FIC: Lex Talionis 3/?
Title: Lex Talionis 3/?
Authors: pprbckwrtr & docwho2100
Rating: R
Disclaimer: Nikki & Nora are the property of Nancylee Myatt and Warner Bros. Television. No infringement intended.
A/N: character thoughts appear between ~~ ~~
**
Chapter 3
Nora found herself annoyed and alone, heading over to the Franklin estate. Annoyed because it seemed that whatever certain members of society wanted they received. So when Mrs. Franklin called the station to report someone on her property Dan had immediately called Nora to head over there to meet the other units he was sending. She was alone because Nikki was still going over the crime scene with Agent Vargas and thought she should stay behind and finish.
Why her partner thought she should go alone to deal with Mrs. Franklin, given their last run-in, Nora couldn't understand. Probably because Nikki thought the same thing she did; Tamarkia is afraid of her own shadow and wants to flex her political muscles to see how high people will jump to amuse her. Of course this theory only confirmed Nora's belief that Nikki should be the one jumping, while she may not like it she definitely does it more diplomatically. Though she couldn't suppress the smile that came at the thought of questioning the Franklins without Nikki hovering making her be nice. No matter what the old saying was, Nora believed there were certain situations when you had to leave the honey at home and pull out the vinegar to get your flies.
Pulling up to the estate Nora frowned when she saw the front gate open. Going against her usual preference, she decided it best to drive all the way up to the house. About half way up the drive the detective slammed on the brakes when a figure ran through the beams of her headlights. Nora immediately jumped out of the car, pulled her weapon and ducked down by the front corner of the car. "Freeze. Police," she yelled.
When the figure didn't stop Nora gave chase. She was able to catch up to the man when he had to pause before making his way over the hedge that lined the edge of the property.
As Nora reached up to pull him off the hedge he kicked out with his foot as he fell to the ground. Once he had his feet under him he swung around with his arm, Nora ducking and sending her shoulder into his stomach. She surged forward with all her force, pushing him back into the hedge. The man clasped his hands together and brought them down onto the detective's back, forcing her to her knees. While on the ground, Nora was able to wrap her arms around his legs bringing him down with her as they fell to the ground.
Using a popular street fighting technique, Nora began crawling along the squirming man, essentially scaling his legs, using her weight to keep him pinned and from kicking her too much. She gasped as he managed to land a hit on her shoulders and a cuff to her ear, although the detective was stubborn and kept her arms wrapped around the suspect, uttering a silent prayer he did not come up with a weapon; that would really hurt if he started wailing on her with something other than his fists.
Using a move one might think fitting of a wrestler, Nora twisted, switching positions with the attacker, rolling the man to his stomach. ~Almost home,~ she thought as she pinned one arm behind the man's back ready to slap the cuffs on when a gunshot from behind her had her spinning. The would be intruder took advantage of the distraction and twisted out from under the detective, making his way over the hedge and through he open gate.
"What the hell are you doing?" Nora demanded as she moved toward Tamarkia, bending briefly to retrieve her gun that had become dislodged during the fight.
"You appeared to need help Detective," she replied as she lowered her shotgun.
"I had the upper hand and was about to make an arrest when you let him get away," Nora said through gritted teeth as she went toe to toe with Mrs. Franklin. "You have a habit of derailing this investigation. Why is that?"
"What are you implying?"
"I didn't think I was implying anything."
Before the argument could go any further two police cars sped up the driveway to the house. Nora made her way over to the units, gave them a brief description of the intruder and sent them out to search the streets. She pulled out her phone to give her lieutenant an update.
Tamarkia watched the detective for a few minutes before being pulled away by one of the uniforms for a statement. She looked back over her shoulder once more at the blonde before turning her focus on the officer accompanying her, the financier asking to see the young man's badge, the man cringing at the commanding tone.
As the action began moving toward the front of the house, a shadowy figure slipped out through a back door, fleeing across the back lawn, and away from the scene of the crime.
Thirty minutes later Nora was sitting on the hood of her car holding an ice pack to her jaw as Dan was droning on about protocol and waiting for backup and how lucky she was. The blonde was only half listening as she had heard this speech before, until Dan reprimanded her for the tone she had taken with Mrs. Franklin.
Nora's head snapped up and her eyes locked with Dan's. "I had him until she almost shot me."
