PYGMALION

 

by DocPaul

 

 

 

 

Chapter Eight: ‘O, learn to read what silent love hath writ’

 

Day Eight: Tuesday, 7:47 am

 

Tuesday mornings were almost worse than Mondays. At least Monday was understood to be a really crappy day, full of lethargy and indifference, so people expected Mondays to suck. But Tuesday…Tuesday was that space day between mid-week and almost through. It lulled. Hesitated. Slowly dragged until all you could see was a week that would never end, and a day one step closer to not having time to complete everything.

 

Sean stood in the shower drinking a cup of coffee. Liz and Isabel's sofa was comfortable enough, but he missed his own bed. Monday was the worst day, and Tuesday looked to be a magnified repeat of the day before. His car had broken down, his girlfriend dumped him and wasn’t returning his calls, somewhere in Roswell, was his misplaced leather jacket and his favorite shirt... Added on to those woes was the exponential overnight increase in his caseload, as he and Kyle took on Michael and Max’s cases. Some were given to other teams, but Sean and Kyle had picked up the largest amount. Further adding insult to injury, his and Kyle’s name had just rotated to the top of the on-call list, and his Aunt Amy had called him in a list of ‘essentials’ and errands she needed him to run.

 

Sean gave a loud yelp. The hot water just went ice cold. Being third in line to get the shower, he was lucky that the entire city of Roswell had water after Liz and Isabel were through. He cooked breakfast before jumping in the shower, and if his luck held, there would be nothing left by the time he got out. His car was at Walter’s shop, having been proclaimed dead, and Michael already enlisted him to help with the nursery after work and before Lamaze. His new car wasn’t due to be delivered to Michael and Maria’s garage until the weekend.

 

“Sean! Phone...”

 

Sean closed his eyes and slowly worked on getting out. It was too cold to stand in the water for long anyway. Cold showers. Looked like he needed to get used to them. Probably a good thing though, since his bed was going to be empty for the foreseeable future.

 

“Yeah, this is Sean.” Sean ignored Liz and Isabel's murderous looks as he stood in the living room clad only in a towel, answering the phone. He was dripping everywhere.

 

“Gussie, what’s up?”

 

Sean listened as he got a report from his friend from the bomb squad. “Did you check before she left for work this morning?” Sean’s face darkened. “She never went home? All night?”

 

Liz looked at Isabel and grimaced. The knock at the door forestalled a comment. Max.

 

“Hey, Max!”

 

“Lizzie girl, move aside, huh?” Max tweaked her hair on his way in. “Where is your stinky roommate?”

 

“Isabel’s eating breakfast.”

 

“Hey! Who’s stinky? I shower, Lab Girl.” Isabel offered her cheek to Max. “What did you need, Max? Help? Tips on dating a male? Or do you just need to share some incredibly intimate details of your relationship with Jonathan?” Liz took her seat again and waited expectantly for Max to shell out some quality gossip.

 

“Neither. Doing good. Jonathan is gone again. He had to go finish part of the deal he was working on from the trip he cut short last week for Amy and Jim. I think he has a late afternoon flight. He’ll be back on Friday.”

 

“Always on the run,” said Liz softly. That Jonathan was…something. “I thought you were bringing him to dinner soon?”

 

“Sooner or later.” Max said looking over at the dripping Sean. “Actually, that is the stinky roommate I was referring to, and I see he’s actually clean at the moment.”

 

Isabel looked at Sean evilly. “Oh, we hose him down on occasion to keep the buzzards at bay.”

 

Sean just made a rude gesture in her direction and kept on talking. “When did you find it?” Sean turned his attention away from the conversation in the loft and concentrated on the phone. “God! Did you diffuse the car? Does Julia know?”

 

The other three stopped talking and eating breakfast to look at Sean. He wasn’t being overly pleasant on the phone, actually he sounded angry.

 

“What do you want me to do, Sean?”

 

“Impound it, Gussie. Call for transport to pick up the car and put it in holding until Simon’s boys can climb over it.”

 

“Do you want me to tell…”

 

“No. Just send a message through the usual channels informing her that her car was impounded. ADA MacLeod would like not to be disturbed by minor things like bombs attached to her car. After all, she’s too busy to be bothered.” Sean said in a biting tone. Damn her! How long was had that bomb been there? If she had gone home last night…

 

Max swore. “Don’t do it, man.”

