Caveat: No claim on TE, I wish I had my own JD though. Just let me know if Creegan's too OOC, or Branca for that matter. I've only seen like...4 or 5 episodes of TE, so yeah, I immediately fell in love Thanks a lot for reading (which I think you are since you're in chapter five already). I hope there'll be a lot more TE fics to be created soon. Thanx also goes to all those who helped me with that co-ed volleyball thing...I've never heard of it, never went to a volleyball game, so please bear with me. Now onward we go!

- Heaven's Burning -

by Mia A. Ai-no-Tora

Chapter Five: "Fraternization"

"David, I..." Susan stood at the open door, a bag of Crispy-Creme donuts slung on one arm and she was looking from Creegan to Hallie who had turned in her seat to stare at her. The moment their eyes met it felt like a knife had just turned in her gut. "Oh...I see you're busy. I'll just come back--"

"No you won't." Creegan had stood and was already halfway toward her. "Besides you'd have probably polished off all the donuts by the time you do. Shame on you Susan - I thought you were on a diet...not that you need it, you're bound to be anorexic; do you feel ok?" She sent a fierce scowl his way which he totally ignored.

He reached out for the bag but managed to brush Susan's hand with his, making the woman-detective's eyes flash toward Hallie for the second time. She stepped back once. "David, you really shouldn't keep your guest waiting--"

Creegan snapped his fingers in recollection. "Oh that's right...Susan: Hallie Piper - the woman that got mobbed?" He motioned for the women. "And Hallie, this is detective Susan Branca, my partner." Susan smiled politely during the introduction, trying to ignore the rising of the hairs on the nape of her neck as she inclined her head toward the other woman. It was then that something caught her attention. At the mention of the words my partner, she barely noticed a look of...something - flash across Hallie's face. It was like a piece of Victoria's Secret lingerie - barely there, but it was - only a woman would know though of course she couldn't tell with David - he was something else.

Despite that, Susan walked forward. "I'm glad you're doing all right now Ms. Piper," She offered her hand as Hallie stood and shook it.

"My leg still hurts," Hallie replied curtly, a hard smile stretching her mouth as Susan abruptly let go of her firm grip. "But David took care of me at his apartment pretty good. Right David?"

Creegan's eyebrow went up only slightly. "Yeah..." What's this weird vibe I'm feeling? He thought as he glanced at Branca.

Said woman shrugged and grinned naturally. "David has a knack for that. He shot a man to save me one time - then it was later on that we discover he wasn't holding a gun but an ice-cream cone!" She chuckled, utterly amused. "Oh, but the guy was still bad news. He was a serial killer who lured little girls with his ice-cream truck all across the country. Never rely on the Old-McDonald song; trust me - you might die sooner than you think - I mean, not that you're a little girl or anything."

Creegan was looking at his partner, partly amused and partly confused as Hallie's social smile was waning. "That's funny. Well, I think I need to go - I was just on my way to the hospital."

"Need a ride? Want a donut?" Susan kindly offered but in the back of her mind she knew it was insulting to the woman especially when it came from her.

Hallie's expression turned snide. "No, no, that's quite all right. Thanks anyway. It was a ball meeting you."

"Likewise." said Susan, being utterly grateful for having the ability to lie.

Hallie picked up her handbag and slung her jacket over her right arm. She ambled toward the door what with her leg and all, pausing in front of Creegan and gazing up at him with an altogether sweetness that wasn't forced. "See you again? I'd really like to."

Meanwhile Susan was thinking how much her skirt reminded her of throw-up. David nonetheless got that impression throughout the whole charade as his eyes widened to look down at Hallie.

"Er...yeah. Sure."

The sweetness faded a bit. "All right, I'll be off then. " She glanced at Susan before walking out the door, a slight limp to her steps.

As soon as she was gone, Creegan instantly turned on Susan, who was at the moment about to walk out the door as well. He reached out and grabbed the bag of donuts, making her stop in her tracks with the eyes of a tiger protecting her territory. "What was that?" He asked. There was a smug mischievous curve on his mouth that she wanted to scrub off.

"What are you talking about? What was what?"

He motioned with his head toward the door. "With Hallie Piper just now. Don't lie."

Susan wanted to laugh at the interesting surname but instead answered with a derisive snort. "Lie? Why would I need to? I have absolutely no idea what you're getting at."

It was then that she knew she would regret it the next time he opened his big mouth. He leaned forward, their faces only inches apart. "You were jealous ... weren't you?" Every word intended full accusation thrown over her like a thick coat of paint.

His eyes twinkled underneath his collected eyebrows, his Adam's apple twitching as he confidently stared her down. Susan's lips pursed defensively as she looked at him, searching her brain for an appropriate comeback. "Wh-what the hell do you --"

"The moment you saw her your eyes - they flashed something animal, and --"

"You're joking, right?" Susan inserted, trying to sound bored. And anyway, it wasn't MY face that flashed something animal.

"Then you told her about the ice-cream perv with the Lolita-Complex," David moved along, his hands motioning hurriedly in the air. "About how I killed him because he was about to kill you just because she mentioned about my bringing her to my apartment. You instantly became defensive and I swear I could see your hackles rise." The grin transfixed on his face was bright and wide by now as he figured out what brought about the tension that clouded their earlier conversation in her office. "I get it Susan, really and I'm absolutely honored. I feel like a bubbly schoolgirl again."

Susan wanted to slap him for the nth time since their first meeting one another. If he wasn't so damn cute she would have. "You really are crazy!" She laughed, waving off the accusations with her hand. "Really, David. Jealous...ha, that's a good one. Oh poor detective, you'd like that wouldn't you..." She teased, bringing up a hand and patting his cheek and feeling his ever-apparent razor stubble beneath her hand. She caught his eye and wasn't quick enough to pull away when he reached up and closed his fingers around her own near his jaw, the tension growing serious.

"You're teasing me," he stated the obvious, his grin gone and was now serious. "Why Susan...?"

Her cheeks heated, her pulse quickening at his touch. Oh GREAT, this is just bloody great... This was so unlike her and she felt like kicking herself for ever touching him. She managed to keep her voice steady although deathly quiet. "Because you are a professional asshole. Because believe it or not I kid around too." She saw a muscle in his jaw twitch, and her hand in his was beginning to fall asleep so she tried to take it back, only he wouldn't let go. "David..." She was this close to losing it.

"If you were jealous, just tell me and I'll let go; we'll both let it go."

She paused, blinking up at him. "You're serious."

"Always." The corner of his mouth twitched from trying not to smile as he playfully enclosed both hands around hers just in case she tried to pull away. "Come on Susan, live a little of my world and taste the fresh martinis and rum 'n coke that are made up of honesty." He chuckled merrily at his own cleverness. She merely scowled.

"Exactly - I'd be lying if I said I was jealous then all you ever stood for would go down the drain," She tried to convince him with a sigh.

"Humor me," he urged again.

"This is unbelievable...!" Susan complained, trying to look behind him through the glass for someone like Enright to walk in. "Let me go! I'm not going to lie just so you can prove to yourself that you're so disgustingly attractive that every woman you come in contact with clamps down and adores you."

He thought for a moment. "Disgustingly attractive..." Blinking, his eyes widened in realization as though he had just cracked the case. "That's it!"

"What?" Was all Branca managed to say.

Creegan nodded vigorously managing to look even more boyish. "Disgustingly attractive! It's an oxymoron! (At that, Branca groaned out her impatience, rolled her eyes heavenward and wanted to sink into the floor.) Love those...especially one that describes me. Thank you Susan, I'll add that to my list of nicknames right alongside my own personal favorite: 'King of Eros.' I was talking about that with Hallie earlier." She hated it every time her face gave her away, and since he was holding her hand he immediately felt how tense she became at the mention of the other woman. Creegan said as much as he stared down at her in wonder. "Holy shit...you really were jealous."

Susan chose that moment to stomp on his foot as he let her go, watching as he cried out and stepped back before he was heartily booming with ridiculing laughter. "David, you seriously need to grow-up!" She held her head up high and marched toward the door, bag of donuts held protectively close to her.

"Hey... wait -" He snatched her forearm as he recovered from his laughter. "Why don't we go get some coffee or something? I could really use a donut right now."

"These weren't for you! I just came in here to see if you're done with that file report that was due last week!" She tugged for her arm back but once again he wouldn't let go.

"Oh really? And who were they for? Sanders that conniving Spartan?" He spat out his name with a bad aftertaste in his mouth.

Her mouth shot open, brows furrowing. "And I don't see why that's any business of yours. Conniving...you - you don't even know him, David."

"The guy is whacked."

"Like you aren't?"

"Oh, I'm sorry - that guy got shot in the head too?" He blinked away with his faux sympathy shining in his eyes. "How asinine of me to miss that bit of exclusive info. Us two should have a beer later on and trade insider stories on how his hell looked like or how long it took for the other guy to start breathing again - and I intentionally said 'hell' because you know he wouldn't exactly be the kind of guy to sprout wings no matter how much Redbull he drinks." Some part of his conscience told him to stop while he was already behind.

Susan bit her lip, partly from anger and partly from being subdued the way she was; nonetheless he knew he won that round. Now for round two: "Anyway, what I do know is that he chews with his mouth open and he always manages to leave a trail of Corn-Nuts like he was Hansel with a gun," He rolled his eyes. "And he even smells like Corn-Nuts. Ranch. Ranch Corn-Nuts, Susan. Would you really want to go around smelling like Ranch Corn-Nuts for the rest of your life?" Susan sighed heavily, quite fed up with his prattling on. "Don't tell me he's all simon-pure and altogether simpatico," He waggled the fingers of his free hand. "But that's not what I'm trying to get at."

Susan exhaled slowly, about ready for World War III as she ground out, "Enlighten me."

You really shouldn't have said that. He came closer and simultaneously pulled her arm to get her to step forward, leaned down and whispered into her ear, bringing shivery goose-bumps to her porcelain skin. "Fraternizing, are we Detective Branca...?" Dingdingdingdingdiiiiiing...who won that round, Susan?

She leaned away to look up at him, mystified as he casually stared back practically daring her to deny it. Wrenching out of his hold, she stated coldly, "No, we most certainly aren't. Never." And for the second time that week she walked out on him; this time it was in his office.

--

Rivers stepped back upon entering the doorway of Creegan's office, turning away casually as Susan marched past him in a huff and not even noticing he occupied the hallway at all. An unusual smile danced across his face as he peeked in at 'Crazy Creegan,' who was at the moment banging his head against the wall in repeated intervals.

Creegan, with his head smarting, inadvertently heard the all-too familiar steady rock beat from Black Sabbath in his head as he continued his self-applied punishment.

--

Notes: I love that line, "Would you really want to go around smelling like Ranch Corn-Nuts for the rest of your life?" LOL! Don't get me wrong though, I love Corn-Nuts. Anyway, I thought 'fraternizing,' according to my mind was illegal association between colleagues in the FBI or some other profession such as. Well, I looked it up in my dictionary stating: "fraternize: to associate in a friendly way." Well, assume here that fraternization means something backhand-slap worthy for both Creegan and Branca, as it was with Mulder and Scully in the X-Files. I've got this story all mapped-out by the way unless I decide to change some minor things. This is a DC/SB fic by the way so turn away right now if you don't like that pairing - too bad! evil cackle

Thanx to the lovely reviewers who make it happen!

Alamo Girl: Wow, thanx so much for that! That really means a great deal to me - I mean, I really tried to get Creegan's character to act the way he's supposed to, what with his silliness and not even trying to be. :D I'm glad I got you hooked. I hope you won't be disappointed.

Crimson Alessa: 'Course I'm gonna continue! Well, now anyways lol! Thanx for loving the story.

Abbie Carmichael: Thank you very much Abbie! I'm glad you love.

Self Injured: Hey, where'd your Susan ficcy go?? I was searching for it...if you took it out please don't! PLEASE continue it!! lol Anyway, YES, thank you so much about the co-ed thing! I fixed that earlier today just as soon as I got your review. I feel like kicking myself lol! I've just never heard of 'co-ed volleyball,' so yeah...you helped majorly. Thanx!

Lizabella: lol! I do know what volleyball is just not 'co-ed.' Thanx for your comment though, and that you're jumping from General hospital to Touching Evil! I hope you'll really begin to like this series (hint: Creegan's (Jeffrey Donovan) hot hot hot! haha). Thanx for reading.

Rebbeca: Ah yes, the 'co-ed' thing. HAHA! Okidoke, I think I've just fixed it. sigh I feel so dumb...but thanx so much for your comments! Twice too! Wow...lol. Thank you! I'm trying not to get the reader too attached with Hallie Piper because she's gonna be one mean villian in the upcoming chapters. Oops, did I write that?

Anyone else I forget - well, it's only because of FF.net and how slow they are I'm only kidding, I love FF.net (don't hurt me!!). See ya next chappy (this time with a case to work on).

--