Sam Swarek was hung over. Traci knew this because she had been sitting in the Parade Room with him, long after everyone else had cleared out, watching for the past two minutes and twenty-seven seconds as he struggled hopelessly with the childproof cap on a bottle of aspirin. It had actually been a little longer since she didn't start timing him until she realized that her partner for the day was having difficulty with what should have been a relatively simple task.

It seemed as though the problem was that he just didn't currently possess the manual dexterity necessary to squeeze the sides in, push down and twist all at the same time. She had watched as he repeatedly squeezed the sides and twisted, pushed down and twisted, twisted, pushed down and squeezed the sides, and tried to just pry it open with his teeth. It was actually pretty funny, which was why she hadn't yet offered to assist him.

Finally after another eleven seconds he gave up and looked up at her in annoyance holding the bottle out to her. "A little help here."

Traci feigned confusion. "Oh, are you having trouble? You want me to get that for you?" She said as she took it from him.

"Don't be cute Nash."

"Can't help it I was born this way." She easily opened it and handed the bottle back to him.

"Just as funny as your little girlfriend," Sam said snidely.

"You mean Andy?"

"Nah, Jerry." Sam laughed at his own joke then groaned at the shot of pain his laughter caused.

Traci grinned. She loved the day after poker night, men were such whinny babies. "So I'm guessing last night's game didn't work for you huh?" She teased watching as he popped two pills swallowing them down without any water.

"Are you trying to piss me off?" Sam grumbled.

Traci continued on as though unaware of his souring mood. "Lost some money?"

Sam looked at her through narrowed eyes. "You've been here what, a little over a year yet right? You really think you've earned the clout to mess with me?"

Traci grinned. "You planning to be ready to leave anytime soon?" She asked. "I think when Best said we were on patrol today he meant patrolling stuff outside of this room."

Sam sneered at her and started to put his head down on the table when he noticed Jerry coming to the doorway looking annoyingly unaffected by the previous nights activities. Bastard.

Jerry nodded in greeting to Sam before addressing Traci. "Officer Nash, do you have a minute?"

Sam looked up, his mood suddenly improving somewhat. "Nope, sorry detective she doesn't."

Traci rolled her eyes and shrugged helplessly.

Jerry tried again. "I just need a second."

"I'm sure that's all you need," Sam said snidely. "But she's busy right now, swamped actually." He shrugged in mock apology. "What you gonna do? Nash, like I said we need to get that paperwork done."

Traci looked at him questioningly. "What paperwork?"

"The paperwork I forgot to tell you about from the other day," Sam countered.

"That doesn't even make any sense," Traci muttered.

It was a stand off. Sam smirked at Jerry waiting to see if he would make another attempt.

Jerry narrowed his eyes. "You're an ass Sammy."

"I'm sorry Detective, I didn't quite catch that. So is it anything I can help you with?"

Jerry conceded, he knew when he was beat. "Not in my worst nightmares Sammy."

"Didn't think so. See ya." Sammy added with a little wave.

Jerry ignored him and turned to Traci. "I'll catch you later on."

Sam looked from Jerry to Traci and back. "Wait a minute, I'm sensing something here. Detective, were you hoping to fraternize with Officer Nash here? I hope not because I'm pretty sure the department frowns on fraternization."

"Really? Then they should have closed this love shack of a division down a long time ago," Jerry said sarcastically. "Don't think I won't get you back Swarek," he added.

Match point and the win goes to Swarek. "I welcome the attempt Barber. Buh-bye now."

Traci smiled and waved slightly before Jerry turned and walked away.

When she knew he was out of earshot she turned back to Swarek and asked. "Did you enjoy that?"

"Actually I kind of did payback is a bitch."

So that's how it went. She figured Jerry was probably last night's big winner. "Who are you paying back?"

"Him, you, both of you, the universe, all the same to me right now," Sam groaned.

"You're a mean drunk."

"Not drunk, recuperating. And not mean, just full of boyish charm."

"You have no boyish charm."

"Sure I do, wanna see the dimples, the dimples sell it. Come on you didn't really want to go talk to him anyway. You'd much rather sit here and listen to me bitch and moan about my headache."

"Oh joy."

"Getting a little feisty there Rookie? There's nothing I hate more than a feisty Rookie."

Unless her name is McNally Traci thought to herself but decided it was wise to not repeat it out loud. She watched as he popped two additional painkillers before forcing himself to stand up.

"Come on, let's get this day over and done with," He said as they headed out. "I don't care what the hell comes in over that radio, until further notice we're not responding to anything less than a triple homicide; in a church; if a nun is the possible perp."

