This wonderful show was cancelled with the biggest cliffhanger at the end and I have never been more upset over a show ever. Probably.

Part 2?

Summary: You're a schoolteacher in Kanas City, Missouri, where Will Pinkerton - the detective - happens to be stationed at the moment. It's a wonder you didn't run into him before...

QOTP: Considering I can't find a single fanfic about this show and no one talks about it, have you seen The Pinkertons?

Word Count: 2095

It's Wednesday evening, and you honestly just can't be bothered to make yourself dinner. So, seeing as you haven't gone in a while, you decide to go to the saloon to eat instead.

You make sure to sit as far away from the bar and drunken men as possible (mostly to protect your reputation), so you end up at a table in the back corner.

Still, Will Pinkerton manages to spot you...

////

"Who is that?" Will asks, trying to sound casual. He's talking to the barmaid, Annalee. She knows just about everyone who enters her saloon and/or rents a room in the hotel upstairs, like Will has.

"Y/N Y/L/N," she replies. "The schoolteacher."

"I've never seen her before," Will says, his eyes still glued to the woman in the back corner. She's beautiful - no one could deny it, especially not Will.

Annalee rolls her eyes, walking around the bar to take the woman's order. "It's probably for the best."

////

You don't wait long after sitting down; Annalee quickly arrives at your table with a smile. "Long time, no see, stranger. What can I get you?" You smile back, genuinely and brightly, and place your order. Before leaving to go get it, Annalee asks, "So, where have you been? I haven't seen you here in a while."

You sigh. "Cooking my own meals at home - money and all. I just couldn't be bothered to make dinner today."

"Well, then, we'll have to make it for you," she replies. You thank her, and she leaves to go get your food.

////

"So?" Will asks when Annalee arrives back at the bar.

"So, what?" she asks, preparing a plate.

"So, did she say anything about me?"

Annalee stops and sighs. "Will, I don't think she even noticed you at all. And, like I said: It's probably for the best."

"Or probably not," Will replies hopefully.

Annalee shakes her head. "Will Pinkerton, you leave that poor woman alone. She'd probably reject you, anyway."

"Well, gee, thanks," Will replies, taking a swig of his drink.

Annalee sighs. "That's not what I meant. The thing is, Will... if her students' parents saw her hanging around with you, some of 'em would think it an outrage. Why do you think she's sitting all the way over there? If people got mad enough, they could get her fired. And, anyway, even if she didn't reject you, she couldn't handle the stress of being with you."

"What does that mean?"

"You're a Pinkerton Detective, Will. You're almost constantly in danger." With that, she leaves to go give Y/N her food.

Will looks back at Y/N as she accepts the plate from Annalee gratefully. He thinks for a moment.

And, in typical Will fashion, he decides it's worth a shot.

He starts to walk over to her table, planning out the smooth thing he's going to say when he gets there.

However, Annalee catches him by the arm and turns him around. "I told you to leave her alone, and I meant it."

"But-"

"No 'but's. She's a nice woman, and she doesn't need you getting her into trouble."

Will sighs, but sits back down anyway and continues to drink.

Later, an opportunity presents itself.

Will watches as, after finishing her dinner, Y/N approaches the bar. She comes to a stop next to him in order to talk to Annalee.

Y/N looks over at him, and he smiles at her. She smiles back quickly, then turns to Annalee, already pulling money out of her purse. "Could I have a barber pole?" she asks, referring to the candy kept behind the bar.

Annalee smiles, says, "Of course," and turns to get one for her.

Will turns to Y/N. "Candy, huh?"

(Annalee rolls her eyes, though her back is to both of them.)

"I'm certainly not going to order anything else directly from the bar," Y/N replies - almost flirtatiously - looking over at him. Annalee, unbeknownst to either of the two, is shocked by Y/N's tone. She continues, shrugging a little and sounding more like her usual self. "Except maybe a tea or a coffee..."

Will smiles wider. "Well, I could buy you one of those."

Annalee turns back around, candy in hand. "Will Pinkerton, you have a tab here a mile long."

Y/N chuckles, but looks up at Will curiously. "Pinkerton?"

"That's right."

She leans on the counter. "So you're a detective?"

Will's ego is boosted by her interest. "Indeed I am. And you are?"

She smiles. "Y/N Y/L/N - a schoolteacher, which is why I'm not inclined to booze. Parents wouldn't really appreciate that."

Will agrees. "Oh, but of course not-"

"They also probably wouldn't appreciate seeing their child's teacher flirting with a Pinkerton Detective," she interrupts.

Will smiles. "And yet here you are."

She hands Annalee her money, takes the candy, and begins to leave. "And yet here I go."

As she walks out the doors, Will - almost desperately - asks, "See you around?"

She stops and looks back at him, smirking. "Maybe."

Annalee sighs. "Now look what you've done to her. You talk to her for two seconds..."

Will watches the saloon doors swing from where she pushed them. "Wow."

////

You're not sure what it is about Will Pinkerton, but you really want to see him again. Maybe it's his charm or his looks, or maybe it's the fact that he's a detective. Whatever it is, you're at the saloon for dinner again to see if he's here.

You don't spot him when you first walk in, nor while you're waiting for Annalee or your order. So, as disappointment slowly creeps into your hopeful mood, you eat your dinner at the table in the back table again.

