TEMPORAL NOTE: This takes place sometime between Partners, Pt. 2 and Glory Days.....

Memories
by Cgreene2@aol.com

	Rita grinned at him, her green eyes glowing in the dark room.  "But as long
as you're working with me, you're not even going to come close."
	He grinned back.  "I wasn't making a play."  He said.
	She laughed softly and turned her head.  "Oh."  She turned back to face him
and her half smile slowly disappeared.  "But as soon as they separate us, I
will race you to the nearest motel."
	He smiled.  "I couldn't take that chance, Sam.  I am so good in bed I'd
explode that balloon in your head in the first thirty minutes.  I just
wouldn't want that on my conscience."
	"Well, we'll just have to wait and see, huh?"  She said.  He could see the
desire in her eyes, and he knew the same look was in his own.  He reached up
and smoothed the hair away from her face.
	"Yeah, we'll just have to wait and see."

	Chris Lorenzo turned over and glanced at the clock.  It read 1:30 a.m.
 Chris groaned.  He'd been trying to go to sleep for two hours.  All he could
think of was her.  He couldn't get her off his mind.  She'd been his best
friend for years.  He trusted her unconditionally and nobody on earth knew
him better.  He loved her more than life itself; he admitted it now.  She was
all he could want, even a few things he didn't know he wanted.  They'd been
lovers for a few weeks, but they had to keep it quiet.  They had noticed the
looks Captain Lipschitz had been giving them lately, so they had decided to
spend the night apart and come to work separately the next day.  Because of
that, Chris was in his bed, alone, thinking about her.  He glanced at the
clock again.  1:31 a.m.  He sighed.  It was going to be a long night.

	She and Chris sat across from each other in the garden.  She said, "In a lot
of the most important ways, you're my best friend."
	Chris smiled.  "I've never had a better friend in my whole life, Rita."
	She took a deep breath.  "You know that I love you, don't you?" 
	He laughed a little.  "Yeah.  I saw that in the Soul Search."  He paused a
moment.  "I love you, too."
	"But, I'm not in love with you."
	"Oh, no, I'm not in love with you either.  I saw that as well."  Chris
paused again and smiled slightly.  "Maybe, someday.  We will both look into
the right one's eyes."

	Rita Lance lay in bed, staring at the ceiling.  How many years had they
wasted denying it?  They'd denied it to everyone, to each other, even to
themselves.  And now?  Rita sighed.  Her heart was his; it always had been.
 They'd been partners for years, friends for twice as long.  Everyone had
always wondered abut them.  Their significant others had always been jealous.
 They were so close; nothing had ever been able to separate them.  She
remembered all the times he'd held her in his arms, the nights they'd spent
talking until the wee hours of the morning.  They'd been there for each other
through bullets and kidnappings, friends and lovers.  They'd laughed
together, they'd cried together.  They'd taken long walks on the beach, and
sipped wine with pizza.  She'd fallen in love with him the moment she saw
him; she admitted it now.  There was no turning back.  Rita glanced at the
clock and groaned.  1:31 a.m.  It was going to be a long night.

	Rita walked into the station in a skin tight black dress, her brown hair
falling around her shoulders.  His eyes widened when he saw her.  She smiled
at him.  "You like the dress?"
	"No, I don't like the dress!  Sammy, that's not a dress, it's a Band-Aid!"
	When Rita turned away from him and Tyler, he leaned close and whispered,
"Rita is more than a partner to me.  She's my best friend.  You should know
that." 
	Tyler smirked.  "I understand.  Do you want to step outside and check the
tires on my car, make sure they're safe?"
	"No.  You hurt her and I'll rip your lungs out."

	She'd looked gorgeous.  Chris had been jealous and he knew it.  Sight
unseen, he'd hated Tyler.  Meeting him hadn't changed his opinion.  Chris
shook his head to clear it and turned over onto his stomach.  He buried his
head in the pillow.

