Chapter 21- Overtime

December 19th, 6:01pm

Raven's eyes snapped open when she heard a loud thump.

Garfield was leaned over a long cardboard box, that had apparently fallen, he was wincing.

"Sorry" he said, realising he had woken Raven.

Raven sat up, lifting the book from her chest.

"It's fine." She remarked, "I didn't mean to fall asleep anyway" Raven looked at the box on the floor, "I see you managed to get a Christmas tree." A smile played on her lips.

Nodding, Garfield opened the box to reveal a dark green artificial tree. He grinned, "let's get this up shall we?"

Raven snuggled back down, "how about you just do it" She joked.

Garfield started pulling her off of the couch, and she landed on him, let out a small gasp of happiness.

"I'll help if you make it worth my while" she teased.

Garfield grinned, pecking her softly.

"Okay, we need to get this done" Raven said, rolling off of him.

Now Garfield had a case of laziness, "or we could just do that for a bit longer."

Raven pulled the tree upright and began to pull the branches out.

Garfield reluctantly joined her.

He handed her the lights, and the decorations, and in the hour the tree looked perfect.

The both stood back as they turned on the lights.

Garfield put his arm around Raven, "Not bad" he said, "but I think those decorations that you put up aren't on properly."

Raven nudged him, "very funny."

"Do you think at this Christmas party anyone will notice us?" Garfield asked.

"Hopefully they will still have eyes so maybe" Raven said sarcastically.

"You know what I mean" Garfield said, removing his arm and facing her straight on, "I'm kinda crazy about you Raven, and I wouldn't mind the world knowing about it"

Raven's stomach fluttered at his words and the honesty in his eyes.

She sighed, "I just don't want people making a big deal about it, and I already think that we've moved really fast, not that I'm complaining, but I like this being between us at the moment."

"Okay" Garfield said, "as long as I get to be with you I don't care."

(Scene Break)

"Ugh" Garfield complained two hours later as he sat at his desk at the precinct, "I hate bein' called in at night." He had received an unexpected phone call from The Captain asking him to come in straight away. Garfield was going to say he couldn't but Raven convinced him that he should, just in case it was something urgent.

So far it didn't seem urgent as he had been at the precinct for over twenty minutes and Captain Grayson hadn't once emerged from his office.

"Chill G" Victor said, taking a bite of his sandwich, "it's obviously important if he called you in."

Garfield leaned against Victor's desk, "I better be gettin' paid overtime for this" he moaned.

Victor stopped mid chew, "usually you're dyin' to work a case and come into work, what's changed?"

Garfield shifted his gaze ever so slightly, no longer looking his best friend in the eyes, "Dude!" Victor exclaimed, "It's a girl!"

For a police sergeant, Victor Stone would still act like a teenager.

Garfield's cheeks went red.

"Who is it?!" Victor pressed, "Do I know her? Is she nice? Oh wait, is it a guy? 'Cause if it is that's totally cool if that's who you are-"

"I'll tell you when I actually know if it's a thing" Garfield said, "And for the record it's definitely a girl."

The Sergeant finished his sandwich just as Raven walked out of the elevator.

He was still looking at Garfield when she entered the room, and saw his eyes light up when the detective walked in.

"Ah" Victor said under his breath, realising why perhaps Garfield was so reluctant to leave his apartment.

"What are you doin' here?" Garfield asked Raven as she walked over to him.

"You forgot this" She said, handing him his cell phone, "Just in case you run into trouble or anything."

"Thanks" He smiled gratefully. Perhaps he hadn't accidentally left his cell on the kitchen counter a minute before he left. And of course he didn't know for sure that Raven would be worried if he didn't have it with him, but she wouldn't realise until he had already left because she was busy untangling more Christmas lights. He definitely did not know that she would drive all the way to the station just to give him it, and he would be able to see her again for a couple of extra minutes.

"Logan" The Captain called.

Garfield raised his eyebrows at the Captain's tone, he did not sound happy. "Wish me luck" He groaned and then walked to the office.

Raven watched his back as he went, unaware of Victor's eyes taking in her worried expression, and his brain making sense of the two friends being more than they let on to be.

She was one hundred times better than Terra, that was true. But she came with so much baggage that Victor wasn't sure if she was healthy for his friend. But if she made him happy, that was the most important thing right?

(Scene Break)

Garfield put his head back in his seat and stared at the ceiling, "You're kiddin' me right?" He asked, exhausted.

"Would I have called you in here on your day off if I was joking?" Captain Grayson said pointedly.

"I thought he was charged with his crime the last time?"

"He was." The Captain said, also sounding tired, "but he served his time and got out early for good behaviour, but it appears he's back to his old self again."

Garfield sighed harshly, "You know I hate this guy right?"

"Yes. That's exactly why I want you to make sure there is enough evidence to put him away for a long time this time." Captain Grayson's usual mask of no emotion still showed his tired bags.

"Fine. But if this guy pushes me and I do something that I'm gonna' later regret, you better have my back." Garfield said.

"Of course." The Captain nodded, "Thank you Garfield" he said candidly. "For taking this case, and for finding a way to make Detective Roth happier."

"Her happiness is not your responsibility." Garfield said, annoyed at the Captain's over controlling nature.

Captain Grayson cleared his throat, "Indeed. I shouldn't have thought like that. Thanks for coming in. I'll see you tomorrow"

Garfield was already out the door, the case file in his hands, he muttered a "yeah, see you tomorrow" under his breath.

Victor looked at him worried, he could instantly tell something was wrong, "What is it?" He asked.

Garfield didn't say anything, he just dropped the case file on his desk, grabbed his jacket and stalked off.

As soon as he was in the elevator, Victor and Raven moved at record speed to look at the file.

They peered over his desk, Raven saw Victor's face turn sour.

Obviously she didn't understand, but the name did seem to turn the room colder, especially since it even made Victor worried.

Raven read the name again, making a mental note of it, so she could ask Garfield who this person was.

She had to go after him, she knew it.

Taking one last look at the file she turned and left, saying goodnight to Victor as she left.

On Garfield's desk she left behind the case file with the name printed in bold capital letters- ADONIS.