GCPD meets London

[breakstherules]

Continued from here

[Louise stood up, pushing herself away from the wall, a grimace marring her delicate features as her shoulder made her wince slightly.]

The Falcones--they know your face, then, do they?

[Casing the cellar of the small tower block, she was looking for a lift that might take them up and inside the building, unseen. Taking her phone out of her blazer, she texted Lestrade back at HQ:

Check Chatham House, Charing Cross. See if vacancies. How soon can we rent one? Need to lay low for the time being. Keep this quiet. --L.]

They do.

[They knew the GCPD far too well, if you asked Jim. As she looked in one area, he looked in another, checking on the people, taking note of each of their faces before meeting back with Louise.]

Find anything?

Comments

[doomed_copper]

[She hears back from HQ, and sighs shortly in relief.]

Yes. [She flashes him the location of the flat from her phone.]

Come on. [She motions to the lift situated back to the left.]

The less people who have gotten our faces locked into their minds, the better. I don't relish my photo appearing on Sky News tomorrow.

[breakstherules]

[Unfortunately it took hours before they were in the safe house, well into the evening of the day, which was spent getting people to safety and assuring the place was locked down (which was mostly Jim's fault. He never gives less than 110% on any task once determination sets in).

He didn't care that he hadn't eaten all day just pulled his firearms off and secured it within the small bedside table before he flopped on the bed with a sigh and rubbed at his tired eyes.]

[doomed_copper]

[For her part, Louise did much the same, sinking into the chair to the side of the bed once she'd disarmed herself. Pulling her handbag off the table, she fished in it and tossed a packet of crisps at him, landing them perfectly upon his chest whilst taking out a packet of almonds and cashews and opening it.]

[breakstherules]

[He studies the bag, curious of the flavor, one that didn't exist in the U.S. and glanced over to her.]

That's all you're eating?

[He finally sits up, one leg hanging over the edge of the bed.]

They didn't stock us anything, did they?

[And he assumed room service was out of the question for the night. Not that he was greatly hungry, just wondering what his options were the following day, which he wished he could sleep away.]

[doomed_copper]

[She eyes him gamely before snorting lightly.]

It's all I have.

[Louise's eyes widen at the mention of 'stock' as a laugh escapes from her throat despite herself.]

You've got to be joking. We're lucky we secured this oh-so-lovely gaf on such short notice.

[She tosses him the telephone directory.]

I think a takeaway is going to be our best bet.

[breakstherules]

Watch that shoulder of yours.

[He nodded over to her before setting the phone book down. Even after everything today, he wasn't in the mood for food; maybe tomorrow.]

How long do you suppose we'll be holed up in here?

[They didn't get much of a briefing.]

[doomed_copper]

[She gave him a withering look as she popped several nuts into her mouth, chomping on them loudly, purposefully.]

Cheers, granddad.

[As to his other question, the redhead shrugged.]

To be honest? I'm more concerned about getting an honest night's rest than I am setting about figuring out how to get out of this hole in the wall.

[She shot him a pointed look as she rubbed her shoulder and pushed herself up from the chair, unbuttoning her blouse and tossing it blithely on the desk, revealing a boyish tank top and the rest of her bandaging. Casting Jim a thin smile, she kicked off her shoes and flopped on the bed as well, though several feet away.]

[breakstherules]

[Feeling like he's gawking (though she didn't give him ample warning), he looked away as she undressed. It wasn't until he felt the bed sink in from her weight did he finally look over.

Taking the cue, he unbuttoned his shirt and hung it on the backing a chair, and shoes followed en suit, leaving him in a white sleeveless shirt and trousers. Pulling back the cover, he tucked himself in bed on the opposite side.]

As you can tell, I don't do 'sitting still' very well.

[doomed_copper]

Nor do I.

...Usually takes something like this [She nodded towards her shoulder--] to sideline me.

[She set her smartphone atop the nightstand, and checked the battery--55%. It'd last till morning, at least. By then they should have news. Still lying on top of the covers, she stared at the ceiling, wide-awake although her body was exhausted.]

[breakstherules]

[He's lying on his back too, staring at the ceiling as well mulling over his actions today: where did things go wrong? Where could have thing gone better?

What would be their next plans?]

We need to figure out how many are involved in this network, perhaps that'll give us clues where they're lying in wait.

[doomed_copper]

[Her eyes roll backwards into her head as she sighs impatiently, putting an arm behind her head in an effort to relax a bit more.]

JIM. We've had a hellish, beyond-shit day. I've narrowly missed being killed, not once, but twice, I've got no painkillers for this shoulder, and we are painfully out of alcohol.

[She shifts to her side, balancing her head on her palm.]

[breakstherules]

[Which was his cue to turn down the work chatter.]

Sorry.

[He glanced over to her trying to gauge her pain level, a frown upon his face recognizing that she was only a day post-op, still had a risk for reopening the wound, and the lack of pain medicine would place her probably right at agony level about now with the adrenaline pushing her through everything wearing off. He had been shot before himself, and knew very well the first few days were the worst.]

How badly does it hurt?

[doomed_copper]

[Having purposefully laid down so that her bad shoulder had the pressure taken off it, Louise took another pillow and shoved it halfway under the first one to give her better support. Regarding him under long lashes as she sat back, she winced.]

