Getting to Know You

[JACK ROCCOGRANDI]

Jack had been nervous on the way back to his apartment. He hoped he hadn't come off as trying to get into Rebecca's pants. He wasn't...well, not actively. It flustered him to even think of that. All he wanted right now was to get to know her better. She was a good cop and a pretty woman, but he knew little of her outside of that. Tonight, he'd gotten a glimpse of another side of her. Maxine had brought out something softer in Rebecca that he didn't know existed. It made it all the more evident to him that he wasn't just a colleague, she was a woman, which made it that much harder not to be attracted to her. Her clothes added to that, to the point where he was telling himself on the way home that whatever he did, he had to treat her like one of the guys. If he didn't, he might actually hit on her, which wouldn't be a good idea. Not at all.

Now, she was standing in his apartment, her long skinny legs sprouting out from a sweatshirt, which made her look like an awkward, gangly teenager. It eased him somewhat, though he found her look cute. He tried not to imagine her lounging around her apartment like that; it just made him want to see it for himself more. Jack's apartment was clean, though lived in. The floors weren't perfect, there was a blanket tossed at the end of his couch and the bookshelf was a little dusty. It was far better than the other bachelor pads he'd seen, though. He even had a few decorations on his bookshelf and on the walls. There were pictures of him and his sisters with his mother and one of him with his father as a kid. On the bookshelf there were wood carved wolf figurines his sisters had gifted to him, knowing the rugged pieces were more his type of decoration. He liked them and they had sentimental value. His furnishings were mostly dark wood and leather, giving his place a masculine but warm feel. It was small, but comfortable, and all the space he needed.

Jack glanced at Rebecca as she meandered into his apartment, wondering when the last time was he had a woman there. It had to be almost a year. He grabbed two beer bottles out of the refrigerator and twisted the top off each of them with his bare hands. It was that he was trying to show off, he just didn't see the need for a bottle-opener if he could twist the tops off himself, so he didn't own one. He walked back into the living room, handing Rebecca a beer and taking a seat on the couch, motioning for her to do that same. "To a case closed," he said with his lopsided grin, clinking the neck of his beer against hers. He took a swig before letting out a long sigh and unbuttoning the two top buttons of his shirt, trying to get more comfortable. It had been a long day.

He looked back to Rebecca and considered asking her one of the questions at the forefront of his mind. "You know...Maxine kind of eluded to the fact that she's older than you, but she looks younger than you," he started slowly. He shrugged, his elbows leaned onto his knees as he looked at her. "Maybe it's none of my business, but...well, is she a Blurr? I'll take it to my grave, but the thought occurred to me as we were talking to her back at Witt's place." He took another sip of his beer, before adding, "You can tell me to butt out, if you want." His smile was between amused and curious, but overall kind. He didn't want to make Rebecca more uncomfortable than she probably already was.

[REBECCA TAYLOR]

Rebecca watched him as she walked into his home, eyeing him up before looking around. It was so personal coming to her coworkers home and she felt mildly anxious about it, but just told herself it was them becoming friends. He had solved the case and Maxi was alive, even if she was dating that prick.

Her eyes moved to the small apartment, taking it all in. It was comfortable, cozy and rugged. It was Jack. The guy was like a big old bear which made her both comfortable and uneasy at the same time. Or was it a big old wolf? Her movements were slow and deliberate as she walked around, making herself sort of awkwardly at home. She moved to where the small wooden figurines of the wolves were, picking one up and studying it. It was cool and rustic and she felt attracted to the style of it. Her own place was sparsely decorated and had littler personality. Jack's place looked worn and lived in and despite her feelings of uneasiness she felt mostly comfortable.

When she heard the sound of the bottles opening she looked over her shoulder at Jack and made her way around to the couches where he seemed to be heading. She took the beer gratefully and took a seat close to him on the couch, but not so close that they were touching, her body turning so she was facing him more than frontward.

"To a case closed," he said, clinking his bottle to hers and she nodded. "To a case closed." She repeated and took a long drag from the beer. She noticed him unbuttoning his shirt out of the corner of her eye, always aware of her surroundings and froze slightly. She realized he was just loosening up and so did she, relaxing when she was sure he was just unbuttoning a couple.

