THE POLICE: EPISODE ONE "JUST LUCK"
Title: The Police (Episode One : Just Luck)
Authors: bloody_adorable and eviltwin
Fandoms: Supernatural RPS
Pairing: Jensen Ackles / Jared Padalecki.
Rating: Adult.
Wordcount: 6,264
Summary: AU. Based around a police armed response unit comprised of seven very different people. There's a new enemy on the streets... Can they catch him before he takes them all down?
eviltwin_737: DUN DUN DUUUUUNNNNNN.
eviltwin_737: :D
eviltwin_737: you have to read it in a dramatic, film-trailer voice-over voice, otherwise it doesn't have the same effect.
bloody_adorable: LOL It's a revolving...plot. LOL or something. EVERY EPISODE HAS SOMETHING NEW GOING ON OMG!
eviltwin_737: maybe i shouldn't put the dun dun dunnnn bit on the end, either.
eviltwin_737: >.>
bloody_adorable: LOL
bloody_adorable: you should. it adds INTENSITY
eviltwin_737: that is truuuue.
eviltwin_737: or, like..an mp3 download of me going DUN DUN DUNNNNN with echo effects
eviltwin_737: and then one in chipmunk voice.
bloody_adorable: OMG
eviltwin_737: just to eeeease the tension.
bloody_adorable: PUT DRAMATIC CAT VIDEO CLIP IN THERE.
eviltwin_737: ~dies~
bloody_adorable: LOL say, "this is to add suspense."
bloody_adorable: I have it favourited on youtube BECAUSE IT IS TOO AWESOME.
eviltwin_737: IT IS HILARIOUS I LOVE IT
bloody_adorable: I'm serious. YOu totally should put it in there.
bloody_adorable: LOL
eviltwin_737: i was serious too XD
bloody_adorable: THE DRAMATIC CAT OF WHICH WE SPEAK
Disclaimer: None of the following is true in any way, and no profit is made from this work of fiction.
Note: FICTION. It's a fanfic. Maybe there will be certain liberties taken. Please bear in mind it's for entertainment only and..well..we do our best with the knowledge we have! Thank you. x
EPISODE ONE : JUST LUCK
"We keep doing this," Jared muttered, pressing his mouth to Jensen's ribs. "Why do we keep doing this?"
Jensen buried a hand firmly in the other man's thick chestnut-brown hair and pushed him down further. "I don't know," he growled. "But if you fucking stop doing this then I'm going to shoot you in your sleep."
Jared's hands slid underneath his thighs and held them in place, fingers gripping tighter as soon as Jensen started shaking with his release. He was swearing, sucking in deep breaths, his green eyes focused on the ceiling light as he came down Jared's throat. Jared swallowed around him then pulled up, licking his lips. Jensen looked down at him and they laughed at one another.
"What?"
"You got come all over your chin, man," Jensen told him, shaking his head as he rolled over to reach for the bottle of soda on the nightstand. He tipped his head back to take a long swallow and then offered the bottle to Jared. The other man took it, emptied what remained into his mouth to chase away the taste of Jensen's orgasm. He wiped at his mouth and chin with the back of his hand and then swiped his hand against Jensen's stomach, earning himself a hearty smack of complaint. "Fucking dick!"
"Fuck you, you threatened to murder me. Don't think I won't forget that."
Jensen just opened his mouth and belched, and Jared wrinkled his nose and moved to sit on the edge of the mattress.
"You're such a pig," he scolded, pushing himself to his feet. Jensen watched him cross the room to the closet, admiring the shape of his body as he went. Jared was one of- okay, the hottest guy he knew. Tall, built, great-looking cock. The warmest eyes he'd ever seen. And he loved that he got to fuck him. It was poetic justice or something. He flopped back against the pillows, chuckling to himself, and was startled when his jeans hit him right in the crotch. "Get dressed, pig. Time to go."
"All right, all right. Why I have to be the one who leaves first..."
"Because you're the one with your own transport. Makes sense that you'd get there first. Plus, you know, you should be the first one of us that this new guy meets. What's his name again?"
"Kane," Jensen answered, distracted as he got out of bed and hunted on the floor for his underwear. "Why should I be the first one he meets?" He found a pair of shorts and held them up to his nose. They smelt of detergent with a vague hint of sweat. He tossed them over his shoulder at Jared and continued looking.
"Because then when he meets the rest of the team he'll be fucking relieved, that's why. He'll think, 'well, thank fuck they're not all like that guy.'"
Jensen stopped with his shorts halfway up his legs and stared at Jared's back. "God, you really are a dick. Why do I put up with you?"
Jared turned and approached him, bending his head and kissing him square on the mouth before answering, "Because I'm the only man alive that will suck your cock first thing in the morning. Before you even showered."
"Oh, yeah," Jensen grumbled, pulling his shorts up the rest of the way and letting the elastic snap back against his stomach.
"Speaking of showers-"
"I'm gone." Jensen yanked Jared over by the back of his neck and kissed him again. "I'll see you at HQ."
"Skooch!"
Jensen ducked his head down, pretended not to have heard, but then there was a skinny arm around his neck and he couldn't really ignore it. He lifted the hand holding his coffee up out of reach, fixed a smile on his face and turned to the too young, too sure of himself guy who had him trapped. "Skids," he said, his voice neutral.
The boy's smile slipped. "Wish you wouldn't call me that," he said, his hold on Jensen loosening. Praise be.
"Shouldn't have shit your pants on your first day of training then, huh?"
"The sarge told me they'd expended all their rubber bullets."
"It's called bullshit, Skids, and you're full of it. Now fuck off, go on." Jensen made shooing motions with his hands. "Scat! Your shift is over!"
Scowling, 'Skids' stalked off down the hallway towards the locker room. Jensen decided to give him ten minutes before he went in there himself. He definitely didn't want to catch an eyeful of that kid's junk, thanks very much. He made his way to the desk, pleased to see his favorite young female police officer sat behind it. She smiled sweetly at him when she saw him coming and he stopped right in front of her desk and dumped his bag at his feet. Leaning across the desk he tapped his cheek and she rolled her eyes, but didn't move.
"Your loss, Darla."
"Oh, it really isn't, Ackles. Believe me."
"New guy here yet?"
Darla nodded in the direction of the briefing room, her red curls bouncing. "In there with Sgt Morgan."
"Can I go in there?" Jensen asked. "Are... Are you done flirting with me?"
Darla tossed a ballpen at him and told him in no uncertain terms what he should do to himself.
"I'll take that as a yes. Later, sweetheart."
"You should take a shower first," Darla said, as he bent to shoulder his bag again. "You smell like all you did this morning was roll out of some slut's bed. What was her name?"
"Captain Palmer," Jensen told her, offering her a bright grin as he hefted his gear with one hand. "Nice bitching with you. We'll pick this up later."
"We definitely won't," came the muttered reply, but Jensen hardly heard it.
It looked like Morgan was done talking to the new guy by the time Jensen walked in. He was sat there silently shuffling through files while the rookie stayed where he was, filling some paperwork out. The first thing Jensen noticed about him was that he was dressed from head to toe in black. The second thing, which when he considered it later should really have been the most obvious, was the stetson.
"Holy shit, where's the rodeo, cowboy?"
The new guy turned to face him with narrowed eyes. "You referring to the hat there, son?" His voice had a real Southern twang; it made Jensen think of Jack and smokes and guitars. His face had the right look for it, too - a healthy, outdoorsy kind of tan and cropped hair that still curled defiantly around his ears made Jensen think, farm boy.
"Didn't know it was fancy dress day."
"I just flew in, ain't had a chance to get home and off-load. What's your excuse?"
Morgan, who had watched the exchange in silence so far, laughed loudly at that remark. Distracted, Jensen missed any chance of a retort. So instead he smiled and held out his hand. "Ackles," he said, introducing himself as Kane shook it.
