A/N So I've been spending most of my time writing, if only I spent this much time on school..
Previously:
"Thanks for tonight, Jake." She kissed him on his cheek and smiled when she saw him blush profusely.
"You're welcome."
"Have fun with your collection." She smiled before going in.
…
"So, how was your date yesterday?" Sam asked, they had made many jokes about it after Jake and Allison left.
"It was nice, I had fun. Haven't laughed so much in a long while."
"Is there going to be a second date?" Ed asked.
"Nah, he wasn't my type." She smiled at Wordy as he walked in.
"So, Jake told me you got him back some Star Wars thing."
"Yeah, I made a bet and won."
"Told me you kissed him, too." That got everyone's attention.
"Yep." She smiled at them, she'd let Jake have this one.
"What kind of kiss?" Allison laughed at him.
"I don't kiss and tell, Spike."
"Ah, come on.."
…
"Thanks, for going with Jake." Wordy said when he was alone with Allison in the car.
"You're welcome, he's a great guy. I just like them a little less, nerdy."
"I know. He just hasn't had many dates." Allison raised his eyebrows. "Okay, maybe like 1.."
"I figured. He's a nice guy, with different shoes, lenses and maybe a different shirt he would get more dates."
"Keep telling him that, he doesn't listen to me. Did you really kiss him?"
"Do you want me to say it again, Wordy? I don't kiss and tell."
"It's just.. he's not your type.. and you still kissed him.." He was making sure she didn't string along his brother, it was sweet.
"Okay, fine but you can't tell the other guys or let Jake know you know."
"Okay."
"Promise me."
"I promise."
"It was just a kiss on his cheek, I didn't make out with him. Satisfied?"
"Yes, thanks."
…
"So, Jules.. are you feeling the pressure? I'm actually looking forward to your date."
"Pressure? What's pressure?" She smiled at Allison. "Do me a favor though."
"What's that?" She opened her locker and took off her coat.
"Put on that dress." Jules said and pointed to Allison's locker. Damian's dress was still hanging in it.
"Hmm, only if this guy is special."
"He is, I think he's exactly who you're looking for."
"Fine , but if he throws wine on my dress you're paying for the drycleaning."
"Okay." Allison smiled and shook her head while she continued to get into her uniform.
…
Allison walked out of the locker-room in her dress, everyone turned around and looked at her.
"Wow, that's quite the dress." Wordy smiled at her.
"Thanks."
Ed looked her up and down thoroughly. From her heels, up her calves all the way up to blond strands of hair on her shoulders when he reached her eyes and saw she noticed he looked away.
"So, Jules.. Where's your guy?" Zoë looked around, seeing no one but team one.
"He called and said he's a little late, he asked for you to wait at the restaurant."
"Sure, where?"
"I'll text you the address, just go to your car." Allison smiled before leaving.
…
"Ed." Jules stopped him just before he got into the locker-room. "I need a favor."
"Sure, anything. You saved my life today." He smiled at her.
"Be Allison's date." He looked confused."The guy I had.. he just cancelled, please.." She lied, she'd been planning this all along.
"Sure, I'll just change. Still got a suit in my locker, don't need a tie, right?"
"No, just dress shirt and jacket will be good. Thanks Ed, you're a life saver."
…
Allison was drinking a glass of wine at the bar, she had been sitting there for just a couple of minutes when her phone vibrated.
'Hey, your perfect guy is on his way. Give him 15.'
'Sure, but he better be worth it.'
'He is.'
She smiled and put her phone away.
It wasn't even 15 minutes when Ed walked inside the restaurant. Allison had her back towards him, he gave himself a few seconds. He looked her up and down once more, he was a sucker for those blue eyes of hers. He walked towards her and put his hand on her back.
"Hey, Ally." She turned around when she heard Ed's voice. She looked him up and down, she'd only seen him in a suit on a security detail they did last week.
"hey, are you my date?"
"I am." He smiled at her. "Are you ready? You can take your wine with you."
"Yeah." They followed the waiter to a table.
"So, Jules asked you?" Allison asked after a couple of minutes.
"Yeah, said the actual date couldn't make it and she needed me to save the day." He drank from his wine.
"I think she lied to you."
"How's that?"
"I think she planned this all along."
"Why's that?"
"Because she thinks you're my type."
"Am I?" She wasn't sure what to say, so she drank from her wine to buy herself some time and maybe a little courage.
"Yes."
"I am?" She smiled at him.
"Yes, Ed. You are." He looked a little smugly at her.
"Hmm, you're not mine." He said dead serious.
"That's too bad."
"You're actually the complete opposite."