She pulled the beer away and wiped her lips on the sleeve of her gray sweatshirt, looking away from him for a moment, holding the cold beverage between her fingers. "You know...Maxine kind of eluded to the fact that she's older than you, but she looks younger than you," Her eyes narrowed slightly, watching him again. What was he getting at? "Maybe it's none of my business, but...well, is she a Blurr? I'll take it to my grave, but the thought occurred to me as we were talking to her back at Witt's place." She was silent for a moment, her lips pursed as he took another sip. He was obviously very observant, a fine quality for someone in their line of work. "You can tell me to butt out, if you want."

She was quiet for a moment and then cleared her throat. "You're right, it's none of your business." She started, but the corner of her lip quirked up a bit. "But since you figured it out on your own, the answer is yes. She's a Blurr." It was no secret that Maxi looked younger than she did despite being several years older. "She's the one that told me about the legends here when I was a girl." She offered taking another sip from her beer. "Maxine's always looked out for me, even when we were hundreds of miles apart." She knew he hadn't asked and she looked away feeling like she had offered too much of herself without being provoked.

"I like your place." She offered softly, changing the subject. "It's comfortable and has just enough of that bachelor pad feel to know a single mad lives here without it being obnoxious. Or disgusting." He offered a teasing sort of smile and leaned to the side so her shoulder was pressed to the couch, looking around though she was facing Jack still. She cleared her throat, looking down at her lap now. "So.. a wolf, huh?"

[JACK ROCCOGRANDI]

“You’re right, it’s none of your business.” Jack conceded himself to not knowing, but he saw Rebecca’s lip quirk up a little. “But since you figured it out on your own, the answer is yes. She’s a Blurr. She’s the one that told me about the legends here when I was a girl. Maxine’s always looked out for me, even when we were hundreds of miles apart.” He wondered how it was that Maxine ended up in charge of Rebecca, looking out for her and telling her about the legend. Rebecca had said she was the only family she had, and he had to wonder what happened to her real family. What drew Maxine to Rebecca in the first place? She seemed the kind of woman to worry about everyone and take everyone under her wing, but he was curious as to why she did so for Rebecca. Either way, it was endearing to hear Rebecca talk about Maxine; it made him wonder if his sisters ever talked about him that way.

“I like your place. It’s comfortable and has just enough of that bachelor pad feel to know a single man lives here without it being obnoxious. Or disgusting.” Jack laughed, watching as she leaned back into his couch more. He liked seeing her relaxed. “Thanks, I’ll pass that along to my sisters. They’re responsible for the décor,” he replied. He took a swig of beer as she looked around a bit, a small silence falling between them. “So…a wolf, huh?” He looked up at her, wondering how she figured it out, but then he looked behind him at the bookshelf where his figurines were sitting. He gave a nervous sort of laugh and nodded. “Yeah, a wolf,” he said softly. “But not a people eating one. I prefer steak.” He gave her a crooked smile. “It’s not so bad, really. It just means I have to stay inside one night a month with some meat kept in a place that doesn’t require thumbs,” he joked, holding up a hand and wiggling his thumb for emphasis. “It’s surprising how hungry you get as a wolf.”

His eyes wandered to his lap for a moment before he looked back up at her. “And you? You don’t have wings or cast spells or turn into an animal at will?” he asked playfully. From what he could tell, and smell, she was just a regular person. A pretty person, but not a Guardian.

[REBECCA TAYLOR]

“Yeah, a wolf,” She watched him feeling almost skeptical knowing what he was. She wouldn't judge him, though. It wasn't her place to judge and as a kid she had been jealous of the guardians. It would have been really cool to have that sort of freedom to do something spectacular. “But not a people eating one. I prefer steak.” She grinned back and took another sip as he explained about being hungry while in wolf form. "I would imagine the loss of opposable thumbs would dampen things a little." She teased softly, her fingernail chipping at the label on her beer.

“And you? You don’t have wings or cast spells or turn into an animal at will?” She peaked up at him and was quiet for a moment, shaking her head as she looked back at her lap. "Only in my wildest childhood fantasies." She said, her voice almost sad as she spoke. She gulped and brought the beer bottle up, hesitating with it at her lips for a moment before swigging it back and taking a sip.

"I grew up on the outskirts of the city, but I wasn't born here." She offered, her eyes wary as they watched him. "My parents adopted me from the Ukraine just before my third birthday, so I really stood no chance being a Guardian." She explained not sure if he would say anything weird about it. It wasn't a huge deal to her, really. The only downside was she had no records of her parents or family. she could have sibling somewhere and never know.