"I know," came the surprising response. "Heard all about you before I got here. This team's got quite the rep. I'm honored that I get to be a part of it."
"You brought quite a rep with you, too," Morgan said. "We're glad to have you. So, Skooch, where's everyone else? Or are you just early like always?"
Jensen shrugged. "Guess I'm just one keen son of a bitch, sarge. I did pass Danov on the way in, but he looked kind of engrossed in some new geek-toy. Didn't want to disturb him."
"Show Kane around then. We're done here." Morgan stood and Kane followed suit. They shook hands and Morgan started gathering up all the signed paperwork. "Gear up, back here in twenty. And Skooch, take a shower. You stink like a handjob."
Jensen waved his hand in a mock-salute. "Sir, yes sir."
Kane grabbed a bulging kit-bag up from the floor and slung it easily over one shoulder before following Jensen out. Jensen told him which briefing room was which, pointed out the gym area, the wall of fame and the weapons store. The tour took about five minutes and they wound up in the locker room. By that time, Danov was in and Bonney was sat on the low bench that ran between the rows of lockers, fastening his straps and holsters into place. They both said 'hi' and shook hands with Kane as Jensen opened his locker and started stripping his civvies off. Jared arrived after another minute, looking rattled. Jensen said nothing. Public transport would do that to a guy, he figured. His features smoothed out, though, when he saw Kane in front of his locker.
"So you're Chris Kane. Good to meet you."
Chris turned and shook the proffered hand, eyes widening slightly as he took in Jared's size. Jensen noticed and hid his face in his locker, trying not to laugh.
"My name's Jay. Padalecki."
Danov spoke up. "We call him Atlas, for obvious and not-so-obvious reasons. On the job you just call him Pads. You got a nickname?"
Chris was about to explain that his old buddies had called him Cash thanks to a wardrobe consisting mostly of black and an extensive collection of the country artist's music, but Jensen interrupted and shouted out, "Country!"
"Suits him," Danov grinned, running a hand over his near-bald scalp. "They call me Geek the Greek. Or just geek if they're feeling lazy." He held up the thick-rimmed glasses he wore off-duty, replaced at the moment by contacts. "These really help the image."
"And what do they call you?" Chris asked of the quietest man so far. He had short, light hair and a mouth that looked like it was usually fixed in a smug smile.
"Kid. I was blessed to be born with the name of William Bonney. The only person I allow to call me William is my mother. Consider yourself warned."
Jensen had just retreated in the direction of the showers when his cousin arrived too. He let Jared do the introductions, wondering how Sam would deal with no longer being the newest guy on the team. Maybe Kane's arrival would finally calm him down some. He hung his towel on the hook outside the shower cubicle and stepped out of his underwear and inside. Turned on the water and let the first, chilled blast wake him up completely before he found a warmer temperature. He showered for exactly four and a half minutes and then shut the water off, reaching for his towel. It was handed to him and he wrapped it around his waist with a thank-you, looking up at Jared.
"They're all geared up and ready. Morgan going to be waiting on your ass again?"
"He's used to it. You can start without me if you want."
"That's what you always say," Jared told him, grinning when Jensen gave his stomach a back-handed smack. He looked both ways around the shower stalls and then leaned in and gave Jensen a quick but firm kiss. "I'll tell him you'll be there in three."
"Make it five, will ya?" Jensen glanced down his front briefly, then back up at Jared with a leering smile. "Every fuckin' time."
"I'm just that good, I guess." The other man was still chuckling as he headed back towards the hallway.
Five minutes later and Jensen was taking the only empty seat around a full briefing table, still fastening his straps as he did so. Morgan just gave him a weary look, used to it.
"Okay, now he's finally here, we can get started."
"You waited for me, boss? I'm flattered."
Without missing a beat, Morgan continued as if Jensen hadn't even spoken. "Aside from usual duty, we're on standby today for the local P.D. Downtime means I want to see everything in this building sparkling by the end of the shift unless we get called out, and we will only get called out if this drug raid of theirs goes ahead and if they find anything. Drug problem in the city's getting more competitive now, and that means there are guns involved."
"The new one seems to be PCP," Jared interjected, not looking up as he spoke. "I see 'em on the train home sometimes."
"It's true, the popularity of that one is gaining. Can make people unaware of what they're doing and if they have a gun in their hand then that's not something we want to see. Pads, can I have a few minutes?"
Jared looked up this time, glancing at Jensen before meeting Morgan's eyes again. "Sure, boss."
Whatever it was that Morgan had spoken to Jared about, Jensen was not going to get a chance to find out. A call came in even as they were heading to the weapons store to get to work and each of them was quick to grab the rest of their gear and head to the vehicle bay. Jensen drove in front, Morgan beside him getting details and making notes, directing him to where he thought would be the best spot to set up. Sam and Danov rode with them, while the rest of the team followed in the truck behind.
"One armed guy holding up a drug store. We don't have a name yet, but they're sending through some video footage from the security cameras."
"Got it," Danov piped up from the back. He had a laptop open, resting on his knees, and the light from the screen was casting shadows on his face. "It's a shotgun, sawn-off. Guy looks kind of unstable; he's waving it around a lot. Good news is it's just him, though. He doesn't seem to have any help."
"See if we can figure out who it is before we get there, any priors, anything else we may need to know," Morgan instructed.
"Boss."
On scene they were greeted with the usual reluctant welcome and hostility that they'd learned to live with. Once a weapon was involved and once they took charge of the operation, the regular cops had to shut up and do as they were told. They didn't always do it right off the bat, of course, but they learned pretty quickly. The drugstore was on the business side of the street, in between a video rental place and a jeweller's. The other side of the street was mostly residential buildings, one office building nestled in the middle. The street was clear of cars and foot-traffic, the cops having cordoned off the area as soon as the firearm had been identified. Through the glass front of the drugstore they could see him, a regular looking guy dressed in dark jeans and a peacoat. He was waving the gun at the cashier, stood with her hands in the air and hair clinging to her tear-streaked and terrified face. He was yelling at her, but they couldn't tell what he was saying just yet.
"This doesn't make sense," Jared said, hunched over the hood of the second truck with Morgan right beside him. The drugstore manager was with them, filling them in on exits and entrances, the name of the girl who currently had the gun pointed her way. The rest of the team were getting into position to make a quick entry, should it be needed. Jensen, he knew, was finding another way into the building across the street, in case he needed to make the kill shot.
"Damn straight," Morgan agreed. "You got a jeweller and a drug-store right next door to each other, why the hell would you rob the drug-store?"
"It's not a robbery," Jared clarified. "Which makes it even more dangerous."
Morgan patted him on the shoulder and he got the message without the words being spoken. You're up.
Jensen hated this part. Hated watching Jared, unarmed, getting ready to talk. Not knowing what the gunman wanted or what he was prepared to do to get it. Morgan's voice sounded in his ear, asking if he had a good view. He gave an affirmative answer, adjusting his sight so he could see even more detail. Now he could hear Jared, asking the gunman if they could talk about the girl he was in there with. Whether there was anyone else in the building. Heard Danov telling him there were two other customers inside before he even got an answer. Through the megaphone, Jared told the guy with the shotgun that he was going to call the phone in the store and that he needed him to pick up. They always said, 'I need you to answer the call' and not, 'I want you to'. Had to let the guy feel in control. Jensen took another look. The gunman didn't look in control at all, he thought. His mind went back to the earlier briefing and he really hoped that this guy wasn't on anything. They didn't need that as an added factor.
They had sound from inside the store now, Danov patching Jensen in so he could hear what was going on. It didn't help.
The gunman sounded like he was on the edge of tears and he was repeating the same thing over and over; "I just want my cigarettes, Mikey says I shouldn't have them, but I just want my cigarettes! Gimme my cigarettes!" He was speaking into the phone receiver, talking directly to Jared, but the shotgun was still held high enough that it could do some damage if he decided that shooting his way out would be better.
