Ok so I'm back! Well sort of anyway. I'm still curled up in bed recovering form my operation but I'm sure I'll survive. Anyways. I've had a bit of spare time on my hands so in between all the being sick and what not I've managed to write this fic. I hope you guys like it.

Jess

Title: Heart Warmer

Summary: Susie and Jonesy arrest and interview a teenager who was caught shoplifting. She then reveals to them a secret that makes Susie want to help. When Susie invites the girl to her home things will never be the same again...set after the bombing. Susie has bought a new house and has just moved in to it from the Imperial. Jonesy and Susie still haven't overcome their differences about the whole Donna thing. Ben is still with us (as if I would ever let him leave!) and he and PJ let Jonesy move into the spare room at their place.

"Let me go! I didn't do nothin'!" the girl screamed as Jonesy dragged her over to the patrol car. Her long brown hair was knotted and looked as though someone had tried to pull it all out, her clothes were torn and her face was very pale.

"Saying you didn't do nothing implies that you did actually do something. So I'd keep my mouth shut if I were you. At least until we get back to the station." Jonesy told her and he forced her into the back of the car.

"You right Jonesy?" Susie asked when he hit his head on the door.

"I'm fine." He replied blushing slightly.

"Great well let's get her back to the station for questioning."

"I told you I didn't do nothin' now let me go." She cried again as she was dragged through the station.

"What's going on here?" PJ asked. He was on his way back into his office with his cup of coffee.

"We found this young lady here...if you could call her that...breaking the law." Jonesy replied.

"Oh yeah? What was she doing?"

"I wasn't doing nothing!' She cried.

"Exactly. She wasn't doing nothing which means she was stealing from Mrs Rose's shop." Jonesy explained and he struggled to get her through to the interview room without getting hurt.

"Righto." PJ nodded his head and turned back towards his office. "Kids these days."

"Tell me about it. This is the third time this week this has happened. Luckily this time we actually caught the culprit." Susie explained and she smiled at PJ before joining Jonesy in the interview room.

"What's your name?" Susie asked.

"What's it to you?" She scowled.

"Well we can't legally interview you until we have a parent or guardian present." Susie replied. "We need your name so we can call your parents."

"I aint got any."

"You don't have parents?" Susie asked correcting the girls' grammar.

"Nope."

"What do you mean by that?"

"They kicked me out of the house, told me I aint their daughter no more. Therefore if I aint their daughter they aint me parents." The girl replied.

"Where do they live?"

"That's none of your business."

"Well it is because we need to conduct this interview so we can charge you with theft and you can leave. And we can't do that without a parent or guardian present." Jonesy replied.

"Well that aint me problem is it?"

"It is your problem because we can't let you go until we've conducted the interview and we cant do so if there isn't a legal guardian present."

"Well according to law I am my own guardian." She retorted. "Which apparently gives me parents a reason to kick me out of home."

"So you're over 18?"

"Only by one day."

"Well then we can conduct the interview." Jonesy replied.

"I told ya I did nothin' wrong."

"You said your parents kicked you out of the house. Does that mean you don't have a place to live?" Susie asked.

"Well duh. Saying they kicked me out implies that they don't want me living there."

"How long ago did that happen?" Susie asked.

"Dunno. Three, four days now."

"And you've been living on the streets since then?"

"So? That's not a crime is it?"

"No but stealing is."

"I didn't steal nothin'!"

"Which like I said before implies that you have stolen something. We found these in your bag!" He held up empty chip packets and chocolate wrappers.

"I thought you said you couldn't conduct the interview."

"Well you're over 18 so we can. Now where did you get these from?" He held them up again.

"I bought them."

"I thought you said you had no money?" Jonesy inquired.

"So?"

"So if you had no money how did you buy them?"

She sat in silence for a minute then she looked up Jonesy's eyes started into hers.

"Ok fine I stole them. So what? It's just a packet of chips and a few chocolate bars. It's not like she doesn't have enough of them anyway." She looked down again.

"We're going to have to charge you with theft. You do realise that?"

"So what. Go ahead. It's not like I care. Send me to jail if you want. It'd be much better than living on the street." She closed her eyes to stop the tears from coming.

"Well I don't think you'll be sent to jail over an incident this small." Susie smiled.

