A/N: Sorry, this chapter starts off a little dark, but don't worry, it gets better…

DAY 10: Distractions

Later that morning Kate watched a young girl bleed out on the pavement in front of her.

When bad things happened, people sought the comfort of another human being, the warmth of their embrace. Sometimes after a tragedy, just like Rick had once told her, two people just needed to be with each other.

Sometimes sex was a great way to prove to yourself that you were still alive.

That morning, Kate couldn't even begin to think about having sex. Not when a bastardly child-murderer was still out there. Just the thought of celebrating her love and life with Rick, while another innocent child could be fighting for survival, screaming and bleeding and desperate, almost made her puke.

Rick didn't stay with her that day. And while she needed him by her side more than ever, she could completely understand him as well. When he talked about flying to California to see Alexis, she barely had the strength to talk him out of it.

He called her instead, ignoring the fact that she yelled at him for making her miss class. They made a deal to chat via Skype after her classes were over and Rick gave Kate a faint excuse of a smile before he was gone.

He came back to the precinct when she hadn't called or returned home by seven. He took one look around their team, assessed the dark circles under Kevin's eyes, saw the determination in Kate's, observed Javier's clenched jaw, and pulled out his phone. Half an hour later the room was filled with enough pizza to feed a small town.

Kate smiled softly at Rick. Her expression meant Thank you, I love you, I would probably starve without you and I really need this case to be over all wrapped into one look.

He smiled back and the phone rang. They finally had a lead.

DAY 11

Wednesday wasn't much better. Their lead actually led nowhere and the main suspect apparently had an airtight alibi. At least no other bodies showed up. Still, a heavy weight pressed down the shoulders of each member of the team. Children were always the worst.

Their grief threatened to drown them, but it also made them work harder, look closer, check everything at least twice. They wouldn't let this madman get away.

DAY 12

On Thursday, Lanie brought surprising new evidence and they managed to close the case far quicker than they could have hoped for. The burden was lifted off their shoulders, only a sour taste remained in their mouths as Esposito and Ryan cuffed the older man with the haunting eyes, purposely scratching his wrists with the metal before they locked him away.

Kate swallowed thickly as she watched the iron bars close in front of the killer's face. He smiled at her, clearly out of his right mind.

And then he spit.

He aimed for her face, but only hit the sleeve of her blouse, thanks to her fast reflexes. Two officers were at her side immediately, but she brushed them off, making a point of not giving the maniac in the cell the attention he wished to receive.

Feeling the sudden need to throw up, Kate stormed off towards the Ladies' bathroom.

Rick's hand stopped the door before it could fall shut, standing quietly in the doorway as he watched her bend over and splash her face with cold water. When she raised herself up again, their gazes met in the mirror. Wordlessly Rick let the door fall shut behind him, stepping fully into the room just as she started to unbutton her blouse. Revealing a simple white camisole beneath it, she shed the stained garment and pulled it under the stream of water.

Rick came up behind her, his arms on both sides of her body but not touching her, and took the soap from the edge of the sink. Soaping up his hands, he took the blouse from her and started cleaning it, effectively pinning her between his large body and the functional porcelain. She tensed, but then relaxed into his embrace, moving back slightly to cuddle deeper into his warmth.

"Thank you" she murmured, took the wet soap from where he had placed it and soaped up her hands to join him in his efforts to get the saliva out of the fabric. Their wet fingers slid against each other just as he whispered "No problem" and lightly kissed her bare neck, his hot breath cascading down her back.

And suddenly the desire was back with full force. As the adrenaline of the case and her silent anger were rinsed away along with the stain in her shirt, that fire they had worked so hard on extinguishing got reignited. Kate had thought that after what had happened Sunday night, she'd be able to hold out for a while longer. Apparently she'd thought wrong.

She angled her head to the side to offer him better access to her neck and he let his soft lips brush down her skin. Placing another kiss to the point where her neck met her shoulder, he let his tongue slip out to taste her. Gripping his slick hands tighter in hers, she fought hard to suppress the moan that was already vibrating in her chest.

When he lightly bit her skin, she gasped and pushed back into him, to which he responded by pressing her into the sink, the length of her body touching his from chest to toe.

His teeth scraped at her shoulder and their tangled hands gripped the edge of the sink together, his thumbs sliding in wet caresses along her fingers. Kate sucked in a breath and looked up at him, her curls falling into her face and obscuring her view when she turned her head. His nostrils flared as they caught the scent of her cherry conditioner wafting over to him. He pressed her into the sink more forcefully and she could feel the bulge in his pants grow against her backside.

A helpless whimper spilled from her lips and she strained her neck some more to meet his gaze, her dilated pupils shining behind her long lashes. The dark, undisguised lust in his eyes made her subconsciously wet her lips.

They moved simultaneously, their foreheads touching, their noses softly brushing as they angled their heads in opposite directions. Their eyes closed and their open mouths connected, just barely, a second passing between them as they shared the same breath. His lips closed around her top one just as she sucked his lower one into her hot mouth. They were completely in synch. Her teeth nipped at him before they released each other, barely leaving enough room between them to breathe. Their eyes opened lazily and they locked gazes. No words needed to be spoken. Their parted lips moved to join together again, their eyes remaining open this time, and Rick's tongue snaked forward just as someone knocked on the door.

They halted in their movement, stuck in a position that was all but unpleasant, his erection straining his pants and digging into her backside, their hands clasped together, their mouths locked.

"You okay in there, Beckett?" Esposito's voice came from the other side of the door.
Slowly they drew apart, Rick stepping away from her only reluctantly.
"Uh…yeah…" Kate pressed out and swallowed, dropping her eyes away from Rick's scrutinizing gaze. "Yes, Esposito. I'm fine."

Their hands were the last part of their bodies that separated. Still silent, they moved until they were side by side in front of the sink and could wash their hands clean.

Kate left Rick alone with her blouse and his erection and exited the bathroom to find a spare shirt.

He had to wait ten minutes until he had composed himself enough to follow her.

A/N: This one is for tansypool for making a comment about how they should break in the precinct. And Manuxinhace, I think you recognize a part of this chapter. I hope I did it justice.