Suddenly, the chair in front of you is pulled out, and Will Pinkerton sits down in front of you. Despite your happiness that he's here again, you sarcastically say, "Oh, no, go ahead and sit down since you so kindly asked."

He smiles, ignoring your sarcastic statement. "Hello again."

"Do you live here or something?" you ask.

"Technically, yes," he replies. "I'm staying in a room upstairs. My father - Alan Pinkerton - has me stationed here for the time being."

You raise an eyebrow, noting the way he says his famous father's name. "Is that supposed to impress me?"

"Only if it does..." he replies. Then, he asks, "Does it?"

You shrug. "Mildly."

He leans forward. "I think it does more than you're letting on."

You lean forward, too. "What makes you say that?"

"You're a bad liar," he replies, "and I've dealt with many of those in my time."

You stop, studying him, thinking. Finally, you ask, "What exactly is your angle here, Mr. Pinkerton?"

He's confused. "What angle?"

You sigh. "You're in a saloon, sitting at a table as far away from the bar as you can possibly be, and you're flirting with a lowly schoolteacher. Why?"

He actually chuckles a little. "Firstly, I'm flirting with you because I want to get to know you, and - if you don't mind me saying - you're beautiful." He smiles when you blush, but continues speaking. "And, secondly, you're not lowly; as much as I hated my own schoolteacher, your job is pretty important."

You snort, leaning back in your seat. "Tell that to my salary."

"I could write a strongly worded letter, if you like," he half-jokingly suggests, also leaning back.

You chuckle, then say, "Well, if you don't mind me saying, Mr. Pinkerton - in response to your earlier statement - you're not that bad looking yourself..." He blushes, and even has trouble meeting your eyes. You chuckle. "And you're very cute when you're flustered."

"What?" he says, incredulous. "I-I'm not flustered."

You quirk an eyebrow. "Don't you have to be a good liar to be a detective?"

"I am a great liar-" he starts. Then, upon seeing your questionable expression, he continues, "- but I only lie when necessary."

You sigh, push out your chair, and leave some money on the table. "Well, if you'll excuse me, Mr. Great Liar, I have assignments to grade before tomorrow."

He nods. "Of course. See you around?"

You smile, walking out. "Maybe."

////

The next day, you come back to the saloon, but you only order a tea. You ate a home due to the dent this has been putting in your wallet.

You sit at the back table again, sipping your tea and watching for Will.

But he never shows.

Eventually, Annalee comes over and informs you that he's off somewhere on Pinkerton business, and she didn't tell you sooner because she thought he'd be back by now.

Seeing as he's not, you pay for your tea and go home, disappointed.

////

The next day, you try your luck again, planning to order a tea like you did before. However, a few moments after you walk in, Will comes bounding down the steps with a woman at his heels, and they're headed straight for the saloon doors.

Will, as he approaches, sees you standing by the door. He would stop and talk, but he's in a hurry, so he settles on shouting, "Hey, Gorgeous," as he runs out.

The woman groans irritatedly as she also exits.

You're unable to do anything but stand there, trying process the last few seconds. One thing that you can't stop thinking about is the woman. Annalee notices you and walks over. "He's on Pinkerton business again." She pauses, "Oh, I wouldn't worry about Kate. She's a Pinkerton agent, too. They're just friends."

It's then that you remember people talking about a Lady Pinkerton stationed in Kansas City. "Oh."

Annalee gently grabs your arm and leads you to the bar. "Come on, let's go get you some tea - on the house."

////

The next day - Sunday - Will is sitting at the bar, talking to Annalee and watching the door. Annalee sighs. "You've only talked to each other twice, yet here you both are, hopelessly lovesick."

"I ain't lovesick," Will says. "I just... happen to like her."

"Well, she happens to like you, too; she was here for dinner the past two days, looking for you," Annalee replies.

"I saw her yesterday," Will says, "but I completely missed her on Friday."

"I told her you were on Pinkerton business, so she doesn't think you've lost interest in her, if that's what you're worried about."

"I'm not worried."

"Mhmm."

An hour passes, and Y/N still hasn't shown. Will sighs. "Where is she?"

"I don't think she's coming, Will," Annalee replies. "She's probably busy with school stuff or something. I wouldn't worry about it too much."

"Or you were right and she realized she couldn't 'handle the stress of being with me'," Will says, taking a swig of his drink.

"No, I don't think so. She seems to really like you. There's another explanation for it."

Will sighs. "I hope so..."

////

Monday comes around and you're teaching, as per usual. The day goes relatively normally until school lets out.

When the first child to rush out of the room opens the door, there's a man standing outside.

Will Pinkerton.

He moves out of the eager children's way as they run out, then walks into the schoolhouse to talk to the surprised teacher inside.

That would be you, of course.

"What are you doing here?" you ask, meeting him in the middle of the room.

He shrugs casually. "I've missed you the past few days. Which reminds me: Why weren't you at the saloon yesterday?"

"Eating there every night was getting costly," you reply, "and it was a Sunday."

"Well, I'd love to treat you to dinner there tonight - that is, if you want," he proposes, smiling.

You quirk an eyebrow at him. "Annalee said you had a tab a mile long."

"Well, I just got paid."

"Solved another case, did you?"

He smiles, nods once. "Yes, ma'am. So, you up for it? Seven o'clock?"

You pretend to think for a moment, then sigh. "I suppose."

He grins, then goes to leave. "Great. See you around?"

You smile. "Maybe."