We do not own Eastenders, Ashes to Ashes or Waterloo Road

Chapter 29

Rowan finished her shopping and stood leaning against the building and smoked a cigarette while she waited for Charlie to return. She shifted the shopping cart next to her and propped her foot on the rack on the bottom. She squeaked in shock as a hand closed tightly around her upper arm and she was pulled to the alleyway by the store.

Strong arms slammed her against the wall and she looked up into Brian's furious face.

"So, bitch, been telling lies about me I hear," he snarled and slapped her.

"Brian, leave me alone. Someone's going to be here to pick me up in a minute."

"No, he won't. There's a minor accident just down the way, don't count on that old fool to rescue you. Now I suggest you talk," he pressed her against the wall and rammed his knee between her legs. "Now tell me the truth, did you tell that snotty flatmate of yours?"

Tears leaked from Rowan's eyes as she furiously shook her head. "No."

"She walked into the bathroom and saw the bite and some of the bruises. I didn't say anything I swear," she sobbed.

He pulled his hand back and twisted it into her hair and pulled her head back.

"I'm not sure I can believe you," he said and then heard loud voices coming in their direction. He shoved her hard against the wall and took off.

Rowan stood and gasped for air. She peered around the corner. The voices were a group of kids and they were crossing the street. Rowan thanked the Goddess Brian hadn't thought to look. She jumped out of the alley and moved herself and the cart closer to the door and hurriedly wiped her face. She hoped Charlie hurried.

Rowan felt relief fill her as Charlie's cab pulled up. He didn't notice anything amiss as he helped her load her bags into the cab. She climbed in and spent the ride back to the café making sure she was well composed. She would have to check but she didn't think there were any bruises though she would have to make excuses to Chris. She didn't think she was up for any antics that evening.

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Ray shook his head at her turned back, amused. He made sure he was presentable and proceeded to follow her outside.

Ray pulled the door shut behind him as he left the flat and walked next to her down the street.

Ronnie hugged him outside the pub, she'd stopped really caring who saw anymore and then patted his bum as she moved to the doors to go inside.

She went behind the bar and immediately got to work, saying nothing to Roxy.

Roxy looked up as Ronnie joined her behind the bar. She smiled at the company but frowned when Ronnie blanked her.

"Ron? What's wrong?"

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Alex finished her tuna melt and looked at the fair sized pile of chips spread over her plate. "When is this party then?" she questioned realising she had neglected to look at that particular part of the invitation and had skipped straight to the more personal stuff, glancing briefly at the subject.

"Next Friday I'd guess, since I don't have a calendar in front of me," Gene replied as he finished his lunch.

Alex nodded. Nearly 2 whole weeks until she had the prospect of seeing her daughter. She sighed and demolished the remaining chips on her plate. She hoped that the day of the Drakes' party would hurry up and arrive.

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Ray chuckled as she left him. It seemed she had got over her aversion to being seen with him in public. He was glad.

Ray made his way over to the cafe and spotted DI Drake and the Guv inside. He swallowed, slightly nervous. He was well aware he had been missing for longer than was strictly allowed.

Ray walked inside and ordered what he wanted from Bianca.

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Gene patted her hand. "It'll be here sooner than you think," he said quietly.

Gene looked up and saw Ray come in the café and walked over to him, taking his and Alex's empty plates with him to cover.

He handed Ray a piece of paper with Pete's flat address on it.

"Give this to Shaz when you get back from lunch. See if she can get the forwarding order on it. It's important," Gene told him in a low tone so that Alex wouldn't here. Gene thought it might be best if Alex wanted to talk to Molly about possibly being with her mother again, it would be best if it was not in a party situation in case somebody caused a scene. Gene didn't know Molly's father, but from what little he'd gleaned from Alex, the man might cause a scene. He handed Bianca the plates and paid the bill.

"We'll have a meeting when you and Chris get back to go over anything important you found at Glenda's. I'm sure Shaz will have turned up something by then. Don't take too long," he walked back over to Alex.

"Ready?" he asked her.

"See ya back there mate," Chris said to Ray as he passed him on his way out back to work. He shoved his hands in his pockets and mulled over the multitude of questions the woman Rowan affectionately called "Gem" was asking. Some he felt were a bit too personal and wasn't sure he wanted to answer them. He sighed.

Alex had watched Gene talking to Ray with curiosity. She knew better than to go over and eavesdrop on their conversation. No doubt Gene would tell her later. If he didn't then she would interrogate him and get answers that way instead. She stood up when Gene asked if she was ready and walked out of the cafe with him. She smiled at Ray as she left. "Back to work then."

Ray looked at the address he had been given. He didn't recognize it as such. Was this their private project? What did it entail? He sighed and took his order from Bianca and went to eat it.

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Ronnie looked at Roxy, her eyes large and innocent. She blinked once slowly.

"Why, what could possibly be wrong?" she asked Roxy in reply, her tone sweet but icy.

Roxy scowled. She hated it when Ronnie got like this. It was so bloody frustrating.

"Oh I dunno! Maybe because you haven't spoken properly to me since Danny was banged up!" she said. She tried to keep her tone steady, but was having a hard time refraining from shouting.

"Can you blame me? Roxy, did you even hear what he said to me? Did you? You've thought of no one but yourself since he was carted away while I have had to try and deal with the fact that mum knew everything and left me there. She left me Roxy, with a father who raped me. She knew and she left. How exactly am I supposed to feel, you selfish cow?" Ronnie hissed in reply. She was not about to shout.

"So your money is gone, Rox. So what?" Ronnie went on in a low tone. "The way you were going you'd have pissed it away soon enough. You still have two businesses, although one you almost drove into the ground due to poor employment choices. I think Alyssa can probably save it if you leave her to it. So don't expect any sympathy from me about what happened to you. Not when I have to deal with nightmares every night because of what happened to me. And you never cared. Now someone else backs up what I said and nothing. No apologies, nothing. I have medical proof too. Remember I had to go to the doctor about that ear infection I'd had? Well, the doctor saw what dear old dad did to me. And he wrote it all down. I've got the medical records to prove it. That's how mum found out. The doctor told her. And that's why she left. She left me to cope on my own," Ronnie scrubbed away a tear. "So no, don't expect anything from me Roxy."

She turned her back on her sister and began to rummage in the cooler to see what needed restocking.

Roxy stood there. Dumbfounded. She hadn't known the torment her sister was obviously feeling. In truth she hadn't given it a thought. She had been, and still was, far too wrapped up in her own problems and misery. Now she thought about it Ronnie had nothing. Roxy had the pub and the salon. What did Ronnie have? A tiny flat and a bar job.

The guilt finally washed over Roxy as the magnitude of difference between their situations hit her. Their lives were so different, yet had started out so similar. Ronnie had every right to be pissed off with her. Roxy was ashamed of herself and her behaviour.

"Ronnie. I'm sorry," she whispered feebly knowing that she sounded pathetic and that it was too late.

