Disclaimer - s4c and BBC Wales own y Gwyll/Hinterland. No copyright infringement is intended nor should be inferred. Set somewhere in series 2.

1

"Diolch." Siân paid the barman before carrying the drinks over to where Lloyd sat. The dark haired police detective looked as exhausted as she felt. There were times when she wondered just how and why the son of a farmer had ended up in the police. It didn't seem to come naturally to him and she knew he was wary of both senior detectives.

"Lloyd?"

He looked up as his friend set the pint glass next to him.

"Thanks."

"What's wrong?"

"I was thinking."

"Oh?" She raised an eyebrow. Lloyd was always thinking about something. He smiled as he caught her slightly teasing tone of voice. It seemed Siân was always teasing him about something. In many ways she reminded him of his older sister, Catrin.

"Mared and DCI Mathias."

"What about them?"

"Are they ok? I mean they went to the hospital to interview that family. He seemed pretty upset, Mared wasn't too happy either."

"Prosser has been on to them more than ever. Prosser the Tosser doesn't give Mared a break." Siân shrugged. "Tom and Mared are close, I think they are. You can't tell with those two."

"You think they are together?" Lloyd seemed incredulous at the idea. Siân shrugged.

"Dunno."

"Siân!"

"I don't know. I can see how much they care about each other. He's been through so much I don't think he knows how to do anything other than push those that really care away."

"Bit profound for you." Lloyd watched as she sipped her drink.

"They'll be ok."

"What about Prosser?"

Siân set her drink on the table, her finger circling the wet stain the glass had made earlier.

"What about him?"

"He's always had a thing for Mared."

"Don't be so disgusting! He's older than her Dad!" Siân pulled a face. "He's such a perv. Makes my skin crawl."

"All I'm saying is, if he does have a thing for younger women; Mared in particular then they could have problems." Lloyd picked up his drink, Siân nodded. She knew her friend was right.

Xxxxxxx

Mared watched Tom as he headed out of the hospital towards a bench in the grounds. She followed. She had known about the sleeping tablets but had thought they had become a thing of the past. He ran a hand over his face as she watched him.

"She stole your sleeping tablets. Your Zopiclone."

"Yeah." Tom looked sheepish.

"What was she even doing in your caravan? Was this about Gwen? Tom?"

"I'm not really sure why she came. She said she had something to tell the police. I told her she really should go to the station. Then she tried to kiss me." He looked away as Mared glared at him. "I told her no chance. She ran out. Must have pocketed the pills at the same time."

"She tried to kiss you."

"Mared! She's a kid. I pushed her away. She left. You know the rest."

"Tom." She shook her head. She knew he was being truthful. "I'm not jealous. I'm scared."

"Hey." He moved towards her. "It's ok."

"No, no it isn't ok. How is any of this ok?" She snapped, her eyes darting away. "You. Her. It's."

"A mess. But I'm telling you the truth." He touched her face, tilting her chin so he could look in her eyes.

"I know."

He kissed her lightly on the lips, before taking her hand, standing and pulling her to her feet.

"There's no one else, Mared. No one."

She blushed.

"Do you think people know about us? Siân and Lloyd?"

"Are rubbish detectives if they haven't worked out what's happening in front of them. Prosser won't say anything. I won't, until you are ready." He brushed a lock of stray hair away from her face. "I promise."

Mared smiled slightly before tugging on his hand.

"Work." She sighed as he looked genuinely disappointed. "Before they all have something to say about us."

Xxxxxx

A-N new story soon. Please review