Three Days Later.
"Come on you, pub," Taggart told Jackie, patting her on the shoulder. "I think a large single malt's in order after that case, and you're driving."
Jackie stifled a groan, silently wondering if she'd ever shake the role of Taggart's driver as she began tidying her desk, she reached for her coat just in time to hear him ask the two younger men, "You two coming?"
Michael's nose wrinkled. "Nah, think I'll just head home."
"Suit yourself," he shrugged, nonplussed.
Robbie glanced over at Jackie, who was busy making sure that everything was in it's rightful place and nodded. "I think a drink's just what's needed."
Her head shot up at that, eyes glittering, the quirk to her mouth telling him that she knew exactly what he was up to.
Michael looked from one to the other, he damn well knew it! Ross was trying it on, he shook his head, he knew that this shouldn't bother him as much as it did and it wasn't even jealousy, it was just the fact he didn't like him and he was as sure as hell not good enough for Jackie, no question about it. He frowned, he should leave it, Taggart was right Jackie was old enough and sensible enough to make her own decisions, but he just didn't want to see her get hurt and he wasn't about to leave her in that pub like a sitting duck. Because who knew where her boredom at being stuck with Taggart, McVitie and Stephen might lead her if there was only the charming DS Ross to distract her. "On second thoughts, I think a drink's a good idea."
"Yeah, after a tough day it's always nice to relax with a mineral water," Robbie drawled.
"Stop it before you start," Taggart warned them as they all readied themselves to leave the building.
"Well what do you make of him then?" McVitie asked, nodding his head towards Robbie who was standing at the bar with Jackie.
Taggart shrugged. "Bit reckless but he looks to be a good enough cop and he and Reid certainly seem to work well enough together." Michael merely snorted with derision at that statement.
"Ah yes, they found the murder weapon, did they not?"
"Mmm hmm."
"Well maybe you should pair them up together more often," he suggested.
Taking in Michael's horrified look, Taggart tried not to smile as he replied non-commitedly "Maybe."
"Do you think they've finished talking about me?" Robbie asked blandly as they waited to get served.
She smiled at him. "You love it."
He gave a casual one shouldered shrug, the grin she already considered as his trademark tugging at his lips. "Maybe. You know we make a good team, you and me."
One eyebrow raised at him, her voice taking on a teasing tone she replied, "That doesn't mean it'll be a permanent feature."
His fingers skirted over the back of her hand, causing her to take in a deep inhale of breath. "I just think it's worth pointing out." His head inclined closer to hers. "You know this is where we first met."
"All of five days ago," she laughed.
"Still." His eyes locked onto hers for a moment, his hand covering his again.
Her tongue darted out to wet her bottom lip nervously as she slipped her hand out from under his. "Don't," she whispered. "They could be watching."
"Mike almost definitely is," he replied dryly.
"Yeah, something about you seems to annoy him."
"Believe me I know exactly what about me annoys him." A wry grin tugged at his lips. Normally after spending time with a woman in such close quarters it put him off, it hadn't with her, he just wanted her more. She was warm and witty, always had a comeback and was as sharp as a whip, that and he genuinely liked her. Despite what he'd told her a few days ago about liking a challenge, he wasn't usually a man who felt the need to chase after women, after all they normally fell pretty easily for his charms and as a result he never went long without sex.
So just why he was investing so much time and effort in one woman he wasn't sure, especially when he considered the fact she obviously didn't go in for one night stands and that they worked together, both were complications he normally avoided like the plague. The problem this time was that he inexplicably didn't want to avoid them. Sighing, he asked quietly, "Think you can pawn Taggart off on Mike again?"
"Nope, not a chance," she told him and he was encouraged by the slight note of regret in her tone.
"That's a shame," he sighed. "I woulda treated you to some chips again."
"And pinched half of them?" she enquired.
"It's called sharing."
She gave an inelegant snort. "Is it hell."
As the barman came back with the last of their drinks, Robbie told her, "I'll get this."
"You don't have to," she told him. "It is my round."
"I get the feeling it tends to be your round quite a lot."
"One of the pitfalls of being a DC," she replied wryly. "That and I have the misfortune to have to remain sober during these thrilling, in-depth conversations."
"I know a way to make tonight more entertaining." He saw the look she shot him and laughed, holding his hands up he added, "And it's completely clean."
