A/N Just a short Max/Beth following some subtle hinting from
:P This is for you.
"You coming Sarge?" Will asked Max as he walked past him, heading for the doors marking the exit from CID.
"Sorry?" Max asked in return.
"Down to the bar, we're staging a farewell thing for Beth, PC Green. She's leaving." Will called out as he left leaving Max to stare after him, mouth open slightly.
PC Green, Beth, was leaving? Why was Max only hearing this now? Why didn't he know about this? He always had an ear out for... information... on Beth, how had he missed this piece? It was so bright and glaring and heart stopping. Just like her. But all of these things formed part of the collection of secrets that were Max's dearest and darkest, things he would never tell anyone else. He kept them locked up to prevent him from becoming a slave to his passions.
Among those passions, she was undoubtedly his most treasured. Not that anyone knew, Max was highly adept at hiding his increasing affection for Beth. He suspected sometimes that she guessed, small glances and knowing smiles were all he had to go on though...
It had started the first moment he saw her and her bright joyful smile. She was a delicate angel in his eyes and after working with her on a series of cases, Max's affection had grown to include respect for her as well... even, maybe, love for her.
He loved her. He, DS Max Carter, loved her, PC Beth Green, and she was leaving.
Max's heart sank. It plummeted. Fell. Crumpled. Stopped. He loved her and would likely never see her again.
Hiding emotions was all well and good when he saw Beth everyday... but if she left? What was the point to disguising his passion as indifference if she wasn't there?
Max stood up quickly and, grabbing his jacket, hurried out of CID and the station and headed across to the bar. He could feel his carefully constructed walls sinking like his heart. His dearest and darkest secrets jostled each other in their attempts to break free as he entered the bar and saw Beth standing there surrounded by most of the station.
She turned to look at him, her smile lighting up her face, and began to make her way over to him.
"Sarge, I didn't think you'd come," She stated. It wasn't accusatory, it wasn't condemnatory, it was just... it just was.
Max smiled, suddenly nervous, he felt strange as he began to speak, "I wasn't sure I would come either."
"Dance?" She whispered softly and offered him her hand.
Max took her hand and led her out onto the dance floor; he didn't care if people were watching. He was passion's slave.