Author's notes: Thank you for all the reviews! I really appreciate the input; it makes me feel like writing even more. Now I want everyone to vote: did Danny and Sarah meet at the academy, or were they friends before?
Even if you're too lazy or shy to write a real review, please cast your vote.
Disclaimer: Don't own it, blast it…
Chapter 3
"Damn Pez, quit breathing so loud." Danny muttered as he dragged himself off Sarah's couch.
The early morning light was not kind, Danny looked bad. His hair was sticking out, his clothing was half on, and he was sporting several bruises. Danny rubbed his throbbing head in confusion, and then looked at Sarah. "What exactly happened last night? The last thing I remember was playing pool."
Sarah was cooking in the kitchen area of her loft. "You don't remember the guy who kept doing Bruce Lee impressions at us? Do you remember telling me that sleeping with me would be like masturbation? How about when you called your girlfriend and proposed marriage? Oh, and at breakfast you decided you were too hot and took off your clothes and ran naked up and down the aisles. That's where the bruise on your forehead came from; one waitress cold cocked you with her tray."
"Please tell me I didn't call her and propose…" Danny groaned.
"Can't do that partner. If it's any consolation, I don't think she said anything to you that could be construed as yes." Sarah smiled.
"Sarah, what really happened?" Danny gave her a watered down glare.
"Ok, but you're not going to like it any better than the condensed version. First, you decided that we should try one of every type of drink the bar carried. I quit somewhere around Kahlua, you made it all the way to Voodoo Punani. Whatever that was… all while trying to have meaningful conversations with anyone who came near. Right about closing time, you decided you were too hot. You were trying to take your clothes off; I was trying to keep them on you, and in came your girlfriend. From the screaming, I gathered she had been to every bar she had heard you talk about looking for you. She called you names I hadn't even heard before, and tried to punch me for sneaking around with you. I dodged and she ended up hitting you. I think she really hurt herself; someone needs to take her to the gym and show her how it's done. After that I took you back here and put ice on it and tried to get plenty of water down you. I didn't think alcohol poisoning would go well with that bruise."
"Oh Hell. She didn't. She did. I can vaguely remember something… Damn. Can I use your phone?" Danny asked distractedly.
"Don't you think it's a little early for eating crow?" Sarah asked.
"Crow never tastes good." Danny sighed. "Just shoot me and put me out of my misery. I'd do it for you."
"Not a chance. You still have to clean up the bathroom before I'll even consider it." Sarah folded her arms across her chest and stared at him.
"Clean up the… how bad is it?" Danny cringed.
"Let's just say, you may need a ladder. Honestly Danny, I have never seen anyone bazooka barf before. I had thought it was just a figure of speech, like tossing your cookies or praying to the porcelain god."
"Stop talking about vomit and hand me the phone. It's going to be hard enough."
Sarah smiled and grabbed the cordless phone from its cradle on the counter.
'Here you go."
"Thanks." Danny turned his back on her and walked toward the windows. Danny dialed and waited. "Hello, I jus…" He held the phone at arms length away from his ear, face screwed up in pain.
Even from the kitchenette Sarah could hear distorted screaming. From her vantage it sounded like she was giving Danny some serious hell. After several minutes of this, she hung up. The dial tone emitted from the phone, still held at arms length.
"Hey partner, I think she's forgiven you." Sarah called to him.
"Maybe it's for the best. If she can't handle me spending time with my best friend, how would she take me being a cop?" Danny brought the phone back to Sarah.
"Yeah, there's a reason for the high divorce rate among law enforcement personnel." Sarah hung up the phone and settled onto a bar stool. "You may have just saved yourself from some severe alimony. Now go clean up my bathroom."
"Yes mistress," Danny said and mock dragged himself down the hall.
Sarah shook her head; he really had Quasimodo down pat. Maybe he had missed his calling, and should have been an actor. Considering the chaos in the bathroom, Danny should get done about the same time as the garlic bread.
Danny stared at the bathroom. It looked more like a crime scene. Whatever he had been drinking last had been red. He glanced up out of the vain hope that Sarah had been exaggerating, only to find she hadn't. He reached for the bathroom cleaner and got to work.