Like I promised Candy, next chapter of Home Truths is up now ;) I hope it's enough long to satissfy you ;P I'm not sure yet when the next part is going to appear, cause I'm going to work now at Unexpected guests, cause I don't update it for a veeery long time...Anyway, this chapter is Craig centric. So sorry but not too much JP today.

Craig Dean smiled slightly when the door from elevator opened widely and like always he found himself standing face to face with a janitor, welcoming him with indulgent look and abroad smile before he glanced at his wristwatch and whistled surprised.

'It has to be your record, Mr Dean. It's not even six o'clock.' The janitor said amused and let the younger man pass by him.

'We have a really big case this time, Joey.' Craig replied and turned around to look at man. 'Time doesn't matter to me now.'

'I wouldn't say that about other officers, sir.' He said with soft smile. 'I bet they're just turning over to the other side in their beds.'

'I've always been a riser.' Craig said in cheerful tone, trying to chase away from himself Joey's inquiring stare.

'Maybe it's a good time to sort out your private life, sir. Maybe then I won't meet you here every day so early.' Joey suggested with smugly smile and leaned against the mop.

'If I wouldn't coming up so early I won't know you.' Craig smiled softly, making the older man chuckled. 'DCC Bridget Thomson starts thinking you're my imaginary friend, cause she never seen you.'

'She's this nice lady from your department?'

'Yea, with very specific sense of humour.' He snorted and made his way toward his office, when Joey spoke up again.

'You look very elegant today, sir. Have a date, perhaps?' Craig noticed a hint of amuse in his voice, but it didn't angry him. When he hearing; why you won't go for a date with some nice girl? he almost reacting in the same way as Joey.

'I look elegant every day, Joey.' He said cheekily. 'It's day like day.'

'But today you look different, sir.' Joey said with a wide smile, and Craig couldn't help but blushed slightly and rubbed the back of his neck. This man sometimes scared him very much, he was reading him as a book.

'I bought a new shirt, so what? It's not a crime I guess?' He fired up and quickly regretted it, understanding he just confirmed Simon's speculations.

'If it was, you surely will working on that case, sir.' Joey laughed slightly. 'I guess today it's a big day, some party I guess. I saw balloons in canteen.'

'You won't miss anything, won't you?' Craig rolled his eyes. 'Yes, today it's going to be a very stressful and big day, Joey. And I hope this day will end soon, cause it won't bring nothing good for me.'

'Well, you don't know it, sir. Give your ex-partner hugs from old Joey, we used to talk for some time, when one day by accident he bumped into me.' Craig stared at him surprised, trying to processed in mind what he just heard.

'Hold on, you knew him?'

'Man without personal life.' Joey replied with a sad smile, giving him knowingly look. 'This station was his whole life, sir. Tell him to visit me one day, when he'll has a little free time. He's a very nice young lad.'

'I'll tell him.' Craig said quietly with a thought how sad and pathetic person he has to be for Joey. He could keep saying what's he wanted but the truth was, he was almost the same as him. Both without life and dreams.

'He'll happy to see you again, sir. He always saying very good things about you.' Craig felt knob in his throat, tears gathering in his eyes. He always was loyal to him, even when he treated him as a shit and doing so many nasty things to him to upset him and see pain in his eyes. He never could understood why he always coming back. If Craig was him, he wouldn't let anyone to treat himself in that way and surely not coming back for more. He wouldn't let himself to fall so low...So why he has been doing this?

'See you tomorrow, Joey.' Craig said with constricted throat and didn't go before Joey pushed his cart filled with garbage from the offices from this floor toward elevator, and the door closed behind him with a quiet sound. He hid hands in pockets his trousers and with a knob still sitting hardly in his throat, he looked toward common room, where above the desks was hanging a transparency with a slightly crooked letters; Welcome in home!, and on Charlie's desk was laying a small box wrapped with an elegant paper and crimson bow. Balloons in canteen...Bloody Joey.

He took a deep breath and calmed himself before tears could fell down from his eyes and betrayed him. His trained mouth could tell every lie he wanted, twist in ironical and arrogant smiles, barking every time someone pissed him off, but his heart...he couldn't do nothing to make it stop breaking into small pieces every time when he heard about him. To stop hurting him so much every time he thinks about him.

