"Close Protection"

Disclaimer – As usual I own nothing but a large amount of debt, a severe lack of talent and a distinct lack of awesomeness! Certainly nothing to do with Skins, (which still makes me very upset but not as much as before).

Authors Note – Er wow. I mean seriously guys, I know it's been like 5 months since this started and we've not covered a lot of ground yet, time wise, but bloody hell; it was only a drunken kiss, it's not like they got married or anything.

Just one thing before I get started, thank you to all of you that reviewed making my day last week, (glad something did – tough week) and thanks for the well wishes, I'm still feeling pretty crappy, but I'm breathing which is always a good thing.

Anyway, enjoy this little chapter, and let's see what happened after that kiss (-:

Chapter 21 - Beating Retreat

I was drowning. Drowning and more than drowning as Emily forced her lips onto mine; fingers tightly wrapped in my hair, pulling down my head preventing my escape. I tried to fight my way to the surface, but each time I reached that level of awareness I slipped further down; wrapping my hands into that beautiful red hair as our tongues met, pulling her into me. Despite that desperate will to fight and survive I nearly, so very nearly, gave myself utterly to that one beautiful moment of passion; surrendered myself to the depths, drowned myself in Emily Fitch.

'This is not good, Naomi, this is not smart at all.'

The thought ran through my rational mind as Emily's lips pressed once more against mine; no, that's not quite right. It ran through my mind as we pressed our lips together. This isn't down to her, this is my mistake as well. Finally accepting the truth, finally realising the gravity of my error I placed my hands firmly on her hips once more and gently moved her away. Pulling back from the kiss before we took it any further, before I fell any deeper into that black abyss.

"Naomi," I heard her say, a hint of hurt and confusion in her voice as she tried to step back into that embrace, tried to kiss me once again. I held her hips even tighter, and locked my arms, holding her at bay, saving myself. Despite the gloom in this cool lonely summerhouse, I saw her eyes open and stare up at me, almost causing me to break once more.

"Say something," she said finally, shattering the silence with that beautiful voice.

"I think it's time you went back inside Emily. We'll talk about this in the morning."

'If you remember anything,' I thought as she lowered her head, hid her eyes from me and nodded. I opened the door for her and watched her leave, not a word passing between us as she did so. Frankly I was glad, my heart was still beating ten to the dozen, trying to signal the advance; yet I was forcing it to beat the retreat. I'm not sure I've ever made such a sacrifice in my life to date, giving up that brief moment of real passion. I can still smell her perfume in the air and I can still taste her lipstick on my own lips.

This is fucked up, this is totally, totally, fucked up. So much for professional distance.

I tried to pull my head together as I closed the door behind me, throwing the bolts top and bottom, clicking the padlock back into place and removing the key. By the time I'd turned back towards the house, Emily was out of sight, probably already inside and no doubt being ushered towards her room by their servant Andrew. I felt a slight pang of loss as I realised I was on my own, but pushed it down hard, shoving it into that locked room in my mind where I never, ever went.

I stood on the summerhouse's little wooden porch and took a deep breath, holding it for a second, I steadied myself before clicking the switch in my hand; opening my mic' to the rest of the team.

"Ok Ladies," I said with as much command in my voice as I could muster, "give me a sitrep."

"All quiet Miss Campbell," Andy's voice came over the earpiece. "Simon just reported that Miss Fitch has been taken up to bed, James Fitch and Mr and Mrs Fitch-Brace are tucked up already and Mr and Mrs Fitch are currently saying goodbye to the remainders of their guests."

"What, the party's over already?" I asked incredulously glancing at my watch.

"Sure is Miss Campbell, these things don't usually go on all night, some of these folks are getting on a bit."

I snorted in amusement; he's right, some of those folks looked like they would have trouble getting out of bed in the morning, let alone manage to stay up late. Still, old age comes to us all, if we're lucky that is; though the alternative holds no merits.

"Anything else I should know?"

"Mrs Fitch was looking for you Miss Campbell, as was Mr Cook."

