Ghost Rider

Authors Note: Thought I would update this whilst I am working on the next chapter of Trust. This follows on from the previous chapter and the episode Ghost Rider.

Michael hadn't seen Jackie this nervous in years, this happy in fact. Brian Holmes had definitely turned her head. He was happy for her and he couldn't help but smirk every time she would her bit her lip reading a text message from him. The frequency of which had increased since the Blair Macdonald case had been finished. He would be lying if he said he didn't feel a pang of regret, all too aware of the decision he had made. The unspoken question she had asked him. He sensed Brian could give her what she wanted, could make her happy. He watched her at the bar, he had offered to go with her help her carry the drinks back which was met with a look of derision, followed by the I can carry my own drinks glare. He surmised she needed a few minutes to herself, Robbie had been teasing her all day.

And there he was Brian Holmes, he had seen him in passing but they hadn't been formally introduced. Brian stood at the door, obviously looking for her, Michael watched his face light up as he noticed her. Michael could hear Robbie and Stuart talking but he couldn't take his eyes of Jackie and Brian. Brian's walked straight over to her sliding his hand across the small of her back and leaning in kissing her cheek. He could see her smiling maybe even blushing slightly. As the barman placed a tray of drinks in front of her, she went to pick it and Brian stopped her. Michael noticed he didn't get the same look of derision, or a comment that she was capable of carrying a tray of drinks.

As they made their way to the table he could see her nerves, this was important to her. 'so it is serious' he thought to himself. Brian popped the tray on the table. "you have obviously already met Robbie!" Brian offered his hand anyways. "this is DC Stuart Frazer"

"Hi Stuart!"

"and this is DCI Michael Jardine!" Michael smiled shaking his hand.

"nice to meet you all properly!" Jackie handed out the drinks and sat down as her mobile rang.

"sorry I have to take this!" she picked up her mobile from the table mouthing sorry to Brian as she headed out the door. Brian pulled up a chair and sat down grabbing his drink feeling slightly awkward being left with the three gentlemen staring at him.

"soo.. Brian how long are you with complaints and discipline?" Michael asked finally breaking the awkward silence.

"probably for another six months or so" Brian smiled casually glancing to the door hoping for Jackie's quick return.

"Jackie, said you met in Edinburgh ?" Stuart asked.

"yes Stuart, we met at the financial crimes course. I was lucky enough to get the best seat in the house, next to Jackie" Brian shrugged "and the rest just fell into place" Brian had a warm smile on his face, watching as Jackie returned to the table.

"sorry about that gents, what we talking about?" Jackie smiled, sitting down next to Brian, taking a sip of her wine, before placing her mobile back on the table in front of her.

"about how you two hooked up!" Robbie answered smugly.

"funny guy!" Jackie retorted.

"everything ok?" Michael nodded to the phone, she never left her mobile on the table.

"yeah fine just family stuff" Jackie shook it off.

"your brothers still fighting?" Brian asked.

"yeah" She exhaled loudly "still at each other throats, I don't know how I ended up being the referee!" she smiled. Michael felt slightly miffed, she would normally tell him about the latest drama with her brothers. Suddenly he felt like he was on the outside looking in.

"I'm guessing you have always been the referee" She laughed.

"you might be right there!" She smiled at him, for a second she forgot the others where there, the flutter in her stomach, a feeling she hadn't had in years. "It's going to make tomorrow a nightmare though"

"what' tomorrow?" Michael asked.

"oh family get together, I do it every year around my mother's birthday, kind of a tradition!" She blushed.

"I'm sure they will be on their best behaviour!" Brian squeezed her hand, a gesture that didn't go unnoticed by Michael.

"thinking about it, you don't have to shoot off early tomorrow?" Brian shook his head in response.

"you don't fancy sticking around helping me with my refereeing duties!" Brian was taking a back, as where the Robbie and Michael who shared a surprised look.

"of course, but I thought you wanted it to be just family!" Jackie shrugged.

"well, I figure if you are there, I'm less likely to kill them"

"less likely?" he laughed.

"well there is always a possibility, they are very very annoying!" She laughed. As her mobile rang again "I'm sorry it the other brother, I best take it." She stood squeezing Brian's shoulder as she walked past him.

"so have you met the brothers before Brian?" Michael asked

"no, I've heard a lot about them though! Should be an interesting day!" He smiled. Michael smiled but suddenly he felt deflated, meeting the brothers was a big deal for Jackie. He remembered Colin didn't meet the brothers until they had been going out for over year. Jackie had always kept the brother separate, he himself had only ever met them in passing, and here Brian would be meeting them just after a few months. Michael stood up.

"Right gents, I have a meeting first thing with the Chief Supper so I think I will call it a night!" Michael stood up. "Brian it was nice to finally meet you, officially!" Michael shook his hand. "I'll see you two tomorrow!" He smiled. He headed out the door, Jackie outside on her phone, noticing him leaving she ended her call.

"your leaving?" Jackie asked.

"yeah, em I have headache coming and an early meeting tomorrow!"

"oh ok" She smiled, slightly disappointed, slight concerned to have left Brian alone with Robbie. "so what do you think?"

"about Brian?" She shot him a look, of course about Brian!

"it was good to put a face with the name, and you seem good together!" he smiled.

"thanks!" She smiled "so how are things going with, Ms PF's office?" Jackie smirked.

"fine!" He lied, things hadn't worked out, but he didn't want to talk about it. He knew that turning to Jackie for his usual hot chocolate was no longer an option for him. A fact he was still trying to get used to.

"night Jackie!" He nodded and she smiled.

"good night Michael!" He turned to walking away, turning back to see Jackie had already disappeared into the pub.