A/N: see part "b"

Written: August 15th, 2013

Spoilers: 10x01

Disclaimer: I wish I did but alas, I do not own New Tricks, Sandra, Gerry, Brian, Steve, Wall to Wall or the BBC.

==== The Rock (a) ====

I came down to breakfast this morning to find Steve and Gerry already sitting at a table. Steve called out and waved me over when I walked right past them. To be honest, I was expecting both of them to still be in bed with a hangover.

We've been sitting her for nearly fifteen minutes and they've barely said a word to me or each other. They just keep giving each other odd looks when they think I'm not looking. I don't doubt that they disobeyed my orders and had a night out last night, drinking and probably a bit of gambling. Gerry, I can trust with that now, he's done well over the last few years to curb his addiction; but trusting Gerry with Steve…not so sure about that. They're both as bad as each other. Now it's like having two Gerrys in the office, isn't one enough? Steve, Gerry and a bar…lots of bars, away from home, judging from their past form, I really should know better. The fact, however, that they had both been up and ready to meet me for breakfast, quite frankly shocks and impresses me.

Taking a sip of my coffee, I glance over at Steve, then Gerry – they exchange a look again then quickly feign interest in their food – they don't look hung over or tired, they seem jittery actually, like they've had too much caffeine. I decide to call them on it. Maybe they'll stop acting all weird when they know I'm not angry and won't tear them new arseholes. They seemed to have behaved themselves, whatever they got up to last night, how can I be mad?

Gerry doesn't even try denying it. Maybe we've been working together too long and he knows I have a highly developed sense of bullshit, especially where it concerns him. Steve just nods when I look at him for confirmation. Then I catch Gerry pilfering a sausage off his plate and stuffing it in his pocket. We stare at each other for a moment; he tells me he's going to save it for later as a snack. We've never been away together before maybe he always acts like this. It's not like there's nowhere around here to have lunch later. I shake my head. Gerry's now wrapping up a croissant in a napkin. I tell him he can come with me to check out Truman when we're done here. He gets up from the table, grabbing a butter off the plate, announcing he has to have a shower and he'll meet me out the front in fifteen. I am about to complain but am silenced as I watch him put the butter in the bread basket and grab the whole basket off the table instead.

I feel Steve watching me, as I watch Gerry disappear back inside.

"What exactly did you two get up to last night?" I ask, not really expecting details.

"Oh, you know, a few drinks, hit the tables, didn't have a late night, promise." Steve replies in the exuberant tone he apparently woke up with.

I wonder for a moment if they'd met some poor local women.

Then I wish I hadn't wondered that.

I finish the last of my coffee and get up to leave when my phone goes off. It's Cruz. If he's calling about Steve and Gerry's antics last night, I will kill both of them. Luckily, he just wants to get together now to discuss what direction our investigation is going to take today; no doubt to make sure we won't be treading on more toes and stirring shit. I tell Steve to check in with me later and maybe we can all have lunch. Then I head upstairs to get a move on from Gerry and tell him our change of plans, he'll be thrilled.

I knock on Gerry's door and am surprised when it opens almost right away. I half expect to see some half-naked woman answer. I may as well be that half-naked woman the way Gerry was staring at me, surprised to see me there.

"Shouldn't you be in the shower?"

He's standing with a hand against the doorframe and one holding the door, it doesn't look like he'd just stepped out the shower but he's blocking me from coming in. Maybe there is some half-naked woman in there.

"Christ Gerry, you don't have a woman in there do you? I told you and Steve to behave."

"I wish!" He mutters jokingly, as he slips out into the hallway, closing the door behind him. Then he grabs hold of my arm and leads me in the direction of the stairs.

"Last night…room's a mess, blame the scotch and the Mediterranean climate, entirely Steve's fault." Gerry admitted.

"Entirely!" I repeat, incredulously.

"Listen," Gerry starts, as we reach the top of the stairs and he lets go of my arm. "Let me buy you dinner tonight, you can keep an eye on me."

"What about Steve?"

"Hot date." he almost groans.

I look at him and resist the urge to laugh; Outstanding Standing was slipping.

"Can't have you all alone, this far from home then, now can we? You may take me to dinner."

"Lucky me!" He lets out a sigh, I suspect is relief.

"Lucky me!"