Episode 17

The tiny dog, a whirlwind of brown and tan fur, skittered across the polished floor, a squeaky toy clamped firmly in his jaws. Robert, Sadie’s newly adopted Chiweenie, was a creature of boundless, if somewhat chaotic, energy. He bounded towards Hans, his tail a blur, dropping the slobbery miniature dumbbell at her feet with an expectant yap. Hans, who’d always considered herself more of a solitary creature, a lone wolf even in her Viper persona, found herself utterly disarmed by the sheer, unadulterated joy radiating from the little dog. He’d been a surprise addition to Sadie’s life, a rescue with a story as complex as some of Hans’s own cases, and now, he seemed to have adopted Hans as his personal, favorite human.

“He’s decided you’re his best friend, you know,” Sadie said, leaning in the doorway of the living room, a fond smile playing on her lips. Her eyes, usually sharp and assessing, held a softness that always made Hans’s breath catch.

Hans knelt, her expensive suit trousers protesting slightly. She tentatively scratched Robert behind his disproportionately large ears. The dog leaned into her touch, his little body vibrating with contentment. It was a sensation Hans had never anticipated experiencing, a warmth spreading through her chest that had nothing to do with adrenaline or the thrill of a successful takedown. This was… domestic. And surprisingly, she didn't hate it.