A/N I couldn't let this stay a one-shot because of Fireandice's review, blame her. Since my Black and Blue is a little depressing to write for hours on end, I decided to grant fireandice her.. friendly request.
Don't own shit, suck at grammar.
Previously:
"Yes, I'm asking you out."
"I'd love to."
"Good, and for the record. Zoë, you're not messed up."
…
"You were watching from behind the mirror?" Greg nodded. "When did you and Marina break up?"
"A few weeks after you left. I've been thinking about your last months with us a lot lately."
"How's that?"
"Are you kidding me? I tried to figure out what hints I missed" He smiled at her.
-Seven months earlier-
"Hey, Sarge." Zoë leaned against the doorpost in the briefing room. Greg sat by himself looking at transcripts from today's case.
"Hey, Zoë. Something wrong?"
"It's nice how you always ask us that, even when you've been staring at those papers for over an hour. What's wrong?"
"I'm just trying to find out where I lost him, so I can make sure it doesn't happen again."
"Want help?"
"Sure." She sat down next to him.
…
"I don't think you lost him Greg, he just thought this was the best way out. His wife and kids would get the life insurance if it was a death by cop."
"You think so?"
"Yeah. Listen, I need to ask you something and I really hope you can help me out with that."
"Sure, tell me."
Zoë opened her mouth to tell him how she felt when they heard knocking. She turned around to see Marina standing there. She was on one of their cases a few weeks ago.
"Hey." Greg smiled at her. "Zoë, you remember Marina." Zoë smiled at her, what was she doing here?
"Greg," Marina smiled at him. "Are you ready for dinner?" Zoë smile faltered for a second, Greg didn't seem to notice it.
"Ah, you're dating?" She asked with a fake smile.
"Yes, a couple of weeks now." Greg answered.
"I'm going to go home, see you tomorrow Sarge." Zoë got up, she wasn't going to tell him if he was dating.
"Zoë, what did you want to ask me?"
"It can wait. Night." She smiled at Marina as she passed her out of the briefing room.
…
"Guys, I need to tell you something." A month had passed. They were all sitting at the Goose. Everyone looked at her. "Today was my last shift with SRU."
"What?" It was Ed. "Are you serious?"
"Yes. I'm transferring to Guns and Gangs and I go undercover in.." She looked at her watch. "10 hours." Everyone was stunned. "I'm sorry I'm telling you this know, I probably should've told you a week ago. They contacted me, said I was perfect for the UC they had going." She finished her drink. "Thanks for my time with you guys. I'll never forget it." She got up. "Maybe I'll see you guys when I'm back." She smiled at them before getting up. Greg followed her out.
"Zoë hold up." He jogged after her until she came to a stop.
"What's up?"
"Why are you leaving?"
"I told you, guns and gangs."
"Zoë, you have become a very bad liar since you joined us."
"I can still lie perfectly, just not to you." He looked questioningly. "Geez Greg, for a negotiator you can be surprisingly oblivious.. I can't handle it anymore, being around you. I have loved you for half a year now. I just can't handle that hurt anymore." A tear slowly made its way down her cheek. "You think I read transcripts over with you in the briefing room until way past midnight because I rather be bored then asleep? You think I actually enjoy helping you with your paperwork? I hate paperwork, but I do it because I like being around you. I like eating lunch with you, laughing with you, I hate ice hockey but I learned the damn rules and watch it because I know you love talking about it and I want to be part of it. I was going to tell you last week but then Marina showed up.." She looked down, she couldn't believe she was telling him this. "I just need to get away for a little bit. Get away from watching you kiss Marina, just get away."
"From me?" A few tears fell onto the ground.
"I got to go. I need to pack and they'll pick me up soon."
"Zoë.." He reached out and took her wrist, trying to stop her from leaving.
"Please, let me get away from you.." He nodded.
"Good luck, see you around?"
"See you around."
…
-Present-
"You missed a lot of them, thanks for letting me go though."
"It was hard for me to let you go, I broke up with Marina the first time I saw her again."
"The first time?"
"Yeah, I loved you to but figured you wouldn't want me." Zoë smiled at him.
"You were wrong."
"I know.. So, are you glad your life is back to normal?"
"I am, but I don't know for how long. How have you been?"
