Matthew Lawson had had the day from hell. Nothing had gone right. It had started first thing this morning when he spilled his cup of tea down his shirt. It didn't get any better. Two suspects had a punch up outside the police station and when he went to break it up he'd been knocked over. His leg was killing him, Charlie had gone awol and he'd shouted at Bill. Patrick Tynemann had been in grizzling about some local youths vandalizing one of his properties, and he'd had another phone call from Melbourne asking questions about Frank Carlyle. He'd had just about enough of everyone and everything today. He was looking forward to a quiet night at home, perhaps with a glass of wine or two.

"Bugger" he muttered to himself as he remembered about the dinner, his hopes of a quiet night quickly dashed. Just then the phone on his desk rang. He answered it.

"Lawson."

"Matthew." Luciens smooth voice greeted him.

"Blake. What's up?" perhaps dinner was to be cancelled after all.

"I just wanted to let you know Rose had a bit of a funny turn this afternoon"

"What? Is she alright? What happened?"

"Well, She hit her head. She's awake now and Mattie's stitched her back up and I'll explain more tonight, but I just wanted to fill you in." There was no point in trying to explain this all to Matthew over the phone.

"Stitched her up? Wwha... Was she unconscious? Lucien, How on earth did this happen?"

"Matthew, I'll tell you everything when you get home. All you need to know for now is she's alright. But perhaps it might be best to not bombard her with questions tonight eh?"

Matthew blinked "Alright"

"And about tonight, Alice is going to pick you up from the station and bring you home"

"Doctor Harvey?" he looked around wildly, expecting to see her coming in through the door.

"Charlie is already here and she'll be heading this way anyway. She's just finishing up some paperwork at the morgue. I just got off the phone with her."

Matthew self-consciously wiped his tea-stained shirt.

"She said to let you know she will have to drop by her flat on the way here for a change of clothes"

"Right." Matthew cleared his throat as he rubbed the back of his head.

"So I guess I'll see you both when you get here."

"Yes, alright. See you tonight" Matthew hung up the phone and looked towards the door again. He drummed his fingers on the desk thoughtfully. He enjoyed spending time with the pathologist. She was smart, witty and had a stunning smile. They had fallen in to a strange sort of friendship borne out of their relationship with Jean and Lucien, and while nothing romantic had ever been hinted at, he couldn't help but wonder. He leaned back in his chair, hands clasped in front of him as he stared into space and began to daydream.

He was in that same position when Alice walked through the door ten minutes later.

"Superintendent." She greeted him

"Doctor Harvey" He jumped, stood to greet her and grimaced when his knee ached

"Is your leg bothering you?" She was suddenly right in front of him. A little too close Matthew thought.

"There was a slight altercation with a suspect this afternoon"

"I see. Alice pursed her lips. "Well, shall we head off then?"

Matthew leaned heavily on the desk and made another face.

"Here" she offered her arm to him

Matthew looked at it

Alice rolled her eyes "Oh for goodness sakes Matthew, It's an arm. You look as if you've never seen one before!"

He blinked at her in astonishment. She had never used his first name before. It sent a chill up his spine. Shocked, he leant on her arm.

"Right, now grab your stick and let's go. Did Lucien tell you we've got to stop over at my place?"

Matthew listened to her talk as they walked slowly to her car and realised this was the first time it had been just them. They had always had Jean and Lucien around them as a buffer. Or they were talking over a dead body. He looked at her.

"I like your hair like that." He interrupted her talking

She stuttered to a stop and stared at him "It's been like this for months. Also don't interrupt me. I was talking"

"Sorry, I've just never had a chance to tell you"

"Balderdash! You see me almost every day!" she turned to face him a puzzled frown on her face.

"Doctor Harvey, I'm trying to pay you a compliment." Matthew was getting frustrated

Her cheeks coloured "Why?'

"BECAUSE I LIKE YOUR HAIR!"

There was a silence. Then a quiet "Oh" escaped Alice's lips. She turned away from him and walked over to the car, unlocked it and got in.

Matthew sighed. Well that was embarrassing. He limped to the car and sat down.

They drove in silence for a few minutes then

"Thank you for the compliment superintendent"

"Er, you're welcome?" he was unsure of what the correct response was.

There was another awkward pause.

'People don't often compliment me you see. I wasn't sure if you were making a joke" she looked at him sideways.

"Why would I be making a joke?"

"I don't know. I'm just used to being made fun of, I guess I just think everyone thinks I'm a joke."

Matthew looked at her, stunned. "I don't think you're a joke" he said quietly

Alice stared at the road as her hands gripped the steering wheel. This was completely uncharted waters. She was entirely out of her depth. Luckily for her they pulled up at her flat at that moment. "Here we are. Home sweet home, as they say"

Matthew looked at the tiny dark flat. It was gloomy and not at all sweet. It looked like the set of a horror film.

"Are you coming?" Alice was already out of the car and halfway up the path

Matthew grunted with effort as he pulled himself out of the car and followed her.