Ah! Hello again!

After a nice break, I've finally decided to get off my lazy butt and start writing again. But enough about my butt :)

This story has a slightly different twist to it. I sort of envision this one taking place between Series 2 and 3, but it doesn't really follow the current storyline in particular. Hope you enjoy reading!

Disclaimer: Whitechapel does not belong to me!

Whitechapel\Fanfiction: CHERISH

Chapter 1: Conflict

"What's the matter now?" D.S. Miles asked when noticed the familiar wrinkled brow on D.I. Chandler's forehead. He found the D.I. up on the roof by himself as he usually did when he really wanted to be alone and escape from everything.

The D.I. rubbed his forehead trying to keep his obsessive compulsive tendencies in check. He was also racking his brain on how to handle a rather sensitive topic of a personal nature.

"It's nothing," Chandler replied dismissively, as the throbbing continued like a jackhammer against his temples.

"I know that look. It's not nothing."

"You know Miles, if he you spent half as much effort in keeping the office tidy as you do poking your nose into my business, maybe I wouldn't have to pick up after you lot every night."

"Gotta give you something to do. Come on. What's really bothering you?"

"It's Kent."

"Kent?" the older detective replied in disbelief. "I find that hard to believe that he's bothering you."

"I didn't say that he was. It's just that lately…"

"Let me guess. All that hero worship is finally getting to you. Am I right?"

"It doesn't really bother me. But it's like I have a constant shadow over me all the time, even when Kent's not around. I know that he looks up to me, but I never asked to be an example. I have a hard enough time looking after myself and running the department. Kent is a good policeman and I'm thrilled that he wants to become better. But I didn't come to Whitechapel to be a mentor or a nursemaid."

"It's your own fault, you know."

"My fault?" Chandler repeated incredulously.

"Kent has followed you around like an eager puppy ever since the day you started. Anyone with eyes could see that. I'm surprised you haven't brought it up until now. If it bothered you, you should have said something earlier, instead of encouraging him."

"I couldn't help it. He wanted so much to contribute and be involved. As his superior, how could I not encourage that? Besides, it wasn't like I was getting encouragement from anyone else at the time."

"Oh, sure. Bring that up again. Look, the best thing to do is to be up front with Kent and tell him how you really feel. If you let this continue, it will only make things worse. It would be better coming from you rather than having him hear it secondhand. After everything he's been through, don't you think he deserves the truth?"

Chandler stared at the veteran detective pensively.

"Is there anything you don't have an answer for, Miles?"

"You don't work as long as I have and not develop a sixth sense about these things."

"Since you're such an expert, any suggestions on how I should handle this?"

"Sorry, you're on your own on this one. I'll tell you this. Better you than me."

"You're a big help," Chandler replied sarcastically. He suddenly turned his head towards the double doors.

"Did you hear something just now?"

"You're being paranoid. It's probably just the wind."

"Yeah. I guess so."

Detective Constable Kent gripped onto the historical case file in his hands, as he leaned against the wall keeping himself hidden in the stairwell. He had wanted to bring the file to the DI's attention in hopes that it would help with their current investigation. He stopped dead in his tracks as he reached the top of the stairs when he heard Chandler talking to Miles. Kent knew it was wrong to eavesdrop on a private conservation, but he couldn't help it when he heard his name being mentioned. He opened the door slightly so that he could hear better and keep himself hidden while still being able to listen to their conversation. Oh, how he wished to God that he hadn't.

Kent was torn between crying and punching the wall, but he was too stunned at what he had just overheard to do anything as he remained rooted to the same spot in his hiding position. All he felt was a profound emptiness as he was awakened to the truth of how D.I. Chandler truly felt about him. He wanted to crawl into a hole in the ground and disappear. Instead, he quickly made his escape and hid in the loo until he could face his co-workers again. But despite all of Kent's efforts to appear un-phased, Buchan immediately noticed the bleary look in Kent's eyes as he handed him back the case file he had requested so earnestly just minutes before.

"Kent, are you all right?" Buchan asked in concern.

"Yes, of course I am. Why shouldn't I be?"

"You were so insistent on showing this file to Joe. I thought he would have wanted to take a closer look at it."

"It's not important anymore. Besides, the boss doesn't care what I have to say," Kent replied quietly as he left a slightly confused Buchan to wonder what the young detective meant.

Several days had passed by after the incident, but the passing of time had not diminished the impact of the D.I.'s words as they still resonated in Kent's ears as if it were yesterday. The logical side of his brain told him to let it go, but the emotional side couldn't follow suit. He wished that he didn't care what D.I. Chandler thought about him. If he didn't care, it wouldn't have hurt as much.

The only thing Kent could do was to pretend that nothing happened. But in order to keep his sanity, he kept his distance from the D.I., which was more difficult than he thought it would be. Kent was so used to being at Chandler's beck and call whenever the he wanted him to do something. And the sad part was that Kent would willingly do it without question. He never understood why he felt the need for Chandler's acceptance and approval. He never did with the other D.I.'s that came before. But then again, he had never met anyone like Detective Inspector Joseph Chandler.

"I really am pathetic," Kent thought to himself.

He was no better than a Pavlovian dog that reacted to a repeated stimulus over and over again. Chandler didn't care about him. Wasn't his confession to D.S. Miles proof of that? Besides, the boss didn't have room for anyone else in his life. He made that perfectly clear many times. The only time he ever let his guard down within the group was with D.S. Miles.

"Kent, do you have a moment? I would like to go over the list of all the persons connected to the Simpson case," Chandler asked Kent as soon as he was finished on the phone.

"I'm sorry sir, but I have a ton of leads to follow up on the stalker case."

Chandler gave the D.C. a look of concern in response. It wasn't the first time in the past week that he had brushed off the D.I. to avoid being alone with him. Why was he suddenly being so distant?

"I know you're busy, but I would really appreciate your input."

Kent was almost persuaded to let the matter go especially when heard the earnest plea in the D.I.'s voice, but he didn't have the energy to play nice.

"If it's all the same to you, I would just like to focus on the stalker case."

Chandler was silent as he contemplated Kent momentarily.

"Very well."

Kent returned his attention back to the papers on his desk as the D.I. walked over to Riley's desk to talk with her. The D.C. breathed a sigh in relief at escaping a potentially awkward situation. He turned his attention back to his duties, thinking he had escaped. Unfortunately, Chandler was not about to forget what just happened.

To Be Continued...

Written by: Sweet Babboo (23Nov2013)

A/N: I've always wondered how Kent would react if something like this really happened. Hopefully it never will. :)