Author's Note:
This chapter has a Brenda/Fritz pairing. Sorry. I didn't know they were planning that. I don't think Brenda knew either.
They donned the scrub gowns, caps, masks, and gloves, and pushed into the morgue. Dr. Morales nodded at them as they entered, and folded the sheet covering the Gomez girl back from her head.
"What can she tell us, doc?" Brenda asked, pushing her glasses up on her nose.
"Well, she was raped, brutally. There's bruising here, and here, and tearing here." The doctor gestured to the victims body, outlining the horrors she'd faced before death.
"Then here, these marks are electrical in nature." He pointed to a series of star shaped burns on the girl's back.
"So someone hit her with a stun gun." Brenda mused, shaking her head.
"Exactly, Chief. She would've been completely immobilized."
"So what was the cause of death?"
"Extensive cranial hemorrhaging. Someone beat her to death." Dr. Morales paused, a catch in his voice. "Pardon me. Working here, there are still some things you never get used to."
Sharon tapped a gloved finger against her chin, deep in thought. Something wasn't sitting right with her.
"Excuse me, doctor. But are you saying she was stunned, completely immobilized, sexually assaulted, then the killer let her get dressed before he beat her to death? That hardly makes sense."
"Something must have set him off after he raped her. That's a lot of anger right there." Brenda took her glasses off, and used the back of her hand to push her hair out of her face before replacing the frames.
"Well, the good news is, he left you a good DNA sample for the rape kit." The doctor replaced the sheet, smoothing it gently over the victim's back.
"Thank you doctor. I appreciate your help." The Chief pulled off the mask and the gloves, tossing them in the trash, then shucked off the cap and the scrub gown. The Captain followed suit, and they walked back out to the elevators.
"Well. Let's notify the family." Brenda said, punching the elevator button.
Sharon shook her head, whispering. "what family?"
Back in the Division, Brenda asked Flynn to give the Disken's a call, see if they could come down to the station. She checked with the rest of the squad, but nobody had any recent updates. She asked Flynn to let her know when the Disken's arrived, and stepped into her office. She dropped heavily into her chair, and dragged open her secret drawer. Only Twizzlers. Dammit. She slammed the drawer shut, and rested her head in her hands. She heard the Captain's heels click into her office, and she glanced up, a tired smile on her face.
"Cap'n." She said simply.
"Chief." Sharon replied. She reached into her jacket pocket, and pulled out a Kit Kat bar from the vending machine, tossing it on Brenda's desk. She sat down in the chair across from Brenda's desk, and smoothed her hair back from her shoulders.
Brenda startled at the object being tossed at her, but recognized the familiar label at once. She grinned up at the Captain, pleased not only at the sudden appearance of the much needed chocolate, but also that the Captain had been kind enough to supply it without any mockery.
"Thank you so much, Cap'n. I cannot tell you, your timing is PERFECT. I was down to Twizzlers, isn't that pathetic?" Brenda chuckled as she tore into the wrapper. Remembering her good Southern upbringing, she offered the Captain half, but Sharon shook her head, gesturing for Brenda to enjoy. As Brenda ate the chocolate, Sharon wrote a short novel in her notebook, but when Brenda asked about it, she just shook her head sweetly.
"You'll know eventually, Chief. I just need to do my job." She smiled to soften the blow.
As Brenda threw the candy wrapper in the trash, Flynn poked his head into her office, letting her know the Disken's had arrived. She stood, and circled around to stand next to the Captain, who was finishing her notes. When Sharon clicked her pen closed, Brenda stepped a half step back, and made a sweeping motion towards the door.
"Shall we, Cap'n?" She affected a sort of bow/curtsy hybrid.
"Sure thing, Chief." Sharon snorted her amusement.
They walked to the small kitchenette, that was now serving as an interview room for suspects who didn't know they were suspects. Sharon leaned against the wall, and Brenda slid into the seat across from the Disken's. She broke the news as gently as possible, and Mrs. Disken sobbed into her hands. Mr. Disken looked uncomfortable at his wife's display.
"I should've talked to her more. I should know these things. 11 years, and I don't know her at all." Mrs. Disken wailed.
"Speak for her now, then. Speak for her now." Brenda leaned across the table, patting the distraught woman on the hand.
Sharon watched Brenda expertly interrogate the couple, without ever making them feel like they were suspects. It was a thing of beauty, watching her in action. She wondered why Brenda was letting Mr. Disken leave the premises. Surely she knew how weak of an alibi 'stuck in traffic' was.