"I grew up hearing the stories. I remember playing with kids on my street as guardians but we didn't really know what the guardians did. We just pretended some tree was magic and protected it from the bad guys." She laughed lightly. "It wasn't until Maxi told me when I was older, and showed me that I really believed. It was sort of a mind fuck." She sipped her beer again, looking down into her lap after. "How many sisters do you have?" She asked softly, curious about him since they were talking about themselves some.

[JACK ROCCOGRANDI]

“Only in my wildest childhood fantasies.” Jack’s brow furrowed a little as he heard the sad tone in Rebecca’s voice. He watched her in silence, waiting patiently for her to continue, since she didn’t sound like she was done with that statement, but taking a sip of his beer as well. “I grew up on the outskirts of the city, but I wasn’t born here.” He held her uncertain gaze with a calm one of his own, trying to assure her that he wasn’t going to do anything nefarious with that information. “My parents adopted me from the Ukraine just before my third birthday, so I really stood no chance being a Guardian.” Jack was surprised she was sharing that information. Rebecca seemed like a very reserved and private person, which made him appreciate her telling him that more. He wasn’t going to stop her if she felt he was trustworthy enough to talk to. He genuinely wanted to know more about her, mostly because she was such a mystery to him.

“I grew up hearing the stories. I remember playing with kids on my street as guardians but we didn’t really know what the guardians did. We just pretended some tree was magic and protected it from the bad guys.” Jack chuckled, never having played that game himself. He supposed actually being a Guardian, he didn’t have to play at being one as a kid. That and he didn’t have a lot of friends as a child. “It wasn’t until Maxi told me when I was older, and showed me that I really believed. It was sort of a mind fuck.” Jack could only imagine hearing that news and then seeing a woman disappear into nothing right before your eyes. “I bet it was,” he replied softly with another chuckle. He took another sip of his beer, just about half done with it now.

“How many sisters do you have?” He looked at her again, a little excited that she wanted to know more about him too. It was a start. A start to friendship, of course…He smiled more before looking down to his lap. “Two. Both younger. Andie and Izzy,” he replied. He turned to look back to a wall not too far off, where there were two pictures right on top of the other. He motioned to them with his bottle. “That’s them right there. Andie’s five years younger than me, Izzy is seven and that little woman standing in front of me is my mom.” All of them had the same coloring, dark hair and dark skin, but his mother and youngest sister Izzy had bright green eyes as opposed to his and Andie’s dark brown ones. His sisters took more after their mother, but they all had strong jaws like their father. Jack himself looked almost just like his dad, evident from the picture hanging below it where a guy in a flannel shirt smiled from ear to ear with a young boy on his shoulders. “Below that is my dad and I. He died when I was nine in a logging accident. That’s why my sisters and I are so close; I looked out for them after he died and, well, we all looked after my mom.” He gave Rebecca a crooked smile before taking a sip of his beer. “What made you want to be a cop?” he asked. Since they were playing twenty questions, he figured he could toss a random one in there.

[REBECCA TAYLOR]

She was attentive as he spoke about his family, looking at the pictures when he pointed them out. her gaze lingered on them as he continued to speak staring at each face individually. They looked alike. She saw the resemblance and was a little surprised at how much Jack resembled his father. She wondered who she looked like.. her mother, maybe? Did her mom have dark hair like her? Blue eyes? Did she have her fathers nose? Those were questions she would never have the luxury of knowing the answer to, something she had gotten over a long time ago, but something she would always wonder about. She had promised herself long ago that if she ever did have children, she would keep them and if she couldn't? They would know who she was and how to find her. She would never do to a child what her parents did to her, despite whatever reason.

"Your sisters are pretty." She remarked, turning back to him once he explained about his father passing and how he and his sisters watched over their mother. Just like a family should. Rebecca felt a pang of jealousy, but she was happy for him. He deserved a nice family. Everyone did. And what little she knew of Jack she liked. He seemed like a stand up guy and she had never seen him abuse his authority. He seemed to be in this line of work for all the right reasons, unlike certain other officers she knew. Rebecca often questioned Brett's intentions. He was the kind of guy to revel in that sort of power position and use it to his advantage. She didn't blame Brett; he was young and cocky and intelligent. She expected nothing less, but he was also good at his job so she didn't judge him completely.

