Thanks for the reviews and alerts. For those who wanted longer chapters here you go. :)

title: Date
author: Cindy Ryan
pairings: Valerie/John
spoilers: all
timeline: between Arthythmia and Simon Says.

Valerie Stahl really didn't want to complain. She couldn't help it. Was far to much fun to make John Kennex squirm. It took all her training and will power to keep a smile off her face as she turned in her seat.

"When you said dinner this really wasn't what I had in mind."Valerie stated as she looked out the windshield of the familiar police car.

"Believe me it's not what I had in mind either."Kennex grumbled. "We can thank Maldonado later."

"That would be acknowledging the fact that we're dating."Valerie responded as she settled back in the passenger seat.

"I think she'd be okay with it; she strikes me as a romantic."John stated with a weak grin.

Valerie allowed herself to chuckle.

John reached across the remains of their fastfood dinner and took Valerie's left hand in his and squeezed it. "See I got you to smile; that's something. I'll make this up to you I promise."

"It's alright, John."Valerie replied as she squeezed his hand back. "Part of being a cop."

"I know; it just sucks."John mumbled as he withdrew his hand and returned it to the steering wheel.

Almost instantly Valerie missed his touch. She knew that was a bad sign. A signal that she was falling way too hard and way too fast for John Kennex. A man any woman on the force would love to be with if only for a one night stand. His reputation of emotional baggage made most women stay far away not wanting the headache. To Valerie that made it worth it. No relationship was worth having without a little hard work.

"I think she's punishing me."John commented as he took a sip of coffee. "For what happened with the ride-a-long on the last case."

"Maybe."Valerie agreed. "She does have bosses to answer to. But for the record I think what you did for Dorian was sweet."

John flashed her a smile. "Don't let that get back to him."

"Your tough guy reputation is safe with me."Valerie responded with a grin.

"This stake out's going to last all night at this rate."John complained as he raised a pair of night vision binoculars to look at the string of warehouses before them.

After the last case with the refurbished electronic hearts the city and the police department had set up a special task force. This team's job was to monitor and track down medical organs and the companies that produced them. Valerie had been one of the first to volunteer for the task force with John a close second. He knew it was important to her after seeing the human toll the extortion had taken on the victims. Valerie knew it was just as important to him.

"If it does you can buy me breakfast as a compromise."Valerie suggested as she leaned over to kiss him on the cheek.

"Deal."John replied huskily after Valerie kissed him and pulled away.

An hour passed with no movement in any of the warehouses. No heat signatures anywhere. Valerie mused that the criminals were probably smart and staying home in bed since the weather had turned. A cold steady rain splashed against the police car with an occasional rumble of thunder. She and John had remained in companionable silence. It was broken every few minutes by the police radio.

Valerie took a sip of her coffee as she shifted to a more comfortable position. The more time she spent with John the more it startled her to realize it felt like the old cliche. It felt like they'd always known each other and Valerie could tell by how relaxed and comfortable John was around her that he was noticing that too. It scared her a bit that comfortableness was strengthening their bond. Even though their romantic relationship had only started a few weeks before Valerie didn't know what she'd do if God forbid something happened to John. It was part of the job; a risk they knowingly took when they swore the oath and took the badge. That didn't make it any easier to watch someone you care about go into danger.

Valerie thought about the victims of their last case. The lengths people went to in order to stay alive. To spend more time with their loved ones; their families. Valerie was grateful John had the strength to beat his original injury caused by the bomb. It had brought him into her life. When Valerie had first started to be friends with John she had read up on his injury. She knew what he had endured; what kind of pain he'd suffered.

The victims had paid money; done whatever they could to stay with their families a few more hours; a few more days. When the case had ended Valerie had put herself in their shoes wondering if she would've done the same. If it'd been her child, sister, parents, brother or husband. She knew she'd exhaust every option for every bit of precious time. Valerie knew it was the late hour making her thoughts dark and morbid but she couldn't help it. If she and John were lucky enough to continue this to make it permanent. If they were put in the situation of the victims...the very thought caused a shudder of fear to run through Valerie and she pushed herself back into the seat.

John caught the movement. "You okay?":

"Yeah,"Valerie replied with what she hoped was a reassuring smile. "The downside of stakeouts too much time to think."

"Thinking about the extortion victims?"John asked softly reaching for her left hand again.

Valerie nodded watching their hands entwine and she nodded. "I hope this task force can do some good."

"It will."John replied. "You handled things well...that was a tough case."

Movement on one of the monitors on the dash caught Valerie's attention. Her head snapped up as she watched the heat signature move from one building to the next.

"John."Valerie pointed out consequently breaking the mood.

"I see it. Not the security patrol they're not due for another hour. Let's go."Kennex ordered as he shut off the engine and climbed out of the car.

Valerie followed shutting the door behind her and withdrawing her gun. Without another word they moved out into the rainy night.