She wanted to hold her sister close and comfort her and tell her everything would be okay. But she couldn't. She couldn't bring herself to do it. Not after the hateful way she had acted recently. Besides, Ronnie probably wanted nothing to do with her. And who could blame her.

Roxy turned away from her sister and walked into the cellar.

Ronnie stood there, her mouth agape at Roxy having actually apologized. She would not go after her. That would be like admitting she'd done something wrong, and she hadn't. She told Roxy the truth and she was not about to apologize for that. She set herself to washing up the glasses, a lot had piled up while she was gone.

She wondered why Roxy hadn't hugged her though. That was unlike her.

Roxy sat on one of the unused barrels if beer and thought quietly. She mentally kicked herself for being so wrapped up in her own little world to even notice the emotional turmoil that Danny's words had had on Ronnie. She was just glad that Ronnie had Ray. A shoulder to cry on and someone to be there for her.

She thought about going back upstairs. She knew her sister well enough to know that there was no way the Ronnie would follow her down.

Ronnie carefully dried and put away the glasses. Roxy still hadn't come back up yet. Ronnie sighed and began to wipe the bar. She wished Roxy would come back up. She hadn't eaten yet and with her gone she couldn't go get anything to eat. Then she had an idea. She pulled out her phone and sent off a quick text to Rowan, begging for food.

Roxy sighed. It was unfair to leave Ronnie upstairs all alone to tend to the customers. The niggle in the back of her mind reminded her that Ronnie had left her during one of the busiest parts of the day, but she pushed the thought away.

She traipsed back upstairs and started serving again. She sneaked a glance at Ronnie.

Ronnie noticed Roxy come back upstairs but at the moment was more concerned with Rowan's reply.

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Gene knew Alex would no doubt ask him what he was talking about with Ray. Fortunately, he'd kept the important part quick and quiet and spoke about the meeting and the Glenda situation a bit louder. With luck, she would suspect nothing.

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Rowan got back to the cafe and Charlie kindly helped Rowan bring in her bags. She noticed Ray sitting by himself eating. He must have got a late start on lunch. She began to rummage through the bags and put stuff away. Bianca came over to help then offered to stay and help with the dinner prep.

Rowan smiled.

"I've just got to use the bathroom a minute, be right back."

Ray looked up at Rowan as she came in. He smiled at her and then continued with his food. He watched her go to the bathroom. His concern arose slightly when she didn't reappear. He chewed submissively and waited.

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She hurriedly went inside and locked the door and began to look for any new bruising. He'd slammed her pretty hard against the wall. She breathed a sigh of relief and then leaned on the sink and began to quietly sob.

Rowan heaved a great breath and calmed herself. She looked up in the mirror and was glad once again that she was never one for wearing makeup. She scrubbed her face with cold water to erase the signs of her crying and took another calming breath. She walked out of the bathroom, keeping her face slightly averted from anyone still in the cafe. She pretended to scratch her forehead as she passed Bianca at the counter and went about pulling things together for dinner that night.

Ray finished his food and took the plate back up to Rowan. He looked her over carefully. She seemed to be okay. If a little flushed.

"Hey, Rowan," he said brightly to her.

Rowan turned at Ray's voice and smiled. "Hi, Ray," she said and took his plate.

"Was your lunch okay?" she asked.

She still felt awkward around him, but he had spoken to her and he had let her cry all over him after all and had told her she wasn't a freak. She could make conversation though she had to fight not to blush. She was sure Alyssa would tease her about it. But Rowan had never been one to show herself off in that way, she was far too reserved.

"I'm going to be having something new tomorrow for breakfast," she said brightly. "You'll have to stop in and try it."

Ray nodded.

"Lunch was great. And no doubt I'll be in for breakfast tomorrow morning before work" he informed her.

He started to head out. She was rambling a bit, but she didn't seem out of sorts.

"I'll see you later then," he waved at her as he left.

Rowan's fingers strayed to her bracelet but she yanked her hand away to wave goodbye to Ray. She sighed with relief. He hadn't noticed. Likely no one else would.

She heard her phone beeping and laughed out loud at Ronnie's piteous request for food.

She texted her back. "Will tuna melt and chips do you?"

Ronnie jumped when her phone went off and hurriedly read Rowan's reply. "Yes, please." she sent back and smiled as she shut the phone. She was starting to like this whole "having mates" thing.

Rowan put together a plate and told Bianca she'd be right back.

She took it in and handed it to Ronnie.

"Oh, thanks Rowan, I didn't have much time to eat today," she said as she eyed the food greedily.

"I'll bet," Rowan deadpanned and Ronnie looked up and blushed. "Ray was just having lunch in the cafe. He seemed a bit starved." She grinned and held out her hand. Ronnie paid her.

"Just bring the plate by whenever you can," Rowan said. Ronnie nodded, her mouth full of sandwich. She quickly swallowed the food.

"You're the best Rowan, thanks."

"Anything for a friend," Rowan said warmly and patted Ronnie's arm. She turned and left the pub and headed back to the cafe.

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Ray entered the station and went straight to Shaz's office. He poked his head around the door and watched her work for a moment before clearing his throat to alert her to his presence before he walked inside. He stood in front of her desk and dug in his pocket for the piece of paper that Gene had given him.

"Shaz, Guv wants you to get the forwarding order on it. It's important" He told her as he handed her the scrap of paper.

Shaz took the paper from him and glanced down at it. An address. She looked back up at Ray and nodded.

"I'll get it straight to him when I'm done," she told him and busied herself with the new task as Ray left her office.

Chris saw Ray come back in and waved.

"Time for the meeting, you ready?"

Ray nodded and followed Chris back to the Guv's office and took his usual seat.

Shaz smiled triumphantly when she got forwarding order and took it with her to the meeting. Under her arm she carried the information she had gathered on Glenda. she was so close to finding her now, one more move from Glenda and Shaz would have her. She couldn't wait to see her behind bars. She smiled happily at everyone as she entered the office and sat down next to Ray, placing her folders onto her lap.

Gene looked up from his conversation with Alex as the team filed in. He stood.

"Right," he stepped in front of Shaz and gestured her to hand him the folders.

"First, I want to make an announcement. DI Drake and I have discussed this and we are both agreed that it is a good idea. Chris you are now promoted to DS effective immediately. He reached over and shook Chris' hand.

"Wow, thanks Guv, Ma'am," Chris breathed.

"Now, Shaz, Glenda status," Gene said.

Shaz handed him the folders in her arms and beamed at Chris.

"Congratulations," she told him.

Shaz turned back and faced Gene.

"I'm nearly there Guv, she's being careless, all I need is one more slip up and we've got her."

She smiled at the rest of them proud of her work.

Ray clapped Chris on the back at the news of his promotion and grinned at him happily.

Alex smiled at Chris' obvious delight and surprise and nodded at his thanks, not willing to interrupt Shaz's news.