“What made you want to be a cop?” She liked this game better when it was he who was on the receiving end. She was quiet for a long moment, pondering her answer carefully. She didn't want to give too much away and didn't think it was fair to be too vague either. "There are a few reasons.." She finally said, her voice small as she looked back to the photographs of Jack's family. "I had a lot of pent up anger from something that happened in my youth.. something that sort of screwed my life all up. I was angry and bitter and going down all the wrong roads. Maxi did her best to keep me on track, but I didn't always listen. I had a wake up call when I nearly died doing drugs, and I knew I had to get off that path. So I cleaned my shit up and decided I would help others who got stuck in shitty situations. I wanted to catch the bad guys. Put them someplace they couldn't hurt anyone anymore. Get dealers off the streets so kids couldn't get their hands on them and fuck their lives up like I nearly did." She shrugged her eyes flickering back to Jack. "It's cathartic. Doing this.. like I'm making a difference for others when no one had been able to do that for me." She brought the bottle to her lips and took a sip and then sighed.

"What about you, wolfie?" A tiny hint of a smirk crossed her lips, her gaze meeting his as she rested her cheek on the back of the couch, watching him and tucking her legs up under her, getting comfortable.

[JACK ROCCOGRANDI]

Jack wondered if he had asked the wrong question by asking Rebecca why she became a cop. She was quiet for a long moment, and he was about to take back his question when she spoke up. “There are a few reasons…” Her eyes went back to his photographs, but he kept his on her. Everyone always had a few reasons for taking on the line of work that they did. “I had a lot of pent up anger from something that happened in my youth…something that sort of screwed my life all up. I was angry and bitter and going down all the wrong roads. Maxi did her best to keep me on track, but I didn’t always listen. I had a wake up call when I nearly died doing drugs, and I knew I had to get off that path.” Jack’s brow furrowed. He couldn’t picture Rebecca Taylor as a wayward youth, nevertheless one who had almost died on drugs. Maxine pulling her out of the slump seemed plausible enough, but Rebecca being in that slump just didn’t seem to fit. He rested his head on his knuckles, and leaned his elbow on the back of the couch. Interesting…

“So I cleaned my shit up and decided I would help others who got stuck in shitty situations. I wanted to catch the bad guys. Put them someplace they couldn’t hurt anyone anymore. Get dealers off the streets so kids couldn’t get their hands on them and fuck up their lives like I nearly did.” Her eyes came back to him for a moment, and he gave a ghost of a smile. “It’s cathartic. Doing this…like I’m making a difference for others when no one had been able to do that for me.” It was a noble cause and he was impressed with her. Then again, how many other cops did what they did for the same reason? Still, it was much nobler than his reason for doing it. His was pretty mundane comparatively. He took a sip of beer when she did, not realizing that the bottle had been sweating cold water on his fingers. She was impressive, he couldn’t deny that. He didn’t know what had happened to her, but she took a bad situation and turned it around to be positive motivation for herself. That was admirable.

“What about you, wolfie?” He was called back to looking at her, instead of his beer bottle, and when he did he saw she was making herself quite comfortable on his couch. It made him wish she could do that on a regular basis. Just curl up on his couch and talk to him. It was a silly thought, but a nice one nonetheless. His smile quirked up when she called him “wolfie,” and he gave a chuckle. He took a glance back at his photos. “It’s kind of dramatic,” he started, feeling oddly comfortable with telling her about his dad. His eyes fell back to the beer bottle in his hand. “My dad…the day he died, my mom managed to get us to the hospital in time to say a few words of goodbye. The last thing he said to me was, ‘Protect.’ I knew he meant my mother and my sisters, so I did exactly what he asked me to. Over the years, I just got better and better at protecting my family, providing for them and all, and protecting other people. I decided the best path for me would be to do something where I had to protect. It didn’t take me long to settle on becoming a cop and once I finished college, I joined the academy. The rest is history.” He threw her a smile and brought his bottle to a quarter full.

He propped one of his long legs up on the coffee table in front of him, his foot against the edge of the table, with a sigh. “It’s kind of cheesy, but that my reason,” he commented, looking back at Rebecca. His smile grew, lopsided and somewhat encouraging. He wanted to get off this rough subject matter. “Tell me something more basic. What’s your favorite color? Favorite music?” he asked playfully. They didn’t have to be serious all the time.

