A/N: Apparently Detective Angell's name is Jessica, but since I started this with Jennifer I am going to finish it that way. Thanks for reading and huge thanks to mel60 for beta-ing!

She knew Flack's schedule better than she cared to admit. This thought crosses Jennifer's mind the instant she saw him sitting at his desk, on her way out for the night, and knew he shouldn't have been there. While the cases they worked together were few and far between Angell looked forward to the informal routine they had fallen into that ensured their paths crossed regularly. Flack almost always stopped by her desk to see how her day was going, and knowing his affinity for Boston crème doughnuts she'd occasionally bring him one at the beginning of her shift.

After their 'moment' – which is how she'd come to describe their conversation outside the building that somehow acknowledged they were noticing each other in a different way - she wasn't sure if things would become awkward between them. Instead, they had moved into a comfortable friendship zone, though it was laden with minefields of attraction that threatened to explode with every glance or accidental touch.

But Jennifer quickly learned to diffuse those moments by laughing them off or acting like her body didn't go into overdrive. Plus, Flack seemed totally unaffected by it all. Sometimes, though, she would swear she could feel his eyes on her from across the room or hear his breath hitch when they stood close together. But the next second his head was down focused on work or his breathing back to normal while they moved onto the next topic of conversation - her mind seemingly imaging things.

"I thought you were off today," she said as she approached him.

Flack briefly lifted his head from the chaos of files on his desk, but even the very attractive sight of Jennifer Angell couldn't lift his spirits. He was having a shitty day. Seeing Jennifer made his day slightly less shitty, but shitty nonetheless. There was no other way for Flack to describe it. He had spent the past several hours helping Danny break all kinds of conduct codes by looking for Ollie Barnes and now he'd have to arrest Ruben's mom, destroying an already grieving Danny even more.

He'd started off his day on such a good note by running into Jennifer at the crime scene, that he would have never expected it to turn out as horribly as it did. Then, he'd done his best to fight the smile that threatened to cover his face at seeing her. Now you couldn't pay him to smile. He hated the position he found himself in – stuck in the murky grey area of being a good cop to a good friend. He finally understood how difficult it must have been for Mac to take his log last year during his investigation into a dirty cop. It was no fun carrying the burdens of friendship and professional responsibility at the same time.

Flack knew he could talk to Jennifer about what had happened with Danny. He trusted her. Their conversations had slowly but surely evolved from jokes and cases to life outside of work – favorite teams, hobbies, movies, music, politics. He was getting to know 'Jennifer' and not just 'Detective Angell' – and he liked what he was learning. Her reputation of being a tough cop had preceded her and he'd come to admire her ruthless pursuit of suspects and unforgiving attitude with criminals. He was surprised to discover another side of her – the side that exuded sympathy for victims and their families and the heartbreak over a failed case.

It was this complex mixture of hard and soft, hot and cold that made it difficult for Flack to know if there was something more behind their stares across the precinct that went unacknowledged or the way they tested the limits of each other's personal space. But he had too much on his mind to think about any of that right now. Later, though, might be good to think about it…with her.

"Yeah, something came up with Danny. It's a long story. How about I tell you later over an Irish coffee?"

His eyes held hers, and Jennifer sensed a small challenge in his tone. Going for a drink with Flack was definitely a step. Towards what she wasn't sure but she knew she felt inexplicably giddy and unaccountably nervous. She briefly shifted her eyes because she couldn't quite look directly at him and think clearly. But it only took a second for her to admit she wanted to take that step.

"I think I know just the place."

Flack relaxed for what felt like the first time that day, though his respite quickly ended when he saw Danny and Rikki Sandoval enter the precinct.

--

"How? How can I do that?"

Danny's question about not feeling guilty had gone unanswered by Flack because he knew there was no good response, and two hours later it was still running through his mind. He felt so fatigued by the past day and could only imagine how difficult it must have been for Danny. Hopefully he would be with Lindsay tonight – the company of a nice, strong woman could ease any worry.

Flack looked at his watch, noting the late hour, as he walked dejectedly down the hallway. He'd spent so long with Rikki Sandoval, making sure that everything went as smoothly as he promised Danny, that he'd lost his chance for Irish coffee with a nice, strong woman of his own. Hopefully Jennifer would take him up on his offer for drinks sometime soon again.

As he turned the corner he froze in his tracks as an unexpected sight made him realize he wouldn't have to wait as long as he'd thought. There, sitting on a bench outside the interrogation room, doing Sudoku puzzles in the empty hallway, was Jennifer Angell. Flack squinted at her, first to make sure she was actually there and then to consider why she was still there. Her shift ended hours ago and she knew he would be tied up with Rikki. She shouldn't be there, right? Was she pulled into a case? Was she there for him? Nothing was making sense to him.

"What are you still doing here?" he finally asked as he walked up to her.

"Things looked pretty intense back there with Danny," she said, hopefully evading his question as to why she felt compelled to wait for him - concern and a longing for something she couldn't quite define.

"Yeah." With a deep sigh, Flack ran a hand over his face, exhausted and discouraged at the past twelve hours. Intense was definitely a good word.

"You still want that drink?"

"Sure."

With a smile Angell nodded towards the door and started walking. Flack stayed and watched her. He needed for something to make sense amid the mess of an innocent boy's death, a grieving mom taking justice into her own hands, and the blurry lines of friendship and work - and he was going to start with Angell. They'd been seemingly testing the waters since that car ride not so long ago and now was the time to take the plunge. Flack grabbed her elbow.

"Jen, why do you think I asked you for a drink tonight?"

Her brows creased and lips pouted in confusion and surprise at Flack's unexpected question. "It's been a long day. It'll help us unwind."

"I asked because I'm interested in you."

"Oh." Her mind scrambled as she realized her imagination hadn't been getting the best of her. "I wasn't sure."

"Now you know."

"Do I?"

To prove his point he cupped her face, bent his head and brushed his mouth lightly across hers. Jennifer's mouth fell open. Flack had kissed her. As casual as it was, he had kissed her. Just like that. She stared at him, chills of anticipation shot through her. She had imagined this moment when she allowed her fantasies get the best of her. But as things stood now she wasn't dreaming. But she was blushing. And she was barely able to look at him.

"Flack…" she finally managed to say breathlessly. Before she could continue he silenced her by kissing her again. Only this time he kissed her hard. After recovering from the surprise Jennifer put her arms around Flack's neck and kissed him back. Hard. It was unlike any other kiss she had ever experienced. Jennifer felt herself being crowded against the wall. One of Flack's hands was cradling her waist and the other braced against the wall behind her as he leaned into her. The warmth from his body was overwhelming. She felt hot all over. His thumb moved over her jawbone, tracing her face as if he was committing it to memory. She clutched at his shoulders as his tongue slid into her mouth.

She wasn't sure how long they stayed like that but when Flack pulled back they were both panting for breath and their grip on each other seemed to be the only thing holding them up. Angell looked up at him and found herself staring straight into raw, hot energy.

"I'm interested." He said against her mouth. "Very."