Trip to Egypt (Capital Holiday Sequel)

Chapter One

Hello everyone. Long time, no post! I know that at the end of 'Memories' I said I'd be taking a 'short break', but it turned out to be much longer than I had expected. School, Year 11, prep-ing for exams, you know the routine. ;)

I've not disappeared, so no worries, and I will try to update this a frequently as possible (since it's currently half term, starting Monday) and that means I'll have a lot of free time, given I get my homework and revision out the way, and avoid Tumblr... Lol, like that's gonna happen, but I will try my hardest, since I feel like I'm drifting away from writing again and I really don't want to! D: I love it...

Just a warning, the first few chapters are just introduction type-of-things, but they do get to Egypt eventually, and the chapters aren't going to be as long as Capital Holidays were, since it'll help me to update quicker! Patience my lovely peeps! Don't get mad at me...

And a quick Thank You to Jade, for telling me to post tonight and reassuring me :)

Anyways, enough of my ramblings, you probably want to read this. This is my first ever sequel, and I'll admit it. I'm super nervous. I want it to live up to everyone's expectations and do just as good (if not better) than 'Capital Holiday!'... enjoy.

Roughly and entire year had rolled around since the gang had felt like they'd had a proper holiday off from work. The reason? Because it was basically true. Whenever either of them asked for some time off, it always had to be cancelled as there was always a new case or serial killer parading around the streets of San Francisco, killing innocent civilians and causing chaos. Plus with Seth Holland breathing down their necks, threatening to do as much as take their badges away if they stepped out of line (or ruined his 'precious' reputation) the stress was starting to get to each of them.

At least that's what Mal constantly thought. Thankfully he had Natara by his side the entire time, making it all bearable, so it wasn't too bad for him. They had been dating for almost a year now and Mal wanted to do something special for her.

Looking over at her one day from his desk in their office, something Mal did often, he noticed the natural gleam within her beautiful hazel eyes was starting to dim. This new case had her working night and day, despite Mal's protests and eventually having to drag her to bed some nights; and even then she refused to sleep, her brilliant mind trying to piece together everything in order to catch this psycho quickly. It just wasn't fair in his eyes. I mean, sure, he was tired from this case as well but wasn't even close to being as exhausted as his girlfriend looked.

She needed a break, he decided. And he'd give her one... somehow.

"Hey..." he said softly, causing Natara to actually look up from the files and meet his gaze. "Why don't you take a little bre-"

"No." She stated before he even had a chance to finish the sentence. "You know I can't Mal, I have to find... something. I refuse to have another innocent life taken away because some psycho decided to go all 'artistic' with a craft knife."

"Babe," he sighed "I know how you feel, I don't like it either, but you know your brain can only focus so long and work for so many hours at a time before it just gives up. You need rest. You're exhausting yourself with this case," He stood and walked up behind her, wrapping his arms around her small waist and placed his chin atop her shoulder. "It's not good for you. Please?"

Natara thought it over for a minute. On the one hand she was so tempted to continue, but on the other hand... Mal had a point and his voice was incredibly persuasive at times; she struggled to say no to him even at the best of times. She was tired she'd admit.

"Maybe a short break wouldn't be so bad..." she said eventually.

Mal smirked triumphantly and spun her around in his arms, placing a quick peck on her lips, making her giggle.

"Good, now go on. Rest."

"Fine, fine. I'm going..." she smiled.

Natara wiggled her way out of Mal's grip and closed the files, putting them into a neat little pile to return to later. Then she sighed, rubbed her temples as she walked out the office, going to get some coffee and have a short break by the water cooler. Mal watched her as she went and shook his head wearing a miniscule smile on his lips. Natara could be so stubborn sometimes, but he'd always get around that... you know, eventually.

"Don't worry Nat," Mal whispered to himself "We'll get out of here soon, you need a long well deserved break." He sighed when he looked through the bullpen and his eyes fell on Blaise and Jeremy who were bickering by their desk. "We all do."

