Jim took her to the diner where he was sure they would run into other cops or some CSIs. He was wrong; evidently everyone else was out working cases. But he had decided to play nice, at least through lunch and so began telling her stories about some of his more unusual cases.

Melanie wanted to hear the stories and sat listening attentively; well, at least until her eyes followed the line of the collar of his jacket. Suddenly an image of her hands slipping under the dark fabric filled her mind. She could almost fell the crispness of his lightly starched shirt beneath her fingertips, the rhythm of his heartbeat, his warmth. Blinking her eyes, she tried to shake the image but instead a warmth crept through her body as she realized how attracted she was to this man. And all she seemed to be able to do was irritate him. That wasn't why she had come here in the first place either. She had sought him out for another reason.

Jim paused in his story and looked at her quizzically. "Hey, you okay?"

"Ah…yeah. Sorry. My mind just wandered off. But I am enjoying your stories. I just…."

"Bored, right?"

"No, not at all. I was just wondering what you were like when you first started in police work; before the job made you cynical."

"First place, I guess I've always been a bit cynical. But seeing the things you see on this job….well, optimism is hard to come by. You start to feel good because you solved one and locked the SOB up and three more calls come your way for crimes that are even worse. It never stops…especially in a place like Vegas."

"So…again, what brought you out here?"

Jim sighed. He supposed he could tell her, at least some of it. "Well, this job is pretty hard on marriages. Mine was in the tank and I was pretty messed up about it. So I thought a fresh start somewhere might help. LVPD was looking for people, so here I am."

"Ever regret it? Moving here, I mean?"

Jim shrugged. "Sometimes I suppose. I had already missed so much of my daughter's life and missed out even more when I moved. But she and I were like oil and water, so I don't know that it would have been any different if I stayed. Things have been decent here. I'm working with some really good people and have some good friends. And the job never gets boring, for sure."

"Ever thought of getting married again?"

"Yeah, I suppose. But I haven't met anyone that I thought could handle the job. It takes a special person to be married to a cop…"

"But some cops manage to stay married all through their careers…"

"Yeah, they do. And let me tell you, it takes hard work on both sides and a lot of understanding. I admire the ones that can make it work. I couldn't." The regret in his voice was heartbreaking.

Melanie decided to try to lighten up a bit. "I imagine the single women of Vegas have been all over you?" she chuckled.

Chuckling Jim answered, "like flies to honey. No, seriously, I'm not exactly the kind of guy women flock to, but I have had a few ….opportunities."

They ate in silence for a few minutes and then Jim looked at her. "So, I have a question."

She looked at him, worried. "Okay…." She answered, wondering what he would ask.

"You obviously knew about me before you came here. How? And why did you come looking for me?"

Melanie knew she was busted. She contemplated how she would answer. Just as she was about to speak, he got a call. Listening to his end of the conversation, she realized that lunch was over. He had a crime to investigate.

"We'll have to finish lunch later," he said as he put away his phone. "There's a murder out in Henderson." He paid the check and then they headed out.

Once they arrived at the scene, he checked with the uniform officers and then turned to her. "I need you to wait in the car."

"What's going on?" she asked.

"The uniforms think the perp is still around. We're going in. I'm leaving a uniform with you, just in case."

Jim and the other officers disappeared into the house, guns drawn and cautious. She sat in the car a few minutes, waiting….impatiently.

Inside the house, Jim moved slowly through the entry and through the rooms. The other two officers fanned out and slowly they made their way through the house. Jim heard a noise toward the back and glanced at the officer to his left, Simmons. He motioned and Simmons moved on his flank as they made their way toward the sound. Entering the kitchen, Jim turned the corner, half expecting the perp to jump out at him. But it wasn't the perp that jumped, it was the family cat. It jumped from the counter down to the nearby table and sat, tail curled in the middle. Jim exhaled and began to look around. Simmons continued through the house.

Making his way along the counter towards the back door, Jim heard the sound again. He turned in the direction of the pantry when he sensed motion behind him. Wheeling around he aimed his weapon and then identified the source of the motion. "I thought I told you to stay in the car," he growled.

"Yeah…but you were taking so long," answered Melanie.

Just then he heard the sound again. He turned to see the pantry door opening and a man charging out. He headed for Melanie. Jim shoved her out of the way and took the force of the man's lunge, knocking Jim to the floor. As he hit the floor he saw the suspect pulling a knife and reaching for Melanie. Jim aimed his gun at the perp and barked, "Gun beats knife every time. Put it down."

The perp stopped and stood frozen a few feet from Melanie. Jim could tell that he was considering a move towards Melanie. "I said put… it…down!" Jim had his weapon aimed at the perp's chest.

Simmons ran into the kitchen and stood behind Melanie. The perp looked from Melanie to Jim to Simmons and dropped the knife. Simmons prepared to cuff him as the knife clattered to the floor.

Once he was in custody, Jim grabbed Melanie by the elbow and walked her outside. He was furious with her. "I told you to stay in the car. What's the matter with you? You so curious you're willing to get somebody killed?"

Melanie opened her mouth to talk and then closed it again. Finally she answered meekly. "I'm sorry."

"Well, yeah…" he said disdainfully, "look I'm not willing to get myself shot over your research. Maybe you need to find somebody else to ride with."

"No, wait…please. It has to be you…." She pleaded.

Jim did a double take. "What?" he asked incredulously. "No, I don't think I want to hear it. You can watch me do all the paperwork on this down at the station and then maybe I'll listen. Until then, please….just keep you mouth shut."

Melanie nodded. She knew she had stepped way over the line. But she was awestruck; he had put himself between her and the murderer. One the one hand, he was just doing his job. On the other, he was a hero….again. Quietly, she got back into his car and waited patiently for the ride back to the station.

-----------------------------------------------

Okay, is she irritating enough?