Chapter 37

A longer chapter, the confrontation is most likely next. I have another chapter that I have been toying with which might make the cut. The last chapter is written and will most likely be number 40. Just a few loose ends to tie up before we get there.

On the plus side I now I have two ideas. I think they will both be one chapter shots but at least one of them will return me to my smutty roots - assuming you guys are OK with that...

Jean was leaving the office later than she would have liked. Although it didn't really matter if she worked late, it's not like anyone was waiting at home for her. The melancholy thought almost made her turn back to her office. With a firm shake of her head, she scattered the contemplation. She might be going home alone but it was better than lingering in the office.

As she walked to her car her mind wandered to the state of her marriage. Richard was gone more than he was home these days. Even when he was home there was a distance between them. Somehow they had slowly grown apart. She didn't know how to fix the problem, she wasn't even sure if she wanted to.

"I would think a woman in your position would know better than to walk into a parking lot distracted."

It was only years of training that kept her from jumping. She recognized the voice instantly. An almost malicious smile crossed her face as she turned to the voice, "It's my police station. There are at least 15 people inside watching this on CCTV. It's the safest place in the world for me to be distracted."

Malcolm took one step toward her, a predatory look in his eye, "Does that mean if I get too close to you a team of heavily armed men will come out and restrain me?"

"They wouldn't have to, I am more than capable of restraining you all on my own."

A low laugh escaped him, thrilling her. "I think I would quite like being restrained by you Chief Super Innocent."

"Are you trying to flirt with me Mr. Tucker?"

He closed the distance between them standing only inches from her, "That depends Chief Super Innocent. Do you want me to flirt with you?" He watched the blush rise across her chest and neck, "Wouldn't my flirting with you violate all sorts of girlfriend rules, not to mention the sanctity of your marriage?"

"You assume I would flirt back."

He looked down at her, blue eyes locking on hazel eyes. "Not assuming Chief Super Innocent, you are flirting back." They stared at one another for a moment neither wanting to break eye contact. Malcolm smiled at the challenging look in her eyes, "I think you owe me dinner."

Jean rolled her eyes, "And how did you come to that conclusion?"

"I bought your £600 bottle of whiskey."

She shrugged, "It was the least you could do."

"The least I could do for what?"

Turning from him she opened the door to her car, "For the pleasure of my company."

He smiled to himself, it had been his pleasure. "Using that logic you should buy me dinner for the pleasure of my company."

She turned back to him, "What makes you think I need companionship?"

He motioned towards the building, "I saw the distracted look on your face when you came out. You were debating going back inside. Which means, that you don't have anyone waiting at home." He saw the hurt cross her face and instantly regretted his words, "Tell you what, you get to choose the place. You can pick somewhere commensurate with the value of the company."

She got into her car, closed the door and started the engine. Malcolm took a step back thinking he'd pushed too far. He was just about to turn away when her window rolled down, "Follow me, I know just the place."

As they sat on the bench overlooking the river he had to laugh, "A chip stand, that's all my company is worth?"

She smiled to herself as she popped a chip into her mouth, "Don't look at it based on how much it costs." He raised an eyebrow at her as he tucked into his own portion. "This is something I would never normally eat, too many calories, no nutritional value, it's messy. Already I'm calculating how long I will have to work out to counter the caloric intake. I'm wondering if the cleaners will be able to get a stain out of my dress."

Malcolm shook his head as he popped another chip into his mouth, "If it causes you so much anxiety then why eat it?"

She shrugged as she looked out at the water. "If I'm going to do one thing I shouldn't do, why not do two?"

They sat silently, eating their chips and watching the water move slowly past. Malcolm watched her from the corner of his eye. She didn't seem nervous about being with him at all. It was unnerving to him, she looked so much like her sister but now that he'd spent even this small amount of time with her he'd never mistake them again, "What's the other thing you aren't supposed to be doing?" She raised an eyebrow at him and continued eating her chips. "Have you been asked not to see me?"

"You give yourself too much credit."

He cocked his head to one side, "Perhaps, but I think not. If I weren't causing problems, I don't think your boy wonder would have tracked me down to day."

He watched her nod, "Yes, I heard about that. Considering that I spent most of my afternoon cleaning up after your encounter, perhaps I should have made you buy dinner."

Balling up the wrapper from his now finished chips he stood to throw it away, "You can't blame that on me. You shouldn't send a boy to do a woman's job."

"I wouldn't call James a boy."

He turned back to her, curious. "Is the young DIs attraction two-sided?"

She laughed, "No, it is not two-sided."

"But you admit he has a crush?"

She placed the chip wrapping on the bench beside her before daintily wiping her hands and mouth, "James does not have a crush on me." At his skeptical look she continued, "James has a thing for any woman in a position of power. There was a time that he was just a bit in love with Laura too." She smiled to herself as he looked away, "What? Does it bother you that he had feelings for Laura? You didn't seem to have any problems taking advantage earlier today?"

Shoving his hands in his pockets he hunched in on himself, "It's what I do. I find weaknesses and I exploit them."

"If James has a crush on me then why didn't you use it?"

"He wasn't there to talk about you. He was there to talk about Laura."

She shook her head, "But it's still a weakness, seems to me you would have taken advantage of any weakness."

He turned back to her and pointed at the chips, "Are you going to eat those?"

She shook her head and handed them to him, "Be my guest." She watched him pace, eating the chips in silence. Slowly, he calmed, his pacing slowed, his shoulders relaxed. "Why did you come to find me today?"