I'd imagine it's right up there with a kidney stone; which is why copious amounts of alcohol would have helped.

[Grabbing her phone, she sent a quick message to HQ, enquiring if any medication could be delivered via an anonymous courier to the safe house.]

[breakstherules]

[She should have kept the sling, but he wasn't going to say anything more on that. It was too late and shit hit the fan. If she were still in the hospital, she would've still been getting morphine through an IV, at least through the day.

He now shifts onto his side, looking at her.]

Tell me about the last holiday you took.

[It was a random question, but he was hoping the distraction would help.]

[doomed_copper]

[She can't shoot people with a sling, Jim. Come on, son.

Sitting up a bit, she tried to get as comfortable as she could before answering.]

Had two weeks in Nice a few years back...[And here she closed her eyes in remembrance, the sea air almost within reach.] ...I could get used to the French Riviera, you know. Just whiling away the afternoons in a seat at an outdoor café under an umbrella with an espresso or a glass of rosé, just watching the world go by.

[Just then, her phone vibrated with a message from the Yard: someone was on their way with proper painkillers and a spare charger for their mobiles.

Louise texted back:

That sounds heavenly. Would it be too much to ask for a takeaway, as well? We've not eaten in ages. --L]

[breakstherules]

A fan of people watching?

[He's done too much of it, personally, a 'mode' he seemed unable to turn off despite how much he wanted to. But he's more interested in her opinions and providing the distraction.

When there was a knock at the door, he had his gun in hand and answered with a readiness for battle all over again, only to be relieved it was one of their own men with food and pain killers.

The next minute later he's happily eating through chinese food out of the little container, though he would've been content to fall asleep right then and there.]

[doomed_copper]

[She had hoped they would've brought her favourite, Rajdoot London's chicken tikka biryani, but alas. At least the moo goo gai pan in the little paper box looked appetising. Taking several large bites, along with a bit of rice, she chewed and smiled, the painkillers finally starting to kick in, thank fuck.]

Yes. I adore it. It's virtually all I want to do on holiday; just absorbing the pulse of the town I'm in.

You? What was yours?

[breakstherules]

Camping.

[He comments, finishing the last bite of food before setting the box for safe keeping later.]

I was in the military before joining the police. So anywhere without... chaos. Anywhere away from the city is appreciated from time to time.

[It had been a long, long time since he had camped, before joining the PD.]

[doomed_copper]

[She sets hers aside as well, stifling a little laugh as he speaks.]

Sounds like that was ages ago.

What about now? I mean, we're still in the city, only just been shot at, we've a madman on our hands intent on killing us, and we're shacked up in a tower block. Sounds like 'paradise' to me.

[She gives him a lightly taunting smile, the meds responsible for it.]

[breakstherules]

[It was about as close to paradise as he'll get given the circumstances.]

You'll have to come to Gotham sometime.

[It was worse than London, although this week was shaping up to being pretty shitty.]

And it was ages ago. I just never had time to go back.

[He met Barbara shortly after joining the force and things got serious before becoming chaotic. She 100% didn't appreciate camping, even though she swore up and down it was 'fine'.

He gets up and moves the take out cartons into the mini fridge in the room before joining Louise back on the bed.]

I can tell the medicine is working, you look less pained right now.

[doomed_copper]

Oh? Think Gotham is worse than this not-so-United Kingdom, do you?

[As he moved away, she let her eyes close slightly, feeling far more comfortable than she had in several hours. When Jim sat back down upon the bed, her lids fluttered back open as she focused upon him.]

Ha. About fifty per cent less pained, thank you.

[Nodding over to the supplies on the table, she frowned a bit.]

Come morning, you'll have to help me change these plasters. Can't risk infection.

[Collapsing back atop the pillow fort which was supporting her, Louise let out a heavy sigh.]

D'you miss it? Back home, that is. [She lifted her eyes again, levelling them on Jim.]

Have...anyone special there, even?

[breakstherules]

[Jim eases himself back down into the bed, pulling sheets up over himself, ending at his chest.]

Mm, Gotham is a love-hate relationship. I love to hate it, and I hate to love it. Crime is getting worse, though. I have a feeling it's reaching a breaking point soon...

[And to answer her question.]

I did, but we went our separate ways before I came out here.

[doomed_copper]

[She crinkles her nose, shaking her head--] What. D'you mean Falcone....and now his contacts overseas in Wiles?

[At his next remark, Louise's interest is well piqued, and she pushes herself up on her good shoulder.]

Oh? What was she like? Or...he.

[Come on. It's 2015, Jim.]

[breakstherules]

That's part of it.

[The mess with the mob families was only a part of the scandal. Not to mention the serial killer that had captured his ex and the chaos that was to rescue her.]

She [Jim totally didn't swing that way.] is a smart woman. A doctor, actually. I met her while I spent some time at the Insane Asylum and then she became a medical examiner for the GCPD.

[Things had been intense initially, but eventually they didn't see eye to eye and grew to disagree far too often. Perhaps it was very convenient to need to go to London at this time.]

[doomed_copper]

What was the rest of it? And how much more of it is going to follow us here?

[At the emphasis on the word 'she', and the pointed look Jim gave her, an amused if slightly half-drugged smile played at the corners of her lips.]

What happened?

[She murmured this under half-lidded eyes, needing him to keep her talking and awake.]