Just to sort of clear things up, I intended to have had Ch.11 and 12 up before I posted the little Christmas tidbit, but life happened with holidays and work and it seemed that it just didn't work out that way. So I may switch it around a bit later for development's sake, but to answer Lady Ravanna's question, the "last" confession of Edward's was really just him realizing he needed to pay more attention to people that paid attention to him. So yeah, I just wanted something festive to give to you all and preferably it would have been after these next two chapters! Thank everyone for leaving reviews and enjoy!

/ / /

"No, I told you already, everything is fine," Bree insisted over the phone. She fought the urge to roll her eyes at her mother's disapproving silence. She heard a noncommittal grunt over the line and knew that her mother was only half-listening, having already made up her mind.

"I just think you would like it much better here in Metropolis. Gotham is just too dangerous for someone like you."

"Wow, really? For someone like me?" Bree shot back, her jaw clenching slightly as she made her way down the street on her way to work. "Just because I'm—"

"Honey, you know what I mean…"

"I do, but that's just it; I understand, but I can take care of myself just fine. There are good and bad parts of every city. Maybe if you just visited every once in a while you may see some of the good."

She really didn't know why she even bothered defending Gotham. It really was a hell-hole of a city, and they both knew it. And yet, almost instinctively, she felt the need to rebuff every one of her mother's comments.

"You know I would, but then I would have the obligation to interact with your father," her mother chimed over the line. Bree's frown softened somewhat and she chuckled softly.

"Anyhow, Mrs. Kim was over the other day and just loved that painting you did of those flowers."

Bree actually did roll her eyes at that comment.

"Mom….that was from junior year of high school."

"Oh, but I showing people your old work!"

"But I'm in graduate school! That was ages ago!" she said, sighing as she continued down the sidewalk.

"Then why don't you get back into it then? At least it wouldn't involve you being shot at!"

"Ughhhhh, mom…how many times do I have to tell you? I don't want to be an artist; I want to be an FBI agent."

"I understand, honey," her mother sighed. There was a long pause.

"But why not?" she added.

"Because I don't actually like painting rainbows and sunsets mom, I did that for one birthday for you, and I haven't done anything since" she said, furrowing her eyebrows.

"Geeze, Bree, no need to be so dramatic," her mother laughed over the line. Bree sighed.

"Well, I'm going to half to let you go. I have to go in for work now," she said, running a hand through her hair.

"Alright, honey. Make good choices, love you."
"Love you…" she muttered quietly into her phone as she flipped it shut with a small smile and a shake of her head. She shoved it into her coat pocket as she approached the doors of the precinct. She hummed lightly as she entered the busy precinct, filled with cops and workers buzzing about. Moving almost mechanically, she made her way to the small coffee station in the corner and pulling her travel mug out of her bag.

Caffeine, check.

She turned and scurried up the stairs to her little nook.

Ready for action.

She pondered, tossing her bag to the floor with a great swoop of her arm. However, something on her desk caught her eye, causing her to pause. She reached down, snatching the small note off of her desk.

Meet me in the morgue. Got a case!

-Edward

She read the lightly scrawled letters and glanced around. Nobody seemed be looking her way, which she took advantage of and snuck back down the stairs. Better to do it before anyone starting throwing paperwork her way. As she shuffled past busy officers she dimly realized that she only a vague idea of where the morgue was. It wasn't exactly part of her daily routine.

She started down another set of stairs and turned a corner into another hallway. She slammed into another body as she rounded the corner abruptly. After she muttered a quick sorry, she blinked a few times and looked up at the tall, slim figure.

"Edward?"

The man adjusted his glasses, looking down at her in surprise.

"Oh, Bree! I was just about to go looking for you."

"Wait—didn't you say to meet in the morgue?" she asked, noting the small frown that crossed his face.

"Yes—but I've encountered a temporary setback."

Bree furrowed her brows, allowing her arms to fold across her chest.

"What happened?"

"I…may have been kicked out of the morgue."

"What? Why?"

"Because this precinct is run by ignoramuses…." He muttered under his breath, barely loud enough for her to make out.

"Oh….well, then what's this case you're so excited about?"

Edward's face immediately lifted, a sly grin spreading across his lips. His posture straightened, and his hands clasped easily in front of him.

