Another chapter with dedication for my faithful readers Candy and Cloox Xx

'So who's going first?' The question hanged in the air for good few minutes as detectives looking at each other trying to find a person who has guts to cross the threshold of superintendent's office where surely was waiting for them Deputy Chief Constable, searching for a guilty.

The matter was so serious than even Craig for the first time from a very long time, didn't push himself before the others with hope that maybe this time he won't pay with his head for a mistake, which has made the all homicide with him on the top. He just had a small hope, that he won't pay the highest price for his negligence. In the end it wasn't only his fault. Bridget has been more sure that they found the right guy, than him. And Pope...He could say something, right? He has a mouth so for once he could use it in a good way. But there was Darren too. Who was sceptical to their revelation from the beginning and superintendent knew about it perfectly...If someone has to pay with his head, it'll be only three of them.

With an angle of the eye he noticed as his partner shuffled nervously on his feet, eyes fixed on his old sneakers, protruding from his black jeans, which stressed more his slender and very long legs. He turned around a little and wandered his eyes higher, through his stomach and chest hidden under thick layer of clothes, ruining the same his athletic and slim silhouette which Craig liked admiring sometimes as his eyes accidentally has found their way toward his partner, to his stone, self-possessed face adorned with two azure crystals, shining intensively in the light of lamps, hiding so much emotions in them that they always taking Craig's breath away. His eyes were so full of life...compared to him, Craig seemed to be dead.

His partner lifted his head slightly, assuming the mask of indifference on his face, trying to not show his emotions so openly like always. He tried his best to reach it, but Craig knew he failed it on the start. He was too young and inexperienced to fool them, to be so cold and heartless as him and Darren. There was a lot of work yet before him if he wanted to reach something more and don't be to the end of his carrier a simple sergeant as Bridget. He had a big potential to be someone great, Craig felt it, but it depends on him what way he'll choose. He won't help him with a decision, it's not his work, but he can teach him and show the all ways he has...But the most important part of these trainings, belonging only to him.

Maybe his body language and face have been trained to the perfection, but his eyes always betraying him. They were the windows of his soul and however he'll trying he probably never change this. Craig almost felt fear in the air which overwhelming Pope's body with a tight strands, making him to take deep, long breaths, to sweating. He almost saw small stream of sweat covering his alabaster neck and forehead. One look in these azure eyes only confirmed his supposition.

'Maybe we draw matches?' Darren suddenly suggested, his eyes wandering over all colleague's faces. Craig smirked slightly feeling like he was a kid again. He has used to do it with Jake and Steph when they have been arguing who will take the front seat in mum's car or who will go to the shop or clean the dishes...And now, four adult people from homicide are going to do it, cause no one were so much brave to face their boss and admit their failure. Ironic how the things in your life has changing...

'Do you have matches with yourself?' Bridget spoke up as the first, with hands on her hips and eyes fixed on the door of superintendent's office.

'No, but we have fags.' Craig said as he removed from his pocket a pack of cigarettes and throwing it toward his stepbrother.

'You said you quit smoking.' Bridget said sharply, measuring him coldly like he was a teenager whose mum just caught up him at smoking in toilet.

'But I didn't throw up them to the bin.' He replied with a smirk. 'I won't waste fags. Maybe I'll find someone who wants them.' For now they were safe in his pocket, waiting for a good day or at least for a day when Bridget won't be on the range.

'In the meantime you'll smoke them all.' Sometimes he wondered if she could read his mind. It could be a very disturbing for him.

'You always assuming that I'm going to do something bad!' He sulked, although he was agreed with her in all details.

'Cause I know you too well.' She replied with a smirk and massaged her fingers as Darren started tearing up the fags for the game. Craig didn't blink, even if with ache heart observing as his four fags were destroying. 'So I'm the first?'

'Give a chance a new one.' Craig chimed out and grabbed her hand before she chose the fag. 'Let me see if he has a such luck in everything.' He smirked maliciously to the youngest man.