	They sat together in a dim room, Chris massaging her feet.  They talked
about love, then she put her feet down.  They sat close together for a
moment, Chris holding her hand.  She smiled at him.  "Buy you a pizza,
partner?"
	"No, not tonight.  Melissa is keeping something warm for me."  He pressed
her hand to his lips.
	She laughed a little.  "Yeah, I bet."
	"You have a good night."
	"You, too."
	"See you tomorrow."  He stood and left.
	"Okay."  She said softly, staring after him.

	Rita fluffed up her pillows and snuggled back down.  How many nights had she
wished Chris were with her when he was out on a date?  He was always so
protective of her, and he never liked the guys she dated.  Rita sighed and
closed her eyes.  But, after a few moments, they drifted back open.

	They were walking on the beach together.  The man they had both considered a
friend had killed himself, after revealing he was a dirty cop.  He was having
a hard time dealing with it.  "I can't grieve for him.  He tried to kill you.
 All I feel for him right now is hate."  He had said.  He was hurt and angry
and afraid of what might have happened.  He also worried if he could ever
reach that point.  Rita was willing to be more forgiving.  She smiled at him.
 "I think if we hold on to each other, we won't drift too far away."  She
said, hugging him.

	Chris turned over onto his back.  He glanced at the clock.  1:40 a.m.

	Chris' arm was around her as they walked toward the water.  "I lived through
the worst thing in the world.  I lost you."  He pulled her close.  "But, now
I've got you back.  I feel like I've been given a second chance."  He'd held
her tightly as she kissed his cheek.

	Rita turned over onto her stomach.  She glanced at the clock.  1:40 a.m.
 She squeezed her eyes shut.

	Rita stood in front of him.  The cut on his forehead was bandaged, and there
was blood all over the front of his shirt.  She hugged him tightly, then
stepped back, crossing her arms.  "I wasn't scared, not for a minute."
	He sighed.  "Neither was I."

	Chris sighed deeply and ran his fingers through his hair.  1:43 a.m.

	She sat by the ambulance.  The medic had said she was okay.  Chris came
running up.  He'd been back from Boston for less than an hour.  He folded her
in his arms, whispering to her softly.  He was so thankful she was okay.
 From a distance, Captain Harry Lipschitz looked on in concern.

	Rita kicked the comforter off her legs  She flipped over on her back.  1:44
a.m.

	They sat together on his couch, Rita in his green robe.  He was massaging
her shoulders.  "I went to Boston to find out if I was in love.  And, I am.
 But, not with Jillian."  He kissed her at last.  No pretending, no
play-acting.  After a moment, he stood.  "Look, I'm sorry, that was a
mistake.  I didn't mean to dump this on you.  Uh, I'm going to go upstairs
and make up the bed, so if you want to get some sleep, you can."
	Rita stood up in front of him and put her hands on his chest.  "Chris."
	"Look, Sam, I don't want to lose your friendship.  You're the most important
thing in my life." 
	"Shh." She kissed him.
	"Sam, is this a mistake?"  He whispered, kissing her.
	"This is crazy.  We shouldn't do this."  She said, kissing him back.
	"We could stop."  He looked into her eyes and smiled a little.  Knowing what
her answer would be, he asked, "Do you want to stop?"
	"No, I don't want to stop."  She whispered. 
	"I can't stop."  He said, kissing her deeply.   The green robe fell to the
floor as he gathered her in his arms.

	Chris couldn't stand it anymore.  He reached over and grabbed the phone, his
fingers dialing rapidly.  It was 1:45 a.m.
	Rita grabbed the phone the minute it rang, her heart pounding.  "Hello?"
	"I can't sleep."
	She gripped the phone tightly.  "Neither can I.  I miss you."
	"I miss you, too.  Oh, God, Rita, I want you so bad."
	"How soon can you get here?"
	"I'll be there in 10 minutes."

	By 2:00 am, they were holding each other tightly.
	You're my best friend, Chris.
	"Rita, I love you."
	I've never had a better friend in my life, Rita.
	"I love you, too, Chris."
	As their lips met, the memories fade and sleep was quickly forgotten.  It
was indeed a long night.
  



NOTE:  I'd like to thank the authors of these various episodes.  I could not
have done this without them!  I know these episodes aren't word perfect, and
I'm sorry, but I don't have all of them on tape! :-)