A/N: I honestly forgot I was a fiction writer for a moment. Shame on me! Here's chapter three, enjoy :)
EnA
Cops & Robbers
Chapter Three- What's the Worst that could Happen?
"Well that was-" Emma started but Regina cut her off with her raised hand.
"Don't start," Regina warned.
"What?" Emma feigned innocence. "I was going to say it was interesting." Emma said but Regina was quiet. They crossed the street back to the crime scene where Graham was speaking to a forensic investigator. His eyes fell on them and he sent the man away. They walked over to him and before Regina could ask if they found anything Emma laughed interrupting her.
"Guess who has the hots for the friendly neighbourhood thief?" Emma almost yelped with excitement.
"You're kidding?" Graham said looking at Regina.
Her mouth twitched in response. "I do not." She rolled her eyes.
"You should have seen her in there, I believe smitten is the correct word to describe."
Graham looked at her, lifting an eyebrow.
"She's exaggerating." she tried to reason.
"Am not, anybody else she would have put on their ass the way he was speaking to her. And if I was seeing correctly he was laying it on thick too." Emma said.
Regina folded her arms like an insolent child. "I'm not entertaining this conversation. He's a thief."
"Ex-thief." Emma piped in.
"That's beside the point." Regina said. Inspiration struck then and she unfolded her arms. Emma was having too much fun so she would only repay the gesture.
"I'm going to get back to the precinct. You two finish up here." Regina said. Emma and Graham would have to carpool back to the precinct, alone. Emma's eyes bugged out when she realized Regina had the keys.
"Regina-"
"I'll see you two later," Regina said, backing away from them. Emma looked scared to death but Graham was quiet with his arms folded looking unaffected.
She was doing the opposite of punishing Emma, sometimes her stubborn partner needed a push in the right direction.
Regina was heading home for the night when she bounced up Emma on the steps of the precinct. Regina was very pleased to see that her hair was tousled and her lips were swollen. She didn't need to be a detective to recognize the symptoms of an intense make out session. Must have been some ride home.
"You heading home?" Emma asked, no longer annoyed.
"I am, leftovers and a glass of wine await me."
Emma laughed. "Okay then, I'll see you tomorrow."
Regina nodded and took one step before she spun around and wiped at Emma's chin.
"You missed a spot." Regina said with a knowing smile.
Emma flushed and turned away briefly. "Don't look so smug." Emma said when she turned back to Regina.
Regina smiled. "You look stupidly happy."
Emma beamed. "I am stupidly happy."
Regina nodded. "Goodnight Swan."
"Mills!" Regina spun around to find Graham and Emma coming toward her desk. One night of dating and the two looked like they were constantly in that post sex bliss.
"What?" she said. "I haven't finished my coffee yet so it better not be bad news."
Emma picked up the half-drunk coffee from Regina's desk and took a sip.
"Wale finished the autopsy." Emma set the cup down.
She glared at Emma. "Well?" she said.
"She was drowned." Graham said when Emma began picking at the bagel on Regina's desk. Regina swatted her hand away.
"I didn't get a chance to eat breakfast this morning." Emma explained. Regina frowned and shifted the bagel in her direction. Emma ate while Regina turned to Graham.
"So what did Wale say?"
"Right," Graham said. "He sent a sample of the water from her lungs to forensics, I'm about to head to lab, find out the analysis of the water so we can pinpoint the exact body of water she was drowned in."
"It would be lazy of us to assume she died in the body of water we found her in." Emma said.
"When have we ever been that lucky?" Regina said.
"Almost never." Graham said.
Regina nodded as Graham left to get him and Emma some coffee.
Emma took a seat on top Regina's desk and finished her bagel.
"How was last night?" Regina asked.
"Not only was the night good, but so was this morning." Emma said, wagging her eyebrows suggestively.
Regina flashed her an impressed look.
"Why do you think I didn't have time to get breakfast" Emma smirked.
Regina raised her eyebrows more impressed than anything. They quickly changed the subject as Graham came back from the break room with two mugs of steaming coffee.
Later that day Gold came into the bullpen. Something he never did. He made a beeline straight to Regina.
"What's wrong?"
"Someone called 911. Said the killer of Vanessa Suarez is at an abandoned warehouse in Storybrooke."
"Yeah I'm sure he is." Regina scoffed sarcastically. It was likely, someone looking for attention. Or a prank on an unsuspecting soul.
"Something is strange about it Mills, I feel it. Just drive out. It can't hurt."
"Fine." she grumbled.
