about to let a new job chance impeding my availability for court. I'd rather take that on after all the courtdates are over." Tynie forewarns. "Don't blame you there, I know how some bosses are about that." Bobby accredits, the two then finishing dinner. Clearing from it, Tynie kisses Bobby's cheek, saying "I never thanked you for saving my life, that's all that was." "I'll tell you if something you do is a problem. I expect the same in return." Bobby rebuffs. "Hey, cool." Tynie consents. Standing there in silence, Bobby notices Tynie's hand go through her hair again. "Tell me, what's on your mind right now?" Bobby challenges. "First off, you're fuckin' gorgeous. You saved my life, you've been amazing and reasonable. Oh, and I'm still in shock from all the shit that hit tonight." Tynie explains. "Thank you, now come here." Bobby invites, opening his arms. Holding her, Bobby goes silent, Tynie relaxing in his embrace. "I never told you the first thing that crossed my mind when we met.. did I?" Tynie questions. "No, you told me everything else." Bobby declines. "Well, here goes. My first thought was, you're fine as hell. When you called me beautiful, you sounded so sure. It floored me, made my night at that point. I say at that point because you saving my life made my night even better." Tynie confesses.
"I meant it when I said you're beautiful. You didn't know this, but when you said I didn't seem like a whack job, you'd made my night. I just didn't want to be too forward about it." Bobby reacts. "Are you meaning to tell me you were crushing on me from when we first met tonight? You mean to say I wasn't the only one doing that?" Tynie interrogates. "Yes, to both." Bobby chuckles. "Well shit, we're already living together. May as well take everything we can as it goes. You already said we'd work through whatever happens, basically." Tynie proffers. "You sure?" Bobby wonders, stunned. "Bobby, another newsflash. If I don't mean it, I don't say it." Tynie snarks. That line makes Bobby chuckle again, him concurring "Sounds like a plan to me." Rising to her toes, Tynie leans up for a kiss, hoping to make it short and sweet.
Following her lead, Bobby smiles, leaning down so Tynie's not on her toes for long. Smiling up at him, Tynie sees a glint of happiness in Bobby's eyes. "Now, if I offered you a massage, would you take it?" Tynie inquires. Bobby nods, Tynie directing "In that case, lay out face down on your bed. I'll be right behind you." Dressing down, Bobby's a bit uncomfortable with Tynie seeing his gut, since he's gained weight lately. When he's ready, as she directed, Tynie reverse straddles him, beginning the massage. "By the way, I was trained in this by a licensed massage therapist. There was no way I was gonna pay three fuckin' grand to Illinois to get my license for that." Tynie regales. "Yikes!" Bobby gulps, otherwise enjoying the massage. As she finished, Tynie splays out beside Bobby, smiling. "You're realizing I'm just full of surprises." Tynie notices, seeing the deep in thought look on Bobby's face. To that one, Bobby blinks, and wonders "No offense, but were you a psychic in a past life?"
"You'd be surprised how often I get that one." Tynie refers. Chuckling yet again, Bobby inquires "You want a massage?" "Hell yes." Tynie replies. Receiving hers after having said that, Tynie boasts "I have the finest man I've ever met rubbing me down, hot damn!" "You enjoy making me blush or something?" Bobby kids. "I'm starting to, yeah." Tynie jokes back. "Well beautiful, I'll just have to return the favor." Bobby self-dares, bringing giggles out of Tynie.
Soon after laying out beside her, Bobby's again surprised when Tynie cozies right up to him. Draping his arm around her, Bobby glances down, seeing Tynie's cheeks are a bit red and she's smiling from ear-to-ear. "Glad I can make you so happy." Bobby obliges. "Hey now, I hope I make you happy too." Tynie retorts. Kissing her temple, Bobby apprises "You do, believe me." Simply laying there together, Tynie and Bobby at last have a bit of a carefree night. "My life-saving liberator, you have no idea how much you already mean to me." Tynie undertones. "It's been my honor." Bobby swears. What Tynie doesn't know right now is: their coming together tonight actually saved Bobby's life. That truth-nugget rolls around in Bobby's head, him refusing to mention it, given how wild the night's been for them already. Only releasing her to charge his phone and cover them up, Bobby again kisses Tynie's cheek. In turn, Tynie flatly kisses Bobby's lips, and yet again smiles.
Resuming how they held one another as they slept, something else bogs both Tynie and Bobby's minds separately:
For their first night, shit got wild, and not in an intimate way….