"This morning we recovered a body on the pier, which on its own really is not that unusual. However!" he began excitedly, "This body was dumped there a few hours after death, and he was found in a tie and workpants with suspenders, indicating a more financial-oriented occupation," he gestured, unclasping his hands. "Yet, the most intriguing details were found during the autopsy I began…despite it not being finished," he added with a note of exasperation, trailing off.

Bree shook her head, her eyes flickering across his face searchingly.

"Well…..what did you find?" she urged on, snapping him out of his reverie.

"Oh, yes...office supplies! I found various items of office supplies embedded in the body, such as staples and other materials of the sort."

"So…..he was killed in some office feud? Did you find anything else?"

He shook his head before he paused.

"Oh, well there was the unusual detail that I found a finger in his mouth…..obviously not his," he chuckled quietly.

"I was in the process of testing the supposed ink found on his arm when I was booted out of the morgue. But I'm suspecting it's in fact printer toner if my theory is correct."

"That's crazy…..but what did you want my help for?"

He blinked a few times before his throat bobbed as he swallowed and gave a shrug. His eyes fell downcast.

"Oh, I don't know. I guess I just wanted to bounce some ideas around. I know you're partial to the more direct approach, so I figured you may be helpful for investigative purposes…."

Bree snorted a short laugh, smiling easily with a nod.

"Well, I'm happy to help anytime. So what do you propose we do? Surely there are a few things outside the morgue we could do to help the case."

"Why, of course! I say we cross-examine all previous cases that involve office supply related homicides in the past ten years," he chirped enthusiastically. Bree's smile fell a fraction.

"That could take….a very long time."

"Not if we start now!"

"But….you realize that I have my own work to do too, right?" she pressed gently. He smirked knowingly as he adjusted his glasses.

"I covered it for you…."

She paused, narrowing her eyes.

"You…..what?"

"I already did it for you."

"Wh-when on earth did you have time to do that?" she sputtered, blinking a few times and feeling an odd urge to punch him in the face for the invasion of privacy and hug him and the same time.

"After the crime scene and before the examination," he stated pointedly. Bree's hand made its way to her forehead and she rubbed it tiredly.

"Ed….you can't just—"she cut herself off and let her arm drop back to her side with a small realization.

"You knew I'd agree to help you….."

"Quite so," he quipped, interlocking his hands behind his back with a smug smirk, looking at her expectantly. She shot him a mild glare. She stared at him a second before releasing a sigh.

"Alright, fine. Let's get started."

After hours of digging through records, Bree sat back against the cabinet with a sigh. She and Edward sat across from each other on the floor of the file room annex. After a brief yet awkward interaction with Ms. Kringle, it hadn't taken long for files to be spread all across the floor.

"Take one out and scratch my head,

I am now black but once was red.

What am I?"

Bree took a long sip from her thermos as she slapped another file to the ground.

"I am quite brain dead at the moment, so please just spare me the embarrassment and tell me the answer," Bree confessed.

"Oh, but that would be cheating," he tisked softly.

"Ugh, fine then…charcoals, like ones you put in fire?" she offered. He smirked slyly.

"I am afraid you are incorrect…..but close! The answer was a match."

"Ahhh, close…." She muttered, looking down at the file in her lap.

"Well, this guy here was found with a stapler shoved down his throat," she said, her nose crinkling slightly with distaste, "That can't be pleasant…."

"I would say not….hand it here," he commented, his face buried in another file. She reached over and handed it to him before settling back against the cool metal of the cabinet. Her eyes rested on him a moment, his eyes intently glued to the papers, focused on the task at hand. Her lips twitched upward slightly into a smile.

"What is it?" Edward asked, not even looking up. She shook her head lightly.

"Nothing….besides, what makes you so sure there are more of these sort of deaths? We don't actually know if our guy was even killed in an office."

He closed the file and set it aside, allowing his hands to lace together in his lap as he regarded her.

"Call it a hunch….but this whole thing makes me think of a case I saw about a year ago. A young man, in a business suit, and his esophagus was lacerated by index cards. I am almost certain that our guy this time around was also killed in an office. I just need one more thing to confirm that."

She nodded softly, biting her lip in thought.

"And what would that be?"

"We're going to break back into the morgue, of course!"

"I could get fired for this."

"Well, so could I."

