Chapter 12: One Step Closer

After falling asleep in each other's arms and a rather 'more than friendly' kiss, the pair once again have work to do...whether they like it or not.

Terry's POV

My eyes opened at 6AM...whilst it was still dark, outside. That happened every morning...but this one was rather different. Fiona was fast asleep, resting her head on my chest. The sound of her light breathing...and the sight of the smile plastered on her face as she slept brought a quiet chuckle out from me. "Good morning, sleeping beauty..." I whispered, kissing her, softly on her forehead. I'd better not wake her...I imagine she'd be pretty unhappy about that...no matter who she was sleeping next to.

I slowly moved her body, placing her head against a pillow on the other side of the couch. Fiona stirred, somewhat...but didn't wake up. "Mmm...Terry..." she murmured, deep in her sleep. How nice...she mentioned me. I must be important, then. "Don't worry...I'm just getting up. We've got work in a few hours..." I whispered to her...hoping she could hear about my intentions. I picked up my jacket off the floor and went into the kitchen.

I turned on the tap and filled a small cup with some water...I'm sure Amy wouldn't mind that. "Oh...Morning, Terry." I heard Amy's voice coming from behind me. I must admit, it startled me...but I soon regained my composure. "Amy...I was just...leaving?" I told her. No doubt she would ask what I was still doing here. After all, she had no knowledge I'd stayed the night. "You don't have to leave, Terry. I'm not gonna bite you. It's fine...a friend of Fiona's can stay the night, no problem." she smiled at me. I breathed a sigh of relief.

Amy could have assumed...well...that me and Fiona...ahem...you know. Then, I noticed Amy's attire. A white tank top and some light blue pants...rather baggy. I had one eyebrow raised as if to say 'what are you wearing THOSE for?'. It's 6AM...very early to be fully clothed...unless you're me, of course. "Oh...I suppose you're wondering why I'm wearing this stuff. I do yoga...every morning...afternoon...and evening. It helps keep me 'balanced'." Amy explained.

Ah...of course! Why didn't I think of that, before? "I must try that, one day. I'm not as young as I once was. I could use a stretch or two...or two hundred." I chuckled. "You're funny, you know that? I'm glad Fiona has someone like you to talk to. It's the first time I've seen her being...well, chilled out. She's usually so...pissy, I suppose." Amy told me. Did I really have that effect on her? Enough of an effect to change her? Hmm...it's possible.

"Well, I've got to get going. Work in a few hours, you see. And...I must get home to change. Bye for now, Amy." I told her, leaving the kitchen...almost passing by Fiona, still sleeping on the couch. I knelt down, beside the couch, and run my fingers through her brown bangs. "Thanks for the kiss, last night...I...love you..." I whispered to her, being careful not to be heard by Amy. With that, I walked out of the front door, closing it, quietly.

Fiona's POV

I was awoken by various pokes and prods...mostly around my tummy area. Terry...you naughty boy! He can't keep his hands off me, can he? Not after last night...wow...THAT was an amazing kiss. "Fiona...Fiona...Wake up..." I could hear his voice, slightly muffled, as if he were underwater or some shit. My eyes opened and closed, getting used to the light coming from the apartment windows. Don't worry, Terry...I'm waking up. Still, the prods and pokes continued. Jeez...he really wants me to get up!

Then, I realised two things...one, Terry wasn't the one talking. And two...Amy was prodding me with the end of her hammer. My eyes shot wide open and I almost jumped off that couch. "Fucking hell, Amy! Don't poke me like that!" I yelled at her. "Oh, good...you're finally awake!" Amy had her hands on her hips and a serious look on her face. What was SHE looking so serious about?! She'd spent ages poking me with that hammer!

"You've got work in, like...10 minutes!" Amy dealt me a dose of reality...and it hit hard. SHIT! I'm gonna be late! "Where's Terry? Did he go, already?" I asked. I mean, I didn't mind being late...I always used to turn up late to everything. I wanted to know where Terry was. "Terry left...2 hours ago. Now, are you gonna get your butt in gear?!" Amy reminded me of what I needed to do.

