Disclaimer: I do not own Waking the Dead or any of its episodes or characters. I'm just borrowing them for a trip down the pub- I promise I'll return them (sober!) in time for work tomorrow.

Pairings: Boyd/Grace

Spoilers: Series 1- Set sometime between Episode 3 ('A Simple Sacrifice') and Episode 4 ('Every Breath You Take')

Rating: K+

Notes: This is my first WtD fanfic, so please be kind! Reviews and constructive criticism would be greatly appreciated. I don't pretend to be an expert on how the Metropolitan Police work, so this is just focusing on characters rather than cases. Please let me know if I've 'captured' the characters well!

Chapter 7: Secrets and Lies

-

A week or so later...

-

"So how much do you think that lot out there realise?" Grace asked as she leaned against the closed door of Boyd's office. They had already established an unwritten rule that they acted absolutely professionally at work; but the question had been burning in her mind all morning and she could not resist the temptation of asking.

Boyd chuckled. "Why, are you ashamed of me or something?" He knew that wasn't the case. It wasn't that they actively wanted to deceive the rest of the team, but they both knew that they wanted to keep their relationship under wraps for the time being. At least until it had progressed beyond kissing and become something more serious, anyhow. They might have been suppressing their feelings for one another for a while- at least a year!- but all the same they wanted to take things slow and steady, not rushing into anything they might later regret.

So far it had worked very well. Their professional conduct at work had been unimpeachable, and if Boyd occasionally struggled to suppress a sexy thought or two when catching a certain light in Grace's eyes, it was scarcely noticeable to the unsuspecting eye. To all intents and purposes, nothing had changed. Except one thing; which Grace voiced now with a chuckle.

"You know, the only thing that could possibly be fuelling their suspicions is the fact that you are happy."

Boyd pouted. "Am I not allowed to be happy?"

Grace smiled. She loved the idea that she was the one to make Boyd so evidently happy. Especially when one took into consideration that this was Boyd they were talking about: DSI Peter Boyd, universally acknowledged to be irrevocably grumpy, irascible and unpredictable. Until now, it seemed. Her smile broadened.

"Yes dear, you are allowed to be happy. Just don't show it quite so much, hmm? You're starting to scare the rest of the team. They're beginning to wonder who you are and what you've done with Peter Boyd."

Boyd laughed. "You tell me, Grace- you're the one that's caused all these changes!"

Grace smiled seductively. "Well come over for dinner tonight and I might just explain it to you..."