Chapter 2: Goodtime Charlie (2.02) 9/24/92

"Sam, why don't you follow me back to my place, and we can head into work together after I take a quick shower?"

The good news was that the nightmare was over: Charles Lampman was dead. However, after a grueling hour at the construction site with the Medical Examiner and Forensics, Chris and Rita still needed to give statements at the shop before they could be done with this awful night. Chris was still damp and covered in mud; he needed to get himself presentable before heading in. He also wasn't ready to take his eyes off of Rita just yet. This was way too close a call.

"Um, actually, I think I'm going to head to my place to do the same. I wouldn't mind a shower and a change of clothes myself."

Chris sobered at her words. "Rita, did he do anything to you before I got here?"

"Chris, I've told you a dozen times, no."

"Did he try to do anything to you?"

Rita hesitated, picking some mud out of his hair. "He started to, but I was able to hold him off. Honestly, I think he was waiting for you to get here. This was all a sick game to him. He wanted you to see..." She looked away, regretting her ramble. The last thing she wanted was to make Chris think more critically about the situation.

"He wanted me to see what he was going to do to you." Chris shivered, more at that thought than at the chilled evening air.

"Look, I just want to shower because I was lying in the dirt, that's all. No deep dark secret. I'm fine, Chris. Really."

Chris gently grabbed both of her arms, noting the ligature marks on her wrists from being bound. "You're not fine, Sammy. He hurt you because of me."

"No, he hurt me because he was a sadistic rapist, Sam. I should have seen it coming- he was making comments from the minute I threw cuffs on him."

Chris brooded, thinking about the few comments he bore witness to. "I should have had you go away too, Sam. I underestimated him big time."

"No way, Chris. Do you honestly think I would have agreed to that?"

Chris looked at her with a blaze of fury in his eyes, still angry with himself over the turn of events. Rita read his mind and gently grabbed his hands to try and calm him down. "Look, Charlie was sick and twisted, but now it's over. Let's go give our statements, wrap up the paperwork, and put it to rest. I swear to you, I'm fine."

Chris leaned in and hugged her. "I wish I could believe you, Rita."

Rita shook her head against his strong shoulders. She knew no matter what she said, he was going to need some time with this one. Also, she would never admit it to Chris, but he was right; she was more than a little shaken up. She was knocked out, bound and gagged, kidnapped, almost raped, had a knife held to her throat, and Chris was almost killed. So many things that shouldn't have happened. She desperately tried to lighten the mood. "Well, now I really need a shower." She heard a faint snicker in her ear. She pulled out of his grasp and touched his nose. "Listen, go home. I'll meet you in the bullpen with coffee and donuts in an hour. Deal?"

Chris flashed his signature smile. "Deal. Want me to follow you-"

Rita put her hand up to silence Chris. "Nope. Chris, I'm fine. It's over. I'll see you soon, okay."

Chris handed her the keys to her Jeep, which he had to fish out of Charlie's pocket before he was carted off to the morgue. They locked fingers for a second. "How many times are you going to say the word 'fine'? You don't fool me for a second, Sammy."

Rita squeezed his fingers one last time before hopping into the Jeep. She hated lying to him, but she couldn't tell him the truth, either. She started the Jeep and put it into drive. "See ya, Sam."

Chris shook his head as she pulled away. As much as he loved their partnership, the dangers of it were thrown in his face in the worst way tonight. Why did Charlie go after Rita? He was so sure Rikki was the target, especially after Charlie's threats at the strip club. He knew the reason, but didn't want to give it much thought: why was it that most criminals they encountered assumed they were sleeping together? It was a double standard that infuriated him, but it existed nonetheless. Maybe for the sake of safety, they should split. His heart broke at the thought. She's Rita. His best friend and the best partner he ever had. The thought of disintegrating their partnership devastated him. He prayed that Hutch or Hudson wouldn't have the same thoughts that were racing through his mind tonight. They would just have to be more careful.

His thoughts moved to something even more pressing: how was he going to explain this all to Rikki, when he couldn't even explain it to himself?