Thank you for the reviews... I hope that you enjoy this and if you have a thought about how it should end email me ( I have some ideas but it would be good to hear yours)... Anyway, constructive criticism liked:)


"Jack?" A sharp voice sliced through the air causing Jack to jerk awake. His eyes snapped open and the image of Neil loomed above him, Neil's face was so close to his that Jack automatically pushed himself back, nearly falling off his chair in the process.

After Jack straightened himself up a bit he turned to Neil, glaring, "Did you have to do that? You could've just called my name or something."

Neil smirked, he obviously wanted to scare me as much as possible, to be honest it wouldn't surprise me if he had spent an hour in here wondering the best way to do just that.

"I did say your name", in my head, "Anyway, it's a Saturday so I would've thought you might take the morning off, but seeing as you have stayed here all night, you might as well stay." Jack looked around glancing fleetingly at his reflection seeing a wreck staring back. By the way that Neil was looking at him Jack could tell Neil knew he had spent the whole night here, which made Jack thankful for the first time ever that he didn't have any hair that could add to his already dishevelled appearance. He stood and straightened himself up; trying to look more presentable.

"Any updates on Mickey?" Neil inquired, watching Jack's reaction intently; Mickey is the only excuse that Jack would have to look like that.

"No." Jack spoke quickly, look everywhere but Neil. It's as though he is the criminal and I am interrogating him, and by the way he's acting I am sure there must be something really wrong with Mickey. I will find out. I always do.

Jack was relieved that Neil seemed not to notice his guilty expression but the relief changed to panic as he looked at the clock to see he was running forty minutes late for a meeting with the superintendent. Shit. Stupid Neil.


Mickey felt something warm move slightly against him, causing him to stir. Where am I? He had managed to open one eye blearily only to see a room, he didn't recognise, and clothes scattered on the floor, his clothes. Drowsily Mickey sat up a little frowning a little as he saw who was sleeping soundly on him, Kayleigh; her slow rhythmic breath tickled his bare chest. Oh dear. Mickey felt his mind whirring; he liked the girl he knew that much and under normal circumstances he might have been thrilled that she was here but it was his job to arrest her and it was going to be so much harder if he carried on with this relationship. But she obviously liked him back so maybe it was an advantage but it still this all harder, I should've learnt this last time, never get too involved with cases; it messes you up. Mickey quietly argued with himself hoping that his sensible side would go back to sleep for a year... or two, not noticing that Kayleigh was coming round and was now watching his internal battle amusedly.

"Mickey?" Kayleigh whispered up to him tentatively; she didn't know whether he thought last night was a mistake and wasn't going to assume otherwise just yet. She could never assume anything.

Any sign of Mickey's internal battle disappeared as he smiled down at her. Seeing his smile she relaxed into his arms letting the tension drain form her. After a short silence, Mickey spoke, "Should I get a cup of tea?" Women always like a cup of tea to wake up to, that's what my Mother used to tell me.

Laughing slightly Kayleigh sat up herself, "Yeah sure. If you can find where everything is." Even she had trouble finding where everything was here mainly because she mainly slept on the couch at the pub, not that she let Chris know that.

"Course I could." Mickey said, setting himself the challenge, and I am good at winning tests like that. He yanked his trousers on, hopping into the kitchen on the way.

"Okay. Where to find the cups." Mickey muttered to himself, looking at the state of the art marble kitchen, bloody hell why are there so many cupboards? He quickly counted them, twenty cupboards? He started with the closest ones, looking high and low. This might take a while.

It took him around ten minutes to locate the cups, tea bags and, after he realised he needed one, a kettle. Kayleigh lifted her head slightly as Mickey came back in, half expecting him to ask where everything was, and saw him precariously holding a tray full of cups of tea, plate of toast and cutlery. What a gentleman. She thanked him and took a piece of toast before nibbling it gratefully.

"I guess you'll be late to work then." Kayleigh assumed, smiling as she did so. "I bet your boss will be angry." Mickey grinned in response.

"I think I can get round her..." He pulled her towards him so that their faces were only a centimetre apart,"Anyway, this is my morning off so I have the whole morning to sort it out with her." Mickey smiled seductively, making Kayleigh blush.

As he leaned into the kiss he heard a doorbell interrupt. He sighed quietly, why does the doorbell always ring?

"You expecting anyo-"He looked round at Kayleigh and his voice stopped abruptly at the sight of her; and he could clearly tell that she knew who was at the door. "Kayleigh." She had turned pale. If anyone from the Nick saw her like this they would know that she isn't the criminal we think she is. Yeah she has done wrong but I am sure there was a good reason for it. At the moment she just looks frightened.

He heard Kayleigh muttering panicked, "... completely forgot. Now what?"

