It started with coffee.

Jim entered the Command Center in the morning like he did every other morning and went over to the table with the pot. But this wasn't any ordinary morning. The sugar was gone.

Sugar was essential. Jim wouldn't drink his coffee without it. He did several helpings, but it was always refilled by the morning. It was never empty, just like there was always a pot of hot coffee. He went about his day, exhausted, without his cup, but he couldn't stand the bitter taste. He looked forward to the next day. He was the only one in the family who drank coffee, and it was pointless to spend money on a machine when he could just go to the Command Centre. He had to anyway to check in each morning.

It was gone again. Another three days past, each without it. He settled for getting it from the mess, as he was exhausted without it. But it was hardly convenient. On the fifth day, he started investigating it like a crime – which it was. A horrible crime that put him in a foul mood. He needed coffee. He investigated the one who replaced it, and they insisted they did every day, including the days it had been missing. Knowing he was telling the truth, he concluded the man was clean.

"Sugar?" He looked down at Wash, who rose an eyebrow, arms crossed. "You're investigating sugar?"

"I'm investigating a thief."

"Of sugar."

He turned. "I read the bylaws. Thievery isn't to be tolerated, and I'm a cop. This is my lane."

Taylor leant back in his chair. "This thief should be dealt with."

She turned to him. "Sugar? Seriously? Do neither of you have something better to do?"

"I believe you do, Lieutenant."

Wash looked at the Commander for a moment, before shaking her head and taking the dismal. "Have fun finding this sugar thief, Sir, Shannon."

Once she was gone, Taylor leant forward and placed his hands together on the table, clearly taking an interest. He seemed to be concerned, just like him. Unlike Wash, who dismissed the matter as something so…trivial when it clearly threatened the safety of the colonists. How were soldiers supposed to protect the colony without coffee to keep them awake and alert?

"So, this thief…"

"I'm still looking into it. I'm certain I'll figure it out. You get here before everyone else, right?"

"I get here at dawn. Another shift's finishing then, why?"

"I'm trying to figure when it's going missing. The guy says he replaces it in the evening."

"It's not been here when I've been here."

"So sometime between 1600 and 0400 it's going missing. Can I have a duty rooster of those on patrol at this time?"

Taylor nodded, not questioning it, and Jim thanked him only to pause. "Wash takes hers black, doesn't she?" Taylor nodded and Jim shook his head. "No wonder she doesn't understand the seriousness of the crime."

Jim did some investigating, but there were far too many names on the list and investigating them all would be impossible. He did interrogate one, finding them to be a little too suspicious.

"Seriously?" She folded her arms over her chest. "You think I stole the sugar?"

"Your reaction was certainly suspicious."

"I don't understand why sugar is so important."

"So, you thought you'd test this theory."

Wash narrowed her eyes. "I didn't steal any damn sugar. Do you really not have anything better to do?"

"No, it's a pretty safe colony excluding the wildlife, but that's your alley. Mine is the colonist," Jim admitted. She huffed and turned on her heel to head down the path, and he went after her. He had to quicken his pace to catch up to her. "I'm not done questioning you."

"Some of us actually have jobs."

"Mine was given to me by the Commander, and I'm responsible for criminal matters and civilian affairs. This is a criminal matter and Taylor supports this investigation."

She twisted around. "I'll talk to Taylor myself." He opened his mouth. "Unless you want to tell him why I was unable to give the boys a mandatory evaluation."

"I think he might agree with me." She narrowed her eyes. "You can go, though, but while you're there could you get me a list of names who might be responsible?"

"No. You clearly have plenty of time on your hands, you do it yourself."

~ • ~

Having no luck at narrowing the list, he got one of their cameras and set it up in Command. He hid it to avoid the perpetrators finding out. He wasn't sure he could trust Wash currently, Taylor brushed off Wash, but he wasn't ready to absolve her of guilt. That would come in time.

He left for home and in the morning, went to Command only to find the sugar missing. Taylor asked if he had leads and he told him he was making headway. He then headed to the mess and got his cup of coffee. He then went back to the vacant command centre and pulled up the feed on his plex. Someone had stolen it. He found himself watching for several hours, yawning. He skipped ahead. Taylor she mentioned it was there when he was going over reports. He could tell it was dark when the Command darkened and was lit solely by lights.

He heard Wash and Taylor in the background and then odd sounds. He dropped his plex when he realized. Taylor entered, "You got a lead on the culprit?"

"I need to go talk to Lis."

~ • ~

Jim knocked on the dork when it was dark and called out to see if they were inside. "Come in." He walked in and found them on opposite sides of the table. Taylor rose an eyebrow.

"Do you have the culprit yet?"

He paused. "How long have you two–" Taylor coughed and she twisted around.

"Who told you?" Her eyes narrowed.

"Other people know?" She kept her eyes narrowed. "Well, I supposed if you keep doing it in Command–"

Taylor sat up, pausing. "You waited until now to say something?"

"No, I put a camera in command–"

"What?"

He turned, backing up slowly, hands in the air as Wash gave him a look that would surely kill. Although Taylor's was far from better. "I didn't see anything." Wash glared at him, whether she believed him or not, she still seemed to be considering murdering him. "I heard enough, though."

"Why would you–"

"There was a long list and I was just trying to find the culprit!"

Taylor rubbed his forehead and lifted his gaze. "Did you at least find the culprit?" He froze…perhaps he should've waited to confront them. He swallowed thickly.

"Are we sure it's not Wash? I mean, you're a bit biased–"

"Get out of my office, Shannon. And don't put anything in here without my say so!"

The door shut and Alicia leant back. Taylor looked over at her. "Did you?"

"Why would you ask that?" He narrowed his eyes and she leant froward. "And if I did, Sir?"

"You ought to be reprimanded." She rose an eyebrow, waiting. "Find that damn camera, woman." She stood up with a small smirk.