Author's Note: Before we begin, I'd like to ask my more seasoned readers which of my stories they thought were the best and why in the comments. Now back to our regularly scheduled programming.

Chapter Nine: Personal History

Natural History Museum

Nick found himself sitting in the pit with the unconscious suspect for about two more minutes before more cops stormed the building. When they arrived, there were no good comments and quite a few familiar faces. Most of them he had pissed off at one point or another. One of the older guys practically raised him along with another family friend in the department. The precinct was a small world.

"That was the most godawful retarded thing you've ever done Junior," snapped Ben Clawhouser, veteran desk jockey, "you turned a public place into a fucking shooting gallery all for the chance of revenge. I'm sorry son, but you know damn well that's not what your daddy would've wanted out of you!"

"I am not my father!" shouted Nick in retaliation.

"You were such a good kid once," said Clawhouser, "the rest of the guys loved seeing you around the precinct. You were like the precinct mascot. But now, in the span of less than a week," he continued, "you tazed Coonway as he was coming out of the shower for some stupid reason, then you go do this. And where the fuck is your partner?"

"She went after the bomb," replied Nick.

"Bomb," asked Clawhouser.

"Yes," said Nick, "Grassman said he parked a car bomb in front of the precinct. He said we had one hour to stop it. This mess was just a game to that psychopath."

"Well your partner better be alive," said Clawhouser, "or your mom will kill you."

"By the way," said Skye as she walked in, "the bomb squad is on the way to get that thing out of here." She then looked and saw Lieutenant Clawhouser lecturing Nick. "What happened?"

"Looks like you get one more Christmas," said Clawhouser, recognizing the female voice.

"Lieutenant Clawhouser," said Skye, "nice to see you again. Sorry about the mess, it's just that someone decided we needed to work with this maniac because of some lousy protective instincts."

Clawhouser gave Nick a look.

"He threatened to kill mom if we didn't show," explained Nick, "and I really didn't want to take that chance."

"I want your report on my desk by eleven tonight," said Clawhouser, "or you're off the case and I'll stick you on parking duty. Now get out of my sight while I clean this up."

Rainforest District

(Sultans of Swing by Dire Straits)

Skye wanted Nick to give her a straight explanation of how he viewed her as a partner. But after working up quite a sweat, she decided she couldn't really do any investigative skills on an empty stomach. She decided to ask him to go to lunch, and he'd pick the place. It not only got her food, but also a chance to observe him in his element.

"I oughta tell ya," said Nick as he picked up a piece of grilled fish with his fork, "the Rainforest District is the best place to eat. Especially the fish," he continued, "with the way this whole neighborhood is designed, they probably catch it right out back."

"I guess it's good," said Skye, "but isn't Happytown also a very predator friendly neighborhood."

"Happytown's a shithole," replied Nick, "even after some hipsters came in and decided to gentrify it. Those bums can't cook worth a damn even though they can now afford the meat."

"Quite the judgy type," said Skye.

"My dad was born in that neighborhood," continued Nick, "it nearly killed him. I learned from my mother many years after he bit it that as a teenager, my old man once tried to off himself in an alley."

"I never knew that story," said Skye, "and I heard a lot of stories about him."

"It was a very personal matter," said Nick, "he ran in a gang for awhile, got kicked out of the house, then found himself staring into a revolver with one in the chamber."

"What happened," asked Skye with morbid curiosity.

"The gun was too damn wet to fire," replied Nick, "it just so happened to be at the height of Monsoon season and there was this bigass rainstorm that had been going for the past few hours. Eventually he gave up and became a con artist, which is how he met my mother and you know the rest."

"You like to talk about your family," asked Skye.

"Nobody in my life has ever been inclined to ask," replied Nick, "so what about you? Why are you kissing my ass now?"

"I'm not kissing your ass," replied Skye.

"Liar," muttered Nick.

"Okay," said Skye, "suppose I wasn't your partner. Would you be interested in meeting with me in a certain context?"

"Quit beating around the bush," said Nick, "just because you're attractive doesn't mean I'm stupid enough to go after you. We're better off being merely tolerating each other than risking an inappropriate relationship. And just because it worked thirty years ago doesn't mean we can do it now."

Oh yes, said Skye, I've got him right where I want him. Just got to make sure not to take it too far.

"Skye," said Nick, "snap out of it! I can see the wheels turning, you are not going to fuck up my life or try to control me. And I can't believe I'm saying this, but do you have a sister or cousin who's available? Dear God, that was a terrible thing to ask."

"I'm an only child," replied Skye, "so sorry about that. Maybe we can work on being friends after we catch those two lunatics who are still running around. You seem like a decent guy hiding under that tough, bad boy exterior."

"Okay Skye," said Nick, "since I've just spilled my guts out and humiliated myself, it's time for you to at least tell me something about you."

"I'm from Foxborough," said Skye, deciding that it was only fair that she talked too, "I guess I was a bit of a ZPD fangirl growing up," she continued while Nick just calmly began to eat, "my parents weren't exactly thrilled that I wanted to dodge bullets for a living, saying they couldn't spare me because they had nobody else."

"You really sound like mom now," said Nick, "but go on."

"Okay," said Skye, "so looked up to her because I was a lot like her. You got that?"

"No wonder she stuck me with you," replied Nick.

"Look," said Skye, "I'm not your mother, so any pent up hostility you have towards her, I don't deserve. And I know you blabbed to her about your romantic and or sexual interest in me. Well listen up Slick Nick," she continued, with Nick having a nervous expression on his face, "if you drop the act right here and treat me better than you have, then you can have whatever the fuck you want. If not, then I want you out of my life."

Nick gulped, staring wide eyed at Skye. "That was both hot and terrifying at the same time."

Outside and across the street, Joker sat in a black SUV watching the whole thing. "Wow," said Joker, "maybe she is straight after all. Hahahahaha! I can't wait for my turn to fuck with them!"

Author's Note: So who thinks that Nick Jr. and Skye should get together after the case? Let me know in the comments.