Disclaimer:  I don't own them, I just play with them then put them back  They're owned by Warner Brothers and were created by John Wells and Ed Bernero. 

This story takes place in Season Four, around the time of  "Everybody Lies" and "In Confidence".  I fiddled with the time line a little, Carlos is on limited duty still and this after Faith and Bosco break up but before Faith rides with Monroe.

Dealing with Demons

                                                            by Elsandra   2003

            Lt. Swersky handed a stack of papers to the first officer in front as he started roll call.  "Here's today list of stolen vehicles and suspects to look for.  Assignments:  Owens, you're with Thompson today in 55-Edward.  Yokas, your new partner for the next few weeks is Magnuson."

            He stopped, looking around for the officer.  Finally spotting her in the back he pointed to her.  "Everyone, this is Officer Liz Magnuson.  She's temporarily filling in while Bosco's in Anti-crime, Jablonski's out on medical leave, and Woleski and Powell are on vacation.  Maybe if you're all nice to her she might decide to stay."

            The officer in the hot seat gave Lt. Swersky a small smile as she tucked a strand of red hair behind her ear.  She nodded at the others but didn't say anything.  A few called greetings before they all turned their attention back to the lieutenant.  Lt. Swersky waved his clipboard at them.  "That's it, get to work." 

            Everyone started to move, the sound of scrapping chairs creating a din as it mixed with jovial voices.   Faith Yokas approached her new partner, extending her hand.  "Hi, I'm Faith Yokas."

            Officer Magnuson gripped Faith's hand firmly in her own.  "Nice to meet you, Faith."  She gave Faith the same small smile she'd given the lieutenant.   "Hope you don't mind having another woman in the squad."

            Faith chuckled.  "Of course not, it'll be a nice change to have some girl talk for once."

            "Lord helps us all," quipped John Sullivan as he and his partner, Ty Davis, walked over.   He reached out a meaty hand to Liz as he sized her up.  She stood a few inches shorter than Yokas, making her about 5'5", with a medium build that tended toward curviness, though he couldn't tell for sure behind the vest.  She had a slightly heart shaped face that was neither pretty nor plain but settled somewhere in between, framed by reddish-blonde hair that was more red than blonde.  Her most remarkable feature was her eyes, startling blue with a dark ring around the outside of the irises. Sully couldn't judge her age.  Her handshake was firm as he introduced himself.  "I'm John Sullivan. This is my partner, Ty Davis," he stated as he waved his hat at the tall officer next to him.

            Liz nodded then reached out to shake Ty's hand.  "Davis," she said, smiling up at him.

            "Nice to meet you," replied Davis.  "Welcome to the five-five."

            Faith motioned towards the door.  "Let's go sign out our radios and get going."  As Liz headed out of the room Faith looked back at Sully.  "Hey, you guys wanna do lunch if you're free?"

            "Sure," agreed Sully as Davis nodded.  Faith walked out after her new partner.  They checked out their radios and were just going to head to their RMP when they heard Lt. Swersky calling out Liz's name.  They both turned around to see him motioning for Liz to come over.  Faith glanced at Liz, who just shrugged, before they headed over to the lieutenant. 

            "Liz, gotta minute?"

            "Yeah, you need something?"  Lt. Swersky looked at Faith, who took the hint and started to walk away. Liz called after her, "I'll be there in a minute, partner."

            Faith nodded as she stopped near the stairs, just barely within earshot.  Lt. Swersky's attention was focused on his newest officer so he didn't notice.  "You need anything you let me know, okay?"

            "I'll be fine, Lieu.  Stop worrying about me."

            "Yeah, right.  Be careful out there."

            Faith was surprised when Liz reached up to gently touch Lt. Swersky's cheek.  "I will."  Liz turned to walk back to her partner, not seeing the lieutenant shaking his head behind her but Faith did. 

            As they headed out Faith let her curiosity get the best of her.  "What was that about?"

            "An over-protective old friend," was all Liz would say.

            It was during a brief lull in conversation that Faith realized she'd been doing most of the talking.  Liz would answer a question or two then subtly turn things around so Faith was talking again.  Faith was rather impressed with how smoothly Liz did it without her realizing she was being pumped for information.  Faith also had to admit it was nice to have a grown up conversation with another female. 

            Faith glanced at the clock on the dash.  "It's around dinner time, wanna stop?"

            Liz gave small shrug.  "Fine by me.  I'm not picky about what I eat so you can choose where we go."

