His & Her Rules

Time

I had been working with Holden and Bill for months before we got any real press on a case using our what we have learned from Ed Kemper, Montie Rissell and Jerry Brudos. We have helped work on a number of cases during our interviews, but this was the first time Holden and I actually got to apply what we have been learning and trying to put into practice. As a result we put a child murderer behind bars, even if the DA thought that they should go for the death penalty.

After we finished our case, we went to get drinks with the local beat cops and the detectives we had worked on the case with. One of the younger officers, Brassel, was no end of flirting, and not that I didn't enjoy his attention, there is someone's attention I want more. Throughout the night, while Brassel and I flirt and drink away, I kept stealing glances at Holden who is over talking to Bill and Detective Chambers. I can't help but think about the look in his eyes when I would catch him looking at me while taking my shower. He looked so protective and almost primal. Like if given the chance he would have laid out Brassel for even looking at me. I shake my head, "there is no way Holden thinks about me like that, he has a girlfriend for God's sake." I deciede to try to get my mind off of Holden and what better way then with wine and tv. I haven't finished my second glass or my first show before I hear a knock at my door. I fight the urge to turn down the tv, hoping that they will think I left it on and fell asleep, leaving me alone. But they knock again, this time the knock is followed by a voice, "Nancy, it's Holden. I know it's late, but can you please open the door."I walk over and open the door. Holden looks as though he's been crying, he has no tie and the top two buttons of his shirt are undone, "what's going on? Are you okay?"

Holden shakes his head, almost as though me asking that question sent him back over the edge, "no."

I hold out my arms and offer him a hug, "come here." Holden steps in and hugs my, placing his face into my shoulder and cries for a moment. Once he stops for a moment I pull away from him, wiping the tears off his cheeks, "sit down, I'll be right back."

Holden nods and sits on the couch, I head into the kitchen and get another glasses, another bottle of wine, and a damp rag for Holden to clean his face with. "Thank you," he looks up to me as I hand him the rag and one of the glasses.

"Of course," I sit down in my arm chair and look over to Holden , who downs the glass of wine in one gulp. "You wanna tell me what happened?"

Holden takes a deep breath, "Debbie broke up with me."

"What?"

"Yeah..."

"I'm sorry, Holden," I lean forward and place a hand on his, smiling softly, "do you want to crash here tonight?"

"If you don't mind."

I shake my head, "not at all."

Holden and I stay up most of the night talking, while I try to get his mind off Debbie. Holden laughs, "you know it's crazy, Bill thinks that I have a thing for you."

I nod, "He's mentioned that to me a few times."

"That I have a thing for you?"

"That and that he seems to think I have a thing for you." I shake my head as I finish my third glass of wine, Holden on his fifth.

"I have to say, I was a bit jealous seeing Brassel flirt with you at the bar."

"Why?"

Holden shrugs, "I'm not sure. I just didn't like it."

I click my tongue, "sounds to me like you're jealous, Holden ."

"Alright, maybe I was a little jealous."

"Of Brassel or me?"

"What do you mean?"

"Let's face it Holden, you are a beacon of me me me." I shake my head and stand up to take the glasses back into the kitchen.