"This is all kinds of a bad idea, Jack," Regan said.

"Silly flings?" McCoy said, smiling, with what looked to Regan like a trace of smugness. "Screwing things up?"

He tried to draw her back to him. Regan let him, but dodged his kiss, turning her head to rest on his shoulder instead. "That. Not to mention DR 5 -111."

McCoy's arms went around her and he gathered her more comfortably against him, one hand stroking her hair. "Not applicable here."

"Thanks very much," Regan said dryly. "I'm glad to know I'm so resistible."

She felt, rather than heard, him laugh. "There are those prosecutorial instincts I knew you had. You know that's not what I mean."

"In this case, I'm the one bound by the Code, anyway."

"Still doesn't apply," McCoy said. "A predating consensual relationship –"

"Predating?" Regan said.

"It could certainly be argued," McCoy said. "Nor do I feel particularly coerced."

"We're not all as used to tap-dancing in front of the Ethics Board as you are, Jack," Regan said.

McCoy snorted. "I could be going to jail Monday and you're worried about the ethics board now?" he said. "I don't recall you being so concerned on Thursday."

"I won't let them send you to jail," Regan said.

His hands tightened on her for a moment. "You might not be able to help it. If you can't crack Keri on the stand, it'll come down to the jury – and juries are unpredictable." He ran his hand over her back. "Someone wins, someone loses. That's the rules. If it's us this time, it's not down to you. You play the hand you're dealt."

"You're very sanguine for a man talking about going to jail," Regan said.

"I'm putting up a brave front," McCoy said, and she thought he was only half joking. "Can't have my lawyer getting an attack of nerves in court. Besides, I've been here before, in a way. Diana Hawthorne."

"Claire Kincaid got you out of that one, you said."

McCoy's voice was quiet. "She did."

And I'm not Claire Kincaid.

"I won't let them send you to jail," she said. "If they convict, we'll appeal, get bail continued."

"It's harder to get bail pending an appeal," McCoy said. "Cutter will argue that I'm a greater risk of flight."

She thought about that. "If the worst comes to the worst, I'll break you out of the van. We can go on the lam."

She felt him laugh, and he ran his fingers through her hair. "I believe you would, too. A hundred and fifty years ago, you'd have been robbing stagecoaches – or guarding them."

"I can't ride a horse."

"A hundred and fifty years ago, you would have been able to," McCoy said.

"Oh, sure. And I would have had six-guns and a hat and shoot-outs in main street too, I guess."

"Uh-huh," McCoy said a little hoarsely.

She tilted her head to look up at him, then glanced downwards. A smile quirked her lips. "You kinda like that idea, don't you? Maybe I'd better make sure I buy a cowboy hat and boots before I break you out of that prison van."

"Jesus!" McCoy groaned. "Maybe you better keep thoughts like that to yourself for a while. I'm only human."

"I'll be good," Regan said, and laughed as McCoy pulled a face of theatrical disappointment. She settled her head back on his shoulder. "You'll get over it. I'll get over it."

She heard him draw breath to speak, and then let it out quietly, his hand running gently over her hair. "Partners," he said after a moment. "You never doubted me. You didn't just believe I was innocent. You knew it."

"That's what partners do, Jack," Regan said. "Believe in you when you can't believe in yourself."

"More lessons from Bill Markham?" McCoy asked.

"There were a lot of things he didn't know how to teach," Regan said quietly. "But that … having the back of the person who has your back, that he knew how to teach me. Your partner breaks down at night on a bad road, you drive out and find him. He's going off a cliff, you grab his hand."

"Or her hand," McCoy said.

"All cops were he in those days." She stifled a yawn. "I should go to bed. A lot of prep to do tomorrow."

"You should." McCoy didn't loosen his embrace.

Regan didn't pull away.

.oOo.

"DR 5-111" is that part of the 'Code of Professional Responsibility' which covers sexual relations with clients. As before, I've taken some liberties with the wording as quoted by the characters, while trying to remain true to the intent of the Code.