Disclaimer: I still don't own Law and Order Criminal content or any of it's characters. I wish I did, but alas I do not. I also do not own Ice, since she happens to own herself because she's my awesome Canadian friend who better read this chapter. I do, however, own myself(Katie) and my beautiful beautiful Adrian Night. I also own the rights to the, "Pink is the new 9" shirt since it's a realy shirt I made for my Canadian friend Ice 'cause I'm cool like that.

Goren had taken the rest of the week off. During those 6 days he had taken a break and done things he hadn't had time to do for the longest time. When he returned to work that Monday, he was feeling refreshed and had successfully buried his problems deep within him. Entering the office, his gaze switched to Eames's desk, and a frown instantly crossed his lips. Sitting in HIS spot across from HIS partner was Adrian Night.

Bobby's stuff no longer occupied the desk, but had instead been put on the rickety desk behind the cement pillar. It was only paperwork, but it still made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end and his blood boil. Who did Adrian think he was? He hadn't realized he had stopped moving and was staring at the desk until Mike Logan walked up behind him and set a hand on his shoulder.

"Bobby! Good to have you back." he stated, blinking as Goren jumped and immediately pulled away from him.

"Don't...touch me..." he muttered before walking over to Eames's desk. She looked up at him, slight surprise playing in her eyes. All in all, she had been worried about her partner, but hadn't been able to get over feeling guilty for what she had said.

"Hey Bobby." she greeted softly, offering him a slight smile, one of which he didn't return. Bobby seemed to totally ignore her as his gaze switched to Adrian.

"May I ask what you're doing in my desk?" he inquired, trying to keep a level voice.

"Yeah, you may." Night answered, smirking. "The Captain said I could have your desk while you were gone."

"Well I'm back now, so mind moving?" Goren questioned.

"No, that's not what I meant. I guess you just misunderstood." the younger detective stated, running a hand through his hair. "I meant to say that the Captain gave me your desk. For good. Plus, he doesn't have any cases for you to be working on right now, just some idle paperwork. Alex," he paused, allowing Goren to realize that he was allowed to use Eames's first name, "and I are working on a really important case right now anyway. We need to be close."

Goren wanted to sock the arrogant boy right on the spot, but he restrained himself.

"What's wrong Goren? Feeling agitated? Unbalanced? You gonna let your emotions take a hold for once?" Adrian questioned, but what Bobby didn't know, was that he was the only one who could hear him. To everyone else, Adrian hadn't said a word.

That simple statement sent the disturbed detective over the edge. With his fist clentched, he socked Detective Night right there and then, watching as the young detective fell backwards, acting surprised as he clutched his face.

"Goren!" Alex exclaimed in a scolding manner. "What the heck did you do that for?" she jumped up from her chair and hurried over to Adrian, kneeling down beside him and helping the younger man to sit up. For a moment, his other eye was revealed, but only Bobby caught site of it. He froze, and could have sworn that Adrian had smirked at him. Before anyone could grab him, Goren turned, dropping his binder before dashing out of the room.

Eames was too busy tending to Adrian to chase after her partner. Mike wasn't though, and quickly bolted out after Goren. He paused, looking around, before finally spotting the other detective leaning against the wall, panting, a hand on his forehead.

"Goren?" Mike questioned softly, frowning. "You alright?" it was obvious he wasn't, but he might as well ask.

"No, no I'm not. Do I look fine to you?" he muttered and slid down the wall into a sitting position on the ground, pulling his knees up to his chest as best as he could.

"What's wrong? I've never seen you like this. You usually keep such a level head..." the other male crouched down by Goren, imitating Bobby's usual head cocking as he tried to make eye contact with him.

"Adrian Night is what's wrong." he muttered.

"Wow, he's really getting to you isn't he." Logan stated, frowning.

"Yes, yes he--" Goren was interupted though as Deakins approached.

"Logan, get back to your desk. Goren, get up." he stated, watching Mike leave before holding out a hand, offering to help Goren up. Bobby didn't accept it, and stood up on his own, frowning.

"You going to scold me too?" he questioned, watching the Captain.

"Yeah, yeah I am. Come on, walk with me." Deakins stated. Both him and his detective exited the building, walking down the street. "What's gotten into you Goren?" he asked after they had walked a few blocks. Bobby didn't answer, which caused Deakins to sigh in an irritated manner.

