Chapter Three – If Walls Could Talk

Olivia led the way inside and quickly found an open table near the bar's main counter. The bar was actually rather bright and filled with the chatter of various patrons. A pool table and a dart board that was currently in use filled one side, while the rest of the room was used for tables. Most of the walls were covered with unusual signs and a few custom license plates. Soon after they'd taken a seat, a waitress came over, a wide grin on her face.

"Hey guys, what can I get for you?"

"Large basket of fries to share and a special on tap," Olivia told her without hesitation.

Following Olivia's lead, the others ordered the same. They trusted her to know what was good. While their waitress left to fill their orders, Emily, JJ, and Amanda took the time to look around the bar. The signs alone could keep them entertained for awhile.

"Some of these are really good. Beer will change the world. I don't know how, but it will."

After reading the sign aloud, Emily grinned over at JJ, eyes sparkling. Olivia had definitely brought them to a good place.

"Hadn't seen that one yet," JJ admitted. "How about this one? The one with 24."

She pointed to a gray sign that read Twenty four hours in a day. Twenty four beers in a case. Coincidence? I think not.

"Oh god, I hope the guys we deal with don't decide to follow that one," Amanda groaned.

More beer would only add to the number of cases they received. That and the stupidity levels would jack up a few notches. Many of their suspects were stupid enough as it was and didn't need more help in that department.

"Or this one, I once thought beer was bad for you… so I gave up thinking," JJ agreed.

"Personally, the one in the left hand corner there is my favorite," Olivia informed them as she nodded to a sign that read, Everyone needs something to believe in. I believe I will have another beer.

"And the one right over the counter."

The sign held a place of honor and would be impossible to miss. Don't worry. Our staff is accustomed to dumb questions.

"We should have one like that on our door," Emily grinned. "Only it should say: Our staff is accustomed to dumb questions. Please worry about what you say."

"Because you bite?" Amanda asked a grin plastered on her own face.

"We could," JJ admitted, eyes glittering with mirth. "I'd be more inclined to shoot though. Less risk of germs."

"The only problem if they worry is that not thinking on their part is usually what gets us a win on our cases," Olivia pointed out.

"How about just shut up and tell the truth then?" Emily corrected.

All four of them started laughing. They still were when their waitress returned with their drinks. Fries would be out a bit later. Emily had to wipe tears out of her eyes before she could take her glass. Olivia took a sip of her beer before speaking up.

"If only it could be that easy."

That only brought on another round of laughter, though this one was supplemented by alcohol. They all realized that they were talking about work again, but it didn't matter. The topics they were on were still fun, and they were having a good time.

"Remember that one time we were out with Penelope, Em?" JJ asked after a quick sip of beer. It had been a good choice to follow Olivia's lead. The bar's special was good.

"You mean Brad?"

JJ nodded a moment before they both spoke simultaneously.

"Keeping secrets and kicking criminal ass!"

The two detectives watched their laughing friends expectantly. They wanted details! Apparently this last trip had resulted in something memorable.

"Hey, you two going to share or what?" Amanda finally demanded after a good five minutes of continuous giggling from the profilers.

"Sorry, sorry," JJ gasped in response as she struggled to get her laughter under control. "Last time we girls went out we met this guy, Brad, who said he was an FBI agent."

"We played ignorant and asked him lots of questions," Emily continued. "He answered every one with "It's classified.""

"When we asked to see his badge, he told us he couldn't show us, and that the FBI is good at keeping secrets and kicking criminal ass."

By this point Olivia and Amanda could see where the story was going. They both grinned wildly. Poor Brad had probably had no idea what hit him.

"The look on his face when the three of us showed him our credentials…"

Emily and JJ collapsed into hysterical laughter once again. There was no way they would ever forget that night.

"Kicking criminal ass, huh? If that's the FBI's job, does that mean ours is to kick criminal balls?" Amanda asked.

Olivia immediately started choking on a sip of beer. Where the hell had that come from? Emily and JJ seemed just as shocked.

"Whoo! I never would have expected to hear something like that coming out of your mouth!" Emily exclaimed. She was actually amused by it though. It certainly fit.

"Uh huh, because we're just supposed to be all proper because we're women?" JJ asked, wiggling her eyebrows at Emily.

"Hell no!"

"Well good, cause that's just not who I am," Amanda insisted.

Olivia was saved from commenting by the arrival of their fries. She took the basket happily and snagged a few off the top while the others enjoyed their playful bickering. They would notice the fries eventually. Until then Olivia would have first pick. So far none of the others were aware of the fries' arrival.

"Whenever they talk about people from the south it's always describing the guys as southern gentlemen. That's never applied to the ladies," Amanda continued.

Emily prodded JJ's arm with her elbow to catch her attention.

"Some southern gentlemen are really something too."

"Emily!" JJ blushed a bright red and looked away. It was then that she saw Olivia munching away on fries as she listened to them talk. "Hey!"

"What?" Liv asked innocently.

"How long have those been here?" JJ demanded.

Emily's and Amanda's eyes shifted to Olivia and then the fries after JJ's outburst. Their faces were a mix of surprise and irritated amusement at Olivia's deception.

"Oh, a little while," Olivia answered. "I was wondering how long it would take you to notice."

"Give me some. And pass over that ketchup!"

Author's Note: This is by far my favorite chapter. I had way too much fun looking up cool signs.