December 1st, 2002

Another day at work. Jimmy hated having three days off and then going straight into work for a very long day. There was one good thing happening today. Taylor was coming back. It was always great to be working with you're extremely hot partner. Jimmy walked up the stairs with a large yawn. Him and Joey had stayed up late watching a monster movie on TMC. He walked to his locker slowly.

"I get him this weekend right?" Kim stood next to his locker. Jimmy nodded.

"It's your turn." He said. Kim smiled slightly.

"Great. I have some neat things planned out." His ex-wife said.

"I'm sure he'll have fun." Jimmy turned around to see Alex coming up the stairs. His face immediately brightened. "Hey there, Crash." Alex chuckled.

"Hey there, Ass." She walked to her locker; "nothing changed while I was gone did it?"

"D.K. changed his socks. That's about it." Jimmy winked. Alex chuckled and hung up her jacket. It certainly will be nice to have her back already. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm ready to fight some fires." Alex's blue eyes twinkled as she smiled. She had the bluest eyes Jimmy had ever seen. One could get lost in them. "Jimmy?"

"What?" He asked as he came back to reality.

"Are you okay? You were staring at me." Alex self-consciously tucked her hair behind her ears. Jimmy smiled at her.

"I just missed you." He said. Alex smiled softly at him.

"I'm sure others kept you company." She said.

"Sure but you're the best kind of company, Taylor and you know it." He chuckled.

"I know." Alex winked as the bell rang.

* * *

"His pulse is thready." Alex grunted. She was half in the car that was wrapped around the tree. Icy roads can be hell in New York. Alex grabbed a collar from Carlos and put it around the man's neck. "He's too close to use the Jaws of Life." Alex slid out.

"Let's use the bolt cutters and remove the door." Jimmy said. Alex nodded and glanced down the road. There were no speeding car or anything. Jimmy ran back to the car and started to pry the door off. Slow, but surly, the door came off. Doc and Carlos immediately pulled the man out.

"You'll be fine, Sir." Carlos mumbled. Jimmy looked at Alex. She was staring at the road.

"Taylor." He touched her back. She jumped slightly, "Alex, it's just me." She looked at him.

"I can see that." Alex muttered and walked back to the engine. Jimmy sighed deeply and followed her.

"You okay?" He asked. Alex nodded.

"I'm just dandy." She said. Jimmy shook his head.

"I don't believe you." He crossed his arms. Alex stared at him. She groaned and flung open the door.

"Just forget it." She said, "I need a drink. You want to go get a few after work?"

"A few drinks with you?" Jimmy smiled. "I suppose so."

* * *

Alex threw back her head and drank a shot. She shook her head and cough.

"Lord have mercy!" She slammed the glass down. Jimmy chuckled.

"Enjoying yourself, Taylor?" He asked.

"Oh yes." She smiled, "It's been like two months since I had a drink. These are hitting me hard."

"Maybe you should slow down" Jimmy suggested, "I only have a slight buzz."

"Major buzz here." She giggled. Jimmy sat back and laughed. He had seen Alex drunk a couple of times before, but she was extra fun tonight. Maybe it was because it was only the two of them and not all the boys there with them. He watched as Alex flicked her hair off of her shoulders.

"A major buzz is nice sometimes." He said, "We'll walk home tonight."

"It's against the law to drink and drive." Alex said, "Seen too many people die that way."

"Yes we have." He said, "Can I ask you a question?"

"You jus did." She chuckled, "But go ahead."

"You and Davis are over right/?" He asked. Alex shrugged.

"I suppose so." Alex said sipping her beer. "All I was is a boyfriend who'll treat me good, ya know? Ty treated me good, but it's just...like sometimes he didn't want to admit he was dating me or something…. Why don't men like me enough to stay?" Jimmy sighed deeply as he looked at her.

"Because they're too blind to see how terrific of a woman you are." He said. Alex smiled at him.

"You think I'm terrific?" She asked. Jimmy nodded.

"Very terrific." He said. Alex blushed slightly.

"We should get going. The room is starting to spin." She said. Jimmy chuckled and threw money on the table.

"Let's go then."

"I think…I think I need help." Alex giggled. Jimmy took her soft hand and hauled her up to her feet. He slipped an arm around her waist before she could fall. She had the smallest waist. She fit perfectly in his arm. Together they walked out. Alex dragged her feet slightly as Jimmy led her to her house.

"I'm going to have a killer hang over in the morning." Alex chuckled Jimmy nodded in agreement.

"Yours will be worse than mine." Jimmy chuckled as he helped her up the stairs of her home. Alex pulled her keys out of her pocket.

"I had a great time tonight, Jimmy." Alex smiled at him, "We need to do this more often, you know. Just the two of us."

"I would like that." Jimmy said as he stared into her eyes. "Maybe Saturday night or something."

"Maybe." Alex said. Jimmy licked his lips. Why did his heart race when he looked at her? Jimmy leaned down and pressed his lips to his partners. God, her lips were softer than he had expected. As soon as his lips touched hers, Alex immediately sobered up. Her own pulse quickened. She was kissing Jimmy Doherty. She had never thought about him in that way before. Feeling his tongue start to trace her lower lip startled her. She wasn't ready for their relationship to change all because they drank too much. Alex put her hands on his chest and pulled away. "Jimmy…."

"Sorry. I couldn't wait any more," He said. Alex shook her head.

"You should have asked." She opened her front door. Jimmy felt like a complete ass. She didn't want him the same way he wanted her. "I'll see you tomorrow maybe, all right?" He nodded.

"Okay." Jimmy said softly.

"Bye." Alex quickly went into her house and shut the door. Jimmy cursed loudly. Boy did he fuck up. He shouldn't have kissed her. He shouldn't have let his emotions guide him. He hoped he didn't fuck anything up.