One Night
Chapter 1

Millie
It's been a tough week. We had a missing child, a 2 year old little girl by the name of Charlotte. She was missing for three days and we all assumed the worst and so did her parents. We found her and thankfully she was ok and no one had harmed her. Charlotte went missing from her home at 9pm Tuesday by a family friend, Michelle, who's 3 week old baby daughter had just died due to cot death. We spoke to Michelle and she seemed so worried for Charlotte and was even helping us look for her with other volunteers. Turns out she was keep Charlotte in the basement, she had loads of baby stuff down there. It was like a nursery. Michelle had taken very good care of Charlotte and there was nothing wrong whatsoever. Charlotte's parents spoke to Michelle and said they would forgive her if she agreed to get some help and she had. Michelle was really sorry and she checked herself into a hospital that would be able to care for her.

The case this week has opened my eyes to a lot of things, nothing is never as black and white as it seems. There is a grey area. I've never had to deal with someone like Michelle before, someone who was grieving that much and I sort of understood why she did what she did but it doesn't make it right. All she wanted was a way to be a mother again and she loved Charlotte, she saw her all the time. It was such a horrible thing I hope I never know anyone else who has to go through such a terrible time. I worked close with Michelle and spent a lot of time with her so I do feel that maybe I had let Charlotte down. Maybe if I had questioned Michelle more or even asked to look around the house in more depth then we might have found her sooner. Thankfully Charlotte wasn't hurt.

After cases like this I just want to have a drink and forget about things for a little while. Kirsty wanted me to join her for a drink but she was miserable lately so I refused her offer. Instead, here I am, in a bar away from home and away from where anyone I know would be able to find me. I just needed some time on my own to clear things up in my own min din my own way. I don't need Kirsty blabbering on about how much Max Carter hates her or how much Leon aggravates her. We all know she's pissed off because they slept together one night, she wanted more then a one night stand but it looks like Leon didn't. it's just sexual tension and I wish the two of them would just hurry up and get on with it… they're driving me nuts.

"And what are you doing here PC Brown?" I turned to my left and saw Max take the seat and put his drink down on the table, he planned on staying a while then.

"Just out for a quiet drink Sarge" I replied.

"We're not in work. You can call me Max" He said.

"Well… Max… What are you doing here?" I asked.

"Well… Millie… I am also here for a quiet drink" He answered.

"I thought you would have been out celebrating, it was your result finding Charlotte after all" I told him.

"I doesn't feel like a result" He replied.

"I know what you mean" I said "What happened to Michelle was horrible. I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy. Then again what Charlotte's parents went through when she was missing…" I shook my head and sipped my drink "I've learned there's a grey area" I admitted.

"I had to learn that a long time ago" He said.

"Was that because you were in SO-19?" I asked.

"Yeah. You couldn't feel sorry for people or learn their back stories. You had one job and that was it. When you learn why they do what they do or how they've come to be the way you are… it brings that grey area into focus and it will stop me pulling the trigger, even if I have to" He explained.

"Sound like you're talking from experience" I pointed out.

"Maybe I am" He answered with a shrug "Want another drink?" I asked.

"Erm… Sure. I'll have a vodka and coke please" I replied.

Max got up from his seat and made his way to the bar. What a strange turn of events. Max loves to gloat about a result and today he got one. He found baby Charlotte and he managed to arrest the person that had taken her from her parents. He is normally so closed off and arrogant but seeing him in here tonight and talking to him, there is a different side to Max that I think Sun Hill is still waiting to see. I know everyone gets pissed off with him from time to time and to be honest I do too, he comes across as harsh and he likes to bend the rules so you do him favours. He is not the most likeable person but he's not so bad I guess.

He came back from the bar and took the seat next to me again and placed both drinks on the table "Thank you" I said as I sipped the drink.

"I'm actually quite glad I ran into you on your own. I wanted to talk to you about something" He said and I waited for him to continue "That whole business with Jade Hopkins… I'm sorry about everything. I should have listened to you more. You knew Jade better then I did and if I had listened to you then maybe you wouldn't have ended up in trouble" He told me.

"Thanks" I replied lamely "I know you like doing things your own way Max but sometimes I think you need to listen to others, broaden your horizons. I don't blame you for the trouble I got into… I shouldn't have been there in the first place and I know that but I couldn't just leave her. I wanted her to know she had a friend… if she needed one" I explained.

"Are you still in contact with Jade?" He asked.

"Every now and then. She's moved in with a new fella, he's seems ok. He goes to work every day and helps her look after Lewis. She's working in a hotel as a chamber maid… she seems to be ok" I told him.

Time flies when you're having fun. Max and I have had way more to drink then we should have and now I'm starting to feel the effects. I stood up to get my coat so I could go home and I nearly fell over. Max laughed at me and he ordered me a cab, he's a definitely a gentleman. He was waiting outside with me for my cab to come. God I wanted to kiss him! After speaking to him all night and learning new things about him, I just wanna kiss him and tell him about my stupid crush on him. Of course I'm not going to, I don't have the balls! He is cute though and he has such soft hands and a gorgeous smile…

"You ok?" He asked.

"Dandy" I replied.

"Well you cab is here" He told me and helped me walk towards it and he opened the door for me. I turned to face him and just stood there for a second looking at him. Ok Millie, here we go! I smiled at him and leaned my head towards his, he didn't move away from me. He just stayed still and then my lips touched his, only lightly. It wasn't really a kiss. I was waiting for him to pull away from me but he didn't. He started moving his lips against mine and I had no problem with that.

I pulled away from the kiss and smiled "Wanna come back to my place?" I asked him.

"Ok" He answered.

The two of us got in the cab and it was only a 15 minute drive to my place. Max paid the man and we both climbed out of the taxi, I opened the front door and the two of us walked inside. Max closed the door and grabbed me round the waist, he put his lips to mine and we started kissing. I grabbed his hand and pulled him towards my stairs.

I closed the door behind me as me and Max went over to my bed, I got onto the bed dragging Max with me and as he crawled on top of me I started taking his shirt off which he didn't seem to mind. He started pulling my top up over my head and he threw it on the floor as I went to work on his belt buckle.

We managed to get all of our clothes off and we were left naked, we started kissing each other desperately and then Max moved himself and moved forward entering me, he smiled at me as I made a pleasurable sound before bringing his head back down to mine and kissing me.