Chapter Fourteen

Kennex stayed away for a few days. He was probably working out the state of our relationship; were we friends, co-workers, lovers, a one night stand. As far as I was concerned we were co-workers and maybe friends. At work the next week Officer Esposito approached me and asked me out on a date. I accepted. We were going to a football game. I told Six that he'd have to find something to do that day, in Navajo. He asked Dorian if he could come to Rudy's lab on that day, in Cherokee. Dorian and Kennex just came in from the field. Kennex shot Dorian a look. "I'll ask Rudy, but I don't think it'll be a problem, man. Rudy likes you," Dorian said in English. Six and I chuckled.

"Why does Six need to go to Rudy's?" he asked. I noticed we were getting stares. "How about we meet for lunch?" I said instead.

"Okay but you're buying."

"Fine, but we're getting burgers."

"Deal."

I got a text from Kennex telling me that he wouldn't be able to meet for lunch until later. We were chasing a suspect, so I didn't have time to respond. We caught the bastard, but I was covered in noodles when I walked into the precinct. Six was laughing his ass off. Dorian and Kennex saw us as we were coming in. "Sorry about lunch, Kennex. I was occupied."

"I thought you wanted burgers and you go and get noodles. Why don't you just admit that burgers pale in comparison to noodles?" he joked.

I acted like it was going to throw some on him when he laughed in my face and they left. I took a shower at the precinct, but I wanted another one. We picked up a burger on the way home. Dorian and Kennex were waiting outside our apartment when we got there. I looked at Six and he smiled. The asshole. He knew they were waiting. I let them in then put my burger on the island. "I'm showering I'll be out in a minute," I told them as I started stripping on my way to my room. Kennex followed me. I got in the shower and he followed me to the bathroom. "Why does Six need to go to Rudy's?" he asked me.

"I have a date and he needs to find something to do."

"With who?"

"Well, Dad, officer Esposito asked me to a football game on Saturday. Can I borrow the car?"

"Have you checked him out? Isn't Esposito married?" Kennex asked me.

"No, I haven't checked him out. If we start having sex I'll check him out. As far as I'm concerned we're just going to a football game." I replied as I got out of the shower. I grabbed a towel and started drying off. I walked back into my room with Kennex right behind me. I put on clothes, walked back to the bathroom and started drying my hair. Kennex was leaning on the doorjamb, watching. "I think you should check him out," he gave me his opinion. "I like you. I don't want to see anything bad happen." I stopped what I was doing.

"Kennex," I said and started brushing my hair. "I like you, too. The concern is nice, but nothing is going to happen until I decide. If I decide to have sex with him, then I'll check him out. He seems like a nice guy. I need to get to know him to decide if he warrants being checked out." Kennex didn't say anything. "And if I find out he's married I'll let you kick his ass. How does that sound?"

He grumbled at me when I walked past him. I headed for the kitchen and he was right behind me. I grabbed a beer and put it in front of him then plated my burger. Six and Dorian were off doing whatever androids do, leaving Kennex and me in my kitchen. I was eating and Kennex was drinking his beer. "Did you eat?" I asked him.

"Yeah, Dorian said you weren't home yet, so we went out."

I needed to have a discussion with Mr. 0167 about tattling on my whereabouts. "Where did you go?"

"To that burger place you like. It's kind of grown on me."

I looked at him. "Kennex, did you want me to teach you to cook? I mean, eating out all the time can't be healthy."

He looked a little uneasy. "Kennex, it's no big deal. Cooking is easy. Look at it like putting a case together for the prosecuting attorney."

I could see that relaxed him as he'd never thought about it like that before. "We'll start with something easy and if you don't like it I'll stop. I mean I'll keep on feeding you, but I'll stop teaching you. Deal?"

"Deal."

"Okay, you need to put money on your tab," I told him and held out my hand. He pulled out his phone and paid up. I finished my burger, put the plate in the dishwasher and got out a beer for us. "Did you want to move this to the living area?"

We got up, I put some music on and we assumed our normal positions. We talked about our days. I told him how I got covered in noodles, he laughed and I called him a dick. "I bet Six laughed his ass off," Kennex chuckled.

"Yes, he did. He's a dick, too. I washed his hair when that woman threw noodles on him. Did you see him offering to wash my hair? No, sir, you did not. How is that fair?"

Kennex continued to chuckle. "Okay. Now, I'm kicking you and Dorian out. I'm tired and we have to work tomorrow. Think about when you want to start learning to cook," I told him as I grabbed his empty and took it to the kitchen. Six and Dorian came into the kitchen. Kennex said he let me know as they left. I walked into my room and went to sleep.

The chrome shocked the shit out of me when she asked if Six and I would teach her sign language. "You want to learn sign language, Stahl? Why?"