As they stood, Brenda reiterated her sorrow at their loss, giving the woman a compassionate smile. Mrs. Disken turned, and flung her arms around the Chief, sobbing her thanks. Brenda startled at the unexpected contact, but patted the woman gently, before extricating herself. Sharon snorted to herself as she realized the odd sensation that had flared within her at the sight of that hug, was jealousy. Still, she couldn't believe Brenda was just letting them go.
Once the door clicked closed behind them, she was bumped by the opening of the back door, and Lt. Tao entered, apologizing for disturbing her. He walked behind the sink, fetching a black latex glove, and an Xacto knife.
Sharon shook her head, and approached the Chief.
"Chief. I don't understand." She said, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Understand what, Cap'n?" Brenda replied.
"The Disken man has motive, a temper, and a weak alibi. You just let your primary suspect walk out the door!" Sharon countered, exasperated at having to spell it out.
"Lt. Tao, he was sitting on the left." Brenda smiled sweetly.
The lieutenant picked up the water bottle, and walked to the sink, before launching into an explanation.
"We'll cut a hole in the bottom of this bottle, and drain the water out, so as not to contaminate the top. Air it out, and we'll have a perfect DNA sample to run against the sample from the Gomez rape kit." The bald man grinned, and headed off.
"Hmm." Sharon hummed, impressed.
"Yes, Captain. Hmm." Brenda was slightly giddy at the woman's admiring gaze. She turned as Lt. Provenza entered the room.
"Oh! Lieutenant! Tomorrow, I want y'all to canvas Arianna's route, and the Disken's neighborhood, and Arianna's neighborhood, and check for leads, anyone who knew her, knew who she spent time with, things like that. " Brenda smiled at the older man when he nodded.
"Commander Taylor has been wondering why you've had the Disken's in. I just thought I'd give you a heads up." Provenza turned and shuffled back out of the room.
"Figures." Brenda groused. She dumped the remaining water bottle into the sink, and tossed it in the trash. She glanced up at the Captain and offered a tired smile.
"You know, Cap'n. We all know what you're investigating, but I just don't see how questioning my methods has anything to do with Will Pope's qualification to be Chief." She knew she wouldn't get a straight answer, but she had to say it anyway.
"I know you think that. But you have to trust me Chief. You'll find out eventually. If you don't mind, I would very much like to accompany your team on the field trip tomorrow." Sharon put her notebook away and fixed her gaze on the blond woman. Her long teal sheath dress hung perfectly on her lean frame, accentuating her curves, and the Captain couldn't help but admire the view as she spoke.
"Of course, Cap'n." Brenda stood for a moment, blushing under the subtle scrutiny. Then she smiled cheekily, put her hands on her hips, turned slowly, and sashayed towards the door. She paused, hanging in the door frame, and looked back over her shoulder at the dark haired woman.
"See you tomorrow, Sharon. Have a good night, now." Brenda left before the Captain could reply, and decided on the stairs, rather then the elevator, to get to her car. No sense in tempting fate any more than she had just then. She shook her head as she walked down a second flight of steps. She had no idea what had come over her just then. That she would flirt so openly, so blatantly with a co-worker, with a lower-ranked co-worker, with a lower-ranked co-worker who was investigating her boss for suitability as Chief? Clearly she'd lost her mind. She slid behind the wheel, and sighed. Her car still smelled of the Captain. Brenda knew that her feelings were spiraling out of control. That in addition to the crazy chemistry, she was actually starting to feel some genuine affection towards the woman. She wondered if that was mutual, or if Sharon's flirtation was steeped in the angry lust that had initially fueled Brenda's desire. She remembered the Captain coming to stand by her after the discovery of the Gomez girl. That didn't seem so angry. That seemed more like the gesture of a friend. Brenda laughed out loud. She didn't have friends. And those co-workers she counted as friends, she certainly didn't wander around preoccupied with thoughts of them in various stages of undress, writhing beneath her touch.
She pulled into her driveway, still lost in thought. The house was dark, so when she opened the front door, she switched on a lamp, and saw Fritz sitting on the sofa in the living room.
"For heaven's sake, Fritzi! Why are you sitting here in the dark? You almost gave me a heart attack!" Brenda dropped her keys on the table in the entry hall, and tossed her bag underneath, kicking off her shoes as she moved towards the inert form on the couch. He looked up at her, and she plopped next to him, taking his hand in hers.
"I dunno Bren. I'm just tired. I thought maybe I'd fall asleep, but clearly that didn't work." He leaned his head back on the sofa. Brenda absently stroked the back of his hand, searching his face.
"What's wrong, Fritz? You haven't been yourself for days now. I've been trying to give you some space, but I don't know what to do for you." She leaned into him, aware of all his hard angles against her body.