            "Okay.  Mind if Sully and Davis join us?"

            Liz gave her a small smile.  "The more the merrier."

            Faith radioed 55-Charlie and they decided to meet at a favorite diner that was just inside Charlie's area.  Sully and Davis were just sitting down in a booth when they got there.  Faith was a little surprised when Liz quickly slid in beside Sully but when she sat down she realized it was so Liz didn't have to have her back to the door.  Faith automatically trusted Sully or Davis to watch her back but Liz didn't know either one so it was only logical she would be a little wary.

            "Faith giving you the grand tour?"  Sully asked after they'd given their orders to the waitress. 

            "That she is," Liz answered, taking a sip of her water.  "Not a bad area, better than thirty-three any day."

            "Is that where you came from?"  Davis inquired.

            "Yeah, couldn't wait to get out of there."

            Faith frowned.  "How come?"

            "Let's just say those guys are a different breed all unto themselves," Liz replied as she played with her silverware.

            Sully nodded, having worked with some of the guys from there a few times.  "Gotta agree with you there, they are different."  He looked over at his booth mate, knitting his eyebrows together.  "So, Liz, by your almost total lack of an accent I'd say you're not from around here.  Where are you from originally?"

            "Iowa."

            Davis gave her a look of surprise.  "How in the hell did you get out here?"

            "College.  Stayed for the job."

            "Is there as much corn out there as they say?" Sully teased, watching her reaction.

            Liz gave him a sly smile.  "If I had a dime for every time someone asked me that I'd be rich.  Yes, there's corn and soybeans and pigs and cows and lots of other farm stuff.  There's also the Mississippi and barges and river bluffs and woods and lots of other things I could mention, " she rattled off, shaking her head.

            "You have been asked that a lot, haven't you," stated Ty, chuckling.  Liz only rolled her eyes.

            "How long were you at the three-three?" Faith asked, changing the subject a little.  She'd tried to find out earlier but Liz had managed to steer her away from the subject without her realizing it.  Faith didn't think she'd be able to do it with three people.

            "Only a few months but it was still too long."

            Ty set his water glass down. "Where were you before that?"

            "At 110."

            "Nice place."  Sully glanced up as the waitress brought their orders.  "How long have you been roaming?"

            "A little over a year."  She thanked the waitress as the woman set a plate of eggs, hash browns, bacon, and toast in front of her.  Sully watched her pull a baggy out of her cargo pocket then sprinkle some of the contents over her eggs and hash browns.

            "What the hell is that?" he asked

            Liz smiled at him again.  "Cajun spice. Want some?"

            "How spicy is it?"

            Liz pushed her plate towards him.  "Try it and find out."

            Sully gave her a skeptical look as he extended his fork to snag some hash browns.  He gave them a suspicious sniff before putting them in his mouth.  Ty and Faith were chuckling at him, especially when his face lit up.  "Hey, that's good.  Sure, I'll take some for my fries."

            Liz handed him the baggy before asking, "Anyone want my bacon?"

            "That sounds like a personal question," Ty remarked, grinning as he reached for it. 

            "Believe me, Davis, if I propositioned you you'd know it," Liz retorted before digging into her eggs.  Faith found herself laughing even more at the look on Ty's face.

            "Ooh, a feisty one."

            Sully looked up from his plate to grin at his partner.  "It's the quiet ones you have to watch out for."  Liz just gave him a smirk before going back to her eggs.

            Faith nibbled on a fry while everyone started eating.  She finally decided to ask something she'd wanted to ask her partner earlier but hadn't.  "How do you know Swersky?"

            Liz swallowed what she'd been eating then took a sip of water before stating, "He was my first partner."

            Three forks clattered down onto their respective owners' plates. 

            "Really?"

            "You're kidding!"

            Sully frowned at her.  "How old are you?"

            "You don't ask a woman that, Sul," retorted Ty.                       

            Liz chuckled at their reactions.  "I don't mind."  She turned to look directly at Sully.  "I'm thirty-five and I've been with the department for fifteen years."

            "You sure as hell don't look thirty-five, I thought you were in your late twenties," stated Sully.

            "Me too," agreed Faith.

            "I'll take that as a complement."  Liz picked up a piece of toast and swirled it in her egg yolk as she continued, "Swersky was my first partner, I was his last before he started moving up the ranks."  She got a far away look in her eyes.  "Those were the days.  Hell's Kitchen was a lot rougher back then."

