The Adult Denby Fanfic Site

Simplicity

AUTHOR: Amanda J Frechin.
DISCLAIMER: The usual. I don't own the characters from NYPD Blue, but I own Amanda (sound familiar?) Dez, and Kelli.
FEEDBACK: To Amanda J Frechin

Harry was sitting on the hospital bed, cradling his wounded arm. Diane noticed that with the light and the way he was sitting, he looked like an innocent little boy. But she knew that the lights were deceiving, because Harry Denby was too much of a jerk to be innocent. She doubted he'd ever had a moment of purity in his whole life. Diane's subconscious scolded her for thinking that, Harry was possibly at one time a decent human being. And why was he being so nice to her? Maybe he was doing a lifestyle make over. She hoped it would work.

"So Diane, what do you say we go out to dinner so you can apologize for this?"

Diane looked at him in disbelief. He couldn't be serious? If he was, then her thoughts about him doing a lifestyle make over were dead wrong. He was the same. Dried out, but still the same smart ass prick that she met that day, it seemed so long ago now, when Diane was first getting involved with Don's crap.

"Harry, no. You were just shot. You need to go home and rest, and believe me, I am in no frame of mind right now, or any other time for that matter, to deal with your sick games."

Harry looked at her with sunken eyes and Diane felt a pang of guilt hit her hard in the stomach. Okay, he might have been a little out of line asking her, but that in no way permitted the things she said back. What the hell, he doesn't care, Diane's mind argued with her. But she couldn't shake those damn eyes out of her heart. They kept tugging at her like a leash.

"All right, I'm resolved to ask another time." Just as quickly as that saddened look had been there it was gone, replaced by the old Harry. Diane wasn't sure if he had ever really been stung by her rebuttal in the first place.

"Let me drive you home."

"That won't be necessary, I'll be fine."

"Bullshit. You're so out of it you wouldn't notice if I was dancing around naked."

His eyes bored into hers.

"Oh yes, Diane, I most certainly would."

Diane cast her eyes to the checkered black and white linoleum floor. Great, make a comment that Harry can turn into a sexual come on. That's what he does best.

"Anyway, get up. We're going home. I have to stop by the precinct before though."

"Great. I need to pick up a few things anyway."

They left, and the nurse checked Harry out. They were silent on the way to the car, Harry looking all around him, and Diane trying her best not to look anywhere Harry did. When they climbed in, Diane could faintly smell his after shave. It was spicy and had a hint of orange in it. She pulled out of the parking lot quite slowly.

"Diane," Harry's voice was deep and it jerked her to attention. "Can we come to an agreement?"

"No more agreements please. I'm sick of post traumatic stress."

"A truce then."

She was silent.

"I'll take that as a yes."

"Okay."

"I don't want to have to be on edge every time we work together-"

"Whoa, hold on a minute. You being on edge? You think it's fun and games to work with you?"

"No," he admitted, "but you have to understand something."

Diane blew air out of her mouth as a car cut in front of them.

"I'm..."

"You're what Harry? You're sorry? Well, sorry does a hell of a lot of good for me."

"No, Diane, I'm not sorry. I'm never sorry for anything."

"Then what?"

"I'm human."

Diane didn't say anything for the rest of the ride to the precinct. When they got there, Diane was out of the car in record timing. By the time Harry was in the locker room, Diane had everything ready to go. Harry quickly grabbed up his stuff, glaring at Sorenson as he spoke with Diane, and made his way over to where John was.

"What happened to you?"

"Got shot."

"I can see that. I mean, what did Diane say?"

"What didn't she say."

John sighed.

"Well, if she rejects me again, I'll have to try something else."

"Like what?"

Harry's face turned into a wicked smile.

"I'm gonna have to give you a call or something."

Continued in Part 4.