"Good," Gene said. "Where have you narrowed her down to?"

Chris smiled at their congratulations. He couldn't believe he'd finally been promoted. Wait till he told Rowan.

"Somewhere in Brazil," Shaz shrugged.

When people ran it seemed they always chose somewhere hot so the lower hemisphere seemed a logical first place to check in her mind.

Ray listened intently to the questions being fired at Shaz and all the information she had gathered. No doubt if you wanted to find someone then Shaz was the person to go to.

Gene frowned.

"Probably Rio," he mused. "They always seem to run to Rio."

He sighed.

Shaz nodded, the same thought had crossed her mind.

Rio De Janeiro was a typical refuge point. Difficult to locate a person there.

Alex crossed her ankles and swung her legs slightly. She was excited about getting Molly back but tried not to let the prospect cloud her mind. She had to concentrate on the Glenda case too.

"Right then, pub," Gene announced. He put the folder Shaz had given him down long enough to shrug on his coat and then stuffed it in his inside pocket. He'd share it with Alex later.

Alex followed Gene out of the station and walked beside him as they made their way to the pub.

Chris checked his watch. He had time for at least one pint before taking Rowan to dinner. He turned to Ray.

"I'm taking Rowan out to dinner tonight, now we'll have a reason to celebrate," he grinned.

Ray looked at Chris. "That's great mate, I reckon she'll be really pleased for you," he grinned back.

He was happy Chris had got promoted. Since Ray had been made DI it didn't seem right that Chris was still stuck as DC. Now he was DS, they were on more even footing again, that will have knocked Shaz down a peg or two aswell. She wasn't allowed to boss Chris around anymore seeing as he was now her senior once more.

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Roxy half-watched Ronnie and Rowan, she was reminded of how her and her sister used to behave towards each other. Especially when they lived in Ibiza. Those times were good, better times between them. She sighed and watched Rowan leave. She didn't like the woman, mostly because the little woman didn't seem to like her, so Roxy simply returned the favour. She heard the comment about Ray, that would make sense if Ronnie hadn't eaten. She had never seen Ronnie like this with a bloke, she'd been happy when she had seemed to be in love, but never like this. She sighed.

"Ronnie, I'm going to check on Amy," she said as she made her way to the staircase.

Ronnie nodded at her sister's comment, her mouth full of food. She put the sandwich down and went to serve a couple of people who came in. She wondered idly if Ray would let her cuff him and stifled a giggle.

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Roxy sat upstairs in Amy's room and allowed thoughts to fill her mind. She shook them away and looked at her child, only for the them to come flooding back a moment later.

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Ronnie finished off her food in between serving people. Roxy was acting really strange. At least she hadn't accused Ronnie of lying again about what their father had done. She wondered if Roxy had even registered what had been said again. Sometimes she seemed to filter things out. She shrugged to herself and went about working.

Roxy came back downstairs. Amy's snuffling breathing had calmed her and cleared her head as she had hoped it would. She looked at Ronnie and felt guilty again.

"Ronnie?" she asked.

"I really am sorry about the way I've behaved."

Ronnie turned to look at her sister.

"Do you believe me now?" she asked Roxy softly.

Roxy nodded clearly and took Ronnie's hand.

"Ron, I really am sorry, for everything."

Ronnie grabbed Roxy into a hug.

"It's about time. We're family, we're supposed to stick together," she sniffed as tears began to spill from her eyes. "I forgive you, you're my sister. I love you."

Roxy wrapped her arms around Ronnie in return and felt the tears she didn't know she had been holding in, leak from her eyes.

"I love you too, Ron," she sniffed back.

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Rowan took a break from prep to sit down and read Gem's letter properly. She laughed at some of the questions the woman asked about Chris. He was going to have quite a time with this. She stroked the paper and wished yet again Gem would get a telephone. Rowan found herself wanting to hear her voice.

Rowan hustled from the cafe at 4:00. She wanted to get home before Chris and sort herself out. At least Ray hadn't noticed that she'd been crying or was upset which meant he would say nothing to Chris. She didn't want another scene like at the cafe and really, Brian hadn't managed much. She increased her pace, keeping an eye out around her.

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Jack texted Alyssa that he would be done in less than an hour and would text her again when he was actually finished, but he missed her and decided to text sooner.

Alyssa looked down at her phone. She only had a few invoices left to do then she wanted to tidy the stack of paperwork she had completed.

She smiled at the text and resolved to be finished by the time she arrived.

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Rowan got home and hurriedly took a shower. She snuck into Alyssa's room and checked herself over in Alyssa's full length mirror. There was a small scrape from the wall on her arm but otherwise nothing obvious. She went to her room and dug through her clothes to find something to wear out.

She ransacked everything in frustration. She pulled out her black and gray dress. It was long enough she was willing wear it without leggings, maybe her heeled boots would work as well. She pulled out a tight black tank top she had and put it on underneath the dress so she could leave the top of the dress partially unbuttoned. She checked the effect. It would do. She quickly texted Alyssa to ask if she could borrow her wide black belt.

She rummaged and pulled out her only pair of tights and pulled them on carefully. There, that would have to do. She pulled out what little makeup she possessed and, attempting to remember what Alyssa had done, she fixed her face. Then she looked at her hair and sighed. She brushed it out various ways and finally called it good. She had no skill with curling irons and didn't want to put it up. She always wore it up. She shrugged at her reflection. It would do.

Alyssa looked down at her phone as it went off again, she saw the text from Rowan and smiled she texted back that Rowan could and she didn't mind, then looked at the diminishing pile of work before her.

Rowan went into Alyssa's room and got the belt. She fussed with the open top of the dress, folding it under so it looked a bit more natural. She stood in the full length mirror and took a picture and sent it to Alyssa to get her opinion.

Chris quickly texted Rowan to meet him at the pub when she was ready, he had some good news he wanted to share.

Rowan read the text and sent back "okay" in response. She gnawed her lip and looked at herself in the mirror and sighed.

Alyssa picked up her phone and studied the picture. Rowan was wearing make up. She smiled. She bit her lip and nodded. She fired off a text.

"U look gorgy :) Jewelry?"

"THX. *blush* Just the bracelet. Chris says he has good news, wonder wot's up. Off out-pub-then dinner" She sent back.

Alyssa smiled at Rowan's text. And sent a quick one back.

"Have fun."

She shut off her phone and put it on the counter ready for Jack's text. She smiled at the neat pile of completed paperwork and began to file it away.

Jack hurriedly went to his car when he was done for the day. He pulled out his phone and texted Alyssa he was on his way.

Rowan put her words to actions and headed for the pub, twining and un-twining her fingers as she went. She quickly lit up and smoked while she walked and kept watch for Brian.

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Ronnie finally released her sister from her death grip of a hug and patted her cheek.

"I hope they find mum soon," Ronnie told her sister. "I have some questions I want answered and Ray might have to hold me back if I don't like them," she added.

