Agent Fox Mulder (i_want_2) wrote in multi_fiction, @ 2008-10-21 00:36:00 |
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Entry tags: | rated: teen, slash, special unit 2, threshold, x-over |
Fic: Bound In Chains Series Prolog-3/3 Special Unit 2/Threshold
These are the first four stories in a series of fifty I had started a while back. Not sure if I will finish it, but I thought, why not post it?
Title: Bound In Chains
Author: Lopaka Tanu
Disclaimer: I do not own .
Characters: Nick O'Malley, Jerome Horne, Carl, etc.
Words:
Prompt: 50 Prompt Crack Table
Fandom: Special Unit 2/Threshold (Tv Movie)
Pairing: Nick/Jerome
Rating: Adult
Warnings: Language, Violence, Character Deaths
Summary: Spared retirement to mentor a rookie older than himself, Nick seeks to understand who or what was after his former partner.
Author's Note:
______________________________________
Prolog: Last Dance Before We Go Home 2003
The wind kicked up as Nick pushed open the door to the fifteenth floor lobby from the stairwell. Hair flying in his face, he absently brushed it free to see. Dim light filtered through the half finished doorways and windows, letting him know the sun was going down. An extra incentive to move, he raised his gun and quickly scanned every open entrance.
There was nothing but billowing tarps and city skyline as far as the eye could see. He hadn't exactly expected there to be a welcoming party, but the Links making themselves easy targets would have been nice. A quick glance to his watch told him there was less time than he thought. "Screw it. Kate? Detective Morganthal? Evil Link Bastards? Anybody home?"
In answer, only the wind blowing through the building could be heard.
"Damn it, I know someone is here! I saw you, I know you're here! You can't hide from me forever, backup is on its way." Cocking his head to the side, Nick listened for any noise to indicate movement. After a few seconds, it finally came. "Gotcha!" Rushing to the third doorway on the right, he ran across the lobby. Upon reaching it, he pulled back the trigger on his weapon.
It was a small room on the east side of the building, thus in shadows, but with large open windows. Swallowing at the hint of danger, he rotated his head a little to crack his spine. "Now or never." Throwing himself in to the room, he hit the ground sliding backwards, gun aimed at the doorway. "Hiya, bitches." With a quick squeeze of the trigger, Nick shot the two Harpies that had been lined up against the walls to either side of the doors.
As they exploded in a ball of fire, he looked around for the third one, also known as Detective Carol Morganthal. She had been the one he had come here personally for. What she wanted with his partner, he wasn't sure. Upon not finding her, Nick looked away in anger. "Damn it. Come out, come out wherever you are!"
Wincing, Nick curled up in to a sitting position. His back was going to be killing him for the better part of a month. Kate had better appreciate this. Standing, he popped the joints of his back with a sigh of relief. Raising his weapon, he was about to head back for the door when a sudden pain in his ass caused him to pause.
Nick reached behind him and felt the source of the sudden agony. Something hard and faintly metallic was imbedded in his backside. Gritting his teeth, he pulled it out. After the flare of pain had passed and he felt safe enough to open his eyes, he stared at the offending item. Not finding anything significant from it, he tossed it aside. It wasn't important, he had to save Kate, again.
Limping, he walked out of the room, carefully listening for sounds of life. A high pitched shriek from above was all the warning he got before the third Harpy crashed down upon him. Going down in a tangle of limbs, Nick maintained his hold on the gun. Viciously scissor stomping her, he rolled away far enough to clear the blast area. Smiling, he took aim at the furious Link. "Need a light?" He fired as she lunged at him.
The inertia from her forward momentum thrust the brunt of the blast back towards him. Only enough time to close his eyes, Nick tried to cower away from the explosion. A sudden gust blew through the high rise, rocking the building and blowing out the flames. Holding his head, Nick shivered. Despite the warmth of the wind, he felt a strong chill over come his body.
As quickly as it came, the wind passed. Free to move about, Nick checked the damage to himself. Aside from singed tips, he was relatively untouched. He started to smirk until the twinge in his backside reminded him he was injured. Instead, he groaned and used the wall to climb to his feet. "Kate?"
A noise in the room he had killed the other two Harpies in drew his attention. Limping back in to the room, Nick searched for any sign he missed earlier. As far as he could tell, Kate wasn't in there. Harpies only nested in groups of three, so that ruled them out as well. "Kate, you in here?" The sound came again, this time from the windows. "Oh, please tell me you're not..."
Swallowing his almost overwhelming urge to go back the other way, he stumbled over to the windows. The sound came again, this time he could make out a definite muffled voice. Closing his eyes, Nick took a calming breath. "The things I do, even this one takes the cake." Opening his eyes, he clutched desperately at the cement wall and leaned out over the window ledge to look out. "Help's on the way, Kate!"