'Why not.' John Paul shrugged and joined their circle, accepting his challenge. Without any strategies or big thoughts, he quickly draw the second fag and showed it everybody, before he hid it in his hand.

'Better if Darren broke them on the smaller parts than this, otherwise you're in the lost position, lad.' Craig chuckled slightly and looked briefly at Bridget who draw her fag as the second.

'Don't be so sure, Craig.' Bridget immediately stood up for John Paul, giving her friend unfavourable look. 'I don't have not much longer fag.'

'So still there is a hope for ya, lad.' John Paul gnashed his teeth slightly, hating the term which Craig uses to talk about him.

But hope very quickly flew away from John Paul as Darren draw half of the fag and Craig with a cheeky smile took the last one. He knew he was the loser and Craig will be a winner like always. He gulped nervously, trying to calm himself and prepare for coming meeting with Deputy Chief Constable. He took a deep breath when he felt as his legs shaking uncontrollably.

He didn't has any clue what he may expecting there. Will Deputy Chief Constable give him a chance to speak and defence their department? Or maybe he just direct their case to someone else? He was terrified. He knew pretty well that his colleagues only can get a reprimand or lose their case, they weren't in such bad position like him. John Paul just start working here and already ruined a few things. Why he didn't think then and hasn't joined Darren? Why he has been so stubbornly listening this bastard instead of trust his instincts? Everything what Calvin has taught him he just blew up during two days! He couldn't believe how stupid and reckless he was! He won't be surprised if Deputy Chief Constable doesn't give him another chance. He deserved to be kick out and this thought scared him the most. He already knew he didn't deserve to work there. Craig Dean can be proud of himself. He win.

He raised up his head to say his colleagues that he is ready to face their nemesis and say goodbye to the department, when his eyes surprisingly met with Craig's. The older man observed him with curious, in fingers rotating his fag. He smirked to him and closed his fist before someone have a chance to see the cigarette in complete.

'It looks like you have a luck today, lad.' He suddenly said and hid cigarette in his pocket. 'It's me who go first for a scaffold.' He said dramatically and knocked to the door, before he disappeared behind it leaving his speechless colleagues on the corridor.

* * *

'Recently you become very predictable.' Superintendent said sharply for welcome. 'Only you working in homicide? Or maybe it's too early for others to come to work.' He added with bad hidden irate and glanced at the wall clock which showing eight a.m.

'I'm inspector sir, so it's normal thing that I'm taking responsibility for my department. I can speak for all.' He replied and turned toward Deputy Chief Constable; Andy Chapman, sitting behind superintendent' desk and watching him with unreadable expression.

'Is it true that Michael LĂșthie is dead?' Cole went straight to the heart of the matter, the same surprising Craig, who has been expecting at least one hour speech how irresponsible and unprofessional he is.

'Yes, sir.' Craig confirmed, saying straight about his failure. 'But no one from my department was going to tell about our suspect Deputy Chief Constable, before we get more information about him. So it'll be unfair if, sir, blame us for something which we didn't do.' Deputy Chief Constable leaned back on his chair and looked unsurely at superintendent who gnashed his teeth, his nostrils turned white because of the anger cumulated in his body.

'Maybe it wasn't one of you...' Cole started, but Craig interrupted him, irate.

'It wasn't. I'm sure Deputy Chief Constable knows who gives him this information. Am I right, sir?' He asked the superior hardly refraining himself from the shout.

'It was your job to check the source precisely!' The man yelled like always twisting everything around, and blushed furiously.

'And like always it's our fault!' Craig shouted losing the remains of patience. 'I want to know who told Deputy Chief Constable about our discover.'

'Pardon? I think you forget with whom you're talking, Craig.' Superintendent said sharply. 'Change your tone, before I suspend you!' He warned him, his fist landed loudly on the desk, making the superintendent jumped on his chair.

'It happened because we're working under pressure, sir, and just closed the last case. We barely remember each other names.'