"What did you tell them?"

"Told them you were investigating a disturbance in the garden Miss Campbell, told them I'd call it in and you'd find them when you weren't as busy."

I breathed a sigh of relief, thanked him for his forethought , signed off and headed back into the house, taking the opportunity to do a quick patrol of the outside of the building as I did so. Light blazed out of many of the windows of the huge house, making my movements easy; it did annoy me a little though, the place was an environmental disaster area and I'd hate to have their electricity bill.

Still I guess when you're as rich as the Fitch's were, paying your electricity bill is the least of your worries.

Trying to avoid the front of the house if the guests were leaving, I ducked in through one of the side entrances and found myself in a long corridor, opulently decorated with doors to the left and right. I wasn't sure where in the building I was and so I moved quietly and carefully, trying not to disturb anyone that might be around. I could distinctly hear the sounds of snoring from one room and the unmistakable sound of fucking from the other.

Someone, was having a pretty good time.

"Oh god yeah, like that Katie, don't stop, don't you fucking dare stop...yeah baby just fucking like that!" a voice cried out from behind one of the large oak doors as I passed by.

"Yeah, you like that don't you Gazza baby?"

"Hell yeah, don't stop Katiekins, don't fucking stop...Fuck yeah...Just. Like. That! Oh God!... quick, grab my balls Katiekins grab my fucking balls."

I walked away as quickly as my feet would carry me, my mind boggling. There are many things in life that I have decided shouldn't be overheard, and I think Gareth and Katie Fitch-Brace getting their end away is one I really need to add to my list.

Fucking hell, I think I might just need to shower...probably with bleach, and a wire brush!

o+o+o

Thankfully the rest of my patrol of the interior of the house was uneventful. Pretty much all of the extra staff, and most of the guests had already left; and things had definitely quietened down. I found Cook and Effy sat at a table in a side room by the kitchens, a half empty bottle of wine and the remains of what looked like a small gateaux in front of them.

"Well hey, look who it is," Cook drawled with a smile on his face as I entered the room, "it's my very own spy in the sky."

He kicked out a chair from under the table and gestured towards it, "take a seat Naomi, looks like you could do with the rest."

"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked suspiciously.

"Nothing, but you do look shattered Naomi, long night?"

"Eventful, by the looks of things," Effy said, leaning forward in her chair and staring at me. "I see you found Emily then Naomi, or did she find you?"

I sat down in the proffered chair and stared back at her, holding my best poker face, not giving anything away.

"I found her in the garden actually, she was a little upset, had a bit of a disagreement with her father; nothing to worry about though. When I found her she was just a little drunk, so I arranged for the staff to put her to bed."

"I assume she'll be terribly disappointed."

I frowned at her and she smiled back at me, that fucking knowing smile again, the one I want to slap straight off her face.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"You have lipstick on your cheek Naomi," she said, that smile turning into a full blown grin as I lifted my hand to my cheek to scrub away any marks.

"Your lipstick is pretty smudged as well," she continued. "Just saying, because you'd probably want to fix that before you see the Fitch's again."

"Well well Naomi," Cook laughed at my now frantic movements, "looks like someone else was having a little tryst in the gardens eh Eff."

"It wasn't like that," I said trying to defend myself at their matching smirks. "She was just pissed up and upset, I let her rant for a while, she had a bit of a cry and then she kissed me goodnight that's all."

"Must have been a good kiss goodnight to have smeared your lipstick like that Naomikins," Cook said as Effy passed over a little compact mirror. I flicked it open and took a look at myself reflected in the tiny oval of glass. He was right, I did look a mess, I'd pretty successfully removed the lipstick on my cheek, if it was ever there, but my own was looking a real mess; smudged and smeared, a legacy of something I'd be better off pretending never happened.

"She's just a bit confused Cook, that's all. She's just a bit emotional still with everything that's happened over the last few days. You know how that goes, we've all seen it; I'll sort it out."

