DMVS Archive | Season Two

Image1.jpg (10231 bytes)

The Rivalry

Episode 16 written by Caitlind
Original air date:

Disclaimer: The characters in the following fan fiction do not belong to me. They belong to CBS and Viacom and other powers that be. I am only using them for the purpose ofwriting this story. No money is being made from this writing it is for entertainment purposes only. And now on with the show...

At Community General Hospital, Steve, Mark, Jesse and Amanda are in the hallway talking. Steve has been briefing them on one of his latest cases.

"The only thing we have on the creep is that he goes by the initials D.H. and he hangs out at the Milwaukee Bar." Steve said solemnly.

"Well from the looks of the woman we've got laying in the morgue, he's definitely bad news." Amanda chimed in.

"Be careful, son," Mark added, his voice full of concern. "This man has been responsible for three murders so far that we know of. I don't want you becoming the fourth."

"I'll be careful, Dad." Steve promised. "But I'm going to get this guy."

"Why is this guy that important to you?" Jesse asked.

"He picks up young runaways and turns them into prostitutes. If they don't do what he wants, he makes an example out of them."

"He sounds like a real winner," Amanda responded.

"I'll get him," Steve promised. "I just wish they weren't bringing Todd Bullock in on the case."

"Todd Bullock?" Mark exclaimed. "Isn't he the guy you went through the academy with?"

"Yeah," Steve answered ruefully. "He works out of the Crenshaw Division. A couple of D.H.'s victims have shown up down there and he was the detective on the case."

At that moment Steve's phone rang and he stepped off to the side to take the call.

"The Crenshaw Division." Jesse chimed in. "Isn't that where they've been having all those problems with dirty cops?"

"Yeah," Mark answered. "But I don't think Steve's problem with Bullock has anything to do with the way Bullock does his job. I think Steve's problem is that they're so much alike. They had a major rivalry going at the academy, only it wasn't a friendly one. Half the reason Steve got such high marks is because he would do anything not to let Bullock beat him. They kept trading the one and two positions all the way through the academy."

"So who came out on top," Jesse asked, and evil twinkle in his eye.

"Bullock did, by one point," Mark answered. "But I wouldn't bring it up if I wanted to keep seeing out of both my eyes."

At that moment Steve steps back to the group, his phone call finished. "I've got to go deal with some paperwork. I'll see you at home tonight, Dad." Everyone chimes in their good-byes to each other as Steve heads for the elevator.

The next morning, Steve's alarm goes off. With a groan he climbs out of bed and heads into the bathroom, wearing nothing but pajama bottoms. A moment later he comes back into the room and catches sight of himself in the full-length mirror hanging on the wall. He immediately stands up straight and sucks in his stomach, causing his abs to tighten into a taunt six-pack. He surveys the results for several minutes, not completely pleased with what he sees. With a sigh, he drops down to the floor and starts doing push ups. "One...two...three..."

After 25 he flips over for 100 sit ups. After struggling out the last few, he collapses back on the floor, panting and cursing his age. "God I hate getting old."

"It happens to the best of us," Mark answers from the doorway. Steve looks up, surprised and a little embarrassed. He slowly works himself back up to a sitting position. Mark crosses the room and hands Steve one of the two cups of coffee he had been holding.

"I hate to tell you this, son, but I think it's too late to change your physique before 8:00 A.M."

Steve just gives him a smile in response.

A couple hours later the sun comes up on the precinct just as Detective Bullock (40s, but still the super-macho, Robert Conrad type), steps from his car. At that moment Steve, dressed in running attire, comes jogging into the yard. As he warms down, he begins verbally sparring with Bullock and bragging about his parking at a lot and running several miles in to work every morning.

"So do you think you can make it three or four more yards into the precinct so you can change for work?" Bullock asks condescendingly.

In response Steve picks up his feet and heads for the door. He jogs into the locker room and keeps up the running step until the door closes safely behind him. He then collapses onto the nearest bench.