Jared's voice was calm and warm when he spoke, like he was this man's best friend and they were just having a drink together. He was asking the man's name. The man paused halfway through his litany, said, "Benny," and then continued right on as if he hadn't interrupted himself.
"Benny," Jared repeated. "I'd like it if we could talk. Maybe you could tell me who Mikey is?"
This time Benny stopped his panicked speech altogether. "Mikey's my brother," he answered, in a tone that sounded like he thought Jared should know that. Jensen heard Morgan telling Bonney to take Kane with him and find this kid's brother.
"Is he your older brother, Benny? Is that why he thinks he can tell you not to smoke?"
Benny paused, like he was considering something. "He's a nurse," he said, finally. "He thinks he knows everything."
"Hospitals," Morgan's voice intoned, though Jensen doubted it was really necessary. He could see Kane and Bonney pulling away in the truck, knew they would have heard that anyway.
"Big brothers are like that," Jared agreed. "My big brother, Jeff, he's a real smartass sometimes. Likes to boss me around. But mostly I think he just wants me to be okay, same as your brother wants for you. How about those people in there with you, Benny? Are they okay?"
"They're okay."
"Can you ask them? I'd like to hear them say they're all right for myself."
"Don't you trust me?"
Jensen bit his lip at those words, and willed Jared to say the right thing. He knew that he would anyway, but a little worry wouldn't hurt.
"I trust you, I do. And it's okay if you don't want to let me talk to them. But sometimes somebody can look all right and they're really not. It's up to you, Benny."
The phone went down onto the counter, laid on its side so they could hear most of what was going on. Jensen pressed himself closer to the wall at the side of the window he was positioned at, watching intently as Benny approached the two other people inside. One was an elderly gentleman who nodded when Benny asked if he was all right. The other was a girl of about eighteen who looked as scared as the cashier and who was crying and whimpering with each shuddering breath in. She still nodded her head to the same question, though, wiping the heel of her hand against one eye as the old guy next to her put his arm around her kindly and told her they would be okay.
"They're fine," Benny's voice told them as he picked up the phone again and cradled it between his shoulder and his ear.
"What about the cashier? It's Kirsty, isn't it?"
They heard Benny ask the cashier if that was her name and saw her nod, still tearful.
"So Benny, what is it that you want in there? Maybe we can see-"
"Cigarettes!" With that one word, Benny was back to his previous mantra, the shotgun weaving around dangerously in front of him.
"I have the shot, boss," Jensen said, getting tired of listening to it after the first thirty seconds.
"He hasn't hurt anyone," Morgan reminded him. "Pads, ask to speak to the cashier. Get her to hand over the damn cigarettes, if only to shut him up."
"That's it," Jared muttered to himself. "Seems to be all he wants." He brought the phone back up to his mouth and asked Benny why he couldn't get the cigarettes.
"She... She told me that the cabinet's still locked."
"Ask her to open it up. Tell her it's okay, and not to be scared. I think that's why she hasn't been able to give you them already, because she's scared. I think if you put the gun down she'll give you what you want."
"I don't want to, you'll-"
"We won't do anything, just put the gun down," Jared interrupted, and Jensen drew in a sharp breath. What in hell are you playing at?
"It's not even my gun!" Benny yelled, and threw the shotgun to the floor. The cashier, Kirsty, screamed as it skidded across the hard flooring and out of sight, but it didn't seem to bother Benny. He just turned and stumbled back against the counter, slid down until he was sat on the floor. By that time there were already cops in the doorway, Jared and Morgan in the lead. The police officers behind them shouted at him to put his hands on his head and Jensen watched the confusion for only another moment before pushing up from his spot and darting for the exit.
Kane and Bonney called in when they were back at the precinct with Benny, Danov sat at his computer as he ran the gun's details through the system. They had Benny's brother with them, one Michael Speare, and apparently Benny hadn't taken his medication that morning. Also, as far as the brother knew, Benny didn't have access to a gun or even know anyone who might have one themselves. He was a quiet guy, normally, and this wouldn't have happened if he, Michael, had been home that morning to make sure Benny was all right. But he'd been called in to work to cover someone who had flu, so he hadn't been able to check on him.
Sam heard the call too and Jensen sent his cousin off to the interview room, to pass the message on to Morgan and Jared. Then he took a seat next to Danov, reading through the results listed on the screen for the shotgun they had recovered from the drugstore. He gave a low whistle.
"Multiple homicides, armed robberies... How the hell do you get all this stuff?"
"Every gun has its own unique signature, Skooch. You just gotta know how to look."
Jensen narrowed his eyes, glaring at the back of Danov's head. "Have I told you lately-"
"What a geek I am? Yeah, this morning. Look at this." Danov tapped the screen, pushed a couple of keys. The monitor filled with the picture of a thirteen-year-old boy, a face Jensen remembered.
"Caleb Cross, kid of some big-deal pharmaceuticals company CEO right? Murdered in 2007, killer never arrested."
"They didn't stop looking," Danov told him. "You get someone with that much money and power, they exhaust every avenue. He's probably got a couple of private dicks on it in any case, looking for whatever we missed."
"You look at the job description on the kid's father then think it's got to be something to do with drugs."
The other man shrugged. "Sure. That's why they're still routinely shaking down anyone and everyone who was ever involved in dealing, selling, manufacturing. You name it. Even if they don't do it any more. Narc department got more overtime than any of us on that case, that's for damn certain."
"Can you print this stuff off? I'll get it down to the boss."
Jensen got there around the same time as Bonney led the kid's brother in. "Where's Country-boy?" he asked.
"He's with Darla."
Jensen raised an eyebrow. "She's already getting her hooks in, huh?"
Bonney sat Michael down and took the file from Jensen's hand. "If you really want to know then I'd say you should go take a look."
Something in his tone made Jensen curious and he left Bonney to deal with the printouts and the brother on his own. He found Kane at Darla's desk, puzzled when he saw a little girl balanced on the man's hip. She must have been no more than five and Jensen wondered who the hell dumped a kid at a police department. Then Kane turned around and he got a look at the child's face and realised just who she was. The pale blue eyes and the cute little nose gave her away. The white-blond hair was not inherited from her father, though, and Jensen thought that Kane's wife must be a real stunner. Later, he would be glad he hadn't said as much.
"So who's this beauty?" Jensen asked, leaning against the desk with his elbow.
"This is my daughter, Ayla-Jo." Kane sighed. "I left her with this child-minding company right off the plane. Recommended to me by a friend out here. They decided they didn't have the space for her after all."
"Not the greatest recommendation, huh? You got anyone who can look after her?" At that question, Kane just gave him a look. "No, right. Well I could call my sister if you want. She works at a daycare center. I'm sure she could look after your girl until you get her sorted at a school."
Darla was looking at him with such a shocked expression now that he had to turn to her and ask her, "what?"
"I just don't think I've ever seen you be so helpful before."
"Ha ha, shut up. Kane?"
"Uh, yeah. Thanks. That'd be great. You think the boss'll mind if-"
"I can get Mack over here in ten minutes. Morgan's still in with Benny. I wouldn't sweat it." Jensen didn't wait for him to say anything else; he just turned away and made the call. Just as he had said, his sister did not take long to get to them. She smiled brightly when she saw him, brighter still when he introduced her to Kane and Ayla-Jo.
"She's a beautiful little girl," Mack told him, stepping back slightly as Kane set Ayla-Jo down on the floor. She held out her hand and the child took it at her father's urging. Jensen watched him crouch down until he was at eye-level with his daughter. Kane leaned in and spoke quietly to her, his voice so soft that Jensen couldn't hear what he said. But the little girl nodded and Kane kissed her cheek, thanking Mack again as he stood.
"Where do I come pick her up from?"
Jensen's sister handed him a card with the address and number of the center on it. "Just call if you can't make it before six. That's as late as I usually stay, but I can bring her back here, or take her home with me. And I know you guys can have unpredictable days," she added, with a quick look at Jensen.