"Let me know what you find." Gold said before retreating to his office.
"Want us to come with?" Emma asked.
Regina shook her head. "I'm good. It's probably nothing."
She picked up her coat when the landline phone on her desk rang. She placed the phone between her ear and her shoulder and slipped one arm of her coat on.
"Regina, this is Robin." Regina's face crinkled making Emma flash her a curious look. Regina shook her head and returned her attention to the phone call.
"How can I help you?"
"I've decided to hand over the surveillance footage. How does a USB sound?"
"Perfect. I'll send someone over-"
"The flashdrive is yours, granted you come and pick it up."
"Me?"
"Or you can forget about it."
"You can't be serious."
"I'll see you in twenty minutes Detective Mills."
The phone hung up before she could protest. That cocky bastard. Regina slammed the phone back down. Emma waited for an explanation.
"That was Robin. He's giving us the surveillance footage."
"That's great. "
"Only if I go and collect it in person."
Emma smirked.
"It's not funny."
"He's got a crush it's cute."
"It's blackmail."
"Stop being so dramatic. We need that footage so go bat your eyelashes at the handsome man."
"What about the tip? Storybrooke?" Regina said.
"We'll check it out." She gestured to Graham.
Graham nodded. "She's right."
Regina sighed. "Fine." She took up her keys and left.
Robin danced around the kitchen looking for the sprigs of thyme he had misplaced. The kitchen was hot and fragrant of spices and warm food. He was managing the oven and two pots on the stove while chopping up vegetables.
"You're going through with this?" David said from behind him, Mary Margaret was close behind.
Robin turned around with a dab of his white sauce on a spoon.
"Taste this will ya, tell me what it needs?"
David ignored the spoon directed his way. Mary Margaret laughed and took the spoon to taste.
"Well?" he asked.
"It's perfect." she said with a smile.
"Thank you love,"
"Robin?" David tried again.
"What's the risk? You said her story checked out." Robin said.
"It did," David folded his arm, "how did that result in you cooking her dinner."
"I think it's romantic." Mary Margaret cooed. David looked at her for support and she quietly bowed out of the room so she wouldn't have to chose between her mentor and husband.
"You're going to make me age prematurely." David said.
Robin laughed. "Ease up will ya. How long have you known me? Will I ever do anything to jeopardize what we have?"
David physically relaxed and shook his head.
Robin grinned. "That's the spirit."
"Have fun," David said before leaving Robin to his cooking. Robin resumed looking for the thyme. There was a ninety percent chance this stunt could blow up in his face but he was a risk taker and Regina Mills was worth it.
When she arrived at the workshop the door guard wasn't there. She walked right in to the second floor. Robin waited for her at the door with a smile.
"It's good to see you."
She rolled her eyes.
"This isn't a social visit Locksley. Where's the flashdrive?"
"I have it and you have my word that you will get it...after dinner."
"You have got to be kidding me." She fumed.
Robin smiled still confident she would have stayed.
"Come on," He pulled her along to a table for two set in the middle of the workshop.
"What's the worse that can happen?" he said.
"I'm a detective and you're a thief."
"Hey, ex thief, allegedly." He smirked. "So you can honestly say there's nothing between us?" he said.
"Oh there is something between us. Contempt."
Robin laughed and pulled out her chair. She sat down against her better judgment.
Robin smiled triumphantly and sat down across from her. Regina would have liked to think that she was livid but below the annoyed surface there was a bundle of first date-like jitters. She had suitors in the past but the length Robin went to date her, she couldn't help but be flattered. And God help her if she stared into his eyes for more than five seconds.
A small round table was set for two, complete with lit candles and a small vase of fresh flowers. Robin lifted the silver domes and revealed two salmon dishes. The salmon was garnished with a white sauce over steamed vegetables and fragrant rice. When Regina got a whiff of the food she realized she was hungrier than she thought.
Robin allowed her to eat in peace only for a moment before he placed his elbows on the table and looked at her like she was his dinner.
"Tell me you aren't even a little impressed at my culinary skills?" he said.
Regina almost choked on the peace of broccoli she was chewing. Damn him, it was delicious.
"You," she gestured to the plate of food in front of her, "cooked this?"
Robin nodded, gleaming with something wicked.
"There's a kitchen upstairs, along with my office and some bunks for late nights. Maybe you'd like a tour after dinner?"
Regina cleared her throat. "Maybe,"
She tried desperately but the sides of her mouth curved into a brief smile. She quickly pulled her lips back into a thin line and took up her glass of sparkling water to distract herself. It was getting harder to remind herself that she was supposed to be having a rotten time.
