Chapter One Hundred and Nineteen: Observation

Maggie O'Neill: We need to meet.

Mike Sorenson: I'm at my house, if you've got something pretty, come over and wear it.

Maggie O'Neill: You'll meet me at the precinct.

Mike Sorenson: I'll need a little incentive if you want to pull me in whilst I'm on medical leave. Putting on something nice for me would get in my good graces.

Maggie O'Neill: You want your money? Then stop giving me crap and meet me at the precinct in an hour.

Mike Sorenson: Well when you put it like that...

Maggie O'Neill: He's meeting me in an hour.

Antonio Dawson: You want back up?

Maggie O'Neill: Don't worry I can handle it.

Antonio Dawson: I wasn't worried. I just wanted to make sure you didn't reach across the table and strangle him. I'm not sure I've got enough money to bail all three of you out.

Maggie O'Neill: I'm sure Gabe would let you borrow some if it comes down to it.

Antonio Dawson: Please don't make me remortgage my house.

Maggie O'Neill: I make no promises. x

Antonio vividly remembered the look that Maggie used to get on those pretty features of hers when she had stepped into an interrogation room during their years in Vice. It was the same pinched, no nonsense expression that she was wearing right now as she stood in the Interview Room. Both palms were resting flat on the solid metal desk as she leaned over so that her cold, cobalt eyes were fixated on the deplorable man seated across from her.

Antonio had to admit in the past few hours he had come to hate the other man with an ire he reserved only the most reprehensible of criminals. He'd managed to assert his control over his warring emotions when he'd met with the patrol officer in that dive bar but his contempt now stretched beyond that capacity. What he had done to Louise, a woman he had supposedly loved and a fellow police officer was diabolical. He had forced Louise to get an abortion with tall tales of the life they could have after before taking off like a thief in the night. Antonio couldn't fathom how someone could do that.

If this was a professional situation he would have locked all those rampant emotions up in a box until he was ready to process them, instead under Maggie's advisement he had taken a step back. Knowing what the other man was doing to Kayla made him volatile and he could already feel that potential for violence stirring deep within him as every hour ticked by. The helplessness of the situation acted like a trigger for his PTSD, lightly pricking at his flesh like a fine needle until he could feel the blood thrumming in his head. He hadn't said anything to Maggie but she had known, there were signs that she had picked up over the past few months that indicated when he was struggling and she had learned to recognize them. She had gently reminded him that sometimes he put too much pressure on himself and that she had both the means and ability to leverage Sorenson.

Now he was standing on the opposite side of the two way mirror, watching as Maggie laid out the story piece by piece for Sorenson, ensuring that he knew the extent of the conversation she had had with Louise. The way she did it was like an art form, she was pointed and meticulous, it reminded him of a surgical strike, diving straight in for the kill instead of wading through the mess around the edges. She flourished in this environment, her years undercover had helped to hone her skills and Antonio found himself wondering if she would ever make the decision to rise up through the ranks once more. Patrol were lucky to have her but if she chose to aim higher, he would support her. It had to be about her and her decisions this time around and not about living up to her father's expectations.

It occurred to him, not for the first time recently that he was thinking of their future once again, it wasn't just about him anymore, it was about the two of them and it surprised him how at ease he was with that feeling. Last night had changed things for him, somehow being with Maggie grounded him, it gave his mind time to process the potential for the two of them. Waking up alongside her made him realize how much he missed the unity in their relationship and it wasn't until she had left that he acknowledged that he hadn't wanted her to leave. He wanted his home to be their home, a sanctuary away from the world outside and all the horrors they faced due to their jobs. His heart longed for that, it had been a constant ache in his chest since she had kissed him goodbye on the cheek and returned to her own apartment.

The door to Observation Room opened, distracting Antonio from his thoughts as Al stepped inside, closing the door quietly behind him. Antonio acknowledged him with a nod of greeting before he turned his attention back to the scene unfolding in front of him. The other man came to stand alongside him, his crossed over the front of his black polo shirt as he watched Maggie in action.

"She got him on the ropes?" Al asked quietly, his deep voice carrying through the silence of the room.

