Butterfly
AUTHOR: Lucky.
DISCLAIMER: Except for the creations of the author, all characters, characterizations, situations, and locations described in this unsolicited and not-for-profit work of fiction are the property of ABC Television, Capitol Cities, Inc., Steven Bochco Productions, the many talented people who created the world of NYPD Blue, and the actors who have made that world such a lively place. The author would also like to extend her personal gratitude to Mr. Scott Cohen for his light, his vitality, his inspiration, and for being such a compelling muse. Thank you, sir.
FEEDBACK: To Lucky
"Danny, you did it again."
"Sorry." Sorenson blushed, dropping his head sheepishly as he pulled his coat on. "Not Miss Jackson. Posey."
Posey grinned. "As in 'pocket full of'."
Danny grinned at her. "As in eats at her desk all day."
She pulled her head up from her cup of yogurt. "What? What are you talking about? I need my energy."
Danny flipped at his coat collar and leveled a finger at her. "The only time I didn't see you with something edible in your hand was when we dug that hooker out of the dumpster behind Shone's."
She kicked her feet down from her desk and started messing with her laptop as she spoke to him. "That reminds me... We're going back to Shone's tomorrow morning, right?"
"Yeah," Danny snorted. "Mr. Assistant Manager demanded that we make an appointment. Unreal."
Posey looked at him. "Dude, it's all he's got. Let him pull whatever rank he wants. Piss these kinds of guys off and next thing you know you're pulling them out of a belltower and dodging shotgun shells."
"You know you're right, but if he gets pissy tomorrow..."
"At least give him the chance to be an asshole before you start tossing him over his own fryvats, okay?"
Danny laughed out loud and waved a hand in Posey's direction. "'Night, Miss Jacks... Posey."
"See you tomorrow, Sorenson," she called as he walked out. She heard his hand hit the moulding and looked up to see him pop his head back into the office.
"Danny."
Posey smiled. "Danny."
He gave her another grin, nodding a little, just looking at her. Then he slapped the moulding again and left.
Posey chuckled, turning her attention back to her laptop and yogurt, muttering a little to herself. "Cute little guy..."
"At least I'm familiar with the competition."
Her head snapped up at the familiar voice. "How long have you been here?"
"Thirty six years," he replied, "give or take a few months. How long have you been here?"
She eyed Harry. "Long enough to recognize jealousy when I see it."
Harry chuckled a little. "Yes, well, Detective Cutie and I have crossed swords before over a fair maiden. I'd just like to even up on him this time around."
"And I so enjoy being referred to as a 'time around'."
Harry shrugged a little, his hands stuck in his pockets. "Technically, I referred to you as a fair maiden, but that's as you like it."
Posey folded her arms and leaned back in her chair. "Were you gonna take me out to dinner or did you just wanna be smacked around some?"
He gave her a pretty smile. "As you like it." He put a gloved hand out to her.
She stood, picking her coat up from the back of her chair and flipping her laptop shut. As she went to his side and slid her hand into his, she bit back a little shiver at the feel of warm leather over her fingers. He pulled her as close to his side as he dared, crossing his brow over his smile for a moment.
"What is that?"
"What is what?"
He leaned towards her, closing his eyes and taking a breath through his nose.
"Oh," she said, realizing what he meant. "It's either white-out, lavender, blueberry yogurt, or dead hooker."
He lifted his eyebrows. "Had an interesting first day?"
She smiled up at him. "We're getting there. Let's go. I'm starving."
"No. Absolutely not."
"Harry, people are staring at me like I'm beating my kid in a supermarket."
"I don't care. I just recently got used to upright. I don't think I'm ready for upright and slippery."
She gave up, dropping the arm she'd been pulling on. "Fine. You stand there and blow out your ankles. I'm gonna skate." Posey swished across the rink and leaned against the far rail, glaring at him through the circling crowd. He folded his arms and shook his head, pouting a little.
You don't get it, she thought at him, watching him be stubborn and self-conscious. It's not about whether or not you can skate. It's not about you at all. It's about me not being able to take another self-centered jackass who would rather walk away than wait.
She watched for a few more seconds, then, finally, he tossed his head back in frustration and dropped his arms out of their fold, motioning for her to come back to him with both hands.
Good deal, she thought with a smile, heading back across the rink. Now for the classic chick move...
As she came to the edge of the rink, she pulled a toepick, tossing herself forward. The fall wouldn't have been anything she hadn't done a million times before, but this time, it was about him.
She took the fall and landed directly against his shoulder.
"Careful, honey. I've got you..."
Yes, you do. She covered her triumph in a fit of girly stammering. "Yes... yes, I think I'm okay. Thank you."
"To protect and serve," he murmured, lowering his eyes.
You're so blushing! He let her grin at him for a moment, then set her firmly on her own center, withdrawing his arms and clearing his throat a little. "So... how am I doing?"
She cocked her head at him. "Come again?"
"My score. Am I passing your little tests?"
You son of a bitch. "What are you talking about?"
"I've been around this block before. Seeing if I would call you back to my side. Seeing if I would catch you when you fell. Seeing if I would blush when you batted your eyes at me. I've done the mating dance a few times, sweetheart."
"Do you always trip at the end?"
Harry sighed, tossing himself down on a nearby bench. "Let me know when you're ready to cut the crap."
Posey folded her arms and blew out a little sigh. "Hoo-kay. I think I see where this is going." She put herself on the bench next to him and started unlacing her skates. "I'm sorry for misleading you. I'm not that kind of woman."
He chuckled a little. "The plan falls through and now I'm the asshole. Okay."
Posey slung herself back on the bench and glared at him. "What plan would that be, and yes, you are an asshole."
Harry put an arm over the back of the bench, returning her glare. "What was I ninety seconds ago when you thought you were in charge, Detective?"
"An asshole," she returned.
"Oh, really. You're sorry for leading me on. You haven't kissed me, you've barely touched me all night, and I'm the one with the ideas? Based on exactly what? Your stunning company? The chance to spend money on you?" He faced front with a bitter chuckle. "You certainly have a high opinion of yourself."
Posey made a little clucking sound and slid off her skates, dropping them with a thump. "Apparently not if I'm on a date with you." She pulled on her boots.
"Yeah, I thought this was supposed to be a date, too."
She sighed, standing up. "Not anymore. Have a good night, Detective."
He twisted, watching her turn in her skates and leave the park, then he stood, stretching his body out a little. He stepped out onto the ice, gliding effortlessly into the crowd, listening to the slice of his skates as he switched from forwards to backwards, folding his hands in the small of his back and thinking quietly to himself.
Continued in Part 3.