"You don't live here do you?" she said.
Robin chuckled and shook his head. "I do own a home but I'm rarely there. I'm very passionate..." his eyes met hers, "about my work."
Regina crossed her legs under the table trying to subside the heat from between her legs.
"Maybe you'll like a tour of my home sometime," he teased. He was so mischievous but it was so charming she couldn't help but chuckle.
"Gorgeous," he said, effectively stealing her breath. She picked up her glass and took a sip, she realized then she couldn't stop herself from falling for him.
"Watch your step," Robin said. He placed his hand at the small of her back and led her upstairs. She insisted they take the stairs upstairs and Robin was almost sure she was terrified of being with him in the confined space of the elevator.
She had relaxed significantly over dinner, even shared a few personal stories of her on the job but Robin could still see the resistance behind her eyes, the mental tug-of-war going on in her head.
"You designed this whole place?" she asked, real interest in her voice.
"I did. I had clear idea of what I wanted this place to look like, for the work it would be able to facilitate and a buddy of mine is a talented architect so we collaborated and..." He gestured to the expanse of the space as they reached the highest floor.
The corridor was painted a sunflower yellow and was lined with white doors. He showed her to the bunks, bunks beds filled the room and a large wardrobe for linens.
"Come with me," His hand returned to the small of her back. He took her to his office. He went to get the flashdrive with the footage but Regina seemed distracted by the view from his office. It overlooked the coast and that time of evening the descending sun created a brilliant glow on the horizon.
"I wouldn't go home if I had this view either." she said.
Robin smiled and resisted the urge to put his arms around her. Instead he cleared his throat and handed her the flashdrive.
"I hope it helps." he said. He assumed once she got the footage she would hightail out of there but she remained standing in front of his windows, a grateful smile on her lips.
"Shall we go downstairs?"
She smiled then and Robin felt like she had finally surrendered.
"In a minute," she turned around and lost herself in the view, Robin stood a little behind her, just as enchanted with his view.
There wasn't much to be seen downstairs but Regina was glad to be out of his sexually charged office. Thank God alcohol hadn't been served with dinner or she would have made very poor decisions back in his office, to be honest she still wanted to make those poor decisions.
She was about the return to the dinner table when he took her hand. She looked down at their linked hands and ignored how goosebumps rippled up her arm.
"Indulge me for a while longer?" he said. She didn't respond but didn't pull away her hand. He clicked something on a small remote in his hand and pulled her away from the table as soft music sounded through the large empty room. It was a soft instrumental but nothing she recognized.
"You want to dance?" He answered her by pulling her close. A warmth spread over her body as they rocked slowly to the music. Her hands linked around his neck like she was at the prom but she wouldn't let him go for anything. Robin's own hands were at the small of her back, a gentleman, she thought.
Jefferson's touch hadn't felt like that. This was romantic and sensual in a way she hadn't experienced in a long time.
When your nickname was the Evil Queen, tantric sex was a given but meaningful connections, those were rare. Every fiber of her being, cop intuition and all, was telling her she was dancing with a good man it was also telling her that her professional life would be compromised if she gave in to everything she wanted.
"I must be losing my mind," she whispered, not sure why she said it aloud.
Robin stilled their movements, his eyes boring into hers. "Prove it," he said. His eyes were getting dark by the moment and when he leaned into her, eyes falling to her lips, she felt like she would die if she didn't kiss him. Their lips softly, tentatively, only for a few moments. After one deep intake of breath his head tilted and he delved into her mouth illiciting a moan and something that sounded like his name. His arms around her waist tightened and she was content snug against his chest as they continued to kiss like they were starving of each other.
The grew kiss grew needy and desperate, she clutched at his shirt collar, the other hand digging nails into the back of his neck urging him on, begging him to keep going. When they finally pulled apart and took a breath together he was staring at her with a goofy grin and she was terrified she had made a terrible mistake, opened a can of worms she couldn't close. Now she wanted him.
"I-" Regina was about to plead insanity but he cut her off.
"That was-"
"I think I should go." Regina said. She went back to the table and dug into her bag for her phone. She realized she had ten missed calls from Emma and Gold. She quickly redialed Emma's number.
Regina's heart sank when she heard Emma's voice, she was sobbing and Regina had to swallow the panic to focus on what Emma was saying.
"Swan talk to me, what's happened?"
"It's Graham, he's dead." The phone fell from Regina's hand, her eyes glazed over and she her throat closed up. Not Graham...not Graham.