[REBECCA TAYLOR]

“It’s kind of dramatic,” She had calmed down significantly since she'd gotten there, and she was even finding herself enjoying his company. His apartment was comfortable, the drinks were good, and he was surprisingly relaxed and really down to earth. He was the sort of person she would want to be friends with, but Rebecca wasn't good at the whole friend thing. Maxi was different. She had been in Rebecca's life through all the ups and downs. She understood Rebecca in ways that no one else ever could, or so Becca thought. Jack could never get that. He could never get her. She felt silly for thinking so pessimistically but the truth was she was afraid to let anyone get too close, especially someone who worked with her. What would happen if Jack was promoted to her superior? How mortifying would that be if he knew every little thing about her?

She knew he wasn't the type to use that information against her. Not likely to, anyway. But people changed, and they weren't to be trusted. He did have three sisters, though...

His story was a sad one, but not nearly as dramatic as she thought. He had a lot to contend with, though. It was sad and she felt bad his father had passed like that, but it was nice he'd been able to say goodbye, something Rebecca didn't exactly get to do.

“It’s kind of cheesy, but that my reason,” She returned his lopsided smile with one of her own, much gentler than his. "Nah. I was expecting much cheesier." She teased lightly. She was surprised by her own ability to let go as much as she did around him. Why did he have to be so charming? She reminded herself he was just being friendly, but that was a good thing. It was nice to have friends if you could ever let your guard down long enough to let them in.

“Tell me something more basic. What’s your favorite color? Favorite music?”

Rebecca gave a laugh and rolled her eyes. "That is basic." She teased and sipped her beer. "Red. Dark red, not the flashy bright red. I guess closer to crimson." She said rolling her eyes and shaking her head. "I can't believe I'm sitting on Roccograndi's couch and telling him my favorite color. If only the guys saw us now." She teased and gave a little laugh, looking down into her beer. "But.. so you know I like classical music. That's pretty much the only kind I really love. I grew up listening to it, and I've been playing violin since I was small." She offered. "I took lessons until I was twelve, but continued my studies on my own afterwards." Her violin was one of the few prized possessions she owned, something that had never gotten lost or broken through her years in the system. Of course she didn't play her old violin as much now. She reserved it for special occasions, using a newer one to practice with. "I was a dorky kid. I loved violin and ballet and running. God... I loved to run. Still do." She shrugged and then felt her cheeks warming. She shook her head and shut her eyes. "I can't believe we're doing this getting to know you crap." She said in a playful voice. "But since I spilled, you have to. Music. Color. Hobbies. Go."

[JACK ROCCOGRANDI]

Jack grinned when Rebecca laughed and rolled her eyes at his question. “That is basic.” He took another sip of beer, giving her a playfully expectant look. “Red. Dark red, not the flashy bright red. I guess closer to crimson.” She rolled her eyes and shook her head, making him smile. “I can’t believe I’m sitting on Roccograndi’s couch and telling him my favorite color. If only the guys saw us now.” Jack laughed, knowing what would happen if they could see them now. The guys would be high fiving him left and right. He wouldn’t tell her that though. He was pretty sure she would get mad if he did. “But…so you know, I like classical music. That’s pretty much the only kind I really love. I grew up listening to it, and I’ve been playing violin since I was small. I took lessons until I was twelve, but continued my studies on my own afterward.” He wouldn’t have pegged her for a violinist, but he found it suited her. She was so serious, it seemed, that classical music fit her well. He pictured her playing a violin, willowy as her figure was. It made him blink a couple times and he had to look away from her. “That’s impressive,” he said softly, finishing his beer and setting the empty bottle on the coffee table.

“I was a dorky kid. I loved violin and ballet and running. God…I loved to run. Still do.” That sounded like him. He loved any form of exercise, actually. What surprised him was the ballet part. She had a dancer’s body, so why didn’t she continue it? The way her cheeks flushed a little made him smile inwardly. Why was she so nervous to tell him about herself? She closed her eyes and shook her head. “I can’t believe we’re doing this getting to know you crap.” He laughed softly, scratching his beard. Maybe it was crap, but he liked it. Jack had a lot of friends, but none that he really considered himself close to. It was interesting getting to know someone this way. “But since I spilled, you have to. Music. Color. Hobbies. Go.” Jack chuckled and rubbed his hand as he considered. “Color is dark green. Like a forest green. Music is rock. I prefer old school rock, but I like more modern bands too. As for hobbies…I like sports, baseball most of all. I used to play in high school and I’m a huge Boston Red Sox fan. When I was younger, I kind of fixated on the Sox because I was on the Red Sox T-ball team and just came to love them even though I have no connection to Boston whatsoever. I’m thinking of becoming a coach for the T-ball league here in town, since I’ve got the time and I like kids. I also like running and hiking. I’m outside as often I can be when I have free time.” He gave her a lopsided smile, realizing he kind of took her question and ran with it.

