Nicole gunned the throttle coming out of a turn and glanced over at the side car. In it, a very pleased Rowdy leaned happily against a tense Waverly Earp. The tiny brunette had one hand white knuckling the side of the seating compartment, and the other hand held the pit bull's harness in a death grip.
"Not so fond of motorcycles?" Nicole finally shouted over the roar of the motor.
Waverly gave her a forced grin that did not reach her eyes. "I'm good!"
Nicole smirked and took the next turn a little faster, guiltily enjoying the look of panic that flashed across Waverly's face.
Be nice, Cole, Beth's tone was scolding. You trying to make her hate you?
Nicole grimaced at the thought, and guiltily throttled down for a bit before finally turning into the parking lot of the Purgatory Library. The engine pinged as it started to cool, and she took extra time to unbuckle her helmet and hang it from one mirror before turning to her passengers. She grimaced when she saw the slight tremble in Waverly's hands as the smaller woman extricated herself from the sidecar.
You are such an asshole, she thought regretfully. She forced herself to look her companion in the face. "Hey, I'm sorry. I should have driven a little more like a sane human being."
"It's okay," Waverly whispered hoarsely. She ducked her head and cleared her throat before looking up and giving Nicole a wan smile. "Thanks for the ride, anyway. I really appreciate it." She turned and headed for the entrance, her steps fast and her book bag clutched to her chest. Rowdy hurried after, bouncing with gleeful enthusiasm.
Nicole bit her lip. "Rowdy, heel!" The big dog stopped and looked back at her with reproach in his dark eyes. Waverly leaned over and gave his broad head a rub, then she turned and ran up the steps to the library. She paused, one hand on the brass door handle. Nicole felt torn between wanting her to turn around and feeling her own need to flee as fast as possible. She tensed as she saw the brunette take a deep breath, shake her head, then disappear into the dim depths beyond.
Disappointment flooded through her and she took her own shuddering breath, the now habitual turmoil of her emotions roiling through her and souring her stomach.
"Dammit."
Rowdy whined as he planted himself next to Nicole's left boot. He leaned into her as usual, but his eyes stayed fixed on the library doors.
"Sorry, buddy," she muttered. "She's got more studying to do and I promised we'd go back to the Sheriff's office." She kicked her bike back to life and headed to the road. Rowdy leaned forward eagerly, ears and jowls flapping in the wind as they picked up speed. In her haste, Nicole failed to see Waverly watching them leave from the second floor window.
"Hey Haught-potato, what are you doing here?"
Nicole groaned and looked up at a smirking Wynonna. "Must you?"
"Yes," the brunette replied. "I must." She plopped herself down at the table where Nicole nursed a cop of cooling coffee. "So, seriously. What's up?"
Nicole sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. "Apparently the fact that I was involved in an off-duty officer involved shooting and soonafter followed it up with making an arrest of…" she hesitated.
"Captain Loser of the Starship Asshole," Wynonna supplied.
Nicole stared at her for a long moment before continuing. "Right, um, Waverly's assailant. I apparently am being threatened with the loss of my badge."
Wynonna stood up so fast her chair skidded across the room and slammed into the wall.
"What in the holy fuck?" she yelled, her face reddened with anger.
"I should have known you would be involved with Wynonna Earp, Deputy Haught," came a smooth drawl and both women turned to see a smartly dressed, stocky man in a three piece suit. He florid face glistened with a sheen of perspiration and he held a briefcase in one hand and an unlit cigar in the other.
"I probably should have guessed you'd show up," Wynonna snarled. "Phony Maloney. Who'd you bribe to get your law license back?"
He ignored her and turned to Nicole, still sitting silently at the table. He placed a card on the table that she made no move to take. "Finnegan Maloney, Defense Attorney. The horrific violation of my client's rights will certainly not endear you to your superiors, as I have mentioned to Sheriff Nedley." He brushed imaginary lint off his lapel and came a little closer, his voice turning oily and menacing. "It's a shame when those intended to uphold the law violate it."