"Don't have to rub it in." She joked.
"But the thing is, I'm attracted to you anyway. You look gorgeous, by the way."
"Thank you, you look pretty hot yourself. Wait.. what is your type?"
"Brunette, not a cop, not so.. sassy."
"Sassy?"
"Yeah.."
"I'm not sassy."
"Are you kidding me?" He laughed. "You're the most sassy woman I know."
"Is that supposed to be a compliment?"
"Yes."
"Doesn't feel like it."
"It is." He took hold of her hand from across the table. "So, am I doing better than my date so far?"
"No." He raised his eyebrows. "I had to grab a cab here and you were 15 minutes late."
"That wasn't my fault.. Jules told me after you'd left."
"Hmm, and you call me sassy."
"It's a compliment, and the truth. So, tell me about yourself. We've been working together for a yeah and I only know that you're from New York."
"Yep, born and raised." She continued to tell him about the bad neighborhood she grew up in and the corner store her parents own. "They still have it."
"How're they doing?"
"My dad's been robbed like a million times."
"Does he call the police?"
"They don't come, not where I'm from. They think it's too dangerous because of the gangs."
"Is that why you became a cop?"
"Yes. It's our job, you can't get to choose what neighborhood you do and don't."
"Has it gotten any better since then?"
"Worse, my parents want to move out. They used to say, it's our neighborhood. We're not going anywhere, you grew up here. I think they're looking for options right now, but moving costs a lot of money, they need to sell the store.. They just don't have it right now."
…
"So, I'm glad your original date cancelled." Ed smiled as he walked her up.
"I think you are my original date, but I'm glad you showed up. I really had a good time."
"Yeah, me too."
"Eventhough I'm not your type?"
"Eventhough you're not my type."
They stopped at her door. He took her body language in before leaning in and kissing her. He wanted to keep it brief but feeling her lips he knew he couldn't. They were both a little out of breath when she pulled back. One hand was still on his cheek and the other in his neck.
"Would you accept if I'd ask you out on a second date?" He smiled, he couldn't make himself remove his hands from her hips.
"Try me."
"I would like to go out to dinner with you again, do you have time this weekend?"
"No." He looked dumbfounded. "But I'll make time." He smiled, relieved.
"Sounds like a plan. I'll see you at work, tomorrow." He turned to walk away but Allison stopped him by grabbing his wrist. "Ally.. I have to go, it's getting late and we both have to get up early."
"I know, just if anyone asks how our date was.. We're just friends.."
"Rules?" She nodded, he gave her a quick kiss on her cheek. "Okay, but we're still on for this weekend, right?"
She nodded, smiled at him and went inside. She closed the door and leaned against it, cursing herself for the butterflies in her stomach. She still had a broad smile on her face when she went to bed, she couldn't wipe it away.
…
"Morning." Allison said when she saw Jules in the locker-room.
"Morning, how'd it go with your perfect guy?"
"He didn't show, Ed was there instead."
"Ed isn't your perfect guy?" Jules said surprised.
"Nah, he's my friend." Allison turned away so Jules couldn't read her face.
"The best relationships start from friendship."
"I'm sure they do."
"You should give him a shot.." Jules said while they were walking towards the gym.
"First of all, he doesn't want a shot. Second, I don't want to. Third, it's against the rules."
"What is against the rules?" Ed asked as he walked up behind them.
"You are." Allison smiled at him, her mind flashing to last night's kiss. "Jules thinks we should date." Jules glared at her.
"Does she now?"
"M-hm, says the best relationships starts with friendship."
"You the dating guru now?" Ed asked Jules.
"I just thought you would be good for each other."
"Well, we're not." Ed smiled at Allison.
"Then how was dinner last night?" Jules asked while getting on the bike.
"We had fun." They both said at the same time.
"You had a date with Ed?" Wordy said surprised.
"No." They said at the same time again.
"Did you pay?" Jules asked Ed, trying to prove it was a date.
"No, I didn't. We split the bill." He lied, Jules sighed.
"Really? Geez, cheapskate." Jules replied, Allison had begun running to stop herself from laughing at Jules.
"I'm not.. we're just friends.. Why would I pay?"
…
"I gotta tell you something." Ed said when he and Allison were in the car together on patrol the next day. He cut his microphone.
"What's that?" She followed his example, assuming it would be personal.
"Sorry."
"For?"
"Setting you up with Damian."
"Ed, it's fine. It's not like you did it on purpose."
"I kind of did." She looked over at him.
"You did?"
"Yes, but I swear I didn't think he was going to make you pay. I just knew he wasn't the greatest guy."
