Title: Faith in Love! # 5
Started: 31st May 2002
Finished: 6th June 2002
Disclaimer: As per previous parts.
Genre: Angst
Summary: How much does Jonesy know?
Rating: G
Author's Notes: Thank you to the fabulously coiffured Penny Free for her unending writing inspiration and passion for all things fine in the world.....
****
"Nice to see you too," muttered PJ sarcastically.
"PJ, Evan has applied for a transfer, citing personal conflict. What the hell did you tell him?"
"I told you I wouldn't lie for you and when you didn't return my call you left me with no option. I told you before you left to talk to him, why didn't you do as I said?"
"You condescending prick," Tess was in no mood to play games. "Cut to the chase PJ, what 'exactly' did you tell him?"
"Excuse me Tess, you leave town, expecting me to clear things with your boyfriend for you and when you do come back you abuse me. Why the hell should I tell you anything? Get out Tess, next time get someone else to do your dirty work."
Tess banged the palm of her hand against her forehead, "PJ, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean…"
"Save it Tess! I'm busy, so if you don't mind," PJ's voice trailed off as he bent his head leaving Tess no further choice but to leave the office.
"You going to say hello this time?" Jo peeved that she had been ignored once wasn't about to let it happen a second time.
"Constable, get on the radio and tell Stewart and Jones to come back in."
"Don't I get a hello, nice to see you Jo, first?"
"What? Oh, umm, hi Jo, now get on the radio, 'please'."
***
By the time Ben and Jonesy made it back to the station Tess was half way through the previous few days running sheets. It wasn't something she had to do but Tess liked to keep herself informed.
"Hey Tess, have a good few days?" Ben stopped at Tess' desk on his way into the station.
"Yeah, wasn't too bad," Tess looked straight past Ben to watch for the door to open again.
"You looking for Jonesy? He actually offered to go and get the lunches, I reckon he must be avoiding you," Ben was joking unaware of the situation between the pair.
"What makes you say that?" snapped Tess.
"I 'was' joking Sarg," Ben walked away from Tess. "Got to see PJ 'bout a case."
"What case?" she asked all business once again.
"Just a case he's working on," Ben replied evasively.
***
"Mate, is Tess touchy today or what?" Ben stated as soon as he walked through PJ's door. "What's going on?"
"Buggered if I know," PJ replied. "Did Jones come back in with you?"
"Nope, he's gone to get the lunches. I made a joke to Tess that he was trying to avoid her and she nearly bit my head off," Ben laughed. He sobered slightly, "Is there something going on between those two I should know about?"
"Mate, I wouldn't have a clue, just send Jonesy in with my lunch as soon as he gets back would you, I'm starved."
"Yeap will do."
***
"About time Jonesy, thought you gone to bake the bread," Jo snatched her sandwich from the box that Jonesy dumped on the front counter. "No sandwich for Tess," Jo noted. "You can be the one to deliver that news to her, she's in the interview room."
Jonesy entered the interview room with a grim look on his face; unsure of the reception he was about to receive, "Hi!"
"Hi," Tess replied looking up into Jonesy's eyes. She could see the uncertainty in his eyes, hear it his voice. Tess hated the fact that they had come to this and she had no idea how to fix it.
"You're back," Jonesy stated.
"That I am."
"There's no lunch for you today, no one knew when you were coming back," sarcasm crept into his voice.
"Great, what else can go wrong today?" Tess snapped.
"Can I help?"
"Why would you even care?"
"What the hell's that supposed to mean? Dammit Tess you know I care!"
"Yeah right, and that's why you're transferring, personal conflict remember," Tess yelled, instantly regretting it, knowing the other members were just outside the door.
"Hello, aren't you the one that left town and didn't tell me? Aren't you the one that wouldn't return my calls, aren't you the one who told her sister …"
A brief knock at the door halted Jonesy's tirade.
"Is there a problem in here?" asked Tom knowing full well there was, having heard yelling through the wall adjoining his office.
"No Boss," Tess forced her reply.
"Not anymore Boss," replied Jonesy brushing past Tom and leaving the interview room.
Tom turned to close the door behind Jonesy. Left alone with Tom in the in the room Tess tried to avoid his gaze.
"Want to talk?" asked Tom softly.
"No…yes…I don't know, I'm sorry Boss, it won't happen again," Tess stumbled over her answer.
"Yes Tess it will if you and Jones don't sort out your personal differences."
Tess thought for a few moments before asking, "Boss can I ask some advice?"
"Tess, you don't have to ask, you know my door is always open to any of you."
"Boss, I've been seeing someone," Tess started.