            "You started in Hell's Kitchen?"  Faith's face had a slight look of disbelief and awe mixed together.        

            "Sure did.  Moved up to Harlem next then went to the lower East Side."

            "You get around," remarked Ty.

            "Only in job assignments."

            Ty grinned.  "I like how your mind thinks."  Liz grinned back.    

            Faith ate the last of her sandwich before asking, "What was Swersky like back then?"

            Pointing the end of her fork at Sully, Liz replied, "From what I hear, alot like this one, with a protective father streak thrown in."

            "Hey, now..." started Sully before Ty interrupted with, "I can see that."

            Sully glared at him before looking at Liz.  "Swersky's talked to you about us?"

            Liz nodded.  "He thinks very highly of his Camelot family."

            The three regulars exchanged glances before Faith said, "The lieutenant's a good guy."

            "Yeah" and "Uh huh" agreed Sully and Ty.

            Liz smiled again.  "That he is."  Just then their portables squawked to life.  *55-David? *

            Faith keyed her mike.  "55-David."

            *Domestic in progress, 5713 Lexington, apartment #18.  Domestic in progress, 5713 Lexington, apartment 18. *

            "55-David, 10-4."  She grabbed her glass for one last sip as she started to slide out of the booth. 

            Liz dug in her pocket then threw a twenty-dollar bill down on the table.  "That should cover the two of us."

            "Have fun," quipped Ty as the two women walked away. Liz just waved at him before they went out the door.

            As they were climbing in their RMP Faith said,  "You didn't have to buy my dinner."

            "You can buy me a snack later," was Liz's reply as she put her seatbelt on.  They headed to their call.

            Ty gave Sully a look over his water glass.  "So, what do you think of the new gal?"

            Shrugging, Sully didn't look up from his sandwich.  "She seems nice enough."

            "But?"

            Sully finally looked up.  "But what?"

            "You answered like you were thinking something more."

            "Maybe."  Sully dipped the last of his french fries in ketchup as he continued, "There's something she's not telling us.  If she's got fifteen years in, what is she doing floating and on the street?"

            "You've been here longer and you're still on the street," Ty pointed out.

            "By my own choice, I've never really wanted to go any higher."

            "Maybe Liz never wanted to either."     

            Sully shook his head. "Naw, she seems too smart to have just stayed on the street.  I have this feeling there's more to Officer Magnuson than she's telling us."

            "Well, Sul, we all have our secrets."  With that Ty threw his napkin on his plate.  "Ready to go?"

            "Yeah, let me hit the head before we leave."

            The domestic turned out to be in a five-story building and apartment #18 was on the fifth floor with no elevator.  Faith and Liz were both feeling it a little when they got to the top of the stairs.  They paused outside of #18, listening to the commotion inside.  They could hear alot of yelling but nothing else seemed to be happening. When they heard a crash Liz pounded on the door.

            "Yeah, who is it?" yelled a male voice.

            "Police department, open up," Liz called back, her voice taking on a booming, authoritative quality.

            "We don't need the cops, go away!"

            "Sir, open this door now or we're booting it in," Liz answered.

            "No!"

            "You've got till the count of three," Liz stated, motioning for Faith to draw her weapon and stand to the right side of the door.  Liz drew her own and started counting, "One...two.."

            Before she could get to three they heard the chain rattling and the snap of the deadbolt opening.  They both holstered their weapons as the door swung open, a brunette female with tousled hair and a ripped shirt standing in the opening.  "Everything's fine, you can go now," she said in almost a whisper.

            Liz pushed the door open farther before she and Faith slipped inside.  They found the male sitting on the couch in the living room, trying to look as if he'd been sitting there all evening.  Faith looked the female up and down, noting the ripped shirt, red marks on her neck, the beginning of a black eye, and the messed up hair.  She glanced at Liz, who dropped a gloved hand down on her handcuff case and raised an eyebrow.  Faith gave the slightest of nods as she began to question the woman, asking for her name, date of birth, and phone number.  The female, named Tanya Post, gave her answers in a quiet, shaky voice. When Faith asked her what had happened Liz moved towards the living room to engage the male in conversation. 

            Faith was getting frustrated with the female after a minute or two. Tanya kept denying anything had happened, despite her injuries.  Faith could hear that Tanya's boyfriend, David Moyer, was telling Liz the same thing. As Faith started to put her notebook away she saw Liz was doing the same thing.  Faith told Tanya to stay put and headed towards where her partner was standing.

