I have no connection to anyone or anything connected to Republic of Doyle. This story is a work of fiction created by me as an homage to the great writers of the series.

This is a sequel to Leslie's Story

Leslie woke up to a raging headache and the distant sound of gentle snoring.

"What the heck happened to me?" she asked herself rolling out of bed and trying not to lose her balance as her head spun.

Walking into the front room she spotted Jake sleeping on her sofa and the memories of the previous evening flooded back. Or some of them did. She remembered seeing him in his car and pointing her gun at him. "Groan, what was I thinking?" She's not sure how come he's in her house, though she feels remarkably comfortable, even happy, that he's there.

Looking at the clock, she realized it's only 5 am, but she needs to stay awake and lose the hangover brain before her shift starts at 8. "Coffee", she says to herself, and heads to the kitchen.

Later, sitting in her favourite easy chair, she watches him sleep and wonders what his dreams are like. "Lions, and tigers and bears, o my!", like all little boys, she supposes.

She wonders what it would be like to wake up to this everyday. Not a hangover, mind you, but seeing Jake looking so peaceful and happy.

"Yawn,... have you been sitting there watching me sleep all night."

"No, b'y. Just an hour or so. Did you sleep well?"

"As well as anyone does on a sofa. You?"

"Not well enough to be able to manage a day with Sgt. Hood. But clarity is returning via caffeine. Want some?"

"I'll avoid the double entendre. Yes to the coffee and the clarity."

They don't talk while Leslie pours the coffee, remembering that he likes one sugar, one milk.

"You remembered", he said when he took his first sip.

"I get paid to have a good memory for details. Though I wish a had a better memory for why you were sleeping on my sofa."

"That's probably better lost in the mists of time. But I need you to know that I behaved the perfect gentleman."

Leslie laughed. "That's one of the great contradictions about Jake Doyle. He can hold his own in a bar fight, cavort with strippers and still be expected to act the gallant when required."

"God, I love you Leslie Bennett. ... Shit, I said that out loud didn't I."

"Why do you love me? Really you hardly know me. I could be a total bitch, a slob and a relationship train wreck."

"Then we have two things in common," laughed Jake. "Except I don't believe you about the slob part - the relationship part, maybe."

He continued, stumbling a bit. "I love you because you make me feel happy and you make me want to be a better person. I am not sure anyone in my life has ever made me feel that way. Maybe my mother, but I can't really remember."

"Mal loves you and he admires you."

"I know, but it isn't the same. And frankly, it would be a bit creepy if I felt about him like I feel about you."

Jake lowered his head a bit shyly, and looking up at her he asked, "Do you love me, even a little bit?"

Her face reddened, she stuttered a bit and turned her back to him while she washed out her coffee cup. "I need to get ready for work."

"Sure, of course. Sorry", Jake said sheepishly.

She turned back into the kitchen suddenly and with her words kind of tumbling over themselves said, "I have never felt about anyone the way I feel about you. I feel excited, anxious, thrilled, happy, frightened, turned on, turned off. Nothing in my life makes sense with you around and yet somehow everything makes sense. All I want to do is be near you and yet every time I am, I make some stupid blunder or act foolishly or take dangerous risks."

"O mi God, Leslie, that's exactly what I feel like, too."

"That's why I get mad at you all the time, because its the only way I know to not become a blithering idiot."

She continued, "when you aren't around, I can be straight with myself and realize that you are bad for my career because you don't hesitate to break the law, put me at risk and behave badly to help your family and clients. But when you are around, I forget all about that and my feelings of happiness and excitement threaten to shut down my better judgement."

Jake jumped in, "I don't mean to be a danger to you. I know I act impulsively. You once complimented me that I did things that wouldn't be allowed for an officer. But I know that can be a problem for you."

"The thing is, Jake, I don't want you to stop being Jake. St. John's needs someone like you who is a kind of 'caped crusader'. You always wind up doing the right thing. You always save the damsel in distress. Trouble is that this damsel usually winds up in distress as a result. I don't know how to reconcile it and maybe I can't."

"But maybe I can," replied Jake. "I want you so badly it makes my teeth ache. I would do anything for you, anything. I was thinking about this last night - about turning over a new leaf."

Leslie laughed, "Oh really?"

"I am going to try not to get arrested as much, not get in so many fights and I am going to designate you my number one damsel in distress. No clients or jobs that might put you in jeopardy. I promise."

She looked at him skeptically.

"God, Leslie, I would take a job down a coal mine if it meant I could be with you."

She sighed,"that's the problem. I love the dangerous, reckless, hero Jake, not the boring, ordinary Jake that you would become if you did that."

"Having said that, if you could not get arrested all the time, that would be a good start. There might be hope for this relationship."

Jake perked up, "you said relationship."

"Of course we have a relationship, its just not always clear what the boundaries are."

She turned out of the kitchen again, "I really have to take a shower and get ready for work."

"Want any help lowering your water bill?" he said lasciviously?

She paused, rolled her eyes, smiled and said, "sure".

...

Hood gave her a sickening look, "why are you grinning like a fool all the time?"

"Shut up and mind your business," Leslie replied frowning. The frown turned to a fresh grin as she got yet another text from Jake, telling her how much trouble he was having concentrating on his work. She texted back, "me, too."

The Police radio buzzed, "Officers in pursuit of a 2012 Red Charger at high speed on Logy Bay Road. Suspected robbery in process."

Hood turned to Leslie, "Doesn't Jake Doyle have a new Red Charger?"

"Oh no," groaned Leslie.