"Is that what you think Naomi? It's just a bit of confusion," Effy said reaching into her bag and handing me a pack of cleansing wipes. I took one and nodded, using it to clean off my lipstick and wipe down my cheek.

"I was right then, not very clever. I'm off to bed Cookie, see you in a bit yeah?"

"Sure thing little darling, I'll be right up."

"I certainly hope so," she said, leaving little to the imagination with the tone of her voice. "Good night Naomi, sweet dreams."

I watched her leave before sighing and turning back to Cook. He was sat, leaning back in his chair one eyebrow raised.

"So Naomi, what did happen with young Emily then?"

"Don't Cook, really; just don't. I'll sort it ok, it was a stupid drunken mistake. We'll talk about it tomorrow and put it behind us."

"You sure Naomi?"

"I'm positive Cook, it was stupid and unprofessional and it won't happen again."

"How is it unprofessional Naomi if she kissed you?"

His lips twisted as he said it, knowing he'd caught me; his face breaking into that trademark cheeky grin, the one I suspected drove the girls crazy at whatever school or college he'd gone to in his youth. It didn't drive me crazy though, not in the same way at least. I stared back at him for a second before putting my fingers to my forehead and brushing my hair back, the closest I could come to holding my head in my hands without actually doing it.

"Right, I get it. Can't say I blame you Naomikins, she's a right little stunner is young Emily, especially with that new hairdo."

I looked up at him in surprise; this wasn't what I was expecting at all. I was expecting a bollocking, a dressing down so hard my teeth would shake. Instead he's still grinning at me.

"What, you think I'm going to bawl you out for it, sack you perhaps? Fuck no Naomi. Look, Effy's right, Emily likes you; that's pretty obvious, even to an insensitive idiot like me. Now whether it's just rescuers syndrome like you think, or something else entirely I don't know; but it is there and you're going to have to deal with it. I guess the question I should be asking you is do you like her?"

"I don't know Cook, I mean she is pretty, pretty hot as well; but she's also been a fucking bitch for most of the time I've known her and, let's face it, that's not been very long. Less than a week in fact."

"Answer the question Naomi, it's a simple yes or no; do you like her or not?"

"Yes, ok...I like her. Gods help me I like her. I'm attracted to her, of course I am; so fucking what? It's not like it's going to go anywhere is it. Fucks sake Cookie I work for her now, all I can ever be is her CPO; I told you, friendly without being friends, she's just a package it can't go any further."

"But she's not just a package at the moment, is she Naomi? and this isn't about just being friendly is it? Right now Naomi you have to decide something, you have to decide if you're going to be a stuck up tight arsed soldier, or are you going to give yourself a chance to see where it goes. Maybe even see where Emily wants to take it. You know you're probably right, it might have been the drink, or her mental state, or it might have been something else, but if you don't give it a chance how will you ever know?"

He stood up from his chair and placed a hand on my shoulder, drumming his fingers against my back, absently tabbing out a beat.

"Perhaps I'm not the best person to give you advice Naomi, but all I can say is I had the same choice to make, in pretty similar circumstances, not too long ago; and I went with my gut instinct. Turns out, it was the best decision I ever made. Now if you'll excuse me, my gut instinct is telling me that my ex-package is waiting for me up in our room; and believe me, my Effy doesn't like to be kept waiting."

He patted my shoulder, just once, before leaving me alone with my thoughts.

o+o+o

An hour or so later I was on my way up to the control room, my mind still churning through the events of the day, when I was surprised by Mrs Fitch who was backing out of a side room carrying a tray laden with miniature bottles of booze.

"Good evening Jenna, can I give you a hand with that?"

She jumped in surprise and nearly dropped the contents of the tray onto the floor.

"Jesus Naomi dear, you almost scared me half to death. What are you doing up and about at this time of night? Shouldn't you be in bed like everyone else?"

"Sorry," I said contritely, "I'm just heading up to the control room to check things out before turning in. Make sure everyone's gone that should have and that everything's locked down for the night. I'm really sorry if I startled you Jenna, it was pretty stupid of me."

