You don't know

Where we go

You don't know

That we're angels with dirty faces in the morning

Sugababes – Angels with Dirty Faces

There was no disputing that being a cop had its drawbacks.

Shifts were erratic, pay was lousy, plans were made then cancelled when cases broke; at times, it was a thankless task.

And there was no disputing, that being a cop and dating a cop had just as many drawbacks.

Shifts clashed, dates were interrupted, arguments broke out over procedure and tactics; at times, it was struggle.

But he wouldn't have it any other way.

:-:-:

Her desk was empty when he stormed into the Squad Room, but as the board reported her to be 'in', he started to search. The options were limited and so it wasn't hard to track her down to a small office off the files room. She was surrounded by a stack of case reports, absentmindedly doodling on the letter pad and looking thoroughly browned off.

Striding into the room, he calmly closed the door, watching her look up, her face instantly brightening "Hey!"

As his clenched fist hammered down onto the table, inches in front of her, his voice was dangerously low "What did I say Jess? What the fuck did I say?"

Flinching a little, her eyes widened.

He splayed his palms across table, leaning down to so he could glare directly at her and hissing "I played your game; I listened to your crazy Kolovos hook and I didn't take it further. But I told you to leave, the fuck, alone."

Her eyes narrowed, opening her mouth to challenge him, "Don..."

"No. Right now it's Flack and Angell, First Grade and Third Grade" he sneered, pointing a finger at her. "Have you any idea what the implications of your crusade are?! It's not some fucking Hardy Boy mystery Jess; my reputation's on the line."

She snorted, "Your reputation Flack?! So that's what this is all about? Quite frankly, I don't see how your reputation comes into any of it."

His jaw clenched "My reputation came into it the moment I heard from a buddy over at Jersey City PD that Diakos has just turned up with a couple of coins shoved on his eyes. My reputation came into it when the coins sounded a hell of a lot like the ones that my Detective, my girlfriend, had a convinced felon forge for her. My reputation came into when the coins sounded just like the ones that my Detective, my girlfriend, used to entrap a Greek national...the same Greek national who has now vanished from our radar!"

Pursing her lips, she drew back with a look of sheer disgust.

Straightening up he shook his head, giving her one last scowl before dragging over a chair and sitting across from her, his tone softening. "Christ Jess, could you not have just listened to me?! Sometimes I do know best; that extra little star on my chest sometimes means something."

She leant back in the chair, folding her arms across her chest. "Well, Sir," her voice was flat, "I'm glad to hear you have confidence and faith in your subordinates."

He sighed, wearily warning "Loose the attitude Jess, I'm not in the mood", before dropping his head into his hands.

"If you'd let me finish, I'd have told you that I'd spoken to the Captain; before I did anything." Although he didn't respond she continued, "Mm-huh. Told him about Travado and Kolovos; and for the record, I got my ass kicked for being a maverick. But, everything's above board; the coins at the Diakos scene will come back from the lab as kosher NYPD and your reputation doesn't even come into it, squeaky clean as always."

She watched him circle his head back and forth; an action he did when he was frustrated or pissed, upset or tired. "I didn't tell you, Flack, 'cause the Captain decided to keep it quiet; it was out of my hands. And I didn't tell you, Don, 'cause I knew how pissed you'd be."

Shaking his head he stood, walking around to her side and perching on the table, "You should have told me." She shrugged, "Perhaps, but it's done and dusted now; just got to smooth a few things over."

He raised an eyebrow, "Smooth a few things over?"

She nodded ruefully, "Yeah, one of the First Grades is pissed so guess I'm going to have to suck up for a couple of days. Shouldn't be hard too though; pour him a cup of coffee and take a bit of paperwork off his hands...and if that doesn't work, flashing him usually does the job."

Caught somewhere between amused and frustrated by her flippancy, all he could do was roll his eyes.

Taking no notice of his look she breezed on. "The boyfriend might be a bit more hard work though; I get the feeling he's more 'disappointed' than anything else," she grimaced at the word then sheepishly continued, "I really don't like disappointing him. Anyway, I'm thinking that dinner tonight, at the steak house I know he likes might be a start..."

She gave him an apologetic smile, mouthing 'Sorry Don', as he nodded; the start of a crooked grin creeping over his mouth.

He sighed and shook his head again, tugging at her long ponytail, "You're too smart and too brave for your own good sometimes Jess" before dropping a sweet kiss on forehead, muttering "And I only worry about you 'cause I care so much."