"Why are you telling me?"
"I feel guilty, after you told me about your parents and you helping them out with the rent.."
"Why did you set me up with him?"
"I didn't want you to have a great time. It was actually pretty hard tracking him down."
"I want to be mad at you, but it's a nice feeling that you were jealous."
"I wasn't jealous."
"Oh?"
"Okay, maybe a little." He smiled at her.
"Really though, telling Jules we split the bill?"
"Worked didn't it?"
"Now she thinks you're cheap."
"She can think that all she wants, I don't care what she thinks."
"You don't care what anyone thinks."
"Sure I do."
"Ow yeah?"
"Yeah.."
"Who?"
"You, I care what you think."
"Smooth." She smiled at him.
"So, you've got a date with Spike's guy tonight."
"Yep." She looked outside, knowing the smile on her face would betray her. He was being jealous again.
"So, uuh, know anything about him?"
"Nope, but I'm sure Spike picked out a great guy." He gripped the steering wheel a little tighter.
"Are you going to kiss him?" She was still looking outside, her smile growing wider.
"Probably."
"Why?" His voice was becoming slightly strained.
"Because if he's nice and I like him I might feel like it. Test the waters, so to speak."
"Why would you want to test the waters?"
"Maybe there'll be a second date." She said casually, glancing at him briefly before looking back outside. "I might just ask him in for a cup of coffee." She was teasing him.
"A cup of.. what about me?"
"What about you?" She looked at him, feigning a confused look.
"We're still on for Saturday, right?"
"Yes, what I can't date anyone but you?"
"Well, yeah."
"Wow, getting really controlling, Ed."
"It's just, I don't want you kissing some other guy."
"Why not?"
"Because.. we're dating." Her smile threatened to come out, he noticed. "What are you smiling at?"
"I'm not smiling."
"No, you're trying, not to smile." The smile broke through.
"You're cute, you know that?"
"I'm not cute."
"Sure you are, you're worried I might kiss some other guy."
"No.. I'm.."
"Yes you are, you're cute and sweet. Deal with it."
"I'm not, I'm a cop. I'm your team leader, I'm tough."
"You have two sides, you're sweet, funny and cute. And then in front of the team you're tough, manly, serious and.. bossy." He glared at her. "Don't worry, I have no interest in kissing other guys."
"You don't?" She was about to answer when they heard Sam requesting back-up.
They both switched the microphone on again before responding and turning on the lights.
…
"Really, Sam, Spike.. You needed help for this?" Ed said once they got out of the car. Sam and Spike were struggling to keep a guy down on the ground.
"Just help will you?"
Ed and Allison approached just as they lost their grip on the guy. The guy burst free and moved towards Ed and Allison. Ed grabbed his gun while Allison stepped forward and hit him with the palm of her hand just under his ribcage. Hitting his Solar Plexus, he couldn't breathe and fell down on the ground, gasping for air. Spike got up from the ground and cuffed him before putting him in the car.
"Really, guys?" Ed asked, still unsure what Allison had done. "The girl had to come help you?" That earned a look from all three of his teammates. "No offense.." He told Allison.
"Sure, just for that, I'm driving." She took the keys out of his hand.
"Aah, Ally, come on. You're a terrible driver and you know it."
"That's cause I'm a girl." She smiled at him as she got in the car, she lowered the passenger-side window. "You can ride with me or you can walk back." Ed quickly got into the car.
"Did that just happen?" Sam asked Spike, their radio's still on.
"He called her Ally."
"And he lets her drive." Jules said.
"Ed would've killed me if I'd done that." They shared a look before going to bring the guy away.
…
"So, Eddie, something going on between you and Allison?" Greg asked his friend when they were alone in the briefing room.
"No, why would you even think that?"
"You let her drive."
"I let het drive so I must be sleeping with her?"
"Yes." Ed looked at his friend surprised.
"I'm not sleeping with her Greg, she took a subject out by herself while Spike and Sam couldn't do it together. She earned it."
"Are you sure?"
"I think I would've noticed if had sex with her.." Ed glared at his friend.
"Okay.. Maybe you should start dating Ed." Greg said just as the whole team walked in.
"Do we need to find you some women Ed? 'Cause the guys are pretty good at that. Wordy can set you up with his brother and I'll just find you some bitch." Allison joked.
"You just get ready for your date." Ed replied.
"I am. Spike said he's taking me to a hockey game. So I figured jeans and a shirt is good."
"Do you even know the rules?"
"No, so I guess he can teach me something."
"O wow.." Wordy said, everyone looked at him. "What? You've never seen 'failure to launch'?"