"That's all right dear, it's nice to see you so focused on keeping us all safe. I was looking for you earlier but Andy told me you were busy elsewhere."

"It's been a busy night Jenna, lots to keep an eye on."

She looked at me strangely and put the tray down on a convenient side table, pulling me into the room and closing the door; I can't help but feel worried, like a prisoner dragged from their cell in the middle of the night.

"I wanted a word with you Naomi, about Emily."

"Oh?" I asked, trying not to sound guilty in any way, my heart pounding in my chest.

"Yes, she's quite emotional sometimes, I know she doesn't like to show it normally. Well," she said awkwardly, "unless she's being nasty to people that is, she can be a proper madam at times." She tailed off, her eyes distant.

"Anyway," she said eyes snapping back into focus with mine; "what I wanted to say was, she seems to like you and I know she's a little upset at the moment. Nothing bad, you understand, just a little family disagreement. Anyway, I was wondering if you would keep an eye out for her, make sure she's ok; I haven't seen her all evening and I'm a little bit worried."

"There's really no need to be worried Jenna, Miss Fitch is currently safely tucked up in bed; at least that's where I've been told she is," I informed her, watching the relief drain into her face but still feeling that there's more to this conversation.

"Miss Fitch got a little drunk earlier on and went AWOL, so I made it my business to track her down. Turns out she went out into the gardens to be alone. When I found her she was pretty upset, but she's fine now."

"Oh thank heavens for that, I'm so glad you joined us Naomi, I just know you'll be good for my Emily. She's not the happiest person in the world and she doesn't make friends easily, but I feel good knowing you'll be watching over her. You will do that for me won't you Naomi? Watch over her? Stay close to her and make sure she's safe and happy. I don't get the chance to do that anymore, not since she moved away."

The sound of regret in her voice was palpable, this was a mother that cared, a mother that wanted nothing more than to know her daughter was safe and happy. She reminded me a lot of my own. I don't do friends, don't have any friends any more, but I do like Jenna Fitch, she's a lovely lady; a true aristocrat, if not by birth then by nature.

"I'll do my very best Jenna," I promised her faithfully before reverting to type, "after all, that's what Cook pays me for."

It felt strange, the same old lines passing my lips; the same lips that not two hours before had been kissing her daughter. Jenna smiled at me, a warm encompassing smile that actually made me feel good.

"Well dear, I shall be able to retire to bed tonight in peace then, knowing that you're on the job. Would you do me a quick favour though Naomi, before you go to bed. Would you mind popping your head into Emily's room as you turn in; I know Emily asked Rob to make sure that you had Katie's old room so she'd feel safer with you close at hand. Would you mind Naomi, make sure she's ok? Make a guilty mother feel a little bit better."

I nodded mutely, venturing into the lion's den wasn't my primary plan for the night; still, hopefully Emily would be fast asleep and I'd escape unscathed.

"Lovely, thank you Naomi. I hope we get a chance to do some more shooting tomorrow, you really were an excellent teacher; good night my dear."

"Good night Jenna," I said as she left the room. I heard the faint rattling of glass as the tray full of bottles made its way down the corridor and breathed a sigh of relief. I'd been expecting a lot worse, I had the feeling that guilt had been tattooed across my face and I was thoroughly expecting to be hung for my crimes. After all, despite their politeness, the Fitch's weren't the most progressively thinking family in the world, my file on their behaviour towards their cross-dressing son told me that. It must be hard enough for Rob and Jenna to have me working for them; I dread to think what would happen if they believed that I was corrupting their daughter.

I slipped out of the side room and back down the corridor, following my original plan to enter the control room. All was quiet when I got there, the room was dark; Kevin long since fucked off home leaving the systems on automatic, the recording lights flickering away as the cameras cycled through their views of the house and its interior. I sat in the large comfortable seat and idly flicked through the different camera feeds on the main monitor before hitting the PTT button on my comms kit.

"Andy, you still out there?"

"Where else would I be Miss Campbell?"