"Because it looks interesting," she said.

Six and I looked at each other, then her. "Stahl, you do know that if you learn sign language that the only people you would communicate with would be me, Six and Dorian. Right?"

"Yeah, I realize that."

I looked at her like she was fucking insane. "Okay, we'll teach you. Let's get together after the holidays. I want you to think about what you've just asked. If you decide that you don't want to learn, no harm, no foul."

"Thanks. I'll still want to learn."

We drove off into our day. "What kind of shit is that?"

"Interesting."

"That's a word."

Dorian and Kennex showed up for dinner. I was telling them that basketball season was upon us and we were taking Rudy to a game. "Are you in?"

They were both in. "Kennex, if you don't want to go…" I started to say.

"I'll go," he said. He started eating the linguini and shrimp I'd made for dinner. I looked at him. "Kennex, why are you putting yourself through this torture?" When he didn't say anything I figured it was because he was ignoring me.

After Dorian and Kennex left I asked Six if he thought I should ask the chrome to go with us. "I'm really starting to like Kennex, but they've got to get their shit together," I told him.

"No, let them figure it out. If they haven't by now, they probably won't."

"Yeah, that's what I was thinking at the football game. I mean, I know Kennex has some issues, but for a chrome this bitch is dumber than a doorknob."

Six laughed and agreed.

The day of the game Dorian and Kennex caught a case and wouldn't be able to make it. I looked at Six. "What should we do with the tickets?"

"Try Maldonado," was his suggestion. I knocked then entered after she waved me in.

"Captain, I have a couple of tickets to tonight's basketball game, if you're interested," I offered.

"Thanks, Casper, but I've something to do this evening." I shrugged my shoulders and left. I told Six it was a no-go with the Captain and he looked at Paul and the chrome. "No, just no," I told him in Cherokee.

"We don't have to socialize with them. They may not take them if they know Rudy's going. Especially the chrome." He had a point. They were at Richard's desk when I walked over.

"Hey, we were supposed to go with Dorian and Kennex to tonight's basketball game but they've got to work, so we have a couple of tickets if either of you want them."

They looked at each other then back to me. "Sure, I'll take one," Richard accepted. The chrome said she'd take the other. Wow, this was going to be a disaster.

"Stahl, we're taking Rudy. I thought you should know."

"Maybe he won't be so bad with you and Six." I shook my head.

"Cool. We're meeting at Tim's Bar by the arena around six-thirty, if you want to meet us. We usually have something to eat before we go." I gave them the tickets and we chatted for a few minutes more before I left.

Six and I picked up where we left off. "They both wanted a ticket. What the fuck are we supposed to do now?" I whined in Hopi.

"Just deal with it. Like I said, we don't have to socialize," he retorted in Navajo. We wound down around six and left to meet Rudy. He was waiting outside and smiled when he saw us.

"Where's John and Dorian?"

"Sorry, Rudy, it's just us. They caught a case and had to work. I gave the tickets to Detective's Paul and Stahl. They may meet us here." We sat down and gave our drink and food order to the bot when Richard showed up. He was placing his order when the chrome came in. I shot Six a look and he shrugged his shoulders. She ordered her drink and I told them we ordered food. "If you want something other than what we ordered get it. I'll take care of the bill." Richard was all over that. They studied the menu that was in the table. When the bot came back with our drinks they just wanted to double what we had.

Rudy started with his questions. Richard knew a little about basketball, the chrome not so much, so Six, Richard and I fielded questions. I looked at the chrome. She smiled a small smile and just listened. I shook my head at her and returned to the conversation. We ate, drank and talked some shop.

"Let's get going. Tip off's at eight." Six ushered everyone out the door while I took care of the check. We walked to the arena, showed our tickets and found our seats. I offered beer to everyone and got yeses. The chrome offered to help me carry them so she walked beside me.

"Stahl, I tried to warn you."

She laughed and assured me it was fine. We came back bearing beers and they were passed around. Rudy was sitting between me and Six with Richard and the chrome on the other side of Six. Rudy was asking his boatload of questions when, at the end of the first quarter, the five drunk guys behind us took exception. I'd scoped them out when I sat down and didn't really pay any attention to them after that. The drunk guy that was behind Rudy told him to shut up.

"I paid a lot of money for this game, man, and you won't shut up." Richard and the chrome were paying attention because I could see them straighten up in their seats.

Six and I turned. "Look, guy, my friend's never been to a game before and he has a lot of questions." I tried to explain.

"He's being a dick," the guy behind me said.

"We'll tone it down," Six offered.

The guy behind him decided to get in on the action. "No, he'll shut the fuck up is what he's going to do."

