Hi everyone. Yes you've guessed it, another fic from me. This is a continuation of the story New start old faces. Thanks to those who reviewed that story, Little people and New stead girl especially.

To understand this story you should really read New start old faces and the beginning of A past so dark.

So this is the next installment of my continuing story. Please read and review as your comments are always appreciated. X

Disclaimer, I don't own any of the characters except Alex and her family.

Alex walked into the office she shared with Smithy and June. She was in a really good mood this morning. It was quarter to six, fifteen minutes before the briefing was due to start. Alex looked round the small office. There were papers stacked on the desks, files on top of the filing cabinets and coffee cups everywhere. Alex smiled to herself. She was the messiest of the three officers; June being the tidiest and Smithy coming somewhere in between.

Alexs' smile broadened as she thought about SmithyThey had known each other for about ten years but had only recently started seeing each other. Alexs' husband had died in an accident at the beginning of the year and Smithy was helping her through her grief.

As the minutes ticked away there was still no sign of Smithy as Alex had expected. Smithy was usually one of the first officers in and one of the last to leave. Alex looked at her watch. Five to six. She thought. He was cutting it a bit fine.

Finally he came rushing in half dressed. Alex stifled a laugh at the sight standing before her. He had his shirt half in and half out, his hair was a mess and he wasn't very clean shaven. He also had two large, dark rings under his eyes.

"Erm… Are you alright this morning Smithy? Only you don't look very well." Alex tried to sound sympathetic.

"I haven't had a very goodnights sleep. When I finally got to sleep, I slept through my alarm clock. Only just managed to get up in time." He replied, trying to sort himself out.

"Why couldn't you sleep? Had a bit too much to drink last night did we?" Alex asked mischievously.

"Actually that's what I need to talk to you about. Something happened last nig…" Unfortunately for Smithy Gina walked into the office at the wrong moment.

Damn it. Could have picked a better time. He thought.

"Morning Smithy. Alex we need you through in the briefing room just now and Smithy you are needed upstairs. DI Manson has a little job for you to help on." Gina said as she stifled a yawn.

"Ok Gina we'll do it in a minute. I just need a quick word with Alex first." Smithy explained.

"You'd better make it quick then because the DCI is on the warpath, so any delay…" Gina explained a little impatiently.

"Right Ma'am, I am on my way now." Smithy said. He knew better than to argue with his Inspector, even if she was one of his closest friends.

He gave Alex an apologetic look, and made his way out of the office. At least this way it bought him some time to think about what he was going to tell Alex about last night.

Last night the relief had been down at the pub for a drink. Shortly after Alex had left, Smithy was joined by Kezia Walker. Both officers had had a few too many drinks, and due to this fact they ended up kissing. Nothing else happened between them, but Smithy knew how hurt Alex was going to feel with that alone.

Smithy thought it would be better if he told her the truth now, than let her hear it later on down the line. The only problem was how he was going to tell her. He didn't want to end their relationship but he didn't want to take the risk of losing her after his admission.

Smithy walked into CID and joined the rest of his colleagues for their briefing. At least this was something to help keep the problem from his mind. He walked into the briefing room and saw Kezia sat in a chair close to the door. Smithy purposely sat in the chair farthest away from her. Kezia looked over to him and just glared. As the DI and DCI walked in, the relief went quiet and listened to their senior officers.

Elsewhere, Alex was just finishing the morning briefing with uniform. She was intending on going out onto the beat for a while first thing. She had finally got her leg out of its plaster after spending weeks in a cast. She still needed to occasionally use her crutches, but that was only when she got tired and needed to take the weight off her leg. It had been quite a bad break, nothing that would warrant Alex to take it any easier though, but still bad enough.

"Right everyone, that's everything for just now. Are there any questions?" She asked as she looked around the room. The relief shook there heads. "Right, in that case that's class dismissed." She added as she waved the officers out of the door.

"Yes Sarge." Chorused the relief as they made their way out into the corridor.

Out side the briefing room, Alex bumped into her sister Liz. Liz was a CPS lawyer and was in at the station quite often. In fact, she had been given the position of resident CPS advisor at Sun Hill.

"Hey big sis. Have you heard my news?" Liz asked.

"What that you're following me and starting here?" Alex replied.

"I am not following you; I've just been given a possition here. Any way, it might be fun working together." Liz said.

"You always had to be the big copy cat and follow me everywhere. Still, it would be nice to work in the same station. You never know, we might get to see more of each other." Alex said.

"Do you have time to grab a quick coffee before you go out?" Liz asked.

