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Pacey trudged into the precinct, turned a few corners, navigated through the sea of desks and people and finally stopped short at the wooden door. He rapped on the door twice before entering to see the Captain, Joey and Drue waiting for him. �What�s going on Cap? I have to be at the club in about twenty minutes.� Pacey asked as he took his seat next to Joey. Captain Hutchinson looked at his three detectives, his face grim. �The Parker and Riner case is now officially unsolved.� �Captain!� Pacey protested. Joey and Drue did not say a word. Pacey turned to them asking them to help him out but when he saw the look on Joey�s face, Pacey knew their pleas would be useless against the Captain. �You�re to hand in your notice tonight.� Captain Hutchinson informed Pacey. �You�re not going to change your mind on this?� �Unless you can find a concrete lead in around 48 hours then no, the Riner and Parker case remains officially unsolved. There are other cases that need your attention. I�m sorry Pacey but as I�ve told Joey and Drue this is not just my decision.� Captain Hutchinson paused. �I know it�s hard to let go of a case and to move on but it�s time. You can always revisit the case sometime in the future but for the moment your efforts and attention are required elsewhere.� All three of them nodded somewhat sullenly at the Captain�s words. They stood up to leave, none of them happy about the Captain�s news. �Oh.� Captain Hutchinson called just before all three exited his office. �You can have tomorrow off but the next day I expect all three of you to be in normal time. You�ll be assigned new cases then.� Pacey banged his fist on his desk as soon as he exited the Captain�s office. Joey held him from behind, feeling his body tremble with anger. Joey�s eyes were also ablaze with suppressed fury and frustration. Drue kicked a nearby desk for effect and the rest of the precinct watched in sympathy. It took a while for Pacey to calm down. Several deep breaths. Inhale. Exhale. And the comforting feel of Joey�s hands resting on his shoulders. He turned around to face Joey and saw the same emotions mirrored in the stormy brown of her eyes. She smiled a tentative, sad smile and Pacey let the corners of his mouth move upwards. She squeezed his arm comfortingly and he sighed. �I have to go to the club and hand in my resignation.� Pacey said somewhat bitterly. Joey nodded. �I�ll walk you out.� They walked silently out to the carpark, the crisp night air sending chills throughout their bodies. �This is it. My stop. My car.� Pacey stated. �Are you going to be okay?� Joey asked. �I could ask you the same question.� �Well at least we got tomorrow off.� Joey laughed bitterly. �We can spend the day getting drunk and commiserating our failure.� �First round is on me.� �Deal. I�ll talk to you tomorrow.� �Tomorrow.� Pacey agreed. His hands moved up to cup Joey�s face, staring into her eyes with a sad smiled. He leaned forward and planted a soft kiss on the top her head, lingering a little, allowing himself the pleasure of touching her. Finally he broke a way, a little reluctantly. �I have to go.� She nodded and kissed his fingertips before releasing his hand. Joey watched as Pacey opened the car door and entered the vehicle, inserted the key, turned the ignition and drove off.
Moon Shadow was emptying as Pacey walked up the stairs to speak to the manager, a Ms Alison Smythe. The halls were empty but Pacey could see a dim light shining through the blinds of Ms Smythe�s office. He went to knock on the door, prepared to tender his resignation, when the voice from within made Pacey pause. ��Riner had outlived his purpose. I mean sure I�d miss him as a stripper but he�s replaceable. Besides he was getting troublesome anyway. It�s better that he�s dead.� Ms Smythe could be heard speaking. Pacey leaned inwards, pressing his ear against the door so he could hear better. �Yes I know. It was the nature of Lisa�s and Jerome�s relationship.� There was another pause. It appeared as if Ms Smythe was talking on the phone. �I know the fool left everything to Lisa. It was an unexpected problem but you said you could handle it. You said you would have control of Parker Enterpirse. You assured me that everything would be fine. Her lawyers did what?!?!� Pacey furrowed his brow, glancing around nervously to make sure that no one was watching him. The hall was devoid of persons and surveillance cameras to Pacey�s relief. �Look if this is going to be a problem�No�no�it�s fine. Just remember that Moon Shadow has as much vested interest in Parker Enterprise as you do.� Ms Smythe�s voice changed now to a low seductive purr. �Now about tonight�� Quietly Pacey crept away, armed with the new information. He could tender his resignation later, and when Captain Hutchinson heard the news, hopefully Pacey would not have to hand in his resignation to Moon Shadow any time soon.