"So what are you running from." One of the other officers asks jokingly.

"Old age," Steve replies.

Suddenly Steve jumps to his feet as the door swings open and Bullock looks in. Their obvious ignoring of each other is interrupted by another officer asking when Steve decided to begin jogging to work. Steve gives the officer an icy stare as Bullock smirks, letting the door swing closed behind him.

When Steve steps into the squad room, Bullock is sitting in his chair with his feet propped up on Steve's desk. Steve's notes and paperwork are strewn on the desk, with some in Bullock's hands. Bullock is attempting to charm Tannis, while she is doing her best to ignore him.

"What are you doing?" Steve asks.

"Just rearranging your files so they make sense." Bullock responds. Steve bites his tongue and picks up a folder he doesn't recognize, sitting on the edge of his desk. It turns out to be Bullock's notes on the suspect.

Nearly an hour later, neither has said a word, just pouring over the information the other has obtained. Suddenly Steve's phone rings. He grabs it, then a moment later throws it back into the cradle.

"Someone just spotted one of D.H.'s men coming out of a liquor store on Reseda." He announces to Tannis. Steve grabs his jacket and they head for the door, followed quickly by Bullock. As they race out of the parking lot, Steve and Tannis take the lead in their car, with Bullock in his car behind them.

As they are nearing the scene, the radio broadcasts an update on the location of the suspect and a description of the vehicle. Steve changes direction and, within a few blocks, intercepts the suspect and forces him off the road into one of the many bush strewn parks fronting the L.A. freeways. Within moments the car becomes tangled in the growth and is forced to a stop. The suspect is unhurt and he climbs from the car and begins running across the park. Steve jumps out to race after him and Bullock does the same, but it is more a foot race against each other than a chase for the suspect. Both officers gain ground on the man, but Bullock is the one who makes a flying tackle and brings him down.

After cuffing the guy and reading him his rights, Bullock stuffs the guy into the back of his squad car.

"That's one for me." Bullock announces. "Hey Tannis, I need a second officer in the vehicle. Looks like you'll get to ride with me."

Tannis glares at Steve and mutters under her breath. "Oh joy. Aren't I lucky."

Back at the station, they have finished processing the suspect. The two men are again going over their files and discussing how they are going to catch D.H. especially since all they have are the initials D.H. and no positive I.D. Neither of the two men has seen the man in an illegal situation they can testify about in court.

"I wish that creep hadn't lawyered up so fast. He gave us nothing," Steve muttered.

"I think D.H. has his men pretty well trained," Tannis confirmed. "So are you two going to visit the Milwaukee Bar tonight?"

"Yeah. Although I wish I was going with you instead of him," Steve whispered to Tannis.

Bullock caught the whispering and closeness of their heads. "Doesn't your department have rules against two officers in love working with each other?"

Steve and Tannis immediately pull apart a bit. "Don't go spreading rumors that aren't true," Steve counters angrily. "We're just good friends."

"And damn good partners," Tannis adds. "If my mother wasn't having surgery tonight I'd be there with you."

"Don't worry about it," Steve responds, trying to relieve her obviously mixed feelings.

Later that afternoon Tannis is straightening up her desk, preparing to leave. Just then Steve steps out of the locker room dressed in a chartreuse silk shirt, open to the navel. His bottom half has been poured into button fly 501s tight enough to leave nothing to the imagination, and make breathing a painful necessity. Cowboy boots adorn his feet. Tannis sits back and stares, an admiring grin spreading across her face.

At that moment another detective walks up, holding a wire. Steve glances down anxiously. "And just where do you think you're going to fit that?"

With that comment Tannis looses it and begin laughing. Several other officers join in.

"Well, now we all know whether he prefers boxers or briefs," someone comments from the background.

Tannis gets an evil grin on her face. "Trust me, Steve. For pants that tight you need a thong."

