What are we doin' Tim wondered when he pulled back for breath. Nina gave him a look. We shouldn't he whispered with his forehead on hers

Mhm she hummed and kissed him again. He tried to hold back but she deepened the kiss and he lost all control over himself. He hoisted her up on the counter, his hands going under her top. He moved to kiss her neck, one hand going to her breast the other hovering by the hem of her shorts. He hesitated there for a moment but then she moaned and shifted pulling him closer, and he moved his hand up evoking a very pleased whimpering sigh out of her…

Later in the night they were lying in her bed. Tim was staring at the ceiling and absentmindedly tracing a finger along her side. Nina was snuggled against him with her head on his shoulder. She hummed quietly when his hand found a different texture and stopped there.

What's that? he looked down at her

Nothing much she said with a sigh and turned to him with a smile

That doesn't feel like nothing

Just an accident she grinned stupid really

How so?

I was an overly confident teenager she giggled seeing his expression I picked up surfing after coming back to Hawaii. One wave and an old coral reef rock have decided to teach me a lesson.

Oh

I got way better since then she smiled

Good he smiled back

My turn

Hm? he looked down and noticed that she was tracing a scar by his right shoulder Right he shifted slightly that's from my last tour

I figured Nina said softly

There was a mortar attack at our base. A shrapnel hit me. Before that though it killed a kid, it was his first tour and he ended up basically beheaded his voice hitched I, uh… knew he was dead but I guess I was in shock, I tried to safe him anyway.

Tim

Hm?

It's ok he looked at her I mean it was a human reaction

I know.

When they came to work on Monday Art told them that the shot at the airport was good, that wasn't surprising though. Tim was allowed to go to his desk but Chief asked Nina to stay and close the door.

Deputy Pérez

Yes Chief she looked at him

How is he? Art eyed Tim He seems better

I think he is

And how is being a housemate with him? Mullen eyed her this time

Uh… She hesitated and before she could answer aloud sneeze in the bullpen got their attention. When they looked over Tim sneezed again.

Oh great Art sounded annoyed.

Sorry Gutterson uttered when they walked out of Chief's office

Tim started Art how is it that every year at the very beginning of flu season you get sick his Deputy just shrugged with all the innocence he could master. Nina chuckled.

You Mullen turned to face her Are you next?

Nope she emphasized the 'p'

You sure?

I vaccinate every year.

See he turned back to Tim You should too, since you're obviously prone to it

Next year Gutterson answered and Achooo!

Shit Art sighed Go home, before you infect the whole office and he went back to his office

Yes Sir sulkily responded Art's sick Deputy but wavered after standing up and had to hold himself up by holding onto his desk

Tim

Hm? he turned his bleary gaze to his partner

I'll drive you

Ok.

When she came back the front of her desk was as far as she reached.

Kid Raylan called her to follow him with his finger. She did so with a long suffering sigh.

Where are we going?

Harlan was all the cowboy Deputy said. Nina eyed him. They arrived to some bar. He told her to wait in the car, so she did for all but 5 minutes. Raylan was talking to some Latino kid in early-twenties. Deputy Pérez mingled with people in the bar an tried to watch Givens and the kid but she was unable to read what they were saying, she couldn't get the right angle. She walked up to Raylan when he and the kid split up.

Got something? she startled him

Uh… yeah, no… he was obviously not happy she was in there Not really, he's an informant, usually for the DEA but he thinks the district office has a mole.

Shit

Yup he dragged her out of the bar and to the car by her elbow And next time I tell you to stay in the car, please stay in the car.

Mhm.

After coming back to the office Nina and Raylan were doing research on the intel from the CI. Art knew the Agent in Charge of the bureau in Louisville so he contacted him directly and got an all clear for them to investigate the possibility of a mole within the DEA. Since Raylan moved to Miami seven years prior Harlan County was a bit calmer but it still was a center of drug distribution in the area, but most off all – it was a good region for drug production, lots of woodland areas and abandoned sheds and that meant their office could get the heat of it, if a drug war started. The locals would not take it too kindly if the Mexicans started to boss around. Nina was tasked with finding some proof that there even is a mole, what was the point of him and identifying him if possible. Raylan kept doing whatever he was usually doing, hopefully getting some more information on the Mexicans activities in the area in the process. By the end of the week Pérez managed to contact an accountant from Harlan County who was working on covering financials for local group of a Cartel from across the border. He was to help out with finding the mole in exchange for a witness protection program for him and his girlfriend.

In the meantime, after hours she took care of her sick partner. Luckily Tim felt better pretty quick. He was back at work next Monday, good as new. He was a little disappointed that, as per Art's orders he was partnered up with Raylan for a while due to Nina's research assignment.

So what's the side job? Gutterson asked, leaning over the partition. Nina looked at him and smiled.

I'm doing background check on everybody in DEA's Louisville Office.

Ain't that an exciting task flat tone emphasized the sarcasm. Younger woman glared.

Tim Raylan announced himself got a subpoena to deliver.

Is it really a two-man job?

It's lunchtime.

Tim grinned at Nina, who in turn glowered, and followed Raylan out. Pérez mumbled some mild profanities to herself which evoked a giggle from Rachel. Nina rolled her eyes and focused back on her searches. With the help of her accountant CI she managed to find some inconsistencies in few DEA Louisville's office finances. Now she could focus on those few people and do a deeper search. In the next couple of weeks they didn't find anything important. She had to keep watching finances on three most suspicious agents therefore she was still tied to her desk. The only upside of those few slow weeks were evening spent with her partner. Tim had picked up yoga, or more specifically he tried to do it but he swore to himself that he would not give up. Nina and him started sparing every other day and she even showed him some of Kyokushin Karate Kata which seemed sort of artistic to him.

Tim

Yes Raylan. Tim kept the flat voice on while dealing with Givens for about a week now.

Got an errand, might need you.

Really?

Yup.

Go mouthed Nina at Gutterson and shooed him with her hand.

Tim and Raylan ware on the way for about thirty minutes now, they were going to some rural part of Harlan County. Tim still didn't know what for…

We're going to meet with the informant at his house Raylan answered the unasked question. Younger man looked over at him.

The Latino kid Nina mentioned?

Mhm.

The rest of the drive was silent, Tim looking out the window, Raylan focused on the road. To get to the secluded house they had to drive through a wood road. Gutterson looked straight ahead when he felt his stomach drop, like something was about to go to hell. He glanced at Raylan – the older man wore a tense expression which meant he also felt something was off. They found out soon enough - the driveway was covered in blue lights. Few local police cars, ambulance and a coroner's van.

Oh oh they uttered out in unison.