A/N: I sincerely apologize that this update took so long. When we finished our room, we went to the Dominican for a week, so I'm back now and ready to write! I know some of you were surprised by how quickly they hooked up, and I agree with you. In all honesty, Deacon isn't the type to do that. We would have the slowest burn of all slow burns...and that's just not my style! I hope you all continue to enjoy the story anyway and thank you for the awesome reviews! :)

When Reagan awoke, she wasn't the least bit surprised to find the other side of her bed empty. A small part of her had hoped Deacon would be there, warming the cool sheets with his lean, muscular body. She couldn't remember much from those early morning hours—she'd fallen right asleep—but they hadn't even talked afterward, which made everything that much more awkward.

Running on only a few hours of sleep, Reagan knew she needed coffee to get through this rough morning, especially if she was going to process what had happened between her and Deacon. She rolled out of bed, pulled on her underwear, and padded into the kitchen as she slipped into a wrinkled t-shirt. Turning on the coffeemaker, she got it brewing just in time to notice a slip of paper on the counter by the fridge.

She picked it up slowly, unsure if she really wanted to read it. The handwriting was legible and crisp. Unique for a man, but so obviously Deacon.

Cassie,

I don't regret what we did. We both knew it was going to happen, but now that we've gotten it out of our systems, it's time to move forward and get serious. We need to function as coworkers. We're part of something that's much bigger than us. I consider you a friend and, for the greater good, that's really all we should be.

-Deke

"Well, okay then," she murmured to herself. And yet again, so much for the first name basis.

She set down the note and took a deep breath. She understood where he was coming from, the whole bit about being involved in something bigger than them, but the line about getting it out of their systems did not please her. She'd been under the impression they'd made a special connection that went beyond one night.

Reagan's body began to protest such heavy thoughts without a single drop of caffeine to help it out. As she poured a cup of the strong coffee and took a sip, she realized she had no idea how she would face Deacon at work today. They had really made a mess of things. If she could just keep her cool and act like her feelings hadn't come into play, then maybe he would think they were on the same page, that he hadn't gotten to her...which was a complete lie.

There could be time later on for a relationship, but it was too soon to say. She certainly wouldn't bet on it or carry a torch for him. He'd made it known how he felt. She'd just look like a lovesick fool if she did those things.

Deciding that she'd had enough reflection time—and that it wasn't getting her anywhere—Reagan finished her coffee and changed into her running gear. She hit the beach, only going three miles instead of her usual four. The sun began its ascent over the Pacific Ocean, the beautiful sight filling her with hope for the new day—something she desperately needed.

When she returned home, she took a quick shower, got ready, and then headed into work. Her stomach did flips the whole way and she hated herself for it. She was way more composed than this! She liked guys as much as the next girl, but they usually didn't have this much of a grasp on her. What was it about Deacon that made him different from the others?

Reagan's mind wandered, beginning to list the reasons why. She quickly put a stop to it by turning up her radio as loud as she could stand it. She kept her music that way until she reached the parking garage of the police precinct. Walking in, she unknowingly held her breath until Luca popped in front of her.

"Cassie, do you have a minute? I gotta talk to you," he said, rubbing his closed fist against his opposite palm.

"Yeah. What's up?"

The moment Luca opened his mouth to speak, Deacon walked past her, his back to them. He glanced over his shoulder and gave her the smallest smile. It wasn't a look that said, Hey baby, thanks for the sex last night. In fact, it didn't appear any different from a smile he'd give the rest of their team.

What'd you expect? a voice asked inside her head. A declaration of love in front of the whole department? A kiss? Hah.

Reagan blew out a sigh and directed her gaze back to Luca, who stared at her expectantly. "Uh, yeah, okay." She didn't know what she had agreed to, but was happy to help. Usually.

"Oh, man. Thank you, Cassie! I will never forget this. I promise I won't get in the way. You won't even know I'm there. Just two weeks, tops."

Reagan frowned and gave him her full attention. "Wait, what?"

"I'll be at your place for only two weeks. That's all I need to get back on my feet."

"Woah," she said, holding up a hand. "What about Street? I thought you were staying with him."

"I was...like I just told you, his mom is getting out of prison and he wants her to live with him, so I'm out. Family first, ya know?" His voice said that he understood but wasn't very happy about it.