Pulling the last of the Harpy goo from her hair, Kate followed the sound of her partner's voice. Frowning at the scorch marks at the entrance of the room, she tried not to feel jealous. "The least you could have done was save me one... Nick!" The last thing she saw of Nick were his feet disappearing over the window ledge.
Wind blowing through her hair, she was still standing in the doorway watching the window when SU2's swat team finally arrived.
_____________________________
4529 - Word Count
Part 1: The Man Comes Round Again 2003 - September
Horns honked from passing cars, their bright lights blinding him until he looked away. It took him several minutes of shuffling before he realized the sensation that had soaked in to him was rain. Naked and shivering, he couldn't remember where he was heading or if it was important. All he knew was that he had to keep moving.
Blinking, he flinched away from a particularly bright light. Despite how far he tried to turn away, it remained on him. Angry, he lashed out at it, only to find the source was no near him. Frowning, he blinked until his eyes focused on it. The source was far away, not getting any closer. There was no need.
A thought came to him, one that held great meaning. "Police." This voiced thought, this word made him feel secure, relieved. He squinted up from his hunched over position at the familiar shaped blob that stepped in to the light. It made noise at him, something he knew he should have recognized. The intonations were regular, guttural and whispery. More words. "Police."
The blob, resolving itself in his vision even further, nodded. It belched noise at him again.
"Police." He could not remember any more. Nor did he understand what it meant. Even the voiced thought, this 'word' was unfamiliar to him. Frowning, he cocked his head at the blob as it looked from him and back towards the source of light. As it stepped towards him again, he stepped back.
Something about its actions suddenly became threatening. Bands of metal and chains appeared in its hand as it came for him again.
Knowing what these restraints were meant for, he jumped back again to avoid being captured. He had to flee, escape the dangerous blob. Unfortunately, the shivering of his muscles became too much and he wasn't fast enough to avoid a third grab. Shrieking from fear and outrage, he tried to escape the grip. He lashed out at the blob, trying to crush it with his feet.
The blob did not like this and returned his actions with a quick strike.
Head snapping back with an audible crack he went limp from the pain. Terrible sensations filled him and he began to tremble for an entirely new reason. Unable to fight back any further, he let the dangerous blob restrain him and drag him back towards the source of light. It would most likely mean his death, but he hurt too much to fight any longer.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"To be honest, I have no idea what's happened to him." Looking through the one way glass, Captain Tony Parker watched the man kneeling on the floor of the interrogation room. The light levels were barely high enough to make him out, but still the man squinted. "The doctor said his pupils wouldn't contract, and she can gain no more than basic responses from him. Most likely, there has been some form of physical trauma."
"Then why the hell isn't he in a hospital?" Chewing on his cigar, Captain Page glared at his Station 12 counterpart.
"We tried, he got violent. Sedation only seemed to make him angry." Dropping a blinds over the window, he turned so he could get Page's full attention. Turning to the table behind him, he picked up a manilla folder and slapped it against the darker man's chest. "I called you the moment we got his prints back from the lab. They confirmed what I told you over the phone."
"Thank you." Smile as insincere as he could make it, Page reached up with his good hand and snatched the folder. "Our people will take it from here."
"See that you do it soon. The sun's going down and I'll be needing my interrogation room back." With a final stare down, he rolled his shoulders and walked out of the observation room.
Clicking the button on the monitor hanging from his belt, Page ignored the man's going. Instead, he turned back to watch as the figure in the interrogation room shifted uncomfortably. Now that his eyes had adjusted to the low level of lighting, he could make out the distinct figure of his missing man.
Movement at the door caught and drew his attention away from the man. With great reluctance, he turned to the man. Arm raised, he handed over the information. "I want him taken care of, full recovery, you understand?"
Dark Green eyes scanned the contents of the folder before looking up at the captain. "I can't make any promises and I won't know what I'm dealing with until I examine the patient myself."
"The patient's name is Detective Nicholas O'Malley. Be sure to remember it when you are dealing with him." Turning back to the interrogation room, Page picked up his cigar. "He won't appreciate any of the work you will be doing for him, even when you bring him back to full health. He's a pain in the ass, insubordinate, by blow that had probably been better left in a trash can but the condom broke, son of a bitch. But I like him."
Smirking, the man closed the folder, then tucked it under his arm. "I'll do my best."
"I expecting nothing less from SU4."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The lights in the room were all but out as the door opened. Blinking so that his eyes would adjust faster, he readied himself for an attack. From what the file had stated, there was a good chance it would be the first reaction. The lack of any visual acknowledgement from the detective was a let down. Sighing, he carried the little black bag with him in to the interrogation. Gently, he closed the door behind him.
