Disclaimer: The gang doesn't belong to me. I'm not certain to whom they do, but I mean no infringement. I promise to treat them with respect and return them in good condition.
WARNING: Contains a major original character and is a X-over!! There are a couple minor spoilers for Sen 2 - if that's even an issue any more. If you're undaunted by this, please continue on.
Notes: Very big THANKS to TAE, Lorri, and Gabrielle for the beta's. You definitely made the difference in this story. You three and the mooses... I also want to remind readers that I write in sequence. You don't have to have read my other pieces, but it helps to understand my universe. Long story short, I already gave Blair a badge in a smaller story.
Summary: There's a new detective in the CPD Major Crimes bullpen. Someone who's bringing their own secrets and opening up some OLD wounds - for lots of people. In the meantime, Simon's got his hands full with three decapitated bodies.
pt. 1
~ 1462 ~
"A sword is a living thing. As an instrument of battle, its touch should bring truth - a death void of suffering. As an instrument of peace, its sight should inspire righteousness - a life void of suffering. And no living thing may exist without a soul, to know the difference between right and wrong. Let this crystal, this wondrous gem, share its gifts with you. So you may serve your master justly, and without shame."
~~~~~ ~ 1998 ~
"Good work, you two." The captain said with a large smile, then sipped his coffee. "But then, I'd expect nothing less."
"Thank you, sir." the two said in unison, then chuckled at each other. They'd really gotten in sync lately. The whole last case worked as if the two men had been sharing a brain. They'd noticed it, and so had Simon Banks.
As the closest friend either of them had, Simon had been there for the past three years, watching their partnership as it matured and broke itself in. He was happy with their work. Hell, he was ecstatic, giddy even, sometimes. They had worked hard on this last case and deserved a break. Unfortunately, Jim had been hinting at getting another tough one. Simon looked the pair over, taking in the stubble- shadowed faces, rumpled shirts, and possibly growth- attached coffee mugs. He couldn't give them the case Jim wanted - not at this point. It would kill Jim, but he'd just have to understand. "You two - finish your paperwork then go home; take tomorrow off. I want you back here day after, though. You've got work to do." Simon said and smiled at the two obviously happy men. They were on their way out, Sandburg actually had the door open, when the woman knocked on the door frame and asked permission to enter.
"Come in."
"We were just on our way out..." Blair's blue eyes twinkled at the woman and she smiled happily at him. She turned her body to watch him as she passed, and Blair couldn't help but notice the grace and ease of her movements.
"Why - thank you." came her smooth voice. "Nice to see chivalry isn't dead." A slightly raised eyebrow and then she turned a businesslike face to the officers. "Captain Banks, Nikya Dakota. We've spoken several times on the phone, but we seem to keep passing each other."
Jim maneuvered around her, but didn't leave. Something strange was kicking around his head, as it had been for the past several days she'd been in the department. He was watching the woman intently, noting everything about her for some reason. His instincts had just brought every sense on-line, and Jim was cataloging her, just barely noticing Simon stand and grab a folder from the top of the filing cabinet. As the captain took his leather-upholstered throne, Ellison noted the broad smile on the man's face.
"Yes, I remember. Have a seat, won't you?" He said, then settled himself back into the chair.
Jim watched her lean on the conference table, almost exactly where he'd been leaning only moments ago. Even as she did, her back stayed straight, her eyes fixed on Simon. "Uh, Captain..." Jim started, receiving a knowing look from behind the desk.
"Right. Detective Nikya Dakota, this is Detective Jim Ellison - his partner, Officer Blair Sandburg. They were just on their way out..." Simon smiled, waving the two men out of his office. As they shut the door behind them, the captain opened his small leather case and removed one of his better cigars. Rolling it under his nose and savoring the tobacco's scent, he placed it between his lips to moisten the tip.
With a small rotation of the cigar, Simon removed it only long enough to start their conversation. "Now, detective. Would you like to tell me why you transferred to Cascade? With a pedigree and recommendations like yours, I'd think you'd be applying to Mount Olympus - I hear Ares is looking for someone to spell him while he takes a vacation."
She smiled at that. She'd taken the liberty of asking around about Captain Simon Banks. Her temporary partner, as well as many others, said he was tough, critical, sharp, exasperating, and hypersensitive to criticism. They'd also said he was loyal, truthful, and supportive. No one had mentioned his sense of humor though...
"Well, Captain Banks, I was looking more for something along the lines of Athena - or at the very least Artemis..."
Her smile was infectious, and Simon found himself liking her. "Stay here long enough, and I think we can help..." He shifted the cigar to one side of his mouth and rotated the tip again.
"Yes," she said calmly, casting a fleeting glance towards the door. "I heard you groom heroes..."
