a/n: I know that Richard bought the Harley bike after '21 Jump Street' and rode it only in 'Booker', but I had to write it like he was riding it from the beginning, for the sake of the fic. ;)
Also the story is situated in Season 4 of '21 Jump Street' and after episode 1 of 'Booker'.
Enjoy!


01.

Her light brown hair was up in a ponytail and she was trying to keep herself occupied with paperwork, but it seemed to her everything in the chapel was running too slow. Even the fact that Harry had finally woken up from the coma didn't make her feel as happy as she wanted to be. The day felt too long, especially when she wasn't on a case but had only reports to fill and sign, not to mention she had to sit on her desk that was just opposite his and had to look at the empty chair only to be reminded that he was never going to use it again.

She sighed and lifted her green eyes from the pages she was currently filling in, turning her head to look around herself at the others and see what they were doing; Judy was silently doing some paperwork too, while Penhall was sitting on his chair chatting with Hanson (whose eyes occasionally drifted to her whenever she wasn't looking) and the folder in his hands was long forgotten. At the mere sight of the large goofy cop though she clutched her pen harder and it took everything for her not to throw it at him. Even though everything had finally gotten straight, Tom was out of jail and he had gotten his badge back, Doug's words still rang loudly in her ears and even if both of them had declared truce and had joined forces in their mission to help Hanson, she didn't want to think about how the person they were аctually aimed at had felt when he heard them. Yes, she was there and saw his reaction, but how did he feel she could only imagine.

"You guys are acting like I killed him!"

Booker sounded angry and she could clearly see in his eyes that he was hurt from the way Hoffs and Penhall were acting towards him.

"No, Hanson and Ioki ain't dead, but as far as I'm concerned, you are."

Booker only glared, but she couldn't help but raise her hand.

Slap!

She had backhanded Penhall across the face. Both him and Dennis stared at her shocked for a couple of seconds before Booker snapped back to reality and started to walk away. Michelle quickly ran after him.

Even though later she had apologized to him and they had made up, every time when she recalled Penhall spitting the words at Dennis' face, she felt her blood begin to boil again.

How dared he?!

Everyone in the chapel were her second family and she had always loved and cherished Doug as the big brother she never had. But hearing him spat those words at Dennis, at the man who had captured her heart from the first moment they'd met and she had stared into his dark eyes, had really hurt her. She had never seen Doug like this before, and she knew that Hanson going to jail had hit him hard, but somehow Penhall had changed. He wasn't the funny, goofy guy who'd always make everyone laugh even at darkest times; he was dark and bitter and was always moody. Now with his best friend being there again she could see the old Doug Penhall slowly coming back.

She turned her head back, leaning in the chair and closing her eyes. Letting her thoughts run wild once again she groaned realizing that whatever she was thinking about, there was one person who was always invading her thoughts.

Dennis Booker.

She felt her lips curling into a small smile at the memory of when they'd first met.

When she arrived at the chapel she checked her watch and realized she was a bit early but she only shrugged her shoulders and climbed out of her convertible. She was wearing a black denim jacket, white t-shirt, black jeans, white trainers and her hair was in a tight ponytail. She started walking to the stairs when she noticed a blue Harley 1982 Shovelhead and stopped in her tracks to admire it.

'I wonder who this baby here belongs to..', she thought before finally continuing on her way up the stairs. She was kind of a rebel type of person and she loved cars, motorcycles and all badass stuff. As a matter of fact she'd been told a lot of times that she should've been born a male, because she behaved more like a boy than like a girl.

Once inside the chapel she looked around listening to all the buzz coming from the people in the room. It was good to be back after the long summer she had to spend in uniform. She spotted Judy on her desk and walked over to her.

"Hey, Jude!"

"Hey, Michelle!" The other girl responded with a smile.

"How was your summer?" She asked and Judy rolled her eyes in response.

"Don't ask."

"That bad?!" Michelle lifted her eyebrows and the other girl sighed.

"It was not bad, it was embarrassing." She then glared at her. "And how was yours?"

Michelle shrugged her shoulders.

"Not bad. I was on patrol with Tom."

"Speaking of him, did you know he's got a new partner?" Judy asked and Michelle frowned.

"New partner? But I thought Doug was his partner?"