Nicole maintained her silence and merely continued staring at the lawyer, but from under the table came a low, angry growl.
Maloney paused. "What the hell?"
Wynonna laughed uproariously. "I'd step back if I were you, Phoney."
His face darkened and he leaned forward more, the hand holding the cigar raised in admonishment. "I will not be threatened by the likes of—"
With a roar Rowdy burst from under the table, his hackles raised and his teeth bared. His message was clear, Stop now.
Maloney shrieked and stumbled backwards, drawing the attention of every cop in bullpen. The door to Sheriff Nedley's office banged open and the Sheriff himself came storming out.
"Maloney! What the hell are you doing?" he demanded loudly.
The lawyer backed up further. "This dog attacked me!" he screamed. "I want it put down immediately."
"Are you kidding me, you sorry son of—" Wynonna clamped her mouth shut at a stern look from Nedley.
He frowned then turned to Nicole, still sitting silently at the table, and then at Rowdy, stiff and angry right next to her.
"Officer Rowdy," Nedley emphasized at last, looking Maloney over, "is a trained police dog who along with is partner Deputy Haught has an exemplary record, as I so recently had the honor of investigating. I sincerely doubt he attacked you." He looked over at Nicole. "Deputy?"
She finally spoke, her voice level. "Officer Rowdy responded to an aggressive move and raised voice in my vicinity on the part of Mr. Maloney, Sheriff. He is currently in his defensive stance." She looked down at the dog. "Stand down, Rowdy."
The big dog sank to the ground, his eyes never leaving the lawyer.
Nedley turned back to the cowering lawyer. "And there you are. I'll remind you that this area is always under security surveillance and I'll be reviewing the tape carefully. I also recall that you were told you to stay away from Deputy Haught while your so-called claims were being processed." His face twisted in distaste as he stared at the lawyer. "So if I see evidence that you approached her, and perhaps fabricated an accusation towards Officer Rowdy, I will have no choice but to alert the prosecutor's office."
Maloney's face paled and he looked around frantically, then visibly recoiled as he noted the security camera emplacements all around the room. He raised his hands placatingly. "Well now, I'm sure this has all been a big misunderstanding, Sheriff," he simpered, insincerity pouring off of him.
Nedley grunted. "You should probably go now, Maloney. The DA will be in touch I'm sure."
Malone straightened his tie and shoved his cigar between his teeth. With one last glare at Nicole and Wynonna he turned and left.
Nedley stared after him for a moment, then turned back to the two women. "Haught, please tell me how in the hell is it possible you can get into trouble just sitting in the break room of a police station."
Nicole felt herself start to grin, despite herself. "Practice, sir."
The Sheriff sighed. "I know you don't work for me and I can't require it, but for the sake of my sanity would you be willing to let me hold your badge and service weapon until we can sort through this mess?" His face softened at the look on her face, and he went on a bit more gently. "Look, Haught. I have no doubt you have acted entirely within the law. I also know that Maloney is very good at dragging law enforcement officers through the mud in order to try and clear his very guilty clients, and Bobo Del Rey is as guilty as they come. This would just be a show of good will on your part, okay?"
Suddenly Nicole's gaze dropped to Rowdy and her face hardened. "My partner," she began.
"Stays with you!" Nedley hastened to assure her. "This department won't let anyone take him from you, I swear it."
Nicole glanced at Wynonna. The dark haired woman was glaring at the sheriff, but when she turned and caught Nicole's eye, she nodded slowly.
"Much as I hate to admit it, he's good people, Haught-stuff," she murmured. "You can trust him."
With a pained grimace, Nicole handed over her gun and badge. The sheriff accepted them with an understanding nod, his face apologetic, then returned to his office.
Nicole felt the loss as a physical blow; her identity so long wrapped up in being a wife and a deputy and now both were gone. She jumped when Wynonna clapped her on the back.
"Come on," she said as she pushed Nicole towards the door. "I know just what you need."
