A/N: Obviously I don't own ANYTHING to do with Blood Ties, I'm just borrowing the characters for a little imagination rollercoaster. This is my first ever fic, so be kind!

"Henry I swear – if you don't give it a rest I'll…"

"You'll what? Give in?" He replied quickly, a cheeky smirk on his face. Her lips tightened into a thin line and, taking a deep breath, she continued.

"What I was going to say after 'I need you' was 'to help me with an investigation'. Jeez, you'd think a guy who got as much action as you would be…calmer." He rolled his eyes at her and, seeing that she was, yet again, coming to him in complete business mode, he 'gave it a rest'.

"Alright, Vicki, what can I do for you this time?" He gestured toward his sofa and they sat beside each other as she filled him in on the case she was working. For once, it was a husband who had come to her, wondering about his wife's night-time habits. She had, of late, been coming home later and later and he was worried she might be seeing someone else.

"Seems to me this doesn't require my…skills…" He observed after she finished. She paused for a second then, turning her attention back to the manila folder she'd brought she looked pensive for a moment.

"Yeah, well…You're handy to have around. Just in case." It was weak, she knew, but she absolutely refused to say she just wanted to spend time with him. His eyebrows rose at her excuse and he fought the grin that threatened to appear - he knew exactly what she was trying not to say. He decided not to comment on her feeble cover-up; if she still needed to lie to herself about her feelings, that was fine by him. Soon enough she'd come around. He hoped.

xXxXxXx

They headed out toward the woman's workplace. She'd be finishing late and they planned to follow her and watch her doing whatever it was that was keeping her out late.

"Vicki, looks like your hunch was right. She's over there, with that group of women. She must just be making some new friends." Henry gestured gently in the direction of the group and headed to the bar as Vicki took a few covert photos for proof.

"Well that's another case solved!" She said cheerily as she joined Henry at the bar. She looked gratefully at the martini he had ordered her and picked it up, taking a long sip.

"Now that that's out of the way, how would you like to join me for dinner?"

"Will you be eating or will I?"

"Which would you prefer?"

Vicki tried for a sarcastic quip, but nothing came to her.

"Actually, I am kinda hungry. Chinese at my place?" She felt rotten – he had won, and judging by the smirk and raised eyebrow he knew it.

"As the lady wishes." He placed his hand on her lower back. He had done it on purpose, just to remind her of what he could do to her. His point hit home as, after an involuntary shiver and quickening of her heart rate, she turned and glared at him pointedly.

xXxXxXx

Coreen had had enough of Vicki's denial. As she packed up the candles and book she'd been using, a smile spread across her face. She had noticed the spell a few days ago and had decided to try it out; it was supposed to allow the person it was placed upon to become more in touch with their emotions and allow them to express them more easily, and Coreen had found herself imagining a less uptight, better-adjusted Victoria Nelson. Hopefully, her PI boss and good friend would awake the next morning to an emotional epiphany, maybe she would realise she needed to give Henry a chance, and finally all the angst Vicki used to cover her lusting after the vampire would dissipate. Smiling at the thought of Vicki maybe even accepting a hug gracefully when she came to the office, Coreen tucked herself into bed.

xXxXxXx

Coreen arrived at the office, trying desperately to hide her excitement. Vicki was already in, and was sitting, feet up on her desk, drinking a cup of coffee. All seemed normal enough to the young gothette, so she tried a more direct approach.

"Hey, Vic, how are you today?" She tried to keep her tone light – her boss was, after all, an ex-cop and could sense a secret in record time.

"Hey, Coreen, I'm ok, thanks." The blonde didn't even look up from the file she was reading. "When's my first appointment today?"

Black brows drew down over heavily made-up eyes before Coreen responded. It hadn't worked.

"Some guy's coming in at eleven to check on progress…something about his wife." She returned to her desk and flopped dejectedly down into her chair. It hadn't worked.

"Coreen, do you think Henry'll be around tonight?" A gleam of hope shone from the younger woman's eyes at the question.

"Of course he will. He always comes by. Why?"

"No reason. I'd just like…" her tone changed ever so slightly "to get my hands on him…" Coreen leaned all the way forward in her seat to get a good look at Vicki.

"What?!" Coreen's voice was shrill as she asked in disbelief. Vicki looked just as shocked at her admission as her assistant.

"Ignore that. I had no intention of saying that out loud…I think I'm just tired or something…" Vicki was horrified. Why had she said that? She hadn't even really realised she'd been thinking it…Throwing herself back into her work she ignored the little faux pas and got on with her day.

A/N: Ok, so that's ch. 1...please do review!