Chapter 3: Don't Ask For Trouble
Disclaimer: The usual: nothing, nada is mine except the beautiful, talented and sassy Dr Rhodes
I think we maybe need to get inside our home-girl's head, huh?!
"Hey Irish!" said Rebecca.
"Irish?" said Danny to Flack.
"Dusty?" replied Flack.
Rebecca was thinking Flack scrubbed up well, in his work suit. She was thinking it showed his fine figure off. He leaned against the door frame grinning at her, taking a slow look up and down her body. She felt a slow flush begin on her face.
"Danny – you gotta explain Dusty to me. We already call her Hook," said Flack.
Danny looked confused for all of two seconds, before realizing Flack and Rebecca had obviously met before. He was also noticing the reaction they were having on each other. Boom, he thought, no need to give them a helping hand of Messer magic then.
"Well, her surname is Rhodes, Dusty Rhodes. Get it?" said Danny, "Now, you," he said pointing at Flack, "had better explain Hook."
"The super fitted a huge hook in the ceiling of her apartment for her full length punchbag," replied Flack.
"So this Dusty Hook moved into your building, huh?" said Danny, thinking he couldn't wait to get a new pool running on this two.
"Excuse me," said Rebecca, "I hate to call a halt to a great analytical discussion of the nicknames you guys have given me, but first of all, I prefer Becca and second of all, the case in hand gentlemen?"
Both men turned all their attention onto Rebecca, who called up a few pictures on screen.
"Flack, this is why we called you," she said, "It's only a preliminary finding, but I noticed there are some similarities with this case and a few unsolved homicides that were referred to the Jeffersonian last year. I'll speak to Mac to get his permission to contact them. I think the analysis we did up there could prove useful."
Flack was all attention. He moved closer to Rebecca to get a better look at the computer screen. Rebecca could feel the heat radiating from his body. Managing it, the finally wrenched her mind away from some interesting pictures that were forming in her mind, she pointed out that the body of the victim had been positioned very carefully, in specific surroundings. A few more clicks of the mouse and they were comparing crime scene photos of four more cases. The places were different, but the positioning of the bodies was the same and similar landmarks were near – a statue, a fountain and always a specific distance from the nearest path. From the look on their faces, Rebecca could tell both the men were impressed.
"I'm gonna call Mac," said Danny, "And let him know we have a possible serial killer at large. That's good work kiddo, on your first day."
Rebecca turned to Flack, catching her breath slightly as he turned and looked at her with his deep blue eyes.
"We haven't been down to the Morgue yet. Hawkes is still analyzing the body, but I suspect we're gonna find that the injuries in this case are similar to the previous ones. I only minored in psychology, but it looks like this guy has a very specific MO."
Flack nodded. "Well call me when you know any more." His phone rang. He answered it, spoke briefly and hung up.
"Dispatch called, we got another homicide. I gotta go."
"Hey, Flack, you wanna shoot some hoops later?" asked Danny.
"Precinct gym?" Flack replied.
"Yeah. I'll bring our newbie down and maybe show her some of the light workout stuff the girls like," said Danny.
Rebecca was a little taken aback and guessed Flack hadn't told him about her fitness regime. Flack stifled a laugh in a cough. Danny looked from one to another, realizing they knew something he didn't.
"I'm gonna head to the morgue," said Rebecca, quickly exiting before she broke into outright laughter.
"I'll catch you later," said Flack, making an equally swift exit in the opposite direction.
Danny looked after the two of them. Through the glass walls, he could see Stella and Adam heading to the coffee room. Grinning, he headed there himself. He could feel a new pool coming on, betting the time frame it would take for Flack to make a move on this girl.
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Later that afternoon
The gym had quite a few PD officers in it, when the trio of Danny, Flack and Rebecca walked in. Flack and Danny were wearing NYPD t-shirts and track pants, while Rebecca had put her running gear back on, as she hadn't brought any gym wear. Danny decided that self-defense was the best way to start Rebecca off and started running through a few moves. He missed the exchange of glances between his colleagues. Rebecca saw the amused smile on Flack's face and grinned in reply. Fortunately, Danny missed the exchange.
"Becca, why don't you try and throw me," he said, "It's kind of hard, but you'll pick it up."
"Ok," said Becca, who promptly carried out a few, swift, well-practiced moves and before Danny knew it, he was face down on the mat, winded, unable to get his arm out of a very strong vice hold. The whole gym had gone silent and most people had stopped what they were doing to watch them.
"Do you give?" asked Rebecca.