"Listen Rookie," Blaise growled "I've told you a thousand times before; if we do it that way it'll take too long! I say we go in there all guns blazing and catch this SOB by dinner time. Then grab a drink at the Drunk Tank in time for happy hour."

"Blaise..." Jeremy sighed "We'll have more risk of injury for ourselves and the others if we do it your way and you know it! I'm not going to violate policy and risk losing my badge because you need a drink!"

"You can be so uptight!"

"Well you're so damn stubborn!"

Listening to their squabbling continue, Mal had heard about enough and rushed over, pushing himself between them and turned to face Blaise, who was sending him a death glare.

"Break. Water cooler. Now."

"Mal, I have a case, I'll take a damn break when this bastard's behind bars."

"Blaise." Mal warned.

Blaise and Mal stared each other down for a long moment before she let out an exasperated huff and turned on her heels.

"Fine!"

She stormed off towards the water cooler, leaving Mal and Jeremy together. He sighed heavily and rubbed the bridge of his nose.

"I know she can be a handful sometimes Junior... she's just stressed about the case, like we all are at the minute."

"You think?" Jeremy straightened up. "I want this guy behind bars too, you know. I just..." he trailed off and looked toward the floor with a newfound interest.

"You just...?" Mal coaxed gently.

"I just... Don't want her getting hurt."

Mal's face softened at Jeremy's words and his face broke into a small smile. He took a step forward and placed a comforting hand upon Jeremy's shoulder. He looked up and met Mal's gaze, slightly confused.

"Listen Jeremy, Blaise... she's a great girl. She's incredibly determined at her job, which I admire, and sometimes that means she goes out of her way to insure the safety of those around her. Blaise wants this case over with so no one else gets hurt. Including you." Jeremy went slightly wide-eyed, but tried his best not to show it. Even Mal using his normal name instead of a nickname means he meant business. "The whole stress-thing with her mother isn't helping her either... she hasn't had the easiest life, but she tries... look what I'm trying to say is just... promise me you'll look after her?"

Jeremy stayed silent for a short moment, taking all of it in. Instead of speaking he just nodded slowly and directed his gaze down to the floor. Mal went to walk away, when Jeremy stopped him by grabbing his arm gently.

"... y-you know?" he whispered almost inaudibly.

"About you two?" Mal smiled "Yeah. If you look, it isn't that subtle, I'm hoping she'll admit it to me soon. We tell each other everything."

"Ah..."

"Don't worry. Your secrets safe with me Redbird."

"Thanks Mal."

Mal nodded and turned around, but stopped and quickly turned back.

"Oh, and one more thing." He grew a serious face and tone that made Jeremy take a subtle step backward "You ever hurt her and I will kill you. She's one of my closest and oldest friends."

"Promise." Jeremy gulped.

"Good. Cya later then!"

Mal flashed him a grateful smile and walked deeper into the precinct, until he was out of view. Jeremy let out a long breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding and shook his head.

"Right, because that just happened." He mumbled to himself and started walking over to the water cooler after Blaise.

After conversing with Jeremy in the bullpen, Mal decided to go back to his office, which happened to be past the crime lab. As he walked past it, Mal heard the all-too-familiar sound of a small explosion and yelling. He stopped in his tracks and waited just outside the door, counting in his head.

Three... two... one...

Sure enough, the door flung open and both Amy and Kai came rushing out, coughing heavily. Mal sighed, something he had been doing an awful lot lately, and turned to Kai. Both Amy and Kai were covered in soot and some substance that to Mal was unknown.

"What happened now Kalaba?"

"Well... funny story actually, first I got up this morning and thought 'I wonder what would happen if I tried to mix-"

"Just spit it out Kai!"

"... Accidental explosion. Most likely toxic, so... we should probably move."

"Right..."