"Yes, but I'm only an intern and I feel as though you may get more leeway."

"Oh, relax, I already did all the messy, time consuming work. I only have to grab the results from the samples I found in his ribs and the black material on his arms," Edward quipped, hurrying down the dim corridor. He peered around the corner and looked both ways before he gestured for Bree to follow him.

They pushed open the door and a chill swept through her.

"Geeze…..it's cold in here…." Bree muttered. Edward hurried around the table and grabbed the two filled test tubes on the counter.

"It keeps the bodies fresher, longer," he commented.

"Is that a microphone?"

"Yes, and don't touch anything," he snapped lightly as he turned back to the task on hand.

"Just as I thought…." He said quietly.

"What did you find?"

"The chips found in his ribs were graphite and the supposed black ink was in fact, printer toner! Combining that with the staples I pulled from his shoulder, this definitely indicates an office," he concluded, spinning around towards her. She raised a brow.

"So…..including this one, that makes five homicides by office supplies in the past three years….what is this, an office supply serial killer?" she chuckled with a small smirk, looking down at the body still on the table.

"I'd say that is a little less likely, but entirely possible. The methods were all very different aside from the materials used. I think we're looking for more than one killer…..or possibly one person making others kill for them…."

"Too spooky," she smirked, leaning against the counter beside him, "What is this? The Hunger Games: employee of the month edition?"

He chuckled softly with a light nod of his head.

"An unusual possibility…."

She reached up and grabbed the recording device, pulling it down to her face.

"May the odds be ever in your favor," she mimicked in a chirpy voice and almost yelped as she jumped back to avoid Edward reaching to take it away from her.

"I said don't touch anything!" he said in a half-stern voice, barely concealing the goofy laughter underneath. She laughed as she let the mic swing back.

"Yeah, yeah, sorry." She quirked her head slightly to the side in mock-contemplation. "Actually, no. I'm not sorry, that was definitely worth it," she finished, mirroring him as they broke into another small fit of laughter. She grabbed his arm, tugging him towards the exit.

"Shhhh, no laughing, we're in a morgue!" she half-whispered under her breath as they made for the exit.

As they walked back up the stairs her phone began to buzz in her pocket. She pulled it out as they entered the main area of the precinct. She glanced at the caller ID.

Harvey.

"Hey, Ed, I have to take this call, but I'll see you tomorrow!" she said giving his arm a light squeeze. He smiled and gave a small wave.

"See you later!" he called back.

With a smile she flipped open her phone as she made her way back to her desk.

"Hey! Harvey, how's it going?" she chimed, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.

"Hey, it's going well. I was just wondering what time you got off work?" his rich voice rang over the line.

"Oh, actually, I just did. Why, did you want to get together and do something?" she said, clutching her phone between her shoulder and her ear as she reached for her bag.

"Well, I just have a few more things that I have to get done at the office, but it would be amazing if you could meet me here. I did promise I'd show you around," he said, chuckling lightly.

She smiled softly, biting her lip.

"Sure, yeah, I'd like that."

"Great! I'll text you the specifics and I suppose I will see you soon!"

It wasn't long before she found herself walking down the corridors of city hall, a place that she found herself feeling rather out of place in. She glanced down at her phone once more to double-check that she had the right office and she tentatively reached out and knocked on the door. There were a few muted seconds where she considered leaving before she embarrassed herself by having the wrong office number, but after another moment, the door swung open.

She was greeted by Harvey's warm smile, his large eyes glimmering as he held the door open. His nicely pressed suit and tie made her feel sorely under-dressed.

"Hey! I'm glad you could make it, come on in," he gestured, stepping aside and allowing her to follow behind him.

"Yeah, I'm glad I came! City hall is a bit more…..overwhelming than I remember," she said with a light laugh.

"You've been before?" he asked amiably, leaning casually against his desk.

She shook her head.

"Only once, and it was a long time ago. I almost want to say a field trip or something," she smiled, looking down at the nicely polished floor.

"It's a really nice place you've got here though…" she commented, looking up and around the room. "I don't mean to be weird or anything. I've just had a bit of a long day….well not really quite as long as that day before one of our last dates, but still pretty long. I don't know, I just….." she paused herself, letting her eyes fall closed. "Ignore everything I'm saying right now. My brain is fried."

