A/N: I mentioned Hayley Fulton would come into this, the foster child that Tess tried to adopt… well, this is the beginning, just a quick mention for now… and we see Jack again. I think you'll like it. Thanks again, for the interest in this story. =)

Hayley Fulton was on her mind.

Any distraction from the fact that she would sooner or later see Jack Lawson.

She lay awake as the sun peeked through her bedroom window. Her thoughts drifting to the letter that Hayley had left her before walking out. Tess wondered if Hayley was safe in the arms of her mother, Tina, she doubted it very much, which caused bubbles of fear to surface. Tess tried not to think about Hayley. It hurt too much, and the contact they had was non-existent because her stepfather, Rollo, wanted it that way. Tina had always been an irresponsible parent and choosing to live with her boyfriend Rollo only added fuel to the fire. She cared very little that he beat her children.

It hurt to think of Hayley, and soon she allowed her thoughts to dwell on Jack.

It had been a long time since she had seen him. How much had he changed?

Tess had to take a moment for herself to gather her thoughts and emotions. Jack had always been able to see right through her. he had once told her she was a self-destructive control freak, she had trouble being impulsive, and had to remain the leader at all times. It was hard for her to let go, and spontaneity was even harder for her grasp. But she understood where the control issues came from, her childhood had been less than adequate, and was constantly unsteady. Her childhood had been far from easy, much like Hayley's, which was what had drawn them together.

Knowing Jack was only a few meters away, she was beginning to feel that power of control slipping away from her. She didn't like that feeling.

The first time she fell in love with Jack the whole station knew before anything even happened, now that he was back she knew they'd be talking about it again, her name would be the talk of the day. There were no secrets. It probably didn't help that Tess struggled to hide her emotions when it came to Jack Lawson.

She found the courage to make her way to work. Forcing herself to set aside her fears, she pushed open the door.

"Morning all," she called putting on a false pretense.

"Morning," they all chanted.

"Jack's in with the Boss," Jo said bluntly. Jo never was one for being tactful.

PJ shot her a look of disapproval, and then looked back to Tess. "He wants you to go in as soon as you arrive," he explained gently, adding a smile of sympathy to his words.

"I have things to do," she mumbled in annoyance. Tess went straight to her desk and pulled some files from a pile of papers and pretended to read through it, but her stomach had eradicated and she was in no frame of mind to be working through any paperwork. On the outside, Tess as calm and collected, she was like she was every other day, but on the inside she was trembling uncontrollably, her intestines were so completely twisted that she felt like someone had taken a metre of wire and meshed her insides together.

"Aren't you going to go in there?" Jo asked pryingly.

"Jo," PJ warned. Sometimes he was the only one in the world that shut her up. "It's none of your business."

"Aren't you curious to know what he wants?" she pushed ignoring PJ and pressing Tess for answers. Jo always did like to know what was going on with the station gossip, and if there was nothing to know, she was usually creating some of her own. But she had a heart of gold.

"Leave it, Jo." PJ whispered firmly.

"But it's Jack," she insisted. "If it were me-"

"But it's not you," Tess snapped. "Don't you have some work you need to do," she ordered.

Jo pulled a face and shuffled through some files in the cabinet. A moment later Tom emerged from his office and his eyes bore into Tess.

"I asked you to send her in," he looked at PJ and Jo for blame and neither of them said anything. No one could tell Tess what to do, after Jack was gone, she never faulted on peer pressure, she remained in control at all times – excluding a few moments when Evan had been pushy with her, and caused her to lose her mind. "Tess, could I have a word…" he turned and walked back into his office without waiting for a response. He expected her to obey him.

With a deep breath, she rose from her chair and joined him in the office, the moment she stepped inside, she closed the door. She could feel Jack's eyes on her, but she didn't look at him. Her hands shook, and her stomach felt like a washing machine on spin-cycle. "Is there something wrong, Boss?" she asked casually.

"Tess," Jack whispered from the chair in front of Tom's desk. He expected her to turn and face him, as if she had never noticed him when she came in, but she ignored him and kept her eyes on the boss.

"I think I might give you two a moment," Tom stepped towards the door.

"No boss, you don't have to go," what she wanted to say was that she didn't want to be alone with Jack. It had been too long, and she was too scared, with Jack she lost her guard and it was the only thing that kept her from completely loosing her mind.

"I'm just outside," he encouraged her squeezing her shoulder gently as he passed her. He left with another word, leaving Tess and Jack alone in his office. Tess didn't know what to do, so she stood there, her eyes on a spot on the wall, terrified if she looked at him she'd find what had never left her heart.

Silence filled the room.

"Are you gonna look at me, Tess?" he sighed. Tess didn't say anything. "Do you hate me that much?"

"HATE YOU?" she spat looking at him with anger unable to remain silent any longer. She glared at him, conscious that he looked more attractive than ever, with a sprinkle of stubble over his chin. "I called you on the phone, I wanted to make sure you were okay and you didn't want to speak to me. If I hate anyone, Jack, it's me. I turned you in, don't you remember that? You went to jail because I-"

"No, Tess," he rose from the chair and Tess immediately backed up against the wall to move away from him. It was a pure reflex, and it didn't go unnoticed by Jack. "I went to jail because I let someone die, I didn't save a man, because I didn't want to. As a cop, I had no excuses, no matter how much I hated him. I deserved that, my attitude was wrong, I was wrong, if you didn't turn me in, you'd be just like me. You were brave, Tess, you told the truth and that took guts."

Tears were falling from her face, and she didn't even know it, he stepped toward her and she tensed up, and trembled when he touched her face to wipe the tears. The moment his fingers grazed her cheek, she closed her eyes, feeling the familiarity of his touch, it was something she hadn't realised she'd missed.

"I'm sorry…" she whispered.

"I know," he replied.

Tess opened her eyes and looked at him. "I've wanted to say that for two years now, Jack, I'm sorry… I had to do what was right. I had to-"

"I know," he nodded. "And it's okay. I want to see you!"

"Jack," she sighed. "I can't."

"Please, Tess, have dinner with me?" he pleaded.

"No," she repeated feeling like someone had reached in and torn out her heart. "I have to work, Jack. I don't have time for this," she attempted to get out of the office, but he was quick, and he grabbed hold of her arm causing electricity to pass between them. "Don't… do… that," she whispered in shot gasps as she struggled to breathe.

"I want to talk to you," he pushed. "I'll wait until you finish your shift, I'll be here, I'll wait for you."

"No, Jack," she forgot that he was stubborn.

"Control freak," he stated gently. Tess smiled this time. "Be spontaneous. Remember how good it felt. I just wanna talk."

"There's nothing to say," she said coldly holding up the wall of protection. It was too easy to fall back in love with Jack, he had a way about him that made her lose power, she was helpless when he was near her.

"I'll be here when you knock off, I have some things I need to say," he stated. Tess shook her head but she didn't argue with him, there was no point, he always got the last word. A moment later she walked out of the office.

"What did he say?" Jo asked without waiting for her to even close the office door. "Is he going to stay In Mt. Thomas."

"Shut up, Jo," she barked. "JUST shut up."

How good was that? Hehehehe… come on, Jack is kinda cool, do you like the character? =)