Good Weird.
Legal Stuff: - All characters not mine but the property of The Bill however I can speculate what they do off screen now can't I!
A/N: Just my idea of how Grace & Neil's date might have gone and what fate might have in store for them.
Sitting next to Neil Manson on a park bench at nearly midnight Grace Dasari picked up a chip from her portion and popped it into her mouth "Gov….Neil" She corrected herself for what seemed like the hundredth time that evening "When you said you would buy me dinner I didn't quite realise you meant chips and a can of cola in Canley Park" She chuckled.
"Never let it be said I don't know how to show a woman a good time" He chortled waiving one of his own chips at her.
"I suppose I should be glad it's not raining" Grace grinned "Are you always like this?"
"Like what?" He asked innocently.
"You know perfectly well what" She giggled again.
"No honestly I don't…." He insisted picking up a can of cola.
"Silly" Grace clarified.
"Oh thanks a lot Grace that does wonders for my confidence that does" Neil teased taking a swig of his cola "I mean you could have said ruggedly handsome or swashbucklingly brave but nooooooooo instead of being your Knight in shinning armour I'm the court Jester."
"Not in a bad way…..it's just usually your all bottled up but tonight you've been well for want of a better word silly and I suppose that surprises me" Grace explained "I've never seen you this way before."
"I've surprised you? Grace 'Snooker Queen of Oxford three years running' Dasari" He pointed out "Kept that one quite didn't you?"
"Who me?" Grace answered coyly "I was only trying to stop that big one breaking your nose besides we didn't have to pay for our drinks all night did we?"
"I was just attempting to defend your honour I saw what the little one was trying to do with his hands" He justified his actions.
"With your face?" She queried, highly amused.
"Look how was I supposed to know you could have told me how good you were at playing Snooker when I had my arms around you demonstrating how to play" He laughed remembering the look on the two men's faces when Grace had taken them to the cleaners
"And spoil my fun no chance" Graced laughed back.
"Grace Dasari shame on you" He mock berated her "There I am trying to pass on as it turns out my inferior Snooker playing skills and all the time your trying to cop a feel."
"That makes two of us then doesn't it" Grace chortled "I was there remember? I know…."
"I was not trying to cop a feel" He was indignant "DI's honour."
"Oh is that so" Grace retorted not even remotely convinced.
"That came later when we were dancing" Neil joked.
"I noticed and so did everyone else in the pub" Grace nodded "You played 'These arms of mine' on the Jukebox so many times it's a wonder it didn't melt."
"And spoil my fun no chance" He repeated her earlier words
"Alleged rugged handsomeness aside It was nice ….seeing you be silly" Grace reddened "I liked it"
"I….I don't mind being the fool then" He reddened too "If it makes you smile."
"It really is lovely up there tonight isn't it?" Grace stared upwards at the full moon and stars above them trying to ease some of the sudden awkwardness between them.
"It's even lovelier down here" Neil let slip his eyes catching hers, causing them both to redden again.
"So you got anything else to eat I'm still hungry" Grace asked finishing her last chip and tossing her empty papers into the nearest waste basket.
"Woman with an appetite like yours how can you stay so thin" Neil eyed her mischievously as he finished his own chips.
"Because I spend all day chasing around after you Gov" She prodded his arm "Your incredibly high maintenance and don't you forget it."
"Ouch I surrender" He chortled then he produced a mars bar from his jacket pocket "See peace offering."
"That's better" Grace reached for the chocolate.
"Half each" He suggested dangling it high above her head so she couldn't quite reach.
"Neil Manson you cheapskate" Grace groaned.
"That's the deal take it or leave it" He smirked lowering his arm.
"I'll take it" She smirked back then grabbing the mars bar from his hands shot of across the grass laughing all the way.
"What are you doing" Neil called out.
"Being silly" She called back "I can do that too you know."
"DC Dasari get back here with that mars bar now that's an order" He hollered chasing after her.
"Make me Gov" She cooed dancing around with the chocolate as he neared her.
"Alright you asked for it Grace" He lunged forward rugby tackling the startled Grace to the ground then he straddled her so she couldn't move.
"No fair that's cheating" She pouted.
"I don't care" He opened his hand "Give."
"Here" She slapped it into his hand "Happy now?"
"As a matter of fact I am" He guffard then moving to allow her up into a seated position so that they were facing each other he broke the chocolate in half "Open" He instructed.
Opening her mouth he fed her half of the chocolate then he ate the other "You've got a little chocolate moustache" Grace cupped his face in her hands and with her right thumb began to rub it away.
"You too" He leant forward till their lips almost met "Should I clean it away" He whispered breathlessly.
"Yes I really think you should" Grace murmured back their lips almost touching.
"What are you kids doing over there" Sgt Callum Stone bellowed out from nowhere simultaneously torchlight surrounded them and they sprang apart.