"But you will get a fine and have to appear before a court. And you'll also have to pay back the shop owner."

"Go ahead. Do whatever the hell you like. It's not as if anybody cares anyway." She started quivering.

"Jonesy can I have a word?" Susie asked.

"Fine." they walked out of the interview room.

"What?" He asked.

"We don't really have to charge her do we?"

"She committed a crime."

"You heard what she said. She's got no money and no place to stay."

"Since when has that been our problem? Call child services and they'll deal with it. Our job is to catch criminals and that's it."

"Jonesy she was desperate. She looks as if she hasn't had a decent meal or showered or anything in weeks." Susie looked at the monitor.

"So call child services. We've got a job to do and we have to do it."

"Fine. Go ahead and charge her then see if I care. But I don't want to be the one responsible for killing her." Susie yelled making everyone else turn and look at them.

"I have no choice Susie. It's my job." He walked off. Susie sighed and followed him back into the interview room ignoring the confused faces around her.

"Now I'm going to ask you once again. What is your name?" Jonesy cried.

"None of your business."

"Listen. We need to get your name please. If you don't give it to us we'll have to get one of the sergeants in here to get it or the Senior Sergeant even." Susie replied.

"So."

"So trust me when I say that they aren't going to be as understanding as I am."

"Fine." She scoffed. "Jeskia"

"Full name please."

"Jesika Joanna Lowman." She rolled her eyes. "Can I go now?"

"Yes. Thank god." Jonesy muttered. "Come on." He led her out into the main office.

"Are you satisfied with the treatment you received today?" she was quiet. "Just say Yes and you can go."

"Yes." She replied with a fake smile.

"You understand that you have been charged and you will be required to attend a court hearing on the 28th?" Jonesy asked.

"Yes." She replied.

"Sign here." He handed her a pen.

"Gee thanks." She replied and she signed the paper. He handed her a copy and then walked away. Jesika was about to leave when Susie stopped her.

"Before you leave I was going to ask you if you'd like to come around to my place. You look like you could do with a nice hot shower." Susie offered. "And a decent meal."

"Get stuffed. Like I'd accept anything from you. You just made my life a hell of a lot worse." She turned away.

"I'll give you my address anyway. Just in case you do want to drop by." Susie handed her a piece of paper with her address and phone number on it.

Jesika pulled the piece of paper away and walked out of the station without saying anything else. Susie wiped a tear from her eye as she watched Jes walk away.

Later that night Susie was sitting at her kitchen table going through some papers when the doorbell rang. She got up and walked to the front door. She was really surprised when she saw who it was standing there.

"Jeskia?" She asked.

"I was wondering if the offer of a meal and a place to stay still stands?"

"Come on in." Susie smiled. "I'm just in the middle of sorting out some work. I can whip you up something to eat if you like?"

"Yeah. That'd be good." she replied.

"Take a seat." She pointed to the dining setting.

"Thanks."

"So Jesika..."

"You can call me JJ." She replied.

"Ok JJ. What do you feel like?"

"Dunno. What have you got?"

She looked into the fridge. "I've got leftover Chinese if you want some?"

"No. I don't eat Chinese. Can't stand it."

"Ah..." She searched through the almost empty fridge. "What about leftover pizza?"

"It'll do. Anything but Chinese."

"Well I'll chuck it in the microwave then." A few minutes later she walked back up to the table.

"Thanks" JJ said as Susie handed her a plate with a couple of pieces of pizza on it.

"No problem." Susie watched as JJ devoured the pizza. "How long has it been since you've eaten properly?"

"Dunno. Too long." JJ replied as she stuffed her face.

"I'll tell you what. I think you should have a nice long hot shower and I'll find you some old clothes to wear. Then you can stay the night here. How does that sound?"

"Great. Thankyou so much." JJ smiled up at Susie as she polished off the pizza.

"It's no trouble really. It's nice having some company. This house is way to big for one person anyway." Susie replied. There was a long pause before JJ broke the silence.

"I'm sorry." She said and lowered her head.

"For what?"

"Before. I didn't mean to upset you. It's just I'm not really in the habit of accepting charity."

"Well this is not Charity. It's well..."

"It's ok. Really. Don't worry about it."