"The romantic comedy with Matthew McConaughey?" Jules asked.
"Yes!" All the guys shook their heads. "Clearly you don't have daughters or girlfriends." Wordy mumbled. "Teaching a woman something bonds, apparently."
Jules was about to say something when they heard knocking on the door. They all turned around to see Spike's guy standing there.
"Hey, I'm looking for Allison." Ed couldn't believe his eyes, how did Spike come up with this guy?
"That's me, Allison, nice to meet you." She walked towards him and shook his hand.
"Hi, I'm Keith."
"It's nice to meet you. Spike said we're going to a hockey game?"
"Yes, my team's playing and I can't play."
"Oh, you're a ice hockeyer? Or is it ice hockey player.."
"I think it's ice hockey player, but yes. You ready to go?"
"Sure," She turned to her team. "See you tomorrow guys." She smiled at them before leaving with Keith.
"You got her the leaf's star player?" Ed asked, how was he supposed to compete with that?
"Yeah, he couldn't play and he's been dating lately. What's the big deal?"
"What's the.. he's a pro player!" How could he possibly compete with the fame and money that guy has.
"Yeah so?"
"Those are scumbags.."
"No they're not.." Spike was defending his friend. "He's just a guy, Ed."
…
"Wow, I'm really out of tune.." Everyone was wearing something to do with hockey. Keith smiled at her and turned to her.
"Here." He put his cap on her. "Now you're just like everyone else, except you've got better seats." He smiled as she adjusted it on her head.
"Thanks, so you've got to help me with the rules.."
"You don't know the rules?"
"Nope, never seen a game." He laughed.
"You're Canadian and you've never seen an ice hockey game? Now that's a lack in your education." They walked in through the back entrance.
"I haven't been Canadian for long."
"Oh, what were you before then?"
"American."
"Aah, so I just want to wish my team good luck. Do you mind coming with me or do you want your pass so you can walk around?"
"I don't mind coming with you."
"Great. It'll only take a couple of minutes. I promise." He knocked on the door. "Incoming woman." She could hear laughter emerging.
"We're good Keith."
He let her go in first.
"So, you must be Allison." One of them said.
"Yeah, I've got a reputation already?"
"Only what Mike told us." Someone else said.
"Oh, good things I hope?"
"Of course." Keith said. "Anyway, guys. Just wanted to wish all of you luck. We'll be in the box."
…
"Hot dog? Soda? Beer?" He asked as they stood in line and watched as she thought for a second. "All three?"
"Hot dog and diet coke would be good."
"Okay."
"Are you bummed you can't play?"
"Well, yeah. I like to play, but on the other hand, you're here now." He kept throwing her charming smiles.
"Excuse me." Someone from behind them in line said. "I'm sorry to interrupt, but can I get an autograph?" Keith looked at Allison, she just shrugged.
"Sure." He signed the guys shirt.
"Thanks so much."
"You're welcome." He turned back to Allison.
"So, guess you're pretty famous huh?"
"In certain circles."
"Everyone that watches ice hockey?" He nodded. "So almost everyone in Canada?"
"Yep." They moved forward in the line.
…
"So, sit down." He gestured towards the seats on the first row in the box.
"Wow, you can see everything from here."
"Yeah, I wanted to take you down. Sit at the rink, but figured we can talk better here."
"Good choice." She smiled at him. "So, help me.. hockey-rules."
"Okay, so you know how many players a team has?"
"Four plus goalie?" She guessed, he chuckled.
"Six, including goalie."
"I was close."
"Not a bad guess. Do you know they wear ice skates?" She swatted his arm. "I'll take that as a yes. You know it's called a puck?" He joked.
"I said I didn't know the rules, I'm not a complete idiot."
"Okay, okay.. So there aren't many rules, but you can't grab the puck with your hands and you can't kick it."
"Yeah, I kinda got that." She smiled at him. "I assume you're also not allowed to hit people with your.. stick."
"No, you're not. Though, it happens. You start with a face-off, referee drops the puck and two players try to take control of it. The puck goes over the glass, the game stops and they start with the face-off again. " Allison nodded. "Those are the most important rules."
"Okay, I've got a question."
"Shoot."
"How long does a game last?" Keith chuckled.
"Three periods of twenty minutes."
"Okay."
"Anymore questions?"
"Where you born in Canada?" He smiled.
"No, America, Massachusetts"
"Oh. I assumed you were Canadian. Okay, so when did you move here?"
"When I was 18, I got offered a hockey-scholarship. "
"Wow, that's young."
"Yeah, that's.. 16 years ago." Allison did some quick math in her head.