"Thank you, so much. You're a real life-saver."
"No problem. I'll see you later."
They watched her go, and then Jensen turned to Kane with a curious grin. "So?"
"So what?" Kane had started down the hallway, heading for the weapons room to dump his gear.
"When were you going to tell everyone you had a daughter?"
Kane turned to him, his face a hard mask. "When I decided it was everyone's fucking business," he ground out. Jensen ignored his irritation and continued,
"So her mother went straight to work off the plane too?"
In the next second, Kane had a hand around Jensen's throat and was pushing him up against the wall. He got up close and told Jensen, in a voice that was low and dangerous, that he should never ask about AJ's mother again. He released him slowly, stepping back as Jensen held both hands up in surrender.
"Jesus, man, I'm sorry. Didn't realize it was such a sore subject."
"Just leave it."
Rubbing at his neck, Jensen nodded and let Kane continue alone. He thought that the best plan was to give him some space to cool off and made his way back down to the interview room, got there just as Jared was coming out into the hallway.
"You busy?" Jared asked, re-fastening his jacket as he walked. Jensen kept pace with him, just, and told him that Kane was dealing with getting the gear away by himself. "We gotta go back there and take a look around. Benny says he found the shotgun in a dumpster round the back of the video rental place. Boss wants us to go see if anything else was left behind."
"Awesome," Jensen said, in a tone that made it clear he thought their task was anything but. "Dumpster duty again, huh?"
"Local PD are meeting us there."
In case we find any bodies, Jensen thought. He followed Jared down to the vehicle lot and they got into one of the dark vehicles, shoving kit into the backseat to give them more room. Jensen drove, Jared fiddled with the radio. "What'd Morgan want earlier?"
"Huh?" Jared finally settled on a station and glanced over at Jensen, looking puzzled.
"Before we got the call. What'd Morgan talk to you about?"
"Oh, right. Nothing important, don't worry about it."
"That'll work. Just fuckin' tell me. What's the big deal? Did he guess about us?"
Jared sighed, glared at the road ahead of them. "No, he didn't guess about us. And what does it fucking matter if he did anyway? You think he can stop us-"
"Yes, I think he can stop us," Jensen growled. "You gotta stop having this blinkered view of everything, Jay. It does fucking matter if people find out, right? Why the hell do you think I'm so careful, why do you think I flirt with anything in a skirt?"
"I just figured that was because you're a dick," Jared said, looking round with a soft smile. Peace-making. He was good at that, Jensen thought, as he felt his frustration start to slip already. "It's okay, Jen, honest. It was just about work. Nothing that can possibly affect us."
"That's all you had to say. 'Cause otherwise a guy can get to thinking that this whole thing is more trouble than it's worth."
Jared raised an eyebrow at that, but Jensen didn't take it back. Didn't feel like he wanted to. Him and Jay, they'd been on and off more times than a whore's panties, so if he hurt him with anything he said it really didn't matter any more. They'd break up and make up sometime down the line. They'd done it enough before. Sure enough, just before they got out of the car at the entrance to the alley they'd be searching, Jared muttered to him that maybe he could give coming over that night a miss if he felt like that about it. Once their feet hit the ground, though, they were all business.
Half an hour later and they were both feeling dirty and annoyed, and neither had found anything. They were barely talking to one another and so the sound of Jensen's phone was piercing in the quiet alley. It was Morgan, asking them both to head back if they had nothing. Benny's meds had kicked in and he'd remembered seeing someone dump the shotgun before he grabbed it. He was going through mugshots, repeating over and again that it was 'just his luck' that he had found it, and he was getting more and more agitated the longer they kept him there. Now the priority was to get this other man identified and get Benny somewhere he could calm down. Jensen wiped his hands on the front of his pants and climbed into the driver's side of the truck, starting the engine as Jared got in the other side.
"Are we okay?" he asked, bored of the silence.
"Yeah, we're okay. We should just give it a rest, huh?"
"I don't want to give it a rest, Jay." Jensen reached across the front seat and squeezed his hand around the other man's thigh. "We're too good together."
"It'd just be nice if everyone else could know that, that's all," Jared replied, still not looking at him. He didn't move the hand away, though, which had to count for something.
Changing the subject, Jensen told Jared about Chris Kane's reaction to his questions earlier on. "Wish I knew what was going on there. It was like his daughter showed up and he just wanted to shut down."
Jared didn't look surprised, though. "Maybe you should ask Morgan about it," he suggested.
"Is that what he was talking to you about?"
"Look, don't get pissy about it. He told me Kane's back-story because he knows I'm more, I don't know, sensitive than you are about this kind of thing. As already demonstrated."
"How the hell can I be sensitive about something I know nothing about?" Now Jensen drew his hand back, moving it up to the wheel. He didn't know why he suddenly felt so annoyed. Betrayed. "Or does he just think maybe I'm not trustworthy en-"
"Goddammit," Jared interrupted. "Will you stop being the martyr for one fucking minute? Morgan told me because he knows I've gone through the same thing. He knows I've lost someone too. And maybe Kane can relate to that. I'm pretty sure the man himself will tell everyone when he's good and ready, just like I did."
Jensen bit his lip at the outburst, looked away as if he was checking his mirrors. He hated being reminded of what Jared had gone through before they met, and hated more that he'd been the one to make Jared bring it up. The drive ended, once again, in silence. Jensen knew they were both remembering it, although Jared's memories would be far more vivid. He'd been there. All Jensen had was the times that Jared felt able to talk about it. About her. His little sister. Jensen wondered if Kane's wife had died in a similar way and tightened his grip on the wheel. No way did he have the guts to go through something like that. Just thinking of Jared getting hurt was more than enough for him, even though he was well aware that any of them could die.
He was grateful when he pulled into the bay at HQ, glad that it meant he could leave Jared alone for a while and get away from the heavy atmosphere he'd created. He figured Jared could go find Kane and they could talk about their feelings or something, cry it out while he went to see what they'd found out from their guy.
"His name's Brian Luck, if you believe that," Morgan said, pointing at the mug shot which Benny had identified.
"Tell me he's Irish," Jensen replied, grinning as he took a closer look.
"He's not Irish, idiot. Benny saw him dump the gun and says he thinks it was because there was a cop car doing patrol on that block. He grabbed it before this Luck guy could come back for it. Thought it looked cool. Benny watches a lot of cop shows on TV," Morgan added, at the expression on Jensen's face. "He took it home last night, hid it from his brother. Decided to take it out for a walk this morning. But he forgot his meds, and his cigarettes, and the girl in the store forgot to grab the keys for the cigarette cabinet from the office before she opened up. Told Sam that she didn't even notice it was still locked until Benny came in, asking for his marlboros."
"Is she okay?"
"She will be. They took her in to the precinct, someone there's talking to her. She seemed all right. I think she knows Benny, or his brother anyway."
"Makes sense," Jensen agreed. "Given the job area, anyway. Are we bringing Luck in?"
"Detective Elling is questioning him as we speak. But from what I've read of the guy, he's one slippery customer. He'll be back out there by tonight. They never made anything stick to him before now, I doubt this'll change anything. From what Elling said, he's not so much into the murdering anyway. More of a money man."
"Dealer?"
Morgan nodded and sat back, pinching the bridge of his nose. He sighed, flipped the book of mugshots closed, and turned his gaze on Jensen. "Why are things never straightforward, huh?"
Jensen didn't think he really expected an answer and, besides, he didn't have an answer to give.
EPISODE TWO AIRS ON THURSDAY, 17th SEPTEMBER
Oh! Someone asked the questions below and so I'll answer here for anyone else who is curious: Our posting schedule will be one new episode every ten days, unless real life butts in and makes that impossible. If that's ever the case, we'll try and get something small up in the interim, like art or something. And no, we haven't finished with the Smoke & Lightning boys just yet. I have three WIPs for that verse to work on in between Police episodes, so keep an eye on that comm for more still. We just can't leave those boys alone!! - Mwah! Love, Evil xx
Authors: bloody_adorable and eviltwin
Fandoms: Supernatural RPS
Pairing: Jensen Ackles / Jared Padalecki.