He smiled at that comment, then removed the cigar from his mouth. He examined it carefully, preparing to bite the tip and light up. Before he could get the hand- rolled, dark tobacco product to his mouth, his newest detective offered him HER cigar snip.
"Nice to get an even cut on the ends of those Jamaicans, Captain. They have a tendency to splinter if you bite 'em."
With a nod and a smile, Simon used the circular cutter, examining the excellent scrollwork on the antique before he handed it back to her, then carefully lit the cigar. "Now," he started on a puff. "Let's talk about your next assignment..."
~~~~~ ~ An hour or so later ~
"Can you handle this?" Simon Banks asked as he studied the woman. He hadn't had much time over the past couple weeks. What with Jim and Blair's case, and Brown and Rafe undercover, the captain was just thankful that Megan Conner was back home in Australia on "holiday." He hadn't had time to take the newbie aside and show her the ropes. He'd read her file and immediately settled her in with Captain Joel Taggart. If Joel's evaluation and recommendation were to be believed, then Detective Nikya Dakota, formerly of the Los Angeles Police Department, Metro division, was everything her file said she was - and that scared him.
"Not a problem, sir." She said with some confidence, turning her violet eyes up to him from the file.
He noted the sage look in her eyes. Eyes that made her seem much older and wiser than her file claimed her to be. Simon had expected a hard-talking, hard-looking one-woman police department. Story was she'd busted her way up the ladder taking cases no one else wanted. She'd evidently impressed quite a few people, if the Mayor's recommendation was to be believed. Or the LA Police Chief's, or even a few celebrities. But this woman? She looked like the kind of person to hang out with celebrities, she certainly had all the right assets. Simon studied her, starting at her black boots, up the black suit, and finally to her curly, cocoa hair. She didn't seem to know he was watching her sort through the file's materials.
"I'm not your usual queasy miss." Nik said quietly, letting the captain bring his eyes to meet her face.
*I'll say.* he thought.
She knew he'd been looking her over, knew that he'd been scrutinizing her every move and reaction. This case would be her baptism. A baptism of fire into Cascade PD.
It wasn't a good second case, but she had to get her feet wet with something other than the paperwork and drug pushers she and Joel had been working the last two weeks. Having read the reports for all the arrests during their partnership, Banks had no doubt she could handle it, though. Nik and Joel had started out 10 days ago working a small ring of local drug pushers that seemed to favor thug tactics for collecting their dues. It was Dakota who had recognized the operation and worked the sting back to the source. Joel'd brought in Vice and in the end, they'd nabbed over a dozen pushers - some of them local high school kids - and closed the operation down from the local dealers all the way up to the lab and its banker.
With an opening two weeks like that, Simon had put her name in the rotation with Joel's blessings. But with this case, Banks was beginning to be wary of the rotation. *Maybe I should keep her teamed up...* he thought, then looked up at her. He had a feeling she didn't really need to have a partner - that she could handle herself well enough. *Hopefully this case will end itself - and SOON.* He sighed heavily. Ellison would have a fit when he found out. Hell, the man had been pushing for it since the second victim; maybe he should have given it to Jim. Thoughts of his best team, his best friends, as they'd left his office passed through his mind, and he chanced a glance at them through the window. He shook his head and turned a smile up to his new detective. Someone with her credentials in his bullpen would maybe bring a few new ideas to the department. If the situation warranted, he'd add Jim and Blair to the team.
"Perfect." he said out loud.
"'Scuse me, Captain?"
"Huh?"
"You said something was perfect. What would that be?" her face was calm as she asked.
"I'm sorry, Detective." Banks started to explain. "I was just muttering out loud. Are you sure you're comfortable with this case? I don't want to rush you."
"It's Nik, please. And by all means, Captain Banks. Rush me. I've enjoyed the past couple weeks with Captain Taggart, really, but I'd welcome the chance to prove myself."
"If Joel is to be believed," he started on a smile. "Then I think you've done that pretty well already. I don't need you to prove yourself, just solve the case. I don't like having the Mayor on my butt."
"Been there, done that. Should I get you a can of repellent?" They laughed together. "Honestly, Captain Banks. I'm not worried about proving myself. I think my file supports me very well."
"Support?" and he shook his head. "It pretty well sets you up on a pedestal. I'll lay it on the line, Detective Dakota. I'm always wary of transfers. These recommendations send panic into my heart. Either you're really good at your job - or you know where the bodies are buried. You don't have any baggage that can get in the way do you?"
She laughed and shook her head. Well, he was honest. "I do my job, sir, and I like to think I do it well. I take my job seriously. Some say I have a knack for police work; most think it's because I've been on my own for so long..."
*And how long would that BE?*
"Well, I don't have a spare pair of hands, right now. I am at your disposal, though. Do you want any help on this?"
"I could use a head doctor..."
Simon laughed. "So you DO have baggage."