She felt a light touch on her chin, causing her eyes to flicker open as he lifted her eyes to his. He smiled softly, no longer leaning casually against the desk, but at his full height.

"It's fine," he said reassuringly.

"I'm sorry, I am just a big awkward fest today….or really every day."

She laughed softly, looking downward as she trailed a finger across his nice wooden desk. She noticed him move closer and his hand rested on hers, making her look up. She met his intense gaze, void of all the boyish charm present moments ago. Suddenly, a small alarm in the back of her head gave her a slight urge to run. However, with the gentle tug of his hand he coaxed her closer.

"I disagree," he said, his arms easily slinging behind her waist, pulling her to him. Her eyes met his before his eyes flickered down to her lips.

Harvey's lips met hers, his hands splaying across her lower back and pulling her tightly against him. Bree gasped against his lips and rested her hands on his shoulder as his hand ghosted up her neck and wound its way into her hair.

Wait. Shit, this is happening. She thought with a mild wave of anxiety before she cautiously moved her lips against his. Her eyes drifted closed as he tugged at her lip with his teeth. Her arm wove itself around his neck. His other hand grasped at her hip as he deepened their kiss at her response, his tongue lightly brushing against hers. After a moment, she stilled her lips as a face popped into her mind. One with similar gelled hair and horn rimmed glasses.

Dammit Bree, not now. She thought, inwardly scolding herself. Harvey seemed to take no notice as his lips moved from her lips to her jaw and onto her neck. She hummed pleasantly when Harvey peppered a few light kisses down her throat before gradually nipping more roughly. His teeth nipped lightly and grazed her throat before sucking gently and leaving what she knew would later be angry red marks on her neck. She had to admit, she found Harvey quite attractive, especially as his hand wound itself tighter in her hair as he moved back to her lips and gently pressed her against the wall. His other arm wrapped itself around her waist and pressed her firmly against him. His level of aggression really took her by surprise, especially when compared to the demure, boyish personality he seemed to convey.

But she shouldn't shake the flashes of Edward's excited face that flickered across her mind between kisses. She couldn't help but think about the way he smiled, or the sparkle in his eyes when he told a new riddle. Or even just the way they could spend hours pouring over case files and not get tired of each other. Suddenly, despite everything, she felt cheap.

But we aren't even dating! Her inner voice of reason yelled at her He probably doesn't even think of you like that. Her inner self repeated….and yet….it felt wrong.

After another moment, she broke the kiss, looking up at Harvey as his eyes flickered open.

"Harvey…?" she said quietly, his face still close enough that their breath intermingled.

"Hmm?" he said with a small smile, his hand gently sliding out of her hair. Her mouth stayed open for a moment, searching for the most delicate words.

"I-I'm sorry, I just….can't do this right now. I like you a lot, but it wouldn't be good for either of us," she said, words spilling out of her mouth, not really sure what she was saying, but not wanting to upset him. "You have a lot on your hands, and I have a lot in mine right now…" she trailed off, her hands slowly dropping from around his neck and she looked up at him with wide eyes. His smile slowly faded and his eyes flickered across her face. His hand brushed across her back before dropping from her waist, but she remained standing between him and the wall. Suddenly, apprehension wound its way throughout her body. The silence that fell was thick as Harvey looked down, his throat bobbing as he swallowed.

"I don't…want to make it seem li—"she broke the silence and paused as he held a single finger to her lips. She met his large brown eyes with confusion and his slightly swollen lips twitched upward a fraction.

"I understand," he said, his hands sliding into his pockets. Bree raised her brows, staring at him almost expectantly. However, he simply stood with his hands in his pockets, a small smile on his face. Suddenly, he leaned down and placed a light, lingering kiss on her cheek before pulling back.

"Should you ever find your hands any less full…you know where my office is Ms. Taylor," he said evenly, stepping back and wandering over towards his desk. He slid into his chair, fingers idly tapping the wooden desk.

"I'll keep that in mind…see you around," Bree said simply, smoothing out her slightly ruffled clothes as she met his eyes one last time and gave a small smile that faded as soon as she turned to leave. The door clicked softly behind her and she released a heavy huff of air, her cheeks burning in a deep flush.

You done fucked up Bree…you done fucked up.

Ha ha…..yeah. Til next time, folks!