Author's Note: You've been waiting for this. Trust me. Oh, and angst, lots of Mike angst.
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Victims of Fate
Chapter Twenty Three
Prompt: Baby, It's You
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Mike sat on the couch next to Carolyn and handed her a beer, "I don't think I've told you about Max." Mike popped the top and sighed, "Max Greevey was my partner back at the two-seven, my first partner. He basically taught me everything about being a detective."
"He…we were nothing a like. Guy was the straightest arrow I'd ever met, and he had the best kids. Great wife too, real sweet heart. One night, he's working overtime, Max did that a lot. He had three kids to take care of, so, he's working over time. And…and he was gunned down."
He turned his head to look at Carolyn. She was studying him, probably profiling him.
Let her, he thought, might help her understand, and went back to talking to his beer bottle, "I still visit his family from time to time. My next partner was Phil Cerreta, big out-going guy. Liked opera. He had an even bigger family than Max. He was shot too. Didn't die, but he couldn't work a beat anymore. Got sent to another precinct to ride a desk."
"You get it now, Carolyn? My partners and guns never end well. I don't want to see you riding a desk and I definitely don't want to carry your casket. Let me be the first through the door, let me handle the crazies. Not because I don't think you can take them, but because I…I couldn't take what might happen to you," Mike finished in a whisper. Carolyn very carefully set her beer down, then took his and set it down next to hers.
"Mike," She said looking at her hands, "I wasn't completely honest with you. What I said…outside your door, it's true, but…but it's not the whole truth." Mike frowned at her, puzzled at her words. Then she laid a hand against his cheek and kissed him.