Notes: Finally, the end of the story. I'm sad to see it go, but I can almost guarantee that this won't be my last foray into CI fandom. There are a few bunnies jumping around in my brain, but finals are coming up, so I'm not sure when I'll be able to get to them, so I'm not going to give a time frame.

Prompt: Kindness


Chapter 11 – Truth

They haven't even been working with their new captain for eight months before he calls them into his office and asks about the rumors that are flying around the entire department. They can see in his eyes his hope that they will deny everything so he can get on with his life and not have to split up his best team.

But they are done with lying and hiding and pretending, so she tells the captain that if they were to deny the rumors, then they would be lying and when he looks shocked she tells him that he demanded an honest answer and that's what he got.

She looks to the man seated beside her as he starts to reason with the captain. They haven't let their personal relationship interfere with work in the time that they've been together so what makes him think that something will change now? They were the squad's best team before they found their way to each other and they are still the squad's best team many months afterwards. They've become skilled at separating the personal and professional aspects of their partnership.

The captain just shakes his head and looks at them almost kindly and tells them that he wishes he were able to turn a blind eye but he can't and that he will have to inform the brass of their conduct. He tells them that he will go to bat for them but that they shouldn't get their hopes up because he's not sure he's owed enough favors to ensure their continuing partnership.

What he leaves unspoken is something that all three of them know. If the brass push for their reassignment, they will both resign and then the squad and the department will be without them. A few hours later, that threat is deemed unnecessary by the Chief of Detectives. The brass will turn a blind eye as long as their solve rate continues to go unchallenged and they will pretend that they don't know that their two best detectives love each other, that they go home together at night, that they share a bed.

She smiles at the thought of not having to pretend anymore and finds it oddly ironic that they spent so long trying to fool the brass and now the brass are trying twice as hard to fool themselves.


The End

Thanks for reading, everybody. I appreciate each and every comment you guys have left me, even if I didn't respond to them. Thank you so, so much for making my first trip into CI fic enjoyable. :)