Banging on the door started; whoever was outside was getting impatient. Before Kayleigh could stop him he got off the bed and made towards the door.

"Mickey! Stop. Don't get involved. Let me answer, please." Her voice and eyes both pleaded with him and although he let her go to the door he stayed behind her for moral support.

"Okay, but I am involved now whether you like it or not and I will help you." He whispered in her ear, to sooth himself or Kayleigh, he didn't know. If anyone else asked I was here cos I was finding information out.

The door swung open and Mark's face was revealed. He leered down at Kayleigh with that expression that gave her the chills. However, his face faltered and turned into a look of outrage as he saw Mickey, bare chest with his hand resting on Kayleigh's shoulder.

Mark didn't start with the pleasantries, like some did, but just forced his way in through the door. Two strongly built men rambled in behind him and the smaller of the two drew out a semi automatic and held it pointing at Kayleigh.

"You weren't supposed to have anyone here." He gestured his head at Mickey and the larger of the men grabbed Mickey pulling his arm behind his back, It's not like I am going to try anything with the other pointing a gun at Kayleigh, am I?

"Now I guess Lurah will have to pay." Again with this Lurah! I am missing something big here and I need to know what.

"NO! Please." Kayleigh practically begged him but Mark's only response was a slap to silence her.

"Well, we can't do a deal with him there; otherwise we know the cops'll be sniffing around. I wouldn't trust him." Mark glared at Mickey before returning his glare to Kayleigh, "I guess it's to be expected of you. Bedding a man so soon after our relationship. You always were a whore." Even as he said this Mickey yelled out, "Leave her alone!" The unknown man struggled to keep him under control, Mark just jeered at him.

"She may have slept with you, but her loyalty is still with me." Only cos you're blackmailing her, with all his might Mark punched Mickey in the stomach, as if to prove his point. Mickey tried not to crumple to the ground with the force of the punch.

Unbeknownst to everyone, whilst the man with the gun, who Kayleigh knew as Kepper, Mark's main man, took one glance at Mickey sneeringly, Kayleigh reached under the couch with her foot. I am so glad my brother hid his gun there yesterday, even if it is a stupid place to hide it; he might just have saved mine and Mickey's lives. She agilely flipped it into the air and caught it, with some skill, and pointed it at Mark. All this happened in about five seconds before anyone knew it.

"Let him go." Kayleigh demanded, now,Mickey thought, as he looked up from the ground, she looks like the cold-blooded murder who has killed hoards of people.

Mark smiled dangerously.


Jack felt as though he had aged a million years, what a morning. He had had to work double time to catch up with what he had missed and sat down for the first time for four hours. And just as I do so my day is dampened, yet again, with the sight of Phil Hunter's sorry backside.

Phil poked his head through the door and Sam's head followed. Both of them were talking quickly," Wait! Wait! Slow down. Sam tell me what's happening?"

They both stopped panting slightly and Sam started up again, saying, " Well Guv, we just thought you should know there have been reported gun shots in the Coal Lane Estate-" Jack's impatient mood got the better of him,"And why would I at the moment need to know th-"

"-the house in question in registered to Kayleigh Collins." Phil interrupted. Jack was off his chair before he could finish the sentence, "You've ordered the armed response unit already?" Mickey might be there! He was, you know, with Kayleigh last night.

"They're on their way. I have to stay here, though; we don't want Kayleigh to see me with the coppers..." Phil said, trying to imply that Jack shouldn't go but trailed off knowing that Jack would be immoveable on this front.

"I'll stay out of her sight, trust me." He leaped down the stairs, noticing CID members staring at him watching the 'rare sight' of him running. He joined a few members of Smithy's uniform who were attending the shooting as well.


Mickey had no idea how it had turned into a shoot out but somehow it had. One minute he was there on the floor and the next he was being pushed behind a sofa having gun shots blaring around him.

Kayleigh leaned on the couch loading her gun about to shoot again but saw Mark already fleeing. He had leapt out the window on her second floor balcony being closely followed by Kepper and the Bulk Man, as the other man was called by his friends. What the-? "POLICE!" Oh right, that explains it.

"Shit." Mickey scrambled up quickly and looked down at his stomach which was starting to turn a blue shade, as the bruises set in and the cuts down his arm didn't help. Kayleigh who had fared off a tiny bit better still had a few shard of broken glass, from the now useless coffee table, stuck in her arm.

"I'll answer it. Act normal." Yeah normal, I said it. That isn't likely to happen, is it? Calm down. He told himself, he tried to act as though he had only just gotten up as he answered the door. As he opened it he saw a few uniform police officers, who had been about to knock the door down, backing away.