“I was that kid whose mom could never find him because I was always running away somewhere. I was climbing trees or playing in the woods, collecting frogs…the typical little boy,” he said with a soft chuckle. “I would drive her nuts when I brought frogs home. I hid one in my sister Andie’s bed one time. She still can’t stand them.” The memory made him grin, remembering the way he got reamed out for that, but being so damn proud of himself for making Andie scream after she wrecked his fort. His eyes came back to Rebecca’s, recalling she played the violin. “I used to play the saxophone when I was in middle school, but I wasn’t that great at it. I just took band because they made us do some kind of music education. I wanted an extra period of gym, but they wouldn’t let me do that.” He gave a playful shrug. “What about ballet? Do you still do that?” he inquired. She looked like she could, with her graceful figure, and he would find that so interesting. He had never met a cop who was also a ballerina. It made him wish he could see her dance.

[REBECCA TAYLOR]

Jack was more than eager to spill about himself, which she found more than a little interesting. He was sweet, and a typical guy in many ways, but none of them in the bad ways. "I’m thinking of becoming a coach for the T-ball league here in town, since I’ve got the time and I like kids. I also like running and hiking. I’m outside as often I can be when I have free time.” He gave her a lopsided smile she raised her brows at him. He wanted to coach kids? She felt her heart warm a little for this guy. He actually wanted to coach kids and he didn't even have a kid on the team! It was admirable to say the least and she felt herself liking him just a little more for his pure heart. The world needed more Jack's.

“I was that kid whose mom could never find him because I was always running away somewhere. I was climbing trees or playing in the woods, collecting frogs…the typical little boy,” She found she was hanging on every words, her eyes focused on him semi intently as her head rested on the back of his couch. How had he broken through her wall by saying something so silly? She knew he hadn't gotten in completely. No one ever did, and she would push back once the comment faded from her mind some, but she felt at ease suddenly, like she could trust him.

She grinned as he explained his antics as a boy and rolled her eyes at him. Boys had their ways of annoying their sisters. Sam had done his fair share of pestering as a boy, but she didn't have the luxury of knowing what kind of man he would have become. Sam would have been good and kind, and she like to think he would want to coach little league, too. He had played baseball, and she was familiar with the sport since her parents made her go to all the games, like Sam came to all her recitals and track meets. It's simply how the family was; close and supportive. Losing them had been a true shock to her system, because Becky had never found the same level of support from any caregiver again. Maxi had always been supportive, but she had been a peer, not a parent.

“What about ballet? Do you still do that?”

His question took her by surprise and she lifted her head a bit, that warm gushy feeling slipping away a little as the spotlight landed on her once more. "Sometimes." She offered softly, shaking her head and turning her bottle around in her lap. She gulped and blushed a little, a nervous kind of grin on her face because she didn't know what other kind of expression to make. "When I was old enough to get a job I started working so I could afford to take classes. I actually received a scholarship towards college from dancing. I did it for years, even during school but stopped once I joined the academy. Law enforcement and ballet just didn't seem to coexist properly so I had to give one up. Plus it fucked my feet up." She grinned again bashfully, taking a deep swing from her bottle and finally draining it. "I would appreciate if you didn't tell anyone I dance. Sort of a secret I guess. It's tough enough trying to come off as being macho." She knew he wouldn't. "Maybe I'll coach little league with you."

[JACK ROCCOGRANDI]

“Sometimes.” The bashful way Rebecca looked at him and smiled made Jack swallow hard. There weren’t many officers of the law that he would call cute, but right now, sitting on his couch in her pajamas with that embarrassed smile on her face, Rebecca Taylor was cute. “When I was old enough to get a job I started working so I could afford to take classes. I actually received a scholarship towards college from dancing. I did for years, even during school but stopped once I joined the academy. Law enforcement and ballet just don’t seem to coexist properly so I had to give one up. Plus it fucked my feet up.” Jack chuckled a little, finding her dancing background interesting. She had to be fit and strong to be a dancer, and graceful. Plus, she must have been good to get a scholarship. It made him wonder what it would be like to see her dance.