"Right, you don't know." The other girl said and looked at her with sadness in her eyes. "Penhall's still in Intelligence and he likes it there, so he probably won't come back."

"Oh. Well if Doug likes it there and is feeling good then we should be happy for him."

"Yeah, I know, but I kind of miss him. It's not the same without him. " Judy said and Michelle rubbed her arm.

"I know. I wonder how is Tom handling it. I mean considering they were also best friends and all.."

"He hates it of course." The other girl responded.

"Who hates what?"

The two girls turned around to look at the source of the voice and saw Hanson standing behind them along with his new partner. Michelle moved her eyes from Tom to look at the other officer and caught her breath in her throat; he had black raven hair and was dressed in blue denim jacket, black t-shirt, blue jeans and black shoes. From what she could see he was quite muscular and his thin frame was well built. But it were his eyes that intrigued her the most; deep brown with a touch of hazel (like milk chocolate) they were soft and she could see so many emotions hidden in their depths, no matter how hard he tried to conceal them. It was like she could see his soul through his eyes and she immediately felt her heart was drawn to him.

"You must be Tom's new partner." Michelle stated, ignoring Hanson who rolled his eyes a bit annoyed and stretched her hand. "I'm Michelle Garcia."

"Dennis Booker." He took her hand and shook it pulling his mouth in a mischievous smirk that made her stare at his lips for a brief moment.

"Are you the owner of that gorgeous Harley outside?" She asked, although she somehow knew the answer.

"Maybe." He replied, his smirk getting wider. "Why?"

"I was wondering if I could get a ride on it sometime."

"Sure, babe, whenever you want."

Michelle couldn't help but roll her eyes at his 'babe' comment even though her lips betrayed her forming a smile and a soft chuckle escaped her mouth.

"How about when you solve the case you're on we go for a ride around the city?" She asked boldly, her eyes glimmering with a rebel flame.

"What gave you the impression that I have a case?" The raven haired officer lifted his eyebrows genuinely surprised of how quickly she had made that assumption.

"Well for one you two just walked out of Fuller's office meaning the captain either just gave you a new case or you already were working on one and had to report to him about it. And second, the folder in Tom's hands is quite a big giveaway, don't you think?!"

She could tell Booker was a bit shocked by her response, but also quite intrigued by her observational skills and sharp mind.

"I must admit I'm impressed." He said smirking. "Ok, whenever we finish the case I'll take you out for a ride."

"Great, so it's settled then."

Booker nodded with a smirk and she walked away to Fuller's office, brushing against the new officer along the way.

She was brought back to the present by a hand on her shoulder. Looking up she found herself face to face with Tom who looked worried.

"You ok?" He asked concerned.

"Not really, but I'll get there."

He frowned although it seemed to her he had actually expected a similar answer.

"Is it because of Booker?"

"What's that supposed to mean?" She asked annoyed.

Ever since she first met Dennis she started getting closer to him but Tom wouldn't stop repeating how he was a dangerous guy who should not be trusted and she had had enough of it.

"I meant with everything that's happened lately. He helped me out of jail but lost his job because of that."

Michelle looked at Hanson, patiently waiting for him to finish before she sighed.

"I'm going to miss working with him." She said eventually, eyeing the empty desk across hers. "But it's not like I won't see him again. And besides he already got a new job thanks to the captain so if anything I'm happy for him."

"Look there's something I've been meaning to ask you." There was a bit of hesitation in Tom's voice that made her look up at him. "You two got pretty close when he was still working here and I've been wondering for some time around..are you two together?"

"Are you asking me if he's my boyfriend?"

Tom nodded slowly.

"No, he's not."

"Oh." Relief was written all over his face and it annoyed her. "Well.."

"But I wish he was." Michelle added and she saw the pain that ran through Tom's eyes.

She hated to see him hurting, especially because of her, but she couldn't lie to him. Not to him. And not for something so important.

Because the truth was that her heart belonged to Dennis Booker and it would always be that way.

"You know it's Friday night which means it's bowling night. Why don't you come with me and after we play some bowling we can go to my place and have dinner..you know..watch a movie?" Tom asked trying not to sound as if he was asking her on a date (even if that was exactly what he was doing).

