Chapter Text
Three car doors slammed one after the other as PC Yasmin Khan, PC Bill Potts, and professional low-life creep Michaela Watson exited the squad car. It was your typical cold, grey day in Sheffield, the edifice of a large prison looming overhead making it gloomier. All three woman remaining stony silent as they entered the building.
“Prisoner transfer from Sheffield central police station.” Stated Yasmin as she approached the intake desk with a surly, handcuffed Michaela and deposited the prisoner’s file onto the counter. It was only early but the woman sitting behind the desk typing away robotically looked knackered.
“Name?” She asked in a monotone and weary voice without looking up or ceasing typing.
“Mine or the perp?” Queried Yasmin, uncertain. She was only new at this job after all. Well, new-ish, second year of probation, and boy was it dragging. Definitely not the job she’d expected when she signed up fresh out of college almost 4 years ago.
The woman behind the desk stopped typing to look up and quirk an eyebrow at Yasmin. Looking suitably embarrassed, Yasmin forced out a small laugh. “Heh, sorry, haven’t had my morning coffee yet.” She swallowed nervously at the stony expression opposite her. “Her name’s Michaela Watson.” The woman dragged the file off of the counter, ignoring Yasmin.
“And the name of the officer bringing her in is...?” She looked up at Yasmin, boredom written all over her face.
“Yasmin Khan. Yaz.. to my friends.” She stuttered as the woman grimaced. “Er, sorry, PC Khan 2207.” A tittering sound of laughter could be heard from behind Yaz as her more experienced partner Bill tried to hide her amusement.
“We’ll send a guard out to escort her, wait here.” The woman - she can’t keep calling her that in her head, what does her name tag say? Margaret . Right, Margaret instructed her as she turned around to address a colleague.
“Nice one mate.” Bill said as she idled up to Yaz. They’ve known each other long enough for Bill to take the mick out of Yaz and vice versa, so she was expecting this. Bill was a great colleague and friend, but she would strike at any opportunity for some friendly banter.
“Shut up, had a brain black out for a minute there.” She paused, then added. “Don’t tell anyone on the team, I’ll never live it down.” She huffed at Bill, who was clearly suppressing laughter.
A loud buzzer sounded, drowning out Bill’s badly suppressed laughter and Yaz’s cringey thoughts. She turned to the door leading to the main prison expecting to see an officer coming to get her prisoner, but instead it was...
Her breath hitched as she saw a shoulder-length blonde prisoner clad in a red jumpsuit (a different colour to this prison’s standard Khaki) who was giving Yaz the most smoulderingly sexy look she’d ever seen in her life, and it was directed right at her. The moment they stared into each other’s eyes seemed to last a lot longer than normal, a length confusing to Yaz. Why was this woman looking at her like that, and why was it making her feel like that? Bill whistled, breaking her concentration. “Wonder what she did to earn herself a red?”
Yaz dragged her eyes away. “Huh? A what?”
“Red” Bill said as she got closer to Yaz to whisper. “Means she’s done something, like, monumentally fucked up. Like, next level kind of bad.” She raised her eyebrows for emphasis.
Yaz looked back over at the mysterious prisoner. What could she possibly have done? Yaz’s eyes scanned her as she was escorted to another desk on the other side of the room, trying to find something to give away what she might have done. The only skin exposed is her face, hands, and neck, that later two of which were covered by copious tattoos. That didn’t say anything much to Yaz unfortunately, except that maybe she has a high pain threshold. “See something you fancy?” Whispered Bill in Yaz’s ear.
“What? No!” Yaz flushed. “Just trying to figure out what she’s in for. Piss off Bill.” She nudged her colleague’s shoulder. “Never seen a red before.” She took a glance back over to see the woman being led out of the room, giving Yaz a quick glance in return.
Another door buzzed next to Yaz and a guard approached to escort the prisoner. “C’mon Watson, nice to have you back. You’ll be pleased to hear your old cell has become available, so you’ll be feeling right at home.” Michaela grinned sickly sweet and flipped her middle finger at the guard as she was led away.
Margaret slapped a stack of paper down onto the counter next to Yaz. “All yours to fill in.” Yaz blanched.
“Have fun mate, I’ll be round the corner getting us a coffee while you sort those out.” She patted Yaz on the back and gave her a shit eating grin as she walked away with a spring in her step. Yaz groaned internally as she reached for the stack. Paper work. The worst and most abundant part of her job. Definitely not what she’d signed up for.