Roxy nodded.

"Your questions will no doubt be more emotional than mine. I want to know stuff too. I'll be there for you Ron," she told her sister.

She patted her wrist and wiped her tears away.

"Come on then. Customers an all!" she exclaimed.

"Thanks, Rox," Ronnie said. "Yea, let's get to it."

She saw Gene and Alex walking in and waved cheerily at Alex. She saw Ray behind them and swallowed hard. How did she manage to miss him so much over such a short period of time? Pathetic, she chuckled to herself and hurriedly began to assemble the drinks she knew they would order.

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Brian was nearly done with his shift. He pulled out his cell phone and called Roxy. He'd spotted a nice looking little restaurant he wanted to take her to.

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Max wandered into the pub and noticed Gene and his team were there. He immediately went up to the bar and handed Ronnie the money for their drinks. Gene glanced at him in surprise.

"I owe you a lot more than that, Mr. Hunt," Max told him, his voice thick with emotion. "You cleared my son's name. How do I repay that?"

Gene clapped a hand on Max's shoulder.

"It's my job Branning. But ta very much for the drinks all the same," he smiled. "You find Bradley yet or do you need some help? Shazzer over there could find a needle in a haystack and then some," he said as he gestured at her.

"Thanks," Max said. "I'll keep that in mind. Anything I can ever do for you let me know."

He reached over to shake Alex's hand and then Chris and Ray. He then got himself a whiskey and went to sit down.

Roxy smiled at the wistful look on Ronnie's face as Ray walked in. She left Ronnie to fix their beverages and went to get a glass of rum for Patrick.

Ray grinned at Ronnie as she got them their drinks without even asking what they wanted. He took them off the bar and handed them around to their intended recipients. He went and took his pint and leant against the bar close to Ronnie.

Alex smiled as Max shook her hand and took her wine off Ray with a word of thanks to Ronnie.

Ronnie smiled at Alex and gave Max his change then leaned on the bar. She slid her hand over and tapped Ray's finger.

"Roxy apologized," she told him softly so Roxy wouldn't hear and smiled.

Ray looked up at her and grinned.

"That's great news Ron. You've made up then I take it?" he asked.

After his 'mistakes' so far in their relationship he had learnt that Ronnie could hold a grudge. He had also learnt that she could blow things completely out of proportion when the mood took her. He wondered what on earth had possessed him to fall in love with this barmy woman but worked it out when he looked back up at her face. He didn't need a reason. He loved her. Pure and simple.

"Yes, it's good to have my sister back. After what Danny said, she believes me now and supports me. Shame it had to happen like that, but it's about time."

She reached out and hooked his fingers with hers.

Ray smiled back at her and twisted his hand over so that he was holding her hand properly.

"Unfortunate circumstances, but every cloud has a silver lining right?" he said as he took a large gulp of his pint.

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Rowan walked into the pub and spotted Chris at the bar. She took a deep breath and walked over to him and tapped him on the shoulder. He turned and smiled delightedly when he saw her.

"Look at you gorgeous," he said to her and kissed her. She blushed.

"Thanks. After ransacking my wardrobe for dinner I realize I have nothing that isn't 'serviceable' or 'just comfortable'. I think I need to have Alyssa take me shopping," she laughed softly. She accepted the lemonade Ronnie handed her and gave her the money for it. She took a sip. "So, what's the big news?" she asked him.

"I got promoted to Detective Sergeant," he told her excitedly.

"Oh, acuisle, that's brilliant," she said and hugged him.

Chris looked at her. "What does that mean?" he asked you. "You did say you would explain later," he added.

Rowan grinned. "Acuisle mo chroi, it's Irish, it means 'pulse of my heart'," she told him and wrapped him in a hug. "Now, where are you taking me for dinner? But if you say the café, I might have to slap you," she teased.

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Alyssa looked around as her phone beeped, signaling an incoming text. She smiled guessing it was from Jack after a glance at the clock. She placed the folder in it's place and picked up her phone.

"At salon. X Lyss" she sent back.

She twisted around and assuming it wouldn't be long until he arrived, began to hurriedly put away all of the folders she had left on the counter, filing paperwork as she went.

Jack pulled up outside the salon and gave the horn a quick beep to let her know he was outside, then he got out of the car and waited by the door.

Alyssa looked up as she heard the car horn go. She smiled as she glanced out the window and saw Jack. She put away the remaining folders and grabbed her stuff. She waved goodbye to Amira, who was working on her last customer, and made her way outside.

She admired the sight of Jack resting against his car for a moment as she pushed open the door to the salon and walked towards him. She kissed his cheek.

"Afternoon," she smiled at him.

Hello, yourself," he said with a grin and then took her face in his hands and kissed her properly. He let her go, opened the car door and bowed as he gestured her to get in. He went around and got in.

"So, how was the first day and where am I taking you to celebrate?"

Alyssa sat down in the car and buckled her seatbelt. She turned and looked at him as he climbed in too.

"It was mainly paperwork and invoices. Chelsea was a bit hostile but that was to be expected," she shrugged.

She raised an eyebrow at his suggestion of a celebration.

"Jack, I merely switched jobs. We don't need to celebrate."

"But it's a better job; of course it calls for a celebration, and seeing you again after such a long day, also cause for celebration," he grinned and started the car. "Now, what does my lady desire?"

Alyssa smiled at his words and picked her brains. She wasn't especially hungry. She stared out of the windscreen and drew ideas.

"Well, I'd quite like to go shopping but I'm not going to make you endure it, I can drag Alex, Rowan or Ronnie along later in the week. Besides, Rowan and Chris are out to dinner tonight" she told him as she leant back into the seat of the car.

"Well then shopping it is. Where to? I'll take you one place, then we go eat. I wouldn't want to create a girl shopping void."

Alyssa smiled at him and watched him as he drove. She reeled off directions as they went. She knew the route to her favorite shopping centre like the back of her hand.

Jack drove cheerfully along following Alyssa's directions. He rolled down the window as he smoked and told her to play whatever she wanted on the radio.

Alyssa fiddled with the radio stations until she found the one she wanted she tapped her foot along with the music as it blared out and filled the car.

Alyssa got out of the car once Jack had parked and walked to the pay and display machine to get a ticket. She came back and stuck it to the windscreen.

Jack smiled and then walked over and slung his arm around her shoulders.

"So, I assume this is lingerie you will be trying on asking for my opinion about," he asked cheekily.

Alyssa fitted her arm comfortably around his waist. She looked at him at his question.

"If you are very lucky" she replied beaming at his adorably cheeky look. She mulled over his question.

"I do need new underwear though" she added thoughtfully.

"Result," he said happily and gave her shoulders a squeeze. He leaned over and whispered in her ear. "Though mind you, I'm just as happy to see you out of it."

Alyssa laughed at him and then gazed up at him mischievously after he whispered in her ear.

