A/N: Ooops, forgot in my last two chapters! I do not own the characters of CI.

Chapter 3

Out Of Pocket

Tracy packed the canvass bag into her small car trunk. Slamming the lid, she looked up and down the block. Her head was clear and it felt like a weight had been lifted off of her shoulders. The paperwork will hit her Captain's desk this morning. Danny... She sighed, knowing that a fight would be forth coming. Glancing at her watch, she caught the lights of the nearby bodega turn on. Perfect timing! Crossing the street, the bells on the door merrily greeted her as she swung it open. "Hey Miguel!"

The young man looked up. A toothy smile crossed his face, as he dropped the change drawer into the cash register. "Tracy, what brings you here so early?"

"Have a few days off, thought I would do some plein air painting."

"Good, good to see you getting back into it. My grand-mama wants one for her dining room." He nodded towards a painting on the wall, one she had given to him over a year ago. Tracy laughed. "Don't get your hopes up too high, it has been awhile since I've done this."

He waved his finger at her, pointing at the painting. "And that one is the first one you had tried."

She felt herself blush as she quickly moved around the shelves, picking out items to take with her. "It could have been a fluke."

Miguel shook his head adamantly. "No such thing. Angels were sitting on your shoulder that day."

Placing the basket on the counter, she smiled. "Thanks, with supporters like you, it keeps me going."

It was Miguel's turn to slightly blush. He began pulling the items out of the basket. "Looks like you're going to make it a full day."

Tracy nodded. "I need some fresh air."

Bagging her items, he took the bills she presented, and returned her change. "Be safe."

She nodded. "Always." Stepping out onto the curb, she made her way back to her car. The quiet morning was being replaced with a hum of the city wakening up. If I hurry, I can get over the bridge before the traffic gets heavy.

Placing the items in the cooler in the back seat, it wasn't long before she was heading out of town. The drive, on a good day, takes an hour, with her mind shifting from the adventure before her and the events from yesterday afternoon, she found herself parking off the road an hour and a half later. She chided herself on the time. Carrying the large canvas bag down the slope, she came to a stop on level ground and began to setup.

Danny slammed the phone back into it's cradle. Pursing his lips, he dialed her apartment. Hearing the phone ring, he quickly realized that she had failed to turn on her answering machine. He pulled his cell phone from his pocket, and found her name. Hitting the button, his ears were once again greeted with the endless ringing. In the dim lit room, her phone vibrated a call on the side table, slowly moving towards the edge. Danny slapped his phone closed. She never leaves without her phone. What the hell is she up to? He glanced towards the door, just in time of seeing Logan pass by. "Logan!"

Hearing his name barked out, he stopped in his tracks and turned towards the door. "Captain?"

Captain Ross leaned back in his chair eying the detective. "Have you heard from Tra..." He paused a moment. "My niece?"

Mike's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "No I haven't. What makes you think that...that I would?"

Danny shook his head. "Just wondering." His eyes fell to his blotter, he bit his lip. "I, I pushed her too hard." He picked up a pen, studying it as if it held the answer. "She isn't answering her phone, I just thought..."

He glanced up at the detective, who had now taken a few steps into the room. His head was slightly cocked as he listened and studied the Captain. "I saw her at the gym a day ago, but..." He spread his arms to explain there was no more information.

Ross nodded, slightly sighing he tossed the pen down. "She can be stubborn."

Mike slightly grinned. That apple didn't fall to far from the tree.

The late afternoon storm clouds were just beginning to form on the horizon. Tracy stepped away from the makeshift table, placing a hand on her waist she swiped the other across her forehead moving a stray hair out of the way. The approaching clouds sent a slight chill down her spine as studied it. Expelling a long breath, she saw a flash of light escape the clouds. In a slight trance with the scene before her, Tracy failed to hear a car pull off the road next to hers. Her ears perked up when she heard a muffled slam of a door. Slightly turning, she saw the tall detective trying to make his way down to her. Tracy grinned as he nearly lost his footing. She placed the tips of her fingers over her mouth stifling a giggle.

Mike growled upon hearing her. "Glad I can provide amusement to someone." His face lost all signs of amusement. "You know, when you take off, you need to either take your phone with you, or at least let people know where you're at."

Tracy frowned. "How did you find me?"

A smile crossed his face. "Good detective work, and a friendly bodega owner." He glanced down, noting the cooler. "Have anything to drink in that thing?"

"Well, I hope you were nice to Miguel." She reached in the cooler and pulled out a bottle of water and juice. Mike chose the water. Snapping the lid off he glanced at the table. He looked over the scene, allowing a slow, low whistle to escape. "You are good."

Tracy shuffled with a mild touch of embarrassment. "Surely you didn't come out all this way to critique my work."

He shook his head, glancing over towards the storm front. "Nope, but if we don't get it under cover, you will only have a large piece of wet white paper."

She nodded. "Just a few more minutes, and it should be ready to transport." She picked up the small dish of water and emptied it into the grass. She began packing up her equipment.

"So, why didn't you tell your uncle where you were going." He took a swallow of water, watching her carefully as she answered.

She straightened up, brushing her hair out of her face. "I don't have anyone to report to. I'm single, my folks are gone..." She frowned at him. "I don't have an uncle."

The large drops of rain hit the windshield as Mike slammed her door shut. They were minutes ahead of the storm clouds. Parking on the street in front of her apartment building, Tracy grabbed what she needed and ran to the door. Mike parked behind her and did the same. Meeting her on the stoop, she shoved her key into the door and pushed it opened. Taking the stairs, she stopped on second floor. Unlocking the door, she shoved it open.

"Tea?" She called out without turning around, tossing her keys in a clean ashtray.

"I was hoping for something stronger." The disappointment was evident in his voice.

"Sorry. The bodega across the street has beer."

Mike looked out the window. "What bodega? I can't even see the street light." A sudden gust of wind pushed the rain against the window. "Well, that settles it, tea."

Tracy turned the heat on underneath the pot. "I'm going to change, be right back."

He watched as she began stripping off her blouse as she walked down the hallway. "Need help?"

Her muffled negative answer drifted back to him. "No thanks, got it."

Hearing the pot beginning to whistle, he moved towards the kitchen. He turned, nearly dropping the pot when he came face to face with Captain Ross. "What are you doing here Detective Logan?"

Quickly putting the hot teapot back on the stove, he looked into Ross' angry face. "'Why did you let me believe that you were her uncle?"