Nik smiled at that. He was going to be one hell of a man to work for, but, she thought, he'd be one hell of a friend, too. "What I meant is, do we have a department profiler? I'd like to get a professional opinion of this ghoul."
Simon smiled. Down in L.A., there were plenty of profilers, psychics, and such to aid the department. In Cascade, though, the closest thing they had was Blair Sandburg, former observer and newly appointed Field Specialist for Major Crimes. While Ellison was used to "sharing" his partner with the rest of the team, Simon hoped the man would take the news with professional aplomb. He'd even have Dakota do an evaluation on Sandburg after the case was over, then he'd put it to Chief of Police Warren to get more funding for a larger Profiler program. Maybe get the kid to train someone for the other departments so they'd leave him alone. Their normal budget wasn't big enough for those "luxuries." Maybe Dakota would have something to say about that.
"You met him earlier. Officer Sandburg, Detective Ellison's partner."
"Mr. Chivalry?" and she smiled at the thought, casting an amused glance towards the door. "Barely looks old enough to drive..."
*Like you have any room to talk?* he questioned himself, then smiled. "That's him. You can talk to him day after tomorrow. I'll have him pencil in some time between his current case load and his school work - I'm sure he'll jump at the chance."
They looked at each other, the conversation obviously coming to fruition.
"Anything else, Captain Banks?" She stood up, folder in hand and feet towards the door.
"Take tomorrow off."
Startled, Nik asked hastily, "Why?"
"Cause Joel says you still haven't completely unpacked. I need you comfortable in your home so you can get comfortable on the job. Besides," and Simon sat back in his chair, shutting her personnel folder. "You've been here for 14 days and working steadily for at least 10 of them. Department regulations."
"If you say so, sir." With a smile, Nik turned to walk into the bullpen.
"Don't need you working yourself to death your first month here, do we?"
She laughed and shut the door quietly.
*Damn Spider-senses. There they go again...*
~~~~~ ~ 2 days later ~
He put his hand to his forehead as he approached his office. Placing the file on the desk, he tried to smile at the woman sitting there. "Rhonda..."
"Aspirin - I'm on it, Captain."
He sighed, knowing some relief was coming. Turning to face the young man who'd been approaching cautiously, Simon opened the door to his office and spoke. "Sandburg. Make it quick, I'm waiting for Detective Dakota..."
~~~~~ ~ an hour later ~
"Follow me." Simon said and headed them across the bullpen to a couple desks on the far side, by the door, and angled 90 degrees. "Sandburg."
The sound of the captain's voice startled him, and he looked up briefly from the paperwork he'd been processing. Blair smiled and watched Simon shift the cigar in his mouth then turned back to the forms in front of him.
From behind the captain, Nik surveyed the young man and his desk, smiling at what looked to be an authentic Yamazai good-luck figure. Next to that was a replica Chinese good-luck figurine and a small box that looked to contain Native American worry dolls. A small smile made its way onto her face. *That's not a rabbit's foot, is it? Who would need that much protection?* she thought.
"This is Detective Dakota." the captain said. "You met briefly the other day..."
Without looking up, Blair held out his hand. He'd had a headache since he'd clocked in. The pain had actually fluctuated for the past hour or so and to look up at the lights made it worse.
Seeing his attention was fixed elsewhere, she quietly took his hand in hers and shook it.
There was a golden spark between their palms. It made the young man look again, then stand up quickly. "I'm sorry. All this paperwork, and I've got a headache, and uh... I'm really sorry." Blair was tripping over his words, knowing that he must sound stupid, and all the time never letting go of her hand - or was she holding onto him?
"Nikya, the one and only Blair Sandburg, Field Specialist. He's the consultant for our department. I believe he'll be able to help you."
"Help her what?" The sound came from behind them. Her defenses were up, and she could feel the hair on the nape of her neck standing. At the sound of his voice and feel of his approach, the buzzing in Nikya's head sprang forward, making her heart lurch. She turned towards the source and found the very large man from the captain's office two days previous. Letting go of Sandburg's hand, she politely held the same hand out to the man in front of her. He didn't take it, just placed some files on his desk and stood there with his hands on his hips.
Simon handed Nik's case file to Sandburg. "With this."
"Whoa! You scored the biggest case in the department?"
Jim's jaw ticked, and he raised an eyebrow at Simon. "What gives, Sir?"
Simon knew the tone to that voice. "Nik, you remember Detective Ellison? Jim," Simon nodded towards Nik's once again proffered hand. Jim took it and shook it properly, feeling his head pound harder, if that was possible.
*Probably in anticipation of Simon's next words.*
"She's asked for some help with the case, and I've assigned Sandburg."
Well, there it was - assigned to another partner. Jim immediately withdrew his hand from Nik's and placed it back on his hip. Blair was busy looking over the file, but he heard the deep breath Jim took. It was one of the relaxation techniques Jim had made a tell-tale habit.