Traci laughed. "Such the devoted public servant. Nice to see my tax dollars at work. So I guess this means I'm driving?"

"You got it, cookie."

"You know, I've been working on this theory. You see I'm noticing a pattern. It seems every time you drink a lot, the next day your head hurts. I'm starting to think that the two may be related."

"Seriously feisty today, enough already. And why are you making me talk? Talking hurts. I don't like you as much as I used to Nash."

"I can live with that."

"You know, if you guys offer to take me to the game next week I'll probably let you go hang out in an interrogation room with your boyfriend. Maybe a closet even."

"See now your trying to hook me up like that is kind of creepy."

"You date Barber, I thought you were into creepy. I'll never understand what you see in the guy anyway."

"He has his charms," Nash said suggestively.

Sam gagged. "Oh god, don't say it like that, that's just disgusting. Ugh oh yeah, there it is, I can feel it, I'm going to vomit. Thanks a lot Nash."

"Don't mention it."


Jerry sat at the bar half listening to Oliver grousing about riding with Epstein all day.

"Seriously man, it's like every time I start thinking I might have made an actual cop out of the kid he goes all Rainman on me 'I'm a very good driver.' I thought I was going to die." Oliver took a long gulp of his drink and looked over at Jerry. "So you look like you're doing all right. The mood you were in last night I figured you were going to go straight home and tie one on."

"I did." Jerry confirmed. Throwing back his shot. "Killed the rest of the good scotch."

"Doesn't look it. You seem like you've relaxed a bit."

"I'm good. Woke up with a whole new perspective on it. You just caught me off guard last night."

"Good, good. I mean Zoë said Allison sounded okay on the phone, pretty normal I mean."

Jerry shrugged. "Whatever, she's either good or she isn't right? It's not my problem anymore. Anyway, she hasn't even called me. Might not. So no point in worrying about. I have other things on my mind."

Oliver nodded, "Good." He looked up behind Jerry as he spotted Traci approaching them. "Speaking of which," he said alerting Jerry to her presence.

Jerry turned with a smile. "Officer Nash," he drawled by way of greeting. "I was just thinking about you."

"Detective Barber," she said in return flashing him a smile. She looked past him and added, "Hey Oliver."

"Hey Oliver? What? I don't get an all sexed up Officer Shaw, greeting," Oliver asked as he got up offering her his seat.

"Maybe next time," Traci said as she sat down.

"I can dream right." Oliver grabbed his coat from off of the back of the seat. "Well I'm going to call it a night and leave you two lovebirds alone. I promised Zoe I'd try to make it home early tonight."

Traci looked at him skeptically. "Early? You know it's after midnight right?"

"Rookies. Early is relative for a cop and a cop's wife. Haven't I taught you anything?" Oliver saluted them and headed out.

"So," Jerry said moving in closer to her. "I've missed you. Sammy give you grief all day?"

Traci laughed. "If you call listening to him alternate between snoring and complaining that the radio is on too loud and that dispatch is just making up calls to annoy him grief. Mostly he just slept it off in the car between calls."

"Ah Toronto's finest. Makes you proud to be a copper. Such a lightweight, he had all morning to sleep it off before shift. You didn't see me looking like shit on a stick all day."

"Well I didn't see you all day, though seriously, how come you never seem as bad off as Swarek and Shaw after game night?"

Jerry flashed her a grin. "Ancient Barber secret. I'd tell you…"

"But then you'd have to kill me. Yeah, yeah, yeah." Traci finished for him.

Traci looked over as Luke came up to the bar next to Jerry and called out to the bartender. "Can I get another beer over here?"

"Well if it isn't Homicide Luke." Jerry said turning around to greet his friend. "How's it going brother? Didn't see you around much today."

Luke nodded in greeting. "Hey Jerry, Nash."

"Hey," Traci replied coolly.

"Yeah, I was in court all day, then I had to review some case flies."

Jerry gave him the once over eyeing him with a mixture of amusement and concern. "Did you ah go home and change or something?"

"No, why."

Jerry raised his eyebrows. "Nothing man, it's just... Well hey, I respect your willingness to put yourself out there and take risks with your wardrobe choices. Don't think I could embrace the whole plaid shirt and stripped tie look but hey what do I know, you have to do you." Luke looked down at his shirt and tie and then back up at Jerry. Traci attempted to contain a giggle.

"Well, nice to see you two still going strong. Enjoy it while it lasts." He quickly paid the bartender picked up his beer and walked away.

