Chapter One:

Bad Day

Detective Jessica Angell pulled the blankets up further to her chin, her apartment was freezing. Her radiator had decided to stop working on one of the coldest fall nights in New York history in her opinion. She had tried to get a hold of her super for hours but finally decided to give up at 11:00 and went on to bed. Now however, she was freezing, her eyes caught a glimpse of her alarm clock on the night stand it read 2:16. "It is going to be a long night" she thought to herself.

Beep, Beep, Beep. Her alarm went off. Jessica hit the snooze button and cuddled back down under her blankets. She doze back to sleep, the sun had actually warmed up her apartment a tiny bit. She did not think she hit the snooze button more than once but when the alarm went off again the clock read 6:45. "Crappy, Crap, Crap." Jessica said out loud when she realized that she had slept in by 45 minutes. Jessica jumped out of her bed but the moment she put her feet to the floor, she realized how cold her apartment was. She pulled the blanket from her bed to wrap herself in it to keep warm. She grabbed a pair of blue jeans and a white tank top to go under the red and white striped sweater, "That's good for today" She thought to herself. She was not looking forward to the shower in this coldness. Hopefully the water would warm her up. She was finally starting to warm up, she had the water super hot, she was rinsing the shampoo out of her hair when suddenly the water went completely freezing. Jessica let out a little yelp and quickly finished rinsing her hair.

Jessica walked into the precinct 20 minutes late and not in a good mood. She was still trying to get hold of her super, she was also not to impressed that she couldn't get him on the phone. But she had left 10 interesting messages on his machine.

"You're late" Detective Don Flack said to her

"I'm aware of the time" Angell replied

"Are you aware that you missed roll call and that the cap is looking for you" Flack said

"Crappy Crap, Crap" Angell sighed

"What happened for you to be late anyhow?" Flack asked

"Bad morning I'll tell you later" She replied with a smile. Flack had that ability, he could always make her smile.

"Angell, My office please" Captain O'Bryan called to her from his door.

"Hey Angell, wait up" Flack called to her when he notice that Jess had been released from the captains office and was walking out of the precinct, "Sorry Flack I'm on the way out. Just got called out on a 261. Catch you later" She replied

"Yeah catch you later" He said as his cell went off meaning he too would soon be on the way out.

Jessica had been a detective for five years now and she had been on the force even longer. She was used to seeing things and they rarely got to her but she hated getting called out on a 261, talking to rape victims always got to her. She took a deep breath as she walked into the hospital to met the CSI detective Lindsay Monroe and talk to the lady that had just experienced the worse day of her life. Jessica spend the rest of the day taking a statement from the victim and chasing down leads that got her nowhere.

It was late and Jessica had just walked out from the interrogation room. She had a suspect but she didn't have enough evidence to hold him on, so she had to let him walk. She plopped down into her chair and took a deep breathe. It was at this point she realized she still hadn't got a hold of her super which meant her apartment was now feeling more like the north pole. She let out a sigh and placed her head down on her desk. Flack walked out of the interrogation room, he was rather pleased with himself, he just got a murderer to confess. That's when he noticed that Jess was still there, she looked like she was having a really bad day. He walked over to her desk when she didn't look up, he lightly placed his hand on her shoulder.

Jessica felt a hand on her shoulder, she nearly jumped out of her skin.

"Gee Flack, you scared the hell out of me" She said when she realized who it was.

"Sorry. You're certainly jumpy which is not like you. What's going on?" He asked

"I thought I was alone. Its late, I just didn't think anyone else was here." She replied

"Yeah I was just finishing up a case, got the guy who killed my Jane Doe" Flack said "Jessie, what's going on?" he asked again. He wasn't satisfied with her answer

"It has just been a bad day all around" Jessica answered

"Come on, I'll walk you home and you can tell me about it" He said

"I actually was going to do some more work" Jessica replied.

"The rape case, do you have anything?' he asked

"You've been talking to Lindsay. And I got nothing" Jessica replied"Look I get it, you want to get this guy. Heck I want to get this guy and it's not my case.

But I've learned it is better to get some sleep and come back in the morning with fresh eyes. Come on, let me walk you home" Flack encouraged

"Ok. Just let me get my things" Jessica said

They left the precinct and started walking the six blocks to Jessica's place. They walked in silence for a little while until Flack broke it. "So why did your day suck?' he asked

"You really want to hear about it?" Jessica asked

"Sure" He replied

"OK. Well it started last night after getting off from working a double I get home to find that my radiator in my apartment has stopped working and it is freezing. So I started calling my super at 6 and I continued until 11 at which point I gave up and went on to bed in my freezing apartment. I slept crappy because it was so cold and this morning when my alarm went off I hit the snooze button and slept in by 45 minutes. Than my shower decided to turn cold half way through and I got to work 20 minutes late. And the one day that I get into work late cap did roll call and he actually chewed me out for being late. Than I spend half the day taking a statement from my rape victim and the rest of the day tracking down the SOB that did it to her and I had to let him walk due to lack of evidence and I still can't get hold of my super so yeah its been a crappy, crappy day" Jessica rumbled

"If it makes you feel any better, you'll get the guy" Flack said

"Yeah, how do you know that?" Jessica asked

"Because you won't stop until you do, that's what makes you such a good detective" He replied

"Thanks" Jessica replied

"And your best bet is to go over and see your super in person. And if he still gives you the run around just let me know I'll go over and start flashing my badge that will get it fixed" Flack said

Jessica laughed and smiled "Thanks but you realize I have a badge to flash too. Don't worry about it, I'll handle it. And here we are home sweet freezing home"

Flack laughed, he walked her up to the building.

"Thanks again" Jessica said

"yeah for what?" He asked

"Walking me home, listening" Jessica replied and before either realized what was happening, both had leaned in and kissed. As they stood there on her porch kissing, all Jess could think about was "today just got better"