BETA: None. WILL have spelling and grammar mistakes. (Please don't complain as I've just warned you.)

Sex: Finally. M/M

Swearing: None

Setting: This chapter takes place between episodes 2 & 3.

POV: Mainly Kent's

A/N: Jumping forward three months.


Things had been going alright for Kent over the past three months. Since his official break-up with Joe and by that he meant break-up sex, he'd actually tried to start dating again. He hadn't had many but he thought there was hope. And the relationship between him and Joe had gotten better too. They weren't so tense around each other, and he didn't feel the desire to ask for a transfer again. He could even be in a room with the man without feeling awkward. As proven by Miles's daughters christening, at which Joe had been asked to stand up as God-father, much to his embarrassment and surprise. Kent hadn't been surprised in the least, he knew that the Skip respected Joe, and would even consider him a close friend. It was a far cry from how they'd been over a year ago, when they'd first met. At the time, Emerson would have laid money on the Skip either running Joe out of Whitechapel or killing him. But they were good now, like chalk and cheese, they worked well and Emerson was glad, because Joe needed someone to watch out for him, now that he wasn't able to do it. The Skip had even come to terms with Joe's OCD.

"Hey, Kent."

"Yeah Skip." The younger man smiled.

Miles nodded down the hall. "Go rescue the boss will you, before she eats him alive."

Kent frowned. "How am I meant to….?"

Miles winked at him. "I'm sure you'll think of something."

Kent had come to the conclusion a while ago that the Skip had figured out what had been going on between him and the boss, but he never confirmed it. He glanced down the hall and saw the panic on Joe's face and knew he was in trouble. Nodding to Miles, he headed off, pausing beside Joe, smiling up at him.

"I was wondering if you're still alright to drive me home."

Joe looked down at him with a small frown before smiling brightly. "Of course."

It was subtle, the lingering look, the body language. They drew on their actual history and even the most determined of women wouldn't have been able to ignore it.

"You having a good time?" Joe asked softly.

Emerson smiled softly. "Yeah, she so cute." he gave Joe an apprising gaze that said 'so are you'.

"I'm sorry. How rude of me. Emerson this is Judy's sister….um, sorry what was your name…"

The woman looked between the pair. "Melissa."

"We've already met." Emerson nodded another greeting.

"Excuse me." she said with an irritated tone and heading off in the direction of her sister.

Joe released a sigh of relief. "Thank you."

"It's fine." Emerson smiled up at him. "She was hitting on me at the church."

"Oh?" Joe smirked.

"At least she knows now why I turned her down." Emerson laughed.

Joe looked around at the people gather, his gaze landing on Melissa and Judy talking obviously about him and Kent. He swallowed.

"Relax." Emerson said in a soft voice. "The Skip was the one that sent me to rescue you. It was his idea."

"Oh." Joe wasn't sure how to feel about that at all.

Emerson watched his features falter for a few moments felt the urge to touch his hand, but he held back. It was just residual emotions, like when he'd bumped into Tom six month ago.

"Here Kent, take her will you. I'm no good with babies." Mansell said, handing over the little girl.

"And I am?" He said as the three month old was dumped in his arms. There was a look on his colleague's face that kind had him wanting to punch the guy, or just shout, just because I'm gay doesn't make me a girl. But he bit his lip and watched the guy walk away.

Joe looked from Emerson to the little girl and the younger man saw that shadow of regret pass over his face. He knew Joe felt lonely, that he'd given up hope of a family and he couldn't help but wish that wasn't the case. But Joe was….well, not exactly difficult but picky. He knew he'd need someone who understood all his issues, like he had. Someone who would be able and willing to turn their lives upside down to accommodate what Joe needed. He'd been willing to do that, still was.

The idea that he was still, in the smallest part, hoping for another chance was more than a shock to Emerson. He could have sworn he'd moved on. He looked up at Joe feeling awkward again, his heart skipping.

"Hey Joe." Miles called. "Come settle an argument will ya."

Joe smiled once more at Emerson before heading over to Miles and Buchan. The younger man watched him go, lowering himself onto the sofa, rocking the baby in his arms. "Oh I'm so screwed." He whispered to her.

~WHITECHAPEL~

Kent's life went from resolved and simple to messed up and complicated almost overnight. He'd thought he was over Joe, that he'd moved on, but then he'd had that moment of realization at the Christening party and now he couldn't stop thinking about him. Things weren't made any better when a DI Narroy arrived two days later. The moment Kent saw her he knew she was like Joe, though maybe not such an advanced case. But it sent uneasiness through him. So much so that when Joe and the Skip arrived back from their meeting with a local fox expert, he stood watching them from the water cooler, until Mansell interrupted him.

"Kent….Muppet."

Emerson looked up shaking water off his hand. "What you think of her." he nodded towards the office.

"Uptight, buttoned down, repressed, waiting for release. Yeah, I'd tap it." Mansell nodded, walking back to his desk.

Kent followed after him, his gaze never leaving the office. "Why don't you make a move then?"

"Should shag above your ranks, gets weird."

Emerson had the feeling Mansell was holding back the 'you should know that.' but they both kept quiet, Kent laughing it off. "How would you know?"

"There might have been a DCI back in the day." Mansell said proudly.

"Two peas in a pod aren't they." Meg sighed.

"A pair of DI twins, his and hers." Mansell remarked, looking up at Kent.

Kent glared through the glass doors. He'd thought Joe needed someone who understood him, he hadn't actually expected him to find that someone.

~WHITECHAPEL~

Is dislike for DI Narroy magnified once she'd joined the investigation. It wasn't just about his jealousy; he'd swear that on a mountain of bibles, it was that he didn't trust her. She was up to something. He could see it as clear as the nose on his face, and his suspicions were all but confirmed when he was forced to pair off with her when they went to stake out a fox.

"You're DI's very good."

Kent clenched his jaw for a moment before speaking. "Yeah, he is." replying harshly.

"I'm not so sure about your sergeant." Narroy said with a small disrespectful laugh that made Kent angrily.

His head snapped around to glare at her. "The boss is sure of him. They might argue, but don't be fooled, nothing comes between them."

"Really?" Narroy looked almost disbelieving.

Kent hoped Joe saw through her quickly, before she cause real trouble.


A/N: Sorry it so short, but thanks for reading and the feedback.