For those of you who haven't watched the earlier episodes this chapter is based on Ring of Deceit, with bits changed for added drama and because I didn't feel I could have Robbie in the car with her as Colin was. The Mechanic was a rapist/murderer who disabled his victim's cars and held them up with a shot gun, this bit takes place about 3/4 of the way through that episode.


Jackie let out a low sigh, nothing, absolutely nothing. They'd spent ages coming up this plan to catch The Mechanic, ensuring that there was so much back-up available to those being used as bait - herself included - that there were very few officers actually left out on the beat. So after all that effort, combined with the air of apprehension that had surrounded the entire operation it was damn well galling that he hadn't bothered to show up!

She shook her head as she walked back to her own car, they'd been played, it had been another show of power from him. Pulling in an angry hiss of breath between tightly clenched teeth, Jackie realised she didn't think she'd ever hated one of their villains more. The way he treated and stalked his victims made her sick to her stomach and so angry that she wanted to scream.

All that taken into consideration it was probably a good thing that this last minute operation had forced her and Robbie to call off their planned date, she'd probably just end up ranting and that would just add to their string of bad luck. She knew that some people would think she was mad for giving this another go, after he deliberately went out with another woman to provoke her, but then she was well aware that she'd thrown down the gauntlet to him. Although she might not want to admit it, the way he made her feel scared her a little, he made her feel out of control that combined with the speed at which she was falling for him, and the fact that he made her act slightly out of character was slightly daunting to her. So every time she felt herself getting drawn in to far she tried to back off, now though, now she felt it was time to stop that and give whatever the hell this was an actual chance, because if he hadn't turned up as her new colleague then she definitely would have jumped him by now.

Smiling to herself at that thought she unlocked her car and slipped inside, throwing her bag onto the passengers seat, she stretched her neck slightly as she slipped her key into the ignition. Turning it, she frowned when the car didn't so much as splutter, she groaned to herself, she'd only just had this fixed a few months ago. This total git of a car was costing her a small fortune just to keep it going. "Come on," she moaned, turning the key useless in the ignition a few more times before giving up. Smacking the steering wheel with the palm of her hand, she snapped, "You evil piece of junk!" Scrabbling across the passenger seat, she'd just managed to grab the strap of her bag when a gun went of and the driver's window shattered, glass flying into the confined space, small shards cutting into her face.

There was no chance to react before the driver's door was wrenched open, a large hand wrapping painfully around her wrist and yanking her out of the car. The shock subsided quickly and her fighting instinct reared it's head, and she attempted to smack her attacker across the face as she yelled.

"Shut the fuck up," he growled, slamming her against the wall opposite, letting go of her wrist in the process.

Jackie groaned as her head clunked against the concrete, her skin grazed. She tried to push herself up on her wrist but had to bit back another moan of pain. Everything was spinning, she looked up to see the shotgun pointed at her, although to be honest it looked more like two. She was struggling to stay focussed and his next words when they came were almost slurred to her ears, "Now you're going to do exactly what I tell you."

"Am I hell!" She bit out, her leg swinging out to kick his ankles out from under him with the last ounce of strength she had left.


Robbie pushed his hands into his pockets, whistling cheerfully. He knew that many regarded the night's operation as an unmitigated failure, but as far as he was concerned the fact that all their officers had escaped unharmed meant it wasn't a total loss. He may have been one for taking risks but he hadn't envied Taggart when the older officer was trying to make the decision whether or not they should place bait for this lunatic after he left them a note telling him the date of when he would next strike.

They would find him, of that Robbie had no doubt, the entire force wanted the mocking bastard caught and they weren't going to rest until he was safely behind bars. Now all he wanted to do was find Jackie, he knew they'd cancelled their date but he figured that just maybe she could be coaxed out for a drink. He knew this case was getting to her and he figured she might need the opportunity to vent, whereas he was simply glad that she had came out of this exercise in one piece. So knowing where she'd parked her car, he'd headed towards the quiet side street his shoulders giving a brief shudder as the air picked up a distinctive bite.

