Okay, this is my first ever fanfic! I have only just joined the site, and I have loved reading your stories! I hope you enjoy mine! Please review and let me know what you think! Be gentle with me!!!!
I was a huge fan of DS Boulton, so this story is based around him! There will be more chapters to come, so watch this space!
Disclaimer - I own the character, DS Tess Harrington - everything else is not owned by me!
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A Rocky RoadJohn Boulton strode into the CID office on Monday morning, to find all usual activity halted, and a woman that he didn't recognise being introduced to the team by Chris Deakin.
"Ah, there you are John. On time as usual I see. Let me introduce you to DS Tess Harrington, who will be taking over from Danny Pearce."
John looked the newcomer up and down. She was very short, only about 5 feet, and very slim. She looked to be in her early thirties. She was really very pretty, with her glossy brunette hair, which fell in loose natural curls to just above her shoulders, her little ski-jump nose and smooth skinned face, lightly dotted with freckles, her big dark eyes, long eyelashes, and her pale complexion. She was wearing a very stylish outfit, which consisted of a fitted black sweater, a pleated black skirt that rested just above her knees, thick black tights and black patent heeled shoes. A pair of classic white pearl stud earrings decorated her ear lobes.
Well, not bad looking but not my type at all. She looks far too precious and serious for me. I prefer my women to be more fun and feisty…….. John thought.
"Hi, I'm DS John Boulton," he said.
"Its very nice to meet you," Tess replied politely. Her voice betraying her public school education at King's School in Canterbury, and her subsequent years studying at Oxford University.
Oh great, she's a posh bird too. That's all we need here – a bloody snob.
John wandered off to chat with Don Beech by the coffee machine.
"What do you reckon to the new girl then, John? I wouldn't mind a bit of her!" Don whispered.
John snorted. "Nah, she's way too straight laced for me. Plus I prefer blondes anyway. Whats the betting she's wears pearls in bed!"
At that moment DI Deakin made his way over to where they were standing.
"I assume you two are actually planning to do some work today?" He said patronisingly.
"Yes Guv," they both replied unconvincingly.
"Good, then you won't mind taking Tess with you to check out that arson in on the Cole Lane estate" Deakin retorted.
John groaned. "Can't someone else look after the newbie? You know I'm crap at this sort of thing."
Don grinned. "She can come out with me."
Deakin rolled his eyes. "Much as I appreciate that kind offer Don, that won't be necessary."
"John, just take Tess with you and stop complaining for once"
John stomped across the office to where Tess was sitting at her new desk.
"Come on then, your coming out with me," he said, as he started to briskly walk towards the office door.
Tess jumped up out of her seat, and hurried after him.
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As John drove them towards the Cole Lane estate in stony silence, Tess decided to break the ice.
"So, how long have you been at Sun Hill for then?"
John grunted, "A while."
"So what are the others like then? Anyone I should avoid?"
"Nah, not really."
Tess looked across at John. He was staring at the road and looking as if he would rather be anywhere but in the car with her.
"You're not the most talkative of people are you?"
John only grunted in reply.
"I don't bite you know," she told him.
"Didn't think you did," he shot back.
John pulled up the car outside the burned out shell of a house. They both jumped out of the car to be greeted by a Scene of Crime officer, who had been examining the scene. As they gathered information about the how the fire had been started, and the evidence left at the scene, Tess and John barely spoke to one another.
In fact they barely spoke to each other all day, despite the fact that they were working on the arson case together. Tess felt constantly irked by this arrogant, grouchy detective, who made absolutely no effort to offer the hand of welcome to her.
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After the shift had finished, the CID team invited Tess along to the pub for a welcome drink. The whole team, who were very keen to get to know Tess better, came along. This included Duncan Lennox, Mickey Webb, Kerry Holmes, Rod Skase, Don Beech, Liz Rawton, Danny Glaze, Jim Carver, Geoff Daly, Chris Deakin, Jack Meadows and even John was persuaded to come for a quick pint or two.
"So Tess, how was your first day?" asked Jack Meadows, with a sideways glance at John.
"Err it was very informative, I learned a lot," Tess replied carefully.
John snorted and disappeared to the bar to get another pint.
Kerry watched his departing back, and turned to Tess.
"I take it that John showed his usual charm and magnetism today!"
Tess grinned,
"Is he always so moody?"
"Always!" Liz put in.
Great, that's all I need! A grumpy git to work with…..
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The next morning, Tess arrived at work feeling much more confident than she had the previous day. She had really enjoyed getting to know her new work colleagues better at the pub, especially after John had decided to leave. They had stayed until closing time, and before long she had begun to show her true colours. The rest of the team were both happy and surprised to realise that the quiet, elegant woman that they had spent the day with, was actually extremely self-assured, witty and thick-skinned.
As she walked into the CID office, Tess exchanged cheerful greetings with the rest of the team. She saw John staring away at his computer screen, and decided to ignore him for the time being.
Later that day, Tess and John were continuing their enquiries into the arson case. The investigation was going really well. They had a suspect for the arson case and they had an address for him. However, relations between the two were no friendlier. It wasn't just his abruptness that she disliked – the rest of the team had assured her that he was pretty much the same with most people, so she knew not to take it personally. However, Tess couldn't put her finger on what it was about him that annoyed her so much, but he really rubbed her up the wrong way. She felt that she would be glad when this case was over, and she may be able to avoid having to work with him in future.
John was unhappy too. He did not like his new colleague. He thought that she was stuck-up, boring and too timid. He did not relish the thought of having to deal with a potentially difficult arrest with only a precious woman like Tess as back up.
They arrived at the address that they had for their suspect and they could hear loud music being played from inside the house.
"Good, he must be in," Tess said.
John thumped the front door of the house.
"This is the police, open up," he shouted.
There was no response to this, so John banged on the door and shouted again. Finally he lost his patience and kicked the door several times until it gave way and opened. They both piled into the house and rushed into the kitchen at the bottom of the hallway, where they could hear the sound of someone trying to make an escape. As they entered the room, they could see a tall man in his early twenties halfway through the open window. He leapt out of the window, with John in hot pursuit.
Tess was about to follow too, when she realised that the wall around the back yard of the house, was very tall and had barbed wire around the top. She knew that the suspect would probably make a run for it down the side of the house. She doubled back and made her way out of the front door and ran towards the pathway that ran down the side of the house. At that moment, the suspect ran towards her. He saw her blocking his way and turned around. John emerged at the other end of the pathway, and carried on running towards the suspect. The suspect immediately ran towards Tess, and tried to push her roughly out of his way. Without hesitation, Tess grabbed the suspect, and threw him up against the wall. Despite the suspect's size, and her tiny frame, she held him against the wall whilst he struggled to get away and yelled,
"I'm DS Harrington from Sun Hill, and you're nicked!"
With that, she handcuffed him and dragged him over to their waiting car.
She smugly looked over her shoulder at John.
"Well, are you coming then?"
Bloody hell…… he thought.