"Alright, you stubborn idiots," Leonard said as he Joanna, Peter, Gaila and Winona walked into the sheriff's station Saturday evening.

"What is all this?" Jim asked, motioning to the bags that the group brought with them.

"Well, since you've decided that work is more important than food, we decided to bring you something to eat. There's enough for all of you and the guys on the next shift."

"That's very sweet," she smiled.

"It was Joanna's idea. She figured that since none of us actually got to have Thanksgiving dinner, that you guys would appreciate it," he chuckled. "Can't have you starving on us."

"Of course not," Jim said quietly before she pressed a soft kiss against his lips. The guys in the station took that as an invitation to whistle and catcall. "They act like they've never seen two people kiss before."

"I think it has more to do with you, Jim," Sulu chuckled.

"I guess," Jim sighed.

"Are you guys getting anywhere?" Leonard asked. Since her talk with Chris the day before, he's been a little out of the loop. Of course, it wasn't really his job, or even in his wheelhouse, but he was curious.

"Not really. None of the guys still around at ICPD has anything but love for Kirk senior," Jacobs said.

"Even the people my dad arrested didn't have anything bad to say about him," Jim chuckled.

"Yea, man," Sulu smiled. "I can't tell you how many times I got something like 'Officer Kirk was such a nice guy. He was just doing his job.' It's unreal."

"I can see it," Winona said. "George always treated people well. He believed that one bad action shouldn't rob someone of their dignity. As long as they were respectful to him, he was respectful to them. Everyone except Nero."

"Nero?" Leonard asked.

"Eric Allan Nero," Spock said. "The man who killed Jim's father."

"You guys think it's him?" the southerner asked.

"That would be unlikely. Eric Nero is imprisoned in the Utah State Prison in Draper, Utah, twenty miles southwest of Salt Lake City," Spock said. Leonard gave him a look. "Nero's family is from that area, he requested and was granted a transfer to their facility in an effort to be near his parents."

"I entertained the idea for a second because he showed clear violence towards women but nothing like this," Jim said. "Besides, he's in prison, I checked to make sure, so it can't be him."

"But it could be about him, right?" Leonard asked. "I mean, he's in jail for killing your dad. If anyone has a reason not to like you it would be Nero. You guys said he has family."

"His sons. Nero has two boys," Winona said. "The youngest one is the same age as Junior, now that I'm thinking about it."

"Wait. What?" Jim looked at her mother.

"Their mother would take them to court during the trial; I think she was trying to drum up sympathy. Of course, between the multiple domestic reports where she refused to let the police take him and the fact that your dad tried his damnedest to protect those kids, it didn't work. I'm pretty sure she changed their names and moved after Nero was convicted."

"Huh," Jim said. "Sulu…"

"Find out what I can about the Nero brothers. On it," Sulu nodded. "You guys gotta get outta here soon anyway."

"Where are you going?" Gaila asked.

"County Board of Supervisors needs to see me. They're even holding a special Saturday meeting just for us. Hooray," Jim deadpanned. "They want an update on all this and, I'm guessing, they want to talk about who takes over Chris' job."

"Better be you or the rest of us will riot," Sulu said.

"Hopefully, they won't piss off the guys with the guns. If they do, we're all screwed," Gaila laughed.

"You guys do know that I have to accept an appointment to take over Chris' term, right?" Jim said.

"Why wouldn't you?" Jacobs asked.

"I don't know, it just feels wrong," Jim chuckled.

"Of course it does. It is wrong," Leonard said. Jim went to open her mouth but he shook his head. "It's like a kid taking over the family business after their parent dies. It's not a situation you want to be in but you also know that your folks wouldn't want anyone else to do it. In your case, Chris isn't dead, which makes you feel guilty because you are, in effect, taking his job. So, you gotta ask yourself what'll make you feel less guilty. Do you take Chris' job, like he wants, and do what you know is right or do you let them bring in a ringer?"

