ANOTHER YES.

"Hey, Baby. You got good news for me?"

"No. Uncle Lieu isn't budging. You guys really pissed him off this time."

"Damn... okay. We're headin' back in now. We'll work somethin' out."

"Okay."

"Sweetheart... you okay?"

"Fine. Why?"

"Dunno. You just sound like all kinds of bad karma came your way."

"I don't know what that means."

"Bad juju? You ain't had none of that?"

"Holder, I have to go."

"Wait- Linden wants to talk to you."

"Linden?"

"Hey, Gabriella. Holder is a bigger dick than normal today. You might want to ignore him."

I couldn't help but laugh at that. "Sure thing."

"Hey, don't be hatin' on me to my girl like that. Just 'cause you're both PMSing-"

"See what I mean?"

"Yeah."

"Whatever. Gabs knows I love her- ain't that right, Angel?"

He never called me nicknames unless he was talking directly to me. I'd never noticed that before.

"Tell him he's a brat. But don't worry, I just have a headache."

"Okay. We'll see you soon."

I took a nap after the call ended. This headache really was killing me. But of course, crime doesn't take naps, so before long, I was being woken up by the infamous redhead herself.

"What happened to you?"

I knew I'd have to explain the cause of the headache sooner or later. At least it was Linden and not Holder.

"Guy at the hospital earlier really didn't want his shot."

"You okay?"

"Yeah. Just hurts. What do you need?"

"L.T. needs a reference file. Can you grab it and bring it to me?"

"Sure."

"Actually... I'll come back to get it. Holder probably shouldn't see your face."

"Okay."

She left. I ran a scan of the computer files, locating all the copies we had. Linden wasn't back yet, though, and I really wanted some ice for my face. The kitchen wasn't far. I could get back before she did.

I had just turned around from the freezer, wrapping the ice in a few layers of paper towels, when I smelled cigarette smoke.

"Hey, Angel, what's- what the hell is that?" His tone switched from playful to serious in two seconds, and the expression on his face matched it. He had been smiling when he came in, body loose, casual. Now he was at full height. Tense. Angry.

"It's nothing."

He scoffed. "Right."

The kitchen wasn't very big. It only took him two strides to reach me. Just one more stride to reach the counter, which is where he put me after his hands grabbed my waist and he bodily picked me up.

"Holder," I managed to gasp out, startled by the suddenness of it, clutching the ice in my hands.

One of his own hands came up to my face, turning it so that he could see clearly in the light.

"Stop fidgeting."

"Stop man-handling me."

Finally, the smirk I was so familiar with. "You like it."

"Let me go."

He put his hands on the counter, either side of me. "You gonna tell me what happened or do you want me to break out my psychic skills?"

"You don't have psychic skills."

"I might, you don't know. Not like you'd believe me with all that negativity around you, anyways."

"Holder."

"Angel."

"Holder."

"Gabriella."

I think that was the first time he ever said my real name.

"It's nothing, okay? Some guy at the hospital earlier went a little nuts. He didn't like needles."

"So he gave you a black eye? And then some?"

"There wasn't anyone else around. It was routine. I didn't know he would freak out."

"What did I say earlier about karma?"

"I dunno. I don't listen when you speak."

He rolled his eyes. "You been doin' somethin' naughty? You can tell Detective Holder, he won't judge," he teased.

"Don't confuse me with yourself, Holder."

"Ooooh, okay. I see how it is. Feisty. But hey- you can't hide from me." He tapped his temple. "I'm a detective. I'm gonna figure it out."

"Okay, sensei. Can I go now?"

He moved his arms, picked me up, placed me back down on the ground. I suddenly felt really short.

"So eager to leave me. What did I ever do to you?"

"Want a list?"

"Ouch, Angel. Words cut deep, ya know?"

"Whatever. I gotta go get a file for your partner."

"Linden saw you like this? Damn women, always keepin' secrets together."

He followed me out to the hallway as I made my way back to the main office. Just before I turned, he grabbed my elbow.

"Holder, what are you-"

"Returnin' a favor."

Then, quickly, and with surprising gentleness, he leaned down and placed a quick kiss over the bruising on my temple. It was a weird feeling. The skin there was so cold and kinda numb that I almost didn't feel it. But I did feel it. So the blush was quickly causing the coldness to fade.

I just looked at him, not really sure what to say.

"Thanks?"

He smiled, suddenly proud of himself. "Ain't no thang. But hey, from now on? You can call me Doctor Sensei."

"Shut up, Holder."

FIN.