"Really? Well we will have to see what we can do about that won't we" she told him as she lead him down the street.

"Mmmmm," was all he said and cleared his throat.

Alyssa smiled as she heard his habit of clearing his throat. She loved it. It told her how he was feeling. He still felt nervous around her. She leant into him slightly as they walked to reassure him.

He felt her lean against him a bit and tightened his arm around her shoulders.

"Where is this place?" he asked and looked around curiously.

Alyssa pointed to the shop she wanted to go to a little way ahead.

"That one there next to Boots," she explained as they drew nearer.

"I was beginning to think we were going to walk all night," he joked. "And what, apart from sexy lingerie will you be looking at?"

Alyssa looked at him.

"New jeans, probably shoes if I see any and I need a new mascara, mine's running out," she explained.

In her mind she had comprised a list of the shops she intended to go to and the order she wanted to visit them in.

He looked at her and cocked an eyebrow. "Exactly how many shops do you intend to visit?" he asked her, slightly alarmed.

Alyssa counted through them in her mind.

"Only 3, I have a pretty good idea about what I want and where to get it," she said.

This shopping trip was purposeful as she knew exactly what she wanted and which shops she would go to get her items. If she wasn't sure or was with a group of girls no doubt she would spend hours trailing around window shopping and impulse buying but she didn't think that Jack would appreciate that.

"Okay," he nodded gamely and followed her into the shop.

Alyssa let go of him and looked around for anything that caught her eye. She went delving through the racks picking up garments she liked the look of. She chewed her lip deliberating her choices then shrugged and grabbed Jack's hand as she headed to the changing rooms.

"Whoa," Jack said as she grabbed his hand and dragged him towards the changing rooms. He wondered if maybe she had something besides trying on lingerie on her mind.

Alyssa released him and carried the garments into a cubicle. She shut the door and picked one of the lacy pieces of material to try on first. She undressed and folded her clothes carefully before removing her underwear and trying it on. She glanced at herself in the mirror before deciding she wanted Jacks opinion. She unlatched the door and peeked around it.

Jack looked up as he heard the door creak open.

"Something wrong?" he asked her.

Alyssa smiled at him.

"I need your opinion," she told him, she vaguely heard her phone beep but ignored it for the moment.

She glanced briefly at the other people waiting for their partners or friends to finish changing and bit her lip.

"You're going to have to come in here though."

She didn't feel like sharing her half naked body with everyone in the changing rooms.

Jack grinned, glanced around, got up and joined her in the tiny room. He looked down at her and drew in his breath sharply. He hadn't thought she really would model lingerie for him. Oh, this woman was something else!

He put his hands on her shoulders and slid them down her arms.

"Well," he cleared his throat. "Of course you look fantastic." He shrugged and slid his hands to her back and drew her to him, pressing her tightly against him.

"If you had any doubt..." he trailed off and then pressed her against the back wall and kissed her. He moved his hands around and filled them with her breasts, caressing them softly.

He broke off the kiss and trailed his lips across her cheek and to her ear. "Oh, Lyss," he breathed. He slid one hand down her belly and beneath the frilly material of the tiny knickers she had shown him and began to stroke her. He captured her lips for another kiss, aware that he ached to be inside her.

Alyssa felt herself being pushed into the wall and found herself trapped between the cold wall and him, she felt herself weaken at his hands as they manipulated her body. She was very conscious of their surroundings and she broke the kiss to speak.

"Jack..." she breathed.

One hand held onto him whilst the other moved from his shoulder, down his front and found it's way past his belt and into his trousers. She felt his arousal and gasped.

"We...public...changing room..." she mumbled partially coherently, trying to make a sentence as she began to work him with her hand.

She kissed him again and wondered about security cameras. Rather perverted if there were security cameras watching the changing rooms in a lingerie shop. She thought this momentarily before Jack's kisses brought her back to earth.

Jack moaned into the kiss as he felt her hand on him. He responded by thrusting a finger inside her warm wetness as he teased and stroked her. Oh, god he wanted her and he knew she wanted him. He broke the kiss off again and moved to her ear.

"I need to be inside you, Alyssa," he breathed into her ear, he punctuated his request by thrusting a second finger into her.

Alyssa stifled a moan by kissing him again.

"Jack, it's a public place," she protested.

Her morals were severely compromised as she felt his fingers tease her. She wanted him. She knew it. But in a changing room? She panted for breath as she fought against herself. She was losing.

She gave into herself and him and moved her other hand down to undo his trousers.

"Jack," she breathed into his mouth.

"Lysss," he moaned as he felt her unfastening his trousers. He stroked her one final time and then wrapped his fingers around the scrap of lace and tore it off her. He grabbed her leg and raised it to his hip as his clothes dropped. He thrust wildly into her, unable to contain himself.

Alyssa gasped as he entered her and wrapped her leg around him securely. Her arms moved back up to his hair and her fingers found themselves running through his hair. She planted swift kisses on his neck and tried to be as quiet as possible.

Jack whispered her name in her ear over and over again as he moved frantically inside her. His hands clutched her hips as he thrust hard into her. He could think of nothing but the fusion of their flesh and the smell of her perfume filling his nostrils.

Alyssa clung to him tighter and moved to kiss him. She caught his lips. She was close. The risk of their current location made the whole experience more exciting. Only a few meters away there were people trying on lingerie. Alyssa moved her hips as much as her current position would allow, and met his thrusts as he made them.

Jack thrust hard one final time and felt himself explode within her. He broke off the kiss and panted for air as quietly as he could. He rested his head on her shoulder and pressed against her tightly. Their position didn't bother him at all. He remembered a drunken fumble in a restaurant toilet some years ago. He slid his hands up and behind her shoulders and held her tight.

Alyssa gasped for air and she felt him press her to him. She moved her arms so they were around waist instead of his neck and she pushed herself further into him.

"I cannot believe we did that," she whispered into his shoulder.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Brian frowned. Why wasn't Roxy answering? He put the phone down and parked the cab where it belonged. It looked like Max had already left. He dropped his money pouch through the mail slot and shoved his hands in his pockets to walk over to the pub.

Roxy saw Brian come inside and smiled happily at him. She got him his usual drink and placed it on the bar ready for him. Then hurried over the other end of the bar to serve another couple who had just entered her pub.

Brian gave Roxy a slow smile and a wink and sat down in front of his drink. He saw all the coppers were here again but no sign of Rowan. He huffed a sigh that he'd been interrupted earlier. She needed to be taught a lesson about lying.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

"Arghee Bhaji all right?" Chris asked Rowan. She nodded. "That's fine." She finished her drink and placed the empty glass on the bar. "I'm ready."

Chris put his empty pint glass down and took her arm.

"Later, mate," he said to Ray and waved at Ronnie.

"Thanks again, Guv," he said to Gene.