Richard stood up and broke in. "Look, guys, let's just calm down…" he was cut off by the drunk guy behind him.

"Mind your own business, shorty. The guy just needs to shut up." He emphasized his point with the beer in his hand and it sloshed all over Richard's seat.

"Hey, that wasn't necessary," the chrome protested.

"Shut up. No one asked you, bitch." The guy behind the chrome wasn't as drunk as his friends but apparently felt the need to be included.

Rudy started to apologize when the first guy pushed him. "Hey," I yelled at him. "Knock that shit off. That…" was as far as I got before the guy that was sitting behind me pointed his finger in my face. I grabbed it and bent it back and set everyone off. Six pushed Rudy into his seat and we tried to grab our badges. The chrome's guy tried to punch her in the face. She moved so didn't get the full effect. Richard tried to intervene but the rest of his friends were having none of it. Next thing I know I'm blocking punches from two guys while Six was protecting himself and pushing Rudy to the floor. Two minutes later security bots descend and escort us to their office.

We explained what happened to the head of security but he kicked all of us out. We were escorted to separate entrances and banned for the rest of the season. I looked at everyone. Rudy didn't have a scratch, Richard had the beginnings of a black eye and the chrome looked to have a bruise on her cheek. I was sure it would be worse in the morning.

"Is it always like this when you go out with Kennex and Dorian, Casper?" Richard spat at me. "Because you should have fucking told us."

"No, I can honestly say that this hasn't happened before." I turned to the chrome "What are the chances that the Captain won't find out?" I asked her hopefully.

"Not good. We made the monitors."

"Yeah, I heard that idiot announcer."

We didn't linger to long after that. Six and I dropped Rudy off and he apologized the entire ride there. "No worries, Rudy. We'll try again next season."

"Okay, Casper. Thanks." He got out of our car and went into his lab. We went straight to our apartment. I went in and grabbed a beer while he took a seat across from me. "What the fuck, man? Banned for the season?"

"Who knew that Richard could punch like that?" Six was trying to distract me from the rant I was going into. I chuckled.

"Yeah, the chrome's not bad either. Personally, I didn't think she had it in her."

The next morning Six and I walked into the station. Yep, Richard had a nice shiner. The chrome showed up fifteen minutes later with a really dark bruise along her cheekbone. Kennex and Dorian walked in ten minutes after her and Kennex immediately started giving Richard shit.

"What happened to you?" he snarked. "Some kids on the playground beat you up, Paul?"

Before Richard had a chance to answer Maldonado walked out of her office. "Paul, Stahl, Casper and Six. My office. Now." That didn't sound good. We marched to her office and she told Six to shut the door.

"What the hell happened? You are all police officers and police officers do not, repeat, do not, get into brawls at basketball games."

We didn't say anything. "You made the news." She brought the newscast up behind her desk. "Now, the chief wants to know what happened. It better be good." She sat down behind her desk.

"Captain, it's all my fault," I started to say.

"Captain, we were just enjoying the game. The guys behind us didn't like Rudy asking so many questions," Richard cut me off. "We tried to calm the situation and words were exchanged."

"One of the guys tried to punch Rudy," the chrome told her. "Casper and Six protected him while Richard and I tried to settle them down. They were drunk."

She stared at us, hard. After a few minutes she spoke again. "Alright, here's what's going to happen. You'll all perform fifty hours of community service. I'll send a list and let you pick what you want. Dismissed."

We were almost at the door when she told us that she never wanted to see that again.

"Yes, Captain," we told her in unison.

We hit the floor and I saw Dorian and Kennex watching the footage. They looked up and started laughing. I flipped them off before Six and I left.

We spent the holiday with Martin, cooking, playing chess, me beating up combat droids. As much as I bitch about Martin, I was very grateful that he stepped in. I got him Dorian's schematics for Christmas. "I couldn't get a synthetic soul, sorry. Nigel really did a number on the police."

"Yes, but really, the council should have let Nigel try and fix the issue and not just brush him off. Good for him, I say," Martin replied.

"Agreed. That's what they get for being assholes. I'm glad Dorian survived. I would have had to lay that bitch out."

"Casper, language. Yes, I'm sure you would have. From what I can gather, the XRN was a combat-type android and those are easy for you to destroy." He looked at the destroyed combat droids on the lawn. "Make sure you clean them up, Casper. Now, I've made dessert and I have coffee. Then I'm challenging you to chess."

Two days later we were back at work catching bad guys when the chrome came up to us and said she was still interested in learning sign language. "Even after the basketball game?" She nodded her head yes. "Okay, Stahl," I told her, "do you want a file or someone to sit with you?"

"Sit with me, please," she requested.