It was quite late at night when Pacey entered his apartment. He headed straight for the bathroom to enjoy a nice hot shower. Clean and refreshed, he made himself a hot chocolate before turning on his computer to check his email. The computer automatically logged him on to AIM and Pacey was surprised to see Joey�s SN appear as online. He was about to send a message to Joey when an IM box flashed up onto his screen. JPotter: What are you doing on so late? PWitter: I was about to ask you the same thing. I just got back. JPotter: From Moon Shadow? Good night? PWitter: I�ll miss the tips. And all those adoring women eager to get some of the Pace man. He grinned. The information Pacey had learnt through eavesdropping on Ms Smythe had left him giddy and on a natural high. Suddenly things seemed to be progressing once more and the future was bright with potential. He could not help but express his joy and exuberance to Joey. JPotter: You seem oddly cheerful. I thought we were meant to be commiserating together and getting drunk. You were going to buy the first round remember? PWitter: I�m still up for getting you drunk, woman. Anytime, any day. The beer is on me. You know how much I love it when you�re tipsy. It was a more than merely suggestive remark. It was also Pacey�s way of letting Joey know that he cared for her. That he loved her. That he wanted their relationship to progress and not remain in a motionless rut as it had been too many days before. JPotter: Are you sure you�re feeling all right Pace? This was the last type of reaction I was expecting from you. Anger. Frustration. Disappointment. PWitter: I�m fine Jo. :) JPotter: Well then I�m not. I�m upset Pacey. They shut us down. The case has been declared officially unsolved. And sure they tell us we can work on it during our spare time, which is fine in theory, but we NEVER have any spare time. We�re over worked, underpaid government servants. We barely have time to breathe. So I�m not fine that a murderer is still out there unaccounted for. And I�m not fine that my partner, my best friend appears to have undergone some weird and bizarre personality transformation and is now unaffected and indifferent to recent events. PWitter: I love it when you get angry. Your cheeks are all flushed and your eyes are a bright brown. And your forehead is crinkled in the most adorable manner. JPotter: Goodnight Pacey. Joey fumed. Any other time she would have been happy to play Pacey�s games. Any other time she would have been happy to sort out the status of their relationship. However right now she was miserable, dejected and depressed. Pacey�s insane bout of chirpiness was grating on her nerves and adding to her frustration. She had counted on Pacey to be there. She had counted on them comforting each other and wallowing in misery together. Not to mention that Pacey had no right to act this way. She had expected more. Angrily she clicked on the little yellow person, determined to log off when another IM from Pacey appeared. PWitter: Aren�t you the least bit curious as to why I�m so chipper? JPotter: Other than the fact you�re officially insane? That or you�ve done a Jekyll and Hyde on me. PWitter: Oh woman of so little faith. Behind the computer Joey sat, her face tinged a little pink from embarrassment. She felt a little guilty doubting Pacey. She should have known better. Oh woman of so little faith. Joey bit her lip and realized the truth of Pacey�s words. She had been severely lacking faith when it had come to Pacey. Despite all her talk about trust and partnership when it came to the essential point, Joey had failed in the trust factor. She should have had trusted that Pacey�s mood would not change so dramatically without reason. She knew how Pacey felt about unsolved cases, acquitted suspects, crime and criminals. He held the same burning passion for justice within him that she held within her. It was what made them so compatible, made them understand one another. Joey had not trusted in Pacey. She had not kept faith in him. In them. JPotter: Pace, I�m sorry. PWitter: For what? JPotter: For not believing in you. For not having faith in you. In us. PWitter: Jo, there�s no need for apologies. Pacey paused momentarily touched by Joey�s words understanding the hidden meaning. She was asking for a second chance. She needn�t