"Seems like it." Antonio said, bobbing his head in answer to Al's question before gesturing at the two way glass in front of him. "I forgot what it's like watching her work like this."

"There's not much cause for it in patrol." Al reckoned before casting a sidelong glance at Antonio in order to gauge his demeanor. "The two of you a thing again?"

The question was loaded. Antonio was very much aware of the fact that Al played a pseudo-father role in Maggie's life, the other man was a better father figure to her than her own Dad had been and he took that position very seriously. Respectfully so did Antonio, Maggie had relied a lot on Al through the course of her life, more so after the abduction and he knew the other man would do anything to protect Maggie.

"You know it's never just 'a thing' between me and Maggie." Antonio told his friend honestly. "We're taking it slow, getting back on track. I made a mistake, letting her go after what happened. I accept that and so does she."

There was a moment of silence between the two of them, Antonio let it play out as Al absorbed his words, allowing them to tick over inside his head.

"Do I have to tell you what happens if you hurt her again?" Al asked in all seriousness as he watched Maggie on the opposite side of the two way glass.

Antonio knew that tone, he'd heard that flat, soft tone used on suspects many times and he had never thought he would be on the receiving end of it. It was a threat, a thinly veiled one and the man in him accepted it, since it was considered warranted.

"You have my permission to kick my ass if I'm ever that stupid again." Antonio agreed, tilting his head towards Al, so that he could read the craggy profile of his face.

"Good." Al stated before adding. "Because I kinda like you man and it would be a shame to have to find a place hide your body."

Antonio wasn't sure if he was joking or not but he didn't question it any further. The truth was maybe he didn't really want to know the answer. Al was trusting him with something precious and Antonio would be a fool if he let it slip through his fingers again. His dark gaze came to rest on Maggie once more, watching her expression switch to boredom as she listened to the hate that spewed out of Sorenson's mouth. The words were colorful to say the least, there was real venom in his voice as he slung derogatory terms around hoping to pierce the steely armor that Maggie had erected. They washed over her as if they were nothing because Maggie could see it was the final throes of fight from an animal that knew it was backed into a corner.

Beside him, Antonio could feel Al tensing and he knew that he was taking on board every single one of those poisonous words and storing them away. They had known that Sorenson was an asshole from everything he'd done already but Antonio had never pegged the man as cruel. However that was exactly what he was as he detailed the reasons why no one could ever love Maggie after seeing all fucked up scars of hers. It killed him to listen to those awful words, and he could tell that Al was almost foaming at the mouth as the other man's muscles began to tighten in tighten in response to the onslaught. Maggie however, seemed to simply brush it aside before she repeated his options.

Carry on this case against Kayla and she would tell Chief Ryan exactly who was responsible for getting his daughter pregnant.

Or drop the charges and put in for a transfer.

For all of his shortcomings Sorenson wasn't stupid so after protesting, threatening and a few final curse words the other man settled on option two.

Hey guys, we are officially in the Christmas season! Anyone doing anything nice?

Nat: Trudy is a badass, I would love for her to have my back if anything awful happened in real life. I'm glad you enjoyed this chapter and Sorenson finally getting his smack down.

Anime: Trudy is defo the person you want on your side when things start to go wrong in your life. I actually would bet on Trudy more than anyone else in that kind of situation. The Firehouse guys would not let those people anywhere near Kayla when they realised what was happening. Hopefully Maggie handled Mike in just the right way for you.

Lauren: Trudy is like that person who you always want watching your back. Thank you for our lovely words. They really make the difference as I'm feeling a little run down and crappy at the moment. Sorenson has got his comeuppance but who knows maybe someone else has something to say to him further down the line.

Aussie: Hi, nice to meet you! Thank you for finding this story and I am really glad you like it. When I first started writing this story I did a little recon and there were none. In time I actually realised it was because of the fact he was married and it was hard for a lot of people to navigate the sort of way it breaks down in the first two seasons. I found it so tough but at the same time I made it work for me.

Amber: Honestly it's fine, I know what it is like to be busy. I'm really glad you love this story, thank you so much for coming back time and time again.