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Agendas
Title: Agendas - 10/15
Author: docwho2100
Fandom and Pairing: Nikki/Nora - F/F - But an AU story
Rating: R
Disclaimer: Nikki & Nora are the property of Nancylee Myatt and Warner Bros. Television. No infringement intended.
Authors' notes:
Character thoughts appear between ~ ~ symbols
Chapter 10 - taking two steps forward and falling three steps back
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"Damn, no spots." Nora made a right turn, frustrated.
"If we circle one more time, I'm going to get dizzy." Nikki joked. "I think everyone is staying put."
"For a stakeout to be successful, don't you have to be able to see the place you are staking?"
"Oh ye of little faith. Park over there."
Nora gifted Nikki with a skeptical look before navigating into the mentioned spot. Shutting the engine off, she turned to face the detective, waiting for an explanation.
"Grab your camera and come along Nora dear." Nikki instructed, exiting the car before any questions could be asked.
Grumbling, Nora locked the car and fell in step with the detective. "So?"
Linking arms with Nora, Nikki adopted a casual pace. Not offering any words.
Nora looked at their joined arms, an eyebrow arching in question.
"We are out for a casual stroll as my little photography buff is hoping to catch just the right shot of the boats lining the marina docks and sailing on the water blue."
"Oh..."
"There are some benches near the grill. We can just move our little party to the great outdoors."
"I just hope this works, we've not been having much luck lately." Nora's statement was like a wet blanket thrown over Nikki's cheery idea.
"If not, you'll have some beautiful shots captured by your fancy camera."
"Are you making fun of the camera?"
"No, just making fun of you."
"Oh, that's alright then." Nora remarked in an aloof tone as she unlinked their arms so she could administer a playful punch. "It is not wise to make fun of a lawyer, I could sue you."
Nikki pushed Nora in retaliation, "I could write you a ticket."
Nora used her shoulder to push Nikki once again. "Could not."
"Could too. So could every uni in the area."
"Damn, dirty pool," Nora swerved to avoid a raised block of the sidewalk, grabbing the back of a bench to steady herself. Nikki stepped forward, pressing hard enough against Nora to send her tumbling onto the bench.
"What are you doing?"
Nikki swept in, trapping Nora's legs. "I thought you played to win?"
The blonde struggled against the hold. "I don't want to break my camera, this cost me a few paychecks you know."
"Sureeee," Nikki placed a closed fist by her mouth, coughing the word 'convenient' into her hand.
"Yeah? I dare you to try that move again when I am cameraless."
Winking, Nikki sat next to Nora, "I can not wait to see if you are all talk or can walk the walk."
"Hey, I can walk and talk."
"Funny, most lawyers are all talk, not much substance."
"I do not pontificate," Nora defended.
"No you just like those fluffy words," she pulled on Nora's sleeve as the lawyer was starting to stand. "Stay here, this is a good spot. Plus, we've established a cover that we are a couple with our playing around and interaction."
The blonde nodded, "Nice, so all of that was just in case someone was watching." She sat back, "Couple?"
Her eyes twinkling with playful mirth, Nikki shrugged. "Like that idea Sugar?" She scooted closer, resting an arm on the back of the bench. "Since we have some time, how about you tell me why you have such a fancy camera."
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"I had no idea the Defender's Office is at that point." Nikki finished her drink setting the cup on the bench.
"True, but the NOPD is not too much better off, we all do what we can with what we have, right?" Nora shrugged and got up, going to throw her cup out. Stretching a little, glancing briefly at the deck where Garrison was sitting at a table, chatting on the phone. "How long is he going to stay there?"
"Not sure, I've been on worse assignments. Although from what you told me, you've done a bit of this yourself. Doing most your own investigation and follow up. Of course you have to show me your darkroom sometime. You are a woman of many hidden talents."
"Talent? No, just found it was cheaper and considering some of the stuff I take pictures of, I trust myself more than some one hour stop place."
"You have a hard time trusting?" Nikki shifted her gaze from the restaurant to her companion.
Nora sat back down, her eyes following a boat as it sailed along. "I had a couple of bad years and once bitten..."
"Twice shy." Nikki finished the sentence, finding it easy to do. She'd been mentally completing more and more of the other woman's sentences the last couple of days.
Licking her lips a bit, Nora nodded, coming to a decision. "I had a bad breakup last year. We had made arrangements to move in, taking that next step. He was helping me pack and found a box of stuff from my previous relationship." She held up a hand, "I know, rule number 3 in the book of dating, never keep a box of stuff, especially where a current partner can find it. Well, he started going through Crystal's stuff and that lead to me telling him about Crystal and... he could not handle I had been intimate with a woman." She swallowed, looking to the water, Nikki remaining silent, letting Nora set the pace. "I guess it was a good thing we never put the down payment on the apartment." She trailed off, the two silent once again.
"It's been almost two years for me," Nikki offered to break the silence.
