I own nothing but Nicki.

Chapter 28

"If you have tears, be ready to cry."

Nicki had just left Oswald's apartment an hour ago, and now, back at her own, she was growing more restless by the second. The place Falcone had secured for her was nice, and very close to the club. It was convenient but it kept her in a very concentrated area if all she was doing was going to work and staying home, which was pretty much all she would do unless she accompanied Zsaz on his assignments. It wasn't exactly her favorite thing to do, but it was at least nice to get to spend more time with him. She thought that being a part of the Falcone family would mean more time with her brother, but between her work and his they saw each other about as much as they had before.

She could go visit him now. He should be wrapping up a money dispute by the river. Where had he said he was meeting the guy? On 5th by the old abandoned gas station?

That's only a few blocks from Bellamonte's… a voice in the back of her mind said. Nicki shook her head. No, no , no, she had to be strong. She would see them all soon enough. But maybe just a little peek through the window. Just to…check on things?

She could feel her resolve weaken. That wouldn't be so bad would it? As long as no one saw her?

Against her better judgment, she moved to snag some black clothes out of the closet and pull on her black boots.

"Time for some fresh air," she muttered to herself.

Nicki moved down the street in long, striding steps. She had left her bike at home, feeling that she would be more subtle on her feet. It was a longer walk than she had anticipated, but she didn't mind that. She did mind how anxious she felt. The closer she got to the territory line, the harder she could feel her heart beating. It made her frustrated to think she was so nervous. She had on all black, a trenchcoat and leggings, and a hat to shadow her face. Surely no one would-

"Nicki?"

She froze at the familiar voice. Perhaps she hadn't been as well disguised as she had thought. With a sigh she turned around and took the Fedora off of her head, shaking loose her hair that she had tucked inside of it. "Hey Harvey," she muttered, rolling her eyes.

Harvey Bullock laughed and crossed his arms over his chest. "Don't act so happy to see me," he joked.

Her expression softened. "I'm always happy to see you, you big lug." She tucked her free hand into her pocket and began twirling the hat around her hand, her eyes following the motion of it. Harvey watched the movement as well, his eye brows knitting together beneath his own hat.

"You were up to something and I caught you right?" he asked matter-of-factly. There was a playfulness in his tone but when Nicki looked up to meet his gaze, she saw that his face didn't reflect it. She didn't respond, her lips pressing together into a hard line. Harvey's eyes narrowed. "What? You're just not going to answer me?"

"I should be going." There was a finality in her response that Harvey couldn't miss. He gave her an incredulous look as she placed the fedora back on her head and started marching past him in the direction she had come.

"No no no no no," he said, catching her by the arm and turning her to face him. She glared at him but made no sign of protest. "What's gotten into you lately? I don't see you for years and now I run into you twice to find out that you've switched sides on the families. And you always have this look on your face like your dog just died. I mean, we used to practically be partners and now you can't even have a civil conversation with me?" For a moment she just glared at him, but when he refused to break eye contact, she averted her gaze, suddenly becoming extremely interested in the pavement. Harvey grunted and let go of her arm. "Fine. Be like that then princess," he muttered scornfully. He took the hat from his head and rubbed his forehead with his fist. "I'm gonna get a drink," he moaned, turning to start towards the bar across the street.

Nicki watched him cross the road. Watched him put his hand on the door handle. Watched him start to open it.

"Wait!" her teary cry came across the street to the man and made him pause. He turned around to see her flooded eyes pleading to him for the other side of the road. "I'm not in the Maroni family anymore." Her voice was barely loud enough to reach him.

With a sigh, he motioned for her to join him. "It looks like you could use a drink too."

"So now I work for Fish," Nicki finished, wrapping her hands around the sweating beer glass. She had just told Harvey everything. Well, everything about how Falcone had all but black mailed her into joining them. She had left out the plan with Oswald to overthrow Fish, knowing full well that Bullock was…close…with the woman.

"Damn," Harvey took a swig of his own beer and shook his head. "That's really rough." Nicki nodded and took a sip of her drink, making a face at the bitter taste. She hated beer, but Harvey had ordered it for both of them as soon as they walked in and she wasn't about to turn it down. "But hey, there are worst fates then ending up with Fish Mooney though, am I right?"

There it was…it was an attempt at comforting, or at least the closest thing the man could really do, but it still stung Nicki like a bee sting and she took another sip to hide the involuntary scowl on her face.

"Yeah, I guess so."

She traced her finger around the rim of her glass and the cop watched her for a moment before trying a different tactic. "Hey! Do you remember the first time Fish got you all dolled up? You met up with me afterwards to tip me off on that drug deal downtown and I didn't even recognize you 'cuz I'd never seen you actually look like a girl before!" He gave a hearty chuckle at the memory and Nicki felt herself smile as well.

"Oh my God," she replied. "And I was an hour late because it took her so long to teach me how to use that stupid eyelash curler." She giggled.

"No, you were an hour late because you couldn't walk in those god forsaken heels she put you in." Harvey shot her a wink and her giggles turned into full blown laughter. He joined in, slapping her on the back and adding, "You looked like a new born colt stumbling around on those stilts!"

Barely able to speak, Nicki sputtered out, "She made me walk around the block in them about ten times so I would get used to them. And it took that long too!"

"Yeah but now look at you," he said, wiping his eyes. Their laughter started to ease. "I've watched you jump rooftops in those things. And you use them as a better weapon than most people use a knife."

"Trademark Fish Mooney," Nicki said, fondly. "She always said they were, 'the one weapon nobody was ever gonna confiscate'." She did her best to imitate the woman's low, sexy voice, but fell short. No one could do Fish Mooney like Fish Mooney.

Harvey laughed anyways. "She's a bad girl, but she's a GOOD woman."

Nicki didn't lose her smile, but her brow furrowed. "Yeah," she said in a troubled voice. "She really is." As angry as she was the woman, she couldn't help but acknowledge all the good that had come from her time at Mooney's. It almost made her reevaluate all of the plotting she had been doing with Oswald. Almost.

Harvey gave her a funny look and she quickly shot him a smile. "So how are things down at the GCPD?"

Harvey groaned and rubbed his face roughly with his hands. "Essen is pairing up with new white knight of Gotham. I swear this kid's gonna be the death of me."

"You got a new partner?"

"Yeah. Gordon. John, or maybe James? I don't know. I only met him once and I already can't stand him." Harvey took a swig of his beer and Nikci smirked.

"Yeah, cops that are trying to do some good? The worst." Her tone was dripping with sarcasm and Bullock narrowed his eyes at her.

"You say that like half of them don't work for your old man," she snorted and forced herself to take another drink. Harvey continued, "The problem with him isn't that he's trying to do good or anything. It's just that he thinks he's going to come in and clean everything up. And it's just not that easy."

"Or you would have done it already." She tried to exchange glances with him but Harvey just turned back to his drink. For a moment he didn't respond, and when he did, it was just about how piss warm the beer was. Nicki smirked and half-heartedly agreed.

Hey guys! I am SO SORRY that I haven't posted in so long. I promise that I'm getting back to it now. With finishing up everything for graduation I had zero time. But NOW I AM OFFICIALLY A COLLEGE GRADUATE WITH THREE DEGREES! WHOO! Thank you all for reading and for sticking with me! I love and appreciate you so so so much!