O'Calleighs

"And where is the lovely Deputy Stewart today?"

John looked up from his lunch. "She's on patrol, Doug."

"You haven't heard? You two didn't go to that dinner."

"With Richard Marsh? I wouldn't have gone even if we had a baby-sitter."

"I'm representing him. He's suing."

"For what? Isn't he named in a dozen lawsuits in Hillsdale?"

"They refused to serve him because he was white."

"Excuse me?"

"They kicked him out, threatened to call the police, all because of his skin color."

Sheriff's Station

"It's popping up all over town," Max said, as they looked over the photos and witness statements. "It's hateful and…"

Keyed in your car, Kenny thought, the things people have said to her. To both of them. She just went all in with him and he adores her. "I know it bothers you."

"It's not about me."

"Max, your boyfriend and his daughter are black. You've had a lot of hate lobbied at you lately for just dating the guy. It's okay that it bothers you."

"We were out, a few weeks ago, just a date and…his arm was around me, we were just walking, talking, having a good night," she trailed off. "A cop stopped us, to make sure he wasn't hurting me. That he wasn't forcing me…Just because of our skin color."

"You don't know that's the reason."

"John was kissing me. We were laughing, wrapped around each other…it was pretty obvious that I was a willing participant."

"Max."

"He just held me really tightly…and told me if I wanted to walk away, now was the time. I told him I loved him and that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with him."

Kenny looked at her for a long moment. "Does Littleton know what an amazing girlfriend he has?"

"He always makes me feel that way."

District Attorney's Office

"You date one of the deputies who pulled her gun on my waiter and those kids. You work with Jill Brock's husband."

John looked across at Billy Walker, owner of the Lodge. "My relationship with the Brocks and my girlfriend are separate. What Richard Marsh said and did…I want to represent you in this."

"Your white girlfriend."

"She has nothing to do with this."

"A white cop? Pulled a gun?" Walker continued. "How do you live with yourself?"

"I'm on your side."

"There is a video," he said finally. "He's suing for my business, my home, everything… Wambaugh always wins."

"Not this time."

Sheriff's Station

"I am not a racist, Jimmy."

He looked at his wife. "I know that."

"That video, it makes me look like one. Why is John representing them? He's the district attorney. It's a conflict of interest."

"He's an attorney. He's taken an interest in this case."

"He is going to endorse Carter Pike as mayor. Kenny endorsed Ed Lawson."

"Carter and Lawson can't win this. You know that."

"I'm being called as a witness," Jill said "What am I supposed to say? This is going to destroy my campaign. I heard Carter today…he's champion of the underdog. John is supporting him. He and Max are the poster couple for interracial relations."

"I'm sure they'll be thrilled about that."

"Do you really think Max is with him for any reason other than because she is being stubborn?"

Jimmy looked at her in shock. "They seem very happy together."

"When is Max ever happy? This is just another…this is political on Littleton's part with her."

I don't think so, Jimmy thought, with the way he looks at her. "I keep expecting her to show up with an engagement ring."

"Please, Max likes making her relationships difficult. This is no different. I won't let them ruin this for me."

Max & John

"I know she's your friend."

Max sat cross legged on the bed and looked at him. "I saw the video too. And the graffiti and vandalism."

He pulled on a t-shirt after hanging up his suit. "And?"

"And what? John, his comments and Jill's…acceptance of them? I'm not okay with that."

"You pulled on a gun on those kids."

She winced at that. "I can say I was following orders all I want…but it was wrong. I was wrong. I regret that day…every time I see one of those kids from Green Bay I feel like the worst person in the world. That isn't why I became a cop."

He sat down next to her, brushing her hair back and really looking at her. "Yeah?"

"And it has nothing to do with you and me…they're kids. They didn't deserve that…no one does."

"It has nothing to do with how people have been treating you lately? That cop that thought I was hurting you?"

"He was an asshole. You know what really hurt? Was you telling me I could walk any time and be fine. I wouldn't be fine."

"That isn't the same thing."

"I'm a woman in a male dominated profession. It may not be the same thing, but don't tell me I don't understand. Hey!"

He hugged her tightly, pressing his lips to the top of her head. Max who looked shocked when that cop stopped us, when some of her friends blew her off, her co-workers making snide comments… and she never wavered with us. Don't push her away. "I love you so much. I need you, Max."

She hugged him back. "You have me."

"This is going to get ugly."

She stroked his cheek and brushed her lips over his. "And we keep the ugliness out of our home."

"Our home, huh?"

She smile up at him. "You're making me into a sap."

He kissed her again. "Come here."

District Attorney's Office

"This isn't appropriate."

"I want to explain," Jill started. "You know I'm not a racist."

John sat back in his chair. "I'm representing Billy Marsh. I'm endorsing Carter as mayor. I saw what happened with the Green Bay kids."

"And your girlfriend was a part of that."

My guilt-ridden girlfriend, he thought, who I think was surprised at how people reacted to us. "I know."

"So, she's racist too."

Max who helped Kara tie her shoes this morning, he thought, did her hair, while I made breakfast. They two of them giggling together over nothing and Kara hugging her tightly before she left. "This isn't about Max."

"It can be."

"Meaning?"

"Don't push on this, John."

"Are you threatening me, Jill?"