That was when he heard it, the unmistakable sound of a gunshot. His heart felt like it stopped momentarily and then started to race as he heard the unmistakable sound of a woman yelling out. He didn't pause, he started to run in the direction of the alley, not even taking the time to call for backup. The guy had a gun that he'd already fired, he wasn't waiting any longer. Slowing ever so slightly he stuttered to a stop in front of the entranceway, he only had one shot at this and the only thing he had was the element of surprise. Robbie felt his blood boil as he saw the shadowy figure slam Jackie against the wall and she crumpled to the ground.

At that point all thought went out of the window, and later he realised that it was only luck that Jackie had floored him that enabled them both to get out of the situation alive.

"You Bitch!" He heard the male voice ground out as he struggled to his feet. As he went to reach for his gun again, Robbie kicked his hand away.

The balaclava clad face looked up in - probably in shock, he attempted to swing his fist in Robbie's direction but he managed to duck, tackling him to the ground and smashing his fist into his face with vigour. Robbie hauled him to his feet, slamming his knee into his stomach just as a car screeched round the corner and skidded to a stop as Robbie launched the man onto the bonnet of the stationary vehicle, pinning him onto it. Looking up, he found himself staring into Michael and the profiler's shocked faces as he wrenched the balaclava off the dazed attacker. "Well give me a fucking hand then!" Robbie yelled.

Michael was out the car in seconds, grabbing his cuffs and clicking them in place around the assailant's wrists. The moment he was sure that the attacker was detained, Robbie let go of him and ran towards Jackie. He knelt down next to her. "Jackie?" He lifted her slightly, trying again, more urgently this time. "Jackie!"

Her eyes opened dazedly and in the moonlight he could see the nasty graze across her temple and that the small cuts that decorated her face were oozing droplets of crimson blood. "I'm fine," she forced out, wincing as she spoke.

"I've called an ambulance," the profiler told him.

"Don't need an ambulance," Jackie grumbled.

"I don't think you should argue on this one," Robbie replied shakily.

"I'm fine," she repeated again, her voice weaker this time as her eyes shut.


Robbie rubbed his hands anxiously against his thighs and then reached for the tea Mike had brought him, gulping it down gratefully. The blonde man dropped down in the seat next to him, running his hands through his hair, he told him quietly, "Bumped into the doctor on the way back, he said that she's going to be fine. She's got a concussion and is pretty out of it so they're going to keep her over night, and they x-rayed her wrist but it's just sprained."

"Good, I'm glad," Robbie muttered.

"I asked if we could see her but she's a bit out of it still and they want to let her rest and since we're not family..."

"We don't really get a say," Robbie finished for him. "As long as she's going to be ok I don't suppose it matters as much." He was lying but he couldn't really just charge in there, so instead he inclined his head towards the plastic cup in his hand and added, "Thanks for this."

"Least I could do, if you hadn't been there…" Mike trailed off, his face paling at the thought.

"Well I was," Robbie returned shortly, he didn't even want to even think about that possibility, not even for a second.

He saw Mike frown out of the corner of his eye as he then asked, "Out of interest why were you there?"

Robbie shrugged. "Thought I'd walk home."

"Right," Mike nodded, apparently satisfied with that response, not that it would have mattered if he hadn't as Taggart wandered into the department, looking every bit of his age.

"Where is she?" he asked heavily.

"They're about to take her to a ward," Mike replied.

Taggart nodded, running his hand over his chin. "No lasting damage?"

"Concussion and a sprained wrist."

"Least that's one thing."

"Did you interview him then?" Robbie ground out.

"Yeah." Taggart sighed heavily. "Complete lunatic, lawyers reckon he might have a chance at the insanity plea."

Robbie gave a disgusted snort, "So he'll get away with it, just put in some hospital instead of locked away to rot!"