"Great chatting with you man," Jerry called out. "Keep the faith." He looked back at Traci and shook his head. "Wow, that was…wow. There goes a cautionary tale if I ever saw one."

Traci rolled her eyes. "That's your friend."

"Friend, colleague, whipping boy, all the same. But man lately he looks like crap. McNally did quite a number on him."

"She didn't do it, he did a number on himself. Not feeling sorry for him."

"Hmm, I guess he's learning the hard way that sex with the ex isn't all it's cracked up to be."

Traci laughed. "I guess I should be glad your ex is in Halifax."

Jerry grabbed her hand and tugged. She looked up at him in surprise. His tone suddenly serious he said to her firmly. "Even if she wasn't that's not something you ever have to worry about, you know that right?"

Traci looked at him a little confused by Jerry's sudden change of mood and the turn the conversation had taken. "I was just joking Jerry."

"But you know that I wouldn't do what Luke did right? There is no unfinished business like that between me and my ex."

Traci laughed nervously. "Okay, I trust you. I was joking. Why so serious?"

Realizing how he was coming across Jerry mentally cursed himself. He hadn't planned to bring the mood down. He had been looking forward to spending quality time with Traci all day. He figured he needed to connect with her and ground himself after last night's fiasco.

When he had woken up that morning he had immediately regretted allowing the news of Allison's return to set him off like that. It was an overreaction, a result of being caught completely off guard by Oliver's dropping the news on him. In the clearer light of day he realized that he had no real reason to just assume that Alli was necessarily in a bad way, or that she was fixating on causing him some sort of trouble. For all he knew she could be having a good spell, or she might even be taking care of herself. Stabilized and in treatment. It would have explained why she called Zoë. She could just be trying to reconnect, get her life in order. The bottom line was that he had no idea of where her head was at, and it was crazy to let himself get all wound up for no reason. It was even crazier to let it affect what he had with Traci.

Now he was getting uncharacteristically intense with her and freaking her out.

He played it off. "I know how hurt McNally still is over the whole Luke/Jo thing. I just want to make sure you know that won't happen to us."

Traci smiled at him and raised her hand to lightly touch his cheek. "I trust you."

"Good. So, ah Leo's with the Dark Lord until tomorrow right? What do you say we get out of here? I know you're dying to show me how much you miss me."

"Am I really?"

"Oh yeah, I see you undressing me with your eyes." Jerry teased. "So desperate to get in my pants. I'm embarrassed for you. Figure I'll just take you home and put you out of your misery."

"Quite the Good Samaritan there aren't you Barber, always looking to help those in need."

Jerry shrugged. "What can I say, I'm a giver."


Jerry woke up to the sound of his phone ringing on the nightstand, again. Instinctively he reached out with his free arm, grabbed it and shut it off and put it back down. All without opening his eyes. He should have done that when it first started going off. There was no way he was ready to let the outside world intrude yet.

He was lying on his back with Traci sprawled across him her face buried in the pillow at his neck, one arm thrown across his chest, one leg pressed in between both of his. The sheets were awkwardly twisted around them. He vaguely recalled that they had been in basically the exact same position when they had passed out in the early hours of the morning.

Last night he couldn't get enough of her. They had barely made it into the front door before he was on her. In fact, he recalled that he had started by pressing her up against the front door as soon as it closed behind them. Traci had been startled at first when they stepped into the apartment and he shrugged of his coat letting it drop to the floor and immediately grabbed her from behind pulling her to him as he backed up against the door. He buried his face into the side of her neck sucking, licking and kissing her while his hands deftly undid the buttons of her coat and tugged at it until he pulled it down. With her back pressed up against him Jerry reached forward sliding his hands up her body and caressing her through her clothing. One hand came up turning her head so he could kiss her mouth while his other arm wrapped around her waist pulling her tightly up against him. Traci melted into him.

"I need you." He had whispered against her lips, before turning her around so that they were facing each and shifting so that he had her pinned against the door. He had been so hot for her, and he had felt consumed with the need to make her just as hot for him. He held her face in both hands as he kissed her, his tongue caressing hers, pulling back to lick at her lips, sucking her lower lip gently between his teeth and then doing it all again.

He bent his knees slightly so he could grab her leg holding it beneath her thigh and slid it up his side hooking it around his waist as he came back up grinding his hips into her. Traci arched her body up against him as her arms reaching to pull him closer. She tugged at the back of his suit jacket trying to get it off. He released her leg for a moment to help her get it off and then gripped her thigh again pressing himself into her and rocking against her rhythmically.