The door from his office closed with a loud slam as Craig locked himself in it. He settled down on his chair, placed hands on the desk and looked toward door in thoughts counting hours to his back. Cause he finally understood what Bridget said to him. He won't run away from this, and the only option was to face up his demon. Joey was right, today it's going to be a big day. Today...his dreams will turn out into reality.

* * *

It was only a timid knock on the door, but it was enough for Craig's heart to jump to his throat, his hands started sweating. He pushed away from the desk Michael Luthie's files and improved his shirt before he spoke up to let his guest came in. His voice shaking with nervous and anticipation, eyes fixed at the door as he was waiting for him, knowing there was no turning back.

He couldn't hid his disappointment when to his office came no one else, but Darren carrying in hands two steaming mugs, offering him gently smile. Craig's mouth curled into unimpressed mine, the files in a minute came back in their old place.

'Do I disturb you with something?' Darren asked him unsurely as he noticed in what mood was today the younger man.

'No.' Craig replied coldly and nodded toward the chair standing opposite to his, giving him a sign to sit down. 'What's happened, you're here so early?' He asked reluctantly as Darren handed him one of the mugs. 'Quarrel with Hannah, or her lovely daddy perhaps?'

'None of these.' Darren replied, catching a curious look from Craig. 'Just wanted to talk with you about some things.'

'Like what?' He left in peace documents, giving his all attention to a little too nervous like for him, stepbrother.

'About work.' He replied shortly still investigate the ground, before he'll comes to the point of his visit.

'It bothered you so much, so you have to stood up so early and came to my office at seven o'clock?' His stare turned into sceptical, curious flew away from him, giving space for irate. Darren felt there was the only chance to ask, before Craig become mad at him and say to get out from his office for good.

'From today I'm going to work with new partner.' Darren gulped, patiently waiting for Craig's wild reaction seeing how he was behaving for the last days when he has been hearing about his ex-partner, but nothing like that happened this time. Craig just stared at him with tired eyes, almost looking depressed.

'Yea, I know. And what's about that?'

'I thought...You know...' But Craig didn't look like he wanted to cooperate with Darren this morning. Older man sighed irate. 'You were working with him for a long time and you were a good friends since what I heard from Bridget and boys, so I just wanted to ask you...how is he? Is he a decent guy? How should I behave with him?' He was a little taken-aback when Craig smiled slightly to him, clearly amused.

'He's a normal, decent guy like we all, Darren. Nothing to worry about.' Craig replied shortly. 'I guess he'll be better than your old partner. You'll like him.'

'Well, maybe you have some advices for me? I don't want him to think I'm some provincial bonehead.'

'Just watch your back.' Craig sighed irate rolling his eyes, wanting to end this painful conversation as soon it was possible.

'What's that means?' Darren asked puzzled, not quite understood intentions of his statement.

'Trust me, knowing him you'll find out soon.' Craig replied with a sly smile and took a sip of his coffee. 'If it's everything you can go now, and tell Pope to read all documents from Michael Luthie's case. It should stop him from coming to my office for all day.' He said with triumphal smile.

'I can tell, but I don't say he'll listen me.' Darren said with a slight smile and reluctantly stood up. 'Are you going for a party with us after work?'

'I need to take care about Chubby. He was mad at me today.'

'You're sounding like an old maid, Craig. Get a life, mate.' Darren rolled his eyes.

'Goodbye Darren.' Craig said drily and showed him the door. 'Don't want to see any of you for all day. And I have Bridget in mind too!' He shouted after Darren before the door closed behind him.

* * *

'Didn't I say clear I won't see you today?' Craig almost barked at his partner when without knock came to his office, in hand holding a handset. 'And knock before you come, I don't sitting in fucking cowshed.'

'I didn't want to come here either.' John Paul replied coldly and approached his desk with hand stretched out toward man.

'So why I see you here? You know what to do for the rest of day.'

'Yea, Darren said me about your little request.' John Paul said irate and almost pushed the handset to Craig's face. 'There's phone to you.'

'To me?' Craig asked surprised. 'Who's calling?'

'Lee Chapman. Wants to talk only with you.'

'Still don't know why you're here.' Craig took the handset and sent him unappreciated glance.

'Your secretary go somewhere and I couldn't handle the sound which making your phone. You should change the sound.'

'I see I have another point to what-to-do list.' Craig growled irate, ignoring John Paul. 'I should fired her week ago, when she lost somewhere keys from the drawer of my desk.' He mumbled before spoke up to the handset. 'Inspector Craig Dean.'