Demonic Fry and Grill was a couple of block over from the bail bonds office. Famous for their habanero burgers, spicy chicken wings, and Devil chili fries, they were also known to make cocktails that arrived at the table on fire. The walls were dark stained wood and covered in pictures of patrons with pained faces interspersed with posters from classic B horror movies. A life-size cardboard cutout of Bela Legosi in full Dracula regalia stood pointing the way to the bathrooms.
Needless to say, it was Wynonna's favorite restaurant.
A plates of wings, a large chili fries, and two Vodka Flaming Anuses later (Wynonna insisted), Nicole begged for mercy.
"Oh, come on, Haught-mama," Wynonna laughed. "You afraid of a little heat?"
"I can't feel my tongue."
"Awesome. Drink up."
Nicole groaned with gratitude as their waitress, a tall blonde wearing not much more than Waverly's schoolgirl outfit at Shortly's, placed an emergency milkshake on the table. She blatantly ran her eyes down Nicole's lanky frame and gave her a wink before sauntering off. Nicole was too busy gulping down frozen vanilla goodness to notice. Wynonna's eyes narrowed as she saw the waitress toss several more sultry looks towards their table, then downed the rest of her Angel's Delight, a bright pink concoction in a martini glass that made Nicole shudder.
"That shit looks like Pepto-Bismol," she commented. "Also, you don't strike me as a pink drink girl."
Wynonna shrugged. "It's the only thing with alcohol that cuts the heat."
Nicole savored another mouthful of milkshake before replying. "You could try forgoing the booze."
"Fuck that."
Wynonna's phone started vibrating, and she rooted around underneath piles of discarded napkins until she found it.
"Baby girl."
She ran one finger around the inside of her glass and sucked off the remnants to Nicole's horrified amusement.
"Okay, okay, I'm coming. Just, give me a few okay? No I won't forget — that was ONE time!"
Nicole bit her lip hard to keep from laughing then yelped as Wynonna kicked her under the table. Rowdy looked up from where he lounged on Nicole's jacket and gave a half-hearted bark at Wynonna before dropping his head back down with a huff.
"Some partner you are," Nicole groused.
Wynonna waved her had dismissively. "Your dog loves me. Come on, we gotta go."
Nicole took a huge swallow of milkshake then winced at the brain freeze. "Where are we going?"
"My sister needs a ride to work. Damn, I can't wait until she can get her Jeep fixed."
Nicole's stomach dropped at the thought of having to face Waverly — she still felt guilty for her stupid prank earlier that day and even guiltier at the rush of pleasure remembering the sweet brunette sitting on her lap at Shorty's. She pushed that though aside and focused on the other piece of information she could work with.
"What's wrong with her Jeep?"
Waverly pushed through the front door then stopped suddenly, causing Wynonna to grumble.
"The hell?"
"Shh."
Nicole lay sprawled on the couch, deeply asleep and with a smudge of grease on her cheek. Rowdy was curled up between her legs, his head pillowed on her thigh.
"That's just about the cutest damn thing I've ever seen," Wynonna whispered gleefully as she pulled out her phone. Neither deputy nor dog stirred at the brief flash of light as the elder Earp captured the moment for posterity.
Waverly paused as Wynonna shuffled off to her room, shedding outerwear as she went. In the dim light, Nicole's pale face was almost ethereal, but even in sleep she wasn't relaxed. Her brow was slightly furrowed, and her hands twitched, as if reaching out for something. Waverly crept closer, intending only to pull the blanket back up over the sleeping , but at her soft touch Nicole jerked slightly.
"Hey, Beth," she mumbled. "Love you, honey." Her voice trailed off in a sigh.
Waverly froze, then forced herself to finish tucking her guests in, leaving Rowdy's head exposed but the rest of him covered along with Nicole. His eyes opened briefly and he licked her hand as she gave him a pat, then he, too, went back to sleep. She looked at them both for a moment longer, then made her way as quietly as she could into the kitchen, desperate for a cup of tea.
She sat for a long time as her tea grew cold, watching over the still forms on the couch, and wondering.