In spite of his urgency and his desire he was coherent enough to figure out that between her tight fitting jeans and her boots getting her undressed enough for sex against the door was going to be a logistical nightmare. He groaned against her neck in frustration. "Damn it! Dresses Traci. Wear more dresses, or skirts."

She laughed hoarsely, sharing his frustration. "Next time." Alternating between kissing and tugging off each other's clothing they had made their way to the bedroom.

Sex with Traci was always good. From the very beginning of their relationship he had considered himself extremely lucky to find someone with whom he was so sexually compatible. She had complimented him in technique and appetite. Their lovemaking varied. Sometimes it was slow and sensuous, other times playful and energetic or steamy and passionate, usually it was some sort of combination. But last night had been different. Last night it had been rawer, more intense, more physical and more emotional that it had ever been. Last night might very well have been the best damn sex of his life.

He had been relentless, even for him. He couldn't get enough of her. It was like she was in his blood, rushing through his body. Everything she gave only made him want more. When she moaned with pleasure it drove him to push her until she groaned, and then she screamed. When she panted he teased her body until she was gasping, breathless and begging for his touch. He held back his own climax so he could push her over the edge again and again. He was on top of her, and then under her, and then sitting up with her straddling him as he thrust wildly up into her, his fingers roughly digging into her hips as he lifted her and pulled her down to met him. In some part of his mind he had worried that he was going too hard, that in his fervor he might hurt her, but Traci met him thrust for thrust keeping up with his pace even pushing him to go harder, faster, deeper into her. Then she had turned the tables on him teasing him, tempting him, pleasuring him until his carefully held control was a joke.

Even now, as spent as he was, he felt himself harden at the memory of Traci's sweat slicked body under him, head thrown back, legs wrapped tightly around his waist digging her nails into his back and shaking with the intensity of her own orgasm her muscles tensed and squeezed around him as he buried himself inside her cried out her name and exploded shuddering violently.

He tried to shake the memory out of his head, but it was too late. He wanted her again. It was crazy. If he stayed in this bed any longer there was no way he was going to be able to resist waking her up to go another a round, and she needed a break. Hell he needed a break. As gently as he could he untangled himself from both Traci and the sheets careful not to wake her and eased out of bed. He grabbed a pair of pajama pants from off the chair and pulled them on. Then reached for his phone and made his way to the kitchen noticing in amusement the trail of clothing that led all the way to the front of the apartment.

He decided that he was going to surprise Traci with some breakfast in bed. He'd spoil her a little, help her refuel, and if once she got her energy back if she decided to reward him with another go around well then who was he to say no?

He prepared to make coffee. When she had found out how much it cost Traci had mocked his four hundred dollar cappuccino machine, but that was because before he had shown her the light she had been a heathen who thought that Starbucks was the apex of good coffee. He had shown her the error of her ways, and she now understood or at least appreciated the results of his investment.

He reached into the cabinet and pulled out a tupperware container of ground coffee and loaded the machine. Normally he would have ground the beans himself right before he needed them, to ensure maximum flavor, but the other morning Leo had discovered the coffee grinder and decided it was cool so Jerry had let him happily grind his way through half a bag of Costa Rican before he got bored and moved on to other amusements.

After he finished setting up the coffee to brew, he powered his phone back on so that he could check his messages while he worked on preparing the rest of breakfast. Two messages from Watson updating him on a new lead in case involving a series of carjackings they were investigating. A message from Boyd that he immediately skipped on principle. He had a strict no Boyd before coffee policy. A call from Ollie whining about wanting to go to the game on Thursday. A call from Swarek, whining about wanting to go to the game on Thursday. God he loved holding those tickets over them. Best purchase he ever made. Made his lady happy, her son happy and made Swarek and Ollie his bitches when they wanted to go. Life was sweet.

He looked up as Traci walked into the kitchen smiling at him sleepily her hair tousled and falling sexily around her face wearing only his unbuttoned dress shirt, which she must have picked up, off the floor, and of course, his slippers. He was mesmerized by the way teasing flashes of her flesh were revealed through the open front of the shirt as she moved.

"That's a very good look for you," he said.

"Thank you."

He switched the phone to his other ear as she came up behind him wrapping her arms around his waist to hug him before sliding her hands up to his chest. She went up on her tiptoes as he leaned into her enjoying the feeling of her bare breasts pressing against his back.

"Good morning," He said softly as he turned his face towards her.

"Good morning." She whispered in his right ear seductively, "I don't know what got into you last night, but whatever it was I liked it, a lot."

At the same moment in his left ear he heard, "Jerry, its Alli. I need to see you. Call me back."

Shit.