Reckless Surrender :: Chapter One

Bo Brady struggled with closed eyes to locate his alarm clock. He carelessly swatted his hand at every object on his night stand until a successful swat made the terrible blaring noise cease. He rubbed his eyes. The sleeping woman beside him stirred. He opened his eyes to a relatively dark room and sighed.

"Stay in bed…" Carly groaned into her pillow. She reached for him, wanting to pull him closer.

Bo sat up, "I can't… duty calls."

Carly forced herself up. It was 5:00AM. She crawled over beside him and placed a kiss on his shoulder, "Have a good day."

Bo smiled, "You too…. get some more sleep."

Carly leaned into the kiss he placed on her forehead, "Maybe I should just go in and round early. We could grab dinner tonight."

"I'll have to see what Abe has planned for Roman and me. I'll check in with you later." Bo replied standing from the bed. He was starting a new case today. There was no telling how late he would work, "Hopefully he doesn't have much. I love you."

Carly frowned, already disappointed, "Love you too."

Bo watched her fall back into bed and slipped into the bathroom to start his day.

At the Salem Police Department Hope Brady winced as the hot tea she sipped burnt her tongue.

"Hope, I'm glad you're early…" Abe greeted as he strolled into the room, "We need to talk."

"About the new case?" Hope asked with a hint of excitement.

"Yeah… about that… look…" Abe sighed, his face heavy with apprehension.

"Abe, don't you dare tell me I have to sit out on this one." Hope folded her arms defensively across her chest.

Abe shook his head, "No… no…"

"Then what?" Hope shrugged, "What's the problem? What are you so afraid to tell me?"

"Well. I'm giving you a new partner." Abe smiled flatly.

"I'm not working with Rafe?" Hope questioned, "Why? We're good together. I wasn't aware you hired any new detectives."

"Rafe will be better utilized on another case." Abe replied, "This new case requires my best team. And while you and Rafe are great, it's important to the department, that I put my best detectives on this."

Hope's heart sank, "This partner… isn't exactly new is he?"

Abe shook his head, "Come on Hope. Please. I'm begging you."

Hope stared at her superior officer with guarded eyes, "What about Roman?"

"I'm putting him with Rafe." Abe replied.

"Roman's not going to like this," Hope shook her head, "Why can't I work with Roman? He'll be furious you're sidelining him on such a big case."

"Roman already knows." Abe nodded, "He understands. He's been commissioner before. He knows how this works… and he knows that you and Bo are the best team we've got."

"We used to be," Hope corrected, "That was years ago."

"I know things aren't exactly great between the two of you. With everything that has happened you probably don't want to work together more than you have to… but Hope… you can't deny you guys work well together." Abe spoke sincerely, desperate for Hope to agree.

Hope forcefully exhaled, "It's fine. I'll do it. We're both professionals. We're both adults. We've actually been coparenting Ciara quite well lately. So. Why not bring it back to the office?"

Abe sighed with relief, "So you'll do it? You'll work with Bo?"

Hope nodded, "I'm not making any promises. I'll try to keep the fighting to a minimum."

Roman appeared, showing up for duty "Well knowing that pigheaded bastard it's as much his fault as it is yours."

"What did you just call me?"

Hope almost blushed as she and Abe turned to see Bo entering the station.

"A pigheaded bastard." Roman smiled, unashamed of the banter he dished to his younger brother.

Bo smiled lightly, "Well, what else is new?"

"You and Hope are sharing an assignment." Abe replied matter of factly.

Bo questioningly looked at Roman who shrugged and then let his eyes dart towards Hope. He searched her face for a moment before swallowing slowly and nodding, "Okay…."

"Let's get started." Hope spoke surely, "We're wasting daylight."