[[ downtown lexington, kentucky ]]

[itwasjustified]

[ "it's not like a change of scenery would hurt." ]

"And that's the only skyscraper -- and I use that term loosely -- you'll see while you're here," Raylan says, pointing out Fifth Third Bank, its black glass and blue detail standing out like a nun in a strip club against the empty skyline.

The city built out, not up; Lexington sprawls to every border of Fayette County, and Fayette County is Lexington.

"It's really just a big town that thinks it's a city," he adds, and points toward the corner of Limestone and Barr, where his office is, before they hang a left off Main to double back toward Ramsey's Diner.

Comments

[itwasjustified]

"Correct me if I'm wrong," he says, tucking into the pie once Reese snags a spoonful, "but I think you just equated my hat to a cherry."

[notenlightened]

She tilts her head in thought.

"It does normally sit at the perfect place for it."

[itwasjustified]

He grins around a mouthful of pie and vanilla ice cream, then swallows.

"You do realize you're pokin' fun at the man who's supposed to explain box trifectas to you tomorrow, don't you?"

[notenlightened]

She scoops up another spoonful of pie, wielding it at him.

"I think I'll take that chance."

[itwasjustified]

"Stubborn and courageous."

Dani gets a conceding nod.

"I like you more already."

[notenlightened]

"Some people don't like that about me," she admits.

It's why she wasn't paired with a regular partner until Crews came along.

[itwasjustified]

He glances up from his ice cream conquest.

"You don't play well with others?"

[notenlightened]

"There was a time," she says, "when I wasn't exactly a team player."

She likes to think she's gotten a little better, at least.

[itwasjustified]

"And now?"

[notenlightened]

"Now," Reese sighs, "I can tolerate the team."

[itwasjustified]

He reaches for his water.

"But you don't sound particularly over the moon about the team."

[notenlightened]

"I may not be the team's biggest fan," Reese tells him.

"But when your boss tells you you have to work with the team, it's better to just go along with it."

[itwasjustified]

He pulls a slight face before taking a drink.

"Yeah."

Art had made himself clear in no uncertain terms before Raylan and Rachel's trip to L.A.: Raylan is the low man on the proverbial totem pole.

"Are you partnered with anybody?"

[notenlightened]

"I don't know if you've met him - he's been in the Bar a couple times, but not lately."

She takes another bite of pie.

"His name's Charlie Crews."

Her tone of voice sums him up perfectly: unorthodox, a little too much Zen for her tastes, but a good cop. And a good man.

[itwasjustified]

He considers the name, then shakes his head.

"I don't think I've met him."

He can hear her feelings in her voice; if it's not fondness, it's at least respect -- and in the field, that can be even more important than the former.

"You like the arrangement all right?"

[notenlightened]

He's got her back, just like she's got his. Regardless of what he does in his off-time (and a big part of her really doesn't want to know what he does), there's always that.

"Yeah," she says, nodding quickly. "It's all right. Could've been paired with worse."

[itwasjustified]

"So he's not one of those good ol' boy types neither of us are exactly fond of."

[notenlightened]

"Not exactly," she murmurs.

"I mean, he did his time - wrongfully accused, of course, but - it changed him."

[itwasjustified]

He puts down his spoon, admitting cherry-almond crisp defeat, and frowns slightly.

"How long was he locked up?"

[notenlightened]

She's drifting away in thought for a minute, the piece of pie still resting on her own spoon.

"Twelve years."

[itwasjustified]

" -- and he came back to the force?"

After that, Raylan would wager most officers would be too bitter toward the system to return.

[notenlightened]

Reese shrugs.

"I'm not going to question anyone's motives when it comes to that," she says, her voice quiet.

God knows she didn't know if she'd be ready to return after her time away.

[itwasjustified]

"No, I'm not questionin'," he's quick to explain. "I'm more impressed than anything else."

[notenlightened]

"Of course," she quickly adds.

"And you're right, it is impressive."

It certainly says something about the kind of man Charlie Crews is - or a testament to the power of Zen.

(Not that she believes, or anything.)

[itwasjustified]

A slow nod.

"Twelve years."

A pause.

"I don't know if I could carry a badge again after somethin' like that."