Rating: Adult.
Wordcount: 6,264
Summary: AU. Based around a police armed response unit comprised of seven very different people. There's a new enemy on the streets... Can they catch him before he takes them all down?
eviltwin_737: DUN DUN DUUUUUNNNNNN.
eviltwin_737: :D
eviltwin_737: you have to read it in a dramatic, film-trailer voice-over voice, otherwise it doesn't have the same effect.
bloody_adorable: LOL It's a revolving...plot. LOL or something. EVERY EPISODE HAS SOMETHING NEW GOING ON OMG!
eviltwin_737: maybe i shouldn't put the dun dun dunnnn bit on the end, either.
eviltwin_737: >.>
bloody_adorable: LOL
bloody_adorable: you should. it adds INTENSITY
eviltwin_737: that is truuuue.
eviltwin_737: or, like..an mp3 download of me going DUN DUN DUNNNNN with echo effects
eviltwin_737: and then one in chipmunk voice.
bloody_adorable: OMG
eviltwin_737: just to eeeease the tension.
bloody_adorable: PUT DRAMATIC CAT VIDEO CLIP IN THERE.
eviltwin_737: ~dies~
bloody_adorable: LOL say, "this is to add suspense."
bloody_adorable: I have it favourited on youtube BECAUSE IT IS TOO AWESOME.
eviltwin_737: IT IS HILARIOUS I LOVE IT
bloody_adorable: I'm serious. YOu totally should put it in there.
bloody_adorable: LOL
eviltwin_737: i was serious too XD
bloody_adorable: THE DRAMATIC CAT OF WHICH WE SPEAK
Disclaimer: None of the following is true in any way, and no profit is made from this work of fiction.
Note: FICTION. It's a fanfic. Maybe there will be certain liberties taken. Please bear in mind it's for entertainment only and..well..we do our best with the knowledge we have! Thank you. x
EPISODE ONE : JUST LUCK
"We keep doing this," Jared muttered, pressing his mouth to Jensen's ribs. "Why do we keep doing this?"
Jensen buried a hand firmly in the other man's thick chestnut-brown hair and pushed him down further. "I don't know," he growled. "But if you fucking stop doing this then I'm going to shoot you in your sleep."
Jared's hands slid underneath his thighs and held them in place, fingers gripping tighter as soon as Jensen started shaking with his release. He was swearing, sucking in deep breaths, his green eyes focused on the ceiling light as he came down Jared's throat. Jared swallowed around him then pulled up, licking his lips. Jensen looked down at him and they laughed at one another.
"What?"
"You got come all over your chin, man," Jensen told him, shaking his head as he rolled over to reach for the bottle of soda on the nightstand. He tipped his head back to take a long swallow and then offered the bottle to Jared. The other man took it, emptied what remained into his mouth to chase away the taste of Jensen's orgasm. He wiped at his mouth and chin with the back of his hand and then swiped his hand against Jensen's stomach, earning himself a hearty smack of complaint. "Fucking dick!"
"Fuck you, you threatened to murder me. Don't think I won't forget that."
Jensen just opened his mouth and belched, and Jared wrinkled his nose and moved to sit on the edge of the mattress.
"You're such a pig," he scolded, pushing himself to his feet. Jensen watched him cross the room to the closet, admiring the shape of his body as he went. Jared was one of- okay, the hottest guy he knew. Tall, built, great-looking cock. The warmest eyes he'd ever seen. And he loved that he got to fuck him. It was poetic justice or something. He flopped back against the pillows, chuckling to himself, and was startled when his jeans hit him right in the crotch. "Get dressed, pig. Time to go."
"All right, all right. Why I have to be the one who leaves first..."
"Because you're the one with your own transport. Makes sense that you'd get there first. Plus, you know, you should be the first one of us that this new guy meets. What's his name again?"
"Kane," Jensen answered, distracted as he got out of bed and hunted on the floor for his underwear. "Why should I be the first one he meets?" He found a pair of shorts and held them up to his nose. They smelt of detergent with a vague hint of sweat. He tossed them over his shoulder at Jared and continued looking.
"Because then when he meets the rest of the team he'll be fucking relieved, that's why. He'll think, 'well, thank fuck they're not all like that guy.'"
Jensen stopped with his shorts halfway up his legs and stared at Jared's back. "God, you really are a dick. Why do I put up with you?"
Jared turned and approached him, bending his head and kissing him square on the mouth before answering, "Because I'm the only man alive that will suck your cock first thing in the morning. Before you even showered."
"Oh, yeah," Jensen grumbled, pulling his shorts up the rest of the way and letting the elastic snap back against his stomach.
"Speaking of showers-"
"I'm gone." Jensen yanked Jared over by the back of his neck and kissed him again. "I'll see you at HQ."
"Skooch!"
Jensen ducked his head down, pretended not to have heard, but then there was a skinny arm around his neck and he couldn't really ignore it. He lifted the hand holding his coffee up out of reach, fixed a smile on his face and turned to the too young, too sure of himself guy who had him trapped. "Skids," he said, his voice neutral.
The boy's smile slipped. "Wish you wouldn't call me that," he said, his hold on Jensen loosening. Praise be.
"Shouldn't have shit your pants on your first day of training then, huh?"
"The sarge told me they'd expended all their rubber bullets."
"It's called bullshit, Skids, and you're full of it. Now fuck off, go on." Jensen made shooing motions with his hands. "Scat! Your shift is over!"
Scowling, 'Skids' stalked off down the hallway towards the locker room. Jensen decided to give him ten minutes before he went in there himself. He definitely didn't want to catch an eyeful of that kid's junk, thanks very much. He made his way to the desk, pleased to see his favorite young female police officer sat behind it. She smiled sweetly at him when she saw him coming and he stopped right in front of her desk and dumped his bag at his feet. Leaning across the desk he tapped his cheek and she rolled her eyes, but didn't move.
"Your loss, Darla."
"Oh, it really isn't, Ackles. Believe me."
"New guy here yet?"
Darla nodded in the direction of the briefing room, her red curls bouncing. "In there with Sgt Morgan."
"Can I go in there?" Jensen asked. "Are... Are you done flirting with me?"
Darla tossed a ballpen at him and told him in no uncertain terms what he should do to himself.
"I'll take that as a yes. Later, sweetheart."
"You should take a shower first," Darla said, as he bent to shoulder his bag again. "You smell like all you did this morning was roll out of some slut's bed. What was her name?"
"Captain Palmer," Jensen told her, offering her a bright grin as he hefted his gear with one hand. "Nice bitching with you. We'll pick this up later."
"We definitely won't," came the muttered reply, but Jensen hardly heard it.
It looked like Morgan was done talking to the new guy by the time Jensen walked in. He was sat there silently shuffling through files while the rookie stayed where he was, filling some paperwork out. The first thing Jensen noticed about him was that he was dressed from head to toe in black. The second thing, which when he considered it later should really have been the most obvious, was the stetson.
"Holy shit, where's the rodeo, cowboy?"
The new guy turned to face him with narrowed eyes. "You referring to the hat there, son?" His voice had a real Southern twang; it made Jensen think of Jack and smokes and guitars. His face had the right look for it, too - a healthy, outdoorsy kind of tan and cropped hair that still curled defiantly around his ears made Jensen think, farm boy.
"Didn't know it was fancy dress day."
"I just flew in, ain't had a chance to get home and off-load. What's your excuse?"
Morgan, who had watched the exchange in silence so far, laughed loudly at that remark. Distracted, Jensen missed any chance of a retort. So instead he smiled and held out his hand. "Ackles," he said, introducing himself as Kane shook it.
"I know," came the surprising response. "Heard all about you before I got here. This team's got quite the rep. I'm honored that I get to be a part of it."