“I would appreciate it if you didn’t tell anyone I dance. Sort of a secret I guess. It’s tough enough trying to come off as being macho.” Jack gave a soft laugh. “My lips are sealed. I understand the need for a reputation,” he replied, giving her a reassuring and amused smile. He felt pretty proud of himself for having found out one of Rebecca’s secrets. She was definitely the type to keep to herself, yet she had shared a tiny secret with him. It meant she trusted him, if only a little, and it felt like a gigantic step forward with her. But forward to what? He knew where he wanted this to go, but he also knew how difficult it would be to get there. Did that matter, though? The satisfaction he got from just finding out that one private thing about Rebecca made him want to discover more, made him want to know what it would be like to say he knew Rebecca Taylor. It would take a lot of effort, he was aware of that, but he figured it couldn’t hurt to try.

“Maybe I’ll coach little league with you.” He smiled wide, genuinely pleased by this notion. “You know baseball enough to coach?” he inquired playfully, as if he was challenging her lightheartedly. The thought of coaching on the weekends with Rebecca…it was nice. To see her with a baseball cap on and a team shirt, surrounded by a bunch of little boys…It was a great picture and he took a quiet pleasure in it. “What if we ended up coaching rival teams? I think my team would kick your team’s ass.” He gave a lighthearted shrug of his big shoulders. “Just saying.”

[REBECCA TAYLOR]

“You know baseball enough to coach?” Did she know baseball enough to coach? No. She knew baseball, though. She knew what each position did and in what order they had to run the bases, but she supposed teaching would be out of the question. She would likely screw those kids all up. "Maybe." She shot back, her eyes narrowed slightly at him, but it was all playful.

“What if we ended up coaching rival teams? I think my team would kick your team’s ass.” She actually laughed. "Alright, normally I would fight tooth and nail to be on top but I think I have to agree with you. My team would probably lose on the field, but afterwards your team would get the shit beaten out of them in the parking lot by mine, because we're not losers." She smiled and looked down into her laugh, letting out a soft little laugh. Had she really just threatened his baseball team?

"I'm sorry.." She laughed, peaking up at him. "I wouldn't really let my kids beat yours up. I would teach them good sportsmanship, but the point here is they would be able to. And that's what's important." She tried to look serious but was failing miserably. Where the hell had this playful side of Rebecca come from?

"Jeez, it must be getting late if I'm joking. I'm getting punchy. How much alcohol was even in this beer?" She looked at the bottle as if it was somehow to blame for her behavior and then shrugged, shaking her head. "Seriously.. I think it's really great you want to coach baseball. I would never be able to. Maybe dance.. I'm good with kids but not great at teaching them stuff. I did my fair share of babysitting growing up." She explained and sighed. "What time is it, anyway?"

[JACK ROCCOGRANDI]

“Alright, normally I would fight tooth and nail to be on top but I think I have to agree with you. My team would probably lose on the field, but afterwards your team would get the shit beaten out of them in the parking lot, because we’re not losers.” Jack laughed loudly, imagining the brawl that would ensue between the kids in the parking lot. It would be a gigantic mess and Jack knew Rebecca wouldn’t actually instigate something like that. Knowing little boys, that brawl might start on its own, though, and it would be up to Jack and Rebecca to break it up. He could imagine throwing one kid over his shoulder while Rebecca held the other one back. It was a pretty funny picture.

“I’m sorry. I wouldn’t really let my kids beat yours up. I would teach them good sportsmanship, but the point here is they would be able to. And that’s what’s important.” Jack grinned, laughing lightly. “Yeah, keep telling yourself that, Taylor. If that will help you psych yourself up to go against my team,” he teased. He liked the playful rapport they were building up. Perhaps he couldn’t bring it out much at the office, but maybe if they ran into each other alone he could. Maybe if she would agree to go to drinks with him sometime even…having drinks at his place was nice, though. It was quiet, un-crowded, and just the two of them, so no interruptions.

“Jeez, it must be getting late if I’m joking. I’m getting punchy. How much alcohol was even in this beer?” Jack grinned at the way she looked at her bottle as if it was to blame. “Not much. You’re just a lightweight,” he teased. With that build of hers, he wouldn’t be surprised. “Seriously…I think it’s really great you want to coach baseball. I would never be able to. Maybe dance…I’m good with kids, but not great at teach them stuff. I did my fair share of babysitting growing up.” He liked to think of her with kids. She probably would be good with them, and they would respect her with her demeanor. “I’m sure you could coach baseball. You could be a base coach. You just tell them when to go and when to stop,” he explained. “But dance might be a better fit.”