"Ok then, what is it?"
"Want to spike Mike's drink? See if that puts a smile on his face."
She tutted. "Michael's a good guy, he just doesn't like you, and," she added, poking his shoulder and grinning. "I'm beginning to see why."
"Such harsh words, beginning to wish I had saved myself that drink money. Ok," he gave a long suffering sigh. "Tell you what, I'll drive Taggart home if you promise to get utterly wrecked, behave inappropriately and feel me up under the table."
Jackie grabbed the tray, laughing as she told him, "I'm going now."
"What!" He protested, "It's a fair offer!"
Five Days After That
Jackie huddled down even further into her heavy jacket. "It's freezing in here," she bit out, her teeth chattering.
"I know," Robbie agreed with her. "But I've stuck the heating on full, we just need to wait for it to warm up." He glanced over at her and grinned when he saw she still had her gloves and scarf on.
"And it's far too early," she grumbled, staring out into the dark morning. It had been their misfortune that Taggart had decided he wanted them to check out a lead in Inverness, which meant they had to leave ridiculously early just so they could get back the same day.
"Couldn't agree with you more," he replied cheerfully. "Although something tells me that you're not a morning person at the best of times. But if it helps I know a great way to wake up in the morning," he waggled his eyebrows suggestively at her.
She laughed, she couldn't help it really. "You just don't give up, do you?"
"Not if I think I can still win."
"I still haven't changed my mind," she told him.
"But you're thinking about it," he prompted her. "And don't deny it."
Jackie let out a small huff. "Why are you so determined anyway?" she suddenly asked. "I'm not your type I think we can both admit that, that and this seems an overly complicated situation for you to throw yourself into. I mean what if we did sleep together and it all went wrong? We would have to see each other everyday."
"It might not go wrong," he pointed out.
She rubbed at her temples. "But you don't want a relationship, do you?"
Robbie frowned at that question, leaving a long pause before finally answering, "It's more complicated than that."
"That's my point." She sighed and leaned further back in her seat, finally feeling warm enough to unwind her scarf and pluck her gloves off. "Look I'm not going to pretend that's all I would ever consider, flings can be fun and they have their place…just not at work."
He didn't want to admit she was right, even though he kind of accepted the fact that she did have a fair point. The problem was that she drove him mad, he hadn't felt like this about a woman he'd known for so little a time and he was loathe to just walk away. "Tell you what," he finally suggested. "We stick to being friends just now, but we don't rule anything out, we can see where this takes us."
"Whatever this is?"
"Exactly."
"I suppose that sounds fair enough," she conceded.
"Good, then we can decide if it's worth the risk or not…although I still think it would be."
A balled up glove hit the side of his head. "And the flirting?"
"You love it and you know you do," he replied confidently.
"You are so smug," she breathed out in disbelief.
"For good reason, I'm usually always right."
"That's a contradiction in terms, always and usually, you're either one or the other," Jackie pointed out teasingly.
"Sorry, not all of us are as perfect as you," he shot back, grinning as he did so. "Now, what do you say we stop at the next service station and grab some coffee and a roll."
"That sounds like heaven," Jackie replied. "I'm thinking bacon."
"Agreed. Brown or tomato sauce?"
"Both."
His head snapped round to look at her. "Both!" He echoed in disgust.
She nodded. "It's amazing, you should try it."
"Crap."
"It's a delicacy," she protested laughing.
"No it's not, it's like having a gin and vodka with tonic, you have one or the other not both."
"You know you're surprisingly closed minded."
"I am not!"
"Well then I dare you to try it."
"I will, I'll take a bit of yours and I'll prove that it's one or the other."
"I think you'll find you're not touching mine." She took in the look on his face and added defensively. "I'm hungry!"
"I'm not wasting an entire roll."
"You could always just put it on a patch, although believe me once tried-"
"The taste is never erased," Robbie interrupted. "Yeah I can believe that."
"See, closed minded, maybe it's a good thing we're sticking to friendship," she teased. "Since you have so many boundaries."
"That sounded like a challenge DC Reid."
She folded her arms. "Well it wasn't."
"You know what," he replied, "One of these days I'm going to prove you wrong."
"Yeah so you are," she mocked and her shoulders shaking with silent laughter turned her attention back to the dark morning sky once more.