Outside the hotel that night, Jenny turned to Dennis with a smile. "Thank you. I'd better go in."
Dennis nodded and stepped forward to drop a kiss to her cheek. "I'll miss you."
Jenny offered a half smile and glanced up at him before returning to stare at her shoes. "Will you?"
Dennis frowned and lifted a hand to tuck some of Jenny's curls behind her ear. "Aye, you know I will."
"Do I, Dennis? I don't feel like I know very much at the moment. I'll see you when I get back." She returned the kiss on his cheek before walking towards the hotel.
"Jenny…"
"I'll see you when I get back, Dennis."
…
Dennis and Mike spent the next week butting heads with almost everyone they came across, including each other. They had both planned on being there when the ship arrived, but the day it was due back they were busier than they'd been every day of the last two weeks combined.
Mike kept trying to slip away to see Tricia, but aware of what he was doing, because Dennis himself was thinking about it, the sergeant wouldn't let him.
They were in the middle of an argument when someone at the counter cleared their throat. Both men turned their head and both sighed when they saw Gina stood there.
"Just thought I'd come and tell you both we're all back and well. Is Phil around?"
Mike glanced at his sergeant before replying, "He's doing paperwork in the interview room, you can go through."
"Thanks!" Gina disappeared through the door and a few moments later they heard giggling.
"...Half an hour, and then go up to the hall and speak with Lord Ashfordly's sister again."
"Thanks, Sarge!" Mike grabbed his jacket and ran out before the scot could change his mind.
…
Jenny was sat in Tricia's living room, sipping some of the wine they'd brought back with them. "I thought two weeks away would sort things out, but I'm even more confused than ever."
"He's crazy about you, Jen! Maybe he doesn't show it the way other men do, or the way you show him, but it's still as plain as day. Every time it's raining he picks you up from home or here without fail to take you where you need to go without being asked, he brings you presents-"
"Practical presents, like a bottle opener."
"Yes, because he always brings you wine, not to mention the flowers and the chocolates. He always comes to you when he's had a tough day at work, even when he can't talk about what happened. Even when we're in a group and someone else is talking, he's paying attention to you. If all that doesn't mean he loves you…"
Jenny sighed and was about to reply when she heard the front door open. She stood and was about to see who it was when Mike called out, "Only me!"
Jenny turned to Tricia with a smile. "Maybe you should take your own advice and think about what Mike does for you."
"Maybe I should."
Jenny pulled on her jacket and slipped past Mike as he entered. "I'll see you at work tomorrow."
"Night, Jen."