 

“Shut up, Max.” Sean hung up the phone. Julia should be used to him having her car ticketed and towed. It was standard fare for them.

 

“You should at least tell her why her car was taken.”

 

“Why? So we can have another discussion why it doesn’t matter how close he comes to killing her; she won’t walk away? That I am a controlling asshole that has no right to try to keep her safe? Nope. I’m doing this my way. I’m keeping an eye on her, and removing the harm before it takes her out.”

 

“She won’t understand.”

 

Sean laughed bitterly. “Yeah, well...when did she ever? And don’t lecture me! ADA Mac understands perfectly, more than I do at times, but she will not bend.”

 

Liz patted Sean on the shoulder in comfort, “Why don’t you go finish your shower? Breakfast is getting cold.” Sean looked down and swore. He had forgotten he was only standing in a towel. Oh well, maybe it would give Max a thrill. Hopefully not Isabel. He was obviously going to die of blue ball syndrome. No sense in them shriveling up and withering away.

 

“Why are you here, Max?” Sean asked, when he finally came back dressed.

 

“Thought I’d make sure you got to work on time, today, and…” Max looked at his watch, “...looks like both of us will be late.”

 

“Well, maybe the acting Captain won’t put us on report?” Sean said hopefully.

 

“Don’t count on it.”

 

~~~

 

Maria looked at the clock. Max had come and dragged Michael off for a few hours of work, and for that, Maria was grateful. It was hard on both of them having to stay so close recently, and in the next two months it would only get worse.

 

Michael.

 

It was hard to imagine being in love with someone as much as she was in love with him. Laughing at herself, Maria let the amazement of it wash over her. She still had a little more time before she went to the hospital to see her mom. Amy had a new project. A restoration of an old landmark theatre downtown that was one of the oldest Marquee theatres in the state of New Mexico.

 

Talking to Mr. Booboo and the babies at the same time, Maria was scrambling on the floor trying to find her missing shoe. It was wedged under the sofa. The chime of the doorbell saved her from having to do battle with the heavy leather sofa.

 

“Jonathan!”

 

The man just looked elegant. No buts about it. Standing on her doorstep with two steaming cups of coffee and what looked like a pastry box under one arm, Maria had to admire his black Armani double seared lean cut jacket, and the slim cut of his pants. The shirt was a nice silk dress shirt with those cute shirt studs instead of buttons. His dark hair was pulled back in a tie, and he was smartly reserved elegance from his head to his toes.

 

“Is it safe, or should I just drop these off and run?”

 

“Don’t be a fool. My Detective is off detecting things with your lovelier half.”

 

“More like they’re burning down half the damn city.” Jonathan came in and handed her the goods, giving her a kiss on the cheek. Reaching down he patted the babies. “Strange, every time I kiss you on the cheek, I have this desire to really, and I mean really kiss you.”

 

“Resist. I think Michael would sense another man’s lips on mine. You’re pushing it with the cheek already.”

 

“Don’t I know it! That’s what I meant by strange. Think I’m suicidal or something?”

 

“Nope. I think you’re territorial like Michael, and a part of you wants to push his buttons, see how far you can invade his turf.”

 

Jonathan paused as he sat down, waiting for her to open the pastry box. Damn. He was that obvious. Maria. She saw more than she said. Strange that she could be so astute and yet say nothing. She was right. His and Michael’s problem was a war over territory.

 

Sean had relinquished his responsibility of caring and protecting Maria to Michael long ago, but not Jonathan. He couldn’t. When he had met her she was so broken, lost and trapped in despair, it was hard to pull back what instincts he had and just leave her for Michael to watch over. He couldn’t do it. Not yet. She was too small. Too sick. Seeing her in the hospital when she almost lost the babies the first time just cemented that feeling. He had made it his job and duty to watch over her long ago, and no one, not even Michael Guerin, could make him yield that responsibility.

 

“Nothing I enjoy more than pissing in the Detective’s pond.”

 

Maria gave a sound of delight as a boxful of pastries came into view. Éclairs and Bearclaws, and large dripping cinnamon rolls. “I love you to death, Jonathan!”

 

“Tell the Detective that, will you?”

 

“I will not! I love him more.”

 

Jonathan feigned a crushing blow to his heart. “My lady, you cut me to the quick to deny me.”

 

“Silly. Eat your pastry.” Maria’s eyes flickered, but she appeared nonchalant. “So to what do I owe this honor?”

 

“Do I need an excuse to visit and feed you?”

 

Maria picked up crumbs with her fingertip, and sucking them away thoughtfully, she delicately raised an eyebrow.

 

“Okay, okay. Stop being so smug.” Jonathan evaded for a moment. Damn. What was that? Embarrassment? Shyness? He felt like a schoolboy in the lull of his first crush, but that was impossible, he was never a schoolboy. Or at least he never felt like one, all gawky and uneasy. “Max has temporary command of Major Crimes while Jim is out of commission.”

 

“I heard.” Maria took another bite of her roll, moaning in ecstasy. Too good. Opening her coffee she looked at Jonathan.

 

“Double latte, decaf, with extra cream and cinnamon sprinkles.”

 