'That's not a good excuse for you, Craig. You never remember names of your colleagues.'

'I'm trying my best, sir.' He replied bluntly, didn't care how this meeting will end for moment.

'I'm giving you the last chance, Craig. If you again screw up something and Deputy Chief Constable make a fool of himself on the next conference, I'll give the case someone more professional.'

'I hope the Leak will take a responsibility for this awkward situation too.'

'That's our problem Craig, not yours.' The superintendent said coldly. 'And don't be surprised if for two days new inspector appear in front of the door of your office.'

'What?' Craig snapped irate, wrinkling his eyebrows.

'Since Darren's partner is on sick leave, he needs a new partner, Craig. Besides seeing that your department cope very well with a new case, you need someone who will help you.'

'We don't need inspector, sir. We have Bridget.'

'Bridget has her duty too, Craig. Last night she got another case. We don't have enough people to work properly.'

'But we don't need...'

'Yes, Craig, YOU need. Come here later and I'll give you few details about him. Maybe for once you remember his name before he appear it.' He said sarcastically and nodded toward door. 'It's everything, Craig. Call the other.'

'So this inspector isn't from our commissariat?' Craig asked him, clearly shocked. They've very rare taking people from other units.

'He was working there for some time, Craig.' Deputy Chief Constable replied, giving him knowing look. 'He's coming here from Ibiza...You should remember him.'

'I hope inspector doesn't remember him.' Superintendent murmured, afraid that man will run away after one look at Craig.

'Maybe.' The younger man shrugged and without more words opened the door widely. 'Come in, superintendent needs to talk with ya.' He announced and looked briefly at his partner who grabbed him for the sleeve. 'Not now.' He barked to him and passed by him without word, heading toward the exit.

* * *

'Why he is interested so much with find Luis Brain's murder?' Bridget glanced above her arm at John Paul, giving him questioningly look. 'Deputy Chief Constable.' He added. 'It's not big deal. He was just a simple salesman.'

'If he don't find a murder as quickly as possible, he'll lost his safe employment in one moment.' She replied and gave him a handset. 'Phone to Mrs. Brain and asked her for phone numbers of the other members of Red Roses. Maybe they know something.'

'So he's going to lost his job if he don't find a murder? It sounds a little bizarre.' He chuckled.

'He screwed up the moist cases during six years of his domination here.' She sighed and turned toward the man. 'If he do something wrong again, his place will take someone new and he'll become one of the meaningless policemen in the provincial. Which would be tantamount to the end of his career.'

'Seeing how unlike he is on commissariat, it'll be a good thing, won't be?'

'For us yes, but not for superintendent. Who knows if he gets a chance to keep his job. New Deputy Chief Constable doesn't has to be so forgiving as our now...Phone to Mrs. Brain.'

'So that's the reason why superintendent is pressing at us so much.'

'It's his one of the biggest case ever.' She smirked and returned to her papers. 'Tomorrow Darren wants to talk with Chief Inspector about Michael LĂșthie's case. Maybe he has some interesting information for us.'

'Why we don't talk with him today? It's still morning.' He glanced at his wristwatch before he turned around on his swivel chair to see by office's window Darren, talking fiercely on the phone with someone and writing something down in his documents.

'He has a day off today and Darren doesn't want to bother him in his own home...You wanna go with him tomorrow?'

'What about Craig?'

'He has on the head now new inspector and Darren will enjoy your presence.' She smiled softly, encouraging him.

'I'm not sure if I can. I'm a new one.'

'You would show Craig, that you're not so unprofessional as he thinks. It's a big think, talk with Chief Inspector.'

'And you think he's going to look at me indulgently after that? And say something nice to me?' He lifted his eyebrow, his eyes fixed at her with expectation.

'Don't forget we're talking about Craig. Don't expect a miracle.' She smirked and nodded toward handset. 'Phone to her. At least today we can do that.' She sighed and opened some files. 'Damn thieves. Do they ever sleep?!'