'Hello, it's Lee Chapman. I don't know if you still remember me...'

'Course I remember you. I lost my twenty pounds for your bloody lunch.' John Paul rolled his eyes and walked back before Craig's eyes could burn a hole in his head. 'You phone to me cause you have something interesting for me or just missing my voice?' Craig asked sarcastically and spin around on his swivel chair.

'Just recalled one thing. I don't know if it's something important, but you said to phone to you in case I remember something...so I'm phoning.'

'You did good.' Craig said and licked his lips with interested. 'So what is it? Go on, lad.'

'I can't talk now about this...maybe we could meet somewhere tomorrow and I'll tell you what I know?'

'Be on the station before the lunch time. Ask for inspector Dean.'

'We can't talk about it in more quieter place?'

'No we can't. Tomorrow on the station.' Craig said firmly and hanged up. He swore loudly when the door opened once again and Bridget with Cheshire smile appeared on the doorstep. 'What the hell now?! Get out before...' The rest of his words dead on his lips, when Bridget moved on the right and Chief Inspector joined her. Craig immediately stood up almost pushing his chair on the floor, making the woman giggle.

'Do we disturb you, Craig?' Chief Inspector asked with gently smile.

'No, course not, sir. Just talking with my informer that's all.' The younger man explained with sheepishly smile, hardly refraining himself from not wiped this bloody smirk from Bridget's face.

'Oh, some new information about the case?' He asked interested before handed Craig some document on which the younger man looked briefly.

'I don't know yet. He's going to come on the station tomorrow, so I'll find out if he has some important news for us.' He said with soft smile which quickly dropped down as he felt Bridget's eyes on himself. Until now he noticed, she was watching him carefully with a slight smile. Craig knew this look and he didn't like it. He gulped nervously and paid his all attention to his superior.

'Well, so in that state we have new information for you.' Chief Inspector said in cheerful tone. 'Superintendent decided it'll the best if you share your office with your partner, sergeant John Paul McQueen.' He announced and pointed at the document which dropped down from Craig's hand along with his peaceful.

'What?' Craig asked shocked, moving his eyes from him to Bridget. 'But it's my office.'

'It's not for all time, Craig. We just need a more place for new inspector, so we need to move some sergeants to new locations.'

'There's no way I'm going to share my office with Po...John Paul.' He said irate and started pacing around the office. 'We can't stand each other.'

'Well, you have to try cope with themselves, cause superintendent won't change his mind.' Chief Inspector smiled widely. 'I hope you won't mind to share a few metres of your cabinet with your partner?'

'Darren and John Paul will bring the desk tomorrow. Try to find a good place for it and for chair of course.' Bridget said sweetly barely refrained herself from burst in laugh. 'Don't worry he has pen with yourself, so you don't have to share yours with him.' Craig sent her murderous look, wondering if they already can see puffs of smoke burst from his ears.

'Do you know if there are still people watching Mayfair's house?' Chief Inspector asked.

'Darren sent another boys there.'

'Good. Have a nice day Craig, you too Bridget.'

'Thank you sir.' Bridget said with wide smile and approached Craig as the door closed behind him. 'Is the same shirt which your lovely boy bought for you four years ago?' She asked glancing at him suspiciously.

'Just fall into my hands when I opened the wardrobe...I don't remember if he bought it for me or not.' Craig shrugged, clearly avoiding her look.

'It's the one he liked the much, isn't it?' Her smile broadened, her eyes went to his well-fitting white shirt with green strips. 'Who are you trying to fool, Craig? Yourself?'

'It's a shirt! Someone created its to wear, Bridget.' Craig snapped to her and rubbed the back of his neck.

'You even used new perfumes.' Bridget smiled with gloat as sniffed like a dog the air, and approached the man who was looking now like a deer caught in the headlights, her hands working on his shirt, unbuttoning two upper buttons. 'Now, you look better.' Craig pushed her hands back irate and started pacing around the office again.

'You came here only to irate me or with higher purpose?'

'Chief Inspector asked me about the case, and wanted me to join him when he was going to deliver you a message from superintendent. He was pretty sure how you're going to react when you find out the news.'

'I don't want him in my office. Why they have to moved him here?! What about Darren's office?'

'It's occupied.' Bridget said evasively.

'By who?!' Craig snapped angrily, eyes flashing with anger.