"Shouldn't you two be home in bed…" PC Taylor appeared next to the Sergeant and seeing Grace and Neil gulped "I m….mean your own separate beds not together….." He panicked.
"Shut up Leon" Stone rumbled through gritted teeth.
"It's ok Callum DC Dasari and I were just…" Manson floundered.
"Following leads up on a case" Grace put in helpfully.
"Yeah what she said "Neil nodded.
"Anything you say sir right Leon?" Callum hissed.
"Yes sir absolutely" Leon agreed.
"Since everything is under control we'll be on our way" Stone turned to leave.
"Night Sir, Grace" Leon said and followed Stone's exit.
"Sarge do you think they were about to well you know get romantic when we arrived" Leon asked as they walked away.
"I didn't see anything; you didn't see anything they were just following up on a few leads understood PC Taylor?" Callum scowled.
"Understood" Leon nodded "You got next month in Smithy's Dasari/Manson hook up pool didn't you?"
Behind them Grace and Neil collapsed side by side in a fit of giggles "Well that'll be all over the nick tomorrow morning" Neil propped himself up on one elbow to watch her body shake with laughter.
"Do you mind" Grace reached out to caress his cheek affectionately.
"No not at all" He assured her taking the hand and kissing it "Do you?"
"Me neither" She promised him.
"Good weird" He asked.
"Definitely good weird" She agreed.
Somewhere a church bell struck one "It can't be that late already" Neil consulted his watch.
"Time flies" Grace said forlornly.
"I should take you home" He reluctantly agreed, standing up.
"I suppose you should" Grace concurred just as reluctantly as he helped her too her feet.
Dusting each other off for grass they walked through the park towards the gates, Neil slipped his hand over hers entwining their fingers then he led her back to his car. The drive back too Grace's place didn't take long and he walked her to her front door.
"So did you have fun" Neil asked nervously.
"I did" She smiled a sweet smile "Thank you."
"Does that mean maybe you'd like to do it again sometime its ok if you don't want to too….." He flustered.
"Hush" Grace placed a finger on his lips "Yes I'd like that very much" She told him softly.
"You would?" He beamed "How about Sunday you could come round to mine and I could cook for you no chips or cola I promise."
"Neil I….." She wrinkled her nose.
"Ok too soon maybe next week…." He fretted.
"Sunday will be fine" She assured him "I didn't know you could cook is all."
"I never actually said I could cook now did I?" Neil sighed in relief "But if you come round on Sunday you can judge my culinary skills for yourself can't you" He grinned.
"Alright Chef Manson Sunday it is" She grinned back.
"2.30 I'll come pick you up" He offered.
"I'll be waiting" Grace nodded.
"Good…that's good" He fidgeted nervously "Grace I want to…..I mean do you want me to kiss you" He asked softly.
"There is only one way to find out isn't there" She replied throatily.
Gently he drew her too him so she was safely cradled in his arms then he placed a warm, deep kiss on her lips "Still good weird" He murmured as they pulled apart.
"Still good weird" She whispered back.
"Goodnight Grace" He told her as she opened her front door and entered her house.
"Goodnight go…..Neil" She called too him as she shut the door.
Grinning like a Cheshire cat Neil turned and headed back to his car, he honestly couldn't remember the last time he'd felt so excited about anything he couldn't wait to get Grace all to himself again on Sunday. Truthfully he'd never known anyone who made him feel the way she did; all Grace needed to do was walk into a room for him to be deliriously happy in all the years he and Jake's mum had been married she'd never had that kind of effect on him nobody else ever had. Neil Manson knew he'd fallen head over heels for Grace and the feeling grew stronger every day he was around her "Roll on Sunday" He gleefully muttered under his breath as he drove off into the night.
From her bedroom window Grace watched him drive off into the night an identical smile plastered all over her features; undressing she switched on the shower and let the warm water steam down over her body imagining that it was Neil's warm breath and his tender touch she could feel on her bare skin. She loved him pure and simple even if he did drive her insane half the time "Sunday" She murmured happily to herself after all this week Sunday was going to be something special wasn't it? Grace put on her pyjamas, switch off her lamp and climbed into bed snuggling down she dreamt sweet dreams of what was to come.
Across the street something in the shadows moved, the watcher had seen the light go out and decided now was the right time to head home for some much needed sleep; slowly he walked away pondering the latest information he'd gathered. For days he'd done nothing but follow Neil Manson around Sunhill just waiting for the right opportunity to come his way and in the woman he'd found it hadn't he? Manson was in love with her there was no doubt in the watcher's mind about that then again she really was quite lovely wasn't she? Ah the ideas that filled the crevices of his mind, the fun he could have, the pain he could cause….
A/N: So what do we think all reviews greatly appreciated.