* * *

He wasn't sure how long he was sitting like this, with face hidden in hands and feet on the chair as he sat down on his desk, almost in completely darkness if there wasn't lighting a small lamp next to him. Ibiza. Only one person has been able to find myself there, so far away from cold, rainy England. He almost could see his shining, doggy teeth in his wide smile, and warm eyes in which no one man and woman could lost themselves.

'Superintendent already told you.' He tensed a little as Bridget's voice rang out in the office. He raised up his head and caught her worrying look, when she was observing his crooked body.

'Yea. It's fine, I'm even glad he's coming back to us. Our smart clown. We won't be boring anymore.' He snarled and looked away, feeling like his heart ache.

'Craig...' She said softly and came a little closer to him with a hand stretched out toward him. She frozen in stillness not sure if he let her touch him, to solace a little his pain or maybe he just with shout order her to take hand back. So instead of do something she just staying there and watching him with broken heart. She didn't like watching him on this state, when his ironic comments were just sad chatter a lonely man.

'I'm fine, Bridget.' He growled irate and showed her his back, didn't want to show emotions which tore his body. 'He's just a fucking cop, like us! It wasn't mine or yours fault that he left without goodbye. Fucking egoist!' He clenched his fists, more angry at himself than at him. He hated himself for permanent search for excuses, that he still defending him even if he doesn't deserve for this after what he did.

'We both perfectly know, he wasn't just a fucking cop.' Again the same motherly tone and hand sneaking on his right arm. He tensed under the pressure of her touch.

'Whatever. It's a past, Bridget. We have a case to solve now and that's important.'

'It's not a past, Craig. How you're going to talk with him after everything?'

'If he could cope with that, I can do that too.' He shrugged, trying to sound unconcernedly.

'And what if he didn't cope? You know that this option is still possibly...From what I heard he decided to came back here and took the job when he found out that he is going to work with you.'

'I already have enough gossips as for one bloody day!' He shouted and roughly pushed back her hand from his arm. 'Just go, Bridget. I want to stay alone.'

'But...'

'There's no buts! I told you, I don't care if he's going to work with us, or not! He's anybody for me. And better if he do his job and go back to hell!' Bridget shook her head as she straightened up, her hands wandered on the hips.

'Like you want, but you're only cheating yourself.' She turned on the heel and walked toward the door, when Craig spoke up suddenly.

'Why he left?' She felt tears in eyes. His voice was so cracked up, full of hidden from everybody pain and sorrow. It doesn't sound as the man whose she knows so good.

'You need to ask him about it.' She replied quietly. 'Friends coming and leaving, Craig. Just like our partners...And on your misfortune he was a both.'

'Yea, that's explain everything.' He tried to sound sarcastic, but his voice again failed him. He fixed his eyes at the lamp.

'Are you sure you don't want to talk?'

'I've already talked with you. Just go back to home, Bridget. If you spend with me another one hour you probably end crying on my knees and leave the commissariat on the midnight.'

'That's true.' She chuckled slightly and smiled slightly. 'Mrs. Brain will send the phone numbers tomorrow.'

'Good. There's a chance I would visit one of them tomorrow.'

'Yea, it is.' She nodded and smiled softly as her eyes stopped a little longer at man. 'Night, Craig. Don't sit too long.'

'Night.' He said quietly and when the steps quieted, he removed the fag from his pocket and lit it. He closed his eyes as the smoke filled his lungs, bringing with itself calmness. He leaned back against the cold wall and smoking the fag in completely silence, enjoying the end of his work.

He opened his one eye as someone's steps rang out on the corridor. He was sure he was the only person who stayed so long here, but it looked like he was wrong. He tried to focus on his thoughts, but steps preventing it, irate him more. He was going to stand up and sent delinquent to the home with one kick, when mysterious person arrived in his office, nonchalantly leaned on the doorframe.

'What the hell are you doing here? Shouldn't you be in home, now?' Craig barked to him unfriendly, giving sharp look.

'I had such an intention.' John Paul replied quietly, his big blue eyes fixed on him.

