A/N: Okay so the 3rd chapter has already been posted for some of you that didn't get a chance to read it or didn't know it was already up. It took awhile for the site to update itself and post chapter 3 so some of you may not have been aware. So if you need to read it (you're going to have to, to understand this chapter) then go ahead and do that. Enjoy!

Chapter 4: Up Close and Personal

Sesshomaru radioed another squad to come and pick up their load while he drove Rin to the nearest hospital, the siren blaring through the streets, alerting other cars on the road to steer clear. He couldn't believe how careless Rin had been. He gripped the steering wheel so tight; the calluses on his hand became red. He shouldn't feel responsible to babysit a grown woman, especially one who claimed to be able to handle herself. Sesshomaru thought back to the years he was completely solo on all his assignments, and returned to the precinct with rave reviews from his boss and colleagues. Now they'll be making a mockery of his failed attempts; as if they weren't already.

"You act like this is some life or death situation," Rin complained. She looked down at her side, a good amount of blood still seeping through her wound.

"In case you hadn't noticed, we're police officers. We have to take everything as a life or death situation," Sesshomaru told her. He rolled his eyes at her. How could an officer of the law take these circumstances so lightly?

Smart ass she thought.

Rin adjusted in her seat, a whiny moan escaped her lips. "Ouch."

Sesshomaru glanced at her from the side and said, "Let's get you to the hospital."

XX

Fifteen minutes later, Sesshomaru found himself parked at the entrance of the Tokyo Memorial hospital. Both got out the car. Rin stared upon the large building, her face was beginning to pale and her throat was drying up. She just despised hospitals; just the sight of it made her want to vomit. Rin couldn't stand the pristine white walls, and the air that was always thick with anti-bacterial products. Why did Sesshomaru have to drag her here? Couldn't he have taken her back to the precinct where one of the medical examiners could fix her up? Then again, there probably wouldn't have been enough time as she was bleeding badly. Sesshomaru stepped forward, expecting Rin to be right behind him; only she wasn't.

"Let's go," he commanded.

Rin was still being defiant so he latched onto her tiny arm. If he wanted to he could just crush it with massive strength. How dare she be stubborn after the mess she put him through.

"Did I forget to tell you that I really hate hospitals?" Rin was chickening out.

"I missed the part where I actually gave a damn," was Sesshomaru's response.

He pulled her forward, almost like a child who was crying because they didn't want a booster shot. They made their way into the hospital where there were many patients that were either sick or waiting for horrible news from the saddened look on their faces. Just another reason why Rin despised these places.

An elderly nurse immediately approached them. Sesshomaru requested a wheelchair. She quickly went off to retrieve one.

"Will you stop manhandling me?" Rin demanded. "Trust me—"

"Trust you?" Sesshomaru began. "Yeah, I did trust you. And where did that get us? A wounded Officer and another who has to babysit."

"I am not a child!" Rin countered. In all her years, she'd never come across someone as arrogant and pompous as Sesshomaru.

He quickly shushed her. "Keep your voice down," he advised.

Rin gave him a hard frown.

Sesshomaru then told her, "And this is why I didn't want a partner. It's obvious that you don't understand the dangers of life. You only get in my way. This isn't a joke and this isn't easy."

Rin stared into his eyes with anger. "This is not about you!"

By now Sesshomaru was heated. "And this conversation is not up for debate. God, I've only known you for two days, and already you're becoming more of a pain in my ass than my half-brother!"

"Ahem..." It was the nurse and she was back with the chair. She appeared to be uncomfortable as she seemed to be caught in between the quarreling Officers' conversation. "Um...Miss, your chair."

Rin peered into Sesshomaru's face for another second. She immediately read his expression and beat him to the punch. "Yeah, I know. Stay out of your way."

She then turned around, refusing the chair and walking to the back of the hospital alongside the nurse.

XX

"There. All done," the nurse announced as she stitched the last piece of skin.

"Thank you," Rin told her as she pulled the new shirt that they had given her over her head and onto her body. That was a lot easier than she thought. Rin assumed there would be drills and syringes used, but some needle and threads fixed her right up.

"So..." the nurse began with a smile on her face. "Is he your boyfriend?"

Rin almost fell off the examination table. Boyfriend? Who in their right mind would what a guy like that? He was all talk with plenty of attitude. She began to believe that Sesshomaru purposely started fights, just so he could get a rise out of her. And boy, did she get a rise. Rin's face heated with a mixture of embarrassment and annoyance. Lately for some reason that she couldn't fathom, Rin's sexual peak began to escalate. But at the same time just thinking of Sesshomaru had her blood boiling.

Damn that Sesshomaru she thought.

Rin hopped off the table. "No, he's not my boyfriend."

The nurse pouted in a playful way, hoping that Rin's response would have been the total opposite.

"Oh, well that's too bad," she responded.

"Yeah," muttered Rin.

She thanked the nurse again, leaving the room. Just as she closed the door, to her surprise there Sesshomaru was, casually leaning against the wall. His long silver hair now tied into a sleek ponytail. His uniform fit perfectly, tightening in all the right places. His muscles flexed as he crossed his arms. She caught a glimpse of a tattoo peeking from the hem of the uniform's sleeve. Rin raised a curious eyebrow. Maybe there was more to Sesshomaru than he was letting on.

How does someone look that damn fine, yet so aggravating at the same time? she thought. Rin bit down on her lower lip. This was becoming dangerous. She could feel the heat rise to her cheeks.

Sesshomaru must have caught her staring, because he turned his head to the side, asking, "Are you ready?"

Rin was so lost in thought that she unexpectedly jumped, answering, "Um, yeah." She walked forward, standing in front of him.

"Is it that bad?" he wondered.

"Take a look for yourself," she invited.

Although he knew that this was a bit too close for comfort, it wasn't like he was going to throw her against the wall, and they'd make ravenous love right there in the hallway of a hospital. He had to admit that even though he thought his partner to be useless and incompetent, she did having a rockin' body. With gentle fingers, he lifted the side of her shirt. Before he even noticed her stitches, he took in the sight of her flawless skin and wondered if it was soft. A tiny mole rested just on the side of her navel. And to his surprise her belly button was pierced.

So Rin had a bad side.

Suddenly from out of the blue there felt like there wasn't enough oxygen in the air. The wide hallway now felt like an enclosed space and heartbeats were in rapid motion. She flinched when the tips of his fingers slightly grazed across her skin. Sesshomaru could smell her ever present scent; vanilla mocha, just like the coffee with a hint of peppermint. Just the aroma was enough to get his head spinning in all directions. Rin was also feeling the effects of this close encounter as well; her breathing became labored with her gaze focusing on Sesshomaru as he inspected her scar.

He glanced up from her wound to her eyes. They were hazy with whatever she was feeling right now. It was so strange how at one point she had nothing but pure anger for the man, yet thinking lustful thoughts the next.

Rin's knees suddenly felt weak, as if she were about to collapse into his arms at any given moment. Without knowing, her feet elevated, her head tilted to one side and leaning forward to his.

Just one taste wouldn't hurt.

Her dream was killed when she heard Sesshomaru say, "Let's go. Kuzaki may need us."

Rin pulled herself away, feeling awkward for what she almost did. She felt him let go of her shirt and step back.

She cursed herself for getting too close to this man.

Sesshomaru was already ahead of her, strolling down the hallway. Rin stole another glance at his tight tush just before he turned the corner, disappearing.

She grinned to herself, following right behind him.