A/N: Don'cha just hate it when your muse won't shut up long enough to let you get some sleep? Anyway, thanks for the reviews and you know what to do with this one.

Chapter 16

"I gotta admit, you sure have interesting ways of having meetings," Randi said between kisses.

Mac chuckled. "With our work schedule these days, I do what I can."

They were amid a small grove of trees at a quiet park, mostly hidden by passerby's, snuggled on a blanket swiped from Mac's car, and had just had a nice, quiet take-out lunch-picnic that Mac had designated as a "scheduled meeting" which was really a way of getting time with each other. Due to some cases that had crossed Mac's desk and Randi trying to get the storage room contract done, they hadn't had much time together.

"Gotta give you credit for creativity," she said, giggling and then moaning softly as Mac's lips found her neck.

"Oh, please do," he replied, working his way back up her neck to her mouth again.

After a moment or two more of this rather pleasurable activity, Mac reluctantly sat back. "I'd better cool it or I'm going to have to wear my jacket buttoned up for the rest of the day," he explained at Randi's raised eyebrows.

She looked down and grinned. Yeah, he had a problem, all right. Mind you, so did she, except hers wasn't nearly as visible. "Okay, I'll behave," she said, smiling.

"Is that possible?" he asked, raising one eyebrow. She smacked his arm in retaliation and he laughed, tackling her to the blanket. She struggled playfully for a minute before giving up.

"Wiseass. But I warn you, bud, we are going to have to do something, soon, or we're going to have more than just a minor belt problem," she said.

He grinned mischievously. "Oh, I'm sure you'll think of something."

She glared at him. "I hate you," she said, not really meaning it.

"Nope, you like me and I know you do," he replied, his grin going even wider.

Back at the precinct, Mac and Randi discretely parted ways, but not before he gave her another bone-melting kiss in the car that left her aching with need.

Now Randi was pissed off and it was mostly Mac's fault with some help from Officer Andrew. Flack had told her about the incident between Candy and Officer Andrews yesterday and had mentioned he'd spoken to Andrews' supervisor about the man's behavior. She had spoken to Candy about it and the woman had, understandably, been upset.

"Look, I don't want to cause you no trouble. I'd rather quit than do that," Candy had said.

"Not gonna happen. I need you too damn much to let you quit over some mealy-mouthed cop with an attitude problem," Randi had replied calmly. "Put it this way, you leave and I'm afraid Angel will have a nervous breakdown, never mind me." She put a comforting arm around the woman and said, "I'll deal with him, and I promise you, this will not happen again."

Randi had to wait until the next day to talk to Andrews' supervisor, Lieutenant Grazer, because he'd been called away and hadn't gotten back by the time she and Candy left for the day. Wisely, she'd made an appointment with the man via phone and was now on her way to see him.

Feeling a need for a bit of formality and comfort, Randi had decided to go the traditional route in her clothing today. She had chosen to wear a traditional Japanese garment called a haori, which was a short kimono that fell to about hip-length. Her haori had been custom-made by a grateful Japanese client some months back, and had knee-length butterfly sleeves. The fabric was an eggplant background with morning glory flowers and leaves outlined in gold. The sleeves and bottom were edged with a wide band in soft cream and gold. Over top she wore a traditional obi wide belt in light purple and gold, and tied with an eggplant-colored obi-jime belt, which was a small, braided cord. At the collar she wore a cream-colored eri-sugata, which was the collar of a jaban, a kimono traditionally worn under the main kimono. Also observing tradition, Randi had wrapped her haori left over right. Right over left was reserved for burial wear of the dead.

Since the haori was the focus of her outfit, the rest of her clothing was very simple. She wore snug white pants and white ankle boots. Gold butterfly earrings hung from her ears and her hair was swept up in a knot and held in place with pretty combs and a few well-placed pins.

"I understand your concern, Randi, and I assure you, Andrews has been formally reprimanded for his behavior towards your secretary. She will not be treated like that again," Grazer said. They faced each other over his desk, both seated. Randi had been polite and he was extending her the same courtesy. After all, she had a right to be angry and Grazer had to admit he was not happy about Andrews's behavior either.

"I appreciate that, Lieutenant, and I'm sure Candy will as well. She's a good person and, quite frankly, I need her. I don't need her being scared or upset by a cop who can't watch his mouth," Randi said. "She even offered to quit to avoid causing me trouble."

"Randi, no insult intended, but you are trouble," Grazer said, smiling.

"Yeah, but the rest of the world don't know that yet," she said, winking and grinning.

Satisfied that the Andrews problem was taken care of on the supervisory level, Randi decided to let things go, that was until she saw Andrews in the squad room. He sneered at her and her temper rose.

Fine, she thought. You want to act like an ass, fine; I can act like a bitch. I can also kill two birds with one stone.

Randi walked right up to him and looked at him square in the face, hands on her hips.

"What do you want?" he asked, glaring at her.

"To clarify a few things, bub," Randi said, glaring right back. "I don't know what your problem is, but let's get something straight," she said, her voice rising. "Don't you ever speak to Candy like you did yesterday! She didn't deserve your treatment, nor did she need it! I don't know what your problem is, buddy, but you better damn well get it fixed, fast." By now the squad room had gone quiet, which had been her intention. Hands on her hips, feet spread, she looked around the room at the officers, fire in her eyes. "Let's get one thing straight right here, right now! I am doing your muckity-mucks upstairs a favor by literally cleaning out a storeroom that has junk in it going back to the 1920's! And in order to do the job and do it properly and in a timely fashion means I need my secretary more than I need your attitude problem! I will not tolerate her being treated with disrespect in any form or fashion! Hell, I need both girls and will not tolerate either of them being treated badly just because you bozos are having a bad day! Say what you want about me, but I catch either girl being bad-mouthed again and those jackasses upstairs can clean up their own damn mess! AM I CLEAR?" she finished off yelling, using her hand for emphasis.

There was silence. Then a couple of the cops nodded mutely. She nodded, satisfied. "Good. Then lets not have this conversation again, shall we?" she said, looking pointedly at Andrews, who looked like he wished he could crawl under his desk and stay there until the sun died.

Standing nearby, mouths open, were Angel and Candy. They'd heard the yelling from Reception and had decided to investigate.

Angel was wearing a nice blood-red suit and a black camisole shirt with the words Witch by nature, Bitch by choice in white on the shirt. Shiny black patent shoes were on her feet and a silver pentagram pendant was around her neck on a nice black velvet choker. Now that Stewart was gone, she had taken to showing her Wiccan pride more and more; something Randi had no problems with, finding comfort in what she considered a gentle religion.

Taking her cues from Randi and Angel, Candy had gone for a traditional African tunic called a Kanga in beautiful blues, greens, and blacks, with a matching headscarf, and simple black slacks. She also wore black spike heeled boots.

Randi joined them and accepted Fabio's leash, bending down to give her pet an affectionate head-rub. Candy had the leashes to her three Chihuahuas and they demanded to be petted too, which she did. The Three Sweeties had taken to Fabio like superglue and Fabio, in turn, loved playing with them. Their antics had caused no end of laughter amongst the three women.

Now the three women walked away, dogs trotting beside them and the officers quickly cleared their way. As soon as they were out of earshot of the squad room, Candy looked at Randi, who was making a vain attempt to calm down.

"Damn girl, what bee got in your bouquet today?" Candy asked.

Randi looked around and made sure nobody was listening before muttering, her face going red, "Combination sexual frustration and PMS. I needed somebody to pick on and Andrews made himself an easy target."

Angel and Candy cracked up.