this Chapter is set right after 2x04

24 hours later.

Stella finally closed the door behind her, locking all of the day's problems outside. She still couldn't believe their luck - that fuck up at Spector's house have cost them a lot. She didn't try to deceive herself into thinking he never guessed what had really happened. And if Spector got suspicious that would really complicate matters. Stella knew she would just have to wait and see. She climbed on the bed with her laptop, kicking of her shoes and letting out a quiet moan of pleasure as she could finally relax. It had truly been a long day, and she even dozed off at the morgue, which obviously made Reed very uncomfortable, even jumpy, but that wasn't her plan - she was just exhausted and it happened.

Stella was looking at the screen aimlessly, surfing the web all the while thinking about Rose. They still had a chance to find her, she just needs to play her cards right. Stella hoped that after the announcement to the press that Rose's body might have been found, Spector would try to prove her alive. But if he really suspected he was being watched the chances of him doing that would be very slim now. Stella closed her eyes and threw her head back against the pillow.

Rose might be dead or dying or locked up somewhere and it was entirely their fault. Her fault. Two small children could now lose their mother and for what? For a stupid face mock up that didn't really help? For all Stella knew Spector could have held it up to his face and no one would suspect it was actually him because of course he would seem like a good guy, a father of two, a husband, a bereavement counsellor for fucks sake. Stella felt sick at the thought of people pouring out their deepest, most guarded feelings of grief and anguish in front of that sadistic bastard. She thought about that couple that had lost their 10 year old son - and how they shared their pain with Spector, who must have enjoyed it, eaten it up like a desert, felt a rush of high running through his veins as he got near their despair, got to touch it and to get off on it.

Stella tried to breathe slowly as she felt anger boiling up inside her. Anger at herself, at Jim, at the policemen who were reckless enough to ruin the ceiling at Spector's house, at the ceiling itself, at Spector most of all and once again at herself for leading Spector straight to Rose. Inhale. Exhale. She desperately needed release from all the feelings, a distraction to calm her emotions down and let her mind work unclouded. Spector proved himself as a calculating and smart opponent, and a very good psychologist - slowly but steadily he kept playing her emotions like a skilled musician - the killings struck a note of compassion, Rose's disappearance triggered guilt, the invasion of her room brought on fear while breaking and entering into her most reserved and private life that existed on the pages of her diary hit the final chord - left her disoriented, shocked, lost even. And now, from a mixture of all the above, anger was born, the most blinding and useless emotion. Inhale. Exhale. Stella knew this had to stop now.

Somehow she needed to prevent herself from feeling exactly what the killer wanted her to feel, only then would she be able to trick him, trap him and finally catch him. Trying to calm down, Stella contemplated going down for a long swim, when somebody knocked on her door.

"What now?!" - Stella thought with annoyance, getting off the bed and putting her shoes back on. She was sure it was either Dani who was supposed to be watching her room tonight or Eastwood with some developments, or Jim - hopefully with developments, probably with personal bullshit. Walking towards the door she thanked higher powers for the audio surveillance in her room - at least that would stop Jim from going all out in that department. Smiling at that thought, she opened the door, not bothering to look through the peephole - there were policemen watching the door after all.

To say she was surprised to see Tanya Reed Smith standing there would be an understatement.

Reed smiled at her somewhat awkwardly and said:

"Can we talk?"

"Not really" - Stella answered, internally cursing the higher powers for the audio surveillance in her room.

But Reed continued, walking into the room, leaving Stella no choice but to close the door behind her:

"I just need a minute. The thing is I keep waiting for you to kiss me again and you haven't since the day before yesterday. And I just want to know if you re planning to."

"Tanya…" Stella knew there was no saving the situation now, but she could hope not to make it any worse. However Reed had none of it as she went on:

"Or if you want to, because I do want you to. Today when you fell asleep in my office all I could do is stare at you and fight the desire to kiss you awake and have you look at me like you did that night. It's driving me crazy, Stella, you're driving me crazy. And I thought - what the hell? We only live once, which sounds even more real when there's a killer on the loose right here in this very city. I want you and so I'm here." - Reed finished, finally taking a breath and looking Stella in the eye.

Stella was wearing an amused expression on her face as she answered, taking a deliberate step towards Reed:

"Ok. When I said "not really" I meant there were people listening in, as my room is now under surveillance 24/7."

Reed's eyes widened as a heartfelt "Oh, fuck!" fell from her lips.

Stella was standing right in front of her now, so close that Reed could feel the heat radiating from her body. She shot Reed a mischievous smile as she took a step back, undoing the top button of her blouse:

"Yeah. Now, if we're lucky the only person listening to what I have to say was very hot rambling was Farrington, whose shift is tonight…"

Another button undone and Reed could see the lacy bra Stella had on. The embarrassment she felt just a minute ago was quickly turning into lust as Reed moved towards the blond detective who was now standing by the bed as Stella continued:

"If we're not as lucky, the people listening were Farrington and Eastwood who I should say has been weirdly present around here, even though it's not really part of his job."

Reed shuddered - letting the top executives of the police force know about her sexual experiments was not on her agenda. At all. However, she couldn't help, but find the situation funny and somewhat exiting. Especially since Stella's blouse was completely open now, granting her an amazing view of detective's toned body as Stella reached the phone and pressed the connection button.

"Farrington, which one is it?" Stella asked in her cold, office tone, instead of a softer, more sensual one she used with Reed.

"I'm afraid it's option two m'am" - came the reply.

"Fuck!" - Reed exclaimed one again, causing Stella to smirk:

"Right. Before we do that. And believe me when I said I fully intend to" - the shirt was now sliding off her shoulders.

"I can see that" - Reed lowered her voice sensually, raising her hand to trace Stella's now bare shoulder. Her hand was caught mid air, and immediately she felt Stella's slender fingers entwining with hers.

"I just have one question to ask" Stella's eyes were shining with mischief and lust as she continued: "Not that I really care at the moment, but it's a special one for Eastwood. Tanya Reed Smith, are you married?"

Reed expected anything but this. Shocked she blurted out the truth:

"Yes, but we've been separated for months"

"That seems acceptable" - Stella said, reaching for the connection button again.

"Farrington. Sound off for the night."

"Yes, m'am"

And that was the moment Stella Gibson finally pulled Tanya Reed Smith in for a proper kiss.

"You're crazy" - Reed said breathlessly, when Stella's lips left her mouth and moved down to her neck.

"You have no idea" Stella purred.

Those were the last coherent words they exchanged that night