"I'm good. It's been a little boring without you though."
'Well, my life has been anything but boring."
"I can imagine, I'm sorry you thought you had to leave."
"I still think it was the best choice. I mean, who else would've saved your ass."
"Yeah, thanks for that." He smiled at her.
"Hey Zoë." They turned around to find Jules standing there.
"Hey. What's up?"
"The guys were wondering if you want to join us." She tilted her head towards the booth. Zoë looked Greg for a second, he shrugged.
"Sure, just for a little bit though. I'm a little tired."
…
"Are you kidding me?"
"Nope, I have to go home because I have to take care of a baby." Ed replied.
"I want to meet her." Ed got up and smiled at her.
"You will, Zoë. You will. I will see you guys tomorrow." He smiled at them before leaving.
"When did that happen? I was gone for like, six months?"
"It just did." Spike smiled at her. "You really got that guy to fall in love with you."
"It's not that difficult, playing someone you're not. Showing and sharing your real feelings, now that's difficult." She smiled at Spike. "They can turn you down. That's hard." She glanced briefly to Greg. "Anyway, I'm going to grab a cab home. I'm tired and can't wait to sleep in my own bed without a drug dealer sleeping next to me." They smiled at her.
"Let me give you a ride." Greg get up.
"Thanks." She smiled at him.
"Zoë, how about we meet for lunch tomorrow? We have so much to talk about." Jules asked.
"Sounds good, I'll make sure my phone is charged. Give me a call tomorrow." Jules smiled back at her.
…
"Have you been back here yet?"
"Nope." Zoë smiled at Greg as she searched for her keys in her bag. They should be in their somewhere. "A little weird to be back." She found her keys. "So, I'll see you around?"
"About dinner, how about tomorrow?"
"Sure."
"I'll pick you up at seven?" She smiled at him, biting her bottom lip.
"Don't bite your lip." He put his hand on her cheek.
"Why not?"
"Because it makes me want to kiss you, and I won't until after the first date." Zoë snickered a little.
"Sometimes, I hate that you're a gentleman."
"Me too."
…
"Dish." Jules told her.
"Jules, I'm still taking off my coat. We've got plenty of time." Zoë laughed. They were sitting at a diner near SRU, since Jules was working.
"Okay." Zoë sat down, Jules kept staring at her.
"Fine.." Jules smiled at her. "What do you want to know?"
"You love Sarge?" Zoë chuckled.
"Sure, start with the complicated questions."
"Hey, you yelled it while we had a mic in there.."
"Yeah, forgot about that for a little bit. Yes, I love him. I have for a long time." They ordered their lunch.
"Is that why you left?"
"Yeah, I just couldn't stay. Every time I saw him I just.. I couldn't stay. Seeing him with Marina, it just was the drop.."
"You left pretty fast, you could've told us."
"I know, I should've told you guys sooner. I just couldn't."
"So, are you staying with guns and gangs?" Zoë shrugged.
"I don't know. I'm thinking about going back to SRU, I like that so much better."
"Even if you did stop 1/3 of the drugs and arms coming into the city?"
"Yeah, I like working in a team. Having friends.. How about you, besides Ed having a kid all of a sudden, anything else change?"
"I'm dating Sam."
"He transferred?"
"Nope."
"You transferred?"
"Nope."
"Help me out here.."
"We were on probation, Sarge almost got fired because of us, but we're in the clear now."
"Geez, I'm gone 6 months.."
"So, you and Sarge?"
"What about us?"
"Are you going out with him now?"
"We're having dinner tonight, as long as you guys don't catch some big case."
"It happens.."
"I know, and luck hasn't exactly been on my side lately."
…
"Hey, Greg." Zoë was looking in the mirror, finishing up on her make-up. She was about ready, he would pick her up in half an hour. She'd even gone out and bought a new dress.
"Hey.." He didn't sound to happy.
"Something wrong?"
"I uuh, I won't be able to make it." Zoë was glad he wasn't there or he would've seen the disappointment on her face.
"Oh, big case?"
"Yeah, it's one big mess. Hope you weren't all dressed up yet?" She looked herself over.
"No, I was just getting started." She lied.
"I'm really sorry."
"I know. Rain-check?"
"Yeah, I'll call you tomorrow."
