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There's been an uptick in gang activity around one particular area of the city in recent weeks and while Detective John Riley can only do so much when it comes to fighting back, John Reese, accompanied by his wonderfully proficient friend Dutch, is capable of doing so much more.

The restaurant they're currently in is upscale, one of the nicer places John has been since his arrival in Darrow. The people at the tables around them have money, he can see it in every move they make, in every word they say, and John had told Dutch to dress the part and she certainly hadn't let him down. They're here as if they're on a date, both of them looking quite impressive if he does say so himself, but he also knows they're both armed to the teeth.

And they're both going to need to be. There's nothing at all John has seen here tonight that will lead to legitimate arrests, but he's heard enough in passing conversation to know there are two men in particular they just can't let go. Neither of them are particularly well connected, which means teaching them a lesson isn't going to backfire on them, but they're both despicable enough that they can't be left untouched.

John is sure Dutch would be inclined to agree.

He smiles at her over the table and nods toward the empty bottle of wine. It's nothing more than a prop, they're both on the same glass they'd started dinner with and John's had barely two sips, but he picks the glass up and gestures with it every so often, giving the impression that he's been drinking. No one looks at them more than once and if they do, it tends to be appreciative more than anything.

"The pair sitting over there near the door," he says, flashing Dutch another smile. "We're going to need to leave not long after they do. I think they need our attention."

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"Yeah," he says, then he's quiet for a moment. There are a lot of things about his life he's told Dutch, but he's kept Jessica really close to his heart. Karen knows, but he's told Karen more than he's told most people in his life.

"It's something I feel very strongly about," he says, although he knows it might come as a surprise to most people that he feels strongly about anything. "The woman I... her name was Jessica and we were together until I decided to stay with the CIA. The man she ended up marrying instead of me was- he abused her and then killed her."

Ever since then, he's had an especially difficult time dealing with men who commit violence against women. He hates that it had taken a personal experience for him to become so invested, but at least he's here now.

"I'm sorry."

Her stomach turns the tiniest bit as she remembers her own experience with something like that. It's not the same, not really, because there had been an out of his control excuse behind it but it's still not something she can readily forgive.

"It happened once to me. Just once because I refused to let him close after that," she says, jaw tight. "Something had been done to him to cause him to...snap but I still can't trust him. Not after that."

Maybe some day she and D'av will be back to a spot where they can be friends. She's just not sure.

"I'm sorry, too," he says. There's nothing either of them can say to undo what the other has experienced, but John knows what Dutch has been through is significantly worse than his own experience. He knows she can take care of herself, but he's never once feared for his safety in a situation like that. Even before he'd been trained by the military, John had never been afraid to walk down a dark alley or to be alone in a group of men. That's a privilege not everyone has.

"We can make a difference, though," he says as they walk. They don't hurry, which would only draw attention to them, but the act they'd been engaged in earlier has been dropped. "Even if it's just bit by bit."

"I try to keep that in mind," Dutch tells him, nodding. While she thinks she's mostly past her own experience, it's always going to be there with her, a dark mark upon her heart and soul. D'av will have to deal with the consequences too and while they're relationship might never be the same, she hopes that they can salvage some of that.

"I appreciate you letting me come along on this job," she tells him, nodding. "It was good to be able to feel like I could help. And it was nice to be able to break a few bones again."

"That's always fun," he agrees with a small smile, looking over at Dutch from the corner of his eye. They've both been through so much and there's not a lot that can be done to take that away, but he's also not sure either of them would be inclined to do so. Their experiences have made them who they are.

Jessica is the only thing he thinks he would undo.

"Let's go out more often," he suggests. "You make a very proficient fake date."

And there aren't many people he's as comfortable with as he is Dutch. They work well together, they fight well together, and in a pinch he would trust her to have his back. There's a lot to be said about that sort of trust.