Looking out at the water he shrugged, "I don't know. I didn't want another room service meal and I hate eating alone in a restaurant. You seem like the only person who doesn't really hate me."

"What if I'd had plans? I am married you know."

He turned to her, "You were free to have drinks with me last night. Guess I hoped I'd get lucky two nights in a row."

She nodded, "To hear you complain about my choice of where to eat, do you feel like you got lucky?"

Malcolm finished the last chip, threw the wrapper away then sat beside her on the bench, "This might be the nicest night I've had in a long time."

Jean swallowed, surprised by his admission. She opened her mouth to respond and realized the same was true for her. Shaking her head she smiled, "If it helps, I feel the same way."

"What about Mr. Innocent?"

Jean leaned forward, placing her hands on the bench, "I don't really know."

He waited, wondering if she would add more to her statement. When she didn't fill the silence he placed his hand over hers, "Not knowing isn't all it's cracked up to be is it."

She twined their fingers together and looked back at him smiling sadly, "Spoken like a man with experience."

"She hasn't told you?"

Jean shook her head, "No."

"And you still support her?"

"Does any of it really matter? It's all water, long under. She's happy now. No matter what happened between the two of you, she found a way to be happy. Can't you give her that?"

He stood, pulling his hand free of hers. He felt her pull slightly on his hand. The instant her hand dropped he felt the emptiness, "Don't I get to be happy?"

Jean looked down at her hand. It was cooling quickly from where his skin had warmed it, "No one is stopping you from being happy." She stopped herself from leaning back at the look he gave her, "Except maybe yourself."

"I still love her." She nodded accepting the truth of his words. He came back to the bench, sitting heavily, a little closer to her this time. He leaned forward resting his arms on his legs, his hands raking through his hair, "I know I shouldn't but I still do."

Tentatively, she reached a hand to touch his shoulder. When he didn't pull away she slid her arm across his shoulders and pulled him against her, "I think we always stay a bit in love with our first loves." She squeezed his shoulder, "It doesn't mean it lasts forever or that it was meant to."

"Says the woman sitting on park bench with a man who isn't her husband."

Jean couldn't help but laugh, "Perhaps I'm not the best person to give this advice."

"Is he your first love?"

"And only." Jean paused, "Have there been others besides Laura?"

He leaned back into the bench and Jean followed, leaving her arm where it was, "Other women? Yes. Other loves? No. I'm in the 'and only' club too." Suddenly self-conscious Jean withdrew her arm. Malcolm took her hand and held it gently. When she didn't resist he laced their fingers together. "A fine pair we make."

She snorted at the unexpected comment, "Except we really aren't a pair are we?" At his raised eyebrow she continued, "I'm married. You're in love with my best friend and to some extent you practically ruined my twin sister's life. Everything about you is forbidden fruit."

His laughter was loud and genuine. It shook his body, "You do make me laugh Chief Super Jean Innocent."

"Jean."

He looked at her, his eyes darkening with something she wasn't quite sure of, "Jean."

Their eyes locked and she swallowed, "I should be getting home."

Malcolm wondered for a moment if he pulled her to him if she would allow it. Something in her eyes told him she would, "Let me walk you to your car." She nodded and they stood. He offered her his arm, which she took, and smiled mischievously, "I wouldn't want you to have to restrain anyone." He saw her smile out of the corner of his eye, "Unless you're offer from earlier is still on the table."

She nudged him slightly and tightened her grip on his arm. They walked in silence to their cars. Once there she turned to him, "Thanks for a lovely evening Malcolm."

Malcolm softly touched her cheek, tucking a wayward strand of hair behind her ear, "Thank you Jean, it's the most relaxing evening I've had in a long time." His fingers lingered on her cheek. He saw the look of indecision in her eyes and dropped his hand, "Call him. Tell him what you need."

She closed her eyes as she felt his hand fall away, "What if I don't know what I want?"

"I saw the look in your eyes just now, you know what you want. Don't be afraid to ask for it."

She opened her eyes and met his, "I could say the same to you. Stop playing games and ask for what you want."

He shrugged as he took a step back, "I think I already know the answer."

He turned and walked away from her, resignation in his step, "What happens if I ask and I don't get what I want?"

He looked over his shoulder and flashed her his best smile, "You know where I'm staying. I've got half a bottle left."

She turned back to her car not daring to watch him walk away. Digging through her purse she found her phone and pressed the 2 button to connect her with Richard's mobile. It rang once, "Jeannie, where are you? I've been worried sick."

"Why does it matter where I am? You're halfway around the world."

"I think if you check your phone you'll see that I'm not. I came home, we need to talk."

Her heart broke. Those four words struck fear in her heart, "I'll be home in fifteen minutes."

"Take your time all I want is you safe. I love you Jeannie."

She gasped. It had been so long since he'd said those words to her, "Why now Richard? I don't understand."

"Come home Jeannie, I'll tell you everything. But don't for a moment doubt I love you deeply."

Lights flashed in her window. She could see Malcolm in his car waiting on her. She waved that she was OK and started her car. Closing her eyes she took a deep breath and whispered a prayer for the mistake she didn't make, "Jeannie, are you there?"

Smiling she nodded, "Yes Richard, I'm on my way home and I love you too."

A/N I debated naming Jean's husband Richard. In my other stories she is always happily married and he is divine. This time I opted to stick with canon (somewhat) but I can't keep her away from Richard. So Richard it is and work from the assumption they are busily making up as you read this.