"Key, good luck with your case."
"Thanks." She hung up. No, luck was not on her side.
…
Zoë picked up her phone as she paid the man behind the counter.
"Let me guess, you have to cancel." She could hear Greg laugh.
"Yes. I'm sorry, I know it's the fourth time."
"Cancelling on a first date four times, that's not a good sign Greg." She grabbed the pizza's from the counter and walked out.
"I know.. I keep apologizing.."
"It's fine, so why did you have to cancel this time?" She crossed the street and walked inside SRU.
"Team 3 can't make it, it's complicated, we have to pick up their shift."
"Aah, so you're all stuck there?"
"Pretty much."
"Guess you'll call me tomorrow to reschedule?"
"Yes. Really, I'm sorry. I know I seem like a jerk." She pushed the elevator button for the 1st floor.
"It's fine, I've got a feeling I'll see you sooner than you think. So, where you at?"
"Briefing room, doing paperwork."
"Good luck with that. I'll talk to you tomorrow."
"Bye." They hung up.
She walked out of the elevator and handed Winnie a sandwich when she passed her desk. Her first time back in SRU after almost seven months. She leaned against the briefing room's doorpost.
"Hey stranger." He looked up surprised.
"Hey." He got up and walked towards her. "What are you doing here?"
"Had a feeling you would cancel." She held up the pizza's. "You hard workers gotta eat, right?"
"Definitely. You're too good, I keep cancelling and you bring us food." She walked passed him to put it on the table. Ed walked in and noticed the pizza's.
"That for us?" Zoë nodded.
"Great! We're hungry." Spike walked passed him.
"Spike hand me the top box will you?" Spike did as Zoë asked. "Thanks." She turned towards Greg and lowered her voice so only he could hear her. "Greg, how about you and I go have our first date in the gym?" Greg smiled at her.
"Sounds like a plan." He took the pizza box from her with his right hand and guided her out of the briefing room with his left on her lower back.
…
"Just knew I was going to cancel?"
"I had a feeling."
"Why's that?"
"God hates me." She smiled at him before taking a bite from her slice. "A little birdie told me Sam and Jules are dating."
"Yep, a little while now."
"What else did I miss? Ed got a kid, Jules and Sam are dating.."
"Not much, Wordy's coming your way though." She looked at him questioningly. "Going to join guns and gangs."
"I'm actually thinking of putting in for transfer again."
"Why, you don't like guns and gangs?"
"I like having friends more, besides, I can't date if I'm undercover and there's this guy I like."
"Is there now? Where are you transferring to?"
"Thinking of applying for this kick-ass job. It's like SWAT but with psychological profiling." Greg smiled.
"Sounds like a nice job."
"Yeah, just can't join the team I want. Team one's sergeant's a jackass." He shoved her lightly. "Like the pizza? I wasn't sure what the team liked, but I knew you liked Hawaii."
"You did?"
"M-hm, this pizza first date had one disadvantage though."
"What's that?"
"I won't be able to get my goodnight kiss."
"I thought you didn't kiss on your first dates."
"I don't, but technically this is our fourth date."
"True, I think we can fix that." He put the pizza box down, and leaned in to kiss her.
"Am I interrupting?" Zoë made an annoyed sound as they both sat back straight.
"God hates me. Yes, Ed, you are very much interrupting." Greg chuckled.
"I can come back?"
"The moment is now ruined anyway." Zoë turned back to look outside and grabbed another slice.
"What's up Eddie?"
"I just wanted to thank Zoë for the pizza,"
"Your very welcome." Ed smiled at her annoyed tone of voice.
"And I wanted to say that Dean is here to see you."
"Ow, right, he forgot his keys again." Greg got up. "Be right back, Zo." He walked out.
"Dean's here?" Zoë asked Ed.
"Yeah, he's been living with Greg since a few months."
"I'm gone six months…"
…
"So, Dean lives with you?" She asked once he walked back in.
"Yeah, for a while now."
"So, you got back in touch with him?"
"Short answer, yes."
"Well, how does it feel?"
"It feels great. We spend a lot of time together." Zoë checked the time.
"I should get going, leave you to train off the pizza." She got up and grabbed her coat.
"Let me walk you out."
…
"Thanks again for the pizza."
