Author's note: Happy New Year everyone. :)
In the event, most of the photo captions were light-hearted and quite funny. Whoever had done them clearly liked James and the teasing was understated and very tongue in cheek. There was only one set with an edge to them; a set of six identical photos of James looking almost expressionless with sarcastic descriptions underneath them. Jean reacted immediately, redirecting James' attention to one of him asleep in his desk chair, saying,
'You must have been so uncomfortable. Didn't your back ache when you woke up.'
As she spoke, Jean put her hand on the small of James' back and rubbed gently. As she'd hoped, James' attention instantly left the photos and he involuntarily pushed back into her hand. He blushed and said,
'A bit.'
They made eye contact and Jean felt her pulse starting to race as she saw the desire in James' eyes. Jean carried on rubbing his back, enjoying feeling his muscles under her hand. James turned towards her and brought his hand up to her neck, gently rubbing. Jean flushed as her body flooded with lust.
Laura watched with amusement as her normally uptight friend melted, her pupils dilating and her breathing speeding up as James rubbed her neck. Standing on tiptoe, Laura murmured in to Robbie's ear,
'No problem with body chemistry between them anyway.'
'No,' agreed Robbie, automatically putting an arm around Laura.
Laura smiled as Robbie pulled her into his side. She snuggled in, putting her arm around him and tucking her hand into the back pocket of his trousers, smiling mischievously as he stilled momentarily. Robbie leant down so his mouth was touching her ear, saying,
'Fancy slipping off?'
Laura sighed and said,
'I'd love to but we can't. Not only is James our friend but you're his boss so it's your responsibility to make sure he gets home safely and only mildly embarrasses himself.'
'You're right,' said Robbie reluctantly.
'Talking of which...' said Laura, looking over at James and Jean.
Robbie followed her gaze and nodded. James and Jean seemed to be oblivious of their audience again; James' hand was starting to move down Jean's collar bone and Jean's hand was drifting below James' waistband. Robbie walked over and clapped James on the back, saying,
'Come on, lad, time to get some more beer in.'
James' started but obediently followed Robbie back to the table. Laura smiled at Jean and said,
'Another glass of wine?'
Jean followed Laura to the bar.
Two hours later, Jean realised that she had a problem. The problem wasn't James as such. James it turned out was a gently affectionate drunk, which was completely endearing. And it wasn't that she'd been able to drink for the first time since the attack so had had four glasses of wine. No, the problem was that being tipsy meant that instead of gently stopping James when he ran his finger down her neck she had leant into him, shivering as she felt the callous on his finger from his guitar playing grazing over her pulse point. Nor had she stopped James when he had run his finger around the shell of her ear before moving his hand to her hair, saying,
'I love your hair.'
'Thank you.'
Now James was running his hand through her hair and Jean felt herself melting again; having her hair played with had always been an incredible turn on for her.
As she leant into James' chest, trying to summon up some self control, John Hooper came over to say goodbye and Jean reluctantly moved so that James could stand to shake John's hand.
'Goodbye, Sir, and good luck.'
'Thank you, John and it's James.'
'Right... James.'
John turned to go, opening his mouth to say a general goodbye but James stopped him, saying,
'You should use your voice more.'
'What?'
John looked up at James who was gently swaying and waited to see if there was any clarification coming or whether it was just the random murmurings of a very drunk man. James' brow furrowed as he searched for the words he needed but eventually he managed to explain,
'When you interview someone you conceal your accent as much as possible. You shouldn't.'
'I shouldn't?'
John looked hopefully at the chief superintendent but she looked as baffled as he was so he continued,
'Why not?'
'Because it's... it's...'
James searched for the right word but gave up as the alcohol turned his normally acute brain to mush. Instead he said,
'We'll do an experiment...'
'An experiment? Well as long as it doesn't involve anything odd...'
'No, no, not odd. Just say to Laura, in your interview voice, "Tell me what happened." '
Feeling slightly stupid, John did as James said. James nodded and said,
'Good. Now say it emphasising your accent as much as possible.'
John turned back to Laura and let himself fall back into his childhood accent as he said,
'Tell me what happened.'
'See?' said James.
'Not really,' said John.
But Robbie was nodding thoughtfully and Laura said,
'I do. It was much more persuasive when you used your West Country accent, John. I don't know why but I felt as though I could trust you more, that you'd believe me.'
'And it'll make people underestimate you too. Particularly any pompous professors you meet.'
James slurred the last sentence and nearly toppled over as he gestured grandiosely. John smiled as he steadied him, saying,
'I'll give it a try. Anything to get more villains to cough.'
'Right,' said James, sliding back down into his seat and putting his arm around Jean as John left.
Jean let him pull her into his side but the break in contact had allowed a small amount of rational thought to return. She didn't think that there was any danger of them having sex on the table whilst Robbie was here. Robbie was drinking orange juice and was keeping a careful eye on James, making him drink some water and eat and he would undoubtedly intervene before things went too far. However, if she stayed, she would probably invite James back to her place and a drunken shag was not the way she wanted their sexual relationship to start. After having the courage to write her a love letter, James deserved something a lot more romantic than that. And to remember it the next morning too.
Jean looked thoughtfully at Laura who was drinking soft drinks too which could only mean that she was on call tonight, probably from ten o'clock. Leaning across Robbie, Jean said,
'Any chance of a lift when you go?'
'Sure. I need to leave in about twenty minutes though.'
'That's fine. I should probably get an early night anyway.'
Thirty minutes later, Laura and Robbie were watching a highly inebriated James trying to persuade Jean to stay. They were out in the car park and having exchanged a couple of fairly chaste kisses (since Laura was on call), Robbie and Laura had had a front row seat as James and Jean said a lengthy and passionate goodbye. Jean eventually wrenched herself away when James started undoing her blouse, the cold air on her skin reminding her of their location. Taking James' hands in hers she said,
'I'll see you tomorrow.'
'When?' said James petulantly.
'After work.'
'You could take the day off. We could do something.'
'With the amount you'll have drunk by last orders, the only thing you'll be doing tomorrow is sitting in a darkened room sipping tea.'
'Stay. We can sit in the dark tomorrow together.'
'I'd rather sit in the dark together without the hangover.'
'Okay, lets do that,' said James, completely unaware of his lack of logic.
Jean smiled gently and cupped James' cheek, saying,
'How many pints have you had already? Ten? Too late for that. Go back inside and enjoy yourself. I'll talk to you tomorrow.'
'Can I text you?'
'Of course. I'm in meetings all morning but I'll reply when I can.'
Jean opened the car door but James kissed her again and she forgot where she was once more.
Before it went too far they were interrupted by Laura who pushed James firmly away, saying,
'We have to go now; I'm on call. Bye James.'
Shutting Jean's door, Laura went round and got into the driver's seat and turned the engine on. Once their seatbelts were done up, she drove away from the car park, saying,
'If I get called out before I get home, you're coming with me, I'm afraid.'
Jean nodded vaguely, her mind miles away.