This pulled Nora around, surprised, "Why? I mean you're..." She stopped, feeling she'd said too much.
"The job got in the way and ended up taking her away."
"Yeah, my hours were wearing on Jesse too, A lot of people don't understand the hours, or the pressure or danger of the job. I mean they think they do watching the TV shows, but when they have to interact everyday and have that always on their mind, it gets too much for people and they walk away."
Nikki looked skeptical, "Danger? I mean cops sure but, come on, what do you worry about, paper cuts?"
She sighed and rolled up her sleeve, twisting so the back of her upper arm was exposed. Nikki's eyes narrowed as they traced over a scar and a puckered mark on the lawyer's shoulder.
"Gunshot? How?"
"Actually, I have two, which is darkly ironic as when my momma found out I was not going to the academy but law school, she was so relieved as she was tired of visiting Delaneys in the hospital and here I've been shot twice, more than most of my brothers."
Nikki was impressed by this new side see was seeing, "PDs don't get very much credit."
"Neither do detectives."
"I've stopped telling people I date I am a cop. It seems to be more of a turn off then turn on, well for who I am looking for. It use to be perfect and what I wanted. Now, it's just not right."
"You drew the wild ones. Those looking for the uniform and danger and thinking you were a tough stereotype, wanting something fast and rough and no connections."
Nikki tapped the end of her nose, "Right on the button."
"Growing up in a house of cops and military add in they are all boys save lil' ole me gave me quite an education, so I understand. I don't tell people I date about a few things myself. Let's see, the last real date I went on, about six months ago, after the first date, she wanted to go meet my mother and family and I had to tell her she couldn't."
Nikki said nothing but Nora could see the confusion in the detective's face. "I, my family doesn't know. Maybe that was why I wanted Jesse to work so badly." She looked down, fiddling with the camera's settings.
"Oh, you're a bit in the closet."
"Pretty much, I..." She shrugged, running a hand through her hair. "Sorry, I shouldn't have gone on like that. I, I don't know what it is, but you're just so easy to talk to."
"I'm glad, I like listening, especially to you."
Nora's eyes narrowed a bit, a peculiar look wrinkling her lips. "Ah, thanks..."
"Sure, maybe we can try talking some more over drinks and din.... oh shit... someone's meeting with our little suspect. He looks familiar, may I?" She motioned at the camera that Nora had begun using to snap some pictures.
Nora set up the zoom lens and handed it over.
"Ohh, I know him, what is he doing in this area and with Garrison?" She handed the camera back. "It is Peter Goethe, the youngest son of a seafood dynasty."
"Man what I would give to be a fly on the wall and hear what they are saying..." Nora was looking through her camera, using the zoom to track the two. She could see Peter writing something down, then the two shaking hands.
"We'll have to plan for that better next time, maybe we can duct tape ourselves under the deck and have cute matching spy outfits..."
She stopped as Nora slowly turned her head to the detective, her lips crinkled to the side in a wry expression. "If I wanted to be chastised, I could go spend an afternoon with my mother and her sisters."
"Oh come on, you are just so fun and ripe to poke at." Nikki reached up and could not resist using her fingers to pinch at Nora's puckered cheek. This earned a mock 'ow', her eyes holding tight to Nikki's face, both women instinctively leaning a little closer.
"Oh I thought I recognized you, Nikki Beaumont, how are you doing?"
The two women jumped apart as they looked up at the large woman looming over them.
"Ah," Nikki paused, trying to reorient. "Mrs. Kitlands, it is surprising to see you here." She winced a little at the awkward greeting as she stood, Nora following suit.
The older woman immediately leaned in, giving Nikki a quaint social hug and European kiss on the cheek. "I was just thinking about your daddy and needing to talk to him about some development issues. And then here I find you in my sights. And this is?" She turned to look at Nora; the blonde fidgeting under the scrutiny.
"Nora Delaney, we were just.... well, I was receiving some photography lessons."
"Ohhhh Lordy how wonderful," Mrs. Kitlands gushed, her voice boisterous and loud enough to make Nikki and Nora wince.
"So that's why you have been snapping pictures of the Grill's deck over there. How lovely."
"You, you saw us taking pictures?" Nora stuttered, looking down at the camera.
"Oh, I was out taking a stroll, I have a little houseboat here. I enjoy the waves, very lulling when I am having trouble sleeping. It was a parting gift from Chester, one of the few things that man did right."
Nikki nodded, connecting now why the woman was here; Nikki more use to seeing Mrs. Kitlands in her father's neighborhood as the woman lived only a few houses from Arthur.
"I honestly was not sure why you wanted so many pictures of that deck. I was going to ask actually if you could take some pictures of my boat, I am thinking about having some work done."
"Yeah, how about you tell me why you were taking pictures..."
"Oh my," Mrs. Kitlands put a hand to her chest as they all focused on the young man that had joined them, his face dark and angry. "You're Shaun's boy, Peter, dearie me this place is just lively today."
