He slung back the remains of his pint and slammed it onto the table top. The blonde woman at the bar gave him a sharp look but thankfully went back to chatting with the old guy with the funny accent. You'd think she'd notice the badge and cut him a little slack! He glared mulishly into the empty glass. Did he want another?
"Oh, wise up!" Jorsten snapped at him.
McHughes glared at him over his glass.
"I thought you were on my side," he complained.
He got a glare in return.
"C'mon," McHughes wheedled. "It's not like I was doing anything wrong."
Jorsten gave him an incredulous look.
"Dude, you took it way too far," he stated, taking a sip of his own drink. "I like winding Deeks up as much as the next person but you took it way too far."
McHughes could feel himself get more irritable. Who was Jorsten to lecture him? He had been doing at least half of the teasing as well! McHughes frowned, Jorsten got none of the punishments though. His glare deepened. His ears were still burning from the lecture Bates gave him after that stupid ceremony. But come on. That stupid ninja Fed crew of Deeks' just gave him far too much ammo. It was actually fun to poke fun at Deeks again with that lot around.
"You're no fun anymore," he said to Jorsten instead.
Which was true. What happened to his partner in crime? The one who was his "witness" of stupid behaviour from Deeks. Not that that trick ever worked but still!
"I grew up," Jorsten said simply.
"I'm a grown up," McHughes mumbled with a pout.
Jorsten gave him a suspicious look.
"What is with you? You've only had one pint."
McHughes glared mulishly at his glass again. Stupid glass.
"Why does everyone love Deeks so much?" He whined, voice rising slightly.
He'd got the attention of the bar lady, who was now giving him a curious look. Like she'd sort of heard him but only recognised a few of the words. Maybe he could pour his woes out to her, she'd probably be a better listener than Jorsten.
"We don't all 'love' him," Jorsten replied with a roll of his eyes. "I certainly don't but Cooper's right. He's a good man and always gets the job done with little complaint. Even if his methods are a little...unorthodox."
McHughes sat on that for a few moments before raising his empty glass to his partner, "The feds can have him."
"Amen to that?" Jorsten replied whole-hearted, chinking his own empty one with McHughes'. "A second round?"
"Definitely," McHughes said quickly and then smirked. "Need to celebrate you award 'Paper-Pusher'."
Jorsten didn't rise to the bait and just smiled lazily at him.
"Someone's gotta do it. Hope that means you're paying."
"Yeah, yeah, " said McHughes, spinning off his chair and made his way over to the bar.
The woman there was glaring at him. He was confused. They hadn't been rowdy or anything so why the negativity? Maybe she was one of those people who hated cops. They wouldn't be coming back here then. It was a pity, McHughes looked around him and smiled at the shark on the wall, it was nice for a new bar. Hadn't quite found its groove there but it a nice place and served good beer.
"You boys LAPD?" the short blonde woman asked conversationally, pouring their drinks.
McHughes slipped onto a bar stool and smiled charmingly at her, "Yes ma'am."
She just gave him a cool look, "My son's LAPD."
"Officer?"
"Detective," she replied proudly.
His curiosity was spiked, he probably knew the dude. Hell, he probably worked under the man. He was about to probe her further when he caught something out of the corner of his eye. He stared.
Jorsten came up to the bar, wondering why their drinks were taking too long.
"Recognise them?" McHughes asked under his breath, indicating to his four o'clock.
Jorsten gave the direction a surreptitious look before he rolled his eyes and shook his head. McHughes felt his shoulders relax. Phew, they weren't some perps then.
"It's those tech monkeys from NCIS, " he explained.
McHughes frowned.
"Seriously?"
Jorsten nodded.
He felt uncomfortable. Sure, those two had never done anything to them. They barely interacted with LAPD except to call in for backup but McHughes suspected that they could and would go tattling to that midget boss of theirs.
Oh crap, they were coming over here. He seized their drinks.
"Did you get everything set up, Nell?" The bar lady asked.
Wait, she knew them?
Nell nodded and responded, "Yep, everything is in place."
The tech operator grinned at the woman and dumped a heavy sounding bag on the bar. He and Jorsten tried to ease away.
"Got the balloons?" Eric checked.
The woman nodded vigorously and patted the bar, "Under here."
"They should be here soon," Nell assured them.
McHughes suddenly got a sinking feeling in his stomach. Jorsten shifted uncomfortably from beside him.
"Oh hey, Officer Jorsten, McHughes," Nell greeted them rather flatly.
Eric gave them an odd look before quickly looking away. He reached over to help tug what McHughes assumed were the balloons from under the bar. Five helium ones reading 'Congratulations' popped out.
He suspected he knew who the bar lady's son was.
"Well done on your award, Officer Jorsten," Nell commented, cocking her head at them.
Jorsten grinned nervously and took a step back.
"Uh, thanks, " he stuttered and pulled on McHughes shirt. "Didn't you want to finish up?"
He almost snorted. Real smooth. But it gave him an out.
"Yeah," he replied and carefully made his face blank (he didn't need any more complaints getting back to Bates). "Nice to see you again," he said to her with a sardonic smile and nodded at the bar lady before darting back to his table.
Maybe they could down these drinks before they arrived...
"Deeks alert!" He heard Eric hiss, pointing at the door.
Or maybe not.
