A/N: This is a series of short scenes and one shots of interactions between Richard and Camille with the common theme of most of them never going beyond flirting and unresolved sexual tension. I say most as I may write the odd thing that does but is short so would be better off in this collection than as a standalone story.

Charm Offensive

Summary: Camille discovers Richard has been keeping one particular talent well hidden.

Camille understood that nurses were one of the categories of people who were dedicated and brilliant yet overworked and underpaid. It was something they shared in common with the Royal Saint Marie Police Force, which you think would create a certain level of camaraderie. Last night the hospital had treated a man in the A & E whom Camille and Richard now suspected committed an assault earlier in the day. The nurses were in no way culpable, but were still giving Camille rather brusque and vague responses that were not going to help them track down the individual in question.

She met Richard, who had been in the security office reviewing CCTV, in the foyer of the hospital and proceeded whinge about her lack of progress. "They just don't seem to have any time for me." She complained mildly. "Maybe we should send Dwayne in and he can charm the information out of them!"

It was meant to be a joke, but Richard actually looked quite thoughtful at the suggestion. When he opened his mouth, she did think he was going to ask her to call Dwayne, but instead something entirely unexpected came out, "Let me try first."

Camille's jaw dropped, and she was sure she must have misheard him. Before she could ask what on earth he was thinking, he was already walking purposefully towards the nurses stations. She couldn't help but feel like she was about to witness a car crash. Was it being voyeuristic to try and edge forward and overhear what Richard was actually saying? Whilst she was considering how to get away with it, she realised something startling. Richard was smiling at the nurse, a proper full on and really quite attractive smile – and the nurse was smiling right back at him!

Whilst Richard claimed body language left him completely befuddled, Camille was not shy in admitting she was quite good at interpreting it. The way Richard was leaning on the counter towards the nurse, carefully maintaining eye contact and occasionally laughing – the way the nurse was fiddling with her hair and unconsciously straitening her uniform – Dear God, he was actually flirting. He knew how to flirt! Ok, so admittedly, the two of them had had a couple of interactions in the past that could be filled in the flirting category – but they were so few and far between Camille had always assumed he had sort of done it by accident.

A few minutes later he returned and told Camille, "She overheard somebody in one of the cubicles on the phone, who she is 90% sure is our suspect, talking about going to Dominica to hide out for a while. We should probably send the authorities there a description." His tone was entirely professional, and he had suddenly transformed back into the Detective Inspector she knew so well. Though the nurse was looking after him with something akin to longing, Richard walked straight out of the hospital without a backwards glance. Camille noticed the poor woman look disappointed – well, she clearly didn't know what she would have been getting herself into with Richard! Mind, Camille wasn't sure she did either now…not that, uh oh, her thoughts should not be going there.

Richard was looking impatient next to the Defender when she reached it, "Come on, Camille, those reports don't write themselves!"

"I…" she began, then shook her head and unlocked the vehicle. Climbing behind the wheel she realised that there was no way for her to let this go. She decided to use the short drive back to the station to find out exactly what she had just witnessed. "What was that?" She asked bluntly.

Richard hesitated, clearly realising what she was talking about but choosing to feign ignorance anyway, "What was what?"

"That, with the nurse," she prompted.

He kept his facial expression neutral and said, "I was just interviewing her about the suspect."

"I think there was more than just interview technique in use!" she said, a little frustrated that he was trying to avoid the subject.

"Sometimes the use of…" he paused, carefully considering his words. "The use of charm is necessary to put a potential witness at ease." She felt it was worth taking her eyes off the road for a moment to shoot a look at him. He huffed and then actually sounded rather indignant when he continued, "I suppose you just assumed I was completely without charm!"

"No!" She protested. "I thought your style was just, um, less traditional than what I witnessed."

"Well if you spent as much time as a probationary constable dropping off drunks at the A & E and picking them up again as I did, you would realise that charming nurses is a key skill in order to survive."

"Well if you know how to be so charming then why aren't you like that the rest of the time?" She was relieved her brain did not betray her and have her say "like that with me" instead.

"Oh God, it's far too exhausting. All that saying things you don't mean in order to get what you want. I mean why can't a simple please and thank you be enough? Or some respect for the job we are trying to do? Honest to God Camille the world would be a much better place if flirting wasn't necessary and I'll tell you something else…"

"OK!" She half shouted, cutting him off mid-rant. "Ok, I think I get the point." Thankfully they were now pulling up outside the station. She brought the car to a stop, but before he got out of the seat (and before her better judgement could prevent her) she turned to him and said cheekily, "You should try it on me sometime."

He looked at her carefully, and Camille smiled so he would know she was only teasing. After a few moments a smile tugged at the corner of his mouth as well, and he said quietly, "I wouldn't dare."

"What's that supposed to mean?!" She protested mildly. "Afraid my mother will tell you off for flirting with me?"

"Your mother is quite scary," he said flatly. She moved to hit him playfully for his cheek, but he expertly blocked the move, flashing her a triumphant grin. "Actually it's more because you are far too smart to ever fall for it, and I know it. You would see straight through me."

Camille found she was a little flustered by the compliment. She was aware she may be blushing. She reached up a hand to nervously tuck her hair behind her ears, whilst desperately trying to think of a suitable response – something that wouldn't break moment they were having.

The realisation struck her in the middle of the hair tuck. Her face lost the shy smile it had been sporting and instead she sighed and shook her head at him fondly, "I can't believe that worked!"

"Forget that! I can't believe I wasted the only opportunity for it to work on this!" There was a note of irritation in his tone, and he had thrown his hands up in the air, but he also looked quite smug. He gave her one last lopsided grin (which did something very funny to her stomach) and got out of the car. As he walked away, Camille only had one thought on her mind.

When would he have preferred to use it?