"Alright," I drawled, "this shouldn't take long. So, after shift there's a bar two blocks from here, McGinty's, meet us there. I'll text you if something comes up. Give me your number," I told her. She did. Six and I just looked at each other. Dorian and Kennex came in and I asked Kennex if he could spring Dorian at end of shift, we'd get him to Rudy's.

"Why?"

"Stahl wants us to teach her sign language. I want Dorian as a backup in case I miss something," I explained. Six and Dorian started laughing.

"Sure. Where are you meeting her?"

"McGinty's because I'm going to need food and drink. Did you want to come along?" I invited him. Dorian's eyebrows shot up.

"Yeah, we'll be there."

"I thought you were going to leave that alone?" Six asked me in Cherokee.

"I can't help myself. The normals are cute," I told him in Hopi.

"The 'normals'?" Dorian asked in Navajo.

"Did you recently suffer a blow to the head?" Six asked me in sign language.

Dorian laughed. The chrome had been watching the entire time. The rest of the people that worked with us had just gotten used to the three of us spouting off in languages they didn't know. Richard had a translator sitting out one day and when it couldn't translate he got pissed.

"Yes, Dorian," I told him in Navajo, "the normals." I turned to Six. "We should teach him Esperanto," I told him in Esperanto.

"Yeah, we haven't used that in a while. Dorian," Six asked in Apache, "did you want to learn Esperanto?"

"Yes," he responded in Cherokee.

"Great, we'll ditch the love birds and you can come back with us. How's that sound?" I asked him in Hopi.

He smiled. "You, Casper, are matchmaking. But, I agree, something needs to happen. Although since you went dancing the other night, John's scans have been better," he told me in Klingon.

"Dorian," I said in Apache, "I'm really not interested in Kennex's scans. Thank you, very much." Six laughed and I put my finger in his face. "Not one word."

He and Six started laughing harder and I flipped them both off. We finished our day chasing down a suspect by the docks. The idiot jumped in the water and didn't know how to swim. I had to fish him out and I was pissed. I pulled him up, Six restrained him and we hauled him down to the precinct. I had on a white shirt, which was now see-through, when Dorian and Kennex came out of the building.

"What happened to you?" Kennex asked me.

"I'm bringing back a twentieth century custom called a wet t-shirt contest. Do you think I'll win?" and I flashed him.

"Probably."

"Thanks, Kennex. This idiot jumped in the water and didn't know how to swim. I had to fish him out. I've got to change. We'll see you in an hour." We went into the building. An hour later we were at McGinty's. The chrome showed up and we started with the alphabet. Since she was a chrome it didn't take long. Dorian and Kennex showed up, I got another round of beers, and we started with words. The chrome had a good grasp of sign language by the time I was ready to leave.

"Kennex, if you and Stahl want to stay we'll get Dorian back to Rudy's," I offered. "I want to eat so we'll take him after that."

"No," he said as he put his empty on the table, "I'm done. But, I haven't eaten yet, so I'll go with you."

"Alright," and I turned to the chrome, said goodbye and I'd see her tomorrow in sign language.

"Thanks for teaching me," she signed back.

Six and I got in the car and headed for our apartment. "What the shit is that?" I yelled. "You know what, I'm done. If Kennex can't figure this out, fucking forget it."

Six looked at me. "Now, don't push me out of the car, but do you think Kennex is over his little infatuation with the chrome?" he asked me.

That stopped me cold. "I don't know. I stopped paying attention after the soccer game fiasco. Ask Dorian."

"Dorian doesn't know. He's not really had a chance to bring her up in conversation. Although, he did tell me that Kennex talks about you and your cooking," Six said after a minute. I rolled my eyes. "Whatever," I said.

I made spaghetti for dinner. I made coffee and put it in front of him after we ate. "How's Stahl as a cop?" I asked him.

"Valerie?"

"Yes, Stahl."

"She's good. She's the intelligence analyst. She's helped me with some of my cases. Doesn't she help you?"

"No, I do my own intelligence analyzing. I haven't really had a use for her. That's why I asked." I was looking at him and yep, the crush looked like it was over. Six and Dorian were listening. I glanced at Six and rolled my eyes.

"How's Richard as a cop? He seems to be competent."

Kennex scoffed. "He let one of our witnesses walk out of the station once. Someone was trying to kill her and he let her walk out. So competent is being nice."

"Really? That's stupid. He seemed competent when we were on those jobs. He handles the tactics ok." I got Kennex's view on the rest of the people I worked with. I already had my own. Personally, I thought Richard wasn't bad if he had an interest in the case. We sat around talking about the station gossip for an hour and then Dorian and Kennex left. We never did get to teach Dorian Esperanto. I asked Six to transfer the file