Gene nodded and patted Chris' shoulder then took another drink of his pint.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Ronnie nodded, a bit too choked to speak at that moment. She'd seen his eyes a moment ago and thought she knew what he'd been thinking and she felt herself go a bit weak. She gripped his hand tightly, glad Roxy was serving the people who had just come in so she wouldn't have to let go his hand.

Ray felt her grip on him tighten and he squeezed her hand in response. He wondered what had made her increase the pressure she was exerting on his hand and gave her a questioning look.

Ronnie brought her other hand to cover his and gazed into his eyes. She smiled and leaned close to him.

"Soooo, when do I get to cuff you?" she asked curiously and raised an eyebrow at him.

Ray nearly choked on his pint as he took another mouthful. He spluttered and looked at her slightly shocked. God, this woman was kinky. Yet he couldn't resist her and he was pretty sure that she knew it.

"What!" he asked her, shocked at her seemingly innocent question.

She blinked at him and smiled.

"You heard," she said. She grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him closer to her and pressed her cheek to his. "I want to cuff you and do whatever I want to you," she breathed in his ear.

Ray slowly licked her cheek as she spoke into his ear. He smirked at the words. He drew back slightly as her grip on his shirt loosened and he kissed her gently.

"Well, we will have to accommodate your desires then won't we," he replied casually as he drew away and took another gulp of his drink.

Ronnie rolled her eyes and wiped her cheek. She grinned and propped her elbow on the bar and stuck her chin in her hand. She looked at him steadily.

"I don't think you'll be disappointed, DI Carling," she commented in a sultry tone.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Roxy placed the money in the till and scanned the bar for customers. Satisfied, she moved back over to Brian and beamed at him.

"You have got to pay for that you know," she told him indicating the pint held in his hand.

Brian grinned and handed her the money.

"One for yourself," he told her. "So, tonight?" he asked her.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

"You know most of those questions Gem is asking you are in the way of a test," she told Chris as he held her chair for her at the restaurant.

"Glad you told me," he said wryly. "Some of them are really personal and all. Not sure I want to share stuff like that."

"It's in the way of a personality test. She'll learn quite a lot about you from how you answer and she'll read the traces of your aura off the paper," she grinned at his discomfiture.

"Did she do that with Brian?" he asked.

"No," she answered shortly, nearly snapping. "I wasn't allowed to stay in touch with my kin during our time together."

"Sorry, love."

"Don't be. It's fine. I'm coping. I got back in touch when it was all over. I never said much of anything about what happened, though Gem probably suspected. I'm surprised she actually hasn't said anything. She can be quite pushy that way. She's waiting for me to come forward I reckon."

He took her hand and gave her a sympathetic smile.

Rowan thoroughly enjoyed having dinner out. She forgot how much she'd been cooking for others lately. Even her great passion for cooking had to dim sometimes.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Roxy placed his cash into the till and looked up at him.

"Tonight?" she questioned smiling at him. She turned and poured herself and drink then handed him his change, studying him as she took a careful sip of her drink.

"Well, you can stay over if you like," she suggested with a small shrug and placed her drink behind the bar as she went to serve the group of girls trying to get her attention.

Brian smiled as she walked away. He liked.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Max sat and had another drink, mulling things over in his head. Jack was proving to be tough to get hold of and not returning his calls. He sighed and glanced over at the woman Gene had pointed out. He had to start somewhere. He got up and carried his drink over to where she sat.

"So, Mr. Hunt says maybe you can help me find my son," he said to her quietly, "so I can tell him Archie's killer is in jail and he can come home now."

Shaz looked up.

"Mr. Branning right?" she asked him.

She was fairly sure that he was Max Branning but she needed to be sure.

Max nodded. "Max," he added and held out his hand. "I don't have much to go on. I think my brother Jack helped my son and his wife disappear but he's making himself scarce. I don't think he gets along with your DCI there," he nodded in Gene's direction. "I'm also not sure if the news that the real killer has been found wouldn't sound better coming from the police rather than me. That Marsden cocked things up enough as it was," he sighed and signalled for another drink. He looked at her glass. "Do you want another?"

Shaz nodded and handed him her empty glass.

"Half a lager, please."

She thought carefully as Max walked to the bar. Bradley Branning. Shouldn't be too hard compared to finding Glenda. And she was nearly finished with Glenda anyway. A new 'project' wouldn't hurt.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Ray gave Ronnie an amused look.

"I'm sure," he commented.

Ray drained the rest of his pint and slammed the glass down.

"Stick another one in there."

"Yes, sir," she said in that same tone and sashayed over to get him another pint.

"I'll have another and all if you're getting," Gene broke in, startling Ronnie so she nearly dropped the glass. She glanced at him and he gave her a wicked grin. She pulled Gene another pint as well and looked at Alex. "Another?" she asked. Alex nodded and turned to Gene.

Ray grinned at Ronnie's shock at Gene's sudden order.

"So what's in the folder?" Alex asked. She still wanted to know what he had said to Ray but planned on getting it out of him gently so that he didn't suspect.

Gene looked at her.

"A surprise, and if you're a very, very good girl Bolly, I just might share it with you," he answered smugly and handed Ronnie the money for his pint and Alex's wine.

Alex rolled her eyes. Frustrated. She sipped her wine and crossed her ankles as she thought.

"What does being a 'good girl' entail?" she asked.

"Well, it means you don't ask lots of questions for a start, woman," he replied and drained half his pint.

Alex huffed. If he thought she wasn't going to ask questions, then he was labouring under a false hope.

"So, what were you saying to Ray in the cafe earlier?"

"I was telling him about the meeting we were having when lunch was over. I wanted him to understand the need to hurry," he looked at her and frowned slightly. "Are you going to cross-examine me every time I talk to one of my team?"

He drained his pint and gestured for another.

Alex nodded simply.

"Yes, I am, when I think you're with holding information from me. I like to know what's going on Gene, it frustrates me to be kept in the dark," she explained to him.

She was fairly sure he already knew this information about her. They had worked and spent most evenings together for at least 3 years now.

"So, does that mean you want to go home now, then?" he asked her in a silky tone and slid his hand up her leg.

Alex narrowed her eyes at him.

"Possibly, but I'd rather know what's in the file and what else you said to Ray," she leaned closer to him and brushed her cheek against his as she moved to his ear.

"So stop trying to distract me."

"Well, I'm not telling you anything until we get home because this is not the right place," he growled back and ran a finger along her cheek.

He moved back, picked up his pint and drained it then looked at her expectantly.

Alex sighed and stared at him incredulously. She relented however, and followed his example by draining her glass too. She gave him a 'happy now!' look as she placed her empty glass down next to his and stood up.

He grinned and put his hand on her back as he walked with her out of the pub, sliding it down to her bum once they were outside. He opened the door to the Quattro for her and waited for her to get in.

Alex bit back a protest as he groped her arse and slid into the car, leaning out to grab the handle and pull the door shut. She folded her arms and waited for him to climb in beside her and take her home.

