AN: This follows on from the episode "Payback" from series 24; the first two paragraphs have reference to that episode, other than that, its all my own content.
I've never posted a fic before, so go easy on me! I'm open to any comments or ideas! :-)
It was the end of the shift; it had been a long day that had ended in a way that CID would never have guessed. Helen Harvey had stabbed her husband after home life had just got too much; nothing near what they had all thought, a loan shark making an example of a 'client'.
Stevie Moss had just walked out the nick to find PC Ben Gayle a million miles away, she knew that look; he had got too involved in the case, his mind was still with the Harvey's son, Liam. As she tried to think of the right thing to say, she saw Sergeant Callum Stone out of the corner of her eye; she suppressed a smile that always crept across her face when he was around, and maintained her professionalism around the PC. She second guessed his thoughts, "listen, I agree, but it's out of our hands now". Ben was frustrated, he felt they weren't doing the right thing by Liam letting him go home with a Dad that really didn't care, and with his mum waiting to be sentenced who knows what would happen to him. Stone joined the conversation, and after some words that were said in the heat of the moment Stevie felt the mood needed to be lightened, and threatened to have them both put on the naughty step. Her heart skipped a beat when Stone quipped "I look forward to it!"
Stevie turned and headed back into the nick, that drink with Jo and Terry could wait a bit longer. She followed Sergeant Stone into the boys locker room and closed the door behind her, he had his back to her and she let out the smile she had suppressed minutes before.
Callum had been in a world of his own, he hasn't intended on snapping at Ben, but it had been a long shift, he had a thumping headache and all he wanted to do was go home. He hadn't heard the door close behind him, but a sound made him jump "What's up with you Mr Grumpy". Stevie was stood before him with a smile across her face, as his eyes locked with hers he felt the stress of the day melt away. "DC Moss, you know you shouldn't be in here. Or, is there something you need to tell me..?" he smirked. He walked towards her and sank into her lips, pulling her into him. Stevie could fix anything.
Stevie pulled away, "not here, you know we have to be careful." It was a small miracle that no one had caught on to their relationship, usually in a building full of detectives and cynical people, no news was kept secret for long. Callum kissed her temple, "See you out front in 15?" Stevie nodded, she would much rather go home with Callum, she could have a drink with Jo any time, plus she was sure that Jo was onto her and Stone, it was like DC Masters had a built in gossip radar; and if she could put off probing questions a bit longer then all the better.
The following day Stevie woke up in a place that wasn't her bedroom, an alarm was buzzing, "turn it off or die" she grumbled into the duvet as she pulled it over her head. "Be careful, it's an offence to threaten a police officer you know" Callum teased, Stevie was most definitely not a morning person. He set the cup of tea down on the bed side table and whipped the duvet away, Stevie screamed, and went to grab the duvet but wasn't quite quick enough. "I hate you", Stevie said as she sat up, whilst trying to ignore the shivers as the cold replaced the previous warmth of the duvet. Callum smiled, "No you don't", he pushed her back down onto the bed and lay over her propping himself up with one arm. "I thought you were trying to get me out of bed, not put me back in it!" Stevie mocked. Callum tried so hard to keep a straight face, and with an inquisitive look said "I just wanted you to wake up, I didn't say anything about getting out of bed", "Well there are nicer ways to wake me up" she bantered back. Words weren't needed this time, Callum bent his head down and kissed across her collar bone, her skin was soft and he inwardly smiled as he felt her relax under him; he kissed up her neck gently sucking on the sensitive spot just below her ear that he knew she loved, and trailed kisses towards her lips. Her fingers had worked their way into his hair and Stevie pulled him into her, kissing him hungrily. His tongue played with her bottom lip begging for permission, she obliged; as if she could ever say no to Callum anyway. After what didn't seem like long enough, and lack of oxygen became a problem, they pulled away; "That, was much better Sergeant Stone". Callum kissed her one last time, and got up from the bed and headed for the kitchen.
45 minutes later they were both in Callums car headed for the station, he dropped her off around the corner. It was close enough for her to walk, but far away enough not to be seen and for them to get into work at different times. No one need ever know about the two of them, and that's the way they liked it. Work was work, they knew they had to stay professional, and there had been no problem so far; if people knew they would be judged by their colleagues, and questions would be asked every time they had to work together, plus it was no one else's business anyway. Callum gave her a quick kiss, and she jumped out of the car "Let's hope today goes quickly" Stevie smiled at him, they had plans for later, which he hoped included picking up where they had left off earlier that morning.
Stevie walked through the double doors of CID, mug of tea in hand. Jo looked up from her desk, "Where did you get to last night lady?", "Oh I just didn't feel like it much, long day y'know". Stevie knew she should have come prepared with a better excuse, but truth was she'd forgotten all about the drink after last night's shift. "Stevie Moss turning down a trip to the pub, never thought i'd see the day!" Jo quipped, "Anyway, you missed Terry being chatted up by the barman". Jo winked at Stevie, got up and headed for the printer. Stevie just stood there, "She knows, Jo MUST know" she thought incredulously to herself. She snapped out of her thoughts and followed Jo, "wait, did you just say bar MAN?!"
Just as Jo was about to spill all, DCI Neil Manson stuck his head through the door, "briefing with Uniform, now". "What's all this about"? Stevie questioned, changing the subject. Terry's love life could wait until later.
Jo and Stevie walked into the packed briefing room, Neil and Smithy stood at the front of the crowd. "Right quiet down you lot" Smithy barked. Neil took over, "We've had some intelligence handed on to us, a drug trafficking operation is being performed at a pub in Canley. We believe that this man, Paul Donavan, is one of the key players." Pictures of more men popped up on the electronic screen. "This man, is Alex Short, owns the pub. We can only assume that he is in on the operation. We have been tipped off that a large shipment is being delivered at 12pm today, so we need to move fast. I know that we are working off little information, but if the shipment is as big as we think it is, we can't afford for it to get out onto the streets. DC Moss, you and Sergeant Smith will be in plain clothes in the pub; DC Masters, DC Perkins is on his way in, take him and perform obo on the pub. I want to know everything about what goes in and out of the pub. Sergeant Stone, can you please position your officers ready to raid on the signal, we also need officers in covering all possible exit routes. Right any questions? Good. We can't afford to slip up on this, so let's go out and get a good result".