“Bless you!” Maria took a long drink. She was in heaven. Jonathan was the perfect man. Perfect friend. No wonder Michael felt threatened. Silly boy, like anyone could compete with him. “So you got problems with that?”

 

“Max taking command? No. No, I don’t. I like Max in a more affirmative role. He still hedges around a bit, but he is shaping up nicely.”

 

“You’re not building a tinker toy here, Jonathan. So if it’s not the command thing, then what is it?”

 

“You know that Max finally pretty much committed himself to our relationship, short of moving in with me, of course.”

 

“You told me.”

 

“Well…”

 

Maria looked at her friend in amazement. He was stammering. “Jonathan, what’s wrong?”

 

“I just…that is, I’m uncertain how strong our relationship is. And, I don’t know if it’s ready to take some hits, but…”

 

“Jonathan! Please, you’re a grown man, just spit it out.” Maria’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully. “What is it? Sex? You and Max still haven’t gone all the way?”

 

“God!” Jonathan put his head down on the counter. “Does everything have to be about sex?”

 

“So you have.”

 

Jonathan groaned.

 

“Okay, so you haven’t.”

 

“Maria!” Jonathan peeked up at her. Fine. “I want to, okay? But there are complications.”

 

“Oh. Complications. Hmm.... Well, let’s see... Tab A inserts into slot B. What’s so hard? Though being hard is absolutely necessary.”

 

“Gee, thanks, Professor. Can I have a damn diagram with that?” Jonathan sighed. “I’ve got the logistics, Maria. Even read a few books.”

 

“You read a few books?” For some reason that just cracked Maria up.

 

“Damn. And she laughs!” Jonathan said exasperated. “What else was I supposed to do? My only forage into gay love was in college, and that was just blowjobs and handjobs. Nothing too… penetrating. Dammit, Maria, if you’re going to laugh…”

 

“I’m sorry!” Maria held up her hand and tried to contain her mirth. “So if it’s not specifics and warm lube, what is it?”

 

“Tops and bottoms.”

 

“Oh! So Max is a…”

 

“Max doesn’t talk about it, but instinctually I’d say Max needs to be in control, and it would take some work making him into a bottom. So he’s definitely a top.”

 

“Okay, and you are...?”

 

Jonathan shrugged. “I think I can pretty much switch hit. Either position seems okay with me. I could happily live with either, and give Max time to become curious about the receiving end.”

 

“Well then, I’m at a loss for what the problem is. Unless Max just doesn’t want to take it that far.”

 

Jonathan shrugged. “I really can say we haven’t talked about it. I was so happy to get him to just agree to be exclusive, that trying to talk him into doing me hardly seemed a major concern.”

 

Maria laughed. “Something tells me, that when you’re ready, if you show up with condoms, wipes and warmed lubes, Max will rise to the occasion. Guess it really isn’t sex, huh? So what is the problem?”

 

“I got a letter.” Maria waited patiently. “Vanessa.”

 

“Oh shit!” Maria swallowed hard. That was the last thing she would’ve guessed. The ex-wife. “What does she want?”

 

Jonathan ran an elegant hand over his neck fussing with his collar. “No idea. Money. Sex. Or just me on her arm for some damn event that will increase her opinion polls. I don’t know. She just sent me a threatening letter.”

 

“Threatening?” Maria was suddenly concerned.

 

“Yeah, threatening for Vanessa. It said, and I quote, “See you soon.’ And, believe me, for Vanessa, that is pretty damn threatening.”

 

“So you’re worried over how Max will take being confronted with the ex?”

 

“Let’s just say that the last time I saw Vanessa I was a player on the heterosexual team, and now…”

 

“You’re pitching a different game?”

 

“Yeah. She is going to want to meet what made me change sides.”

 

“Max.”

 

“Yeah. Max.” Maria patted his arm comfortably and whistled under her breath. “Vanessa always was pretty possessive of you.”

 

Jonathan just snorted. “I barely got away without her tattooing her name on my ass. Even though we were divorced she has a habit of walking into my life, rearranging it, and terrorizing my latest relationship.”

 

“So you’re wondering if your relationship with Max is strong enough to withstand the HMS Vanessa?”

 

“I’m wondering if I’m strong enough. If she comes between me and Max, I might have to strangle her. Just tell me you’ll visit me in prison and bring me food and silk shirts.”

 

“I’ll break you out. Plus, no court would convict.” Maria patted his arm again. “Maybe Max taking on a more authoritive role will increase his strength and he will take out the unholy Vanessa, saving you…the maiden in distress, and you can let him fuck you for being such a studly hero?”

 

“Well, there’s a thought. Why do I tell you everything?”

 

“Because of my charming vibes. As it stands, I am so happy to see you either way. Think you can wrestle my sofa to give up my shoe? Then you’d be my hero, and I won’t tell anyone what a girly-man you are waiting for Max, your knight in shining armor to take your virginity.”

 

Jonathan stood up to attack the shoe-eating sofa. Looking back at a smug Maria, his eyes narrowed. “Remember when I said I loved you?”

 

“Uh huh.”

 

“I take it back.”

 

Maria made a grabbing gesture in the air and deposited imaginary something in her pocket. “Too late!” She said in her sing-song voice. “I already stored it away. I call no take-backs.”

 

Jonathan just rolled his eyes and he struggled with the sofa. “Great, not only are we girlfriends, but how we’re six year girlfriends.” Maria just laughed making a happy squealing sound when her once-captured shoe was liberated.

 

