I do not own Cold Case.
I just want to say thanks to all who reviewed the last chapter. I really do appreciate all of the responses that I have gotten on this story and your encouragement to continue has been wonderful. I do apologize greatly for not updating in forever, but I figure hearing my sob story is not needed-so please stay with me and I'll get this show back on the road. Enjoy!
Back into the ring
The stifling atmosphere seemed to have dissipated within the last few weeks, leaving mentor and newbie on a new playing field-one where Scotty spoke calmly and Lily took direction without qualms. The two had made strides in the communication department of their relationship-if it could be called that all. Regardless, the changes showed and with them a sense of relief overtook the team as they trudged on in their relentless pursuit of justice.
"Want a Swedish Fish?"
"A what?" Kat scanned the contents of the hand in front of her. Scowling slightly, she inspected each little red fish thoroughly from sight to smell before placing them back in the hand from whence they came.
"Look, are you gonna get one or what because I refuse to sit here and hold them for you while you take a look."
"Shut up," Kat warned and threw the last fish back onto Vera's palm, "and what are you doing anyway? Oh, right, nothing. So you have time to sit there and hold them out in mid air for me to look at, don't you Vera?"
"No I don't so just forget I even offered," shoving the last few bites of fish into his mouth.
"You ruin everything, you know that?" not waiting for the answer, Miller grabbed her current case file and fled towards the silent refuge of the warehouse...or so she thought.
"Scotty, it's not that simple. You can't just throw out your opinion like its fact. The man hadn't even had a chance to spit out his own name before the police had him hand-cuffed and pinned against the kitchen wall like some criminal," the words of his new-found confident partner reached his ears and though they made sense, still his ego got the best of him...yet again.
His silence only angered her, but she knew that he would not let her have the last word.
"You know Rush, you don't know a damn thing about this case...."
"I know everything about this case Valens. I have studied the notes, read the case file from front to back, memorized the witnesses statements, and even took home a photograph of the victim so that I don't ever forget what is at stake here-justice!" Her face beat red with fury, but she held her ground with Scotty and he seemed to take on her challenge.
Expecting him to step forward and tear away at her like a lion with razor-sharp insults and false allegations, he surprised her with a swift back step against the wall. He allowed the dimly lit corner to cast shadows upon his form, further sending Rush into a tail spin.
What the hell!, her mind babbled incoherently as she forced herself to watch the nightmarish scene unfold.
He never moved from his spot, just sent waves of deep-seeded resentment through his stare. She gulped slightly, but her strong demeanor kept shining through his darkened world. She hoped her unwillingness to surrender would ward him off from sending another attack her way. No such luck, but this waiting for some form of response was killing her and to top it all off, the only sounds heard within the vast cavern of the warehouse were the inhale and exhale of their own breathing. She had definitely underestimated her partner this round and it very well could cost her the victory she so needed. Winning this battle could fly her to the moon in terms of freedom when working future cases, but lets not get stingy now! She would be plenty satisfied if this win would be enough to get him to back off of her back for a while.
She snapped back into action, her feet claiming every inch of ground she passed over as hers and hers alone. No way in hell she was gonna let him intimidate her! She was Lily Rush and no one tells Lily Rush what to do-ever.
"You plannin' on talkin' to me today or should I schedule us an appointment with the headquarters counselor," she that she had won the game simply by his lack of response. She had caught him off guard with her own interpretation of his take on the English language, however, he remained entombed within his self-imposed silence.
Again mistaking his stilled lips for defeat, she triumphantly threw her hands behind her back and proceeded to walk back to her desk or what she had come to affectionately call "the ball and chain".
"You're all about the self-righteous bit aren't you?" Her blood ran cold at the mocking tone of his voice.
Arms still crossed, Scotty straightened himself, while lingering a few steps behind her-she had yet to turn around and face his accusation. He knew that he'd struck a nerve, which delighted him to some extent.
"You talk a great game, but somehow I find that it's....just that. All talk. You show me some real skills and maybe I'll let you come out and play with the rest of us, but until then-no go," the finality in his voice crushed her. The judgment had been handed down and she could either comply with the sentence or hit the road. The ball was in her court now.
"I have shown you," she whispered, but Kat's heavy laden footsteps aroused both detectives from their defensive stances. The battle was over for now.
"Hey there Kat," Lily greeted her coworker and stepped forward so that the two women could see each other better. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught Scotty robotically filing various papers into labeled folders-he was doing her job. Not that she cared in the least, but it was the principle of the matter.
"You got something for us," Lily asked, a hint of trepidation in her voice, "If you do, I hope it's on that Sandra Carr case-really wanna get that thing solved."
"No such luck...Bam!...I'm afraid," Kat's attention quickly shifted from Lily to Scotty, who was finding the art of slamming file drawers to be very therapeutic.
"I said knock it off Scotty!"
"He won't. You see he's making a point," Lily whispered.
"So, being an ass doesn't need an excuse. It's not like it takes talent....Thwap!" Miller's eyes narrowed, "Okay, that's it!"
Lily watched helplessly as Kat stormed towards Scotty's present location, effectively ending his tirade by ripping every file and folder known to man from his hands, tossing them into the cabinet, and finally slamming it shut one last time.