She was about to respond when out of the corner of her eyes she spotted someone walking inside the chapel and turned her head to the entrance.

"Dennis!" She gasped and her lips pulled into a smile when she ran towards him, wrapping her arms around him. "What are you doing here?"

"Just came to visit and check on how everyone's doing." He tried to smile back, but she could see in his eyes that something was bothering him.

"What's wrong?" She asked, her hands still on his shoulders.

"Nothing's wrong, I'm fine."

"No, you're not. Listen why don't you come over to my place tonight? I'll make us something to eat and we'll talk."

"Ok, sure." Dennis nodded and this time the smile on his face was genuine.

He walked away to Fuller's office and Michelle turned to look at Tom. He was still standing by her desk but the hurt in his eyes from what he'd just witnessed was evident no matter how hard he tried to hide it. Hanson loved her as much as she loved Booker and she knew every time he saw her with Dennis his heart was aching. Sighing she walked over to him and looked at him apologetically.

"Look, Tom, I'm sorry, I.."

He shook his head.

"No, it's fine, really. We can go out some other day. Now, excuse me, but I uh..I've got some work to do." He quickly walked over his desk and sat down, taking a folder and hiding behind it.

Michelle shook her head and turned to look towards Fuller's office just in time to see Dennis walking out. He walked over to her.

"That was quick." She commented with a small smirk and raised her eyebrow.

"Yeah, he was on the phone and I didn't want to interrupt him." Booker responded.

"Oh." She leaned back in her chair to take a good look at him.

"How's Ioki?"

"Don't you know? He finally woke up and he's getting better." She said but couldn't hide the confusion in her voice.

Had no one really thought it important to inform him?

Dennis' face pulled into a smile.

"That's great news!"

"Why don't you go and see him? I'm sure it'll cheer him up."

"I don't know..the others probably have told him what happened while he was in a coma and.."

"They didn't. I made sure of telling him the story myself so he wouldn't get the wrong idea."

"Thanks."

"It's nothing."

He hesitated for a moment before putting his hand on top of hers and with the corner of her eyes she saw Hanson burning holes in Booker's back with his dark orbits. Thankfully Fuller called him in his office and she let a small breath of relief.

"Why are you so good to me? Even when everyone had turned their backs on me, you were always there to show your support and you never doubted me."

"That's because I know you, Dennis. I believe in you and fully trust you." She said with a smile and put her other hand on top of his, squeezing it.

He smiled back and leaned forward gently pressing his lips against hers. She couldn't help but smile into the kiss, because she had waited and fantasized for this moment for too long. When they finally pulled apart, there was a barely visible red color on both their cheeks.

"I'm sorry." Dennis said quickly, eyes looking at hers apologetically.

"I'm not." She said smiling and lifted her hand to caress his cheek.

"Garcia! Penhall! In my office, now!"

Michelle groaned and lazily stood up.

"Sorry, looks like I have to go. And don't forget about tonight, ok?! I'll be waiting for you."

She winked at him, giving him a quick peck on the cheek and walked away following Doug to Fuller's office. Tom was still inside with his back leaned against the wall.

Doug immediately plopped down on one of the chairs while Michelle leaned against the cupboard.

"We just got a new case." The captain began explaining and gave a folder to each of the three officers. "A brutal murder of a seventeen-year-old high-school girl. The pathologist's report also states that before the murder the girl was raped. You three are going undercover at the school. Michelle you have to get close to one of the students who is the possible suspect. Doug and Tom have to get close to the members of his band."

Everyone nodded but after Doug and Michelle walked out, Tom turned to the captain.

"Captain, I'm not sure if Michelle's the right person for this assignment. I mean it's going to be very dangerous."

"She's one of my best officers and I'm sure she can handle it, Hanson."

He wanted to object, but sighed instead and walked out of the office. He spotted Michelle and Doug at Judy's desk, engaged in a conversation. Penhall said something that made Michelle chuckle slightly and Tom couldn't help but admire how beautiful she looked with a smile on her face. He started walking towards their direction and tried to ignore the bad feeling that had begun rising inside him.

It was almost like there was some strange vibration in the air that was foreshadowing a storm coming up. Moving his eyes between Michelle, Judy and Doug, Hanson wondered if he was the only one who could feel it.