In that more permissive atmosphere, Russell's comfort with her sexuality was clear. Her fundamental goodness surfaced often, but purity wasn't required of an active cop. To someone who faces life and death daily, sleeping with the wrong co-worker doesn't qualify as a serious blunder. Without being coy or smarmy, Det. And Kim is so amazingly game.
Vanity is one manifestation of fear.
The corollary of that is that the self needs to be protected, because taken on her own terms, the self is inadequate. Russell is always unapologetically herself. Speaking as a man, there is nothing hotter than that. Delaney is the seventh major cast member to leave the series. By virtue of the design of 'NYPD Blue,' we knew there would never be a legitimate way to focus on her.