Work Text:
"A therapist? Really Danny? Like, I know things are rocky with Rachel-"
"It has nothing to do with Rachel, ok! It's the therapist the department assigned to us. Us, as in you and me! Now either we go or the governor is gonna have our hide."
"Yea, yea. Fine." Steve replied dismissively, already ignoring him.
"Yea, fine!" Danny snapped, walking out of Steve's office.
"You two still seeing that therapist?"
Danny eyed Chin suspiciously.
"Yea. Why?"
"Just wondering. You two seem a little tense lately is all."
"Yea, well, Steve is... well... he's Steve. You know what that's like."
Chin smiled knowingly, nodding.
"So, what do you got?"
"Well Kono?" Chin asked expectantly, watching as his cousin practically jumped out of her skin, "What do you have there?"
Kono sighed, turning to reveal a simple mailing envelope.
"That's for Danny. Put it back."
"Aw, come on cuz, you aren't the least bit curious?" She whined.
(2 months prior.)
"You're 'just curious'?" Chin teased, spitting the toothpaste into the sink, "yea, I've heard of her. I think she works with HPD. Any reason you ask?"
"Did you know she's a publishing academic?" Malia asked, leaning against the door jam.
Chin thought for a moment, frowning at her in the mirror. Rinsing with some water, he turned to face her.
"What are you trying to tell me?"
"Well, I know you minored in psychology and she's been asking around for an editor. Given that you're in law enforcement, I thought you may find it interesting... and while I can't definitively say anything..." She smiled widely, raising her eyebrows as she held up the page.
He glanced at the title, then back at her.
"What..."
"What the... Steven!" Danny's voice echoed off the office walls.
Chin glanced up from the tech table, watching as Danny stormed into Steve's office, throwing something onto his desk. Despite the office doors being closed, he could hear Danny as clear as day.
"What is it? I don't know, Steven. A paper perhaps? Here's an idea, read it!"
"You've already read it, haven't you?" Kono challenged, placing her beer down.
"Hm?" Chin asked, glancing over.
"That's why you weren't curious, isn't it? You know what's in that paper."
"Paper? Is that what those two are fighting about?" Chin asked, glancing over to where Steve and Danny were huddled together at the opposite end of the bar, passionately discussing something if Danny's hands were any indication.
"You're sure you're a detective? They've been fighting about that paper for a week already!" Kono exclaimed, shocked.
"Hm," Chin shrugged nonchalantly, taking a sip of his beer, "You know me, cuz. I try to stay out of the drama."
"I'm being dramatic, Steven? Our therapist is writing a how-to guide based on us! There's no way she can do this, can she? Surely it violates some privacy laws." Danny complained, trying hard to keep his voice down.
"I mean, I guess. The case study was vague enough that it could have been anyone."
"Could have? Could have? Are you serious Steven?"
"I mean it's not like anyone else knows."
"Obviously someone knows. Need I remind you, Steven, that someone knew enough to send it to me?"
"Me?" Chin asked, looking up as Steve and Danny stood in front of his desk.
"We checked the security footage," Steve stated, arms crossed, "so we just were curious as to where you got the envelope from."
"I didn't think it would be a problem. It was cleared by the mail room so I figured it was safe. Why? What was in it?"
Steve glanced over at his partner as Danny rubbed at his elbow.
"Wasn't what was in it that was the issue," Danny evaded, "but if you have any idea, we'd just… we'd like to know is all."
"Well, if I get any info, you'll be the first to know."
"I wanted you to be the first to know and appreciate all the time and effort you put into getting the case study published. Enclosed is an advanced copy for you to have.
Again, thanks for the title suggestion and if you ever decide to leave law enforcement I would happily welcome you on as my full time editor."
Chin smiled at the hand written note. Sliding the slim book from the envelope, he flipped open to the title page. Sure enough, in the simple black font, attribution for his first ever published work.
The At-Peace Officer: The case for therapeutic D/s in police partnerships.
By Mari Fischer PhD.
Edited by C. K. B.A.