“What time is it anyway?” Jack looked around at the clock on the stove in the open kitchen. “It’s almost 10:30,” he replied. “Do you need to go? If you don’t have to, you can stay if you want. It’s fine by me either way. Though maybe I shouldn’t let you behind the wheel.” He was joking and he had an amused smile on his face as he watched her. Jack could have sat and talked with Rebecca all night if she wanted. He knew he couldn’t keep her there, though, and they did have work in the morning. If she wanted to leave, he wasn’t going to stop, even if he wanted to. Rebecca was good company, even if she didn’t think so, and he wondered if she thought the same about him. It would be nice to do this again.

[REBECCA TAYLOR]

“It’s almost 10:30, do you need to go?" It wasn't that late, but by the time she got home and settled it would be eleven and that was if she left right then. She didn't necessarily need to go, but she knew she should. Plus, she was getting far too comfortable around Jack and she needed to stop before she said something she regretted. She didn't want to spread her dirty laundry around and though she was confident he wouldn't say anything, she didn't want him to look at her any differently. He didn't want him to pity her the way so many people did, and at the rate of their conversation she would be spilling in no time.

"If you don’t have to, you can stay if you want. It’s fine by me either way. Though maybe I shouldn’t let you behind the wheel.” He was joking but she had to force the smile. The thought of sleeping on his couch gave her strange feelings. It was strictly friendly, but it was pushing the line for Rebecca. She had spent far too many nights in beds that didn't belong to her, and she didn't much care to do it voluntarily. Plus sleeping at a coworkers house was just... well, weird. She hardly knew him despite their little pow wow and he certainly didn't know her. Plus it made for some awkwardness, and she didn't have clothes so she would need to go home anyway...it just didn't sound like ti would work.

"I'm sure I'm under the legal limit." She taunted back, with a little grin. "I should probably go, though. It's getting late and we both have to get up early.." She looked down into her lap at the empty bottle and then handed it to Jack a little anxiously. "That's for everything today, Jack. For checking this all out, and being cool with it.. and for the beer, too." She smiled gently at him and got to her feet. "Next time the beers on me." There was no meaning behind it, it was simply friendly like everything Rebecca did. It wasn't that she wasn't interested in Jack. Had things in her life been differently, she certainly would have seen him as an attainable partner and gone for him, but there were walls in Rebecca's life that she needed to have broken down for her to see straight, and for others to get in to see her for who she was. She was far weaker than the front she put up. "See you in the morning?" Her voice was soft and delicate, not the rough she tended to lean towards when talking to coworkers. Tonight Jack wasn't a colleague, though. He was a friend. A friend she hardly knew, but a friend none the less. Even she couldn't deny that this could lead to something good.

[JACK ROCCOGRANDI]

“I’m sure I’m under the legal limit.” Jack chuckled some, knowing Rebecca probably was. “I should probably go, though. It’s getting late and we both have to get up early…” She handed him her empty bottle and he took it loosely in his hand. “Thanks for everything today, Jack. For checking this all out, and being cool with it…and for the beer, too.” He gave her that lopsided grin and got to his feet too, following her lead. Once more, he was towering over her, but they had equaled the ground between them some this evening. “Next time beer’s on me.” He felt a little surge go through him. Next time? There would be a next time? He knew in the morning, this would all feel like some strange dream, having Rebecca here in his apartment and getting to know her, but a dream he would like to repeat. Maybe it wouldn’t be here in his home, but anywhere was fine by him. Tonight had just solidified his interest in becoming closer to Detective Taylor, even if all they became was friends.

“See you in the morning?” The softness of her voice…she didn’t sound like that in the office, and probably never would. Around the station house, she would maintain that authoritative, almost rough edge to her voice, Taylor’s voice. But here, she was just Rebecca, and he liked Rebecca’s soft tone. It was almost sweet, and he had to clear his throat to calm the way his heart stopped a moment. “Yeah, see you in the morning,” he replied with a kind smile, his deep voice quieter in his home as well. At the office, he had more command in his voice, but he didn’t need that in his living room.

“Be careful getting home,” he told her, walking her to the door. Again, it was habit. He didn’t want to reach for the door, this time, though. It seemed rude, like he was kicking her out of his apartment. “I don’t want to see you in the drunk tank when I get to the station in the morning.” He liked this playful back-and-forth he had established with Rebecca, and he grinned down at her. Jack sincerely hoped this wouldn’t all change in the light of day, that she wouldn’t decide she didn’t like him after all. He’d made so much progress, after all.