Setting his bag on the table, he unbuckled the clasp and pulled it free so he could open it. The first things he pulled out where a stethoscope and a pair of latex gloves. Snapping them on, he picked up the stethoscope and walked slowly up to Nick. He wasn't expecting much from the other man, but it was best to walk softly.
He knelt down in front of Nick, reaching out to touch the collar of his hospital gown. Biting his lip, he made contact with Nick and waited. A full minute went by without any response from the detective. Relieved, he slid his hands down the back of the gown and raised his stethoscope to Nick's back. The moment the cool instrument made contact, all hell broke loose.
Shooting up from the floor, Nick swung around and grabbed the doctor by the throat. Raising the man off his feet, he pushed him against the far brick wall of the interrogation room. Using his body to hold the man in place, Nick leaned in to meet his eyes. His own pupils so dilated they were almost black, he searched the doctor's.
Reaching in to his jacket pocket, he let Nick strangle him. It distracted the crazed man from what he was about to do. Popping the cap off a syringe, he jabbed it in to Nick's shoulder and pressed the plunger.
His reaction was almost immediate. Pupils contracting, Nick released the man and staggered backwards. Losing his footing, he tumbled on to his bare ass as the hospital gown flared. There was a moment of pure silence before it was broken by the harsh pitch of his scream. He desperately clutched at his ears, fighting to stop whatever it was he heard.
Having hit the floor when Nick released him, the doctor gasped and coughed. He wanted to sit there and recover, but he still had a job to do. Reaching in to his other pocket, he grabbed the second prepared syringe. Quickly, he popped the cap off and injected the contents in to Nick's flailing thigh.
A few seconds later, Nick went silent again. This time, he went still except for his rapid blinking. It took several aborted attempts, but he was finally able to muster enough control in order for him to sit up on his elbows. Mind clearing, Nick began to examine the room about him.
Thoughts were returning, forming spoken sounds he knew. Words, he knew them and of them, understood what was supposed to be done in order to use them. Things that were completely alien to him a minute ago were clear as day. His name was Nick O'Malley, he was a detective in Special Unit 2. Seeing the gasping man half draped over his lap, he gave a weary sigh. "Lemme guess, we're married, you're the daddy, and some where Carl's judging a beauty pageant."
"Two out of three, honey bear." Rubbing his throat, the doctor rose back in to a sitting position. He grabbed Nick's wrist and checked his watch to match the heart against the time. After twenty seconds, he released the other man and climbed to his feet. Snapping off the gloves, he threw them in the trash can.
"I'm in a police interrogation room, that much is obvious. I'm in a hospital gown, freezing my ass off on a cement floor, so I must have had a freak out. Which is nice, because I could always use the time off." Speaking of which, Nick rolled on his hip so he could tuck the edge of the gown under him. "You're a doctor, didn't bat an eye when I said Carl or Daddy, and have stabbed me at least twice. I'm guessing you know something I don't. Wanna fill me in?"
"Yes, please stand up and raise the front of your gown." Snapping on another pair of gloves, the doctor faced Nick with a broad smile. "It's been a while since your last physical, but I'm sure you remember enough to know what's coming next."
"Aren't you going to even kiss me first? I'm not that easy, I do like a little foreplay before we get down to business." Crawling to his knees, Nick used a nearby chair to stand up. Stretching out a little, he winced from the twinges in various parts of his body. It was obvious someone had been more than a little enthusiastic about making sure he behaved. Turning to face the doctor, he picked up the hem of his gown and did a curtsy.
Without preamble, the doctor reached out and grabbed Nick by the balls. He gave them a vicious squeeze before releasing for a more gentler hold. "Turn your head and cough."
Face set in a permanent frown, Nick tried to stand up straight, but the grip on his balls prevented him from going fully erect. Unfortunately, something else wasn't that hindered. Smirking as fingers brushed under his swelling cock, he placed his hands on his hips and gave two quick stage coughs. "So, tell me, doc, do I pass?"
"You'll do." Releasing Nick, he stepped around him to face his bag. He waited until the detective had released his gown before speaking. "Turn around, place your hands on the table, and bend over, please."
"What?" The sound of cold gel being squirted sent a nervous shiver up his spine. Wide eyed, Nick unconsciously reached behind him and grabbed the edges of his gown in one hand.
Straight faced, he looked Nick square in the eyes. "It's a standard procedure in any physical for men over a certain age. There's nothing to be embarrassed about, I've performed it hundreds of times. You have nothing I haven't seen before." Stepping forward, he raised one suspiciously shiny, gloved hand. "Besides, if you're good, I can make it quite pleasurable."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Clutching the duffle bag to her chest, Kate Benson was near frantic by the time she stepped through the doors of the twelfth precinct. So desperate was she to see Nick once she had heard about him, she had left her partner back in the car, which hadn't even been parked when she jumped out of it. This was a lot more important than her own safety, she had to make sure it was real.
