'Tanis, wait - please!' Steve called, coughing as he struggled to regain his breath. Running in this weather was hard work, sure took it out of a guy.
Taking pity on him, she stopped and turned. Arms folded she regarded him coolly, ignoring the wind that whipped at her hair and the rain than ran in rivulets down her cheeks.
'Look whatever I said, I'm sorry okay' he panted. Hunched over, with his hands on his knees, he tried valiantly to catch his breath. She didn't answer. Steve looked up and offered her a sheepish half smile 'Really sorry?' he tried.
She let out a breath, obviously struggling to keep calm 'Steve' she said finally 'do you have any idea how hard it's been for me to get accepted at work'.
'What?' he was confused, where was all this coming from?
'It's taken me years to get established on the force, to get accepted as an equal. Do you know how many times I got turned down for promotions, just because I'm a woman?'
Now it was becoming clearer. 'Tanis' he said firmly 'I think you're a great cop, better than most of the guys at the station, if not all of them'.
She paused caught off guard 'You do?' she said in surprise
'I do'.
'Then why won't you trust me to patrol on my own?' she asked 'You'd leave Turner or McBride in a second and you know it'.
Steve swallowed, suddenly embarrassed – why did he find this so hard? He looked down at the raging torrent of the sidewalk at his feet and took a deep breath 'Well may be I don't care about Turner or McBride the way I care about you' he said finally.
He looked up hesitantly, his eyes meeting hers 'It's not easy for me you know, seeing you putting yourself in danger every day, risking your life' he paused 'and then there's your involvement with the task force, I just worry that ..' he trailed off lamely 'I just worry' he said softly.
She looked at him, her eyes challenging 'I'm a cop Steve, it's what I do – it's what we do. I head up the task force and I have done for 3 years and so far I've done a damn good job'. She paused, an air of defiance in her posture 'I'm gonna keep on doing a good job Steve. If this relationship is gonna work, we're both gonna have to accept that'.
He let out a breath 'I know and I'm trying, but cut a guy some slack will ya?' He sneezed again and groped tiredly for his handkerchief.
Tanis watched him for a moment and then a soft smile tugged at her lips 'C'mon' she said suddenly, griping his arm and pulling him forwards.
'Where are we going now?' he asked completely bemused and still dabbing ineffectually at his streaming nose.
'I think it's time you got some TLC' she said simply
'Huh?' Steve said
'I worry about you too ya know'. She grinned at him 'so cut a girl some slack will ya?'
***
Biting down on his chilli cheese dog, ten minutes later, Steve savoured the enticing flavours that were spicy enough to permeate even his flu-dulled taste buds. He sighed with satisfaction and Tanis grinned 'Good huh?' she asked
'Oh yeah' he confirmed through a mouthful. Wiping off the tomato sauce from his chin and fingers with his paper napkin, he swallowed the remains of the hotdog and stuffed the last few fries in his mouth. 'Now this kinda TLC I could get used to' he said with a grin 'This is almost as good as the food we serve at Bob's'.
'You know this place is a favourite haunt of cops on the beat' Tanis said. She grinned 'I just figured when in Rome …'
Steve nodded appreciatively 'Good call'.
Seated across from him, hands wrapped around a huge mug of coffee for warmth, Tanis smiled – okay so maybe taking a quick break in the local diner wasn't gonna make a whole lotta difference, but Steve was definitely looking a little better.
'I'm glad to see you still have your appetite' she observed wryly, as he reached over to scoop up the remains of the hot dog and fries that were sitting on her plate.
'Hey!' he protested with a grin 'Can't let good food like this go to waste'. He stuffed her fries in his mouth and began chewing 'You know I might get another one' he said thoughtfully.
Tanis raised her hands in defeat, then settled back more comfortably, inching as close to the wall heater by their table as she could. They were both still soaked, if they weren't careful, they really would end up with pneumonia. As Steve motioned to the waitress to order a second helping, Tanis glanced around, taking in her surroundings properly this time. Her initial, rather superficial perusal had been overshadowed by the need to get warm and dry. Upon closer inspection, 'Suzie's Diner' was just as she'd expected. With the feel of a mid west truck stop, 'Suzie's' was the kinda place you'd pass through on your way to some place else.
They could have been in any one of a number of towns, these kinda places cropped up all over. In a certain respect she found 'Suzie's' kinda homey. Sure the faded Christmas decorations were tacky, the selection of 'holiday favourites' on the juke box were a little hokey and that really was sawdust on the floor, but at least it had character and no one was checking designer labels at the door. She guessed the beer would be good and a brief look at the chalk-board above the bar told her it was cheap too. She smiled softly. Maybe they could come back one night when they weren't on duty, let the conducive atmosphere work it's magic on their fledgling relationship?
