AN; last series I did a series of what should've happened but what didn't or what I wanted to happen for each episode. Same this series. In other words this is what happens when I'm easily distracted by school. (Broken Arrow is on hold cos I am stuck and I don't think anyone's reading it...)

Episode 1 - Flaw

Not guilty. A totally ridiculous verdict. Horgan was guilty and everyone knew it. As Kate and Jake walked out of court Eleanor was reading his statement. Jake stopped to listen to it. Horgan said how glad he was there had been justice because he wasn't guilty.

Kate saw how angry and annoyed Jake was getting and thought for the sake of everyone she best intervene. She grabbed his arm. "Come on, this isn't doing any good." She spoke in a soft yet stern voice making him listen. He let her lead him away; As they walked past Ronnie he patted the detective on the shoulder whereas Kate gave him a small, kind smile. "You tried your best, Jake..." She said a few minutes later.

"We did." He corrected her. " we're partners aren't we?"

She gave a small laugh. "Yes. We are." She paused suddenly realising her hand was still on his arm and she withdrew it. "Drink?" She suggested.

"I think we both need one." He nodded.

She smiled lightly again as they changed their direction for the pub. After they sat and each drank half of their first pint in silence Kate sighed. "We will get him one day, right."

"Yeah." He nodded. "Just not this time. It's just horrible that we didn't get justice for that little girl.

Kate bit her lip. "I know." She closed her eyes feeling her emotions that she'd hidden during the trial come racing to surface; she was too tired to hide them anymore. "We can be taught law...but we can never learn to feel nothing."

She had her hand on the table and Jake lent forward gently touching her it. "You ok?" A stupid question, but what else could he have said?

She nodded. "It's what we do. We fight...sometimes we fail." He nodded, she was right. They were told time and time again not to get emotional. To not let their feelings enter the courtroom. Easier said than done. He'd heard in her voice how hard it was to tell Ronnie that he couldn't let his emotions get the better of him. The case had been tough on both of them as well as Ron.

They were the ones after all who had to stand up in court. The ones who had to look Serena Baylor's mum in the eye when Horgan walked free. It had been Kate who had to question her for the fourth time about what she saw. The case had torn everyone apart. He just hasn't known how badly till now. Kate was strong, nothing ever seemed to faze her.

He took her hand more not sure on how he would react. "We are still allowed to hurt."

Her eyes snapped up to meet his "Then when are you gonna give up the act?"

"What act?" He asked confused.

"That nothing ever hurts you! You sit there with all your talk and your bullshit hiding behind a poker face but really..." She looked down blinking furiously before looking back at him. "You know what...forget it." She stood up and walked out and he followed her to the street.

He wasn't sure what was going on but wasn't going to let her just walk away. "Kate." He said and she stopped and turned around. "When we first met, you said I was 'still a human being...' That I wasn't 'just my job' and you were right. But I just try and not let it bother me because I know when the verdict is read there's nothing's I can do..."

"What about the Moran trial?" She asked frustrated. He had been so bloody patronising to her during the Pendle case about being emotional when he'd been effected by Jenny Moran's apparent suicide. She knew it was different but she was working herself up.

"I said I try..." He replied, keeping calm. "Sometimes, especially after case like this, it takes a while to sink in. I get angry at myself for letting a victim down..." She breathed in biting her lip again, he thought if she bit it any harder it would bleed.

"I'm sorry." She ran her hand over her face. "Sorry...I just erm...It's just...like Ronnie said...she was eight years old..."

He took her hand "I know, but like you said, we couldn't have done anymore for her. We tried our best." Unsure when exactly the tables had turned he looked in her eyes. Searching for something. A signal he'd held her hand a little too long now...but her saw nothing.

"There you two are." They heard Henry say making them tear their eyes off each other and Jake let go of Kate's hands. "Why are you stood out here its bloody freezing." They both glared at him for a moment and neither said anything. "Well when you've finished testing your theory on hyperthermia, go home. Get some rest. Get drunk. Do whatever. Take tomorrow off. It's been a hell of a day."

"Verging on an act of kindness, Henry." Jake said.

"Oh no, is it?" Henry groaned. " ah well." He gave them both a small smile. He was trying to be as positive as he could. He knew it had been a risky trial and he was really proud of the the way they worked together. He was upset understandably they hasn't got Horgan but with Lockwood as the only gallery what else could they have done? He walked away from the two of them leaving them to do whatever it was they had been doing before hand. Which seemed to be more than their usual just arguing thing.

"So what now?" Jake asked her.

She bit her lip again beginning to get a faint taste of blood in her mouth. This was a habit she was going to have to give up. "Go home. Get some rest. Get drunk. Take tomorrow off. Do whatever."

"Good plan." He laughed slightly. "Which first?"

"Toss up between drunk and home." She replied brushing her hair out of her face. Henry had been right, it was bloody freezing. "But you were right, we definitely need a drink...and I never finished mine..."

He laughed again, "come on, then." They walked back into the pub sitting back down at the table and Jake went to go and get them another drink.