~~~

 

Sean looked up from his work. Groaning, he shut his eyes. Great. Just fucking great! Julia was moving towards him like a steam engine. Guess she tried to find her car...

 

“Asshole!”

 

“Hi, honey.”

 

“Don’t call me that, you stupid, egotistical munchheaded pig!”

 

“Hey, we agreed you’d never refer to me as a pig!”

 

“All bets are off, Buddy. You had my car towed!”

 

Sean pulled on his collar, noticing the others in the bullpen watching the display in amusement. Hah! She had to prove it.

 

“What do you base that belief on, ADA? Did I leave evidence?”

 

In fury, she reached for the stack of towering files on his desk with the intent of knocking them off. Sean, reading her intention, quickly intervened with his own low intent voice, and the slapping of his hand on the pile to keep them where they were.

 

“Don’t!”

 

Julia stopped. He rarely used that voice with her, but when he did it was serious. Retreating, she pulled her hand away. Stepping close to him, she got in his face anyway.

 

“I can’t believe you’re being so damn childish! Just because I asked you to leave is no reason…” Julia yelped as he took her arm hard and led her out the bullpen and into the stairwell. “Let me go!”

 

“You calm down.” She might have kicked him out after four months together and six weeks sharing a home, but he wasn’t admitting it to anyone yet. Not until he was ready. Only Michael, Max, and Kyle knew. Since he had every intention of getting back with her, it was just a matter of when, not if and how.

 

Julia just closed her eyes and counted to ten. Fighting again. It was all they seemed able to do lately. “Just tell me why?”

 

“You know why.”

 

“Pierce?” Of course it was. All their problems revolved around Pierce.

 

Sean nodded. “Yeah, Pierce.” Sean rubbed the back of his neck. “Why can’t you just drop it, or step back for a little while?”

 

“Sean, we have discussed this to death. You want me to walk away, let him win?”

 

“He’s trying to kill you, Julia.”

 

“I got the message, a dead body in my bed. He can’t get away with that.” Julia relented looking at him. He looked tired. She calmed herself. "I can't just let him dictate my life, threaten me, and pretend it doesn't jeopardize my credibility. It makes me ineffective!"