"She claimed that she fired into the air," he responded, trying to keep his tone calm.
Nora jumped off the hood and turned to him. "Are you fucking kidding me," she began until a hand on her arm had her silenced.
"Are you okay?" Nikki asked with a barely masked concern.
"I'm fine," Nora answered as she turned to face her partner.
"She's damn lucky is what she is."
"Yeah, lucky the lady of the house didn't kill me," Nora replied over her shoulder.
"What do you mean?"
"When I got here I saw someone fleeing, I chased him and we fought. I was about to cuff him when Mrs. Franklin fired a shotgun "into the air"." She barely resisted putting quote marks around the last part of the statement.
"Why would she do that?" Agent Vargas asked as she stepped forward to join the conversation.
"Good question," Nora grumbled.
"Did you get a good look at him?" the agent asked.
Nora studied her for a second, "you can read the..."
"Nora," Nikki admonished quietly.
Nora took a deep breath and repeated the description for the fourth time. "Didn't get a good look at his face. He wore jeans, a black hooded sweatshirt with the sleeves cut off, which showed off the spider tattoos crawling up his right arm. His face was uncovered but it was coated with black makeup," she emphasized this point by holding up her hand to show the black that covered her knuckles. "He was about six foot, average build, I would guess about 190."
The agent copied down Nora's description, looking up sharply when she heard the size of the man. "And you got the upper hand?" she asked, more in awe than disbelief.
The blonde crossed her arms defensively. "Yeah," she answered.
"I didn't mean anything."
"No, I'm sure you didn't," Nora replied before she turned to Dan. "If that's all Lieutenant," she said as she tossed Nikki the keys and moved to the passenger side of the car.
Nikki looked at the keys in her hand as Nora climbed into the car. "Looks like we're done for tonight."
"Take her home," Dan suggested. "We'll get the rest in the morning."
Nikki nodded and moved toward the car, she paused briefly and turned to Rachel. "You're okay getting back to your hotel from here?"
Rachel smiled at the question. "I'll manage. Thanks."
"Okay," Nikki replied as she climbed into the car.
As the detectives drove down the driveway Rachel turned to Dan. "Those two make interesting partners."
The Lieutenant tilted his head to eye the agent. "Best I have," he finally said before he moved away to speak to the other officers on the scene.
**
Once at home Nora took off her jacket, unclipped her badge and gun and headed for the bathroom.
"You sure you're okay?" Nikki asked as she followed.
"I'm fine Nikki," Nora sighed as she started the bathwater. "Did Agent Whatshername fill you in on everything at the port?"
"Yes. Rachel," Nikki emphasized. "went over the scene thoroughly with me."
"I'm sure Agent Rachel did," Nora grumbled as she sank into a chair waiting for the tub to fill.
"What is your problem with her?"
"You don't find it strange that they were there?"
"A possible chemical attack at the port? No, I don't find it strange that the FBI investigated that."
"It was flour," Nora reminded her. "We could have told them that and saved them the effort."
Nikki shook her head as she left the bathroom. Returning moments later with a bottle and two glasses.
"Once they found out it wasn't chemical did they still collect the evidence? Or did they let our guys do that?" Nora asked as she held out her hand awaiting a drink.
"I think they still took everything," Nikki admitted hesitantly.
"Damn feds," Nora muttered as she downed half her drink.
"This is because of the Moreland case isn't it?" Nikki asked gently as she added bath salts to the water.
"That son-of-a-bitch killed those kids. We had him dead to rights until they swooped in and gave him a deal."
"They had bigger fish to fry," Nikki tried to reason.
"You weren't the one..." Nora cut herself off as she finished her drink and held out her glass for a refill.
Nikki turned off the water before she moved over to pour the drink. She wanted to say something about their past case but words were never enough when it came to that one. She could still remember the look of hatred on the distraught mother's face as she had slapped her partner after learning that the man responsible for her daughter's death would not be tried by the state. Nikki had moved forward to protect her partner but Nora had simply held up a hand to her and apologized to the room of parents, and the brunette believed that she would have stood there and taken the same punishment from every one of them. They needed someone to blame and Nora was willing to be the one to accept the failure. "Water's going to get cold," was all she managed when the sad green eyes looked up to meet her own.