"'Ello?" Mickey looked at them, trying to act thoroughly bemused at the sight before him, "Anything I can do to help?" The officers before him looked like a bunch of Barton street officers, considering he didn't know any of their faces, but as they all parted to he recognised the faces of Debbie, from CID, and Smithy and a couple of his team behind him. Great, just my luck. Both Debbie and Smithy were looking behind them, before shifting slightly and looking Mickey up and down. The only emotion registering on their faces was shock, shock at him being there and shock at what he looked like.

Debbie smirked slightly at the sight of Mickey standing there shirtless, what has he been up to, the naughty boy? Oh, I will definitely get the low down from Phil or Sam about this. But her face noticeably fell a bit as she spotted the newly forming bruises on Mickey's well defined stomach and cuts down his arms. She was never usually the overly caring type but Mickey looked as though he had taken a beating and she was his friend, so yes she did care. Worriedly, Mickey lowered his voice, causing a few Barton Street officers to lean in, trying to catch what was said, and looked at Debbie, "Please don't tell Jac-"He was cut off by the entrance of Kayleigh, who came into view with just a dressing gown on and Mickey's arm placed round her waist, yet she, too, had a few cuts and bruises down her arms and legs. Well if they are going to act normal I might as well have some fun, Debbie felt herself smile; Oh I am going to love this; my speciality is taking the piss out of people, but subtly. Her mental demon grinned satisfied, "So... What are your names?"

"Kayleigh and Mickey." Mickey said quickly, glaring at her slightly. He never liked that 'I have a plan' face of hers which she was currently wearing. He gave her his best counter-argument look by giving her his 'What the fuck are you doing' look.

"Surname?"

"Collins and Grange." Kayleigh spoke this time and she was a bit annoyed a being kept out talking to a Police officer no less, rather than seeing to the numerous cuts and bruises that she had gained.

"Oh, I thought you were together... Nevermind."Before Debbie could ask something else Mickey cut her off, "Hey, you from Sunhill?"

"Yeah."

"Do you know a Neil?"

Debbie's eyes narrowed, "Yes."

"Then can you say hi to him and that I think someone will be in to talk to him in a bit." Kayeligh and Mickey exchanged a meaningful look, but Debbie shrugged it off and conitnued the interrogation.

"Anyway, I was wondering if any of you heard some shooting that was happening in this area about ten, twenty minutes ago."

Kayleigh and Mickey caught each other's eye, for the second time, and Mickey answered after a short unnoticeable nod, "Er, yeah. We heard it faintly; must have been on the other side of the estate."

"But your neighbours said they hear-"

"I think they must be mistaken, so if you don't mind-"Debbie interrupted him, smiling slightly, "Mr Grange, was it? Would you mind coming down the station to make a short statement about what you heard?" Kayleigh's black eyes glared at Debbie, "Neither of us saw anything so why wo-"

"Well, no one else on this estate is willing to say anything."

"Fine." Kayleigh snapped indignantly, literally willing for Debbie to drop into a crack in the floor, "We will come in an hour after we are both dressed. Just leave." With that Kayleigh slammed the door in her face, leaving an amused Debbie on the doorstep.

AS she turned away and strode round the corner she saw the hiding figure of Jack in the corner. "Guv. What the hell are you doing?"

He coughed awkwardly, "I am hiding from Kayleigh." He mumbled and both Smithy and Debbie laughed at this.
"What? You're afraid of a girl? Poor little, Governor, cowering in a corner." She put on a baby voice and succeeded in making Jack grimace, "No, I am not! I just can't let her see me, otherwise she will know I and then Mickey are in league with you lot. Was Mickey there?"

"Don't try change the subject! And... yes Mickey was there... looking comfortable should we say." Both Smithy and Debbie snorted at this but straightened out as Jack spun on his heel and jogged down the stairs- yes jogged.

"Keep your hair on, sir." Debbie whispered, so that Jack didn't hear, which made both Smithy and herself fall back into silent fits of laughter.


Mickey let out a breath he didn't know he had been holding as the door shut and turned to Kayleigh.

"Are you okay? You hurt?" His concern showed through his voice and his eyes were scanning her over as he asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine." She said, not altogether truthfully but she in turn scanned him over, "You came off worse than me."

"Nahh, I'm fine." He passed her concern off dismissively, and addressed the room; shattered glass lay on the floor and gunshot holes lined the couch. "It's more the cleaning up that I am worried about." Kayleigh giggled quietly at his ridiculousness.

"I'm not worried about that. But we might as well get ourselves sorted out before we get ready to go down to that hell hole." She commented, referring to the nick. "And Mickey, you won't say anything about what actually happened, will you?"

"Course not. I won't tell anything to those Pigs or you brother. I won't do anything like that to you." Mickey felt the guilt sink into his chest, what can I do?


R&R :) Thank you for reading.