A/N: Little expansion of Rob and Cassie's first meeting scene.

...

"Hello, freak."

Rob turns to look her straight in the eyes. "Hello."

Cassie holds out her packet of cigarettes and he takes one. He lights it and breathes in.

"So who did you lose?" she asks.

He sighs. "It's a long story." She doesn't say anything so he finally adds, "I was a kid."

She nods, understands. "Still trying to make sense of it."

"So did I pass the test?" he asks.

She smiles. "I haven't decided yet."

"So I'm on probation?"

She nods and exhales.

"I could do with a new partner," he says conversationally. "I've been working with this guy Quigley, but he's an imbecile..."

She snorts. "Partners, hey?"

"Think about it."

"What makes you think we'd get on?"

"Well, you haven't asked about the accent, for one thing." He does his best Quigley impression. "What's an Englishman doing in the GardaĆ­? Are you an MI5 mole? Are you related to the Queen?"

"That does sound annoying," she acknowledges.

"You have no idea."

"Tell you what," she says, tossing her cigarette out of the window. "We get a solve on this case, and you've got yourself a partner." She holds out her hand. "Deal?"

He takes her hand. "Deal."