After a month of frantic searching, everyone but her had given up hope of ever finding him again. There had been no body, no hint of Nick's disappearance beyond what she had seen. So many times she had gone over his last seconds in her mind trying to figure out what had happened. In the end, she had more nightmares about possibilities than recovered knowledge.
All of it had been for not, though.
Two months later, she had a new partner, life went on, and she was the only one still actively searching. Apparently he hadn't needed her to do that. Instead, he had come back on his own. Despite that, she was just so damned glad that Nick had returned. Still, she was holding her breath until she confirmed it for herself.
Arriving at the Sargent's desk, Kate had her badge at the ready. "Detective Kate Benson, Special Unit 2, I'm here to see Detective Nick O'Malley."
Unimpressed, the desk sargent barely glanced up from the magazine he was flipping through. A quick toss of his thumb over his shoulder pointed down a hall to his right.
"Thanks." Ignoring him, she stormed her way down the hall. When Captain Page had called her over the horn, she had grabbed the bag out of the back of her car and ended the stake-out. She rounded the corner that a sign indicated was the location of the interrogation rooms. By the time she reached the room, she was near hyperventilation.
Clutching the wall, she looked about for any sign of her commanding officer. She didn't have to wait long for the door across the hall from her opened to reveal an irate Captain Page. Staring at him with hope, she unconsciously clenched her hands in the bag. "Sir, where is he?"
"Through that door." He pointed to the room one down from where he had been. Before he could tell her to wait, she was already rushing through it.
Turning the handle, Kate pushed the door open. "Nick!" The sight of her ex-partner bent over a table with a man examining his ass froze her on the spot. Dropping the bag, she tried to force herself in to action, any action. Unfortunately, all she could do was stare.
Looking up from the floor, the doctor stared at Kate expectantly. "Can I help you?"
Nick shivered, clenching his ass as he quickly tried to cover it with the hospital gown. Spinning out of the doctor's grip, he glared at Kate. "Could you give us a little privacy? The doc here was just about to finish, tell me I was the best he ever had, give me a wrong number, then not call me ever again."
"You've got a hairy ass." The snort of the doctor made Kate realize what she said. Blushing, she forced herself to look away from them. But despite her embarrassment, she still cast Nick a quick look. "I'm sorry, I just wanted to see you. Not that much, though."
"Too late, can't take it back." Grabbing Nick by the arm, the doctor forced him to face the table again. "If you will excuse us, Ms. Benson, I am about through."
"Oh, of course." Kicking the bag at Nick's feet, she held up a hand over her eyes. "Good luck." Backing out of the room, she mouthed it to herself again. "What the hell am I thinking?"
"Obviously, you weren't." Making sure the door was secured, Page put himself between it and her. "Detective Benson, next time you might think to wait and check with me for a full recap before barging in. It might save everyone involved a little embarrassment. Bare ass being the operative words." Snickering at his own jokes, Page held up a cigar in his fake hand. "Want one?"
"No, thank you." Leaning against the wall, she took a deep, calming breath. The shock of actually seeing him alive and well put an end to the month's worth of worry she had accumulated. Now, other emotions were taking its place and she wasn't liking how she felt. Looking up to her Captain's amused expression, she frowned. "What the hell happened?"
"I don't know." Blowing smoke out across the hall, Page took in the door that lead to Nick and the doctor. His features contorted in confusion as he shook his head. "We can't be certain of anything until they've done testing. As for where he's been, I don't think anyone knows, not even Nick." He held up his good hand to forestall her questions. "His mind wasn't working, something about head trauma. That's as much as I know."
Nodding her thanks, Kate pushed a lock of hair from her face. She had to make herself focus on the fact they had him back. He seemed healthy, that's what really mattered. A short time later, she looked up as the door opened.
Tugging on the crotch of his pants, Nick winced. The waist was too tight and it felt as if his balls were being forced up to his throat. "Where'd you get these clothes from, Kate? I haven't worn something this tight since high school."
"They're yours." Glancing from him to the doctor and Captain Page, she frowned. "It's your emergency kit. I brought it because I thought you might..." Bringing a hand to her mouth, she looked away. "It's been a month, I thought you would appreciate your own clean clothes."
"Well, they shrunk." Nick was about to say more but the pissed look he got from the doctor made him pale. "Thank you for being considerate, Kate." Glaring at the doctor, Nick adjusted the ass of his pants. There would come a time when he would pay the man back.
"Very good. Now that you've been checked out, we can get back to the station and you can tell us where the hell you've been these last two months." Taking the lead, Page exhaled a puff of smoke through his nostrils as he walked down the hall towards the back exit.