"We'll see," Jim chuckled. "Spock, you're with me."

"Hang on a second," Leonard called to the person knocking on his door at just before midnight. He pulled the door open and let out a chuckle. "Took you long enough."

"Got held up. It ain't easy being the boss," Jim smiled.

"If anybody can handle it, it's you," he said as he stepped aside to let her into the house.

"I guess."

"I know," Leonard chuckled. Jim pulled off her jacket and looked up at him. "Are you gonna tell me what happened?

"The usual. Some talking, some arguing and some decision making before I went back to the station and had a late dinner," she smiled. He gave her a look. "Spock will be switching over to the active duty roster to take on some of my previous responsibilities since I have been appointed as the Acting Sheriff of Washington County."

"Congratulations?"

"Yea, you congratulate me," she smiled. "Spock, on the other hand..."

"Not a good thing?"

"Ny likes the idea."

"I'm guessing his folks won't," he chuckled.

"His mom will understand. His dad, not so much. The ambassador already thought being a professor was a waste of Spock's talents so he won't be happy with this at all. Spock will still teach a little but he'd been considering a move to the department on a more hands on basis for a while. Chris getting hurt left us with a big hole to fill since we were already understaffed. I think Scotty's gonna stick around the department for a while too. Anyway, I get to swear in on Monday. Which… They're gonna do an official thing and I, uh… I want you to be there. I mean, you don't have to, if you don't want. It's a work day and all. It's just Chris and Sam and Arlene won't be there and I don't know about my mot…" Leonard pressed his lips against hers, cutting her off. Jim let out a whimper before she kissed him back, her fingers running along the back of his neck.

"Stop rambling. You want me to be there, so I will be there," Leonard whispered against her lips.

"That simple, huh?" Jim asked.

"That simple," he smiled as he took her hand and pulled her towards the stairs. "Come on."

"Where are we going?"

"I think you know."

"I think I want you to tell me," she smiled.

"I'm gonna let the new sheriff have her way with me," he said with a smirk.

"Acting Sheriff," she corrected as they walked up the stairs.

"Semantics."

"You sound like Nyota."

"I will take that as a compliment," he smiled as he unbuttoned her shirt, dropping it in the hallway. "You wear too many clothes."

"Considering that it's almost December in Iowa…" Jim chuckled as she pulled the tank top over her head and walked away from him.

"Where are you going?" Leonard asked with a smile.

"I've been working all day and I need a shower," she smirked. "You're more than welcome to join me. It is your bathroom, after all."

"You're gonna be the death of me," he groaned.

"Probably," Jim shrugged as she pulled her boots off, leaning against the wall so she didn't fall. "Maybe you'll be the death of me. I mean, that tongue…"

"Shut up," Leonard laughed as he closed the distance between them and unbuttoned her jeans. Jim pulled the gun holster off her waistband and sat the weapon on the bathroom counter.

"Own your talents, Bonesy," she told him with a smile as she kicked the denim off her legs.

"Oh, believe me, I do," he chuckled before he pinned her between his body and the counter.

"What are you doing?"

"I don't know. What am I doing?" Leonard smirked before he picked her up, sat her on the counter and stood between her legs, which Jim wrapped around his waist.

"You have on too many clothes to get in the shower," Jim chuckled as she pushed his shirt over his head and dropped it on the floor. He leaned over and turned on the water, knowing that it had to warm up a little.

"That so, Sheriff Kirk?"

"Oh, that sounds so naughty when you say it," she smiled, pressing a kiss on his chest. "Sheriff Kirk." She tried to copy his accent. "Sheriff."

"Do me a favor and never try to talk like me again."

"But, Bonesy."

"Don't 'but, Bonesy' me. Your southern accent is atrocious, darlin'."

"That's okay. I have better things to do with my mouth," Jim chuckled before her lips returning to the skin over his collarbone.