"You brought quite a rep with you, too," Morgan said. "We're glad to have you. So, Skooch, where's everyone else? Or are you just early like always?"
Jensen shrugged. "Guess I'm just one keen son of a bitch, sarge. I did pass Danov on the way in, but he looked kind of engrossed in some new geek-toy. Didn't want to disturb him."
"Show Kane around then. We're done here." Morgan stood and Kane followed suit. They shook hands and Morgan started gathering up all the signed paperwork. "Gear up, back here in twenty. And Skooch, take a shower. You stink like a handjob."
Jensen waved his hand in a mock-salute. "Sir, yes sir."
Kane grabbed a bulging kit-bag up from the floor and slung it easily over one shoulder before following Jensen out. Jensen told him which briefing room was which, pointed out the gym area, the wall of fame and the weapons store. The tour took about five minutes and they wound up in the locker room. By that time, Danov was in and Bonney was sat on the low bench that ran between the rows of lockers, fastening his straps and holsters into place. They both said 'hi' and shook hands with Kane as Jensen opened his locker and started stripping his civvies off. Jared arrived after another minute, looking rattled. Jensen said nothing. Public transport would do that to a guy, he figured. His features smoothed out, though, when he saw Kane in front of his locker.
"So you're Chris Kane. Good to meet you."
Chris turned and shook the proffered hand, eyes widening slightly as he took in Jared's size. Jensen noticed and hid his face in his locker, trying not to laugh.
"My name's Jay. Padalecki."
Danov spoke up. "We call him Atlas, for obvious and not-so-obvious reasons. On the job you just call him Pads. You got a nickname?"
Chris was about to explain that his old buddies had called him Cash thanks to a wardrobe consisting mostly of black and an extensive collection of the country artist's music, but Jensen interrupted and shouted out, "Country!"
"Suits him," Danov grinned, running a hand over his near-bald scalp. "They call me Geek the Greek. Or just geek if they're feeling lazy." He held up the thick-rimmed glasses he wore off-duty, replaced at the moment by contacts. "These really help the image."
"And what do they call you?" Chris asked of the quietest man so far. He had short, light hair and a mouth that looked like it was usually fixed in a smug smile.
"Kid. I was blessed to be born with the name of William Bonney. The only person I allow to call me William is my mother. Consider yourself warned."
Jensen had just retreated in the direction of the showers when his cousin arrived too. He let Jared do the introductions, wondering how Sam would deal with no longer being the newest guy on the team. Maybe Kane's arrival would finally calm him down some. He hung his towel on the hook outside the shower cubicle and stepped out of his underwear and inside. Turned on the water and let the first, chilled blast wake him up completely before he found a warmer temperature. He showered for exactly four and a half minutes and then shut the water off, reaching for his towel. It was handed to him and he wrapped it around his waist with a thank-you, looking up at Jared.
"They're all geared up and ready. Morgan going to be waiting on your ass again?"
"He's used to it. You can start without me if you want."
"That's what you always say," Jared told him, grinning when Jensen gave his stomach a back-handed smack. He looked both ways around the shower stalls and then leaned in and gave Jensen a quick but firm kiss. "I'll tell him you'll be there in three."
"Make it five, will ya?" Jensen glanced down his front briefly, then back up at Jared with a leering smile. "Every fuckin' time."
"I'm just that good, I guess." The other man was still chuckling as he headed back towards the hallway.
Five minutes later and Jensen was taking the only empty seat around a full briefing table, still fastening his straps as he did so. Morgan just gave him a weary look, used to it.
"Okay, now he's finally here, we can get started."
"You waited for me, boss? I'm flattered."
Without missing a beat, Morgan continued as if Jensen hadn't even spoken. "Aside from usual duty, we're on standby today for the local P.D. Downtime means I want to see everything in this building sparkling by the end of the shift unless we get called out, and we will only get called out if this drug raid of theirs goes ahead and if they find anything. Drug problem in the city's getting more competitive now, and that means there are guns involved."
"The new one seems to be PCP," Jared interjected, not looking up as he spoke. "I see 'em on the train home sometimes."
"It's true, the popularity of that one is gaining. Can make people unaware of what they're doing and if they have a gun in their hand then that's not something we want to see. Pads, can I have a few minutes?"
Jared looked up this time, glancing at Jensen before meeting Morgan's eyes again. "Sure, boss."
Whatever it was that Morgan had spoken to Jared about, Jensen was not going to get a chance to find out. A call came in even as they were heading to the weapons store to get to work and each of them was quick to grab the rest of their gear and head to the vehicle bay. Jensen drove in front, Morgan beside him getting details and making notes, directing him to where he thought would be the best spot to set up. Sam and Danov rode with them, while the rest of the team followed in the truck behind.
"One armed guy holding up a drug store. We don't have a name yet, but they're sending through some video footage from the security cameras."
"Got it," Danov piped up from the back. He had a laptop open, resting on his knees, and the light from the screen was casting shadows on his face. "It's a shotgun, sawn-off. Guy looks kind of unstable; he's waving it around a lot. Good news is it's just him, though. He doesn't seem to have any help."
"See if we can figure out who it is before we get there, any priors, anything else we may need to know," Morgan instructed.
"Boss."
On scene they were greeted with the usual reluctant welcome and hostility that they'd learned to live with. Once a weapon was involved and once they took charge of the operation, the regular cops had to shut up and do as they were told. They didn't always do it right off the bat, of course, but they learned pretty quickly. The drugstore was on the business side of the street, in between a video rental place and a jeweller's. The other side of the street was mostly residential buildings, one office building nestled in the middle. The street was clear of cars and foot-traffic, the cops having cordoned off the area as soon as the firearm had been identified. Through the glass front of the drugstore they could see him, a regular looking guy dressed in dark jeans and a peacoat. He was waving the gun at the cashier, stood with her hands in the air and hair clinging to her tear-streaked and terrified face. He was yelling at her, but they couldn't tell what he was saying just yet.
"This doesn't make sense," Jared said, hunched over the hood of the second truck with Morgan right beside him. The drugstore manager was with them, filling them in on exits and entrances, the name of the girl who currently had the gun pointed her way. The rest of the team were getting into position to make a quick entry, should it be needed. Jensen, he knew, was finding another way into the building across the street, in case he needed to make the kill shot.
"Damn straight," Morgan agreed. "You got a jeweller and a drug-store right next door to each other, why the hell would you rob the drug-store?"
"It's not a robbery," Jared clarified. "Which makes it even more dangerous."
Morgan patted him on the shoulder and he got the message without the words being spoken. You're up.
Jensen hated this part. Hated watching Jared, unarmed, getting ready to talk. Not knowing what the gunman wanted or what he was prepared to do to get it. Morgan's voice sounded in his ear, asking if he had a good view. He gave an affirmative answer, adjusting his sight so he could see even more detail. Now he could hear Jared, asking the gunman if they could talk about the girl he was in there with. Whether there was anyone else in the building. Heard Danov telling him there were two other customers inside before he even got an answer. Through the megaphone, Jared told the guy with the shotgun that he was going to call the phone in the store and that he needed him to pick up. They always said, 'I need you to answer the call' and not, 'I want you to'. Had to let the guy feel in control. Jensen took another look. The gunman didn't look in control at all, he thought. His mind went back to the earlier briefing and he really hoped that this guy wasn't on anything. They didn't need that as an added factor.
They had sound from inside the store now, Danov patching Jensen in so he could hear what was going on. It didn't help.
The gunman sounded like he was on the edge of tears and he was repeating the same thing over and over; "I just want my cigarettes, Mikey says I shouldn't have them, but I just want my cigarettes! Gimme my cigarettes!" He was speaking into the phone receiver, talking directly to Jared, but the shotgun was still held high enough that it could do some damage if he decided that shooting his way out would be better.
Jared's voice was calm and warm when he spoke, like he was this man's best friend and they were just having a drink together. He was asking the man's name. The man paused halfway through his litany, said, "Benny," and then continued right on as if he hadn't interrupted himself.