"You're welcome." They walked towards her car at SRU parking lot.
"So, I'll call you tomorrow for the rain check."
"Sounds like a plan." She grabbed her keys from her pocket and unlocked the car.
"Night." Zoë smiled at him, disappointed and opened her door and turned to get in her car. "Wait." He grabbed her hand to stop her.
"Yeah?" He looked into her eyes before leaning in and kissing her.
"Goodnight." She smiled while biting her bottom lip.
"Goodnight."
…
"He did it! Pay up!" Spike turned to the rest. "You guys were wrong, he kissed her. Pay up." Everyone sighed and reached for their wallets to grab the bills Spike earned.
"You're betting on my dating skills?" Greg walked up behind them.
"Or lack thereof." Ed muttered.
"Well, I'm glad you lost. Hope that teaches you never to bet against me Eddie."
"I just lost 50 bucks.."
"50? Wow Spike, 250 bucks, you get to buy lunch tomorrow."
…
"Sure you want to cook, if you're tired we can always order in?" Zoë was sitting at his breakfast bar, watching him get ready to cook.
"No, I cancelled on you 6 times since I first asked you out.."
"12, actually. Not that I'm counting."
"12?" Zoë nodded. "Seems less."
"Because I keep bringing you food at SRU." Zoë smiled at him.
"Anyway, I've cancelled on you too many times… I'm making you dinner."
"Okay, so.. is Dean joining us?"
"No, he's staying over at a friend's place."
"Scared of me meeting him?" She smiled, they had been dating for over two months now.
"No, I just.. some other time?"
"Sounds good. "
…
Greg sat on the couch, Zoë was straddling him, she broke the kiss and pulled back a little.
"What if Dean comes home?" He pulled her back so he could kiss her.
"Told you, he's staying at a friend's" He nuzzled her neck.
"So we just make out on the couch like teenagers."
"It's fun, isn't it?"
"Well, yeah, making out with you is always fun."
"So, what's the problem?"
"Really, Greg, I wouldn't have pecked you for the teenage-make-out session."
"Rather I stop?" His hands were wandering over her legs.
"No.."
"It's even more fun when you stop talking."
"Okay." He pulled of her shirt and kissed her again.
"Dad?"
They heard someone close the front door. Zoë shot up from the couch to grab her shirt while Greg re-buttoned his. She pulled it over her head and sat down next to Greg on the couch.
"Living room, Dean."
"I told you, he's staying at friend's.." Zoë mocked him.
"Hey, so.. That didn't work out. Jerk." He stopped when he saw Zoë. "Oh, hi." Dean took in their state, both were a little out of breath and flushed. "So.." Greg was speechless.
"You must be Dean, I'm Zoë." She stood up to shake his hand.
"So, that's the reason you wanted me gone for the night." Dean shook her hand and smiled at his dad.
"What happened at Jake's?" Greg changed the subject.
"His mom's boyfriend came home and kicked me out. So, what were you guys doing?"
"We were just, talking." Greg wanted to tell him they were watching TV but it was turned off.
"Sure. So, I'll be in my room if you need me." He grabbed his bag from the ground. "It was nice meeting you, Zoë." He smiled at her. "Owh, by the way dad.. You buttoned your shirt wrong."
"Nice meeting you, Dean." She waited until he left the room before throwing a couch cushion at Greg. "I can't believe that just happened. I totally feel like your parents just walked in." Greg laughed.
"It's my son, I think that's actually worse."
"So, I'm going to go home."
"You can still stay."
"Yeah.. No, you go talk to Dean. Invite him to dinner at my place for Tuesday, will you?" He got up to walk her out.
"Sure, so sorry for Dean walking in." He couldn't stop smiling.
"You think this is funny, don't you?"
"A little."
"I'm so embarrassed and you laugh?"
"I'm sure it'll be okay.. Oh, you might want to put your shirt on right."
"Ugh.. I'll see you on Tuesday." She reached up and gave him a quick kiss.
"Night." She smiled before walking to her car.
…
Greg knocked on Dean's door.
"Yeah." Dean looked up from the computer to see his dad coming in.
"Hey, so.. Jake's mom's boyfriend kicked you out?"
"Yep, he seems a total jerk."
"Sucks."
