Disclaimer: I don't own 'The Bill'… yet! Mwah ha ha… I'll stop now

A/N: I wish I could say the long hiatus between chapters nine and now has been planned, but it hasn't. I got a massive brain freeze on everything for a while, went back to Sea Patrol momentarily, fell sick and then endured one horrible weekend involving illness and my team losing their Grand Final to a team that I hate (Die Melbourne Storm!). So no, it wasn't planned, it was laziness. Anyway, walking home from the job centre this afternoon I passed by a rundown house that inspired a future chapter (wait and see, it involves Mallie cuteness and a crazy cat lady!) and now it's inspired this. Enjoy…

Dedicated to Krissie; awesome writer, awesome friend, awesome rival for Max's one true love, awesome at prodding until things get done and just generally awesome. Love you babes.

Chapter Ten;
Khalid

"Stay close to him. Whatever happens, don't let him out of your sight." Max's voice coming across her earpiece caused Millie to frown and glance up at Will.

"Is he serious?"

"He thinks we're idiots." Will smiled. "Just try and ignore it. When he's in one of his moods…"

Millie frowned. "And when is he not in one of his 'moods'?"

Will nodded slowly. "A good question." He shot her a cheeky grin. "He's just jealous because he doesn't get to play 'loved-up couple' with Sun Hill's cutest PC."

Millie slapped his arm softly. "Keep the sweet talk up Will and you'll be challenging Eddie for the womaniser spot."

"Which is my aim in life."

"Whenever you two are done…" Max's voice came across the earpiece again and Millie blushed furiously. He'd heard everything they'd said. Will had the sense to stop grinning and Millie hung her head, trying to ignore the little voice in her head that reminded her she wanted Max to be jealous.

"Sarge?" Will said, frowning at Dunn who was a few metres away, casting nervous glances between the street and the constables nearby.

"Just keep an eye on him, that's all I'm asking. And no, I don't think you're stupid – unless you leave your mikes turned on when you feel the need to insult me." Max's ending was so abrupt Millie actually thought for a moment that they had insulted him, but then reality set in. Max didn't get insulted. It was one of the many feelings he didn't have. But she decided to play it safe anyway and stay in his good books. So far he'd been nice to a child, complimented her, backed her work and been as nice as Max could be. It was strange and if Millie had the nerve she would've asked him if he was abducted by aliens during the night and came back… well, he still wasn't human, but he wasn't the Superintendant of Jerksville anymore either so…

"We know sarge. Sorry." Millie murmured into her mike, casting Will a look that simply read 'I'm not' before glancing back at Dunn. "He's looking at his phone, I think its Nadir. What should we do?"

"Leave it, he'd probably checking up to make sure Dunn is there. We should… hold on, I think we have an eyeball on Nadir coming from the park."

Will glanced over Millie's shoulder towards the park. "It's him sarge, I'm certain. Stand by for…" he didn't even get to finish his sentence as Dunn waved to the man they suspected. It was the confirmation they needed. "It's him, it's Nadir."

"Okay," Max's voice came back through the earpiece. "SO19 stand by and move in on my…"

"Wait!" Millie whispered harshly. "Over by the alleyway, the figure." She frowned at the man but he didn't notice her watching, too caught up in the friendly exchange between Nadir and Dunn. Then the man stepped into the light and Millie gasped. "It's Natovnia. I'm sure."

Max radioed the others but no one had sight of him apart from Millie and Will, and Will hadn't seen the photo so couldn't tell him from a bar of soap. "Millie, you're certain?"

"Sarge, I'd bet my life on it. Trust me, it's him."

Then Max said something Millie thought she'd never hear from him. "I trust you." He was off for a moment before the command for SO19 and everyone else nearby to move in on the alleyway came through. Just as the SO19 van rounded the corner, it was then that all hell broke loose. Nadir saw the van and withdrew a gun, little more than a pistol but enough to cause Will to pull Millie to the ground and out of the line of fire. SO19 reacted as expected, but this gave Natovnia just the chance he needed to get back into his car and drive away. Millie saw him go and stood to get a better look of the vehicle, completely forgetting the Egyptian with the weapon. "Natovnia's getting away in a dark green vehicle, partial registration Lima…" she gave a 'nugh' noise as Will pulled her down again.

"Get down and stay down Millie otherwise Natovnia isn't going to be our problem today, it'll be cleaning what's left of you up off the sidewalk."

"Sorry." Millie gave Will a smile and he shrugged. So Millie did as she was told and stayed down, watching SO19 back Nadir into a corner as he continued to wave the gun but fail to go through with his threats to fire. Millie listened through her earpiece as Hayleigh spoke to Neil; the two CID cars ploughing through nearby traffic to try and keep up with what they'd now recognised to be a dark green Toyota. As SO19 again ordered for the gun to be lowered, Millie realised why she felt something was missing. "Dunn."

"What?"

"Dunn, Lewis Dunn's gone. Did you see him go?"

"I was making sure you weren't shot!" Will looked around too and growled. "Slippery litt…"

Four shots cracked the air; the sound of gunfire ringing in Millie and Will's ears as they sunk again to the ground, covering their heads like they were trained to do. They listened to the bustle of the men from SO19 as they moved forward as one to take the gun, but Nadir was spooked and fired another two shots, emptying his barrel. The gun clicked empty but it was enough for SO19 to do as they'd been trained. They fired to disable. Nadir fell to the ground clutching at a point just above his knee, the pain evident in his eyes and Millie and Will stood, watching SO19 rush forward to stem the bleeding. An ambulance was called but all Millie and Will could do was look on, wondering how a sting so simple had turned so disastrous so quickly.