Gene climbed in and started the car.

"You are gonna love this," he promised her and sped off home.

Alex looked at him curiously but didn't question him as he drove. Once he stopped the car she spoke.

"Going to love what?

"I'll show you when we get home," he told her. "Trust the Gene Genie."

He pulled up in front of the flat and jumped out of the car and came around to open her door.

'Ever the gentleman,' she thought as he opened her door for her.

Alex stepped out of the car and pulled out her house keys. She walked to the front door leaving Gene to lock the car and let herself into the flat.

Gene followed her into the flat. He pulled the folder out of his pocket, slid off his coat and hung it up. He went into the kitchen and pulled out the leftover spaghetti and shoved it in the microwave to heat it up. He turned, leaned against the kitchen counter and held up the folder.

"Are you ready for your surprise?" he asked her.

Alex had been watching and waiting. At his question she walked towards him.

"Yes," she replied confidently.

Alex got close enough and grabbed for the folder in his hand.

Gene smiled.

"I think you'll find we can go whenever you like now. I'm not sure a party setting would have been a good idea in case something kicked off," he said to her and then went to dump the leftovers onto two plates while she looked at the single sheet of paper the folder contained. A single sheet of paper with Pete's current address on it.

Alex looked at the paper as she opened the folder and read it several times, memorizing it perfectly. She swallowed and looked up at him, eyes bright.

"Can we go now?" she demanded to know.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Ronnie giggled and took Ray his pint. She then did a circuit of the pub and picked up all the empty glasses. She had to do some work at least.

Ray drank from his glass and watched Ronnie absentmindedly as she went about her work. He was rather looking forward to this evening now that he was on a promise. Even if her idea was slightly kinky.

Ronnie could not wait till the night was over. The idea of total control over her lovely bit of rough! She couldn't believe he was going to actually let her handcuff him.

She glanced over at him and caught him looking at her. She winked.

Ray gulped at Ronnie's wink. Was this such a good idea? Mind you, she had let him do what he wanted to her without complaining. Surely he should return the favour. He felt a little uneasy.

Ronnie had to stifle a laugh at the look on Ray's face. Did she imagine he looked a bit scared? While she was sure he would let her have her way with him she was also sure that he could not be trusted to keep his hands to himself. She just hoped he didn't break the bed.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Max brought Shaz her drink and placed it on the table. He sat down.

"Is Bradley going to be in any sort of trouble? I mean, I know he's cleared of Archie's murder but he did run, although to be honest I don't think he wanted to. Jack had him and his wife both in a pretty bad panic," he told her.

Shaz took the drink and sipped it and then placed it in front of her on the table.

"He shouldn't be in any trouble. He did nothing wrong. DCI Marsden is sadly very bad at her job and has a record of convicting the wrong people for major crimes. As far as we are concerned, Bradley is in no trouble at all," she reassured him.

Max nodded. "Hope you're right."

"I'm hoping now that the big announcement about that Danny character was made, Bradley will come home on his own," he paused and took a sip of his drink. He fished into his suit coat pocket and handed her a piece of paper with numbers on it. "I have that. Jack gave it to me and I put it away. For all I know it's Bradley's phone number," he said with a shrug and he gave a slow smile.

Shaz took the paper, looked at it and then folded it neatly and pocketed it

"Thank you. Any information you have could be useful."

"I don't know if Jack will be of any help to you, as I said he's being elusive. He runs R&R though. He may talk to you, he may not. But I'm sure he knows more than he was willing to tell me," he drained his drink. He handed her a business card. "Call me when you know something?" he asked and smoothed his tie as he stood.

Shaz took the card from him and glanced at it briefly before placing it in the same pocket as the phone number he had given her.

"I'll be in touch."

Max nodded and left the pub. He was missing Alyssa and even the possibility of Bradley coming back wasn't keeping him as upbeat as it might.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Chris led Rowan to the pub when they'd finished dinner. He noticed Brian sitting at the bar so he led her to the other side of the pub where Shaz was sitting and sat Rowan down with her back to him. Rowan touched his hand in thanks and gave Shaz a small smile as Chris went to get their drinks.

Chris walked up next to Ray. "Alright mate? We're sitting over there if you want to sit with us," he told Ray and ordered his drinks from Ronnie.

Shaz smiled at Rowan as she sat down. She seemed to make Chris happy do Shaz had no objections to her.

"Hey, Rowan, how's things at the cafe?" she asked for want of something to say.

"Okay, I think, thank you," Rowan said to Shaz and put her large bag on the table and pulled the packet out and began going through it. "I've got some new recipes I'm going to try out tomorrow," she grinned excitedly and shoved her hair behind her ears. She wasn't used to wearing it down and since she'd not had time to get it cut it was down around her shoulders.

Ray picked up his pint and strode over to Rowan and Shaz. He briefly patted Rowan's shoulder as he passed by her to take the seat next to Shazza.

"Alright, ladies."

"Hi, Ray," Rowan smiled at him brightly. She grabbed a pen out of her bag and dropped her bag back on the floor and stuck the pen sideways in her mouth. She began to page through everything, setting the photos to one side and pulling out the occasional piece of paper and holding it aside with one hand while she sifted with the other. She glanced at Shaz again and took the pen from her mouth. "How is it being a DC?"

She glanced up as Chris came back with the drinks and gave her an exasperated look at the scatter of paper and pictures on the table. She gave him a pathetic look and a goofy smile and moved things out of his way.

Shaz watched what Rowan was doing curiously. She started slightly at the question then beamed.

"It's great, instead of doing everyone else's paperwork and constantly making ridiculously sweet cups of tea I get to track people we can't find. I love it," she replied enthusiastically.

Ray grinned at Shaz' outburst and took another sip.

"Not to mention bossing the rest of us around, Shazza," he added with a smile.

Shaz looked at him with narrowed eyes for a second, deciding whether he was taking the piss or not, his expression convinced her not, and she shrugged.

"I just passed on instructions is all," she replied nonchalantly.

Once Chris had put the drinks down, she shoved the photos out of her way and in his direction and placed the papers she wanted directly in front of her. She put her pen down and looked at Shaz, her expression slightly dreamy.

"It's so wonderful when you can do what you love," she said. "I was happy just to work in the café if they were willing to let me bring in some of my own ideas. But when Jane sold me the place," she paused, "I still can't quite believe it sometimes," she giggled and shoved her hair back again. She sighed. "I swear I am going to shave my head," she muttered and then laughed at the look on Chris' face.

"Not really," she placated him and put a hand on his arm. "It's just longer than I'm used to and I don't normally wear it like this."

She grabbed her bag up and delved through it and managed to find a hair tie. She shifted through the papers again.

"For example, Gem just sent me some recipes I asked for last time I wrote to her," she tapped the pages. "Next theme night, Mexican food," she grinned again and took a sip of her drink.

"Can I have more vodka in there?"

