Disclaimer: - I don't own any of the characters of The Shield, they all belong to Shawn Ryan and FX.
Trespass – Chapter 1.
Dutch and Claudette sat on opposite sides of the table in the breakroom, each intent on the pages of Claudette's dissected newspaper that they were reading. Claudette slowly eating a salad while Dutch unenthusiastically munched his way through a slightly stale chicken salad sandwich, while wishing he'd got a plain salad too. Dutch frowned slightly when Vic and Shane came in talking loudly shattering their peace,
"So they give us all like 2 hours notice that we have to leave for three days while they fumigate the place. So I've got all my shit stuffed into the trunk of my car and I have to find time to trawl around the city trying to find somewhere half way decent to stay." Vic stated with a sigh as he reached into the fridge for a bottle of water.
"Yeah, well like I said you know I'm a bit short of space right now, but you're welcome to camp out on the couch at my place." Shane offered.
Without thinking Dutch absently said,
"I've got a spare room you can use for a few days."
As he bit into his sandwich he suddenly realised what he'd said, shit he wondered where had that come from? The words seemed to have sprung out of the ether and shot straight out of his mouth totally bypassing his brain. What could he do, he couldn't take it back now that he'd offered. Hopefully no one had been listening to him and if he kept his head down and just carried on as if he'd not spoken he'd get away with it. He began to chew the piece of sandwich in his mouth and tried to look innocuous focusing on the sports section of Claudette's paper. Of course he had no such luck, after a surprised pause Vic said,
"Hey, thanks Dutchboy that's great. I've got my stuff in my car, you finish at eleven right?"
Dutch looked up at him and nodded, still chewing and trying to look enthusiastic.
"Great I'll follow you to your place in my car OK? See you at eleven." Vic said walking out with a grinning Shane before Dutch had a chance to respond.
Finally swallowing the now very unappetizing mouthful of sandwich Dutch looked up at an incredulous looking Claudette,
"Just don't say a word, it was a moment of madness." He told her.
"My lips are sealed son." Claudette smirked, looking down at her paper again.
Several hours later after a slow and boring shift Dutch and Claudette sat at their desks sorting through some overdue paperwork. Dutch had just opened up the last file he had to go through when Vic came by slapping him on the shoulder,
"Well Dutchboy it's eleven time to go, I'll see you out in the car park."
Dutch glanced down at the open file on his desk,
"Actually I just wanted to finish…" Dutch's voice petered out as he realised that Vic hadn't even slowed down, let alone listened to what he said, and had already gone, passing out of the doors on his way to the car park.
Dutch blew his cheeks out in frustration, then sighed in resignation as he closed the file and put it away in a draw of his desk, he could always do it tomorrow morning he thought. He opened another drawer and removed his gun and car keys, as he stood he could hear Claudette trying to stifle her laughter at the desk next to his. As he passed by her he paused and leant down towards her, in a quiet voice he said,
"The next time I play the Good Samaritan, shoot me."
As he walked out he had to smile slightly as he heard Claudette's laughter following him.
When he reached the car park Dutch found Vic was already in his car waiting, Vic waved and shouted,
"I'll follow you."
Dutch smiled and waved back as he got into his car and pulled away from The Barn. On the way home Dutch looked into his rear view mirror and saw Vic following along behind him, for a moment he wondered if he put his foot down if he'd be able to lose him on the way. Dutch laughed at himself and decided what was done was done, he'd just have to make the best of it.
The drive home was uneventful, and when they got to Dutch's house he helped Vic bring his stuff inside. After he'd given Vic a tour of the house assuring him that he was to help himself to anything he wanted, just as a good host should, he showed him the guest bedroom.
"Like I said make yourself at home, I'm kinda tired and think I'll just take a shower and go straight to bed." He told Vic.
"Yeah sure, look thanks a lot for this Dutch, I really appreciate it." Vic said.
Feeling a little ashamed of himself for his earlier thoughts Dutch answered,
"That's OK, its no problem."
"Well anyway thanks. Umm I think I'll unpack some stuff you know, and then I'll take a shower after your finished, if that's OK?" Vic replied looking slightly uncomfortable.
"That's fine, I'll see you in the morning," Dutch told him, turning away towards his bedroom.
Dutch collected his stuff from his room and returned to the bathroom for his shower. He finished quickly, aware that Vic would probably be waiting for his turn. He pulled on a tee shirt and jogging bottoms, brushed his teeth and left the bathroom.
"I'm finished," he called out to Vic. "I left some clean towels on the chair in the bathroom."
"Thanks," Vic called through the door of his room. "Goodnight."
"Oh yeah, goodnight." Dutch called back, escaping to his bedroom.
Lying in his bed Dutch could hear the shower running, it seemed strange for there to be someone else in the house, he'd gotten used to living on his own again after Lucy had left. Yawning he turned over pulling the comforter up over his shoulder and had dropped off to sleep before Vic had even finished his shower.
It seemed to Dutch that he'd only been asleep for an hour or so when something woke him up. Opening his eyes he saw a figure standing by his bed, puzzled for a second he remembered Vic,
"Remember the bathroom's right next to your room." He mumbled turning over and closing his eyes. However, he was startled to complete wakefulness in a second when a strange voice replied,
"Thanks that's good to know."
Dutch turned squinting his eyes against the light as his bedside lamp was switched on and found himself staring into the barrel of a gun.