A Drink With Conners (Lepke/James Conners)

[Lepke Buchalter]

Lepke sat in a local bar, with a mug of beer in front of him. This place wasn't fancy, but he knew many members from his borough in the NYPD frequented this place. He hoped to see a few friendly faces and perhaps converse with them. On the job he was usually so time restricted he barely had time to talk with anyone else but his partner. He picked up his mug, and taking a sip, he looked around for some friendly faces.

[James Conners]

James finished his cigarette before entering the pub. The day had been tough for him and the ESS-1. The hostage situation in Manhattan lasted five hours and after that they had been called to help in the rescue of few sailors just outside Long Island. Some how the two men had managed to flip their boat but for their luck someone had seen them. The weather had been clear and the rescua operation hadn't been to hard but still it was tough. James steped inside and headed for the barcounter. "One beer" he said and raised his finger.

[Lepke Buchalter]

Lepke recognized that voice, and after taking another sip and returning his mug to the table, he stood up and walked towards the voice, a man called James Conners. He was an NYPD Captain and a damn good one if Lepke could say. Lepke leaned against the counter and said "Well, if it isn't James Conners. How have you been?"

[James Conners]

The bartender brought the beer to James who took a quick sip from it. He noticed that someone walked next to him. He didn't pay any attention to the person and took another sip. When the man said his name, James turned to see who the speaker was. It was Buchalter, one of the detectives from Harlem. James hadn't really understood their work, sitting behind a desk doing paper work most of the time. Their work seemed more like child's play compared to the work of ESU. "Fine thanks for asking" he answered "Lepke wasn't it?" James asked politely.

[Lepke Buchalter]

Lepke laughed and said "Yes, name's Lepke. Why my parents chose to give me a Yiddish name instead of an Americanized version of it, I'll never know." Then Lepke shrugged and gave a exaggerated sigh, then he smiled again and said "Having a busy week? I just got done closing a murder case with a Black Harlem drug dealer and his Puerto Rican girlfriend."

[James Conners]

James siped his beer while Lepke wondered his naming. The name didn't make a difference in the end, it was the way you acted under it. James didn't even knew when did he thought about his name. "Yeah very busy, sometimes i wonder how it can be so busy" he answered. "Well atleast most of your work is paper work" James said and smirked.

[Lepke Buchalter]

Lepke smirked and said "Oi vey. Is that all you think I do Conners? Well I do paper work, however I also put my neck out there every day. If you say otherwise I will kick your ass all around this bar." Lepke tried to look serious, but then he burst out laughing. Motioning with his head he said "Why don't you come and join me in my booth Conners?"

[James Conners]

James chuckled. Lepke couldn't be serrious, chasing criminals was little bit different than dealing with hostage situations or rescuing people. James let it be, he didn't want to harm Lepke. "Well why not" James said and stood up.

[Lepke Buchalter]

Lepke nodded and said "Atta boy Conners. Spending time with your friendy neighborhood Jewish cop." Then Lepke laughed again, and walked over to his booth and was about to sit down when a pretty waitress passed him and he briefly engaged her in conversation which ended with them swapping numbers. Placing her number in his pocket and patting it happily, he looked at James and said "So J.C., why did you become a cop? Was it to 'Protect and Serve'?"

[James Conners]

James followed Lepke to the booth, siping his beer at the same time. He smirked when he saw Lepke talking to the waitress. James was happy that he was married to a woman he loved. James sat in the booth and put his beer on the table. "Me, well i went in for the excitement and ESU sounded the best career choice after army" James answered to Lepkes question. "What, did you join because you felt the call of 'Protect and Serve'?" James asked sounding sarcastic at the same time.

[Lepke Buchalter]

Lepke shrugged and said "Me? Nah. I just wanted to be a cop. Funny thing is, I truly don't know what fascinated me enough to be a police officer. My father's a heart surgeon and my mother's a nurse, and I'm a cop." He said simply.

[James Conners]

James siped his beer. "Well it sounds that both of your parents save lives, so maybe you just wanted to save lives too or protect them" James said. James looked around him and listened, it seemed that there were other NYPD officers in the bar. "Still chasing women are you?" James asked and smirked.

[Lepke Buchalter]

"Still chasing women are you?" Lepke shrugged but smiling said "Of course. Perhaps I should settle down? Perhaps, but as my father said Live life to the fullest. Even if it means having twenty woman. And I must admit, there are some rather pretty ones in the NYPD. How about you James? Still happily married?"

[James Conners]

Lepke was right, some of the NYPD women were beautyfull but James was still married and left the women to those in need. "Maybe you should indeed" He said and siped his drink. "I am still married, happily married" James continued. He was partially lying, they had a few fights and arguments with Laura in the past two weeks but James didn't think they were too big.

[Lepke Buchalter]

Lepke smiled and said "Well, I might. Perhaps, but as long as there are pretty woman I probably won't. But hey, to each his own right? That's good to hear. Your wife, what's her name? Lisa..Lilia....WAIT! Laura that's it. Can't believe she is still married to you." Then Lepke burst out laughing again, and taking a sip from his mug said "Only kidding JC."