Here is another chapter, I just can't help myself. I am building up to something a bit more angsty I the next couple of chapters so please let me know your thoughts if you have a moment.

The next morning, Jo takes a swift sip of the takeaway coffee she grabbed on her way to work. She was always first in of a morning, as someone who survived on very little sleep, she found comfort in having that half an hour or so on her own with her thoughts of a morning. Quickly scanning her ID card in, the sound of her boots clicks against the tiles of the floor as she takes the stairs and heads up to her office. She is still thinking about Kate, she was still worried about her, Jo herself knows how tough a relationship breakdown can be and she can only imagine how much harder it is when you have a child involved too.

Kate deserved so much better than the treatment she was receiving. The previous evening the extent of her marriage breakdown had been revealed, and upon hearing how her now ex husband was doing all in his power to stop her seeing her own son, Jo couldn't help but clench her fists, she was angry for Kate, how dare someone do this to her of all people. Jo had watched on as the younger woman had tried to hold everything together, and Jo could only think of how she wanted to wrap her arms around her DI, make her feel the love and comfort that she deserved.

The hurt that had been present behind the usually sparkling ocean blue eye's of the woman who seemed to be changing the way Jo thought about everything these days was something that Jo was struggling with, how could she possibly help and make things any better? She clearly had some attraction to the other woman and all it did was fill the older woman with guilt, this would be the last thing Kate would need.

6:20am the clock on the wall notified her of just how early she was, everybody else would be in for 7, but Jo had already at her desk for a good half an hour. Everybody else had families and a life outside of work, something that she longed for, her whole life had been this way, she had never had a family or even any friends, her romantic partners had all been in the force too so yet again their lives revolved around work.

About ten minutes later and the acting DSU had been too engrossed in her laptop screen that she had failed to see a figure enter the building and she gasped as she suddenly heard a bag drop onto one of the desks outside her office. 6:30am she had glanced back at the clock, who would be in already? A quick flash of terror filled Jo's head as she imagined who it could be, nothing ever good happened to her so if someone was here to see her, the likelihood is that it will not be good news. The Scot debated whether to rise from her seat and look, or keep herself put, but in the end pushes herself from the chair and slowly walking towards her office door. The noise of a bag zipping shut causes her eyes to widen, a few scenarios running through her warring mind, most of them including her facing her own death and tears begin to fill the usually tough woman's eyes.

Jo gasps as she steps out of her office, instantly bumping into the figure, in her panic her senses seemed to have misguided how close the person on the outside had been and she can't hide the panic as she looks up, feeling a pair of hands grip her biceps, her vision fogged slightly in her state and she prepared herself for the pain she guessed she was about to receive, this will be a warning.

To her surprise, no pain follows, the grip on the muscles in her upper arms is gentle, something Jo is not used to.

"Jesus boss, you scared the life out of me I didn't think anyone would be here yet" the soft voice of Kate caused the older woman to let out a sigh, relief flooding through her entire being, it was just Kate. Her mind settles and as she looks at the younger DI's hands on her arms, she slowly follows the trail and that's when she realises it isn't just Kate, her heart rate picks up again as she takes in the sight before her. The younger woman was clad in what Jo soon realised were gym leggings and then a simple grey sports bra. Her air pods are still nestled in her ears and Jo could hear the thump of music blaring through them. Her skin had a sheen to it and her hair was pushed right back from her face, and then Jo saw her face, flushed from whatever exercise she has clearly just been doing and Jo feels the air from her lungs drain. Fuck, she looked good. She realised she hadn't yet spoken, and the silence was getting awkward as Kate looked slightly concerned for her. Her throat felt dry and she was sure her words were going to be croaked out.

"Couldn't sleep… just want to get going on this case" she could have sighed in relief as she forced the words out, trying to hide the waver of her tone, her head was spinning, she could barely look at Kate because if she was honest she didn't trust herself.

Stepping forward she reached out to the younger woman, spinning her round and slowly backing her into the small office, kicking the door shut with her foot behind them, continuing until a gasp emitted from the DI at the appearance of Jo's desk behind them. Pressing even closer in, Jo leant forward, capturing the skin that covered her sternum, the slight hint of salt gracing her senses as she lapped up the sheen of sweat, she continued to move upwards, right up to the younger woman's ear, desperate to get closer. She had heard the gasp at the first touch, and they continued as the older woman did. She heard a groan as she broke contact, looking up to gaze into the eyes she has been dreaming about for days, before leaning in again, ready to capture her lips and continue...

"Right. Sorry for disturbing you" Kate dragged her senior back into reality with a bang, she had taken Jo's silence as her being annoyed at being disturbed, if only she knew.

"Sorry Kate, I'm still half asleep. What brings you here so early and not in work attire either I see" shit, had that pushed the boundary again, she hadn't even meant to say it but the earlier scenario in her head had given her a sense of confidence that she hadn't had before.

"Mark, again. We argued last night and I couldn't sleep and didn't want to be around when he woke up this morning anyway, sooner we can get things sorted and I can get my own place so I don't feel like I'd rather run at 6am the better!" Jo's heart ached at the thought of Kate feeling so uncomfortable, Kate was fit but she could tell she had definitely over exerted herself on the run she had just completed, especially if it had been done very little sleep. Jo herself knew all about poor coping mechanisms and she mentally noted to keep a close eye on the younger woman, and that didn't just apply for when she was wearing such little clothing.

"I just thought I could vent some anger by running, I used to do it the last time we split and just get showered and ready over at AC-12. You don't mind, do you? I'll make sure I'm ready before anyone else arrives"

Jo couldn't have responded even if she wanted, just as she was about nod her permission her eyes darted down off their own accord, the DI had lifted her arms up in order to scrape back her hair from her face, effortlessly using the hair tie on her wrist to pull the top half of her short chestnut locks into a bun, as if that hadn't been ridiculously attractive in itself, Jo also couldn't help but note Kate's strong stomach muscles, they tensed as she had lifted her arms. They too glistened with sweat and Jo knew she was in danger right now, she was struggling to keep herself in control. She was soon aware that Kate was waiting for a response.

"Of course. I won't keep you any longer, get yourself ready for today DI Fleming, it might be a long one"

With that Jo disappeared into the confines of her office, she closed the door and leant back on it, exhaling deeply. It was certainly going to be a long day for her, she wasn't sure how she was ever going to be able to look at Kate normally again, she knew that as soon as she reappears fully ready for the day it won't matter how much of her body is covered up, Jo knows what is underneath and that image is going nowhere any time soon.

"Get a grip Jo, she's straight, you are going to have a complaint made against you if you carry on and make her feel uncomfortable"

But Kate hadn't exactly felt uncomfortable, there was no way she hadn't noticed the older woman staring at her like she was a work of art, and she hadn't rushed off or covered up at all, despite the comment about her choice of outfit. Was Jo imagining this? Was Kate just humouring her and being polite, not wanting to cause an atmosphere at work?

Kate leant her head back as she stood in the showers in the changing rooms, she let the water which she had set on a cooler setting cascade over her, she definitely felt re energised after her morning. Switching the water off, she wrapped a towel around her body, exiting the shower and a smirk crossed her face as she looked in the mirror, her plan had worked. She knew she hadn't imagined the change in their relationship, the touches, the little quips, eye contact, and Kate had just needed to be sure, she had thoroughly enjoyed watching her superior in absolute turmoil, and all it had taken was an early morning 5k run. She would run that every morning if meant Jo would look at her how she had that morning.

More to follow soon guys! x