By the time Nikki had worked up the courage to step inside the station house Nora and Dan were already deep into a very heated conversation in their lieutenant's office. Most of the other officers were watching the scene and when a few heads turned in her direction Nikki decided to try and hover in the background as inconspicuously as possible. She looked around the room sadly, the Special Crimes Unit, this is where she wanted to be and she was pretty sure she'd just shot any chance she may have had of making it all to hell.

*

"I realize that Dan, but it's not like I had a choice," Nora yelled at her partner as she sank into a chair. "Sorry, Lieutenant."

"I understand tempers are short," Lieutenant Park said. "And you did the right thing Delaney. I just don't understand why the detective was there in the first place. We cleared our operation with Lieutenant Simms he shouldn't have allowed her to go in."

"We don't know that he did," Dan added. We didn't really ask her much, we were just focused on getting out of there."

"You think she was just in the wrong place at the wrong time?"

"Maybe trying to make an impression, a name for herself. I don't know."

The lieutenant considered Dan's statement. "Hopefully that's all, I'd hate to think this operation was blown on purpose. Considering all the work put into it, especially by you two."

"I don't see how we'll get close to Masters again, he keeps a tight inner circle. It took us the first month and a half for him to let us at his table," Dan admitted. "And if we didn't have the lab guys supply us with the fake drugs I think he would have killed us as soon as talk to us."

"Yeah, switching those out was nearly impossible," Nora added. She decided to omit the couple of times they were unable to make the switch.

The lieutenant leaned back in his chair and dug the heels of his palms into his eyes while he considered their next move. "We aren't going to figure this out tonight, so you two go home and I'll sort things out," he ordered.

"What about her?" Dan asked as he hooked his thumb in Nikki's direction.

The lieutenant looked out into the bullpen and spotted the detective trying to blend into the background. "She's one of the things I'll sort. Just go home and try to relax."

"Easier said than done," Nora said as she stood. "Thanks Lieutenant," she added as she left the office.

"She going to be okay?" he asked Dan before the detective followed after his partner.

"Sure. By tomorrow we'll be back to normal." The two men nodded but they both knew that statement was more wishful thinking than fact. Coming out from an undercover operation, especially an extended one, was never a 'flip the switch' situation.

Dan caught up with his partner as they headed out of the station. "I'm sorry about your operation," Nikki apologized as the two approached. "Had you informed narcotics we could have avoided this mess," she added as they brushed past her.

The statement brought Nora up short as she spun on her heels to face the other woman. She pursed her lips as she brought her hand up between them clenching and unclenching her fist a few times before she gave up her effort to form words. "Ugh," was all she managed as she spun back around and trudged down the hallway.

"The lieutenant would like to see you," Dan said in a calm voice. "Oh and just so you know, Lieutenant Simms knew about our operation so next time get the facts before you try to pass the buck."

Nikki stared after him as he went rushing out after his partner. Well that makes absolutely no sense, she thought to herself as she turned to find Lieutenant Park standing in the doorway of his office, presumably waiting for his chance to rip her a new one.

****

Nora stepped into her apartment and was immediately met by a growling dog. "Knock it off Mister, it's just me." After a short bark the dog wandered off. "Stupid mutt," Nora grumbled as she stepped into the living room. The sight that greeted her did nothing to improve her mood; pizza boxes and beer bottles littered the kitchen counter and the coffee table while her house-sitter lounged comfortably on the couch. "For fuck sake Bobby, have you done anything around here?"

The younger man snapped awake and jumped to his feet. "Shit Nora, you scared me." He ran his hands over his face as he took a quick scan of his mess. "Sorry, but I didn't think you'd be back yet. Is the operation over already?"

"Yeah it's fucking over," she mumbled as she moved into the kitchen. "There better be beer in here."

Bobby grabbed a handful of empties off the table to deposit in the trash as he followed his sister. "What happened?"

Nora had her bottle half empty before she turned to answer him, not bothering to close the fridge. "Detective from narcotics went in to make a buy, she got made and Masters told me to kill her." She finished her beer and reached in for another before she closed the door and moved into the other room, sinking her exhausted body into the couch.

"Which you didn't do?" Bobby flinched at the look his sister shot at him. "Sorry, stupid question," he murmured as he sat in the recliner.

"Dan and I had it worked out to get her out of there but Masters's brother didn't trust me on my own so I had to take him out."

"Did you kill him?"

"I don't know, he was alive when we left." At Bobby's questioning stare Nora continued. "I jabbed a syringe into his neck but I didn't depress it all the way."

"I'm sorry Nora, I know this could have been a big one."

"Yeah," she sighed as she took a long draw on her bottle. "I'm sorry I missed your graduation. And mama and daddy's anniversary party."

"Oh you didn't miss much except uncle Benny getting drunk and dropping the cake."

Nora gave a snort and wiped her mouth. "At which one?" The look on her brother's face had her laughing for the first time in a long while. "Thanks Bobby, I needed that."

"No problem sis, I'm glad our uncle's alcoholism could lighten your mood."

"Hey if you can't laugh at family who can you laugh at? So now that you are a full fledged member of the NOPD have you gotten your assignment?"

"I got the mounted division."

"Hey, that's great little brother. Congratulations."

"Thanks. And thanks for the jacket you left with mama. It's perfect."

"You're welcome. Now that you're actually earning a living you need to at least look the part." Nora finished her beer and stood. "I'm beat, see ya in the morning," she said as she headed to her room.

"Night sis."