It took a good 30 minutes to fill everything in. She massaged her aching hand as she made her way outside back to her patrol car. Bill still hadn’t surfaced, but that was hardly surprising given that the café closest to the prison always had a line out the door at this time of the morning. The smell of cigarette smoke assaulted her lungs before she saw her . She stopped just short of her car to drag her eyes up from the road to see the same woman previously in a red jumpsuit wearing a tuxedo, leaning against the wall right by the driver’s door of her car. One foot balanced behind her against the wall, shirt un-tucked, bow tie hanging loose around her neck, and a cigarette hanging in her right hand as she slowly blew smoke out of her gorgeous lips. She was attractive, there was no denying it. And here she was smirking at Yaz again. Licking her lips as Yaz stared transfixed.
Nope. Definitely not okay to be thinking about how potentially attractive a certain criminal might be! Yaz quickly recovered herself as the mystery woman gave a little laugh at her obvious looks of appreciation. “No smoking allowed here.” Putting on her full police persona and holding her head high, she nodded for the woman to move along. But all she got in return was an even wider grin and another draw of her cigarette. This was a challenge was it? Yaz mentally used her extra bulk from her uniform’s anti-stab vest to make herself feel stronger and more in control than she felt, as she ran through her mind for an appropriate response. Attractive women were never something she could deal with, and this one also happened to be a criminal, a very dangerous one apparently. One that had been released and was currently intimidating her. A dangerous, gorgeous criminal..... Yaz’s thoughts drifted away again.
“You gonna do something about it?” The woman said in a Yorkshire accent just like her own. She raised her eyebrows quickly and leered at Yaz.
A quiet. “Umm.” Was all Yaz could get out. Why was this woman flirting with her? This sort of thing never happened to Yaz, and definitely not with a woman like this. Drunk men she’d arrested while breaking up a pub brawl, sure. But not like this. Not with a woman like this. Why was she so useless with being flirted at?!
“Sorry it took so long mate, proper ridiculous line. I was so ready to show my badge and say it was an emergency.” Bill shouted as she made her way to Yaz’s side with two takeaway coffee cups. As she spotted Yaz and the mystery woman’s staring match. “Though maybe it is a coffee emergency with your brain the way it is today Yaz.” Bill observed. “I’ll drive then, shall I?” She shoved the cups into Yaz’s hands and sauntered up to the driver’s door before Yaz could say a word. Bill made sure to shoot a stern look the mystery woman’s way, as if to say don’t even think about messing with me .
As Bill shut her door the mystery woman spoke. “What a shame, just as we were getting acquainted.” Yaz huffed and ducked her head away, making quick strides to get into the car. “See you later, Yaz.” She added for effect as Yaz sank into her seat, slamming the door without looking back.
“What the hell was tha-” Bill started to ask as she began to drive the car out of their parking spot.
“Don’t. Just drive Bill.” Yaz shot her partner’s way, knowing and dreading the inquisition she was just about to endure.
Snorting laughter greeted her ears as she slammed her head back against her chair’s headrest and closed her eyes. Dammit. Why did Bill of all people have to witness that! She was certain she was never going to hear the end of it now.
Many, many hours later, after the sun had gone to bed, Yaz was still on duty. Just an hour to go, that wouldn’t go faster no matter how much she wished it would. The whole day had been the same monotonous usual drag she was now familiar with. Bill was still chipper as ever, nattering away about a girl she met in a bar last week while driving. They were patrolling the dodgy nightclub area of the city, they’re typical earlier evening on the beat. Yaz’s thoughts drifted away from Bill and toward the mystery woman from that morning who’d earned herself “ a red ” as Bill had put it. Intriguing to say the least. The amount of times she’d been to that prison on transfer duty, and she’d never seen any red uniforms, or been aware there was some kind of different designation attached to it either. Until today. Yaz opened her mouth to ask Bill if she new more about the red uniform, when the radio sparked to life informing them of a fight in progress at a club nearby. Typical. Anything slightly interesting to talk about had to be postponed.
“Off we go.” Said Bill as she switched on the lights and siren. Yaz held onto the handle above the door as Bill did a u-turn at full speed then slammed her foot on to the accelerator. They were only a few streets away, but as Yaz had learned early on, speed to a case sometimes meant life or death.