Looking to the others, Nick shrugged and trailed along. The doctor and Kate came shortly after.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I told you, I don't remember!" Grabbing his hair, Nick popped his neck. After four hours of interrogation, he still couldn't recall a single thing they asked about. The room was just as he remembered it, uncomfortable for the one they were interviewing. Add to the hard seat, the glaring lights, and the oppressive atmosphere to his too tight pants and he would have confessed to shooting JFK if it ended their stupid questions. Besides, everyone knew that was a Link plot. "There is one thing I can recall. No matter how you shape your facial hair, it still looks like you've been rubbing your face in someone's ass, McMurto."
The comment got him a face full of spotlight as the man twisted another lamp in to his eyes. Strangely, it didn't bother him. Sitting back and closing his eyes, Nick made a sound of pleasure. If they thought roasting him would work, the least he could do was get a tan in the process.
Having had enough, the doctor shoved off the far wall and grabbed McMurto by the back of the neck. Pinching hard enough to make the man drop to his knees, he twisted the skin viciously. It would give him one hell of a headache, but he was feeling a mean tonight. "You've proven nothing with this."
With a nod, Page rose from his chair. He and the doctor had been planted near the door, there to observe the interrogation. Unfortunately, it had been fruitless, just as the doctor predicted. "All right, we'll do it your way."
"Thank you." Releasing the now unconscious detective, the doctor walked around the interrogation table to stand beside Nick.
Peeking out from under his near closed eyelids, Nick smirked at the man.
The doctor leaned back against the table and crossed his arms. "What is the last thing you remember before waking up in the interrogation room?"
Nick heaved a sigh. "I was down on my hands and knees about to look out the window. It was pretty high up and I don't really care for throwing myself out of perfectly stable buildings. I stuck my head out the window with my eyes closed and felt something. Don't know what, just, something. Then nothing." Taking a deep breath, he exhaled directly at the doctor's face.
"What's the first thing you remember after that?" His unwavering stare held Nick's eyes.
Nick's lips quirked a little on the corners. "Some very dirty thoughts involving you, me, and that cold cement floor. I would go in to details, but there are children present."
"Okay." Pushing off from the table, the doctor faced Captain Page. "He's telling the truth." With that, he walked out of the interrogation room.
Shaking his head, Page followed the man out.
"So, does that mean I can go?" Nick leaned over in his chair so he could see out the door. "Captain?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~
As Page entered his office, he saw the doctor snap something off his belt and toss it on his desk. "What exactly was that back there?"
The doctor gestured to the gray device. "That's a little something I brought with me from Special Unit 4. It assists us during interrogations."
"Oh really." Page settled behind his desk. Picking up the device, he turned it over to examine the smooth sides visible through the belt clip. "What exactly does it do and why hasn't it been shared with my people?"
Instead of answering, the doctor turned to stare out the glass walls of the Captain's office. He watched the staff of Special Unit 2 go about the business of catching the Links. So much of it was just normal police work, it made him nostalgic. "How much about SU4 do you know?"
Twisting his chair, Page eyed the man warily. This was a dangerous line of questioning under normal circumstances. "I know that people disappear under your watch. I know your bosses sent you here and told my bosses I was to just sit back and give you carte blanche. I know you've got something you're wanting to tell me and I'm through playing twenty questions."
"Special Unit 3 deals with International Events, apocalyptic level events to be exact. Special Unit 4 has a broader spectrum to cover." Reaching in to his jacket pockets, the doctor pulled out two vials. He turned and placed them on Captain Page's desk. "These are Nandoxin and Kulrizine, two chemicals, when used in conjunction to each other, are harmless to the average human. Had your detective not responded to them, my mission would have officially ended."
"So, what exactly does this mean for Detective O'Malley? Are you planning on detaining him for reacting to your drugs?" The suggestion would have elicited a grin from him earlier, but things had gotten too serious of late. Any time in the past to get the pain in the ass off his case for a few weeks would have been welcomed. Times sure had changed.
"In the past, definitely. Unfortunately, there are now too many cases for SU4 to handle without blowing our cover." Pocketing the vials, he took a seat across from Page. His agitation drove him to nearly rocket back out of the chair, but he kept himself firmly planted. "There has never been a case where someone has been returned after so long. Usually, a few days is the most. After that, they aren't coming back. Detective O'Malley's case could be a new phase in these abductions, or it could be something else entirely."
Page froze, cigar half way to his mouth. "Abductions. You aren't talking about..." He pointed upwards with the but of his cigar.
The doctor smiled.
"Of course you are, nothing's ever simple around here." Stomping out his cigar, Page turned his chair so he was facing away from the man. "What can I expect if this is one of your standard cases?"