"Come on Bobby, you've got to talk to me. Why did you hit him? He didn't say anything offensive." the captain murmured, watching Goren.

"Yes he did. Didn't anyone hear him mock me? He was bothering me, telling me I was unstable..." Goren frowned and looked to Deakins. "Please tell me someone heard him."

"Last thing anyone heard was him filling you in on what happened, and that him and Eames needed to be close. Then there was about a minute of silence before you punched him." Deakins answered, slightly concerned.

"No...he said other things. I heard him." Bobby answered, seeming frightened.

"It's your word against the word of roughly 20 people in the office who were listening in. You were theo nly one who heard Adrian say anything else..." he trailed off, sighing as Bobby turned to look at him.

"So you think I'm crazy?" Goren questioned softly.

"No...I'm just saying the odds are against you." Deakins replied, watching his top detective with concerned eyes. "I'm worried about you Bobby." he used Goren's first name to make the conversation a bit more personal.

"Well don't be." the detective muttered, stepping away from Deakins. "I think I'm going to take the rest of the day off...if you don't mind."

"Go ahead. Logan and Barek can handle our pending cases." the captain replied, watching Goren.

"I'll be back tomorrow." Bobby stated.

"Only if you feel up to it." Deakins commented.

"I'll feel up to it." Goren answered. "Good day Captain." and with that, he turned, leaving Deakins standing alone on the sidewalk.

Sure, he felt bad about acting that was around Deakins. He knew his Captain was just trying to help, but right now he didn't need that. Right now, all he wanted was for Adrian Night to drop off the face of the earth, and to make amends with Eames. He continued walking down the street, hands shoved in his pockets. He tensed immediately as someone tugged at his arm, pulling him slightly in to an ally. Acting quickly, he pulled his gun and held it to the person's head.

"Woah there." a young woman stated, holding up her hands. "Calm down cop-boy, I come in peace." The young woman looked to be about 20 years old and was dressed in a pink shirt with blue words on it spelling out, "Pink is the new 9". She also wore a pair of form fitting dark blue jeans. Her brown hair hung down around her shoulders, blue eyes gleaming.

"Who are you?" Bobby questioned, putting away his weapon once he realized she didn't pose a threat.

"My name's Ice." came her simply reply.

"No really, I want your real name." he stated, frowning.

"Ice is my real name." came her retort as she crossed her arms over his chest.

"Her name is Julia." another female stated as she came up beside her friend. She was younger, but taller than the other female. Short brown hair was tied back in a stubby pony tail, brown eyes gleaming behind her blue rimmed glasses. Unlike her friend, her clothes were much darker. She wore a black shirt with a dark blue, long sleeved undershirt. The only jewelry that she wore was a silver watch around her left wrist, and a black studded dog-like collar around her neck. Her pants were a dark army green with large cargo pockets, one of which had her cd player in it.

She removed the headphones from her ears, allowing them to fall and rest at her neck.

"Katie!" the older woman cried out, obviously not pleased that she had given Goren her real name.

"Oh hush." she scolded lightly, rolling her eyes good naturedly as she looked to Bobby. "As I said, her name is Julia, but she goes by Ice."

"Ok..." Goren trailed off, frowning as he noticed the younger of the two had slightly pointed teeth that were visible when she grinned. "Who...are you two? What do you want?" he inquired, a bit unsettled.

Katie noticed his reaction to them, and how nervous he had suddenly gotten.

"Katie Cardwell at your service." the said person stated, giving him a mock bow before holding out her hand for him to shake.

Goren shook her hand a bit nervously, and could have sworn her fingernails felt like claws for just a moment as she let them graze over his palm.

"You've got a good handshake." she pointed out, smiling as her hand returned to her side.

"Katie, I think you're scaring him." Ice murmured, brow quirking.

"Meh. I'm a very scary person, 'specially with my set of teeth." she smirked, which caused Goren to take a step backwards.

"Anyway, mind telling me what you two want?" he questioned.

"Sure, we'll tell you." Katie answered. "As long as you take a little walk with us."

Author Notes: Cliff hanger 'cause I gotta go to my play preformance(Citizens rock). Sorry it took me forever to get this chapter out. I'm a little shaky on where I want to take this. I don't want to make it too fantasy oriented and such, but I've already started drifting that way. I need reviews so I know what my readers want! So please please please review for me my beauties!