Okay, my attempt at a fanfic. I haven't been doing this for a while, and it's my fist Midsomer Murders fanfic. It has not title yet, that's just my (funny) way, I often come up with one as I'm writing along, sometimes just near the end LoL

I haven't really paid all that much attention to spelling an or grammar. English is not my main language, this comes straight out of my head, translated from Dutch to English. So, I apologize in advance for spelling/grammar error you will without a doubt, stumble upon. I hope it won't ruin the reading fun, and you still will be able to enjoy it.

It was a nice sunny day when DS Ben Jones got out of his car at the parking lot of the Caustion police station. He spotted his DCI not far ahead, in conversation with a women unknown to him. The smile disappeared from his face as he got closer and could hear the tone of their conversation. " I only want to talk", he could hear the woman say. Jones knew his boss well enough to know the look he gave her was the friendliest he had. His reply sounded even less friendly; " There is nothing you and I have to talk about", at that DCI Tom Barnaby started walking towards the entrance of the building.

As the woman started to reply, " That may be your opinion --", Barnaby spun around, " I told you this before, now, I advise you to listen because I won't say it again: Stay away from me, and most of all; stay away from my family", the look in his eyes was unfamiliar cold to Jones and was enough to chill him to the bone. He walked closer to them as the woman started leaving and stopped right behind Barnaby who only now seemed to notice him. For the first time, the familiar trusted smile appeared on Barnaby's face.
" Jones".
" Good morning sir"
" how was your vacation?"
" oh, just fine, sir" Jones hesitated, " Are you all right, sir?"
" Yes, I'm fine", at that, Barnaby walked into the station, with Jones right behind him.

Jones observed how Barnaby greeted the duty officer behind the desk with a barely notable nod, then barged into his office. The cop rolled his eyes as his met Jones's.
" Hey", Jones greeted him. You saw the woman he was talking to outside, just now?". " " yeach".
There was something in the tone of the young cop's voice, Jones didn't like.
" Who is she?"
"From what I've heard her name is Samantha McAllister, apparently a cop from the Met. But, whoever she might be, there's some pretty bad blood between her and the DCI, if you ask me".
"Why would you say that?"
"She came around here, a couple of times- ever since you started enjoying your tropical vacation- and not to the Governor's delight "
"Do you know why?", a puzzled Jones inquired.
"Not one single clue. But it definitely wasn't helpful in improving his mood. I'm telling you…whatever energy you did up in the last two weeks, you're gonna need it, dealing with him"
Jones nodded. Smiled slightly and walked on.

It didn't take Jones a long period of observation to realize something was definitely not right. Barnaby seemed, restless and distracted. Nervous even, and at one point Jones could have sworn he saw a flicker of fear in his DCI's eyes.
Barnaby's voice took him back to the moment. " There's some youth's causing some trouble over at the Mall', he said while nodded at the phone. " Why don't you go over there and check things out, before things get out of hand', as if he was realizing the unusualness' of the request, Barnaby smiled, but it was a forced smile to Jones, " To get you back into things" , he added.
" yes sir", Jones got up, but, at the door he turned and hesitantly asked; " Are you sure you are all right, sir?".
Barnaby looked up from his papers, he didn't reply.
" It's just that….I don't mean to intrude, but—"
"Then don't", Barnaby replied ", not unfriendly, it was more the matter of fact tone, Jones knew so well, and made him realize it would be useless to push.
After a slight nod, Jones turned, and almost bumped into Stephens, standing in the doorway. He put his hand on her arm and gently pulled her with him.

In the hallway Jones simply pointed into the direction of this office. " Oh yes", Stephens reacted. " Something's bugging him, but don't ask me what that something is"
"When did this start?", Jones asked.
Stephens thought for a while, " Let's see….It started around the time you left for your holiday, if I recall correctly, two days later, or something like that. Ever since then it's gotten from bad to worse, right to the point he's gotten pretty close to….well he has gotten downright impossible to deal with, to be entirely honest"
" Does it have anything to do with that cop from the Met…..Samantha, what's her name,
That's been coming around here lately?", Jones asked after a short silence.
"Samantha McAllister, yeach, well, that's seems to be the theory many seem to be holding", Stephens replied.
"Who is she?', Jones asked.
"Other than her name?....I don't have a clue And I thought better than asking him", she nodded at the open door of the office, lowering her voice even more.
" Why not?
"Because, with the mood he's been in lately, I feared he might blow a fuse if I did"
Jones shook his head in stunned bewilderment. " That is totally unlike him".
" You don't have to tell me"

Jones, again, shook his head, as if he wanted to shake his growing confusion 'of him. " All right. I gotta go….check something out, but, we need to talk. When I get back, all right?"
" yeach, okay"
"And, better keep your head low", Jones said after one last quick glance in the direction of the office.
" Don't worry, I have had a lot of practice doing just that….we all have, lately", Stephens laughed, but it was not the laughter Jones knew.