By the time Coreen made it back to the office, Mike had shown up. From what Coreen could hear from outside the room Mike was angry about Vicki being involved in every homicide he drew. Her name continued to show up as the person who had found the body or as the person who had found the killer. All her patience gone, after her encounter with Henry, Coreen barged into the office and shouted, "OUT!" Mike and Vicki turned to her and even Vicki showed surprise- Coreen was equally surprised to see how violently tight Mike's grip on his former partner's wrists was. "Detective Cellucci, kindly vacate the premises before I have you arrested for harassment, trespassing, and police brutality." Coreen spoke in a deceptively calm and even voice. Her smile was dangerously pleasant as her eyes glared daggers at the cop.

Vicki, who had been pulling away from Mike, stopped struggling and spoke softly, "Coreen, it's okay-"

"Vicki, you're going to have bruises." Coreen snapped, regretting it instantly when her boss flinched. Seeing Vicki flinch hurt. Vicki was always so strong. Coreen lashed out at the confused detective, "Great, Cellucci, abusing women. What's next taking a payoff, destroying evidence? What kind of a cop are you? Having a badge means you uphold the law, not that you abuse the law. Just because Vicki has been solving all your cases for you doesn't mean that you get to hurt her even more than you already have. You don't deserve to carry the badge with an attitude like that. It's not her fault that you learned about the supernatural. If you had let her handle her cases and not interfered- or at least listened to her- you never would have known what goes bump in the night. And maybe you wouldn't be so jealous of Henry because you would still be with her. You pushed her away. Now DEAL with it!" Coreen barked at the man.

Mike had dropped Vicki's arms as soon as Coreen had mentioned his grip. He hadn't thought about it, not really, but Coreen was right. He had been spinning out of control because of what he now knew, just as he had told Vicki, but now he realized that it wasn't her fault. It was his. He wanted so much to be there to protect Vicki that he had let his rules for himself go. She was always getting herself in trouble with her stubbornness, her intuition, and her inability to accept help. When they were partners he could make her let him in because that is what you did with a partner. Without that he had been feeling so cut out of her life. Almost helpless, having to wait for her to come to him. He had gotten on best with her when they worked together. When they were partners and best friends first.

"Vicki," he started, but Coreen cut him off.

"That damn well better be an apology, Detective Cellucci, because if it's anything else- well thanks to working with you and Vicki, the police are six on my speed dial." Coreen growled.

"Would you mind letting me do this on my own, Coreen?" Mike asked defensively. Coreen smiled and left the office. Mike turned back to Vicki and heaved a sigh. For the first time in months he looked at Vicki. Truly looked at her. She was thin, pale, and somehow empty. She looked… weak. Mike had always loved how soft Vicki looked when she was asleep, but this was different. It wasn't vulnerable, it was broken. And it was his fault. At least partially

"I'm sorry, Mike." Vicki said softly, "I don't know what's wrong with her. I'll talk to her I promise."

"I should think that would be obvious," Mike replied, "She's worried about you. She's right, too. I shouldn't have- I mean- I'm sorry, Vic." Mike spoke quietly. Vicki stepped forward with a small smile turning up the corners of her mouth. Mike wrapped his arms around her and buried his face in her hair. Vicki rubbed small comforting circles on his back. Pulling back a little, Mike murmured, "I miss working with you, Vic, and it kills me when I can't help you. I want to help. I want to be the person you fall back on."

"I miss working with you to, but you, more than anyone else, know how hard it is for me to rely on anyone besides myself. It's my business and it's my life. I'm not incapable." Vicki scolded gently.

Mike smiled wryly, "Yes, I did notice that, Vic. But you should treat me like a partner- with all the police- what would you call it? Collaboration? We'll go with that. With all the police collaboration, you should consider me a partner, too." Mike coxed her. Vicki frowned, "Vicki, I'm not just a cop anymore. What I have seen, what I've done- will you think about it?" he asked softly.

Vicki nodded and then gave him a slightly sarcastic smile, "Just don't expect a Christmas bonus." She warned him, leaning into his warmth.

Mike chuckled as she played with his tie, "I wouldn't dream of it."

Outside the office, Coreen smiled. She felt better after raging at the two men. Mike and Vicki seemed to have worked out their differences and soon Henry would be reporting to apologize- hopefully. Nearly fifteen minutes later Mike walked out calling back, "And I'll bring the Chinese since you are having pizza for lunch." Coreen couldn't help smiling at the cop. He was a good friend to Vicki. It was almost a pity that Vicki wasn't in love with him any more.