"Yeah." Dean smiled, he knew why his dad was standing in his doorway.
"So, Zoë.." Greg hoped his son would start talking.
"Yep, she seems nice. A little embarrassed, but nice."
"Yeah.. I think she wanted the ground to swallow her."
"She looked like it."
"She wants us to have dinner at her place on Tuesday, if you're up for it?"
"It's that serious?" Greg's brow furrowed. "Mom would only let me meet the 'serious' boyfriends."
"Yeah, Dean, it's serious."
"sure, dinner sounds good. She can cook, right?"
"Yeah, she can cook."
…
Greg was laying in bed when his phone started ringing. He answered the call and put it to his ear.
"Greg."
"What are you wearing?" He laughed.
"Sweats and a shirt."
"Disappointing."
"You?"
"Same. So, dinner on Tuesday?"
"Yep, we'll be there."
" 'kay, what does he like?"
"Are you serious?"
"Yes! I want him to like me, and a 17 year old boy cares about two things . Food and girls, and I'm pretty sure you don't want me to call a friendly hooker."
"No.. that doesn't seem like a great idea, wait.. you know hookers?"
"I was undercover for six months with drugs and arms dealers, I met my fair share of hookers. So, food?"
"Uuhm, anything that isn't healthy?"
"Helpful.. he's not a vegetarian?"
"No.."
"Allergies?"
"None."
"He does like cake or something right?"
"Zoë, don't worry so much."
"What will we be doing the rest of the evening anyway, boardgames?"
"He likes videogames, you've got a lot of them. I'm sure we can figure one out." She took a deep breath.
"Okay, yeah I can do that. Think he knew what we were doing on the couch?" He full out laughed.
"Yeah. I think he does. Since my shirt was buttoned wrong and you had your shirt on backwards."
"Stop thinking this is funny!"
"Baby, don't stress so much. I'm sure it'll all turn out fine." He heard her sigh very loudly.
"Fine. So, see you Tuesday around six thirty."
"See you Tuesday."
…
"So how'd dinner at your place go?" Ed asked Greg while they were changing into their normal clothes at the end of the day.
"Good, that was until Dean walked in while we were kissing."
"Kissing or making out on the dinner table?"
"Couch." Ed laughed.
"He literally walked in?"
"Well, we hastily sat up.. but he knew what he walked into."
"How's that?" Ed closed his locker.
"Trust me, Eddie.. He knew."
"Share a little."
"She would kill me if she even knew I told you this."
"So, what's next?"
"Dinner at her place tomorrow, with Dean."
"Good luck buddy."
"Yeah, thanks. Zoë's stressing like crazy. You'd think she was meeting my entire family or something."
…
Zoë had cleaned her house, she'd been doing it all day. She had quit guns and gangs yesterday, she would have to finish the month which had just started. She checked the oven again, the cake and lasagna were both looking good. She had just finished getting the kitchen cleaned up again when she heard a knock on the door.
"Hey come on in." She smiled at both of them.
"Hey," Greg smiled at her and wiped some sauce of her cheek. "Smells good."
"Yeah, makes me hungry." Dean took off his coat.
"So, I hope you like lasagna.."
"I do."
…
"So, Zoë, how did you and my dad meet?" Dean asked her once they were seated at dinner.
"I used to be on his team, that's where we met. I then transferred to guns and gangs and went undercover. That's where I ran into him again."
"While you were undercover?"
"Yeah, saved his ass."
"From?"
"A major beating." She smiled at Greg.
"Are you kidding me? You bruised my jaw with that punch."
"Those guys would've done a lot more than just bruise your jaw, honey."
"What kind of guys were it?"
"The kind you need to avoid." Greg told him, Dean rolled his eyes.
"Drug and arms dealers."
"Zoë.."
"He's 17 Greg, I'm sure he knows they exist."
"There's a dealer at my school." Dean regretted it the second he said it.
"What, who?"
"I don't know, no one does, we just know there is one."
"How do you know that?"
"I just know.."
"There is someone who sells drugs in almost every school, Greg."
"Really?"
"Yeah, I read a report on it back in guns and gangs." Zoë noticed the empty plates. "How about cake?" Dean smiled back at her as she grabbed the plates.
"Let me help you." Dean got up and grabbed the left over lasagna.