A few of the officers working in the bullpen had turned their heads to look at the scene unfolding outside the crime lab and shook their heads. Amy pulled both Kai and Mal away from the crime lab and into a safer part of the bullpen; while telling everyone that it wasn't safe, so to stay away for the time being. When they reached their destination, Amy spun on her heal and glared at Kai, who slightly sunk into himself.

"Ugh, Kai I swear you do the most stupid things ever!" Amy scolded and crossed her arms across her chest.

"Sorry... It was an experiment."

"I don't care, now my work has to be halted for god knows how long just because you felt like doing an experiment!" She huffed "Now, go and sort that explosion out so I can get back to work... Please."

Growing increasingly tired of the arguments, stressing and overall mood-downer that was the precinct at the moment, Mal interrupted and told Kai and Amy to follow him.

They made their way through the precinct, dodging busy officers as they worked and eventually turned up at the water cooler, where Blaise, Jeremy and Natara resided talking over cups of coffee. Upon seeing them, Natara's face lit up and she shuffled closer to Mal as he took a place beside her. Mal smiled and gently draped his arm around her shoulders, holding her close. Natara let her eyes flutter shut for a moment, feeling the fatigue taking over.

"Guys, there's... actually something I've been meaning to talk to you all about." Mal spoke up after a long moment of silence.

"Yeah?" Blaise inquired, setting down her coffee on a nearby table. "Like what?"

"Well, I was thinking... we all need a break before we drop. So, I want to arrange a trip like-" Mal gestured to Natara and Amy "-we did last year. I know work has been hectic lately, but we've done it once before, when Maria was captain, so why not do it again?"

Amy stayed silent and let her gaze drift to the floor; she still wasn't over Ken's untimely death, and feared that the memories would be too strong to handle. Kai also fell silent for once, sighing inwardly; Kara Yan had had to leave, on the run once more, and he had no idea where she was. If he was honest with himself he had grown tired of always waiting for her... sure, the time they actually got to spend together was awesome but she was always disappearing in the end and face it... she's a fugitive, she could never fully stay and refused to go to jail. Her only choice is to run; she told him and like that, was gone... again.

"Hold up... you're really saying we all book a holiday... and just go? At a time like this? I'm not so sure that's a good idea Mal, as tempting as it is."

"Come on Blaise... you know we need this break, we're no good to anyone in San Francisco if we're too tired to function."

"You... have a point there." Jeremy mumbled, and shifted his weight on both his legs. "But we've attempted holidays before; we always get called back in almost immediately."

"Yes, that's true Redbird but I'm going to make sure that doesn't happen this time. We did it before, we'll do it again."

"Well Mal if you can get us all a break, I'd be eternally grateful."

Natara sighed as she forced her eyes open again while Mal smiled and leaned down to whisper in her ear.

"Told you that you needed that break."

Natara laughed lightly and pushed off from him, straightening up; she nodded to everyone before turning on her heel and walking back to their office.

"I'll leave it up to you then, come on Redbird..." Blaise said softly and smiled, placing her hand on Jeremy's shoulder "Let's just finish this case."

"Couldn't agree with you more."

They both went back to work, discussing the plan they were going to do to take down one of the local drug cartels, actually getting along and compromising their decisions. Mal looked to Kai and Amy who were still lost in their own thoughts.

"Uh... guys?"

"Hmm?" Amy said, still staring into space.

Snapping his fingers in front of their faces, Mal chuckled.

"Wakey-wakey day dreamers. Don't you have a lab to de-toxinate?"

"Oh! Right!" Kai yelled, finally coming back to reality "Cya later Maligator!"

"In a while croc-kai-dile." He hummed, then mentally slapped himself for only encouraging him further.

"OMG, that is totally our thing now!"

"Ah hell. Kai, just go."

"Okay... buddy."

He rushed off towards the crime lab without another word, leaving Amy to sigh and slowly trail behind him, mumbling things under her breath.

"Why... why did I say that?" Mal grumbled and walked back to his office, where sure enough, Natara was waiting for him, busy as a bee.

He had a lot of planning to do if he was going to pull this off.