"I've got an extra if you need to borrow it," a female officer announces. She reaches into her purse and holds up a shred of elastic, connected by a couple strings of floss. The other officers roar with laughter.

"I'm not even going to ask why you would carry an extra one of those in your purse," Steve counters.

A few minutes later the detective has Steve fitted with a wire, tucked into one of the dents in his abs and taped smoothly down with flesh colored tape. "Let's just hope the lighting in this place is pretty poor," she comments.

Tannis can't resist getting in one more jab. "You better hope the perp takes one look at you and falls down laughing, cause running in those things looks like it could be extremely painful." She was barely able to get the words out between the gasps of laughter.

Steve allows himself a rueful smile. A moment latter Bullock steps out of the locker room dressed in similar attire, and the ribbing starts again.

As they leave the precinct moments later, both men attempt to hurry toward the unmarked police car so they can claim the driver's seat. However, hurrying turns out to be more painful than either man initially imagined. Both are hurrying as fast as they can while taking steps as small as possible.

Bullock wins the race to the car, sliding gingerly behind the wheel. As Steve gets in, Bullock licks his finger and draws a mark in the air, scoring himself a point.

Steve refuses to comment and the trip to the Milwaukee Bar is accomplished in complete silence. They pull into the parking lot and Bullock shuts off the engine. Before getting out he looks at Steve. "We've got to be sure to mix if we want to get any information."

"I know," Steve says, obviously not happy with that situation. Both men head toward the bar entrance, the cowboy boots and tight pants forcing their walk into more of a strut.

In the bar men and women are conversing and mixing. The lighting is muted, seemingly romantic. In the corner is a dance floor, shrouded in darkness. Couples cling tightly to each other as they move to the rhythm of the music...couples of two men or two women.

Suddenly Steve and Bullock step into the room, their hands stuck suggestively in each other's back pockets. They strut their way toward two empty bar stools and try to act casual as they are nearly cut in half by the process of sitting.

As Steve slides his legs under the bar, he removes his hand from Bullock's pocket and immediately, but discreetly, wipes it off on his thigh. Almost immediately an overly effeminate guy steps up and drapes one arm over Bullock's shoulder. His other hand draws ever lowering circles on Bullock's back, proceeding below the belt line, while he murmurs that he "like's his package."

Steve looks at the other officer and smugly confirms, "We're here to mix."

"Oh goody," the guy answers, pulling Bullock from the bar stool. "Let's dance."

A moment later Steve is in the same position as a friendly guy steps up and invites him to the dance floor. After an awkward moment of trying to figure out who leads, Steve wins and they begin moving to the music.

"I'm Rick," Steve's new friend introduces himself.

"Steve," the cop responds briefly.

"I haven't seen you here before," Rick says.

"It's my first time. Is this a decent place?" Steve asks, trying to start up a conversation.

"It's pretty good, but a little heavy on the darkness and drama if you know what I mean." Rick answers.

"I can see that," Steve responds. "I'm not sure it's quite to my tastes.

"The Cruiser was a lot better before it burned down," Rick responds. "So what made you decide to try this place."

Steve decides to see if he can find out anything about his suspect. "A friend of mine said that his friend hung out here a lot. Some guy named D.H. Do you know him?"

Rick stopped dancing and stared at Steve. "If you're friends with a friend of D.H.'s then I think I'd best break off. I'm not really comfortable with that guy," Rick said, turning back toward the tables.

"Wait," Steve responds, grabbing his arm and pulling him back. "Can you tell me why? I've never met the guy and I'd like to know if I'm asking for trouble."

Rick leaned in to whisper in Steve's ear. "He's the guy surrounded by a posse in the corner booth. He never goes anywhere without his henchmen, and he rules over them like some lord. They even fetch his drinks and snacks."

"That's it?" Steve asks, a little disappointed.

Rick looks at Steve, trying to decide if he can trust him. "Well, there is a bit more."