 

"It'll make you dead!" Sean leaned back against the wall and put his head back, sighing he finally looked at her again. “You’re pissing in his pond. And the waves? They ain’t small. He’ll retaliate.”

 

“Good. He’ll make a mistake.”

 

“He doesn't make mistakes!” Sean cussed and clenched his hands to stop from grabbing her and shaking sense into her. “We found a class three incendiary device under your car. A fucking bomb!”

 

Julia started to reassure him that she could take care of herself when something in flight caught her sight. Suddenly a rush of fear entered her, making her heart beat wildly in her chest, and her breath to push from her lungs in fast heaves.

 

It dive bombed right for her.

 

“Sean, help!” Julia jumped at him in panic waving her hands around head in a wild frenzy.

 

Sean quickly tried to hold her and untangle her from her own limbs flying fast. “Calm down! It’s just a moth!”

 

“Get it out! Get it out of my hair...”

 

Sean quickly extracted the moth and tossed it on the ground, stomping on it. Clean, simple and fast.

 

“You killed it?” Julia said horrified.

 

“It’s just a moth.”

 

“You killed it! I just wanted it gone, not dead.” Sean just rolled his eyes. Yeah. She liked things gone. Him. Moths. What was next?

 

“Well then, count it gone. Dead is a form of gone.” Sean looked at her critically. She looked tired, and he could still see her panic from the moth. She was afraid of a little moth, but Pierce she stood up to and refused to run away. Women.

 

“I’m just afraid of them. They are monstrous, vicious in their attacks. They head for your head on purpose. And don’t make fun of me!”

 

“Was I laughing?” Sean asked, hiding his mirth well.

 

“I know you…”

 

"Do you? Do you expect me to believe that, Mac?"

 

"I don't give a damn what you believe, Detective." Damn him anyway. Of course she knew him, missed him, and even when she could’ve just called and chewed him out on the phone, she missed him enough to come find him.

 

Sean was so close, almost touching her. His hand was prepared to pull her back, but she didn’t step away. Standing at his full height, Sean forced her to look up at him. Her chin lifted in open, adult defiance. This woman could stare down a mountain. God, he loved her scrappy little fighter attitude!

 

"I think we need to come to an understanding here, Julia. I think it's high time we reach an agreement."

 

"I think we've already agreed on a few...."

 

Sean interrupted her by taking her by her arms and pulling her towards him. God, she felt so good in his hands! Her arms both excited and terrified him; they were so tiny and so strong. Sean pulled her close, closer to his body, closer to his face, and backed her against the wall as he tried to speak.

 

Julia was obviously intent on other things. Reversing positions, she pushed him hard against the wall instead. Sean felt the brutal slam, and couldn’t stop from groaning. Oh yeah. His woman.

 

"Do you ever shut up?"

 

“Yes, ma’am.” Normally, Sean was happy to let her call the tune, but in his mind, he was the injured party. She took charge. She decided for them. Not this time.

 

Looking her over, and estimating how much the blouse was going to cost him to replace, Sean just tilted his head to the side. In for a penny, in for a pound. He spun her around, flung her to the wall, pulled her back to his chest and ripping open the buttons of her blouse. They both groaned as his hand found her skin.

 

His mouth found its place on her neck and stayed there, although his hands had to struggle for purchase of the rest of her. The feel of her strong, healthy body moving earnestly against him turned Sean on more than he had anticipated, but he forced himself to breathe as he took a slow, firm path down her neck and onto her exposed shoulders. Pushing her jacket off and letting it drop to the floor, he found her one hand and pinned it to the wall over her head, while his body held her captive and his other hand wandered down to the hem of her short skirt

 

Sean kept his mouth on a determined pace; kissing, tasting, biting the heated flesh, now at her shoulder, now setting back towards her ear. When he had a firm grip he turned his attentions to her other shoulder, pulling the silk away from her shoulder with his other hand, gently tracing a line there with his tongue.

 

"You owe me a silk blouse," she growled, her mouth finding his again as her free hand was struggling with his belt and pants.

 

"Take it out of my checking account," Sean growled back, using teeth now, up and down the nape of her neck. She gasped, struggled, stiffened. "You worry too much, Mac," he murmured into the sensitive skin. "You need to learn how to relax."