'So why you didn't do this? You don't have enough, yet?'

'I just saw the light on your office...'

'You're a moth?' He snapped with a screwing face, interrupting him.

'Sorry?' He asked clearly confused.

'Light attracted moths...So I'm asking if you're one of them.' He explained calmly, without any ironic comments, surprising John Paul.

'Since I know I'm not.' He shrugged with a slight smile.

'Then go away. I'm not in the mood for chatting with ya.' His calm tone disappeared somewhere.

'Why you did this?' Craig growled irate. Can't this man be quiet even for one minute and listen his orders?

'What?' He snapped to him, eyes flashing with anger.

'You won, I lost.' He replied and glanced at the opposite wall, to avoid his cold look. Until now, as he looked closer at the shadow which casted Craig's body, noticed how long eyelashes the man has. He smiled slightly at the thought how his sisters will be jealous if they see him. And probably not only about that, seeing how beautiful and delicately he was looking. If he was a woman, there won't be even a one man who wouldn't turn around after him.

'Why you're so sure, I won?' Craig asked him with a slight curios and threw up his fag from the window.

'You just smoked a fag.'

'I HAVE fags, lad. You have really short memory.' He snorted.

'But you gave your fags Darren and you didn't take them back from him. So...You had to smoke the one which you draw. That's mean it had to be complete.' Craig smiled slightly, with curious glancing at man. It looked like he was smart and very good observant. That was a really nice surprise for Craig, he liked people who still hiding their strengths in the sleeves.

'Maybe you're right.' He shrugged.

'So why you did this? You had a chance to get rid of off me.' He said quietly and patiently waiting for his partner answer, who just wondering what to say.

'You were shaking with fear.' He finally replied, looking straight into John Paul's eyes.

'Why you cared about me so much?'

'I couldn't let superintendent see you in that state. It would badly attested to our department.' I wanna to give you a chance. I just see potential in you. 'We enough screwed up today. We didn't need another one because of one inexperienced lad. '

'That's all?' Craig noticed a little disappointed in his voice.

'What you think I would say more? I've already told ya what I think about ya. I'm not going to repeat it.'

'Why have you been sitting in your office for all day? The case stopped interesting you?' John Paul suddenly asked him and Craig felt very uneasy under his gaze.

'It's my personal matter.' He said angrily, didn't understand why this lad wants to know so much about him and sticking his big nose to someone's else business. 'You have some objection about that?'

'No. I just thought it's quite sad sitting alone in the office for almost all day.' He replied softly.

'I appreciate my company.'

'I bet there will be someone who would appreciate your company too.' He said with a small smile.

'I like sitting alone.' He said, stubbornly keeping his stance.

'You should open up a little for others...'

'Look, lad. I don't make friends, okay? So go away, cause I'm not going to be your friend.' He barked to him.

'Okay, calm down.' John Paul lifted his hands in defence. 'Don't bite me. I'm going out.'

'Good. I want to stay alone.'

'You're going to spend tomorrow all day in your office, too?'

'If you get information for which I was asking, I won't.' He replied coldly.

'See you later, then.' John Paul said quietly and waved his hand before he left the office for Craig's request. The older man turned off the light and hugged knees to his chest, as quiet sob escaping from his mouth. He wiped a single tear from his cheek with relief, letting himself to broke up, as nobody was seeing him and the light was turned off, making him feel safe. Normally he didn't show his weakness to anybody, but tonight, hidden in the darkness with an ache heart, he let himself depart from the rule. There's no one who would judge him tonight, no one who would enjoying his fall. It was just him and the night sky above the buildining, shining with milion stars, recalling him about him. He was like one of this stars, shining with unknown warmth, blinding him with his presence and wide smile. And when just looked on them, understood how much he missed him for this all time. Bridget had had a right, he couldn't cope with that. The thought about meeting with him again, scarying him. What he would to say to him? How much he changed since their last meeting?

How much him is only for Craig?