Chris rolled his eyes and went back to the bar.

/\\/\/\/\/\/\/\\\/\/\/\/\/\\/\/\/\

Ronnie smiled at Chris and fixed Rowan's drink.

"Chris, while you're here can I ask a favor?" Ronnie wanted to know.

"Sure, what do you need?"

"Can I borrow your handcuffs?"

He looked at her in surprise, his eyebrows nearly into his hairline. "What?"

"Please," she whispered. "I'll make sure you get them back first thing. I mean, I live downstairs you know," she reminded him.

"I guess," he said and fished them out of his inside jacket pocket, taking care no one could see. "You're lucky. Normally I leave them at the station, but I forgot."

"Why leave them there, Ray always has his," she wanted to know.

"Cause the first time I had them on me and they fell out of my pocket when I was at Rowan's place, she went completely mental. I don't know why but she was terrified of them and all. So I don't keep them on me when I'm off work."

He nodded at the cuffs. "Make sure I get them back."

She nodded and slid them into her pants pocket and slid Rowan's drink to him.

Shaz watched Rowan with interest. Her relationship with Chris was adorable and seemed stronger than her and Chris' relationship had ever been. Chris looked at her differently too she noticed. Shaz felt a smile creep across her face.

"So, Mexican night. I'll have to see if Alyssa wants to dress up in costume again," Rowan said excitedly then she paused. "Oh yea, that reminds me, that Careers Fair thing Jack asked us to go to is this week. I'm going," she looked from Chris to Ray.

Chris nodded. "Yea, I think the Guv will be all right with it. Only a couple hours after all," he shrugged.

Rowan looked at Shaz. "You should come too, as a woman on the police force, good role model," she said and took a careful sip of her drink. She glanced sideways at Chris again.

Rowan made a face and looked back at Shaz. "So?"

Chris began absently looking through the photos again, stacking them up into a neat pile before they ended up on the floor.

Shaz looked up. Careers Fair? If Ray AND Chris were going and she went along too that left DI Drake and the Guv to manage on their own. Mind you they were working on their own project at the moment.

Shaz nodded.

"If the Guv can spare all of us I don't see why not," she shrugged.

Ray watched Chris and Rowan with amusement. "Well I'm going. I already told Jack I would."

Rowan grinned and quickly texted Alyssa to let Jack know Shaz was going to the Careers Fair too.

She glanced at Chris before she bent to make some more notes on the recipes.

"You really love those pictures don't you?" she laughed.

"Yeah, it's interesting seeing someplace I've never been. See people who are close to you," he looked at her. She nudged him with her shoulder.

"Well they're all as loud and as rowdy as the other 'cept for Gem. And it's humid and there's mosquitoes this big," she told him, her accent thickening. She gestured the bug size with her hands and he looked at her in disbelief.

"Give over," he said to her.

"Not lying," she grinned. "Of course," she tapped one photo of a farm. "Gem's farm there has a really nice hayloft," she looked at Chris and raised her eyebrows and then laughed at his expression as he caught on to what she was suggesting.

Ronnie came over, ostensibly to check on everyone's drinks. In reality, she just wanted to be near Ray.

Rowan looked at Ronnie and noticed an odd shape in her pants pocket. Was that what she thought it was?

"Ronnie, why..." she began. Ronnie shot her a look and Rowan immediately stopped. She blinked twice and suddenly realized that they were in fact handcuffs in Ronnie's pocket and she had a good idea what Ronnie intended to do with them. "Why don't you sit down?" she asked, hoping she hadn't been silent too long.

"Sure," she said and sat down next to Ray. Rowan had to blink again and swallow. She really could not believe the amount of energy the pair generated. They could power a small town! She quickly took a drink.

"What's all this?" Ronnie asked and picked up a picture.

"Oh, got a package from back home," Rowan replied. "It's pictures of my kin and stuff like that. Keep me up with the local gossip," she shrugged and grinned. "Now that Gem says my sister," she tried not to choke over the word, "has moved away I might go back for a visit."

"Who's Gem?" Ronnie wanted to know. Rowan reached over to flit through the pictures when Chris held a picture out to Ronnie.

"Granny Emmeline," Rowan said. "Gem for short. She raised Momma when Momma's parents died when she was 10. She's not Blood but good as. She's one quarter Monacan Indian and tough as old boots. Got the business end of her switch more times than I like to think about. I remember once, she caught me smoking in the barn and laid into me," she chuckled. "I thought it was because she caught me smoking, but no, it was because I had the idiocy to do it in the barn. Could have burned it down."

"I didn't know you had a sister," Ronnie said curiously as she looked at the photos, absently passing them to Ray as she finished each one.

"I don't anymore. She disowned me, I wasn't her sort of people," Rowan said, her tone dark. She put a hand on the envelope that held her sister's wedding photo. She reluctantly pushed it across the table. "Her wedding picture is in there if you want to see it. Gem sent it to me so's I don't forget. As if I could," she finished quietly.

Ronnie slid the photo from the envelope and gasped, her eyes wide. "Wow," she breathed. She took in the clearly well-built woman Rowan said was her sister. She looked at the stunning face framed by a cloud of raven hair. She could see the resemblance though. But the eyes, there was something about the woman's big blue eyes that ruined the whole effect. She shook her head and looked at Rowan.

"I'm sorry. Roxy and I don't get along a lot of the time but she's my sister. Not sure I could live without her," Ronnie said softly.

Rowan nodded. "We got along once. Then, she grew up and she changed. She couldn't accept the family anymore."

Chris squeezed Rowan's hand and she squeezed his back. She gave them all a small smile.

"Sorry, didn't mean to go all maudlin on you there," she took a sip of her drink and made some more notes on the recipe.

Ray hadn't notice Rowan's pause and had slung his arm around Ronnie's shoulders as she sat down next to him. He listened with interest to the pieces of Rowan's past and looked curiously at the photographs that Ronnie picked up to look at.

He studied the wedding day one. There was definitely at resemblance between Rowan and her sister. She seemed pretty, but something about her wasn't quite right. It changed his perspective of the dark haired woman instantly.

He handed the photo back to Rowan and finished his pint. He smiled at the scattering of papers across the little table they were gathered around. He turned to look at Ronnie.

"What time does your shift finish?" he wanted to know how long he had until she had her wicked way with him. He would have to mentally prepare himself for that.

Shaz drained her lager and stood up. She eased her way out of the little group.

"Night guys. I'm off home" she smiled at the words as they came out of her mouth then moved to grin at her friends around her as she waved goodbye and went to leave the pub.

"Bye Shaz," Chris said.

"Have a good night," Rowan added. She noted the time and started gathering everything together to put it back in the packet.

Ronnie smiled at Shaz and turned to Ray. "I don't know. I'll have to ask Roxy what time I can leave."

She glanced over at her sister who was talking to Brian. She pulled out her phone and sent a text to her sister.

"What time am I done boss? LOL"