Tearing around the corner so fast the tires screeched - courtesy of Bill’s overzealous driving, they flew to the scene of a large bar brawl in the middle of the street. Groups of people were hanging around blocking the street so they could watch. Closer to the centre Yaz could see a crowd pushing and yelling at a smaller group in the center. Leaping out of the car with Bill hot on her heels, yelling at people to move out of the way was Yaz. Bill radioed the station as she followed, alerting their boss of their arrival at the scene and requesting back-up. The closer Yaz got, the less people she could tell were actually involved, the more it would seem the majority of people were there just to watch.
“Police officer coming through. Clear the scene.” Yaz shouted as she shoved her way to the centre of the fray. Bill shoved and shouted the same instructions right behind her. Screams, shouts, and blood-curdling sounds of punches got louder and louder as she went, pounding in her ears. Everyone and everything here stank to high heaven of alcohol, puddles of spilt beer on the ground littered with cans and bottles. Why was it that just about every incident she was called to involved drunk idiots?
Getting to near the centre of the scrum she saw someone surprising. The mystery woman from the prison... Yaz paused, momentarily shocked. Long enough for Bill to march ahead and grab the man punching her from behind, kicking him in the back of the knee to take him down. There was still one more throwing and receiving punches with the woman, both giving as good as they got. The man landed a punch right to her jaw, she stumbled towards the crowd, who pushed her back at him. He looked triumphant.
“You give up yet ya wee gobshite?” He threw his arms wide to show the crowd. “Do I win?” He grinned.
The woman spat out the blood pooling in her mouth and launched herself at him while growling. Yaz was quicker however, after getting her brain to function again. She collided with the woman, tackling her to the ground. Yaz wrestled with her to keep her still. “I almost had him! Let me at him!” The mystery woman protested from the dirty road her face was squishing into.
“He’s twice your size, are you kidding me?” Yaz scolded her. “He could’ve killed you!”
Bill had the second man in cuffs quick as you like while Yaz reached around for a pair on her belt. She cuffed the mystery woman and hauled her onto her knees. Back-up arrived seconds later, pushing the two reluctant men into the back of a van as Yaz and Bill dragged the woman onto her swaying feet, blonde hair now matted on one side with blood.
“Nice brain fart you had for a second there Yaz.” Bill breathed, still winded from the exertion as she staggered back to the patrol car. The other officers cleared the scene of the drunk, shouting masses as Yaz shoved her prisoner towards the car feeling like an idiot. “You got this?” Bill gestured to the woman as she opened the door to put the prisoner in the back seat. Yaz nodded.
The woman tried to jerk her way out of Yaz’s hold, but Yaz had the upper hand, what with not being inebriated or concussed. She shoved her hard against the side of the car to keep her still. “Don’t you dare even try it.” Yaz reprimanded her.
“Or what?” She grinned over her shoulder at Yaz. “You gonna spank me?” She bit her lip suggestively.
Suddenly Yaz was very aware of everywhere their bodies touched. She cleared her throat. The woman took this as sign to push her further. “Do you keep a pair by your bed in case of emergencies?” She purred, wriggling her hands against Yaz where ever she could touch her. She winked conspiratorially.
“You done flirting yet?” Bill called out from the driver’s seat.
“Just coming.” Yaz called back and cringed immediately.
“I’d like to see that.” The woman whispered.
“Shut up.” Yaz grunted as she shoved her into the back seat, accompanied by a hearty chuckle from the blonde. She knew exactly the affect she was having on Yaz.
Safely back in the front seat and ready to go, Yaz glanced in the mirror as Bill turned the ignition. The blonde went to open her mouth, no doubt to say something inappropriate again. Yaz switched on the radio to drown her out. She chanced a glance in the rear-view mirror again to see that sexy smirk looking directly back at her. It was too much for Yaz. She folded her arms and turned her head to look out of the window.
Bill watched the exchange with a curious grin. Yaz could practically feel it seeping through her skin - she was going to get one almighty grilling from Bill for this.
A few minutes into the drive the lack of conversation was stifling Bill. she glanced back and forth between Yaz and the mystery woman. Both were staring out of the window not looking at each other.
“Getting into a fight on the night of the very day you got released was pretty stupid. Got anything to say about that?” Bill questioned the reflection in the rear-view mirror. All she got was a non-committal shrug in response.