'Guess.' Bridget offered him cheeky smile and turned toward the door when she heard happy shouts ranged from the main corridor. She looked briefly at Craig who looked at her terrified, standing in place as a pillar of salt. 'I bet you want to talk with him privately. I'll tell him to come.'

'No!' Craig shouted and ran toward his swivel chair, and Bridget started wondering if he was trying to hide behind it or move it to get a place to lay down under the desk.

'He's going to come here, Craig. Better if he does this now, trust me.' She said with soft smile and walked back from the office. Craig felt as his hands shaking as angle of his eye caught familiar man with protruding hair talking with Charlie. It's only him. Relax, Craig. He was angry at himself when his hands automatically went to his hair, improving them, his heart racing in his chest. He took a deep breath when the shadow of his ex-partner's body appeared on his glassy door, and gently knock came to his ears. His throat was so dry, he couldn't say a word. His eyes went down to the documents as the door slightly opened and he sensed his presence in his office.

'Bridget said you're waiting for me.' He tried to focus his thoughts at documents when he broke the silence and familiar voice ranged out, making his heart running quicker and quicker in his chest.

'Yes, I'm.' Craig replied with hoarse voice and without looking at him, pointed at chair. 'Sit down, Spike.' He offered and smiled secretly to himself as for the first time for a long time he said loudly his name. He shivered when the other man shuffled the chair only to moment later sat down on it, his eyes focusing at him.

'So, I see you got an office. It's a big distinction for sergeant.' Is he really going to behave like nothing happened? He could heard nervous in his voice, his long fingers playing with each other when he thought Craig wasn't looking.

'I'm inspector.' Craig said, his eyes finally looked up as he gave up with the papers.

'Oh, Bridget didn't say a word about your promotion. If I knew I would bring with myself a bottle of champagne.' He said with cheeky smile as their eyes met for the first time. Craig couldn't help but smile slightly as he had a chance to look at him again after so long time seperate from each other. He didn't change too much. Even if he was in his thirties, he was still looking like a young boy, slim and tall, with a bronze skin now, telling everybody it didn't has a contact with England's rainy weather for a long time. His white teeth shining even more than before, hazel eyes which he knew so perfectly, glowing with life and joy, now were a little swollen and had bruises under them- a sign of years stressfull work and not sleepless nights.

He used to loved his eyes. They were the windows to his soul, reflected his desires and fears, making him to look so unreal among those all people hiding his true emotions before the masks of indifference, before false smiles. His eyes never trying to fool Craig; glowing with excitement and joy when they were close to solve the case, with sparks after the work when he was spending his free time with friends, darkening with needing and lust every time they were alone in his office, not afraid of showing emotions and taking off the heavy armour which Craig wearing to felt safe, to not let anyone hurt him, flirtatiously looks as he tried to provoke him, eyes full pain and sorrow every time Craig hurt him and pushed him from himself, eyes shining with hope and something unique which was intended only to Craig's eyes every time he coming back and waiting for a sign that everything was alright between them again.

'I heard you were a special agent in Ibiza. Congratulation.' Craig tried to sound like he didn't care and was just a simple conversation with old mate about the work, but he couldn't hid sadness and coldness in his voice which overwhelming his body.

'It wasn't nothing big.' Spike said quietly, shivering at suddenly coolness.

'Well it have to, since you left the country in such hurry. You even didn't say goodbye to your friends.' He didn't want to bring it now, when it was still painful, but his mouth seemed to not working with his mind.

'Craig, I know how it looks.' Spike sighed and ran hands over his face before he spoke up again. 'But you have to believe me, I didn't have a choice.'

'Course you had!' Craig barked. 'How could you disappeared from my life without a word?!' He said quieter this time as he noticed some people crowding around his door, surely hearing his outburst.

'I'm sorry. But I really have to do this...I didn't want to hurt you.' He said softly and leaned toward the desk, looking at Craig imploringly.

'But you did this. When you have fucking fun in Ibiza I was feeling like someone cut my heart from the chest and threw it away!' He hardly refrain himself from cry.

'I was hurting too!' Spike cried angrily. 'You think it was so simple for me, left you and my all life during few days?! You don't have any idea how hard it was for me.'

'So what was so important you have to did this, hmm? Can you explain me?' He was trembling with anger, couldn't believe he had the audacity to tell him he was hurt! You fucking asshole!

