Open Case File [COMPLETED]

Once and For All

Brock regarded Carter with a curious cock to his head.

"Do you really know him that well?"

Carter shrugged. "Yeah. Clint says it's cause I have trust issues so I learned all I could so I could always predict Donovan's shifts and therefore never lose him. But I don't think that's true because I don't trust Clint."

For a breath, Brock stared at Carter's deadpan face until he realized she was joking and laughed.

"Okay, then why do you know every aspect of him?"

"Because I live with him. Because he's my partner and in the field, I need to have his back. Because that's how I've always been. I learn the ins and outs of people because I care about them. It's how I know that you have something going with Sasha two floors down and you make excuses to borrow necessary items to visit her."

Brock's face darkened as he pointed a finger at her. "That's supposed to be under wraps. You can't tell anyone."

"Of course I wouldn't. I'm just explaining that when I care for people I take note of them and their lives."

"Okay. But let's get back on topic, are you willing to prove that you know Donny so well you can beat him?"

Carter thought about it. The more she did the more she liked the idea. It would be interesting to see who really was the better fighter. Where Donovan had height and strength on her, she had speed and agility.

"Yeah, let's do it. When and where?"

Grinning, Brock stood and backed up to the door. "After work, down in the gym. This way neither of you can train."

"Fair enough."

As Carter turned back to her computer, Brock stopped her.

"Carter, you should know that you might have had all that time to know Donovan, but it's true for him as well."

With the parting statement, he slipped out the door, but a second later poked his head back inside.

"One last thing, I am your favorite, right?" he asked.

"Could it be any other way?"

"That's not a real answer."

Carter smirked. "Aren't you a smart cookie."

*********

As Carter stepped out of the locker room, she paused. The noise coming from the gym was louder than she expected it to be with everyone off work and supposedly on their way home.

When she pushed through the swinging doors, she understood instantly: Brock had spread the word. Crowding around one of the floor mats were a majority of their coworkers. People that had seen Carter and Donovan in action and were excited to see that action turned on each other.

Among the crowd was Mason, exchanging words and money. Carter shook her head, she should have known. Before she could go tell Mason off for betting on this, James approached her.

"Carter, you need to win this," he said.

"James, did you seriously bet against your brother? I don't know if I should feel honored for myself or offended for Donovan."

"Feel neither, it was a logical decision."

Carter smiled, amused. "Alright, how was this a logical decision?"

James jabbed his thumb behind him where Donovan was talking to Brock and Clint.

"I know my brother is the better fighter."