Yep, I guess I just couldn't stay away for too long. It'd be so boring anyways! I hope everyone is enjoying the winter as best as possible. I am trying not to turn into a popsicle over here.

This story will make some dark turns here and there. Continue at your own risk.

ACT I

"Factum est!"

With a satisfied sigh, Steve leaned back in his office chair and ran a hand across the row of buttons on his red dress shirt, the top three open to accentuate the level of relaxation that the dark blue tie wrapped loosely around his neck failed to do, tilting his head back as if to count the ceiling tiles.

Mike pulled the thick-framed reading glasses off his face and stole a glance over at his partner, the lone occupant in the deserted bullpen besides the Lieutenant. Shaking his head smilingly, he checked the clock on the east wall, woefully aware that 11pm had already struck and they were still neck-deep in finishing up their latest case.

"Say…that sandwich earlier mess with your head or something, Smiley?", he teased from the comfortable safety of his glass-walled office, only to see the young Inspector stretch his back like an alley cat, acting as though he felt thoroughly accomplished.

"I was just resorting back to my Latin days…announcing that I am finally done with the report."

Symbolically turning his back to the typewriter that had worked overtime all evening, the young Inspector fidgeted with the cufflinks on his shirt, before casually strolling over to the coffee machine, refilling his cup once again.

How much caffeine all that entailed by now, Mike could only guess.

"Latin, he says. It's almost midnight. How do you still have energy to use your brain for…frivolous sayings like that?"

"I must just have more capacity.", Steve teased in return, the shameless comment accompanied by a cheeky grin that brighten Mike's spirits this late in the evening; intentionally, that much the Lieutenant knew.

"Careful there. If your head gets any bigger, it might explode."

Their cheerful banter felt like a much-needed reprieve after a long week of stake-outs, witness interviews and the eventual arrest of their prime suspect, with ample solid evidence to back up their investigation. If all went to plan, Freddy Kinsey would be formally charged with two counts of Murder 1 at tomorrow's hearing, the following trial putting the greasy mobster behind bars for the rest of his sorry days.

All in all, it had been an incredibly productive week, so productive that Mike felt it in every bone and sinew of his body. He could tell that Steve was in the same boat, despite his admirable attempts to keep their spirits up.

"You gotta admit, this was a smooth investigation.", the young Inspector began proudly, keeping an eye on his partner over the rim of his coffee cup as he treated himself to a couple of sips, before entering the confines of Mike's office, "Nobody got hurt for once. It's been a while since that last happened."

Mike could only nod in agreement, relishing in the fact that a hospital visit hadn't been on their agenda for a precious few weeks. Although he was well aware of the dangers their chosen line of work entailed; it was refreshing to close a case without bloodshed on their end for once.

Stifling a yawn, Steve came to a halt behind his desk, aimlessly strolling around as if to walk off stiff muscles from sitting too long.

"Yes, it has."

The Lieutenant pulled the black-rimmed glasses off his face and returned them to the right-hand top drawer of his meticulously organized desk, before leaning back in his chair, crossing both hands behind his head as he studied his partner for a few moments, grateful to have that bright soul by his side these days.

"Even the car didn't get damaged, Mike. No high speed chases. No broken windshield. No wrecks. That's downright spooky."

"At this rate, we might be getting spoiled."

With a jovial smile, Mike glanced down at his finished report, the one he'd finished an hour ago and had spent re-reading, as he patiently waited for Steve to get done with his work.

But due diligence did take time, and in their case, so did the paperwork. The reward of a solid indictment was well worth the effort; no matter how many times his body reminded him of all the hours of sleep this investigation had cost him.

"Spoiled? Us? Never.", Steve scoffed and parked his coffee cup on his partner's desk, before running a hand through his wavy hair and rubbing the back of his neck, "I am sure the next criminal is anxiously waiting around the corner to cause us great bodily harm- and vehicle damage. It wouldn't be the same without it after all."

"I guess all those times I urged you to be more realistic about this line of work are coming to haunt me now.", Mike complained half-heartedly and leaned forward again, using his right hand to close the case file, symbolically stepping away from their work for a precious few hours, "Great bodily harm and vehicle damage…you know, I could go through more than one case without either."

"Me too, Kimosabe, me too."

With a chuckle, Steve cocked his head and was about to turn around and grab his belongings when the ringing of Mike's phone made both of them flinch, then share an ominous glance.

"I knew it!", the young Inspector whined in unmasked disappointment and stomped his foot in protest, "I just knew it. We should have headed home earlier instead of taking a dinner break. Now see what happened."

Smiling empathetically, Mike reached for the receiver as he shook his head.

"Then you'd have had to change back out of your jammies and meet my charming face down here anyways. At least you're still dressed for work, Inspector."

With a pained grimace, Steve followed the short phone conversation intrigued, waiting until Mike hung up again to raise his eyebrows questioningly.

"So?"

"It was the guard down at the front entrance. There's a lady there begging for help. Says she's been raped."