"Thanks."
…
"So, telling your dad about drug dealers may not be the smartest thing."
"Yeah, it was out before I could help it. Where can I put this?" He raised the lasagna.
"Uuhm, fridge. Could you grab the whipped cream while you're in there?"
"Sure."
Zoë removed the apple cake from the oven and sliced three pieces off of it before putting them on plates.
"Zoë, can I ask you something? It's about my dad."
"Sure."
"Do you love him?" She turned to face him.
"Uhm.."
"Because he doesn't date much, and I think he likes you." Zoë smiled at him, it was really sweet how he wanted to protect his dad.
"Are you asking me if I'm stringing him along, Dean?"
"Well.. yeah."
"Yeah, I love him. I'm not stringing him along Dean, you really sound like Ed. You know that?" He shrugged and grabbed one of the plates.
…
"What were you talking about in the kitchen? You were gone for quite some time." Greg kissed her neck from behind, Dean had excused himself to use the bathroom.
"You, what else."
"Me? What could you possibly talk about concerning me?"
"All kinds of things. Now come sit down, before he walks in on you kissing me, again."
…
"So Dean, how about a videogame? You dad's really bad at it."
"Sure." He sat down and grabbed the controller Zoë handed him. "What are we playing?"
"Your choice, your dad's bad at all of them."
"Just not a shooter Dean." Greg added.
"You don't like shooters?" Dean asked him.
"He wants to talk them down. It's in the job, I guess."
"But you like shooters?"
"Yeah, but we handle things differently."
"What things?"
"Well, "
"Zoë.." She looked at Greg.
"You do actually know what his job is, right?"
"Yeah, he talks people down, and if he can't he sometimes has to shoot them."
"Who told you that?" Greg asked Dean surprised. "The shooting part."
"Dad, I'm not a kid.. I know how it works." Zoë smiled, clearly Greg had his moments where he thought Dean was 8.
"Well, we handle the shooting different. He likes to talk about it, and I usually don't."
…
"So, dad I'm gonna get going. If that's okay?" He put on his coat and put his phone back in his pocket
"Sure, where was that party again?"
"Mike's."
"And were there parents?"
"Mike's brother."
"How old is Mike's brother"
"19"
"Old enough to buy alcohol, how convenient." Dean sighed. "When are you going to be home?"
"like, 1 am?"
"You've got school tomorrow."
"Midnight?"
"Midnight sounds good. How are you going to go there and get home?"
"Sven is picking me up and driving me home."
"Okay, if anything's wrong you can call me. If I don't pick up," He wrote something down on a piece of paper and handed it to Dean. "This is Zoë's number."
"Sure." They heard honking. "That's Sven, gotta go. Thanks dad." He walked out and the heard the door close.
Zoë smiled as she saw the worry on his face.
"I'm sure it'll be fine."
"You don't have a teenage kid."
"No, but my boyfriend does. Another coffee?"
"Sounds good. Do you think I was too lenient?" He could her laugh coming from the kitchen.
"Now who's worrying?" It wasn't long before she came in with his coffee.
"Do you?"
"I think it's really nice you let him stay until midnight, on a school day."
"Too nice?"
"A little, maybe. I'm not complaining, the later he gets to stay out, the later you get to stay out."
"True."
…
"Hello?" Zoë picked up her phone, she didn't recognize the number.
"Hey, it's Mike. I got this number from Dean's pocket."
"Is he okay?"
"Yeah, he's fine. Someone brought in liquor and he's wasted.."
"Yeah, I'll come pick him up, just give me the address." She wrote the address down. "Okay, yeah I'll be there in 10. Do me a favor, get him to drink some water?"
"Sure thing."
"Thanks Mike." She hung up the phone and walked back into the room where Greg was just getting dressed.
"I need to go, Dean can be home any minute."
"About Dean.." That got his attention. "Mike just called," She started getting dressed. "Dean has had some liquor, Mike asked if we could go pick him up. He's fine though, just drunk." She pulled on her shoes.
"He won't be going to another party anytime soon.." Greg mumbled.
"Want to punish him? Sent him to school tomorrow, don't let him stay home. He was tough enough to drink, he can go to school."
"That works?"
"Yeah, it worked for one of my friends."
