Chapter Ten - Michael and Jackie

The words any capacity kept ringing in her head. What did that actually mean ? she thought to herself.

She had been staying with Michael for two weeks, and she has enjoyed every second of it. When she had first been released from hospital, he had taken leave and spent most of the time with her, but this was different; they were on equal footing. Her divorce to Brian would be finalised in the next few months. There was no war over the divisions of assets or money, he had tried to apologise several times, but she wasn't interested.

Jackie had been on a few viewings for a new flat, she could not bring herself to stay in their apartment where she had found them in bed together, who knows how often or where else they had been 'together'. "Here's a flat, what do you think of this one?" She pointed to a nice flat near the university. "That is nice, maybe we should take a look?" He replied.

"Michael you have been so good to let me stay here, I don't want to outstay my welcome" She looked so comfortable on his couch her feet up. "I told you there's no rush, i'm here for you in any capacity"

There's that word again, he's said it a few times, what does that mean?. She pondered. She looked over to Michael and he had that look like he was preparing to ask something really personal. She found it amusing that he always took a deep breath before he did so.

"Patterson put in for a transfer" Micheal stated

"Has she now?" Jackie replied not looking at him. She already knew that of course, Burke had told her over coffee that afternoon.

"Yeah, it's a bit sudden, she has only been the boss for less than a year, I got the impression it was not a work related move though" she smirked.

"Perhaps she needs to work on her marriage"

"Speaking of which, ...Did you know who the other woman was, you know, Did you recognise her ?" He looked so uncomfortable asking her.

"Yeah i did" she looked at him "you obviously already knew it was Patterson, who was showing my husband a good time!"

"Why didn't you say before?" he enquired, he had guessed that it was Patterson ever since that night she avoided Jackie at all costs. It had become rather awkward. Jackie to her credit, never once said a bad word about her. "I guess I didn't want to give her or him the satisfaction of flying off the handle or showing they hurt me" She smiled.

"What made you suspect?" She raised an eyebrow in his direction.

"Well other than the transfer, avoiding you like the plague, .. i remember thinking it was odd about her asking if we were taking you out that night." She laughed

"Always the detective" she teased.

Chapter 10 - Finally

"I have been to see three flats this week" she flopped down on the couch. "This is a lot more work than i thought it would be". Micheal laughed as he put a cup of tea next to here.

"You know like having you here!"

"I've enjoyed it too, but it's been over two months now, people will start to gossip you know!" she teased. "Let them gossip!"

"especially since em… My divorce came through, I am officially single again!" she sighed.

"How are you feeling?"

"Sad, happy, angry, relieved… optimistic, all the emotions I guess" she smiled. "I'm glad it's finished, now I can just get my own place sorted and get out of your hair" she started sipping her tea.

He sat on the couch next to her, "I mean it, there's no rush to get out of here, and if people talk so what!"

"You are so good to me, I can't thank you enough for everything!" he touched his hand.

"I told you I'm here in any capacity you want" again that word. This was starting to wind her up. "Michael, what does that mean?, in any capacity" He smirked.

"To put it simply, I am yours!" she was taken aback.

"I'm starting to feel stupid here!"

"Okay, let me explain, when you were shot. I was so scared Jackie, I hadn't been that scared since I jumped into that waterfall after you. " he took a deep breath, contemplating where he should continue. "You see I was reminded just how important you are to me. We have been through so much together, for so many years we have been involved in hundreds of dark cases, yet you have the ability to make me laugh every time. When Gemma hurt me, when Taggart died, when I became DCI. Through it all you have been my rock. After all these years I still want to impress you." Jackie moved closer to him on the couch.

"I really want you to be happy and I thought if Brian or even Robbie were who you wanted to be with, I would be happy for you, but in truth Jackie Reid…... I have been in love with you since the moment we met in the festival choir." A tear rolled down her cheek. "I was scared you would run a mile from me if you knew the truth. So when i say i will be here in any capacity I mean I am yours to do with whatever you want!" He sighed like that had been on his chest for years. Jackie had not spoken for a few minutes.

"Micheal…. I don't know what to say" he went to move back.

"It's ok, I don't expect you to feel the same, but I am yours for as much or as little as you want" She leaned forward and touched his face. This was it she thought, this was the moment she had always wondered. She leaned in to kiss him.

"Michael, I love you! I am yours too" He smiled and leaned in for another kiss. It was electric. "Maybe the flat finding can wait" she laughed.

The End.