"So, that makes you 34." He nodded. "Okay, so you're job is the most important to you?"
"Not anymore. I'm starting to realize there's more in life than hockey, and I want more."
"Starting to realize that at 34, huh?" He lightly shoved her. "Okay, so that why Spike set me up with you?"
"I think so, he said you wanted a serious relationship."
"Yeah, I do."
"If you don't mind me asking.. how, young are you?"
"27, yes I'm pretty young for serious."
"Yeah, you are."
"Think I grew up to fast or something."
"How so?"
"We lived in a crappy neighborhood. The type where gangs recruit kids at age 6. So I became aware of the dangers of life very early."
"Aah, guess your parents didn't like that?"
"They hated it. They were scared to death I would get pregnant at age 12 or something or that I would drop out of school."
"You didn't though?"
"Nope, started police academy at age 17 and finished it at age 21. I stayed in New York for a couple of years before moving here when I was 23. I started working on my skills and joined SRU team 3 after three months. After another four I joined team 1."
"Sounds impressive. Spike keeps telling me how much hard work it is."
"Yes, it is. You have to be pretty much married to your job.'
"Are you?"
"I guess, I don't really have much other things in my life right now."
"Hmm."
"Wow, I thought you weren't allowed to fight?" Allison said as there was a big fight going on in the rink. Both teams were fighting it out.
"You're not." He said as he watched his team get their asses kicked. Allison's phone rang and it read 'Greg'.
"I gotta take this, it's my boss. I'll be right back." She smiled at him before walking out with her pass hanging around her neck. "Hey Sarge, give me a sec to get somewhere a little more quiet."
"Hey, can you hear me?" She had walked into a near empty hallway.
"Yes, loud and clear. What's up? The second round will start in like, 2 minutes."
"We've gotten a hot call, team one is being called in."
"Are you kidding me, I'm on a date.." She sighed. "Fine, where is it?"
"You're there already. We're on our way."
"It's in the ice hockey stadium?"
"Yes."
"I haven't heard a gunshot, and apart from the fight going on in the rink I haven't seen anything either."
"There's a bomb, we got the call five minutes ago. We're almost there, we've brought your vest, gloves, sniper rifle and a MP-5. You've got your gun with you?"
"Always."
"Good, meet us at the A-entrance."
"Should I start evacuating?"
"No, said they'll blow the bomb if we do. Just make up some excuse for your date."
"Okay, I'll be at the entrance in five." She hung up her phone and walked back in. "Hey, Keith. I'm sorry but I have to go, it's a work thing."
"Oh, okay. Sure, I'll drive you. Where do you have to go?"
"You don't have to drive me." She grabbed her jacket.
"I must admit, little disappointed I don't get to drop you off at your front door, but let me drop you off at a crime scene instead." He grabbed his jacket and signaled for her to go first.
"Okay." She walked towards the exit in front of him, her hand on her gun.
"You know, my car is.."
"I know, just come with me Keith." They walked outside just as the cars arrived.
"The crime scene is here?" He asked as everyone got out of their cars, uniformed officers were putting up yellow line.
"Yes." She said as she was handed her radio and vest. "Hold this for me, will you?" she handed him the vest while she put the radio in place. "Thanks." She put on the gloves, vest and attached the MP-5 to it. "Keith, please move behind the yellow line." She walked him towards the rope.
"No, my friends are in there. My team.."
"Keith, I'll do whatever I can to keep them save. Please move behind the line." She walked him towards it. He moved behind the line.
"Allison, they're my family here.."
"I know, I'll do what I can, Keith. Now, please stay here so I can do my job." He nodded reluctantly. "Oh, and please don't call of text anyone about this. I know it's hard but a panic attack with over 10 thousand people on the inside isn't the best idea." He nodded. "Good." She walked over to her team, team three was standing there as well, since they were on shift. "So, bomb?"
"Yes, we don't know anything about it." Greg said.
"But we know it's real?" Allison asked.
"No, we assume it is."
"So, there are over 10 thousand people over there, with possibly a bomb?" They all nodded. "And we have to search how many square feet?"
"665.000" Spike answered.
"So, basically.. We've got 10 minutes to search 665.000 square feet.." Again, they nodded.
"Let's split up in teams of two. Search it as fast as we can. Spike, how big would this bomb be?"
"Depends if they want to blow everyone up or just cause panic. It could be anything from a small handbag to a large suitcase or bigger."
"Needle in a haystack. Okay, let's start searching and stay on channel 4. Wordy you're with Jules and Greg. Sam with me, Spike you're with Allison." They nodded and went their ways.