"Ok Susie replied." She watched as JJ shoved the last bit of pizza into her mouth.

"Did you say something about a shower?"

"Just down the hall to your left. Third door." Susie replied. "I'll just grab you a towel and some clothes."

"Thankyou." JJ replied with a smile.

"You go and have yourself a shower and I'll organise somewhere for you to sleep."

"Thanks." JJ replied.

"No problem really."

Later that night after JJ had finished in the shower and was dressed in a pair of Susie's old PJ's they were sitting in the living room drinking hot chocolate.

"So are the PJ's comfy enough?"

"Yeah. They fit perfectly."

"They belonged to my little sister. She left a box of her old clothes at my place when I moved in. apparently she cleaned out her cupboard and there was nowhere to put that box." Susie explained.

"How old is your sister?"

"She's about 23 now. She just can't bear to get rid of anything she owns. She's kept every piece of clothing she's ever been given since she was 6."

JJ laughed. "Now that's what I call someone who loves clothes."

"Yeah." Susie replied. "Do you have any siblings?"

"Yeah. Tow younger brothers and a younger sister."

"How old are they?"

"Well James and Kerrie a.k.a. the terrible twosome are both 16 and then there's Caleb who's only 7."

"So you're the oldest then?"

"Yeah." She went quiet. "I miss them. I really do."

"Your family?"

"Well mostly Kerrie. She was like a mini me. She tried to be exactly like me." JJ laughed. "That's one of the reasons Mum didn't want me at home anymore. She said that I was a bad influence on Kerrie. She told me that I could either change who I was completely or get out of the house."

"And you didn't like the idea of changing?"

"No. I am who I am and I'm proud of it."

"You know you're not such a bad kid." Susie told her.

"You're not so bad either. I never thought that cops were capable of being this nice."

"Oh there's a lot about me you don't know." Susie smiled.

"Well I guess that I'll just have to find out then wont I?" JJ smiled. Then there was a silence whilst Susie watched JJ sip her hot chocolate.

"Can I ask you something?" Susie said breaking the silence.

"Sure." JJ replied.

"How would you feel about staying here for a while?"

"You mean like a couple of days?"

"I meant like a couple of months, years even. Until you've got yourself back on your feet." Susie suggested.

"Are you kidding?"

"No. I'm serious. I'd love for you to stay. You seem like a nice enough girl." Susie replied.

"Well...I guess there's no harm in it."

"Ok. It's settled then. But I only have one condition."

"What's that?"

"If you do anything else wrong then you'll have to leave." Susie told her.

"Deal. And don't worry I wont let you down."

Susie smiled. They spent the rest of the night chatting about Susie's family and explaining what made Susie decide to become a cop. JJ managed to avoid the subject of her family and her life as much as she could. But Susie didn't mind. It was nice just to have someone to talk to for once.

The next morning Susie woke up to the smell of something cooking. She climbed out of bed and walked into the kitchen where she saw JJ standing over the bench pouring some juice into a glass.

"Morning." Susie said making JJ jump a little. "Sorry didn't mean to scare you."

"It's ok." JJ replied. "I made you breakfast. Just to say thanks for letting me stay."

"You didn't have to do that."

"I did. If it weren't for you then I would probably have starved to death." JJ replied.

"I told you it's my pleasure. It's great to have some company for once."

"So you really don't mind me staying here?"

"Of course not." Susie replied and she took a seat at the breakfast bar.

"Thankyou."

"Stop saying that. I told you it's nothing and you have no reason to thank me."

"Well thankyou anyway." JJ told her.

"I was thinking I might take you shopping today. Get you some new clothes and maybe a new hairdo." Susie suggested as she ate some of her bacon.

"It's a nice offer but I really don't want to put you out. I mean you've already done enough for me as it is."

"It's ok really. I've been meaning to go shopping for a while now anyway so I may as well kill two birds with one stone." Susie sipped her juice.

"Well...I guess if you really want to. But I will pay you back eventually." JJ replied.

"Nonsense. It's a gift. Not charity a gift ok."

"Ah...OK." JJ said hesitantly. "Although I still feel really bad about you spending your money on me and you don't even know me."

"Hey I told you things last night I've never told anyone before. That to me says I know you well enough to trust you." Susie replied.