have asked. Trying to lighten the mood and to shift the pangs of guilt Joey was surely feeling, Pacey informed Joey of the conversation he had overhead earlier. PWitter: Well I being the wonderful detective that I am, knowing whenever there is a hot lead came upon something very interesting that just might have bearing on the Parker and Riner case. JPotter: Really? PWitter: Really. In fact, to be precise, I heard a very interesting conversation when I went upstairs to tender my resignation as one of Moon Shadow�s finest strippers. JPotter: So�? PWitter: You know Moon Shadow will really miss me when I�m gone. I should probably stay on for a while. I wouldn�t want to be responsible for Moon Shadow losing all its clientele and going out of business. JPotter: Pa-acey! Joey giggled in her chair. She had a niggling suspicion that Pacey had deliberately lightened the mood and�it was working. She could just envision him, in front of the computer, striking some absurd pose as his chest puffed out in exaggerated pride. PWitter: Do you know that I got Employee of the Month? They really are going to miss me. *shakes head sadly* JPotter: *groans* Pacey Witter you are the most infuriating man I have ever known! PWitter: And? JPotter: And you are the best stripper in Moon Shadow and they will be nothing without you. And you have the sexiest ass. Now will you tell me about the conversation?!? PWitter: Well since you asked so nicely� JPotter: Pa-acey! PWitter: I love you too Joey. As for the conversation it appears that the manager of Moon Shadow knows more than she�s been saying. I overheard a conversation in regards to Lisa and Riner. Joey stared incredulous at the screen, reading and then re-reading Pacey�s words. It had never occurred to any of them that someone from within Moon Shadow (aside from Lisa Holt) would be involved in the Parker and Riner murders. She blinked a little and re-read Pacey�s IM once again. Her eyes landed on the �I love you� and although it had been delivered in an off-hand, casual manner it still warmed her heart. JPotter: The manager of Moon Shadow is involved in Riner�s death? PWitter: She said and I quote: �Riner had outlived his purpose. I mean sure I�d miss him as a stripper but he�s replaceable�. JPotter: Any idea who she was talking to? PWitter: Someone with ties from Parker Enterprise. And I�m guessing male from the way the conversation was concluding. Anyway I bet when you start to trace companies and names you find a trail that leads directly from Moon Shadow to Parker Enterprise. Even with all this new information buzzing around in her head, Joey still felt the need to reciprocate the words of love. Besides it was time Pacey knew. JPotter: Have I mentioned I love you, recently? PWitter: Not that I recall. JPotter: Well I do. You�re a brilliant, wonderful, amazing man. Each word that Joey typed was truthful and honest despite the veneer of games and friendly banter. PWitter: Don�t stop there. Tell me how sexy I am. How you�d love to run your hands over my tight ass. Pacey egged Joey on, wanting to hear her say (or at least type) that she wanted him. JPotter: You have an obsession with your own ass which is beyond disturbing. PWitter: I saw the way you were looking at my butt when I was dancing. Can I help it that I was blessed with the world�s greatest butt? JPotter: You are beyond delusional. PWitter: And yet it doesn�t change the fact that you still love my butt. JPotter: Yes you�re right Pacey. Your butt is irresistible. Everything about you is irresistible. When I look at you I am overcome with desire and need. You�re just so hot. Oh! OH! I can just imagine your hands all over me. Pa-acey! Ooohh yeeesssss!! Pa-acey! Pacey�s face was flushed at Joey�s words. Despite the deliberate exaggeration, her words still managed to evoke erotic thoughts in his mind. Too many nights apart, too many nights of fighting and then the pointless standstill made Joey�s banter more sexy, more sexually provocative than normal. PWitter: Very funny Jo. That was completely uncalled for. JPotter: Awww�did I hurt your feelings? Did I damage your fragile male ego? PWitter: *sulks* Yes! JPotter: Do you want me to kiss it better? PWitter: I have just the place for you to kiss and make it all better. *wiggles eyebrows* JPotter: Pervert! PWitter: That wasn�t what you were