#1 - "Welcome to Kansas City"

Detective Kate Warne had always prided herself on her skill of reading people. She could tell when they were hurting, when they were scared, and sometimes even if they were lying. Determining character was almost a natural skill for her once the war between the state's was over, but when it came to William Pinkerton, she found herself strangely confused.

When Kate first met Will Pinkerton, she honestly didn't know what to think. She knew he was Allan's son and figured he must be sharp and clever like his father. She also couldn't deny that he was a handsome man. He was tall, blond, and had striking blue eyes that most likely left girls dizzy in their daydreams. But all thoughts of admiration and speculation flew out the window once she began to speak with him and his true personality became known. It was evident that he was a condescending, stubborn, immature misogynist, and it made her want absolutely nothing to do with him.

Then Allan said he was leaving, and they were forced to work together.

He wants me to babysit his son, more like it, Kate thought indignantly afterwards. She just couldn't see how Allan Pinkerton, a kind, intelligent, just man, could have a son so different and so difficult! And why did they have to be stationed in Kansas City, of all places? The dusty little western town wasn't her exact ideal of home sweet home.

But she was Kate Warne, and she wasn't going to let a few bumps in the road jostle her off her path to greatness. Even with all the doubt the world (and her unenthusiastic partner) was showering on her, she was determined to stay strong and pave the way for women of future generations to come.

And so Kate accepted her placement and repeated the vow she had made to herself when she first became a detective. She would never run from the problems she faced, and she would deal with them head on, like she always did.

Within her first few weeks in Kansas City her unspoken promise was already put to the test, but she prevailed in every way. She dealt with the scoffing and scorning of people who believed she was unfit for a "man's job," and she endured Will's air-brained remarks and retorted every time he made a witty comment in her expense. It quickly became common knowledge within the town that those who messed with Kate Warne were fools. There was a reason that Allan Pinkerton considered her to be the best detective he had; she was smart, and determined to do her job.

It was only when Allan left for Chicago (for good this time), that Kate felt her confidence began to waver. Allan Pinkerton had been her mentor ever since she first stepped foot into the sleuthing world. He took her under his wing and personally trained her, and he cared for her like she was his own daughter. She had never been on a case without Allan, and it would take a while for her to remember that he was no longer nearby for assistance. But if he trusted her enough to make her the head detective in Kansas City, then she was going to live up to her title and make him proud.

However, the job was harder than she had anticipated, thanks to Will Pinkerton.

They were so opposite in everyway. He always wanted to take action and rush headlong into danger, whereas she wanted to make plans and think ideas through without involving conflict. They went head to head on so many things, yet somehow they managed to work together and solve the mysteries they were presented with.

Someday's Kate wanted to poison him, and then other days she found she was actually amused by Will's random quips and his gung-ho personality.

"Are all men in this town so infuriating?" Kate asked one afternoon when she was in the Dubois, only shortly after she and Will had yet another disagreement. It was only over whose horse was better behaved, but it still left her cross, especially when it turned out his horse had more manners.

The beautiful bar-keep, Annalee Webb, only winked and handed Kate a shot glass full of whiskey. "Welcome to Kansas City."

A/N: The first few chapters will be kind of an intro plus a recap of what happened in the series. Also, thanks to anyone who read this - I'm hoping this fandom will grow slowly but surely :)