Yaz glanced in the mirror’s direction to see she was being observed. “Had to cleanse my pallet.” The woman grinned directly at her.
Bill looked between them again and muttered under her breath. “Proper psycho here.” Neither of the other women paid her any attention and kept staring at each other.
The rest of the ride to the station was quiet, until they got to the car park, which was swarming with patrol cars all bringing people in or on their way out. A typical Friday night in Sheffield. Yaz spied a few teenagers she’d nicked just last week week being led in, in handcuffs again. She made a quick decision. “Just drop us off, I’ll take her in and you can catch up.”
Bill’s eyes went wide. “You sure mate? She’s a tough one.” she added quietly at the end. Yaz nodded and went to get out of the car.
Moments later both Yaz and her captive were waiting in an actual cue for the intake desk at the back of the station. Apparently a group of about a dozen football fans had been brought in ahead of her, from what she could gather it was for public indecency. Her imagination ran riot as she caught snippets of whispered information that filtered back through the line. The blonde woman was swaying slightly next to her with a grin on her face. What she had to grin about, god only knew. Yaz certainly didn’t. Her curiosity got the better of her. “What you grinning for? You’ve been arrested.”
The blonde turned to her slowly, the grin widening. “I’ve pulled. Helloooo officer.” She added a growl to the end of the sentence.
Yaz’s eyebrows shot into her hairline, a retort dying on her tongue as Bill joined them.
“Gonna be a long one mate. Heard some lads got up to something pretty nasty. Pete just said.” Bill said suggestively.
“Do I want to know?” Yaz questioned with a smile.
Bill thought for a moment. “No.” She laughed. “Definitely not. Would sour that uptight, pure brain of yours.”
“Oi!” Yaz exclaimed as she punched Bill in the arm. “I’m not uptight.”
“I could help you with that.” The blonde purred next to her.
“Would you give it a rest. I’m arresting you. Try to take this seriously.” Yaz admonished her.
“What would be the fun in that?” The mystery woman shot back with a wide, child-like smile. It was honestly the most beautiful smile Yaz had ever seen, despite the blood and the stench of alcohol. It made her brain stop for far too long. Yaz couldn’t help the warmth that spread over her. This woman was undeniably beautiful. Heart-breaking beautiful. Unfortunately she was a low-life criminal Yaz had just arrested, but still, beautiful. And with that thought all the noise and grime around her came back into focus and she had to look away.
“Gotta give it to her, she’s got a positive outlook on life.” Bill agreed. Yaz hummed quietly in response.
A few minutes later of silence while Bill stared at her phone, they got through to the front of the line and filled in the necessary paper work, while mystery woman was taken away. She’d made sure to make it as hard as possible for them, only giving her name as “The Doctor” , and refused to say another word. She turned to Yaz at the last moment and yelled out for everyone to hear. “Will you wait for me my darling? Or will you marry another?” All eyes turned to Yaz as silence filled the air. Yaz froze. A few snickering laughs could be heard. Attention was not something she was used to, and this was the very worst kind. Why did this woman have to be such a- such a-, whatever she was!
Bill saved the day with. “Got a proper knock to the head that one.”
Grumbling agreements could be heard as all conversations resumed around them. If only the ground could now swallow Yaz up, maybe not forever, but until everyone forgot that moment ever happened would be great. Getting into bed later that night was going to feel amazing. Pulling the duvet over her head and blocking everything out.
As it happened, once she was lying there in bed cocooned in blankets, she couldn’t shut her mind off. Dinner with her parents and little sister had been tiring to say the least. They always felt the need to give her some kind of Spanish inquisition when she had bad days and when she just wanted to switch off. It was times like these she wished she’d already moved out of her parents flat so she didn’t have to deal with this. But if she was being honest, she’d miss the home comforts far too much to leave just yet. Her family and work weren’t the only things keeping her up though. A certain sexy blonde woman plagued her thoughts. Again, if she was being honest, that was one of the most interesting days she’d had in a while, and it as all because of that woman and her smile. It made her feel... things. Things she had a hard time dealing with mostly, so she suppressed them. But there was a thought: would she dream of her tonight? Did she want to? At least Yaz now had another piece to the puzzle that was Mystery Woman she gained when they booked her in on the system. Her real name.