<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#08610e">“Well to be fair, it's probably hard to tell which hole is which by the smell. Too bad she didn't stick it in her mouth and save our ears.”</span>In actuality their ass chewing had been somewhat milder than usual this morning as if Steele had been distracted. It was sort of half hearted compared to their normal ass chewing. Most people would have been happy to leave well enough alone but Brannigan wasn't most people. He was a detective and when things weren't as they should be, he couldn't help but want to know why.<br/><br/>His brain wasn't exactly running on all cylinders either. All it took was a little friendly bump on the shoulder from Missy. Just a little physical contact from her and his brain became disjointed. It made him feel like some teen overdosing on hormones. She said he rocked. He knew it felt good but he didn't know if it was good. Infatuation. Addiction. They both infected clear thinking. He needed to keep his head about him more than ever now. Too much could go wrong. But how was he supposed to oust someone like Missy from his mind?<br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#08610e">“I like the sound of a beer better than coffee too.”</span>She had nearly caught him napping. His brain was a million miles away.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#08610e">“How's this for a plan? I'll grab a couple coffees and meet you at your desk. We'll sort out that paperwork together and get it out the way. Then I'm buying. Be right back.”</span><br/><br/>Eric wandered off to the table where there were several pots of coffee. He lit a cigarette and started making their coffees.<i>Fuck quitting!</i>He would quit tomorrow. A familiar voice from his right drew his attention. “This is a smoke free building Brannigan. The fucking sign is right there in front of your face.” Jonathan Parks was prick. Even worse, he was a suck ass prick. He kept his head so far up Steele’s ass he could smell her breath from in there.<br/><br/>Parks had always been a prick but he had also been a good cop at one time. He was shot a few years back and lost some backbone somewhere on his road to recovery. Now he was just a worthless prick. Brannigan wasn't in the mood for his shit today.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#08610e">“You're quite the detective Parks. Thanks for the heads up.”</span>Brannigan dropped the lit cigarette fire first down into Parks’ coffee. Brannigan smiled at the sizzle of the fire being drowned out.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#08610e">“I'll put in a word for you with the boss.”</span><br/><br/>Brannigan grabbed the two coffees that he had made for him and Missy and left Parks standing there with his mouth open. He ignored the barrage of curses that Parks threw at his back as he handed the coffee to Missy.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#08610e">“So where do we start. I'm more ready for that beer than ever.”</span>