"Good lad, anyone still out there with you?"

"Yeah, Simon's still here, I've sent everyone else home. We're just checking the outside of the building before heading off ourselves. Andrew is getting ready to set the house alarm as soon as we're done."

"Nice work, thank you both; you guys did a stellar job tonight. I hope neither of you are planning on going anywhere, I need a good team to run this place and I think I may have found it."

"Well I'm not planning on leaving Miss Campbell, not after flattery like that" Andy's voice sounded pleased over the earpiece.

"Nor me Miss Campbell, not unless you plan to kick me out."

"Are you kidding me Simon," I asked jokingly, "If I have my way you're both getting a pay raise. I need competent trustworthy people to watch Fitch manor. Oh and quit the Miss Campbell shit boys, the rest of the team either calls me Sarge, or plain old Naomi; I don't really mind, whatever you're more comfortable with."

Ok so it's a lie, I'd much prefer to be called Sarge again even though I know that I've got absolutely no claim on that rank anymore; but it really did feel good being called it by JJ, it's like a link to my past, a past that I'm still mourning the loss of.

"Ok Sarge."

"Sure thing Sarge."

They replied almost in sync. I couldn't help grinning as I pressed the button once more. "Great guys, now if you're done, will you both fuck off home and get some sleep. I'll see you both tomorrow afternoon before I leave ok? We'll have a quick team meeting, I need your opinions on how we're going to set up here to keep this place safe; you know, sort out the details of who's staying and who's going."

"Sarge, quick question; are you going to get rid of Kevin?"

"Why's that Simon, do you have a problem with him?"

"Kevin's his brother-in-law Sarge," Andy's voice interjected, "Simon got him the gig here a few months ago, poor boy feels a bit responsible for him."

I pondered this for a second, firing the useless wanker might cause me difficulties in keeping Simon. It was a tough call, Simon was good, he was solid and dependable. Kevin was the total opposite, an irresponsible, incompetent idiot who couldn't be trusted to defend the Fitch's if push came to shove.

I wanted to keep one and lose the other, but would I lose both if I pushed the matter or would I have to give up my principles and keep on the idiot, in order to keep hold of the genuine article?

Mentally I shrugged to myself and decided to test the waters; after all, you don't get paid the big bucks for only making the easy decisions.

"Would it be a problem if I was considering getting rid of him Simon?"

I left the question hanging, waiting to see what he would say. He left the question floating out there for a while as well, building up the tension before there was a click on the radio and his voice came over the earpiece.

"Not from me Sarge, to be perfectly truthful I can't stand the fat little shite; I only got him the job because I felt sorry for him. He treats Debby, that's my sister, well he treats her like crap as well, so go for it; do what you need to do. Perhaps Debby will do us all a favour, come to her senses and fucking leave him."

"Well, we'll talk about it all tomorrow," I told them, relieved that I'm made the right choice. "The three of us will sit down and make some decisions and I'll take it to my boss for the final call. If there's anyone else that you know, and would personally recommend for this gig, please bring me some details tomorrow ok? Just in case we need more bodies. Now if we're all done with talking, would you do me the honour of getting the hell away from here, going home and getting some sleep. Nice work boys, good night. Campbell out."

I listened to their goodnights before pulling the earpiece out of my ear and rubbing at the itching, sweating skin furiously. It doesn't matter how posh those things are they still leave you rubbing and scratching the area when you take them out. I'm pretty sure that my ear would be irritating me for the rest of the night; it usually fucking does. Muttering to myself about inferior, foreign plastics I went about making sure that everything in the control room was definitely on automatic, and that all the recordings were still working after I'd had my little play. Finally satisfied, I padded softly along the corridor to find the Fitch's manservant, Andrew, stood by the main entrance fiddling in a cupboard.

"Ah Miss Campbell, I was about to turn on the alarm for the night. I assume that meets with the new Head of Security's approval?"

"It's ok with me Andrew, I was just coming to find you because Andy said you were about to lock up. Anything I need to know?"

