Character(s): Danny, Angell
Pairing(s): Danny/Angell
Rating: K+
Summary: Post-ep for 3x01. "Case closed and I'm no longer the rookie. You owe me a drink, Messer"
Warning(s): Pairing may offend? No flames, please. Next one will be different

Danny stopped by the 12th precinct, case report in hand. It had been a bitch to fill out, having to list all the chemicals that had gone into the acid that the vic had taken. It was one thing he hated about girls; their desperation to be popular and liked. He shook his head, ridding himself of the thoughts. It was common practice to completely forget about cases after they were tied up - if you couldn't switch off, all the crime, the misery cops dealt with... it drove them crazy.

"You just gonna stand my desk all day, Messer, or are you gonna leave me your report?"

Danny turned to see Detective Angell stood behind him, arms folded across her blue tank-top, a smirk playing across her lips. She had an air of self-confidence about the young Detective - and quite rightly, too. It was tough for a guy to make Detective Third-Grade at twenty-six, let alone a woman. Her tough-as-nails attitude and sarcasm were ledgendary in the NYPD, and Danny was pretty sure that most of the guys had dreamt about her at least twice. But God forbid her catching anyone staring. If your balls were in a vice, you'd better hope like hell that it wasn't Angell's hand on the lever.

"Cute. No, I was just gonna drop it off and hit O'Malley's - looks like O'Reilly's buyin' the first round." He informed her casually.

She grinned. "Oh, yeah - I heard about his takedown. Striaght into the trash pile, am I right?"

"Uh, the smell from the lockeroom says yes. So, you joining us?"

Angell weighed up the proposition for a moment, before responding. "Case closed and I'm no longer the rookie. You owe me a drink, Messer."

Messer chuckled. "I think I can manage that."

*****

The bar was loud and busy when the two Detectives arrived. If Danny had been with Stella or Lindsay, they would have pulled a face, and left, with the promise of rearranging. But no, not Angell. Instead, she mixed straight into the groups of men, holding her own with ease. Reaching the bar, she leaned against the surface and called their orders to the barman, before turning back to Danny. "You're having Guiness."

"I don't drink Guiness." he argued.

Her eyes narrowed. "Messer, this is an Irish bar. You're going to drink the Guiness, and you're going to like it, okay?"

He shrugged. "Fine."

As they collected their drinks, she tucked a hand into his and pulled him to the booth in the corner, where it was a little quieter. When they sat, he didn't remove his hand. "So... I take it working under Benton didn't kill you, then?"

She scowled. "It's not the only way he wanted me under him. Bastard groped me twice. I warned him if he did it again, I'd shoot him in the goddamn balls and be happy about it."

A laugh escaped his lips, catching her attention.

"Oh, funny, is it?"

He held her gaze, studding her face. Her skin was clear and bright - clearly not a smoker. Her hair fell around her face in soft curls, her eyes glittering brilliantly. "Um... no, not really."

She blushed.

*****

The air was cold as they strolled down the street, and she shivered slightly. Despite it being September, the temperature had definately dropped. Without thinking, he tucked his jacket around her shoulders, allowing his arm to linger there.

She leaned into him, her head resting against his shoulder. They weren't talking, just walking slowly along the sidewalk. Her perfume smelt slightly of vanilla, but it was tainted by her strawberry shampoo. She wasn't one of the girls to make sure all her scents matched, and tht she was co-ordinated, His hand settled on her shoulder, pulling her close. "You know, Detective Angell..."

He didn't manage to finish his sentence before she leaned towards him, her lips pressinbg against his lightly. His hand tangled in her hair, holding her there.

She stepped back, a slight smile on her lips. "See you at work, Detective."

He watched her leave in shock, and mild euphoria. Man, she's good.