**Set after "Their Story", when things are starting to get back to normal, Jean and James had progressed together as a couple**
With Richard being charged for the assault on jean it was also grounds for divorce, which Richard was not happy about. Chris had decided to stay in the house for a while after jean moved back in, he then went backpacking across Europe with friends for a year.
James had moved in considering he had been staying most nights once jean was back in the house. She had spent at least 2 weeks staying with James. She had been out of work at least 2 months waiting for injuries to heal.
There were rumours around the station about jean and James, but they didn't let it interfere with their jobs, they were able to keep their hands off one another.
James had been back to work even though jean was still out on leave, she had been replaced by some Chief Super Bowles, who had an eye for minor things slide, and more laid back really, but ran a tight ship.
Robbie and James had a few sticky cases while jean was on leave. One in particular was a battered wife who on 2 previous occasions had been in hospital for what happened but took no action, and how sad and upsetting it was that it took her death for anything to be done to her husband. He thought of jean.
That night when he went home, he tried to look lively, but she could pick up on his mood. He sat beside her on the sofa, holding his hand and rubbing his knee. "Hay, bad day at work, do you want a cuppa before dinner", he nodded 'yes'.
She went to the kitchen to make the tea and brought it back to him, he looked flushed as if he was crying. He took the cup from jean, took a sip and placed it on the table. He pulled her into a big hug and started to sob. She rubbed his back not letting go. "Shush, it's ok, I'm here, I am not going anywhere", he sat up to look at her. "Robbie rang and told me about it", she kissed his beautiful face, his lips and hugged him again. They just sat there arms around one another for what felt like eternity.
James stopped crying, jean wiping his face, "big boys don't cry", she said to him, "well this big one does", pointing to himself. She took his face in her hands kissing him. With a pouty face she said "I won't let anyone make my big boy cry", also a cheeky grin on her face. "Hay, don't let anyone hear you say that or it will be taken the wrong context 'ma'am'", he was smiling at her now with big puppy dog eyes.
"what did I tell you before James Hathaway don't call me that here, or I will send you home", he was moving closer to her, reaching a hand up her body as she leaned back into the sofa, his other hand on her thigh.
He was climbing on the sofa to her now. Jean was nibbling his chest, "James", she was giggling at him, "yes jean", "I thought I told you, now up to your room, bed for you", low husky voice escaped her. James was planting kisses on her jaw line with his hand moving further up her thigh, "no", still kissing, "because I have to take you with me" saying in a low sexy voice between kisses, "I can't sleep without my teddy", giving her a little squeeze.
In the background 'ding'.
"Now saved by the bell, I have to get up James", trying to push him up still kissing him. He sat back, "you win", letting her up. He followed her to the kitchen. "Something smells nice, what's on the menu" he asked moving closer to jean, rubbing her breast now, she replied "lasagne and salad, you can wait for dessert", slapping his hand away from her breast.
They sat and ate dinner, he poured more wine for both of them, and he spoke first. "Not sure if Robbie told you the full story, but last night and the night before I said I was working late and staying at Robbie's, it was not entirely true, I was actually at a band mates. She looked annoyed but was listening. "Sorry I was not here for you jean, to make you feel safe", she reached for his hand across the table.
"I asked Robbie to say I was there if you asked. I need space to get over that woman, I thought of you, if that were you, how would I feel"? He was saying it slow and sounding upset.
"Hay, finish your dinner first and we will talk ok", looking at him, he acknowledged by nodding.
When they finished they moved to the sofa. They sat facing one another holding hands. "So shy did you not tell me how you really felt about all this, I thought you did not want me, that you were having second thoughts", tears were starting to fall down her face.
He reached her cheek to wipe away the tears. "Jean baby, if I was feeling like this about the case after what you went through, just remembering you in the hospital was enough to give me nightmares", tears still falling down her cheeks.
"A few nights ago you were out meeting the Solicitor, I fell asleep on the chair, I woke up, bad dreams that it was you I was looking at instead of that woman, I didn't want to have that nightmare while lying beside you", he was pulling her close to him now. "I had to go see a therapist to get it out of my system", he was smiling at her now. "Did it help you"? She asked him.
"I think so, I will know tonight, also if I was having second thoughts, it would be about not seducing you sooner", he had his arms around her kissing the top of her head, she gave him a nudge to the ribs. She was laughing at him now "cheeky sod Hathaway, now I recall sending you to your room", she was kissing him and looking at him with raised eyebrows. Oh how he loved when she got all bossy.
"I did say I was taking you with me, can't sleep without my teddy", he was getting up from the sofa taking her hand leading her upstairs.