Reagan grasped for the right thing to say, but knew she was in too deep at this point. She'd technically already said yes. She considered Luca a friend—he'd had her back this whole time—and there really wasn't any reason for her to say no.

She shrugged. "Okay, you can have the couch. It's all I've got. My place is pretty small."

Luca put up his hands, a smile slowly spreading across his face. "No worries. I won't get in the way. You're on the beach, right?"

"Yeah..."

"That's awesome. I'll bring my board. Please tell me you surf."

She laughed. "I do. I'm planning to go after work tonight..."

Luca's grin widened. "Count me in! I'll bring my stuff over when we get out."

After she agreed, he gave her a quick hug and then ran off, presumably to tell Street. She stood in the main corridor, shell-shocked by what had just transpired. Truthfully, it wasn't a big deal, but in the short time she'd known Luca, she had learned that he had a tendency to overstay his welcome. She'd heard Street talk about it enough times.

What if Deacon wants to come over?

Reagan struggled not to laugh out loud. He'd made it abundantly clear that they were done with that part of their relationship. She wouldn't have to give a single thought to the potential of Luca and Deacon crossing paths at her house. She didn't know whether that brought her relief—or disappointment.

Suddenly, Reagan's phone began beeping in her pocket and she heard the echo of other phones going off in the nearby control room.

Deacon stuck his head out and, all business now, said, "Time to mount up."

"We've got a Code 3 with officers under fire. They received a call about suspicious activity at an abandoned warehouse and were met with force. We're guessing they interrupted a drug deal in progress," Deacon informed them in the back of Black Betty. "I want teams of two: Chris and I will assist the officers, while Hondo and Cassie cover the east exit, and Luca and Street take the west."

Everyone nodded as they got locked and loaded. Reagan avoided Deacon's gaze, which wasn't too difficult considering he'd hardly looked at her since that moment in the hallway. It irritated her, but at the same time, she understood that this was what he had talked about—they were on their way to a life or death situation—romantic feelings needed to take a backseat.

Determined to get focused, she thought about the job at hand and what she would need to do when they got there.

Luca pulled up a minute later and they jumped out, remaining in a straight line until they reached the officers in distress. Then the teams of two branched out, with Reagan following Hondo to the east side of the building.

"30-David in position," he reported as they stood on either side of the metal door.

"22-David in position," Luca said a few seconds later.

Deacon's voice came through their earpieces and Reagan struggled not to imagine that same deep voice in her ear the night before as he'd pushed inside her.

After counting down, Hondo opened the door and Reagan proceeded into the building. High, dusty windows let in minimal light, so she turned on the flashlight on top of her assault weapon. She scanned one side of the building while Hondo took the other. They cleared the large room until they reached a small corridor.

When Hondo got there first, he said, "Gimme two."

Reagan patted his shoulder and they moved forward together. He cleared a messy office on their left, and then she did the same on their right.

"Clear," she announced, meeting him in the hallway again.

"26-David one suspect down." Street.

"24-David two suspects down." Chris.

Reagan's adrenaline kicked in as she wondered where the other shooters were. She jumped when Luca and Street rounded the corner, coming face to face with her and Hondo.

"30-David to 20-David, we're not seeing anyone else. How many suspects again?" Hondo asked as they stood in a circle, eyes sharp.

"Officer Han says he saw four," Deacon replied.

"We're missing one, then."

"Might've run off before we got here," Chris said.

"And you've cleared the whole building?" Deacon.

"From what we can see, yeah." Luca.

"All right, we'll call it for now. Come on out."

The group of four shrugged and exited the building from the west side, still keeping up their guard, just in case. But that didn't stop Luca from changing the subject.

"It's Taco Tuesday, you down with that, Cas?"

She chuckled. "Do I have a choice?"

Street shook his head and said, deadpan, "No, you don't. Not ever."

Hondo laughed at their suffering as he scanned their surroundings.

Reagan heard something behind them and turned to see a black car racing down the alleyway. "Guys, watch out!"

She, Hondo and Luca managed to dive out of the way at the last second, but Street wasn't so lucky. He impacted the windshield with a sickening crack, before flying up over the top and landing on the pavement, motionless.