Rick decides that it's best not to arouse suspicion, so he drapes his arms around Steve's neck and begins swaying to the music. He leans in and places his mouth near Steve's ear.

"I overheard him give one of his guys the order to beat some woman to death. At least that's what it sounded like. I'd eaten something that disagreed with me and was donating it to the trash out back. He came out with one of his guys and gave the order as they were heading to their car."

"Did you call the police?" Steve asked.

"Are you kidding?" Rick looked surprised. "Man, all I did was make myself as small as possible, then get out of there as soon as they went back inside. I'd been here several times and hadn't seen him before that night, or at least I hadn't noticed him. After that he didn't show up for a while and I convinced myself he didn't hang out here. When I saw him tonight, I was just about to take off when I spotted you. So are you an undercover cop?"

Steve tried not to look surprised. "Why would you ask that?"

"Because no self-respecting gay guy wears pants that tight. Tight, yes, but not hemorrhagic. You need to send your wardrobe guy out for some lessons."

Steve smiles slightly, not wanting to confirm that he is a cop. At that moment the music ends and Rick heads off the dance floor.

Steve starts to follow, then suddenly stops. Swinging his head around, he stares open mouthed at one of the other dancers. "Dad!" he exclaims, before remembering that he's supposed to be undercover. Realizing his mistake, Steve cuts in on the other dancer, pulling his dad to the side of the room.

"What are you doing here?" he demands.

"Well, I heard this was where D.H. hung out, and I thought I'd try to see if I could pick up anything," Mark responded.

"You are not a cop." Steve whispered fiercely under his breath. This is a dangerous situation and you shouldn't be here."

"It can be any more dangerous than those pants you're wearing," Mark teased.

"Dad, I'm serious."

"So am I. Those things look tight enough to cause serious damage, and I do eventually want grandchildren, you know."

"I know. You've mentioned that before. Now would you please just get out of here!"

"All right." Mark responded. "Just watch yourself. This may look like a friendly place, but there's an undercurrent of criminality here."

"I'll watch my backside," Steve promised.

"In those pants so will everyone else," Mark muttered under his breath as he headed for the door.

At that moment Bullock rejoined Steve. "Who's the old guy?" Bullock asked.

"Just someone I know," Steve responded. "Did you get anything?"

"Yeah, a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. That guy was limper than an overcooked noodle. What about you?"

"D.H. is the guy sitting over in the corner booth. The one surrounded by a group of henchmen."

"I guess we should start up a conversation," Bullock suggested, immediately heading toward the man.

"I got a better idea," Steve responded. "Now that we know what he looks like, why don't we go sit in the car and wait for him to leave."

"I'm not sure sitting is a better idea," Bullock responded.

"It is when we've been made as cops," Steve warned. "Besides, I'd like to know where that guy parks himself at night."

Bullock nodded ruefully. "Sitting it is." They both smile at each other a bit, then head for the car.

As soon as they are outside the door, the rivalry starts again, with both of them heading toward the car to claim the driver's seat. This time Steve wins.

They wait through the night, both officers refusing to fall asleep, but also refusing to converse with each other. At 2:00 am the bar closes. As the last customer is let out, the doors are locked. Moments later the lights go out.

"Dammit, he must have slipped out the back," Steve said. "Why didn't I think of that. I know he exited that way once before."

"And you just forgot to mention this?" Bullock questions. "How long have you been a detective?"

Steve ignores the comment and starts the engine.

The next morning at the station, Steve, Bullock and Tannis are going over the case.

"This guy seems to pick up women at the bus station and other places that runaways end up." Steve summarized. "But no one ever seems to get him. He always sends one of his men to do the dirty work."

"Then just pays them a "finder's fee" for every girl they bring in." Bullock added.

"He doesn't seem to be picky about the type of girl he picks up," Tannis chimed in. "Perhaps I should hang around one of the places and see if they'll approach me."