After rushing around her apartment, getting freshened up and then running out the door, those 10 minutes had already passed. Actually...15 minutes had gone by...and I was only just leaving her apartment. Shit...I'm gonna be late. The Chief is gonna be pissed, I just know it. Well...he'd just have to put up with it. I enjoyed myself last night...and I deserve a nice long rest. Sue me!

Another 5 minutes passed by and I finally made it to CCPD HQ...and the Chief was waiting in my office. Here we go. I walked through the door...and was instantly greeted by a very nasty stare from the old bulldog. "Fiona...YOU'RE LATE!" he bellowed, causing the floor to shake and the door to rattle...almost off it's hinges. "Sorry, Chief. I was...delayed. It...er...won't happen again." I made my best apology. "It had better not. Now...to business. Whilst you were...DELAYED...we received word that there's some suspicious activity at the docks. Terrence...the map, if you please...NOW!" he once again bellowed.

Terry scrambled to lay out the map on the office table. "The docks are here...in the South of the city. Now...if Bryce is involved in trafficking...it's very likely that the docks are being used to bring in the goods. You two must investigate, report back...and make arrests, if necessary." the Chief explained. It made sense...shipping containers were one of the most common ways in which both drugs and people are stored. I doubt we would see Bryce there...but we might at least find an associate of his.

Terry's POV

We arrived at the docks, in the South portion of the city. The cries of seagulls...the smell of the sea air...it reminded me of places like Brighton and Scarborough back in the UK. Not a fish and chip shop in sight, however. Just crates...lots and lots of crates. Shipping containers, mostly green, stacked high...blocking out the sunlight. If anyone was trafficking, I'd say these containers were the ideal place to keep things that they didn't want anyone to see. Now...which one is it? There must be thousands of containers, here.

Dock workers could be seen walking around the place...but nobody seemed suspicious. On the contrary...they all looked like blue-collar workers...exactly what you'd expect to see. "Maybe we should ask the manager, around here? He might have seen Bryce..." Fiona suggested. "Good idea." I smiled at her. The manager's office wasn't easy to find...tucked away behind all these crates and containers.

I knocked on the steel door to the office...and the manager came to answer it. A gruff looking bear came to the door, wearing a bright yellow jacket...and a comparably tiny hard hat that didn't suit him in the slightest. "Excuse me, sir? Have you..." I began asking my question...but the manager didn't look pleased...nor did he sound it. "What do YOU want?! I'm very busy!" he snapped. Fiona placed her hand on his chest and pushed him into the office, with one quick move. The manager landed on a pop-up table...now broken in two. Wow...she's tough.

"Listen, pal! We're cops and we're asking if you've seen Senator Bryce! Rudeness won't help!" she snapped at him, grabbing him by the scruff of his neck. Now, I suppose you could see why I didn't want to wake her up, this morning. "OK, lady...just please don't...throw me around like that!" he sounded pretty terrified, actually. "So just tell me what I wanna know! Or else I'll break your nose like I broke your table!" she threatened.

"Yeah, I've seen Bryce! H-he was here last night! He wanted to know where container number 2183 was...yeah, that was it! Please let me go!" the manager begged. He was a large, brown bear...almost three times the size of Fiona...but he wasn't even a challenge for her. "Thanks, pal. Care to show us where that container is?" she released her hold on his neck...and the manager nodded, complying. She's got him by the balls...wow.

The manager led us through the maze of containers...constantly looking over his shoulder at Fiona...who gave him a dark stare. Every time she did that, he whimpered and turned away. "How did you do that? I mean...just push him! He's three times your size?!" I asked her, still in amazement of her strength. "Call it experience. I've handled bigger boys than him. It's all forcefulness...and a bit of raw strength." she answered, with a modest tone. "Will you marry me?" I muttered under my breath. She didn't hear me...thankfully.

"H-here it is!" the manager announced, standing in front of a large blue shipping container. However, it was padlocked...in three different places. It was clear someone didn't want us to get inside. "Can you open it?" I asked him. "Sorry...I don't have my cutters. They're back at the office. Maybe I should go get 'em?" the manager suggested...eager to get away from Fiona. "Screw your pussy cutters! Watch and learn, boys!" Fiona told us...facing the container. In seconds, she kicked all three padlocks...which unlocked them, sending them falling to the floor. "Wow..." I muttered in amazement...almost breathless.

End Of Chapter 12