"Night terrors, hallucinations, he might get sick a lot. These things will severely limit his job performance, I'm afraid." Giving in to his need to be moving, the doctor stood up and placed his hands on his hips. "I will need constant access to him, so I can observe him for my reports."
"Reports." The idea of one of his people being a lab rat deeply unsettled him. It wasn't the first time for Nick, probably wouldn't be the last, but it felt like a betrayal that it wasn't the man's fault this time. Shaking his head, Page nodded. "I take it he is not to be made aware of this?"
"Judging from his personnel file and his displayed attitude problem, I estimate him knowing would be an inconvenience. However, that decision is up to you." Cocking his head to the side, he grinned, knowing the man couldn't see him.
"He is not to know. We have enough problems without O'Malley ditching his appointments with you." Taking off his prosthetic hand, Page examined it for nicks and scratches. "What exactly are your qualifications, Dr. Horne?"
Frowning at the turn in conversation, Jerome stood up erect. "I'm a medical doctor, with a degrees in biophysics, xenobiology, and psychology. Why?"
"That's impressive for an egghead, now, what about your field experience?" Page spun his chair til he could stare up at Horne. "Ever worked outside a lab or office?"
"Some." A sinking feeling filling the pit of his stomach, Jerome took a step back. He didn't like the look in the other man's eyes one bit. "I can't give you specifics, but I've been an agent for the past year. Before that, I was with NASA, the shuttle program, for twenty years."
"Excellent." A warm, tingly feeling made Page almost purr. "I have a proposition for you, Dr. Horne."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Taking the sunglasses from his pocket, Nick stepped out on the sunlit sidewalk in front of the Chinese Dry Cleaners. It felt weird, almost wrong, to be stepping out there without Kate. Unfortunately, she had a new partner now and he still wasn't cleared for full duty. He knew he should be grateful to be back at the job at all. That didn't mean he couldn't be a little resentful, though.
Coming out behind Nick, Jerome bumped him in the shoulder. "Excuse me, sir."
"That's what I like to hear, respect. Keep that up, Dr. Horne, and we will get along just fine." Right up to the point where Nick shoved the red hot poker up the doctor's ass. He still hadn't figure out what exactly he was going to do to the man, but he had time. "Bring the car around, rookie."
"Get it yourself." Putting on his own sunglasses, Horne frowned at the heat. "How in the hell can it be near freezing one day and then burning hot the next? Was this city built on an Indian Burial Ground?"
"Not this part." Nick snorted at the doctor's head whipping around to stare at him. Smirking, he walked down the sidewalk. He was certain one of these cars was his, he just wasn't sure which.
___________________________________
998 words
Part 2: One Of These Little Piggies 2003 - September
Riding in the car with Nick, Jerome learned very quickly that he didn't like being this man's passenger. To the average person, it would seem Nick had a death wish, but Jerome was a keen observer, trained to recognize certain traits. Nick wasn't suicidal, he knew exactly what he was doing and didn't care. It was an attitude that Jerome had encountered many, many times before, though, never with someone who had never been behind the controls of a jet.
Clutching the arm rest of his door, Jerome refused to grimace despite his growing panic. Whipping down the streets and corners of Chicago was certainly not a shuttle ride in to orbit, but the G-force might as well have been the same. A movement at the window drew his attention. He glanced out the window in time to see a speeding humming bird get left behind. After that, he decided it was no longer safe to watch and closed his eyes.
A short time later he was thrown against the safety belt with a screech of the tires. He waited until his pulse had slowed before opening his eyes. The smirk he found on his temporary partner's face irritated him. "I was an astronaut once."
"Oh, really." Eyes invisible behind his sunglasses, Nick raised an eyebrow to express his interest.
"And a pilot too." Nodding, he released the belt with shaking fingers.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"So, what have we got here?" Taking off his sunglasses, Nick glanced about the pet store. Ordinarily, a job like this would fall to the regular cops, but he had been ordered to come here by Captain Page.
Coming from behind her counter, the owner crossed her arms. "It's about damn time, I've been closed for six hours today. I have regulars who depend upon my schedule because they have very high maintenance pets."
Giving her what he knew to be his best charming smile, Nick slid his glasses in to the neck of his shirt and pulled out a pad and pen. "What exactly is the nature of the crime?"
Unimpressed, she pointed towards the back where the animal cages were. "You're the detective, you find out. Don't touch anything that isn't broken, I've got cameras keeping an eye on you."
"Were they active at the time of the crime?" Stepping in to her field of vision, Jerome gave her a tight lipped smile before letting it fall. "It would help us greatly."
"No. Whoever broke in here knew their way around my system. The locks were still on the door and the alarm was reset." Taking off her apron, she handed it to Jerome. "Since you fellas took your time getting here, you can mind the store. I've got pet food deliveries to make." She picked up a brown sack that started to shake the moment it left the counter. "Settle down!" She thumped it twice before walking out the door.
Jerome watched her go, wearing a frown for what just happened. "You know, I get the distinct impression all of you people are insane."
"Us people?" Instead of waiting for a reply, Nick headed in the direction the owner had pointed to. As he entered the back isles, the nature of the crime became self evident. "Someone's been stealing rats."
Coming around Nick, Jerome read the sign over the busted glass tanks and shook his head. "They were Guinea Pigs and yankees, northerners, midwesterners, you people. All of you are certifiably insane." Kneeling, he started to examine the tank. Something caught his eye and he reached in to the tank to pull it out. "What is this?"
"Purple skin." Taking it from his partner, Nick used his pencil to hold up the strip of dried skin. "What did you say those were, Gerbils?"
"Guinea Pigs." After he scanned the other two busted tanks, Jerome stood up and faced Nick again. There wasn't a single Guinea Pig left in the store. "What eats Guinea Pigs and sheds purple skin? It would have to be something reptilian from the texture."
Handing the skin back to Jerome, Nick pulled out his cell phone. After he hit the autodial, he placed it to his ear. "Very funny, Jonathan. Since you seem to have all this free time on your hands, you can call the New Orleans branch. Tell them they have a Queen Jabara on the way, and she's pregnant." Closing his phone, Nick began to duck through the isles, looking through the contents.
"What are you doing?" Following along, Jerome folded the skin and stuffed it in the pocket of his jacket. "What's a Joe-bar-uh and why would it eat Guinea Pigs?"
"Ja-bar-a, it's Australian, New Guinea, South American, one of those countries where Guinea Pigs roam free." Finding a collection of cages, one with its door torn nearly off the hinges, he smirked. "Ah-ha! I knew it. Our friend the friendly neighborhood shop owner imported the damned thing, illegally, I might add. For it, she lost her entire stock of Guinea Pigs. She probably breeds them and this set her back a fortune. Serves her right."
"It eats the Guinea Pigs for extra energy so it can, what, swim to New Orleans and lay eggs? I'm assuming since it is a reptile and pregnant, it lays eggs." At the look Nick sent him, Jerome shrugged. This was the best he could come up with given the fact his partner wasn't talking to him.
"You're right on a few points. Except, the Jabara doesn't swallow Guinea Pigs." Now, Nick was smiling. It was a good day. "Think more Richard Gere."
"Richard Gere? What, it seduces them?" He started to follow Nick out, but stopped when he shook his head. "If it doesn't swallow them, then where do they go..." Shaking again, he tried to deny it. "Oh, no. Please tell me you're not serious."
Snickering, Nick slipped on his sunglasses and walked out.
Following behind, Jerome decided that lunch was no longer part of today's schedule.
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1335 - Word Count
Part 3: Greatest Show On Earth 2003 - September
"I thought this was supposed to be the plot to a very bad movie!" Ducking behind a movie counter, Nick covered his head as the popcorn machine above him exploded. Beside him, his partner knelt, ready to fire over the counter. "You want to tell me just how in the hell we got here again?
"You insulted their leader's makeup!" Raising up enough so he could reach above the cash register, Jerome squeezed the trigger on his gun in the general vicinity of the Killer Clowns. That thought had him smacking Nick in the side of his head as he crouched down. "What the hell were you thinking? You knew they were armed!"
"Yeah, but they're clowns! Clowns are supposed to be cheerful." Standing up, Nick spun and took quick aim. He shot three of the fifteen clowns before being jerked down by Jerome. "What the hell is their problem?"
"I'm going to go out on a limb here and say 'you are'." Crawling along the snack bar, Jerome watched the reflection of the clowns on the bronze background above him. Taking off his shoe, he tossed it at the opposite end of the counter before standing up. He had been hoping to distract him, but found himself, instead, the center of twelve guns. "Shit!"
Two more clowns went down, one's red nose flying in the opposite direction it had fallen.
"Smooth move!" Tackling his partner, Nick swore he felt something zip through the tail of his jacket. They crashed to the floor, rolling until on their sides facing each other.
Sitting up, Jerome put his back to the counter. Popping out the clip on his gun, he pulled a spare from his back pocket. After slamming it home, he cocked the gun. "You should really talk to someone about your issues, O'Malley. I've been reading your record, and you seem to get in to a lot of gun fights."
"Isn't that why you are here?" His own gun empty, Nick dropped it and reached to the holster on his hip. He pulled the large revolver, checking the cylinder before slamming it shut.
"Wrong kind of doctor." Jerome did a double take when he caught sight of Nick's gun. "Over compensating?"