"We don't know that yet," the older man replied calmly. "Come on, I'll drive you both home, can't sit here all night and we have work in the morning."

The two men got almost reluctantly to their feet as they followed him out of the hospital.


Jean was waiting for him when he finally stepped through the front door, appearing in the living room doorway. "I told you," she said angrily. "I warned you that someone could get hurt!" Her voice was raised almost to a screech, her exasperation with him clear. "And now Jackie has had to suffer for your decision."

"Everyone knew the risks," he bit out.

"But did you even give them the choice of backing out?"

"I didn't force them into it!"

"You shouldn't even have thought about it."

Taggart leaned against the wall, letting out a low hiss of breath. "We did catch him though," he felt compelled to point out. He instantly realised his mistake when he heard Jean's sharp intake of breath.

"So that makes it alright then? That makes it acceptable for you to sacrifice one of your officers." She stared at him disappointedly.

"I didn't say that," he protested quietly. "You were right," he admitted. "He wanted an opportunity to humiliate us further and if we'd looked properly then we'd have seen him in clear view. The fact that Jackie's goin' to be fine is down to sheer dumb luck."

Jean's shoulders slumped, her tone losing it's vehemence. "I'm sorry," she told him. "I know it wasn't an easy decision, and the important thing is that she is going to be ok. I'll drop in on her tomorrow, come on," she wheeled herself through into the living room. "I kept you some dinner."


Robbie stepped into Jackie's hospital room the next day to find her up and dressed, her hair tied neatly back from her face as she folded her clothes into the bag lying open on the bed. She glanced up at his footsteps and offered him a small smile. "Hi."

"Hey, how are you feeling?" He couldn't help his stomach twisting at the sight of the tiny cuts decorating her face and the nasty red graze surrounded by a large purple bruise that marred her forehead, her wrist in a supportive bandage. It just made him think of how wrong things could have gone last night.

She shrugged. "I'm ok, the Gideon's bible has been a great support."

He offered a low chuckle. "I bet."

Jackie bit down on her bottom lip, looking away before quietly saying, "I want to say thank you…for what you did last night."

Robbie shook his head. "You don't need to-"

"Yes, I do," she interrupted.

He gave a small nod and stepping closer he asked, "Do you have someone to stay with? I don't think you should be alone, not with a concussion."

"Jean's going to put me up for a few nights, she and Taggart insisted," she smiled wryly.

He brushed one stray curl off her cheek. "Good," he whispered. "Although if you need any light relief, need to get out of there for a few hours then you know where I am."

Her bottom lip wobbled slightly as she nodded, looking down at her feet. She looked so lost and unlike her usual self that Robbie felt quite bewildered, he placed his hands on her shoulders. "What is it?" he asked.

She shook her head dismissively. "It's nothing…it's stupid."

"If it's bothering you then it isn't stupid," he replied.

"I feel…I feel like I should have been able to fight him off last night," she admitted in a low rush. "If you hadn't been there-"

"But I was," he replied quickly.

"That's not the point, I'm a police officer, I take self defence and when it really mattered I couldn't do anything."

"Yeah because he targeted you," Robbie protested. "This wasn't an opportunist attack, he planned this from the moment you stepped on that train with Mike a few days ago. He wanted to humiliate the police and what better way than to target a police woman, he waited until he knew you were off your guard. It's not your fault," he insisted, his eyes flashing angrily. "It's his!"

She didn't reply, merely leaned her head against his chest, feeling him wrap his arms securely around her and kiss the top of her head. "You're the strongest woman I know," he told her quietly. "And you did fight back and it was the only reason that I managed to get him." He brushed his hand gently across her cheek. "Like I said we make a good team," he joked lightly.

Jackie stepped back slightly, although she remained in his embrace as she tilted her head up to look at him. "How do you know the right thing to say?"

"It'll only happen the once," he smiled.