"You mean go undercover," Steve asked. "I'm not sure I'm comfortable with that. He's killed several women already."

"Yeah, and it's our job to get him before he does it again," Tannis insisted. "Unless you've got some other idea?"

Steve shook his head, then threw his pencil on the desk. "Let's go talk to the captain."

Later, Steve pulls the car up to the edge of the street. Bullock is in the front seat, with Tannis in the back.

"Be careful," Steve admonishes Tannis as she climbs out. She heads down the street toward the station as Steve and Bullock follow in the car and park nearby.

A bus pulls up and discharges a number of passengers. Tannis steps in with them and enters the station, trying to look younger, lost and alone.

Once inside she takes a seat and waits patiently. Within moments she is approached by a man. She doesn't recognize him and spurns his advances. Suddenly one of D.H.'s men approaches her. Tannis immediately recognizes him from his mug shot.

At first she ignores him, but when he starts to turn away, she begins crying. She announces that she is from the midwest and came to L.A. looking to get into the movies. Unfortunately it hasn't worked out and she is now broke and alone, trying to figure out where her next meal is coming from.

"Why don't you come with me. I know this little hole in the wall place that serves a great breakfast. My treat," the guy offers.

Tannis acts reluctant at first, then finally agress.

The other officers watch as Tannis exits the station with the man. She scratches her head, the signal they had agreed on that she was going with the man. Steve fiddles with the radio a bit and quickly picks up the wire she's wearing.

"I really appreciate the offer of a meal," Tannis tells the man. "I'm really hungry."

"No problem," the guy announces. "I've been in your shoes."

They climb into a car together and it pulls out. Steve pulls out into traffic and follows, several blocks behind.

Suddenly Steve hears the sound of the car doors locking. "What are you doing?" Tannis' voice comes over the wire.

"Shut up," Steve hears next.

"It sounds like she's in trouble," Steve says and steps on the accelerator. At that moment the car they are following turns the corner. Suddenly the light turns red and the car in front of them screeches to a halt. Steve is forced to slam on the brakes. He slams his fist against the steering wheel in frustration. As they are waiting for the light to change, he hears Tannis' frightened voice coming over the radio. "Why are you stopping here. What are you doing, that's my pack."

"I said shut up," the man orders.

In the car the man grabs her backpack and dumps it onto the seat. She tries to get out, but the door refuses to unlock. He sifts through the clothing. Not finding what he's looking for, he begins running his hands over Tannis' body, looking for a wire. Tannis tries to struggle and get away. She finally gets the door open a crack, until he pulls a gun and shoves it into her face.

"Don't move," he orders. Tannis follows directions, closing the door. A moment later the man is satisfied and he shoves the car into gear and takes off, just below the legal speed limit.

Finally the light changes and Steve swerves around the car and races ahead. When he turns the corner, there is no one in sight. They cruise around a bit, but are unable to pick up the car, or hear anything on the wire Tannis had been wearing. They are doubling back when suddenly Bullock yells at Steve to stop. He does and Bullock jumps out. There on the curb is Tannis' wire. They wire for back up and continue cruising the area.

Hours later Steve and Bullock are sitting in the squad room. "We combed that whole area and came up with nothing," Bullock announces.

"We need something else!" Steve says. The frustration is clear on his face as he looks back over their notes.

Suddenly Steve stops and just looks at Bullock.

"What are you looking at?" the other officer counters.

"Just trying to figure out why we hate each other so much," Steve answered. "My dad thinks it's because we're alike."

"Probably," Bullock responded. "But does that matter right now?"

"No," Steve admitted. "I'm just hoping we can decide to put everything behind us so I can get my partner back in one piece."

"She more than a partner to you?" Bullock asked, seeming to want a real answer.

"Yeah," Steve responded. "She's a friend. And right now she's missing."