"No madam, everything is fine, the house is secure; I've checked all the main doors and side doors myself and your team have just finished checking the outside."

"Great, thank you Andrew it's nice to know you've got things under control; I'll be off to bed then, can I ask you one final question though?"

"Indeed madam."

"Where would I find my room again?"

o+o+o

The man in the penguin suit showed me back up the stairs and along the wide corridor to my room. After carefully locking the door behind me I glanced at my phone as I plugged it into the charger. One thirty five in the morning blinked back at me; Jesus, no wonder I was feeling tired, that had been one hell of a long day. I was glad that I'd managed to grab a nap on the chopper on the way here, otherwise I think I'd be seriously running on empty; more so even than I am right now, and right now that bed looks like heaven.

I pulled the rest of my stuff out of my bag before I crashed out; my military background taking over as I laid out my casual clothes for the next day and sorted out my gym kit and my swimming gear ready for my morning exercises. I nipped into the bathroom and removed what was left of my makeup and brushed my teeth before heading back into the main room and slipping off my jacket, placing it on its hanger and putting it away.

It wasn't until I unclipped the radio unit that I remembered my promise to Jenna Fitch to look in on Emily and make sure she was secure. Carefully I opened the connecting door to Emily's room as silently as I could; letting out a silent prayer of thanks that it was still unlocked from when she had snuck into my room to leave me the dress that still hung from the silver, heart shaped, hook. Slipping off my shoes I entered her room and quietly padded across the thick carpet.

Emily Fitch looked like something from a painting as she lay in that huge bed; the light from the doorway to my room reflecting off the white walls, creating a soft shading that lit up her sleeping features perfectly. She looked beautiful lying there, hair draped over the pillows in a dark cascade. The illusion was shattered as I got closer to her, because on closer inspection I could tell that she'd been crying again; her face was streaked with dark lines, her pillows coloured with the remnants of her makeup that had run. I resisted the urge to go over and kiss her awake; to wipe away the tracks of her tears, take her in my arms and tell her that everything would be ok. I resisted it because that's not me, I don't do that kind of thing. I'm hard and practical and it's as simple as that.

I don't do emotions, I don't get attached…not any more.

I walked over to the large solid door and put my hand on the huge brass key that stuck out of the lock. Slowly I turned it, easing across the bolt; making sure that this room was secure before walking back to my own. I'd barely gotten three steps when a tired voice called out to the room.

"Who's there?"

"It's only me Miss Fitch, Naomi. I'm just locking up that's all," I added quickly, in case she thought I was trying to slip into her bed or something. "Making sure you're safe."

"Nomi? Is everything ok?" she sounds shattered poor thing and I feel really guilty that I've woke her up. Time for Naomi Campbell, stealth specialist, to make like a fucking ninja and get out of here. Slowly I crept across the carpet, my feet making barely a whisper as I moved, hoping that she'd fall back to sleep again.

"Nomi?"

'No such fucking luck eh?'

"Everything's fine Miss Fitch, go back to sleep."

"Emily," she slurred confusing me for a second as I wondered who the fuck she was talking to, "you said you'd call me Emily."

"Go back to sleep Emily, " I ordered her, holding back a stupid grin. "Goodnight."

"G'night Nomi, sleep well…" she said as I pulled the internal doors to. I listened at the opening for a second, straining until I heard her breathing even out and become more regular before it turned back into the soft snores she'd been making as I entered.

Finally satisfied that all was well, I finished getting undressed, climbed into that large and comfortable bed and turned out the light.

.

.

.

A/N What? What did you expect, shagging?

Really people, this isn't that kind of story, not yet, not for a long time, perhaps not ever...but that's for me to know and for you to, eventually, find out.

Until next time, damn it feels good to have all these draft chapters in the can ready..now if only I could stop playing with them and moving things backwards to annoy Hawke...(joking) 2 chapters to go mate, I think you might get what you want in Chapter 23 - Twin Dragons (-;

Ares you'll have to wait until next time to see if you'll need tissues for those tears d-: