I thought today's anniversary would be a great time for a new story. Well, not new, this is an oldie but goodie. Settled in the early, early days of their partnership, as both men get to know each other a little more each day. Not too many of our familiar characters will be round yet, but plenty others to fill the gap. So grateful for this show and all the amazing people who came together to create it- as well as all the loyal fans who keep things going.
Breakfast.
The most important meal of the day- for regular folks anyway.
But today would be the day, he just knew it. The stars had aligned in his favor, offering light traffic during his morning commute and a roadside vendor within a few blocks of the Hall of Justice Building, stocking one of his favorite treats.
Steve could virtually taste the savory peanut butter on that toasted bagel, feeling the residual heat as he carefully pulled it out of the wax paper wrapper and set it on his desk. Arriving early for once would allow him a head start on today's casework, possibly even a couple undisturbed hours of peaceful research before the phones would ring off the hook again.
Well, one could always hope.
Taking off his beige sportscoat and sliding into his chair, he casually looked around the bullpen. Only a few tired faced manned the desks at homicide this morning, and even his partner's office was still empty.
Steve took a sip of coffee and held it in his mouth for a few seconds, long enough to taste the strong beans that could eat the rust off an old pickup truck. When he swallowed, he could feel the revitalizing liquid enter his stomach and warm his core.
Yep, it was going to be a good morning.
Scanning his desk for any important messages, Steve's eyes settled back onto the bagel. He knew he was taking a chance holding off on eating it, but he'd barely woken up and his system wasn't ready for solid food yet.
Soon though. Very soon…
Not long after he sat down, a confident set of footsteps crossed the bullpen behind him, signaling the arrival of a certain Lieutenant.
Steve waited until they slowed down by his desk, then came to a complete stop. Sensing Mike's presence rather than seeing him, he waited for the Lieutenant's warm hand to squeeze his shoulder before looking up.
"Good morning! You're finally in."
"Well good morning, sunshine.", Mike replied cheekily and pretended to check the time on his wristwatch, "Aren't we early?"
Returning the broad grin, he leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms behind his head, letting out a satisfied sigh.
"You got that right. For once, I thought I'd give you a hard time for being late."
"Late? Me?", Mike's bright blue eyes shot open in disbelief, "Oh Buddy boy, are you ever wrong."
"What do you mean, I am wrong? It's almost seven-thirty. According to your schedule, you're late."
Grinning smugly, Mike crossed his arms over his chest, visibly enjoying the moment, before shaking his head and clearing his throat.
"I would have been here at six but I got a call about a floater on my way in. So, I checked out the scene, then I went to eat breakfast at Tony's, read the paper, scoffed at the baseball scores, laughed at the comics and then I decided to head downtown seeing if you'd made it out of bed yet."
Losing the grin on his face in an instant, Steve frowned, much to his partner's amusement.
"Come on, let's head downstairs to see if Harrison found something to identify our floating John Doe yet."
Steve hesitated for a moment, stealing a glance at his bagel that was beckoning him to stay.
So close…he'd been so…close.
Noticing the uneaten treat, Mike gestured over to the elevators.
"You can eat your breakfast down at the morgue if you want. We gotta get going. There's a body waiting for us."
"No…no…that's alright." Steve mumbled disheartened, but eventually couldn't help but chuckle at the irony of it all.
Grabbing his sportscoat, badge and service revolver, he followed his partner down the hallway with a smiling headshake.