Bullock nodded and Steve reached across the desk, extending his hand in an offer of friendship. Bullock accepts his hand and they shake.

"We'll find her."

At that moment the phone rings. Steve grabs it and listens. A moment later he slams the receiver down.

"They just spotted D.H. at a restaurant over on DeSoto," Steve announces, heading for the door. Bullock grabs his jacket and follows him out the door.

Just as they pull up to the restaurant, D.H. appears and heads toward his car, a couple of his henchmen in tow.

As he gets into his car, Steve radios for backup and announces their situation and location. Within moments they are joined by several other officers in unmarked cars.

When they arrive at their destination, the officers hold back as D.H. makes his way inside a run down, abandoned tenement. They wait a moment, then sneak from the car and snake toward the building. Steve slides along the side of the place and begins peering in the barred windows, trying to figure out the layout of the place. He is shocked when he peers through a window to find Tannis and two other girls huddled in a room; and is even more shocked when he sees that each of the girls, including Tannis, is covered in bruises.

He taps lightly on the window and Tannis comes over. He motions that they are about to hit the place, and Tannis quickly reacts. She pulls the girls off the bed and shoves them down against the far wall. She then covers them with the mattress and box springs. Before joining them, she takes the cross bar from the bed frame and jams it against the door.

When Steve sees that they are as secure as possible, he heads back to the front and quickly briefs the other officers on the situation.

"We've got to get them out of there quick," Steve announces. "One of them looks like she's been beat up pretty bad, and Tannis has taken a few herself." The other officers react with anger that someone would do this to one of their fellow cops.

"Let's go," Bullock announces. "You two take the back, you guys hit the far side and the rest of us will go through the front door."

The officers quickly take up their positions. Steve whispers quietly into his walkie-talkie, "Three, two, one." As he hits the last number, every officer enters through the nearest opening he can find. Steve kicks in the front door and shoves his gun through, quickly following it.

D.H. and his henchmen are taken by surprise. With numerous guns pointed at them, they give up without a fight. D.H.'s only comment is, "Looks like I'll be calling my lawyer."

Steve cuffs the guy, being a little rougher than necessary. Inside he wants to give this guy the same treatment he gave Tannis and the other women, but he doesn't want to do anything that might damage their case. Once the cuffs are in place, he hauls D.H. to his feet and shoves him toward Bullock.

"He's all yours," Steve announces. "Just don't forget to read him his rights."

"Everything by the book," Bullock promises.

Steve heads down the hall to the room Tannis is being held in and taps on the door. "Tannis?" When she doesn't answer, Steve raises his voice. "Tannis, are you all right?"

"Is the scene secured?" she asks from the other side of the door?

"All secure. We got him," Steve promises.

Tannis pulls away the bar as Steve unlocks the door from his side. Slowly Tannis opens it and peeks out. Steve gently shoves the door open and looks at his partner. She tries to smile through her cut lip.

"Are you all right?" Steve asks.

"I'll be fine," Tannis announces, turning into the efficient police officer. It's clear she isn't yet ready to talk about what happened to her. With that she turns back into the room to help the other girls. Steve watches her a moment, then quietly raises his radio to his mouth and calls for an ambulance.

Mark steps out of the hospital examining room to find his son waiting anxiously.

"How is she, Dad?"

"She's been beat up pretty bad, but she'll pull through. So will the other girls. I've convinced Tannis to take a week off to recuperate, but you should have your partner back in no time."

"You convinced her to take a week off?" Steve is surprised.

"Well, ordered is more like it," Mark admitted. "If she shows up at work before next week, let me know, OK?"

"I will," Steve promised.

Mark turned and headed down the hall to tend to his other patients as Steve turned toward the exit. At the last moment Mark turns around. "Oh, and Steve."

"Yeah, Dad?" Steve responded, turning to face his father.

"Nice pants." Mark remarked with a smile. "Much better than those other ones." With a chuckle he turns and heads down the hall.

The end.