"Jim." Blair began and looked to his partner. "You cool with this?"
"Yeah," he lied. "Think of it as being appreciated for your talents. So, Detective." And he turned his eyes to the woman in front of him. "You got this after only two weeks, and here I've been after the captain since the second victim... I'm sure Captain Banks has put a lot of thought into this."
"I have. You're on this too." Simon said and was immediately the focus for three sets of curious eyes. "You want in on this, you got it."
Two voices started together: "I work alone..."
At that comment, Blair immediately looked over at Jim who was staring intently at Nik who seemed to be staring just as intently at Jim.
"Done." He said backing away, puffing his cigar. "As of right now, you're a team - ALL three of you." So said, he turned and walked quickly back to his office, closing the door and picking up the phone.
Two voices again: "Great." The detectives looked at each other.
Nik surveyed the man before her. Under any other circumstances, she'd have welcomed the idea of working with him. He had a presence to him , an attitude, that she felt women must just fall over themselves for. His eyes were as crystal blue as arctic ice. Probably the bluest eyes she'd seen in all her life...
She was smiling for some reason. Jim didn't like it much and stepped past her to Blair's desk, coming to stand in front of the kid, almost possessively. "You're a transfer, right?" She nodded. "From?"
"Los Angeles." She placed her hands in her pockets, noting Jim cross his arms over his wide chest...his very wide, muscular chest. She buried the thought as quickly as it came.
"Well," Jim started in a knowing voice. "I hope we don't bore you up here in Cascade. This is one of the more exciting things that's happened in the past couple months. Besides the major bust of the local drug kingpins...Vice can't stop talking about that..." He chuckled at her smirk and raised eyebrow. "Look, this is unusual for us. We're partners..." He motioned to Sandburg and himself, then added not too quietly, "not babysitters."
That did it. Whomever or whatever he was or thought he was, she didn't have to put up with it. Just because she was new to the department didn't mean she was new to the world... No one had the right to make assumptions about her - EVER. "What's the matter, Detective? Not willing to share? They say that childhood trauma can cause that. Were you an only child or did some bully take your toys when you were little?" She stepped back fast when he stood up quickly. "Something I said?"
But she didn't back down. Just stood there, arms crossed over her chest the same as Jim's. Blair felt like he was looking at a couple of bookends. Jumping around the desk, the young man forced his way between them, pushing the two apart. It surprised him that Nik was only inches shorter than he was and figured it must be her attitude that made her seem larger. "Come on, you two. Jim, take it down a notch. Simon says" and he chuckled at that phrase, " Simon says we work together." Blair got a good look at her face as she backed up. Looking from one to the other, he realized the two detectives were each breathing deeply to calm themselves. "I've got some ideas on this, just from the reports. So, I'll run it through my research avenues at Rainier University. I'm a teaching fellow there."
"I don't want credentials. I want information. Our Samurai has taken three lives in about as many months. I want to know where he goes and what he's into these days. If we don't find him, the bad publicity could cause a panic. I've seen it before, and I don't want to see it here in Cascade." Running a hand through her hair, Nikya looked away for a moment, then turned a controlled face to Blair. "Get together whatever you can, and I'll be back in about five minutes."
Nik started to turn around, but Jim grabbed her arm. The two men knew it was a mistake from the look on her face. "Just like that?" With that said, Jim let go of her arm but not his attitude. "What's more important than going to a meeting room right now and sorting it out together?"
As soon as Blair saw that deceptively disarming smile of hers, he stepped out of the line of fire. "Well," she started and leaned close to Jim, placing one finger on his chest. "I have a couple GIRL-things to do, but if you want to come along and stand outside the stall, I'll be more than happy to discuss the file. 'Kay?" She punctuated her husky invitation with a quick poke to Jim's breastbone.
He extended his hand to usher her forward, then turned it into a fist as she laughed her way to the ladies' room. Jim threw both his hands up in exasperation.
"WHAT was that about, man?" But all Blair got back was a snarl. "You were getting pretty defensive there." Going over a mental checklist of Jim's ticks, Blair figured most of the situation. "Okay, so she's new and she scored YOUR case. Big deal. Simon's got us on it, now. Maybe he thinks she needs help?"
"We are NOT babysitters." Jim said, watching his partner throw his arms up in defeat then sit down behind his desk. Jim leaned over that desk, viewing the pictures in the file, and absently rubbing the sore spot on his chest. "And what she said about my childhood was out of line..."
"Oh," Blair said with concern. "And the babysitter comment wasn't?"
Jim conceded with a slight nod of his head.
"Right. So now you're even.. She comes back and we start over. You be nice and she'll be nice."
"We'll see, Chief. We'll see."