Monday, June 16

"So," Mike said, writing on his whiteboard, "the gun was found in Crosby's dresser drawer, and Detective Lupo had a warrant to search the entire premises."

He turned to face Connie, who was seated at the circular table. A mess of files and papers were spread out before her. She tapped a pen on the fake wood.

"That is correct," she replied, looking over her notes.

"So, what's the problem, then? Why is the defense contesting the warrant?"

"Because Crosby's accomplice claims that he wasn't mirandized when he told the cops the location of the gun."

"Dammit." Mike walked to his desk, putting down the dry-erase pen and picking up his NYPD baseball. He tossed it in the air a few times, trying to think about Crosby and the gun. Instead, he was thinking about Connie and the ring in his pocket, and when he would properly propose. It had completely thrown him off his game.

He turned towards the window, staring down at the street below. They could just go to City Hall some afternoon and become all nice and legal. A simple ceremony with a judge and some close relatives present –

"Mike?" Connie said, looking at him tentatively. "What's wrong? You seem distracted."

Mike put down the baseball, turning again to look at her. The way he'd proposed had bothered him since it happened, but it occurred to him that he didn't really need one of New York's finest restaurants to do it right. He had the ring, and he had what seemed to him like the perfect setting – the place where they practically lived, where it all began.

He walked to where Connie was sitting, and got down on one knee.

"Mike, what are you doing?" she said, giving him a bemused look.

Mike pulled the blue Tiffany box out of his pocket. "I didn't propose to you in the way you deserved, and now I want to make up for it. Connie Rubirosa, will you marry me?"

He removed the white silk ribbon from the box and opened it, revealing the smaller velvet ring box inside. Then he passed the box to Connie, who slowly flipped it open, gasping at the sight of the brilliant diamond ring. She wasn't laughing this time – tears began to form in her eyes.

"Again, yes," she said. They both stood up at the same time and he wrapped his arms around her, engaging her in a deep kiss.

Mike's office door had been left open, and neither of them noticed the crowd that had formed in the hallway outside until the clapping and cheering started. They pulled apart to realize that half the personnel on their floor were standing there.

"Move along," Mike said, slipping the ring onto Connie's finger. "Nothing to see here."


"I hear that you and Connie caused quite a scene this afternoon."

Jack peered over his desk at Mike, who was trying desperately to come up with a quick explanation for why he'd brought his and Connie's relationship into Hogan Place when the district attorney had explicitly told him not to do so.

"Yeah," Mike said, leaning back in the large leather chair. "I guess we did."

"And what did I say about keeping your personal lives out of this office?"

Mike sighed. "I know, and I'm sorry. I just got caught up in the moment, I guess."

"Apology accepted," Jack said, looking at Mike like he knew the territory. "I suppose that congratulations are in order. Have you and Connie set a date?"

"Hopefully very soon. Listen, Jack – I was wondering if you had any advice for me?"

"Advice?" Jack said, raising an eyebrow.

"Weren't you married to one of your assistants?"

Jack paused, seemingly giving the question some thought.

"Yes, I have advice. Let me reassign Connie. Because working together and living together is too much for a couple to handle – believe me, I know that better than anyone. It's what killed my first marriage, and I'd hate for that to happen to you two."


"I've been thinking," Connie said as she curled up in bed next to Mike. "Let's do it this weekend – we can fly out to Vegas and have the ceremony there."

"This weekend?" Mike said, putting his arm around her. "Don't you want a big ceremony with all of our friends and family?"

"We can have a second ceremony later with all that. But I'm thinking that we should have a ceremony that's just for us. I view marriage as a very personal thing."

Mike thought about it. "Okay," he said, smiling. "That's what we'll do."