            Liz motioned to David, "Mr. Moyer, stand up."

            David looked up at her, starting to tense.  "Why?"

            "Mr. Moyer, I am not going to repeat it again.  Stand up please."

            David stood but clenched his fists at his side. Liz and Faith both reached for an arm as Faith stated, "David Moyer, you're under arrest for domestic assault.  Put your hands behind your back."

            David pulled his arm out of Faith's grip and started to swing his fist at her.  Liz had managed to maintain her hold on David's left arm which she hugged to her body.  She shifted her weight, stepping back with one foot.  David was caught off balance and Liz was able to pivot him to the floor, still keeping control of his left arm. Liz came down with one knee across David's shoulders and the other on the floor pressed against his side with his arm pinned in between. She had the arm bent and held it over the small of David's back.  Faith had quickly knelt down on his other side, grabbing his other arm as she pulled out her handcuffs.  Liz was giving him orders, "Sir, put your other hand behind your back.  Stop resisting and you'll stop hurting yourself."

            "I'll hurt you, bitch," he growled in return, still fighting with Faith's attempt to get his right arm behind his back.

            Liz caught motion behind Faith.  "Faith, behind you!"

            Faith turned in time to see a broom handle headed towards her head.  She raised her arm to block it, crying out when it connected.  She heard her partner cry out too but she wasn't sure why.  Faith pushed herself up to shove Tanya back, the petite woman flying across the room to land on her back.  Faith scrambled to her side before she could get up to attack again, flipping her over on her stomach and handcuffing her fast.         

            Faith looked over to see Liz sitting on David's back, one handcuff on while she was trying to get his other arm out from under his chest.  As Faith was moving to her partner's side, Liz brought her right elbow down between David's shoulder blades, digging the point in as she order, "Give me your other arm!"

            David started squirming, finally crying out and thrusting his arm out.  "Dammit, stop it!"

            Liz quickly pulled his arm back, slapping the other handcuff on.  She pulled out her handcuff key to double-lock the cuffs before getting up, sitting on the couch.  She reached out to touch her head.

            Faith radioed for assistance as she leaned down to look at her partner.  "You hurt?"

            "Beside a goose egg developing on the side of my head where the broom stick hit me after it ricocheted off you, no."

            "Help's on the way."

             "Good, because if I have to walk this jackass down the steps I just might make sure he trips."

            Faith blinked, suddenly feeling like she was talking to Bosco.  Liz smiled up at her.  "How 'bout you?"

            "What about me?"

            "You hurt?"

            "Only my pride."

            "Ah, but that can be mended a lot easier than bones.  Let me see your arm."  Liz reached out her hand making Faith extend her left arm out to her.  It wasn't until Liz asked about it that Faith realized her arm was throbbing.  Faith twisted her arm so they both could look at her outer forearm, seeing the deep red welt that was already turning purple.  "That looks like it hurts," stated Liz.

            "It smarts a little," Faith replied as she pulled her arm back.  They heard footsteps hurrying their way in the hall before the apartment door opened.  "Yokas?  Magnuson?" called Sully as he and Davis entered the room. 

            "Over here, Papa Bear," Liz answered, motioning towards the two people on the floor.  "Would you two gentleman be so kind as to escort these miscreants down to the squads, putting the Neanderthal in yours?"

            "Papa Bear?" echoed Sully.

            "Miscreants?" repeated Davis as he grinned at her.  He reached down to grab David's arm. "Alright, sir, we're gonna stand you up.  We're gonna turn you over so your sitting on your butt."  Davis helped him into a sitting position, then bent one of the guy's legs.  "Okay, now we're gonna rock you forward and your gonna help yourself up.  If you try anything you'll find yourself kissing floorboards really fast.  Understand?"

            "Yeah."

            Davis pushed him forward and got David up, who was now glowering at Liz on the couch.  Sully had lifted Tanya to her feet and had her standing near the door.  Davis smacked David lightly on the top of his head.  "It's not polite to glare at a lady."

            "She's no-"

            Davis pulled up on David's arms, cutting him off.  "Hey now, let's not name call."  Davis pushed him towards the door, smiling at Faith and Liz.  "Coming, ladies?"

            Faith smiled. "Right behind you, Davis"

            Liz stood, looking for the apartment keys.  Seeing a set on the dining room table she grabbed them before following Faith out the door.  She locked the place up then hurried after her partner.