"What we said at that dinner? You will not ruin my campaign."

"You think this is about your campaign?" John asked. "You really think those comments…that Marsh suing…do you hear yourself?"

"I really thought better of you."

Max & Kenny

"When was the last time you and me hung out?"

Max winced at that. "I'm a terrible friend."

"No one says that about my best friend, even her."

She broke into a grin at that, taking a long pull of her beer. "I know I've been caught up in my own stuff. How's your love life? Beautiful blondes?"

"Nah, there is a red head I like hanging out with more…drink up."

She smiled across the table at him. "I've missed this."

"It's nice to see you happy."

She squirmed at that and felt herself flush at his oddly touching comment. "Thanks. Can we talk about anything else besides my love life?"

"You love him?"

"Kenny," she groaned, trying not to laugh. "Stop."

"You going to plow her tonight, Lacos? Show here what a real man, a white man, can do?"

Max froze at that, feeling her temper spike and seeing the anger on his face. I barely know them, I think they play basketball with Kenny.

"Max, come on," Kenny said, her hurt breaking his heart as he looked at them, my drunk friends... "Let's get out of here."

Glaring at them for a long moment. "Let me know when a real man gets here."

"Max," Kenny hissed. Stubborn and angry. "Come on, there are better places to drink."

"You going to corn row your hair? You need to get a tan to match him. Get a bigger ass back there."

I'm going to scream, she thought, things my parents said…how dating, being with a black man would damage me. That I would regret it. That my kids would…and he's the best man. He knows me in a way that…he sees who I really am. "I don't tan."

"Why don't we go in the bathroom together? If Lacos isn't going to plow it out of you…I'd like the pleasure. I bet you're a wild one."

"Back off," Kenny said, standing and blocking them. "You have 10 seconds before I bash your face in for that. Go sober up and leave us alone."

"Rock the," he snorted, laughing at his racial slur. "lover's world."

"You okay?" Kenny asked, not looking at her as they stumbled back into the crowd. "Max?"

"I don't need you to save me."

"Too bad. I always have your back," he said turning to look at her. She's tiny, he thought, one of them could physically really hurt her…my partner who is so happy and in love with Littleton. She's trying not to cry and… Sliding in the booth, he took her hand in his. "They're idiots."

She shook her head. "It's my life and…why can't I just live it?"

"Let me walk you out. I'll follow you home. Don't look at me like that…I'm worried. I couldn't deal with it if something happened to you. Are you going to his house?"

"Yeah. Thanks."

The Brock House

"They're pulling my campaign posters, support and funding," Jill stated. "We need to stop this. John called me a racist today."

John who is backing Carter and Max staying out of it. "John took the case pro-bono."

"You know Max is hanging on his every word. You have sway with her and her with him."

"Jill!"

"It's going to trial. He's going to make it look like…he's biased, Jimmy. I want to countersue."

"Who? Littleton? The town?"

"This town needs me, not Lawson or Carter. You know that. Wambaugh is representing Marsh in his civil suit and I want him to represent me."

Littleton House

"They were idiots. Drunk idiots," Kenny said.

John looked at his girlfriend. Mad, hurt, she never knew what racism really was before we… Kenny was that concerned that he wanted to make sure she got home safely. "I know. You okay, Honey?"

She looked at him torn between hurt and anger. "How can they think saying all that is okay?"

"You know why."

"It's just skin."

"You're smarter than that."

"Are we talking about my white privilege again?"

"It's not a bad thing. It's just a thing."

"Daddy?" Kara yawned, rubbing her eyes as she came downstairs. "Max! You're home!"

Home, she thought, that's what this place really is…officially in a few days. Ah, Kara. Hugging her back, she is what matters. "Shouldn't you be in bed?"

"Can we read a chapter? Please?"

Ah, Max, Kenny thought, that kid adores her, and it even made Littleton smile. "Hey, I'll see you guys tomorrow."

Max looked up at him before back at Kara. "Hey, give me a minute, Kiddo."

"Come on, Kara," John said, scooping up his squirming four-year-old and kissing Max's cheek. "Let's grab a snack first."

"Max too?"

"Give her a minute," he smiled. "Kenny, thanks."

He looked at his partner. "We're a team."

Max smiled at that, as she crossed the room to him and walked him to the door. "Thanks. Really."

"Are you okay?" he asked. "Really?"

She nodded. "Yeah, it's just something…I didn't expect this. You don't have to worry so much."

"You're my best friend and partner. Max," he started. "I know you guys are…is it worth it?"

She smiled despite herself. "Yes."

He pulled her into a strong hug, surprising both of them. Smiling as she hugged him back, he finally let her go. "Go eat junk with them."

Courthouse

This town, Littleton thought, I never felt discriminated against and prejudice in this town until Green Bay happened I brought Kara here for a better life, a safer environment to be raised in, and … now I worry for her safety.

"My worthy opponent."

John looked up at that. "Doug."

"Typical," Marsh said, looking at him. "Of course, he's one of them."

"Excuse me?" John asked. "What does that mean?"

"A dumb one at that."

This town, John thought again, this racist and judgmental town. I want to take Kara and Max and…We don't run and hide. My very stubborn girlfriend would dig her heels in. "I'll see you in court, Doug."

TBC