"Well ok then." JJ smiled.

"You have a really beautiful smile." Susie commented.

"No I don't. I'm hideous."

"Well if that's the way you feel, there's only one thing for it."

"What's that?" JJ asked curiously.

"A Makeover!" Susie replied excitedly.

"You're kidding right?"

"No. You'll see by the time I'm finished with you, you'll be even more beautiful than you are already."

"Ok." JJ replied hesitantly even though she didn't like the sound of the idea she went along with it to make Susie happy. She finished up her breakfast, had a shower and within the next hour they were on their way to the shopping centre in St David's.

"Sorry I'm late." Susie walked in without her uniform on. She and JJ had come straight form the shopping centre.

"Uniform?" Mark asked.

"I've got a spare one in my locker I can change into."

"Why aren't you already wearing one?" Mark asked.

"Sorry I wasn't at home and I lost track of time." Susie explained. "It won't happen again."

"Very well. Hurry up." He said to her. "But you'll have to make up for it with overtime tonight."

"No problem." Susie walked into the mess room.

"Kell there's someone out the front. Can you deal with her please?"

"Sure." Kelly replied and walked through the door into the front desk area.

"Can I help you?" She asked.

"I'm just waiting for Susie." JJ replied.

"Ok. Would you like to come through? I'm sure she wont be long."

"Ok sure." JJ replied and she followed Kelly into the main office.

"Hey." Joss smiled and winked at JJ. "What's up?"

"Excuse me?" JJ asked.

"Joss leave the poor girl alone." Mark warned. "Can we help you miss?"

"Actually I was just waiting for Susie."

"Well you're lucky. She just arrived."

"I know. I came with her." JJ replied.

"Really?" Jonesy asked. "How do you know Susie?"

"We just met yesterday actually. You guys brought me in and charged me with theft. Don't you remember?" JJ asked.

"Huh?" Jonesy was confused.

"Jesika. Jesika Lowman." She said with a smile.

"No way!" Joss cried. "You're..."

"What happened?" Jonesy asked.

JJ was about to reply when Susie walked out.

"Ready to go?" She asked.

"Ah yeah." JJ replied.

"Great. Mark I'll be back in a few minutes. I've just got to drop JJ back at my place."

"She's staying with you?" Jonesy asked.

"As a matter of fact she is. Do you have a problem with that?" Susie retorted. Jonesy stayed silent. "Didn't think so. Come on JJ." Susie took her arm.

"Pick up the lunches whilst you're out can you?' Mark told her not impressed that she was leaving after only being there for two minutes.

"Sure." Susie replied and they left the station.

Later that day after Susie arrived back at work and was busy sorting out her paperwork when Jonesy came and stood next to her.

"Can I have a word?"

"I'm busy."

"It's important."

"Fine." She sighed and turned to him. "Well?"

"In private."

Susie groaned and followed him into the mess room.

"This better be good. I've got a hell of a lot of paperwork to do."

"Why are you letting that girl stay with you?" He asked.

"I don't think that's any of your business." Susie replied.

"Yes it is. I'm worried you're going to get hurt."

"She's an 18 year old orphan who has nowhere to go. What was I supposed to do let her starve to death?" Susie cried.

"I told you to call child services."

"What are they going to do? She's 18 now Jonesy." Susie replied. "And since when has it been your business who I have staying with me anyway?"

"She's a criminal. I'm worried she'll do something to hurt you."

"She's not a criminal Jonesy. She took that food so she could survive."

"She stole that food Susie and that makes her a criminal."

"Just leave it ok. I can do whatever the hell I want to and if I want her to stay with me then she'll stay with me."

"Does the Boss know about this?"

"I don't know. Probably not." Susie replied unhappily. "I don't see what any of this has to do with you anyway."

"Well I'm worried she'll take advantage of you." Jonesy said.

"Well there's no need to worry. I've got everything under control. JJ is a nice young girl and I want to help her out. She's got nowhere else to go." Susie cried. "I am just trying to make sure she turns her life around. I'm going to help her get through school and find a job and there's nothing you or anybody else can do to stop me." Susie cried and she left the room without saying anything else.

Well that's what I've got so far. Please give me feedback. I want to know what you thought!

Jess