"Yeah, yeah, I give," said Danny.
She released him and he got up to see Flack laughing outright.
"Why do I think I've been had by you two?" Danny asked.
"I'm sorry buddy, I just couldn't resist," said Flack, "Becca may look like a defenseless ice princess, but she told me she's into martial arts." "And hockey," he added as an afterthought.
Danny cocked his head to one side and looked at Rebecca with a new light of appreciation in his eyes.
"You gonna show me some of your moves?" he asked.
"I thought you'd never ask," she said grinning, "I'd take you on again, but you're just two damn easy!"
"I am not easy, I just wasn't expecting your moves," said Danny.
"You mean smacked down by a girl!" said Rebecca. Flack cleared his throat. Both turned to look at him.
"So you want a piece of this, Irish?" asked Rebecca, with a little thrill running hrough her at her own bold words.
"Sure," said Flack, trying to put an indecent thought, that he shouldn't be having about his colleague and neighbor out of his head.
Danny grinned. Flack had more successful take downs of perps than anyone else at the 3-5 and he had a feeling that the newbie might just have bitten off more than she could chew. This was gonna be fun to watch – if Flack could keep his head and not get distracted by that nice figure.
Rebecca smoothed her hair back from her damp, flushed face and assumed the position, crouching slightly, bouncing from side to side. By this point, everyone else in the gym had stopped what they were doing to watch the duo. Danny could hear some of the precinct laying bets – Flack or the girl. Flack shot a glance at his audience; it irritated him that his fellow officers were openly appreciating his neighbor's lithe figure. He concentrated on his opponent and rubbed his hands a couple of times, before drying off the sweat on his track pants.
"So, kid, you ready to lose?" he asked. Rebecca smiled wickedly.
"Oh no, Irish," she said, "You are so going down!"
And with that they were off, Flack easily rebuffing some of her moves, while Rebecca did a fairly impressive job of dodging some of his. It was clear that their audience were taking sides, some shouting encouragement to Rebecca and some cheering on their own man. Finally, a little out of breath, like Rebecca, Flack made a mistake. With a look of triumph, Rebecca made her move and brought him down.
"So Irish," she asked, "How does it feel to be on the wrong end of a smack down?" she asked, before realizing her grip was off.
She swore, but not before Flack had seized the opportunity and rolled her, pinning her to the mat. Both of them were breathing heavily, slick with sweat from their workout. Both of them were uncomfortably aware of how close they were to each other. Flack looked deep into Rebecca's brown eyes.
"Now this," he said softly, "is the wrong end of a smack down."
"Did I say I was going to play fair?" replied Rebecca, making a move that caused him a little pain, but forced him to release her.
Danny was standing there clapping his hands at the display. The rest of their audience were cheering and whooping and Rebecca noticed quite a lot of money changing hands. She turned to Flack and extended her hand to help him up. He took it and stood.
"So the newest member of New York's finest is a blue-blooded princess who likes to fight dirty," said Danny, "Man that was funny. Flack's never been beaten before. Man you are going to get some grief!" he said, laughing and shaking his head.
"What the hell was that?" he asked, rubbing his ribs, where she's managed to deliver her blow.
"Krav Maga, the Israeli Defense Force's defense martial arts. No rules and dirty fighting," replied Rebecca, "I took classes one semester at a community center."
Danny put his arm around her shoulders.
"So, sweetheart, are there any other sports you're interested in sharing with us?"
"Only hockey!" said Rebecca, grinning.
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After showering off, the three went back to the lab to collect their gear. Danny suggested they all adjourn to Sullivan's to celebrate both Rebecca's good first day and her take-down of Flack, which was fast becoming a legend, although Flack suggested those who took the mick take Rebecca on to see how they'd do. The whole team, bar Mac, who was working late, all came along too. Once they were all seated in a booth, Stella raised her glass.
"To Rebecca, welcome to New York's finest," she said.
"To New York's finest," they all chorused.
And just then, Shakira's Objection (Tango) came on the jukebox. Rebecca stood and held her hand out to Danny.
"I owe you," she said, "Wanna dance?"
Danny accepted. Flack felt a spark of jealousy shoot through him, even though he knew Danny would never mess around on Lindsey, but as he saw them take to the small dance floor with the few other couples around, he couldn't help but wish it was him.
To be continued! I am sooooo mean! Thank you all so much for your reviews and adds – I'm really touched and honored. Please let me know if there's anything you want me to work in! I may not post again for a couple of days, as I'm on nights and pretty tired…. xoxo