A/N: I watched "Rogue's Gallery" the other day and this little one-shot wouldn't leave me alone. For those of you who may not be aware "Rogue's Gallery" is Jackie's second episode and when she is officially made a part of the CID. I thought it might be fun to do an "early days" M/J fic. Anyways, hope you enjoy :)
PS: I apologise for the rather lame title too...
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Paint
Michael sat in stoic silence, barely registering Jackie's quiet ministrations as she cleaned the red paint off his face.
He wasn't sure what bothered him more, that he'd been duped by Valerie or that he had almost been killed. Either way, he decided, it was definitely not his day.
He sighed, missing Jackie's concerned look as he did so, he couldn't believe he'd been so stupid. But then he never seemed to have much luck with women…
He was broken from his melancholy train of thought by Jackie who'd started to hum to herself. A little irritated by the interruption he turned his attention back to her and suppressed a start.
He hadn't realised how close they were.
She was so close that he could catch the subtle scent of her shampoo and admire how the lights reflected in her dark eyes.
She continued on, oblivious to his watching her, until she looked down and caught him. "What?" she asked, causing Michael to flush slightly at being caught staring.
"Nothing," he murmured, avoiding her gaze, "just…thank you," he told her sincerely.
She smiled, "That's all right. I don't think Taggart would have relished the job and you were miles away."
Michael smiled a little in response and watched as she regarded him critically, searching for any signs of paint. Moving his face with a gentle but firm pressure under his chin she did so.
"Much better," she declared finally, "but I don't envy you the job of cleaning your suit."
They both looked down at his now ruined suit, "I'd say this one's for the bin," Michael commented ruefully, looking back up at her.
"Perhaps you could put in an expense's claim,"* Jackie commented with a hint of mischief.
Michael chuckled, "That would go down well," he commented drily.
Jackie gave a small giggle as she imagined it and Michael found that he liked the sound. She looked back at him and their eyes met.
They stared at each other for a long moment before Taggart left his office, making them both jump.
"I think he's clean enough now, Jackie," Taggart commented, coming up behind her and looking over her shoulder. He looked at her sideways, "So you can let go of his face now," he added.
Jackie blushed and, a little flustered, took her hand away from Michael's chin. Michael flushed slightly too as he'd been completely unaware that she was still touching him.
Michael watched her begin to clean up, only half attending to what Taggart was saying to him, and reflected that perhaps the day hadn't been a complete disaster after all.
...
* Yes, I stole this line from "Dead Reckoning" but that scene makes me laugh and I thought it might be nice to have an in-joke behind the comment in that episode :)