 

"And I suppose you're volunteering to teach me?" she spat back. She worried? The man was a neurotic bundle of worry lines coalescing into one large wrinkle.

 

"Well, yes, that was the idea."

 

Sean used hands, body, and voice, to plead his cause. He held her body down with his own and firmly caressed her ribs, her arms, her shoulders and neck, then moved up under her torn open blouse and held her breasts. Watching his hands explore the beautiful curves, he lowered his head so that his mouth could do the same, pressing the white skin with the tip of his tongue, then his lips, finally blowing gently on the skin he had wet.

 

“Sean...” She moaned, she swore, she turned her head away to find the skin of his neck. Her chest was heaving now as her breath came in gasps. She continued to moan, swear and rage against her undisciplined body. Sean laughed softly and pushed her against the wall once more.

 

“Damn you, Sean.”

 

“Damn us both.” Sean murmured, taking the opportunity to push her shirt up fingering her garter belt straps. Damn he loved her underwear. Sliding his hand under the strap, he pulled her leg up to his hip as her hand unfastened his pants and pulled him free.

 

This part was becoming so familiar that he couldn’t even track the moments, just the results. Him, inside of her, and them both moving hard and fast to some kind of desperate completion. It had been too long. She had felt too far away for too many hours. This was good. Like coming home.

 

A different noise caught his attention. Her gasps were becoming rhythmic, keeping time to his thrusts. Sean saw something familiar in her face, so he pulled his body off of her, just a little, doing all he could to keep up the rhythm he had started. He wanted a good view. He loved the look she got when she went out of control. With just that look, she was able to push him over the edge, and together they rested against the wall panting, and spent. Sean’s heavier body keeping hers upright and pinned in place.

 

“I miss you.” he whispered in her ear as he tried to regain his breath.

 

“It’s only been a day.”

 

“Feels longer.”

 

Julia put her head on his shoulder. “I miss you too. I couldn’t even think of going home last night, because I knew you wouldn’t be there.”

 

Oh, God. That saved her life. Sean held her closer. “Tell me something. Tell me anything. Tell me what you were doing, how your day was…anything.” Something had to save him, keep him from unraveling at the seams. Anything normal. Mundane. Everyday.

 

“Nothing to tell. Just work. Missing you. Ms. Fluffy is totally lost without you.” Sean laughed at that. “I was worried about where you went. Where did you go? Your Aunt Amy’s?”

 

Sean shook his head. “No. I’m staying at Isabel and Liz’s place.”

 

Sometimes things didn’t connect. Maybe it was mind numbing sex, or lethargic remains of a really sweet orgasm, or maybe he was just stupid. It took at least five seconds to realize that he said something wrong. Perhaps it was Julia pushing him off her and sputtering as she tried to straighten her clothes.

 

“Liz’s? You’re staying with your old girlfriend?” Julia could barely talk. The words, the anger. It all jumbled up in her mouth. That pig! There she was pining for him, missing him, and he was…bastard! Sweeping up her jacket off the floor, she struggled into it. “Don’t call me!” Getting real close and in his face. “I swear, you mess with my damn car one more time, I’ll find you and squeeze your balls off! Do you understand?” Julia didn’t even wait for his answer. Idiot! He was still contemplating how much he might like having her twist his balls off when it hit him that she left.

 

“Pants, dammit, pants!” Sean did a quick hopping motion as he struggled to get himself back into his pants and pursue her. “Julia! Dammit…honey, it’s not what you think.”

 

“She’s gone.” Michael said as Sean came through the door.

 

“Gone?”

 

“Yeah. Came flying out the stairwell with her blouse wide open…nice by the way. Hanson ran into a wall, and Fletcher dropped his cup of coffee down his shirt.”

 

“Shut up! Julia, where did she go?”

 

“Elevator. Struggling to hold her blouse closed and muttering something about shooting someone with their own gun between their beady little eyes.”

 

“Damn.” Sean ran a hand over his face. That couldn’t be good.

 

Michael calmly continued to eat his candy bar. “You know we really need to talk about your technique.”

 

“Technique?”

 

“Well, being that I’m a detective and more observant than most, I would surmise that the lovely ADA was just pinned up against a wall in the stairwell and thoroughly fucked.”