            Faith was chuckling to herself as she watched her partner type.  Liz had her head tilted to the side, a cold pack perched vicariously on the side of her head.  Faith was holding another cold pack to her arm and every time she removed it Liz clucked at her like a mother hen.  It was a switch to have someone mother her instead of Faith being the one and she wasn't quite sure how to handle it.  When she mentioned it to Liz, her partner told her to get used to it because she couldn't shut the mothering instinct off causing Faith to laugh.

            "Elizabeth Adelaide Magnuson, what in the hell did you get yourself into this time?" boomed Lt. Swersky from the door.   

            Liz's head jerked up causing the cold pack to slide off and land with a plop on the floor.  Faith and Liz looked over to see the lieutenant standing with his hands on his hips in front of Sully and Davis.  For their part, Ty and Sully were struggling to keep from bursting out in laughter.

            "Michael William Swersky, don't you take that tone with me," Liz shot back, crossing her arms across her chest.  The jaws of the other patrol officers collectively dropped as they looked at their lieutenant. 

Lt. Swersky surprised them by slowly smiling before walking over to Liz.  He reached out to touch the side of Liz's             head. "Your first day with us and you go and get yourself hurt. What am I going to do with you?"

"You're gonna lecture me, pat me-no, wait a minute-kiss me on the top of my head, then send me on my way like you always do," she answered with a smile. 

Shaking his head, Lt. Swersky squeezed her shoulder.  "I don't want to embarrass you by kissing you now, I'll catch you at the end of the shift.  Yokas," he pointed at Faith,  "Keep her out of any more trouble tonight if you can."

Faith nodded.  "I'll try, boss."

            "But don't you want to kiss my booboo and make it feel better?" Liz pouted as Lt. Swersky started walking away, making a shooing motion with his hand as he went out the door.

            Sully bent over to pick up the cold pack from the floor.  Before he handed it back he prodded the knot on the side of Liz's head.  "Ouch!" she cried out, "What are you, the Marquis de Sade?"

            "Sorry."  Sully put the cold pack back on her head, holding it there until Liz put her own hand back on it to hold it in place.

            Davis leaned against the wall.  "Adelaide?"

            "Yeah, after mi grand mère."

            Sully squinted at her.  "Your what?"

            "My Cajun grandmother, she lives near Baton Rouge."

            "Cajun?" Ty echoed.

            Liz typed the last few words of her report and pulled it from the typewriter.  "Oui, ma chère, Cajun.  Now, if you two gentlemen will excuse me, I have a report to file."

            Smiling, she put the cold pack down on the desk before she left the room.  The three left behind watched her go before Sully and Davis looked at Faith.  Davis reached out to pull the cold pack away from Faith's arm, assessing her injury.  "That doesn't look too bad."

            "Naw, I'm only holding the ice pack on it because my partner kept giving me the evil eye every time I took it off."

            "You really okay?"  Sully asked, sitting down in the chair Liz had vacated.

            "Yeah, though if Liz hadn't been watching my back I wouldn't be."

            Ty sat down on the desk.  "What happened?"

            "The guy started resisting and Liz pulled him off balance when he took a swing at me.  She got him to the ground and while we were trying to cuff him the female started swinging a broom.  Liz noticed and yelled at me so I had enough time to block with my arm and shove the woman away."

            Ty crossed his arms. "So Magnuson's good?"

            "Yeah, Ty, she's good.  I can trust her to watch my back."

            "Good, then we don't have worry about the two of you," Sully stated as he stood up.  "Come on, Davis, let's go drive around some more."

            "See ya' later, Yokas."  Davis squeezed her arm as he walked by her, heading after his partner.

            "Yeah, see ya'."  Faith was lost in thought, thinking back to the domestic, when her partner poked her head in the door.

            "Faith, you okay?"  When it took Faith a minute to answer, Liz walked over to her and began running her fingers over Faith's head. 

            Faith pulled back to look at her partner.  "What are you doing?"

            "Checking to make sure you weren't hit on the head since you didn't answer me."

            Faith stood to look down at her.  "I'm okay, I didn't get hit on the head."

            Liz put her hands up in surrender.  "Okay, just checking.  Ready to head out again?"

            "Are you?"

            "As long as you drive while I wait for the ibuprofen I took to start working."

            "Deal."  They smiled at each other before heading out to their squad car.

