When Lizzie Maddox was going through her training to become a detective, not all of the learning was by the book. The most useful information often came by word of mouth. One such lesson was this: if you find yourself in the presence of a dead body, stay out of the way of the lead pathologist, Dr Hobson. She will eat you alive if you so much as breathe on one of her corpses. The term 'dragon lady' was also thrown around…

Lizzie learned her lessons well and became DS Maddox- she loved the job, but hated her boss. She didn't quite know what to make of DI Hathaway, elitist, Cambridge educated, esoteric, didn't seem to trust anyone else in the department to complete even menial tasks. So one can imagine Lizzie's surprise at what she saw (from a respectful distance) when she was called to her first murder investigation. Dr Hobson leapt up from the corpse to embrace Hathaway! DI Hathaway looked suitably embarrassed as Hobson playfully checked his ID. Now that is odd, thought Maddox.

Odder still was the phone call she'd received a few hours later from the aforementioned pathologist. "Hello, Sergeant Maddox? Dr Hobson. Regarding our shotgun victim, I know that Hathaway wanted the PM this afternoon, but I'm afraid it won't be possible."

"OK, I'll let him know."

"But, Maddox, I do have a question about the shotguns that I believe I saw you removing from the property."

"Go ahead."

"Did my eyes deceive me, or was the retired Inspector Lewis assisting you?"

"That's correct; DI Lewis is joining us in the investigation. It appears that Innocent has coaxed him out of retirement."

"I see."

An uncomfortable silence followed so Maddox prompted Hobson. "Did you have a have a question about the shotguns?"

"Tell Lewis that his dinner is in the canoe."

"I'm sorry?"

"You heard me. He will understand what that means."

Hobson hung up leaving a bewildered Maddox staring at her mobile. She shook her head and went into the office to deliver the message.

Maddox was always annoyed to hear male supervisors telling overworked coppers to smooth things over at home with some flowers, but when Innocent suggested that same gesture to Lewis, Maddox found it rather endearing.

The puzzle pieces were coming together now. She couldn't hide her smile as she returned to the office she shared with DI Hathaway. Her governor looked up from the files he was scrutinizing. "What, Maddox?"

"Nothing, sir."

"No, you're grinning like the Cheshire cat. Why?"

"It's just… Lewis and Hobson. I didn't know until just now." Lewis had already mentioned to Maddox that Hathaway was his protégé. The kind, unassuming Lewis had taken responsibility for any of Hathaway's foibles as a result of his own 'bad parenting.' I guess that makes you Lewis and Hobson's overgrown man-child, sir. That realisation (which she would never confess aloud) was the real reason for her Cheshire cat grin.

Hathaway then did something unexpected: he reciprocated Maddox's smile. "Yeah, Lewis and Hobson. It's… nice." For the first time in their partnership, Hathaway opened up about something personal to Maddox. He suddenly found himself telling Maddox all about being Lewis' sergeant. "I never thought they'd really get together; they spent years- and I mean years- in a holding pattern afraid to admit they were more than friends. Mrs. Lewis had died in a car accident, you see, and heaven knows that Hobson has her own issues. But in the end, those two are really good for each other."

Maddox nodded. "We should all be so lucky."

About a month later...

"Pizza?" Laura Hobson cried out, with all the indignation of a woman who had always played by her own rules yet suddenly discovered that her life had become a sitcom. Only a short time ago Maddox never would have believed that she was on Hobson's couch sharing a bottle of wine with the pathologist and Hathaway who was slumped over in Lewis' favourite easy chair. Lewis himself had been reveling in the hosting duties- putting on records and putting a salad together in the kitchen- when the doorbell rang. Maddox hoped it was her husband Tony who was slated to join them after his shift at the pumping station, but it was a stack of pizza.

Hobson, who had been wary of Lewis' voyage of discovery meals, did not seem any more relieved that he had ordered out. Lewis gave Hobson a look that said, 'oh come on, you didn't really think I was cooking did you?' as she took the pizza from him and went to the kitchen. Maddox enjoyed watching these two. She followed Hobson while Lewis went to rouse the lump that was Hathaway.

Hobson began to apologise to Maddox. "Sorry, I had hoped to offer you something more than pizza, but this is what happens when he doesn't let me in the kitchen."

"No worries. Pizza is fine. Comfort food after a long week. But still, that is a lot of pizza! How much does Lewis expect us to eat?"

"Don't let Robbie's physique fool you; he can put away the better part of a pizza alone." Hobson said, then paused before continuing. "But all the same, I think he misses his kids and their appetites."

Maddox nodded. She and Hobson glanced back to the living room where Lewis was walking away from a sulking Hathaway. He had a smug grin for he knew that Hathaway would follow him momentarily.

Hathaway joined them at the table, still sullen. The more Maddox saw Hathaway outside of the office, the more she better understood his behaviour- and she had Lewis to thank for that. Hathaway wasn't just detached and aloof. He was genuinely torn up about the resolution of the case. The killer, Paul Brightway, had been betrayed by his wife and was not the father of their little girl. Many men would walk away from the marriage and the child, but Brightway went so far as to murder someone to save the child's life. Moreover, Maddox realised that cases involving children particularly bothered Hathaway.

Hobson refreshed Hathaway's glass of wine, though Lewis had only refilled it a few minutes ago. Another thing that Maddox observed was that Laura Hobson did not let anyone's wine glass go empty for any length of time. Maddox was astounded by the amount of wine someone with such a petite frame could hold. But she's a pathologist, so I guess she knows her poisons! Maddox reckoned.

When it came time to break up the little soirée, Maddox turned to her boss. "Sir, let me drive you home. Tony can follow us with your car."

"I'm fine." Hathaway protested. "Go home, sergeant."

"Sir, I can't let you…" Maddox started, but Lewis took her by the arm.

He led Maddox towards Tony, who held out her coat. "It's all right, Lizzie. I'll make up the spare room for him. My fault, really. I should have cut him off two bottles ago." Lewis said before sighing. "Back when I was a sergeant, I had to go collect me governor too many times when he'd fallen in his cups. You shouldn't have to do that."

"Thank you, sir, for everything that you do. And the pizza was excellent." She winked at Lewis and they bid each other good night.

In the car on the way home, Tony Maddox asked his wife, "so, do you still hate your boss?"

"No." The sergeant tried to explain Lewis and Hathaway to Tony. "Tone, have you ever met anyone who brings out the best in everyone?"

"Surely you don't mean Hathaway. He barely said two words the entire evening."

"No, Lewis, of course. But I think that Hathaway just needs some stability in his life. He actually studied at seminary to be a priest, but he left. Then he left the police to go on this pilgrimage that he never finished. I think his heart is still on the way to Santiago de Compostela sometimes. Lewis is the only one who knows how to reach him and bring him back down to earth. Lewis is quite good at ironing out Hobson too."

"Well, they say that no one can serve two masters, but if it means that you come home from work in a good mood more often, then I'm glad that you have two bosses, Liz. Thank heavens for Inspector Lewis." Tony said as they pulled up in front of their home.

Sergeant Maddox couldn't agree more.