Disclaimer: I own none of the characters. They all belong to The Bill.

Authors Note: Just a little oneshot to keep you guys going while I work on the next chapter of Confessions of a Broken Mind.

Something Better

By IndieGothGirl

'You're talked about all over the Met, Jack. Laura left you and you had to arrest your own son. You have nothing left.' Roy Atherton.

He thinks I have nothing now but he's wrong I do have something, still: Mickey. Ok he might not be my son, biologically but he's still more like a son than Benjamin ever was. Mickey even looks like I used to when I was younger unlike dark-haired Benjamin and, of course, it is, and as always been, my job to protect Mickey especially since Delaney and the rape. I know how vulnerable he has been since then even if he tries not to let it show and hates it when people show him concern and pity.

Still, in a way, I feel sorry for Roy sorry that he is still clinging to his out-dated views and that he probably doesn't have a bond with any of his colleagues; at least not in the way Mickey and I have and yeah Roy may have is nice villa in Portugal and his wife to look forward to when he retires but how many of his colleagues will be sad to see the back of him when he retires in three weeks?

Mickey enters the main CID office and I watch him with genuine curiosity as he sits, confident and relaxed, with Jo and Phil cracking jokes. He looks almost like he did prior his rape: so care-free and certain but still I know I have to protect him and be ready for when someone drags the rape back up for him so that I can comfort and reassure him. That's more then Roy bloody Atherton would do for a colleague.

Suddenly Mickey enters the office.

'Morning, guv,' he calls out in his Essex accent complete with cheeky-chappy smile. 'alroight?'

'Morning, Mickey, yeah I'm alright. How about you?'

'I'm fine, guv. By the way I was wondering if yer fancied going out for a drink later because I ain't been out in ages an' I think I deserve it after all the work I've been doing round 'ere this week.'

'You don't want an old codger like me going out for a drink with you!'

'Don't be silly, guv, I wanna go out drinking wiv me mate. Stuff 'em lot in there,' he says nodding his head towards the main CID office, 'you're the best mate I've ever 'ad you been through it all wiv me, guv, good times an' bad. There ain't a lot of people would 'ave done that for a work colleague, Jack.'

I feel quite moved by Mickey's little speech.

'Oh alright! You've twisted my arm I'll go for a drink after work with you.'

'Thanks, guv, you're a real mate.'

Then he leaves the office and I think to myself:

Stuff Roy Atherton!! Yeah he may have a fancy new villa in Portugal and spending more time with his wife to look forward to in a few weeks but I have something much better than that. I have DC Mickey Webb: A loyal and trustworthy friend.