"I can see that," he said with a smile as she kissed her up his neck, over his jaw, to his lips. The kiss was slow, lingering, like they had all the time in the world. Leonard gave Jim's thighs a gentle squeeze as he pulled her closer. "Water's probably warm."

"So are you," she smiled, unhooking her bra with one hand that way that girls do before sliding it off. "Did you bring Georgia's heat up here with you?"

"You can't handle Georgia heat, Jimmy."

"You know better than to tell me that I can't do something, Leonard. Besides, I handle you just fine," Jim said, giving a nudge and hopping off the counter. She stepped out of her underwear and into the shower. Jim let out a shameless moan when the hot water hit her skin.

"And here I thought I was the reason you made that sound," he chuckled as he took off his shorts and joined her.

"Well, you are here, so I think it counts. Don't you?"

"Maybe," Leonard smiled. He poured shower gel in his hands and started with her shoulders, kneading the tension away as he lathered her up.

"I guess all those anatomy classes were good for something," she muttered as he worked his way down her back.

"You have no idea," he laughed.

"I'm pretty sure I do. You… You… Oh, wow," Jim sighed. His thumbs pressed circles at the base of her spine and Jim lost the ability to form whole sentences.

"Did I just find a way to shut you up?" Leonard asked. She didn't say anything, just moaned. "I'll have to remember that."

"Don't care," she sighed. "Your hands are amazing."

"Glad you think so," he chuckled as he moved his hands to her hips and pulled her back against him.

"Bonesy," Jim purred.

"Right here, darlin'," Leonard said as his hands roamed her soft skin. Jim turned in his arms and pulled him with her under the spray.

"Want me to soap you up?"

"No. I already took a shower. Besides, I'm having a very hard time not pinning you against the tile."

"Hmm, hard about sums it up," she giggled as she wrapped her hand around him. His eyes drifted closed. "Tell me why you can't pin me against the tile."

"Because… it's slippery in here. We… could get hurt," he forced out as she gave him a squeeze.

"You should live a little," Jim chuckled.

"Jim," Leonard whispered.

"Bones," she whispered back, her hand sliding from base to tip and back down again.

"Tile it is," he sighed as he slid his hands from her hips to that cute little ass, lifting her in his arms and pressing her back against the tile. Jim let out a little yelp, her arms wrapping around his shoulders and her legs settling around his waist as he slowly brought their bodies together.

"Oh," Jim sighed, her whole body relaxing around him. He slowly withdrew from her before sliding back in. "Do you know how hard it is to concentrate at work when all I keep thinking about is this?"

"I might have an idea," Leonard muttered against her neck. It was probably a good thing he hasn't had to work this week; he'd be in the same boat as her.

"It's bad. I think you might be my new favorite addiction," she said with a chuckle that turned into a moan.

"The feeling's mutual, darlin'," he told her as he moved faster.

Jim tightened her grip around his shoulders, her fingers pressing harder into his skin but he didn't care. The only thing he could focus on was her. The way her breathing changed, the way she rolled her hips to meet him, the way she muttered his name over and over as they moved together. When Jim's body tightened even more, he knew she wasn't going to last long. It was ridiculous how enraptured they were with each other. At the same time, it wasn't ridiculous at all.

Jim buried her hands in his hair, forcing him to look up a her. She brought their lips together in a heated kiss, like she was pouring her soul into him just as her orgasm hit. Jim's whole body arched and she moaned into his mouth. Leonard slowed down, letting Jim come down from her high.

"You didn't…"

"I know," Leonard smiled.

"Never would've pegged you for edging, Bonesy," Jim chuckled.

"What the hell is that?"

"It means, holding off your orgasm and starting all over again."

"You mean orgasm control. In my head, it just means not being a selfish asshole. We got time," he smiled.

"Do we?" she asked with a sigh.

"Yes, just not in here," Leonard said as he pulled out of her and sat Jim's feet on the ground. "Let's finish your shower before the water gets cold and head to bed where we have more room."

"That is a wonderful idea."