Hey guys, new ic from me, I know it's been forever since I posted anything, just had zero inspiration lol. Hope ya'll like it. As always I own nothing.

The doors to the conference room swung open with a slight bang and people began spilling out, chatting amiably with each other about the preceding workshop and the seminars they were required to attend that afternoon. For Detective Lou Vartann however, his obligations for the day had been filled. He had arrived in DC from Las Vegas two days earlier and had been given his schedule for the week; he'd discovered that apart from a few hours each morning most of his time, including the weekend, was his own, something for which he was very grateful. Ecklie had informed him the day before he was due to leave that he had been chosen to represent LVPD at a series of workshops and seminars aimed at improving cross jurisdictional cooperation.
Lou chuckled quietly to himself as he meandered his way through the throngs of people gathered in the lobby of the hotel/convention centre. As far as he was concerned the fancy title was code for the fact that some FBI big wig had finally pulled their head out of their ass and realised that there was a long history of tensions between the Bureau and local law enforcement every time they were required to work together.
"Took the idiots long enough," he muttered under his breath.

"Detective!" He was just about to push through the doors and head outside when the voice somewhere behind him called out. Lou paid no attention; the place was crawling with cops so the chances that the person was addressing him were slim.
"Detective!" The voice persisted and a hand grabbed his arm, spinning him round to face a young dark haired man wearing a standard issue FBI suit. It took Lou a few moments to place him, by which time the agent had already started speaking.

"I'm Agent Pratt, we met briefly a few months back during the Cerrasis case. I never caught your name though…"
"Detective Vartann." They exchanged the obligatory handshakes before falling into a vaguely uncomfortable silence. Pratt was the one to fill it.
"Hope you guys aren't sore about me poaching Willows. She's a damn good agent, a real assent to the Bureau."

Lou simply nodded. Since Catherine Willow's departure from the Las Vegas Crime Lab six months earlier he'd exchanged sporadic e-mails with her and even enjoyed the odd phone call. His mind drifted back to the night she'd left; they'd gone for drinks prior to her getting a taxi to the airport. Outside the bar they'd shared a passionate goodbye kiss which had left him fighting the urge to speed to the airport, grab hold of her and never let her go. He'd driven home instead, taking to his couch and replaying through his mind every moment of their somewhat tumultuous relationship.
"How long are you in town for?"
Pratt's voice forced Lou to return to the present. He cleared his throat before replying.
"The rest of the week, til next Wednesday/"
"Great!" Pratt said a little too enthusiastically. "Catherine has a few days off after our last case – man it was a doozy – I'm sure she'd love to see a friendly face."

A voice in the crowd called Pratt's name, effectively ending the conversation.
"Good to see you again Detective, enjoy your time in DC." And with another handshake the younger man was gone.
Lou shook his head with a smile as he headed towards the parking garage. Once inside the safety of his rental car her started the engine, double checked the address of his destination before putting the car into gear and pulling away, following the signs for Georgetown.

Hope ya'll enjoyed it. Chapter two coming soon :)
Lily
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