"Benny," Jared repeated. "I'd like it if we could talk. Maybe you could tell me who Mikey is?"
This time Benny stopped his panicked speech altogether. "Mikey's my brother," he answered, in a tone that sounded like he thought Jared should know that. Jensen heard Morgan telling Bonney to take Kane with him and find this kid's brother.
"Is he your older brother, Benny? Is that why he thinks he can tell you not to smoke?"
Benny paused, like he was considering something. "He's a nurse," he said, finally. "He thinks he knows everything."
"Hospitals," Morgan's voice intoned, though Jensen doubted it was really necessary. He could see Kane and Bonney pulling away in the truck, knew they would have heard that anyway.
"Big brothers are like that," Jared agreed. "My big brother, Jeff, he's a real smartass sometimes. Likes to boss me around. But mostly I think he just wants me to be okay, same as your brother wants for you. How about those people in there with you, Benny? Are they okay?"
"They're okay."
"Can you ask them? I'd like to hear them say they're all right for myself."
"Don't you trust me?"
Jensen bit his lip at those words, and willed Jared to say the right thing. He knew that he would anyway, but a little worry wouldn't hurt.
"I trust you, I do. And it's okay if you don't want to let me talk to them. But sometimes somebody can look all right and they're really not. It's up to you, Benny."
The phone went down onto the counter, laid on its side so they could hear most of what was going on. Jensen pressed himself closer to the wall at the side of the window he was positioned at, watching intently as Benny approached the two other people inside. One was an elderly gentleman who nodded when Benny asked if he was all right. The other was a girl of about eighteen who looked as scared as the cashier and who was crying and whimpering with each shuddering breath in. She still nodded her head to the same question, though, wiping the heel of her hand against one eye as the old guy next to her put his arm around her kindly and told her they would be okay.
"They're fine," Benny's voice told them as he picked up the phone again and cradled it between his shoulder and his ear.
"What about the cashier? It's Kirsty, isn't it?"
They heard Benny ask the cashier if that was her name and saw her nod, still tearful.
"So Benny, what is it that you want in there? Maybe we can see-"
"Cigarettes!" With that one word, Benny was back to his previous mantra, the shotgun weaving around dangerously in front of him.
"I have the shot, boss," Jensen said, getting tired of listening to it after the first thirty seconds.
"He hasn't hurt anyone," Morgan reminded him. "Pads, ask to speak to the cashier. Get her to hand over the damn cigarettes, if only to shut him up."
"That's it," Jared muttered to himself. "Seems to be all he wants." He brought the phone back up to his mouth and asked Benny why he couldn't get the cigarettes.
"She... She told me that the cabinet's still locked."
"Ask her to open it up. Tell her it's okay, and not to be scared. I think that's why she hasn't been able to give you them already, because she's scared. I think if you put the gun down she'll give you what you want."
"I don't want to, you'll-"
"We won't do anything, just put the gun down," Jared interrupted, and Jensen drew in a sharp breath. What in hell are you playing at?
"It's not even my gun!" Benny yelled, and threw the shotgun to the floor. The cashier, Kirsty, screamed as it skidded across the hard flooring and out of sight, but it didn't seem to bother Benny. He just turned and stumbled back against the counter, slid down until he was sat on the floor. By that time there were already cops in the doorway, Jared and Morgan in the lead. The police officers behind them shouted at him to put his hands on his head and Jensen watched the confusion for only another moment before pushing up from his spot and darting for the exit.
Kane and Bonney called in when they were back at the precinct with Benny, Danov sat at his computer as he ran the gun's details through the system. They had Benny's brother with them, one Michael Speare, and apparently Benny hadn't taken his medication that morning. Also, as far as the brother knew, Benny didn't have access to a gun or even know anyone who might have one themselves. He was a quiet guy, normally, and this wouldn't have happened if he, Michael, had been home that morning to make sure Benny was all right. But he'd been called in to work to cover someone who had flu, so he hadn't been able to check on him.
Sam heard the call too and Jensen sent his cousin off to the interview room, to pass the message on to Morgan and Jared. Then he took a seat next to Danov, reading through the results listed on the screen for the shotgun they had recovered from the drugstore. He gave a low whistle.
"Multiple homicides, armed robberies... How the hell do you get all this stuff?"
"Every gun has its own unique signature, Skooch. You just gotta know how to look."
Jensen narrowed his eyes, glaring at the back of Danov's head. "Have I told you lately-"
"What a geek I am? Yeah, this morning. Look at this." Danov tapped the screen, pushed a couple of keys. The monitor filled with the picture of a thirteen-year-old boy, a face Jensen remembered.
"Caleb Cross, kid of some big-deal pharmaceuticals company CEO right? Murdered in 2007, killer never arrested."
"They didn't stop looking," Danov told him. "You get someone with that much money and power, they exhaust every avenue. He's probably got a couple of private dicks on it in any case, looking for whatever we missed."
"You look at the job description on the kid's father then think it's got to be something to do with drugs."
The other man shrugged. "Sure. That's why they're still routinely shaking down anyone and everyone who was ever involved in dealing, selling, manufacturing. You name it. Even if they don't do it any more. Narc department got more overtime than any of us on that case, that's for damn certain."
"Can you print this stuff off? I'll get it down to the boss."
Jensen got there around the same time as Bonney led the kid's brother in. "Where's Country-boy?" he asked.
"He's with Darla."
Jensen raised an eyebrow. "She's already getting her hooks in, huh?"
Bonney sat Michael down and took the file from Jensen's hand. "If you really want to know then I'd say you should go take a look."
Something in his tone made Jensen curious and he left Bonney to deal with the printouts and the brother on his own. He found Kane at Darla's desk, puzzled when he saw a little girl balanced on the man's hip. She must have been no more than five and Jensen wondered who the hell dumped a kid at a police department. Then Kane turned around and he got a look at the child's face and realised just who she was. The pale blue eyes and the cute little nose gave her away. The white-blond hair was not inherited from her father, though, and Jensen thought that Kane's wife must be a real stunner. Later, he would be glad he hadn't said as much.
"So who's this beauty?" Jensen asked, leaning against the desk with his elbow.
"This is my daughter, Ayla-Jo." Kane sighed. "I left her with this child-minding company right off the plane. Recommended to me by a friend out here. They decided they didn't have the space for her after all."
"Not the greatest recommendation, huh? You got anyone who can look after her?" At that question, Kane just gave him a look. "No, right. Well I could call my sister if you want. She works at a daycare center. I'm sure she could look after your girl until you get her sorted at a school."
Darla was looking at him with such a shocked expression now that he had to turn to her and ask her, "what?"
"I just don't think I've ever seen you be so helpful before."
"Ha ha, shut up. Kane?"
"Uh, yeah. Thanks. That'd be great. You think the boss'll mind if-"
"I can get Mack over here in ten minutes. Morgan's still in with Benny. I wouldn't sweat it." Jensen didn't wait for him to say anything else; he just turned away and made the call. Just as he had said, his sister did not take long to get to them. She smiled brightly when she saw him, brighter still when he introduced her to Kane and Ayla-Jo.
"She's a beautiful little girl," Mack told him, stepping back slightly as Kane set Ayla-Jo down on the floor. She held out her hand and the child took it at her father's urging. Jensen watched him crouch down until he was at eye-level with his daughter. Kane leaned in and spoke quietly to her, his voice so soft that Jensen couldn't hear what he said. But the little girl nodded and Kane kissed her cheek, thanking Mack again as he stood.
"Where do I come pick her up from?"
Jensen's sister handed him a card with the address and number of the center on it. "Just call if you can't make it before six. That's as late as I usually stay, but I can bring her back here, or take her home with me. And I know you guys can have unpredictable days," she added, with a quick look at Jensen.
"Thank you, so much. You're a real life-saver."