"Well… ok then. It'll have to be a quick coffee though, I'm meant to be out on patrol." Alex agreed reluctantly. She didn't want to set a bad example to the rest of the relief, but she didn't get to see her sister very often.

Liz approached the canteen counter and ordered two teas. Alex chose a seat close to the window. Her sister finally came over with their tray and sat down in the seat opposite.

"So, what's new in your life then?" Liz asked.

"Not a lot, you know, the usual." Alex replied as she took a sip from her cup.

"What about you and Smithy? Have you spent the night together yet?" Liz said, raising her eyebrows in a mischievous fashion.

"Elizabeth Jane Louise MacDonald, I'm surprised at you." Alex playfully reprimanded. "No we haven't. We both agreed to take it steady, for several reasons. It's not that long ago since we both lost our partners and we are really good friends. I don't want to do anything that would spoil that friendship." She explained.

"Alex, Smithy is mad about you. You know, there's taking it steady and there's taking it steady. You've said it yourself before that life is too short to waste." Liz replied.

Alex looked at her younger sister and knew she was right, although she would never admit it. Alex then glanced at her watch and got up from the table.

"I'd better go Lizzie; if Gina catches me in here she'll kill me." Alex smiled.

"Yeah I'll catch you later." Liz said as she also got up and kissed her on the cheek.

Alex headed back to the Sergeants' office to collect her kit. Smithy was already there doing the same.

"Hey Smithy; what was all the hullabaloo upstairs then?" Alex asked as she grabbed her things.

Smithy became very nervous when he saw Alex enter the office. He knew he had to tell her about Kezia, and he knew he had to do it now.

"Nothing really, just an armed robbery." He explained.

"Are you alright Smithy? Only you look really white and nervous." Alex said as she walked over to him.

"There's something I need to talk to you about." Smithy said as he perched himself on the desk. His stomach felt as if it was doing summersaults. He took a deep breath and launched into his explanation.

"Last night after you left the pub, Kezia and I stayed and talked for a bit. We'd both had a lot to drink and… well one thing led to another and we ended up kissing." Smithy explained.

Alex stood in front of him and the look on her face said it all. She looked so hurt and upset.

"Did you sleep with her?" Alex asked as she tried to hide how hurt she felt.

"No I swear I didn't. When I realized what was happening I stopped. I didn't want to kiss her, it just sort of happened." Smithy replied. He knew that he had hurt Alex, and it was the last thing he had wanted to do.

"I see. So why are you telling me?" Alex asked a she turned away from him to face the filing cabinets.

"I didn't want you to find out from somebody else first. I didn't want you to think that it meant anything or that anything happened other than a kiss."

"Do you want to end it with me?" Alex asked.

"No of course I don't; that's why I'm telling you. We said that we would be honest with each other and that is what I'm doing. I haven't slept all night because I've been worrying about telling you. The thought of losing you just cripples me, and last night when I was thinking about you, the thought of losing you made me realize how much I love you. I'm really sorry that I've hurt you…" Smithy said as he was cut off in mid sentence.

"Say that again." Alex said as she turned round to face him.

"I'm sorry." Smithy said, looking confused.

Alex smiled, "Not that, before, what you said before."

"I love you." Smithy repeated.

Alex walked over to where Smithy was sat and kissed him passionately. She pulled back slightly and whispered into the kiss, "I love you too Smithy."

Smithy looked up at her. "I know I've hurt you and I'm so sorry."

"I know I'm not the easiest person to date. Kezia has a lot more to offer than I do. For a start she doesn't have three children, no commitments and she's younger than me…" Alex started to list comparisons between her and Kezia.

Smithy put his finger against Alexs' lips and smiled. "Will you keep quiet for five seconds? It's you I love. I knew that you had commitments and kids before I started seeing you. That didn't make a difference then and it doesn't make a difference now. So are we ok then?" He asked.

"Yeah, I think we are. Although I'm not letting you off the hook that easy." Alex said playfully.

"Ok so how about I make it up to you by taking you out to night?" Smithy said as he wrapped his arms around her.

"Sure, but I choose where we are going." Alex replied as she place her arms round his waist.

"It's a date then. Unfortunately, as much as I would love to stay here with you all day, I have to go help nic a couple of blokes." Smithy coiled himself away from her.

"I'll see you later then. And Smithy, please be careful."

Smithy smiled as he left to head down to the car. He breathed a sigh of relief and felt as if a weight had been lifted from him. He hadn't realized how much he loved Alex until now. That was the first time they had actually said it to each other as well. Getting into the car with Dan, he still had a very large grin on his face.

"What's the matter with you? If you smile any harder your face will crack." Dan remarked.

"Just shut up and drive." Smithy replied as he place his seat belt round him.