'Just trust me. You always believing me.' Spike said with pleading and tried to touched his hand but Craig quickly hid it under the desk.

'And now I see it was mistake. You know what, Spike? I don't want to hear your pathetic excuses. Everything is finished. The only reason why I'm going to endure you is, you're a good policeman and we need your help to solve the case. But nothing more.' He looked away as he noticed tears in Spike's eyes. Tears which Craig knew, not going to fall down. They've never falling, even when Spike's world was falling down. He was too cold and empty to let himself to broke in front of everyone, to do such a trivial thing like this. Tears were for weakers, not for somebody like him.

'Fine. I think it's a fair presentation of matter.' Spike said without emotions, eyes focusing at his hands. And that's it?! Craig looked at him in disbelief. He's not going to fight? I don't believe...'I heard a little about the case from superintendent and Bridget. Since what I know you're very close to solve the case.' The tiredness and surrender in his eyes stopped Craig from further malicious comments. He could hate him for what he has done to them, but he wasn't going to fall so low to torment him for the all meeting. If he wants to talk about the work and pretending everything is okay, he wasn't going to complain. He even liked this option.

'Close to caught a cold.' Craig snorted irate. 'We had nothing. No motives, witnesses, or suspects. Nothing.'

'You have to have something.' Spike said firmly. 'Do you have files with yourself? Maybe you missed something in them. The murderer isn't a ghost.'

'Well, I won't be surprised if he is.' Craig replied drily, not sure if he wanted to laugh or cry. 'Tomorrow I have a meeting with informer, maybe he has some news for us.'

'Right.' Spike nodded. 'I want to read the files, Craig. Otherwise I won't be able to help you.'

'Darren has them.' Craig replied shortly with slanting smile.

'Who?' Darren frowned his eyebrows trying to connect the name with a right person.

'Darren Osborne, my stepbrother whose going to be your partner from now...Don't look at me like that, I didn't ask superintendent to do this. I just get a new partner before we knew we'll need your help.' Craig explained, reluctantly noticed he was still carrying about this bastard, didn't want him to feel unwelcome by him on the station.

'Your stepbrother? I see some things changed.' Spike smiled slightly. 'When I can find him?'

'In his office, I guess.' He said with a little irony, his eyes moved with the man who stood up from his place. 'Bridget will show you the way.'

'I know it has to sound stupid and cruel for you, but I missed you and I'm glad I can work with you again...It was nice to see you again.' He was going to turned around, when Craig's chair shuffled and he stood up, slowly approaching the man.

'You too.' He confessed quietly, their eyes connected for moment and there was a threat of understanding between them.

'Well...Do you have something to tell me about the case, or I just can go to Darren?' He asked quietly and gulped as Craig approached him closer.

'Just want to say you're going to share office with Darren cause there's no empty offices now on the station, and you're starting your job from tomorrow morning.' He added calmly as he noticed his soft smile. 'So try to be on time.'

'Well, it's been hard to do.' He chuckled and hid hands in pockets.

'Why is that?' Craig asked reluctantly.

'Tonight we're going for a party. You know how probably it's going to end.' He gave him knowingly look.

'With Megan dancing on the table and Charlie throwing up his lungs in dark alley.' Craig snorted and couldn't help but smile when Spike's mouth curled into wide smile. 'Try to be sober tomorrow.' He sighed.

'You're not going with us?'

'I have work to do.' He replied shortly.

'Oh.' Spike mumbled disappointed, making Craig's heart to jump. 'I better go, then. Read the files.' He sent him a fake smile and laid a hand on the handle, when Craig suddenly spoke up again.

'Do you fancy a dinner with me, tonight?' Craig asked, leaving everything for the last card. He rubbed the back of his neck when Spike turned to him and frowned his eyebrows surprised. 'I know they organized a party for you, but I thought that maybe we could go out for a dinner with me for an hour or two and discussed about the case...You won't find everything in files.' He explained with slight smile. 'And you would tell me what were you doing for the last four years.'

'Why not.' He shrugged with cheeky smile as he noticed how Craig's eyes lightened up. 'I can join to them later.'

'Right. Take with yourself files from Darren's office.' He added before the man walked back from the office with light steps. Craig fall down on his chair and smiled slightly as he thought that Spike picked him, not the party. It was a nice feeling to know that he was still important for him and whatever it's going to happen he can counting on at least he hoped he can.