            After shift Faith waited for her partner to finish getting dressed so they could walk out together.  She was surprised when Liz came round the corner wearing a thigh length black leather coat and holding a motorcycle helmet in her hand.  "You ride a motorcycle?"

            Liz grinned.  "Part of the divorce settlement."

            This little revelation threw Faith for a minute.  She realized she had found out very little about her partner in the eight hours they'd ridden together, she'd done most of the talking.  "You're divorced?"

            "Yeah, for a year now."

            "I'm sorry."

            Liz shrugged.  "It happens."

            "If you don't mind my asking, how long were you married?"

            "Fourteen years."

            "Was it because of the job?"

            Faith could see Liz was uncomfortable with the question and was going to take it back when Liz said, "Indirectly."

            "Oh."

            Liz nudged Faith with her elbow as she reached up to push a strand of hair out her face.  "It's okay, Faith, to ask.  It's natural to be curious."

            Faith saw she was now smiling.  "Especially when you're a cop," Faith added.

            Liz's smile grew.  "Especially."

            They were just going out the door when they heard a male voice behind them say, "It seems red hair and black leather, my favorite color scheme."

            Turning, they saw Lt. Swersky standing there, an uncharacteristic smile on his face.  Liz walked towards him saying, "There's nothing in this world beats a '52 Vincent and a red-headed girl."

Faith looked on, baffled, as the two hugged.  Liz pulled back to look up at Swersky, "Sorry, Mike, but a '52 Vincent is a bit out of my range."

"Can't buy it for a song huh?"

            Liz groaned.  "That was bad, even for you, Mike."

            Lt. Swersky chuckled.  "I know."  He looked over at Faith.  "Yokas, how's the arm?"

            "It's okay, Boss."

            "You both better let me know tomorrow if your injuries are bothering you, you hear?"

            "Yes, sir."

            "Yes, dad," Liz teased.  Faith was still a bit shocked with the familiarity in which Liz addressed Lt. Swersky.  While watching the two chat for a minute she did realize that Liz only did it when it was just Faith and she or Sully and Davis present, not in front of the other officers.  Faith's respect for Liz grew.  Faith was shocked again when Lt. Swersky kissed Liz gently on the cheek.

            "Not bad for your first day with us, see you tomorrow?"

            "You bet.  Got a great partner, a wonderful supervisor, why wouldn't I be back?"

            Lt. Swersky smiled.  "Be careful going home.  That goes for you too, Yokas.  See you tomorrow."

            "Good night, boss."

            As he walked away Liz nudged Faith towards the door.  Once they stepped outside Faith asked, "Do I even want to know what that was about?"

            "What was about?"

            "It sounded like you two were quoting something to each other."

            Liz laughed, this time a deep laugh that made Faith smile.  "We were quoting a song to each other, "1952 Vincent Black Lightening" to be exact.  Your Lt. Swersky is a closet bluegrass and folk song fan."

            "Bluegrass?  Really?"

            "Yeah, sing a Del McCoury or Rhonda Vincent song to him and he goes crazy."

            "Wow!  That I would never have guessed."

            "Goes to show we all have our secrets, some more amusing than others."    Liz stopped and Faith realized they were standing next to a red Harley Davidson motorcycle.  Faith was going to comment on the bike when they heard sirens start.  They both turned to see an engine and an ambulance pull out from the fire station across the street, turning to head their way.  Faith gave a wave when they went by which was returned by a few of the firefighters.  "Which squad is that?"

            Faith turned back to her partner.  "Squad 55 and Adam 55-3.  There's a small rivalry between them and us but we get along pretty good."  Faith noted the stunned look on Liz's face.  "Something wrong?"

            Shaking her head, Liz put the key in the ignition of her bike.  "Naw.  I'd offer you a ride but I don't have my spare helmet with me."

            "That's okay, I'm not big on riding bikes."

            "Or the lesbian talk that would happen if you were seen riding with me?"

            "You get that too, huh?"

            "From time to time, even when I was married.  Just shows how ignorant and chauvinistic men can be."

            "Not all men."

            "No, not all men. There are a few good ones out there," Liz added with a smile.  "See you tomorrow?"

            "You bet." 

            Liz tucked her hair into her coat collar before putting her helmet on.  She started up the bike, the rumble of the engine loud in Faith's ears.  Liz gave Faith a small wave before backing up the bike then heading down the street.  Faith watched her go before walking towards the subway, her mind trying to absorb the events of the day.

~*~*~*~*~*~