saying last time. In fact if I remember correctly, you were busy swallowing and then licking your lips, hungering for more. He decided that it was time for a little payback, hoping to make Joey feel as uncomfortable as he did. As he typed the words his mind wandered. His fingers twitched and trembled and typing grew more difficult. He shifted restlessly in his chair trying to find a more comfortable position. PWitter: And of course who was I to deny you. Your eyes were so wide and your face was flushed and your mouth was opened in this tiny little sexy pout. JPotter: Do you know the top of your ears turn pink when you�re aroused? PWitter: Really? You know me that well? JPotter: I know you that well. In fact right now you�re wearing a gray wife beater and your navy blue boxer shorts which are feeling a little tight at the moment. Your right hand is hovering at the side of your thigh and your body is incredibly tense. Pacey groaned at Joey�s words. He was indeed wearing a gray wife beater and his navy blue boxers. His right hand lay so close, so proximate to his growing bulge and when he finally touched himself it did little to relieve the tension. He was a bundle of nerves and tension, his body was flush and the tops of his ears were pink. His breathing was hard and jagged and all he could do was read, to absorb Joey�s words of seduction. JPotter: And you�re picturing me wearing your shirt. It�s the olive green one of yours that has gone missing which I�ve been using as a nightshirt. It smells of you. And at night when I�m feeling hot and bothered I imagine it�s your body wrapped over mine. The top three buttons are undone and I�m naked beneath your shirt. The shirt is long but not long enough. It just covers my thighs and I slip off my panties and hitch the shirt up. My legs are parted and my hand trails up my inner thigh and I imagine it is you touching me. JPotter: Pacey? Are you still there? PWitter: Barely. God Jo. JPotter: *chuckles* Having trouble replying? PWitter: You�re a cruel mistress. JPotter: That�s what the handcuffs are for. ;) PWitter: Damn it woman are you trying to drive me insane?!? JPotter: Awwww�poor boy. PWitter: Right now I have the biggest urge to just pin you down to your bed, the floor, the wall. Any surface will do. And to tease you like you teased me. JPotter: And how would you go about doing that? Joey teased Pacey, wanting him to type the words. Joey needed Pacey to say how much he still wanted her. She had missed his touch. She had missed the intimacy. She had missed him. PWitter: Well you�re naked before me. Your body is hot and writhing with need. I run a cube of ice across your body. I watch as the ice melts between the valley of your breasts. Hot against cold. JPotter: Go on. She leaned back into her chair and soaked in Pacey�s words. She could almost imagine his touch and her body shivered in response. She was so hot and so cold. It was almost as if Pacey was in the room, touching her, tasting her, loving her. PWitter: My mouth replaces the ice on your breast and you moan in response. Your head is thrown back and your mouth is opened wide and you are glorious and beautiful. My hands move down your hips until I am touching the soft curls at the apex of your thighs. You rub your legs together and squirm and beg me to touch you. I comply. My hand is drenched in warm wetness and one finger, then two and then finally three delve into your center. You moan at my touch and I�m in. I�m touching you, caressing you, loving you. PWitter: The ice is forgotten and has melted into a small puddle of water in between our two hot bodies. Slick wetness against our heat. I capture your mouth with my own and my tongue explores you just and my fingers do. You rock against my hand and I push myself deeper into you. Your body quivers and I lower my head and taste you. My tongue licks and laps your juices and� JPotter: And� PWitter: I have to get off now. JPotter: So do I but don�t you DARE leave! PWitter: Not even to come to your apartment? JPotter: You have 10 minutes. Pacey quickly logged off , grabbed a pair of jeans and a jacket and rushed out of his apartment. His jeans were uncomfortably tight and he prayed that he made it to Joey�s in time. He arrived at her apartment with one minute to spare. |
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