"No problem. I'll see you later."
They watched her go, and then Jensen turned to Kane with a curious grin. "So?"
"So what?" Kane had started down the hallway, heading for the weapons room to dump his gear.
"When were you going to tell everyone you had a daughter?"
Kane turned to him, his face a hard mask. "When I decided it was everyone's fucking business," he ground out. Jensen ignored his irritation and continued,
"So her mother went straight to work off the plane too?"
In the next second, Kane had a hand around Jensen's throat and was pushing him up against the wall. He got up close and told Jensen, in a voice that was low and dangerous, that he should never ask about AJ's mother again. He released him slowly, stepping back as Jensen held both hands up in surrender.
"Jesus, man, I'm sorry. Didn't realize it was such a sore subject."
"Just leave it."
Rubbing at his neck, Jensen nodded and let Kane continue alone. He thought that the best plan was to give him some space to cool off and made his way back down to the interview room, got there just as Jared was coming out into the hallway.
"You busy?" Jared asked, re-fastening his jacket as he walked. Jensen kept pace with him, just, and told him that Kane was dealing with getting the gear away by himself. "We gotta go back there and take a look around. Benny says he found the shotgun in a dumpster round the back of the video rental place. Boss wants us to go see if anything else was left behind."
"Awesome," Jensen said, in a tone that made it clear he thought their task was anything but. "Dumpster duty again, huh?"
"Local PD are meeting us there."
In case we find any bodies, Jensen thought. He followed Jared down to the vehicle lot and they got into one of the dark vehicles, shoving kit into the backseat to give them more room. Jensen drove, Jared fiddled with the radio. "What'd Morgan want earlier?"
"Huh?" Jared finally settled on a station and glanced over at Jensen, looking puzzled.
"Before we got the call. What'd Morgan talk to you about?"
"Oh, right. Nothing important, don't worry about it."
"That'll work. Just fuckin' tell me. What's the big deal? Did he guess about us?"
Jared sighed, glared at the road ahead of them. "No, he didn't guess about us. And what does it fucking matter if he did anyway? You think he can stop us-"
"Yes, I think he can stop us," Jensen growled. "You gotta stop having this blinkered view of everything, Jay. It does fucking matter if people find out, right? Why the hell do you think I'm so careful, why do you think I flirt with anything in a skirt?"
"I just figured that was because you're a dick," Jared said, looking round with a soft smile. Peace-making. He was good at that, Jensen thought, as he felt his frustration start to slip already. "It's okay, Jen, honest. It was just about work. Nothing that can possibly affect us."
"That's all you had to say. 'Cause otherwise a guy can get to thinking that this whole thing is more trouble than it's worth."
Jared raised an eyebrow at that, but Jensen didn't take it back. Didn't feel like he wanted to. Him and Jay, they'd been on and off more times than a whore's panties, so if he hurt him with anything he said it really didn't matter any more. They'd break up and make up sometime down the line. They'd done it enough before. Sure enough, just before they got out of the car at the entrance to the alley they'd be searching, Jared muttered to him that maybe he could give coming over that night a miss if he felt like that about it. Once their feet hit the ground, though, they were all business.
Half an hour later and they were both feeling dirty and annoyed, and neither had found anything. They were barely talking to one another and so the sound of Jensen's phone was piercing in the quiet alley. It was Morgan, asking them both to head back if they had nothing. Benny's meds had kicked in and he'd remembered seeing someone dump the shotgun before he grabbed it. He was going through mugshots, repeating over and again that it was 'just his luck' that he had found it, and he was getting more and more agitated the longer they kept him there. Now the priority was to get this other man identified and get Benny somewhere he could calm down. Jensen wiped his hands on the front of his pants and climbed into the driver's side of the truck, starting the engine as Jared got in the other side.
"Are we okay?" he asked, bored of the silence.
"Yeah, we're okay. We should just give it a rest, huh?"
"I don't want to give it a rest, Jay." Jensen reached across the front seat and squeezed his hand around the other man's thigh. "We're too good together."
"It'd just be nice if everyone else could know that, that's all," Jared replied, still not looking at him. He didn't move the hand away, though, which had to count for something.
Changing the subject, Jensen told Jared about Chris Kane's reaction to his questions earlier on. "Wish I knew what was going on there. It was like his daughter showed up and he just wanted to shut down."
Jared didn't look surprised, though. "Maybe you should ask Morgan about it," he suggested.
"Is that what he was talking to you about?"
"Look, don't get pissy about it. He told me Kane's back-story because he knows I'm more, I don't know, sensitive than you are about this kind of thing. As already demonstrated."
"How the hell can I be sensitive about something I know nothing about?" Now Jensen drew his hand back, moving it up to the wheel. He didn't know why he suddenly felt so annoyed. Betrayed. "Or does he just think maybe I'm not trustworthy en-"
"Goddammit," Jared interrupted. "Will you stop being the martyr for one fucking minute? Morgan told me because he knows I've gone through the same thing. He knows I've lost someone too. And maybe Kane can relate to that. I'm pretty sure the man himself will tell everyone when he's good and ready, just like I did."
Jensen bit his lip at the outburst, looked away as if he was checking his mirrors. He hated being reminded of what Jared had gone through before they met, and hated more that he'd been the one to make Jared bring it up. The drive ended, once again, in silence. Jensen knew they were both remembering it, although Jared's memories would be far more vivid. He'd been there. All Jensen had was the times that Jared felt able to talk about it. About her. His little sister. Jensen wondered if Kane's wife had died in a similar way and tightened his grip on the wheel. No way did he have the guts to go through something like that. Just thinking of Jared getting hurt was more than enough for him, even though he was well aware that any of them could die.
He was grateful when he pulled into the bay at HQ, glad that it meant he could leave Jared alone for a while and get away from the heavy atmosphere he'd created. He figured Jared could go find Kane and they could talk about their feelings or something, cry it out while he went to see what they'd found out from their guy.
"His name's Brian Luck, if you believe that," Morgan said, pointing at the mug shot which Benny had identified.
"Tell me he's Irish," Jensen replied, grinning as he took a closer look.
"He's not Irish, idiot. Benny saw him dump the gun and says he thinks it was because there was a cop car doing patrol on that block. He grabbed it before this Luck guy could come back for it. Thought it looked cool. Benny watches a lot of cop shows on TV," Morgan added, at the expression on Jensen's face. "He took it home last night, hid it from his brother. Decided to take it out for a walk this morning. But he forgot his meds, and his cigarettes, and the girl in the store forgot to grab the keys for the cigarette cabinet from the office before she opened up. Told Sam that she didn't even notice it was still locked until Benny came in, asking for his marlboros."
"Is she okay?"
"She will be. They took her in to the precinct, someone there's talking to her. She seemed all right. I think she knows Benny, or his brother anyway."
"Makes sense," Jensen agreed. "Given the job area, anyway. Are we bringing Luck in?"
"Detective Elling is questioning him as we speak. But from what I've read of the guy, he's one slippery customer. He'll be back out there by tonight. They never made anything stick to him before now, I doubt this'll change anything. From what Elling said, he's not so much into the murdering anyway. More of a money man."
"Dealer?"
Morgan nodded and sat back, pinching the bridge of his nose. He sighed, flipped the book of mugshots closed, and turned his gaze on Jensen. "Why are things never straightforward, huh?"
Jensen didn't think he really expected an answer and, besides, he didn't have an answer to give.
EPISODE TWO AIRS ON THURSDAY, 17th SEPTEMBER
Oh! Someone asked the questions below and so I'll answer here for anyone else who is curious: Our posting schedule will be one new episode every ten days, unless real life butts in and makes that impossible. If that's ever the case, we'll try and get something small up in the interim, like art or something. And no, we haven't finished with the Smoke & Lightning boys just yet. I have three WIPs for that verse to work on in between Police episodes, so keep an eye on that comm for more still. We just can't leave those boys alone!! - Mwah! Love, Evil xx