…
"Greg, stay in the car." They were outside Mike's house. "I'll go get him and bring him here. You can kick his ass tomorrow morning when he's hung over."
"You can't carry him."
"First of all, I doubt he's that drunk. Second, but your ass I so can." She smiled at him. "Stay.."
"Okay." She gave him a quick kiss before getting out.
The party was still going strong, there were kids out in the front yard and the front door was open. Zoë walked in.
"Where's Mike?" She asked the first kid that didn't seem completely drunk. He pointed towards the kitchen. "Thanks." She stepped over some puke and continued to the kitchen.
"Mike?" She asked when she walked in, there was a kid sitting next to Dean. Dean was sitting on a kitchen chair, his head was lying on the table.
"Yeah, are you Zoë?"
"That's me. How's he doing?"
"Puked in my hallway."
"Happens when you give liquor to kids who can't handle drinking." She smiled at him. "Did he have a coat or something?"
"Yeah." He pointed to a chair.
"If you can take that to the car for me, I'll take him." She leaned forward to help Dean up, her badge falling out of her shirt, dangling on her neck.
"You're a cop?"
"Relax kid, I'm just here to take him home. Be glad his dad is still in the car." She helped Dean stand, he was wasted and passed out in her arms. "Just so you know Dean, you owe me." She lifted him up, slightly regretting telling Greg she could do it easily. "Jezus, how much do you weigh.. Mike, walk, clear a way for me will you?" He nodded and walked in front of her.
…
"Get the backseat for me." Mike nodded and opened the door. "Greg, meet Mike." Greg got out of the car to help her put Dean in.
"He's completely out of it.." Greg muttered. "You who brought in the booze?"
"No, sir." He said quickly.
"Who did?"
"I don't know, sir." Zoë took the coat from Mike and put it in the car.
"Of course you don't.." Greg went back into the car.
"Thanks for calling Mike, now I'm pretty sure Dean's dad is going to call the cops. So if I were you I would end this party before they get here." Mike nodded and walked back in.
…
"I'm sorry the night had to end like this.." Greg said when they stood in front of Zoë's front door.
"You kidding me, it's every girl's dream. Go take your kid home."
"Thanks." He kissed her gently. "I'll call you."
"You do that."
…
"Wake up." Greg slammed the door open and turned on the lights. "It's seven, you need to get ready for school."
"I'm not feeling good, think I'm going to stay home." Dean muttered into his pillow.
"You were feeling good enough to drink yourself into oblivion last night, you're good enough to go to school now. Wake up."
Dean mumbled something Greg couldn't make out and then sat up straight, running to the bathroom as he did.
"Oh, by the way, I called you mom already."
"Nooo.." Greg heard the toilet flush.
"Do you even remember how you got here?" Dean shuffled in and shook his head. "Zoë carried you out." Dean looked up, embarrassed. "Now, shower and get dressed. I'll drop you off at school on my way to work."
"Okay.."
"Oh, and Dean? You are grounded for three weeks."
…
"So, how did dinner last night go?" Ed kept bugging Greg about Zoë.
"Fine, until Dean went to a party and got wasted."
"Ah, Mike's?"
"Yeah, how did you know?"
"Clark wanted to go, Sophie thought it was a bad idea."
"That makes Sophie smarter than me."
"So, you picked him up?"
"Yeah, me and Zoë. Grounded him for three weeks and didn't let him stay at home."
"Smart enough, he's drinking like a tough guy he can go to school."
"That's what Zoë said."
"Great minds think alike."
"Not sure if I'd call your mind great though."
…
"Got some bad news." Zoë was leaning against the doorpost in the briefing room.
"Good morning to you too. What bad news?"
"You know how I have to finish the month with guns and gangs?" He nodded. "Well, they've got an assignment for me." She threw a folder on the table. "Only going to take two or three weeks, but I won't be able to see you.. Unless you come visit me of course."
"Visit you where?" He opened the folder. "A strip club?"
"Yeah, I'm going to be all sexy on stage."
"A strip club.. Not really my scenery."
"Maybe you can come check it out sometime though, I go in ten minutes. Heard this morning." She pointed to her weekend bag. "Going to go shopping with someone who's already UC there, buy all those hooker-y clothes."