 

Sean swore. “Yeah?”

 

“Well, not that I’m an expert or anything, but it’s been my experience that most women…most are usually pretty…amiable after…” Michael made a gesture that made Sean glare at him. “I’m just saying that your little Texas filly looked nothing like peaceable, and actually she looked damn spitting mad. Technique.”

 

“There is nothing wrong with my fucking technique!” Sean said groaning at the slip of an unintentional pun. Damn Michael Guerin and his damn one hour orgasms. He could hold his own. “I did what you said. I played it cool.”

 

“You towed her car.”

 

“There was a damn bomb under it!”

 

“Well, I told you to play it cool and let nature run its course.”

 

“I did play it cool.”

 

“And?”

 

“One thing led to another, and next thing I knew we were engaged in some pretty hot and fast public sex.”

 

Michael smiled smugly. “Yep. That’s the plan. Let nature do what you would screw up. Judging from the results, you need some help.”

 

“That was what you were talking about? Sex?”

 

“Of course. Happens all the time. Emotions get high, both of you are upset thinking you’re right, you see each other, and bam. Great sex. Better living through chemistry.”

 

Sean sat on the edge of Michael’s desk. “It was pretty great.” Sean smiled to himself, actually it had been better than great. “Then she asked me where I was staying, and things went wrong.”

 

“You told her the YMCA, right?”

 

“Um, no.”

 

“The gym? A rundown flea-bag motel on Grant?”

 

“Um, no. I told her…”

 

“Don’t tell me you said Liz and Isabel’s.”

 

“Yeah.”

 

Michael just groaned. “You are worse than I thought. Babies are smarter!”

 

“What? What did I do? I just told the truth.”

 

Michael sneered at Sean. “First mistake. Second. Do not tell the girlfriend who just tossed you out that you went straight to your ex-girlfriend’s house. You’re supposed to be devastated. Pining. Missing her as much as she’s missing you. Not cooking Italian for an ex-flame while being coddled by other women. Just a second, I’m sure I still have it...”

 

“What?”

 

“Relationships for Dummies. Max bought it for me.”

 

“They have books? No one told me there was a damn book!” Sean’s face clouded. Everyone was in the know but him. “How did you get so wise in the ways of relationships?”

 

Michael calmly opened one of his bottom drawers that was full of self-help books on relationships and parenting.

 

“Hey, hand over a few!”

 

“Get your own. This relationship stuff is not easy water to navigate. I’m still using them. And fair warning, just when you think you got it figured out, someone changes the damn rules.”

 

“Okay. At least give me a damn list.” Sean looked around for Kyle. “Where is my partner?”

 

“In Valenti’s office with Max talking about breast pumps.”

 

Sean groaned and covered his face. “This can’t be my life!”

 

“Get over it. Despite this slight setback you did really well today.”

 

Sean looked at Michael through his fingers. “Really?”

 

“Hell yeah! Public sex. Big points! Encouraging. It means she can’t keep her hands off you, which are points in your favor. Now you just need to plan a few convenient run-ins with her.”

 

“Now you’re talking. What works? I keep having this fantasy about the hood of her car.”

 

“That’s a good one. I did that once,” said Michael, thinking of Officer Rod and his speeding ticket writing fest. “Actually if you count on the hood of the Mustang, then there were even more times, but you might have to use Officer Rod.”

 

“Officer Rod?” Sean was suddenly all attentive like.

 

“Well, I like to sic Officer Rod on Maria when she gets unruly. She responds real well to law enforcement. It’s probably the uniform and few hundred pounds of kicking power between the thighs that really does it.” Sean eyes narrowed. He better be talking about the bike and not his dick. Michael, totally ignorant of Sean’s thoughts, just kept on, “But you have to wear the mirrored sunglasses, gloves, and a full utility belt.” Michael noticed Sean pulling out his notebook. “What are you doing?”

 

“Taking notes. Keep talking.” Sean smiled at Michael. “I better treat you to lunch.” Michael nodded. Good idea. He could eat.

 

On their way to the elevator, Sean looked at the closed door to Valenti’s office. Maybe they should invite Kyle and Max, but suddenly thoughts of breast pumps ran through his mind, and he quickly nixed the idea. Forget them. “You know I was thinking that the interrogation room would be great.”

 

“It is.”