"Maybe I didn't want space. Maybe, I wanted my wife to notice something beyond her job. Maybe I wanted you to ask me about more than my day at work, a cursory question that you never actually hear the answer to." He pulled his hand away, and shifted away from her on the couch.
"We don't talk, anymore, Brenda. You haven't been her for weeks, not really. I don't know where you are, but you aren't with me. We haven't made love in over a month."
"Fritz! I'm here. Where else would I be? You knew getting into this, that my job was important to me. You knew who I was when we got together. Yes, these past few cases have been difficult, but I'm here, every night, with you. You can't blame this all on me." Brenda spat back, pushing down the wave of guilt over the unintended truth of his words.
"I'm not, Brenda. You asked me what was wrong. I'm telling you. I miss my wife. I've had a hard month at work too, but we only ever talk about YOUR job, and your cases, and your never ending feud with that woman, and I'm tired of it, Bren. I'm tired of it. I want to hold you again, I want to make love, and feel like you're with me again. Like you still love me." Fritz pinched the bridge of his nose, then brushed his hair back with his hands.
Brenda sat still for a moment, processing what he'd said. Maybe he was right. Maybe she hadn't been fair to him. Maybe she'd checked out during this past month, both because of work, and because of whatever was happening with the captain. This was her husband, for heaven's sake. Brenda swung herself around on the couch so that their hips were touching, and she was facing him. She leaned against him, resting her head on his shoulder.
"I'm so sorry Fritzi. I miss you too." She lifted her head, her eyes meeting his. She tilted her chin so their lips met. His were dry, and soft against hers. He skimmed his tongue along her lower lip, begging entrance, and she opened to him. He deepened the kiss, and ran his hands down her arms, catching her hand in his. His large thumb traced her knuckles, and even as she sucked his lower lip into her mouth, she recalled the feeling of a smaller, softer hand tracing hers. Pushing that thought away, Brenda took control. She grabbed his hand, and brought it to her breast, encouraging him to squeeze, feeling her nipples pucker into his palm. She sighed into his mouth, and shifted again so that she was straddling him, pulling her dress up to bunch around her hips. He broke the kiss, and latched on to her throat, still caressing her breasts, and she angled herself down, rolling her hips into the hard length tenting his trousers. He groaned, and brought his other hand in between them, stroking her through the silk of her panties. Brenda tried to stay focused. She and Fritz had danced this dance a thousand times. Her body knew what to do, but it was like she'd forgotten the routine. His questing fingers paused, unaccustomed to the dry friction they were encountering. He pulled back, and looked at her.
"Bren?" He said questioningly.
"Shhh. Don't talk. Just kiss me." She answered breathlessly.
She leaned into him, closed her eyes, and thought of Sharon Raydor as his lips captured hers. She thought of the heat of the woman's hand in hers, the sharp citrus scent, the softness of her calf, her knee. She thought of that slightly unbuttoned blouse, the hint of creamy flesh as her chest rose and fell with the rhythm of her breathing.
Fritz relaxed as he felt the familiar sensation of Brenda's arousal coat his fingers. He lightly rubbed circles around her clit, before slipping one inside, thrusting gently. Brenda rolled her hips again, pressing her clit against the heel of his hand as he pressed another finger to her entrance. She reached down and grazed the thickness of him with her nails, caressing him softly with the pads of her fingers. She found his belt buckle, and made short work of it, then unfastened his fly. He raised his hips, and she slid the pants and boxers down, exposing his jutting erection. Brenda closed her eyes and kissed him again, thinking of her lips against a small, delicate wrist. She reached down and shimmied out of her panties, sliding down over him, burying him deep, as she thought about her thumb tracing the soft wetness of Sharon Raydor's lower lip. She thought of the woman sitting next to her in the car,that lip caught between her teeth as Brenda touched her. The flush of those cheeks, the sound of her ragged breathing. Brenda rode Fritz roughly, holding his hands to her breasts, crushing them, as she thought of that skirt sliding up as the woman shifted, those pale thighs lending a promise of better things to come. Brenda felt herself coming close to the edge, as she imagined her hands sliding up that skirt, she reached down and caressed her own thighs, moaning. She ran a hand across her curls, groaning softly. As Fritz bucked up into her, she pressed her thumb against her clit, and stroked down, imagining she was touching the Captain in that most intimate of ways, and she shattered, her walls pulsing around Fritz. She gasped, riding out the most intense orgasm she'd ever had, and seconds later, Fritz followed behind, his seed spilling hot and intrusive into her sensitive body. She pulled off of him, murmuring something about the dry-cleaning bill for the dress she still wore, and headed to the bathroom.
Closing the door behind her, she sank down on to the toilet, and sobbed.