It was Jean who noticed first. But then, Jean noticed everything.

Perhaps it was the way Matthew stole glances at Alice as they sat around the table at their now-regular Sunday night dinners together. Or, perhaps he was just interested in her latest tales from the morgue.

Perhaps it was because Alice had a habit of smiling goodnight to Matthew when she left for the night. Or, perhaps she smiled because she had had a lovely evening.

Perhaps it was when Jean caught Matthew standing lost in thought at the empty doorway, as if wishing Alice back. Or, perhaps he was preoccupied with work troubles.

It could have been watching Alice silently studying him, intrigued. Or, perhaps she was figuring out this quiet, at-home Matthew; more relaxed than Superintendent Lawson ever seemed to be.

It was on one of those Sunday nights, sitting in the lounge after dinner, after whisky and sherry, after conversation died down and Lucien was showing Alice out that Jean raised an eyebrow to Matthew.

"You could ask her out," a quick nod of her head to where Alice had been sitting.

Matthew looked up, serious. "I'm sure Dr Harvey could find someone better than a crippled policeman." he snapped, bitterly. He stood to go before Jean could look or say anything.

Before she could notice his heart beat faster or see the longing inside him.

After all Jean noticed everything.

"You know the Superintendent" Lucien stated to Alice one afternoon as they were finishing up in the morgue.

She was silent and wide-eyed, wondering what on earth he could mean. Of course she knew the Superintendent. Hadn't she been working with the police since she moved to Ballarat? Didn't she spend Sunday evenings with them all?

"I wondered what you thought of him" he ventured, seeing her silent and still.

If the room were brighter he would have seen her blush, and if he had a stethoscope he would have discovered her heart to beat a little faster.

"He's very good at his job" she said as she turned to pack up the last of the instruments.

At Lucien's gentle and persistent "Alice…." she stood a little taller and bolder.

"He'll find himself a beautiful nurse if he keeps coming to the hospital so often" defiantly, even for Alice. She changed out of her lab coat and strode off.

Lucien shook his head. "Jean will know" he said aloud to no one in particular; turned off the light and headed home.