"There. Ya happy!" There would have been an objection from Scotty, however Kat was just getting started, "Cause I just can't take much more of this...this childish behavior from you boys. First I have to deal with Vera's crappy attitude and now your mini-meltdown," she shook her head violently before adding, "Get it together Valens!"
"Don't yell at me Miller," his voice cut through the noise perfectly-tone low, deadly even.
"Miller, ya down there?" All three heads shot up towards the direction of Vera's voice. No one made a sound.
"Yes, I'll be up in a sec...okay, you two behave yourselves down here," zeroing in on Scotty, she added, "and you-stop being an ass."
"Yes Mam," he responded, saluting her as she made her way back up the stairs and out of sight.
With Kat gone, silence recaptured its former stronghold, leaving both to struggle with the decision to either open up a new conversation or let the lack of words fill up the empty room. The latter was chosen, allowing Scotty the escape he so desired, while Lily returned to her desk. Neither saw the other for the rest of the day.
(6 a.m., Headquarters)
"Rush," Stillman's voice rang loudly through the quiet offices, catching Lily as she came in the doors.
"Boss, what's up?" Still shivering from the cold, she ran her hands through her dampened hair, hoping that she hadn't managed to get herself kicked off the squad in regards to yesterday's mishap.
"Nothing. Just wanted to know how everything's going?" She could lie and tell him that everything was just peachy or tell him the awful truth-she was miserable.
"It's all good. I like it. I really do. Thanks for giving me this opportunity to work with such fine detectives."
"Hmmm," she waited for him to continue, but he didn't. Could he possibly have seen through her lie? Nah. She was a pro.
"Well, I'll be seeing you around, I guess..."
"Yeah, you'll be seeing me around. Go get 'em Rush," smiling at her nervousness, he chuckled slightly, patting her on the back as he made his way towards his office.
"Weird," Rush mumbled before she stepping down into her dungeon for another lovely day of strained conversation and bitter coffee.
(Noon, Warehouse basement)
The day had brought little so far to help soothe the ailing relationship between the two detectives. The only words spoken had been out of necessity, but even then they managed to have their heads buried in files or shoved down into some meaningless wad of papers so as not to risk having to make eye contact.
"I'm gonna get some coffee," Lily jumped at her own words, her voice sounding so deafening, "You want some?"
Looking up briefly for the first time in what seemed like days, he gave her a quick "Nah."
"Okay. Be back," she hated to admit it, but the acknowledgement of her presence sort of livened her up a bit.
Returning five minutes later, cup in hand, Lily stepped lightly down the metal stairs. Maybe they could work through this and eventually be friends....
"Yeah, I know. She is so hell bent on bein' a pain in my ass-yeah, she's getting coffee right now....Well, I have her doing paper work at the moment....I know she can do the job, but...."
"You bastard," the words came out a mere whisper, however forceful with unshed tears.
"What...wait a minute," Scotty focused in, causing Lily to take a step back, "What did you just say-did you just call me a bastard?"
"Yeah, I did and I'll tell you something else Valens! You wanna talk about me, then do it to my face. I'm a big girl. I can handle it!"
Smack!
Engulfed by an overwhelming sense of fear, Lily brought her hands up to her arms, hugging herself in defense, while Scotty attempted to nurse his aching hand. She knew that he had a temper, but what if it escalated from him just hitting walls to actually throwing punches? The thought caused her to weaken, shrinking ever further into herself.
"Look, I'm sorry...I...," but it was too late, Lily was already in tears.
Reaching towards the frozen air in between their bodies, Lily reacted, flinching in response.
"Don't touch me," her words laced with disgust, she hurriedly ran up the stairs taking two at a time.
Watching her retreating form, Scotty once again hit the wall-this time he was angry with himself.
(7 a.m., Headquarters)
She was late. Practically screaming through the doors, she carried her caffeine-craving body over to the smiling faces of her coworkers. Vera currently had a donut sticking halfway out of his mouth as he motioned for her to take one from the heaping box.
"I don't eat..."
"Yeah, I noticed how you don't eat so here, take one," holding the box up to her nose.
"Well, what I was going to say was that I don't eat donuts, but since you are being so generous-I think I'll have one," grinning from ear to ear she searched the pile of sweet goodness for a chocolate glaze, but when found, retreated from snatching it up.
Sensing her hesitation, Vera furrowed his eyebrows, asking "What's wrong?"
"I, uh, wanted the chocolate glaze, but there's only one left."
"Oh, yeah, that's Scotty's favorite. You better leave that one for him..."
"I'll take it," and with one swipe, Lily had the prize in hand.
"Ooookay," Vera's attention was pulled from Lily's beaming face, seeing as Scotty chose that very moment to appear from downstairs.
Taking this as an opportunity for revenge, she lifted the donut to her mouth and gently took a bite.
"Hmmm, this is good Scotty. Too bad it was the last one."
"I tried to tell her..."
Ignoring Vera's babbling, he strolled nonchalantly over to Lily, her cheeks stuffed with dough, chocolate outlining the corners of her mouth.
"You eatin' my donut," he spoke, face colored with seriousness.
"Yeah," she said before taking the last bite.
"Well, that was my donut," she couldn't help but laugh at his childishness.
"Well, if you want some, then I guess you're gonna have to come and lick it off."
"I...," dumbfounded, Scotty could only respond with a string of incomprehensible words.
And five, four, three, two...one! We have a winner!
Lily-one, Scotty-zero.
TBC...