As the waitress delivered Steve's order, Tanis signalled for a refill of coffee. She wasn't surprised to see that besides the waitress, she was the only woman in the joint. It was definitely a club for the boys, but then she'd always been one of the boys hadn't she? She picked up her coffee, noticing as she did so that the formica topped tables were old and worn. She didn't care, it added character.
For a Thursday night in the middle of a storm, the place was busy, but then it was New Year's Eve – or at least it had been. A quick scan of the perimeter told her that plaid was a favourite with the rest of the clientele and - she smiled, some were even sporting Stetsons. She was acutely aware that she was the object of more than one interested glance, but she could handle it, and if she couldn't, Steve sure could. Cold or no, he was trained in hand-to-hand combat and had the muscles to make most perps think twice about trying anything. Worst case scenario, she had her badge and gun to fall back on, but she hoped it wouldn't come to that, not tonight. They were both too tired to play games.
Idly she wondered how long the floods were gonna last. So many people had lost their homes already. She knew Steve was worried about his father's beach fronted home – boy this was no time for a place with an ocean view! Surreptitiously she stole a glance at him. Even with a cold he looked mighty fine – chiselled jaw, honed physique and those killer baby blues. If she was honest with herself, it was the first good relationship she'd had in a while, a long while.
Only the shadow of the task force lurked to blight them, a constant spectre at the feast. She was no fool, she knew Steve hated her involvement; he'd even turned down a personal request from the Chief to be involved himself. Steve liked to deal in black and white – the task force was definite shades of grey. She could see his point; sometimes it was a little shady. But if that's what it took to see LA Crime Lords behind bars, well then she could deal with shady. She just hoped their relationship could.
'So how'd you find out about this place?' Steve asked suddenly, breaking into her thoughts. He'd finished his second chilli cheese dog and was leaning back in his chair, hands folded comfortably across his chest and a characteristic half smile playing across his face.
'Turner and McBride' she said reluctantly, not wanting to break his good mood. His response was just as she'd anticipated.
'Now why doesn't that surprise me?' Steve said grimly 'Don't tell me, this is where they've been seeing out their shift when they patrol this route.'
'Okay I won't tell you' she said.
'Its guys like that give the force a bad name' he groused.
'I know it, you know it …' she trailed off shrugging 'Whatcha gonna do?' Steve grunted irritably 'You're right what can we do?'
'Forget them' she said firmly 'Now c'mon' she said, attempting to haul him to his feet 'We stay here any longer and we'll be as guilty as they are'.
He groaned, resisting the pull 'You're tough sergeant' he joked 'real tough'
'You'd better believe it'.
Dropping his hand, she zipped up her jacket and turned up the collar, shivering as she braced herself for the weather's next onslaught. Pushing her chair back underneath the table she signalled for the bill and reached for her purse. Steve shook his head 'My treat' he offered.
'Okay', she allowed 'But next time dinner's on me'.
'Deal.'
Replacing her purse, she warmed her hands on the heater one last time and took a deep breath.
'Okay' she sighed resignedly 'time to hit the street'. She turned towards the door.
Steve followed more slowly, stretching and yawning widely before levering himself up from his seat. He too was loathe to brave the weather again. The warmth of the diner, the delicious smell of frying onions, hot coffee on tap – tonight 'Suzie's' really was a port in a storm. The thought of striking out once more into torrential rain really didn't appeal.
As Tanis headed for the door, he watched her back view appreciatively and let out a heavy sigh. What he wouldn't give to while away another hour here, talking, teasing and then …… Tossing some crumpled bills on the table he shook his head wryly, who was he kidding? As much as he hated to admit it, deep down he knew that getting some sleep was all he was good for tonight. He was dead on his feet. He rolled his eyes – Steve Sloan choosing sleep over the company of a beautiful woman? He really must be sick!
Tiredly he pulled on his jacket, thrusting one arm through, before struggling to find the sleeve for the other. Somehow he'd gotten tangled; the more he struggled the more the sleeve eluded him. His frustration mounted, tiredness increasing his irritability.
And then she was behind him, trying to contain her amusement 'Need a hand?' she offered.
'Thank you' he groaned, finally admitting defeat, as she deftly helped him into the unco-operative sleeve.
'You know you really should be in ….' she began, but was interrupted by his sneeze, swiftly followed by a fit of coughing.
She raised her eyebrows at him, hands on hips, her expression mirroring one he'd seen on his father's face fairly regularly in the last couple of days.
'Don't say it' Steve said sheepishly, groping for his handkerchief.
'Would it do any good if I did?' she asked dryly.
'Soon as this shift is done I promise I'll go home and go straight to bed' he said wearily.
As he pulled the handkerchief free, a pocketful of loose change came with it, scattering across the floor. Steve groaned again and Tanis smiled sympathetically
'It's just not your night is it?'
He smiled tiredly and gave a shrug, as they both bent to retrieve the change. And that was when the bomb went off.
TO BE CONTINUED …….