She laughed, for the first time since the attack, she actually felt a bit lighter and slightly less tortured by what had happened.

Both their heads snapped to the side when a small cough emanated from the doorway, where Jean was sitting, staring at them interestingly. "Should I go and come back?" she asked slyly.

Jackie shook her head. "No, it's fine we were just talking," she replied as she stepped out of Robbie's admittedly looser embrace. She nodded towards him, "This is DS Ross. Robbie this is Jean, Taggart's wife."

Jean's face lit up. "Ah, I've heard a lot about you, it's nice to finally be able to put a face to a name."

Stepping forward, Robbie shook her hand. "It's nice to meet you, Mrs Taggart."

Her head tilted thoughtfully to the side, her eyes sliding from one to the other. "I gather that we have you to thank for last night having a happy ending."

He shrugged uncomfortably. "Not really, he was already on the ground thanks to Jacks…um DC Reid," he amended uncomfortably. "I take it you're here to take Jackie home?"

"That's right," she replied pleasantly.

"Do you need a lift?"

"That's lovely of you to offer but I arranged a police car."

"Right." Robbie shuffled uncomfortably before finally saying, "I guess I'll leave you to it." He smiled over at Jackie and kissing her cheek chastely, whispered, "I mean it, if you need me just call."

Jackie smiled, watching as he slipped quickly out the room with a polite nod of goodbye in Jean's direction. Once he was safely out earshot, Jean said cheerfully, "He seems nice, very charming. It was good of him to stop in."

"It was," Jackie agreed, turning all her attention onto her bag as she zipped it closed. "Should we go then?"

"Of course. Make sure you wrap up though, it's chilly outside."

"Will do," Jackie smiled across at her.


"I just looked in on Jackie, she's fast asleep," Jean informed her husband as she entered the living room late that night to find him taking off his coat and settling into his familiar armchair with the days paper.

He glanced up at her, his features set in a mild expression of concern. "How is she?"

"She's been quite quiet, but I think she's just tired and she did have a shock."

Taggart nodded, sighing regretfully, "Aye, that she did."

"She doesn't blame you," Jean reassured him quickly.

He didn't reply, simply unfolded the paper and turned his attention to it. He considered it part of his job to keep his officers safe and he felt like he'd failed, he blamed himself regardless of whether or not Jackie herself did. After a few minutes of silence, Jean spoke again, "I finally met DS Ross today, he was visiting Jackie when I went to pick her up."

The paper lowered slightly. "Wondered where he'd got to."

"He seemed very concerned."

"We all were…now what is this really about?"

"I'm just telling you that I've met him." She sighed and shook her head, a ghost of a smile playing about her lips. "Honestly Jim, you're so suspicious sometimes."

"Hmmph," he mumbled, turning his attention back to the paper.

"He seems very nice," Jean continued.

The paper dropped to his knee with a rustle. "I'm not going to get to read this, am I?"

"I'm just saying he wasn't what I expected from the way you described him."

His face creased into a frown. "I said he was rash and impulsive."

"And a womanizer," Jean added.

"Aye well that's been proven." His frown turned somewhat suspicious. "What's this about?"

"I just expected him to be a bit sleazy. He was actually very quiet."

Taggart snorted at that. "Quiet!"

"That's what I said."

"Well leopards don't change their spots," he noted sagely.

"Out of interest, since he's started at Maryhill have you seen any evidence that he has a harem of women at his beck and call?"

"Well no-"

"Then maybe he has changed."

"Men like that don't," Taggart repeated stubbornly.

"I think that depends on why they felt the need to act like that in the first place and who's doing the changing."

"Does this have something to do with Jackie?"

"Of course not," Jean scoffed. There was no way she was telling him what she'd seen between them, he'd go off on a pointless rampage. "I just think you might have judged to quickly on that score." With that she turned her attention back to her drawing, signifying that this time the conversation really was over.