Vince Korsak was alone in the bullpen that bright early morning. He couldn't remember ever starting a shift this early. Tired, hungry detectives from the dreaded grave shift stumbled past him, in search of the all night cop bar.
He felt oddly refreshed as he sat his coffee and breakfast on his desk and booted up his computer. As the sun poked the horizon, he was finishing his report and making a pot of coffee for the morning crew. Hearing footsteps behind him, he turned and was greeted by the sight of Angela coming into the room with two cups of coffee. He danced away from the coffee machine and intercepted her before she could see that he had been fiddling with the pot.
"Good morning, Vince," She said as he steered her towards his desk, "I thought you'd like some coffee. I saw you come in earlier."
"Hey, Angela," He said, taking the cup from her.
She sat on his desk, "Two sugars and that special creamer I keep hidden for you."
He took a sip, "It's perfect. Thank you."
"I would have been up earlier, but you know how Stanley is. I had to make a ladies room excuse just to get away for a second."
Korsak laughed and noticed that Jane's file was out in the open. He shuttled it beneath a stack of files he had put off in order to fill his Captain's request.
"Oh," Angela said, looking away, "Don't worry about me. I know all about this Cloak and Dagger nonsense you detectives are into." She dramatically put a hand over her eyes, "I didn't see a thing, Sergeant." With her hand still covering her eyes, she dropped her voice, "And when you aren't so busy, yes, I will have dinner with you. I know it has been almost a week since you asked me and I know you are busy, but I want you to know that I'm still waiting."
Korsak cleared his throat. "You are going to hate me, but I forgot I asked you."
"You forgot?" She said, whipping her hand off her eyes and looking up at him, "Well, isn't that nice?"
"Don't take it the wrong way," He said, "Surely, you must know that when cops are busy, cops are busy in their brains."
She smiled at him, "Don't call me Shirley," They shared a laugh, "And yes, I know that. Now, I see my Janie and I know when she is working a big case. She has the same look on her face as you do now."
He sighed. "Yeah."
"Something you can't discuss?" She asked.
He shook his head, "Nah. Probably the most important case, and I can't talk about a thing."
"Well," She said, hopping down, "I understand."
He reached out to her, "Angela."
"Yes?" She turned.
He smiled warmly, "Dinner tonight? I've wrapped this case up. I'm done with it."
Her smile was brighter, "Yes."
The bullpen was alive with chatter, sloshing of coffee into mugs, clinking of spoons and slamming of file cabinets, all with the backdrop of incestuous ringing phones. Korsak managed his "hellos" behind the sports section. He was doing some final thinking, waiting for Cavanaugh to arrive.
Jane and Frost had arrived together, shit talking, shop talking and finding their way to the coffee pot. Frost took a sip and shook his head, "Man, I'm this close to bringing in my press." Jane chuckled.
"Your press?" She teased, "You gunna bake almond croissants on the hot plate too?"
The peanut gallery boasted laughter.
"Hey," He called out, "That thing makes some kick-ass coffee. Better than this shit." He dumped his coffee in the sink, getting another round of laughter.
"Hey," Someone called to him, "Better get back to Vice where you can pinch a couple of grand. Fucking sissy."
Frost reddened. Jane reacted.
"Yeah?" She spat, advancing on the now quieting group of detectives and officers, "Who's a dumb fuck enough to say that?" She looked around, her eyes spitting fire, "Roberts, was that you? Vasquez?" No comments. "Yeah, you guys are man enough to say it behind your double chins. Why don't you say it to my face? No? That's my partner. He's cool. You guys are douches."
All eyes on her now dropped. Everyone seemed to fight to answer the phone or race off to check their emails.
"That's what I thought." She said as the unmistakable sound of Dr. Isles approached in whatever incongruous heels she had chosen for today. Jane's pulse kicked in. She didn't want to turn around, but she couldn't help herself.
Moth, please meet my friend Fire.
Maura slipped up to Jane with a carton of coffee, "Jane," She whispered, "Language. And this early too." A smile graced her lips as she slid by her friend and placed the carton of coffee on Jane's desk, followed by a bright pink box.
Jane lit up like a Christmas tree with faulty wiring, "Doughnuts?" She almost squealed as she tackled her friend in a bear hug, causing Maura to lose her footing and tumble down with Jane securely wedged on top of her.
"Oh, shit!" Jane said as she jumped up and reached down to collect the doctor, "I'm sorry. I got carried away."
Maura smoothed unseen wrinkles out of her dress, "Clearly, detective." Her eyes shot daggers at anyone forming an inappropriate comment. No one.
She sat on the edge of Jane's desk and sipped her own coffee as detectives grazed on her glazed and jelly-filled offerings. Once the pack had moved away, Jane claimed a chocolate glazed and the coveted seat next to the doctor.
"So, how many do you have today?" Jane asked her, taking a massive bite out of her doughnut.
Maura consulted her Smartphone, "Looks like three before lunch and another two after, providing any unforeseen new patients. You?"
"I got interviews all morning, then a meeting with Cavanaugh. Then I gotta go by ballistics. Provided we don't have any, what did you say, unforeseen patients, I got paperwork out the wazoo."
Maura cocked her head and leaned into Jane, lowering her voice, "Is it just me, or has Korsak poked two eyeholes into his sports section?"
Jane took a look at her former partner. Indeed. She touched the other woman's hand.
"That might have worked in the 30's, but I think we are on to him."