Disclaimer – Annie, Mike and Danny are mine, but nothing else is.
Thanks so much for all the wonderful reviews, they really make my day :)
MissLala73 – hope you enjoy.
"Did she hurt you?" Max asked as soon as Millie opened the door. She glanced down at her hand and shook her head, a small frown on her face, wondering if this was a social call. Max hadn't liked to admit it but as soon as he saw Millie's hand all rational thoughts had gone from his head as he worried if Annie had attacked her. He knew junkies. He knew that they would do anything to get their next fix and that as Annie had been in the cells all night she hadn't scored recently. He saw Jo's and Millie's confused expressions and quickly re –arranged his facial expressions, wiping the concern off them. "Is she here?" He stepped into Millie's flat, pushing past her and going into the living room. Completely outraged – but also slightly shocked at how close he had been - she turned to Jo. "What's going on?"
"Sorry Millie but do you mind if we come in and talk to...Annie is it?" Millie nodded. "Only we think she might be able to help us – help me – with a case."
"Sure, come in." Millie stood back and allowed Jo to come in. "Take a seat in the living room, I'll be though in a second. Just, clearing myself up." She walked into the kitchen needing to take a quick breather – she could still smell Max from when he'd walked so close to her and all the old feeling were coming back. She really didn't need this now, she needed to focus on her sister. She closed her eyes and leaned back against the sink.
"Is she here?" Max had appeared in the doorway.
"Yes, Searge. She's in the bedroom, I'll go and get her as soon as I've seen to this." She turned and ran her hand under the tap, flinching as the cold water hit her wound.
"Here, let me help you." He came over to her and gently turned her hand over, using his fingers to spread the water over the worst of the cuts. He had no idea what had possessed him to do this, but he was glad now. Her skin was soft and he traced the longest cut on the back of her hand. Max saw her flinching but she didn't say anything and he felt his admiration for her grow. He turned the tap off and spotting a tea towel on the side, he grabbed it and wrapped her hand inside. Her elbow was bent and he was standing so close to her, he could smell her scent. Her eyes looked up at him and they could both feel the others breathe on their face.
"Millie," he whispered softly and bent his head closer to hers, waiting for the moment her pink lips would touch his.
"Mills, can I come out now?" The yell from her bedroom jolted Millie awake and she jerked her head back and looked away before hurrying out the room. She leaned against the wall and took a deep breathe before opening the door to her room.
"Annie, the police want to talk to you. They think you can help them with something. Do you think your up to it?" She was working so hard on keeping her breathing normal and steady and speaking in a calm voice. She looked around the room and then noticed several stripes of what looked like purple cloth all over her floor. Annie, noticing her gaze, blushed.
"Oops, sorry about that. I got a bit crazy in here and uh you know your purple turtle neck.....I sort of cut it up. To be honest Mills, I think I was doing you a favour, it was really horrible, I still don't know why you brought it." Millie felt a smile touch her lips. Annie had always proclaimed her to have terrible taste in clothes and she felt she should be grateful that Annie hadn't gone in her closet. "Anyway you say the police wanted to talk to me? How do you know that? Or is it like some spooky police workers thing you always know when your relatives are in trouble." Annie was laughing at her own little joke and Millie rolled her eyes.
"Well, someone's clearly in a better mood. Come on, they're in the living room."
*
Max heard the yell and then felt Millie move. He opened his mouth to speak but she had gone before he could say anything. Banging his fist down on the sink, he threw his head back. He had been so close. Maybe it was for the best, really it wasn't like anything could happen. But ever since that idea had been planted in his mind last night, he couldn't get rid of it. And what shocked him was that he didn't want to. He'd wanted her so much just then. Last time these thoughts had been running through his head – when she was kidnapped – he'd managed to throw himself into finding her, and dismissed his feeling for her as guilt. When he'd offered to take her for a drink, he put it down to being a good boss offering support to his worker and when she'd rejected him, he'd promised himself to always think about what he did before he did it where Millie Brown was concerned. Of course that had been completely blown out the window now. He heard someone laughing, and he stood up as he remembered the reason he was there. Coming out the kitchen he saw Annie standing in a doorway, Millie in front of her. They both turned and walked into the living room and he followed behind them.
"I thought you said they were here? I can only see one." Annie had her back to him as he entered, but he slipped past her and sat down in an armchair.
"Oh, god not him." Annie was staring daggers at Millie. Why the hell had she allowed him into her house? He was the man who almost got her shot for gods sake!
"Annie, this is DC Jo Master and you already know DS Max Carter." Of course, Annie thought, they were her bosses and she didn't need Annie showing her up. Not wanting to cause her sister any more worry she signed and changed her attitude. The sooner they got talking the sooner they'd be out of here and she could take a look inside Millie's closet. She almost shuddered at the though of what disasters she would find in there.
"Sorry. Millie said you wanted to talk to me? How can I help you?" She sat next to Millie on the sofa, facing Jo. Max frowned but stopped quickly as the pain in his cheek throbbed again – switching to completely different emotions in a second must be a Brown thing.
"Listen, Annie we were wondering what you know about a Mike Carson?" Jo was glad to be finally getting down to the reason she was here – she liked Millie sure but she didn't really know her, never before having worked closely with her on a case and she had a job to do. She noticed Annie's eyes darting to Millie's face.
"Mike Carson? Why? Has something happened?"
"No. We're making general enquires about his whereabouts. We think he might be able to help us with something."
"Haven't heard from him sorry." Millie stood up.
"Annie, can I have a word with you please?" They both left the room, Max and Jo wondering what was going on.
*
"What's going on, Annie? I thought you said Mike called you today?"
"He did, but I didn't speak to him did I?"
"Are you going to tell them what they need to know?"
"Are you asked me to rat my boyfriend out?"
"Annie, I'm trying to protect you. I don't know what they want him for but it sounds serious."
"Well I know what they want him for ok? And telling the police where to find my boyfriend isn't a good move for our relationship."
"They wont tell him it was you."
"But he'll find out about the drugs."
"They wont being you into it Annie, not if they don't have to."
"I'm already in it, Millie don't you understand? His dad, is my drug dealer. OK they want him to tell them where to find his dad and to do that they'll get to him, use me as bait." They heard movement from the other room and Millie lowered her voice.
"Please, Annie. For me." Jo and Max appeared in the doorway.
" 21 Mount Olive Court, Lincoln estate in Hanwell, the town just outside Canley." Annie turned and pushed her way through them and Jo nodded bye to Mille before heading for the front door.
"Good job PC Brown." Millie glared at Max.
"I didn't do it for your precious case. I did it because shes my sister and I have to protect her against everything." Millie walked to the door Jo had exited through and pulled it wider.
"If you don't mind I think you have someone you need to speak to." She watched Max walk out her door and down into the street below.