"You wish. Wait until we're cleared for field work, then you'll get an appreciation for real weapons." Customary smirk in place, Nick popped up over the counter, gun already firing.
Four more clowns went down.
"Six left!" Emptying the .44, Nick lovingly placed each bullet in the chambers.
"Admit it, you're getting off on this." Taking in his partner's actions, Jerome began to question if giving his approval for Nick to return to full duty was a mistake. Clearly, the man had a few mental quirks that made him a danger to the general public. "Tell me, are you like this all the time or is this something new?"
Glancing up from caressing his gun, Nick frowned. "What are you yacking about?"
"Never mind." In the next moment, he was rolling, pushing Nick with him as the counter around them erupted in bullets. Apparently the clowns had found their hiding place.
"What do you think drives people like them to commit crimes?" Raising his hand above the counter, Nick fired randomly in their general direction. Throwing open the cylinder, he emptied the spent casings. "Personally, I think it's the makeup. No one can wear that crap and not feel aggressive, it's just basic human instincts. Look at women, they wear it every day. If they get bitchy, we dismiss it as something else, but I think it's the makeup."
"Do you even listen to yourself?" Standing up, Jerome raised his gun to start firing at the clowns. What he ended up doing was standing there dumb struck. They were gone and he was holding a gun on a gaggle of school children and their guardians coming out of Theater Six. Their screams had him dropping back down and hitting the candy counter.
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"Someone want to explain to me how you two ended up going in for a routine gnome pervert inspection and ending up reenacting the final scenes of Tombstone?" Captain Page was almost over his desk in rage. Glaring at the one cringing man and the bored expression of the other made him mad enough to spit. "What the hell were you doing in their, O'Malley?"
"Me? Sir, they're the ones that started it. I was only defending myself, ask Horne here, he'll back me up." Turning pleasantly to Jerome, Nick's bored expression wilted under the outraged look. "Jerome?"
"It's all Nick's fault, Captain."
Narrowing his eyes, Page turned to Jerome. "Get out."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Wow, congratulations." Walking around Nick's desk, Kate trailed her fingers over it. She watched Jerome as he twirled in Nick's chair to face her. "I'm impressed. My first case with Nick ended with only a reprimand."
"This is our second one." Filling out the report using Nick's computer, Jerome quickly finished what he could remember while the details were still fresh. Several times he deleted entire sentences because a word came out wrong and ruined the flow of it. "Nine dead clowns, a theater talking civil action, a group of school children traumatized. I think I am too."
"Second case, let's see." Leaning back against the desk, Kate crossed her arms. It wasn't unfamiliar, but she hadn't done the maneuver in a long time. She felt comfortable doing it though. "I think, yep, that was the werewolf one."
"Werewolf, werewolf." Tapping his chin, Jerome racked his brain. "Got it, Nick infiltrated a pack after you two captured one. He's always doing stupid shit, isn't he?"
"Afraid so." Her tone was wistful despite her words.
"Damn, and I was hoping it was only temporary stress induced." Fighting to keep a smile off his face, Jerome ducked his head. He knew he should have felt uncomfortable for taking her place as Nick's partner, but all he could dredge up was a dread. "If I could, I would give him back to you."
"Thinks happen, we just have to move on." Patting his shoulder, she gave him a patronizing look. "He's your loose cannon now."
"That's okay, I didn't want to live to the ripe old age of fourty-three anyways. Fourty-two years on this green Earth was enough, I hope." Snorting, he went back to filling out the report. A few more lines and he was finished. He hit the spellcheck before sending it to print. "There were a few questions I had meant to ask you, but the answers are glaringly obvious now."
"Well, if you do think of something, you know how to reach me." She gave him another shoulder pat before walking to her own desk.
"Hey, Kate!" Passing his former partner, Nick smiled for her before heading to his own desk.
"Hey, Nick." Her smile forced, she grabbed the bag off her desk and walked out.
"Hello, Jerome, sweety!" Slapping his hand on the scruff of Jerome's neck, Nick squeezed tightly. "I am just so glad to have such a loyal partner."
"Ears still ringing?" Standing up from Nick's chair, Jerome took the spot Kate had been sitting on while Nick took the chair. Instead of folding his arms, he let his hands rest on the edge of Nick's desk. "Apparently we set a new record today."
"Really? I always try my best." Twisting his chair from side to side, Nick leaned back to smirk up at his partner. This was going to be one of those days he should just forget about everything and go to bed early. On top of that, his partner wasn't helping with the way he seemed to delight in psychoanalyzing everything he said. The man was a different entity than he was used to dealing with.
"You'll just have to get used to me." Tapping Nick on the shoulder once, Jerome wandered off in search of something else to occupy his time.
"Right." It took him several seconds to realize he hadn't said anything to Jerome about his thoughts.
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