"We were just... Hey!" Nora was jerked forward as Peter had reached out and grabbed the camera. Stepping forward, he pushed Mrs. Kitland into Nikki, sending them tumbling to the ground, taking off down the walk
Nora started after Peter, looking back, she saw Nikki helping the older woman up. She turned and began sprinting after the young man.
The two continued weaving around the assorted obstacles as they ran along the sidewalk. Peter made a sharp turn, jumping to the wooden docks of the marina, Nora not even hesitating as she followed. "Just drop the camera you ass..." Nora shouted, trying to divide her attention between the path she was taking and keeping close to the fleeing suspect.
"Come on, stop..." Nora shouted, well as best as she could considering her lungs were burning from the sprinting and dodging around lines and other barriers in her path. She put on a burst of speed and would have caught Peter if luck and the wooden marina deck had not run out for the three of them as camera, Peter and Nora all went plunging into the murky water.
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"What'dja, you think you wouldn't get caught? Peter, you need to give me something." Nikki was pacing back and forth in front of the young man. He was sitting in a chair, his hair frizzy and his clothes still wet. Nikki looked out the window of the houseboat and then turned back, lording over Peter.
"Are you going to arrest me?" Peter shot back.
"Keeping us in the dark is not going to help. I want to know what business you had with Garrison."
"I told you, I didn't even know his name and was just asking him a few questions. Nothing else."
"Nothing else? You know what, it doesn't look good. You steal a camera, hurt innocent bystanders. You run away. You sent my partner into the lake."
"Hide me," Nora broke into the conversation as she was almost running from the back of the houseboat. She was dressed in a new, designer outfit, her hair almost dry.
Nikki's bemused expression increased as Mrs. Kitlands came rushing out a moment later.
"Nora sweetie, honeypie, where did you run too? Ah there you are, are you sure you are not cold? I have this sweater that would keep you warm, I would hate for you to get a cold after your dunk."
"Um, thanks, but it really is very warm outside, not sweater weather at all." The blonde eyed the sweater as if it were a ferocious beast that needed slaying.
Nikki however swooped in and grabbed the sweater holding it up to her. The detective's words gushing out. "Cashmere. And its my color." She continued to run her hand over the sweater.
"Isn't it lovely? There is this little boutique I found. We can go next week if you like. There is such a nice selection and with your complexion and coloring, much there would suit you." Mrs. Kitlands transferred her focus to Nikki as Nora moved, her hand on Peter's shoulder, pushing him back into the chair as he had started to rise.
"I would love that, assuming I can solve this case." She turned to glare at Peter.
"Is he not telling you what you need?" Coming over, Mrs. Kitlands stared at Peter. "I know your father young man, we play Bridge together. How would you like it if I told him about that little secret affair you are having with Lizzie Turner?"
Peter drew in a sharp breath. "Listen, ok, it was just, for a party. I overheard a couple of guys talking awhile back about a way to have some real fun. They mentioned meeting this guy at the Grill. I, I wanted to get a set of girls to come to a stag party and provide some entertainment. I came here, asked the bartender and he sent me to the guy on the deck. That's all. I swear."
Nikki's gaze was tight and heavy as she regarded Peter. She finally gave a disgusted shake of her head and waved her hand to dismiss Peter. "Get out of here and don't try this again. And don't deal with Garrison, he's way over your head and will drown you quick. If I catch a sniff of anything, your daddy, my daddy and I will be having a nice cocktail while we talk about your little adventure."
Peter released a breath as he stood, looking at the three women a few moments before leaving.
Nikki waited until he was gone before turning to Mrs. Kitlands. "Thank you again for letting us use your boat, sorry to have tangled you up in this."
"Are you jesting? This has been the most excitement I have had in a very long time." The older woman chuckled. "And I have a nice shopping date to look forward too, plus some photography sessions to help with planning my remodeling." She walked with the two women as they climbed off the boat, Nora's face dour and glum due to the mention of the camera.
"That you do," Nikki hugged the woman, waving good bye as she pulled the disgruntled lawyer along with her. They walked almost a block in silence.
"Damn, what a waste of a day and now I am behind in my caseload. My camera is sitting at the muddy bottom and we are no closer as the only slim pieces we had were with that camera. I almost wish Peter had been more dirty." Nora kicked at a loose stone, watching it skitter down the sidewalk.
"I don't consider it a waste."
"Well, you're a cop and do this all the time. I just want..." She ran a hand through her wavy hair. "Not to keep wasting time. I'll be right back, I just wanna get a soda for the ride home." She hung her head a bit and headed into the little convenience store.
"I didn't mean the case when I said that," Nikki said in a quiet voice, watching the blonde through the window. "I found it quite productive and eye-opening. I learned a lot.... more than I had thought I would. Thank you Nora..." A look part wishful and part wistful settled over the detective. "You gave me quite a gift today..."
chapter 11
contact: docwho2000@hotmail.com
page last modified -
November 8, 2009
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