The following day had been long and uneventful for Vicki, most of it spent catching up on writing invoices for various investigative services, and doing background checks on her subjects.
She had been distracted by last night, still trying to convince herself she'd imagined it, while quietly hoping Henry had come back to her. Vicki was chewing on her pen when Coreen walked in with coffee.
"You OK Vicki? You've been really quiet today." Coreen asked.
"I'm fine, just didn't sleep real great last night." Vicki replied.
"Then why are you still here? Go home, get some rest, its getting late!" Coreen suggested.
"Yeah, maybe I will."
Vicki gulped down a few mouthfuls of warm coffee, getting up to gather her things when there was a knock at her office door. Both women looked up to see Detective Mike Celluci standing in the doorway. The room was filled with a noticeably uncomfortable silence before Coreen stepped in to break it.
"Vicki, time for me to head home. I'll see you tomorrow." Coreen gave Mike an awkward wave as she passed him on her way out.
"Hey Vick." Mike finally started.
"What are you doing here Mike?" Vicki replied, as an unfriendly welcome.
"I came to talk." he replied, cautiously.
"Talk? I called you every day for two whole months, I left hundreds of messages and now you want to talk??" she spat her words at him.
"Give me a break Vicki. I needed some time away from you."
"Yeah real nice Mike. Great timing on your part." she harrumphed.
"I didn't come here to fight Vicki!"
"Oh yeah, you came to talk.. "
"Actually it's more than that. I came to offer you a job." he stated tentatively.
"A job? What? Have you got a cheating husband you want me to follow? Apparently that's all I'm good at these days..." Vicki trailed off.
"No Vick. There is a place for you back on the Homicide Squad, if you'll take it." Mike explained quietly.
"What?" she asked, surprised.
"How about it? We need the manpower, and we used to make a good team, you and me." he suggested.
"What, you actually think you could handle working with me again? What's changed?" she questioned.
"I moved on Vick, I got over you. Our relationship would be strictly professional."
"Oh come on.." Vicki smiled, "like you wouldn't be the littlest bit tempted?" she flirted purely just out of old habits sake, she didn't really mean it and despised herself a little for even saying it. The mood in the room was suddenly embarrassing and awkward.
"C'mon, It was over between us long ago, and you know it. Besides..." Mike stalled, "I'm with Kate now."
Vicki was a little shocked, her mouth gaping open just a little, "Oh." she replied.
"It's new Vick.. and its one of the reasons I haven't been in touch. I had a hard time convincing Kate that I was over you. I couldn't be around you or I would have struggled to prove that to her."
Vicki remained silent, busying herself with stacking books back on various shelves, and tidying up her desk.
"Anyway, you're with Fitzroy now I presume, you've moved on too so what does it matter?"
Vicki slammed one of the books down angrily on her desk, "There is no Henry Mike. He left when you did. For all I know he burnt to a crisp in the sunlight months ago."
It was Mike's turn to be awkwardly silent. He paced the floor for a few minutes before continuing. "Despite our past Vicki, it doesn't change the fact that we need you back on the force. Even just for a little while."
"I quit, remember?"
"You can be reinstated, even Crowley admitted we need you back, though she'll never say that to your face of course. It wouldn't be a desk job unless you wanted it to be. They'll overlook the problem with your eyesight, for now."
"I don't think so Mike." she replied, refusing to make eye contact.
"Jesus Vick, haven't you seen what is going on out there? What happened to your civil duty to protect and serve?" Mike yelled.
"What?? Didn't you ever consider that the violence and destruction going on out there has something to do with Astaroth? Did you forget about him Mike? How am I supposed to track down a demon if I'm a full time cop huh? Did you ever consider that?" Vicki yelled back.
Mike sighed and put his hands in his pockets, "It doesn't change the fact that you could help us get a lot of bad guys off the streets Vicki. Please promise me you'll think about it. Give me a call if you change your mind, I swear I'll answer the phone when you call."
With that Mike turned around and left.
--
The sun had set early enough for Henry to arrive in time to see Mike leave. A jealous rage began to brew in his gut. He clutched his fist to refrain himself from doing harm to the detective. As the urge felt like it would overpower him, Henry dug his nails into his palm, breaking the skin and drawing his own blood.
He'd need to feed before paying Vicki another visit.