"Jones?" he questioned knowing what the answer would be.
Tess looked surprised.
"Don't look so shocked Tess. I've been a copper for 30 years. My instincts are pretty good 'and' I've seen other couples in this station."
"Why haven't you said anything?" Tess asked.
"I don't like office relationships, but I've learnt there is little I can do to stop them happening. Until now you and Jones had managed to keep things at home, which is the way I like it. If problems start occurring at work, as they are now, and can't be sorted out, then I don't have much choice but to transfer one of the parties. In this case Jones has pipped me at the post. Are things that bad Tess that you can't sort them out?"
"They weren't Boss, until I went to Melbourne." Tess stated forlornly. "I had to go, needed to sort out some stuff, see if I still had feelings for someone else. I'm sorry Boss, I shouldn't be talking to you about all this."
"You went to see Jack didn't you?" Tom asked. "You and Jack, took me a while to cotton on to that one. His actions hit you hard Tess, I know that but you have to move past it. I'm guessing you still have feelings of guilt, plenty of questions."
"Yeah, I did, still do, but seeing Jack did help clear things a little. I was his sergeant Boss, I should have…"
"Tess, you can't live your life full of could have's and what if's, it won't bring you anything except a lot of heartache. You had no control over Jack as his sergeant 'or' as his lover," Tom interrupted Tess, knowing the ways in which she had been torturing herself. "And you can't cast Jack's sins upon Jones, you do that and you may as well finish it now."
"I think he's already made that decision Boss. Seems Evan isn't the only one I have offside," Tom raised his eyebrows questioning Tess, "I yelled at PJ."
"Is that all? Don't worry about PJ, he'll come round. I do think you and Jones need to sort some things out though. But please do it at home," Tom said firmly.
"Yes Boss," Tess answered demurely.
***
Tess stood in the small kitchenette waiting for the kettle to boil. She was in dire need of a strong cup of coffee, anything to keep her awake for the next few hours of her shift. The trip to Melbourne had drained her physically and emotionally. Emotionally, she knew there was more to come; talking to Evan wasn't going to be easy.
Unaware Tess there Jonesy strolled in from his afternoon patrol to also make a coffee. "Hi again," he muttered uncomfortably.
"I'll make you one," Tess offered feeling the need to remove Jonesy from such close quarters.
"Why, so you can throw it in my face?" Jonesy asked ungraciously.
"Don't be so stupid, lets be adult about this," Tess stated her eyes brimming once again with unshed tears.
"Tess are you…?"
"No!" Tess turned away and furiously wiped her eyes with the sleeve of her jumper.
Jonesy put his arm around the woman he loved. It didn't matter how angry he was he hated to see her in pain.
"Don't!" Tess shrugged her shoulders, "don't do anything you don't mean."
"We need to talk Tess, all this bitching at each other isn't getting us anywhere. Tonight?"
"Yeah okay, come round after work," Tess sniffled. She busied herself with the making of the coffees hiding her face from him. She knew if she looked into his eyes her tears would spill over leaving her a blubbering mess, something she would not allow to happen at work.
Tess dealt with her remaining paperwork for the rest of her shift. Keeping her mind on work was a sure way of gaining her composure. Emotions part way under control Tess knew there was one more thing she needed to do before leaving for the night. Making yet another coffee by way of peace offering Tess knocked on PJ's door.
"Just on my way out Sergeant," PJ crisply informed Tess. "Jones and I are going out on surveillance for the night."
"What? Why wasn't I informed? Jones is supposed to…" Tess voice trailed off realising she had no room to argue with PJ. "Okay then I'll see you tomorrow."
***
Tess sat staring at the television screen, she wasn't aware of what was on, her mind full of other matters. Had Evan known about the surveillance and deliberately lied to her? If he had then she had serious doubts about the future of their relationship. Had Evan and PJ talked and PJ set up the surveillance because she'd been such a bitch? It didn't seem like the type of thing PJ would normally do but then Tess had never really been on PJ's bad side before.
Tess turned the television off and went to take a long hot shower. Half an hour later she was sitting in her pyjamas with a tub of ice cream and a block of chocolate. Comfort food Kate called it. Thinking of Kate Tess picked up the phone to call her sister. As she did there was a short rap at the door.
"Tess, it's me."
Started: 31st May 2002
Finished: 6th June 2002
Disclaimer: As per previous parts.
Genre: Angst
Summary: How much does Jonesy know?
Rating: G
Author's Notes: Thank you to the fabulously coiffured Penny Free for her unending writing inspiration and passion for all things fine in the world.....
****
"Nice to see you too," muttered PJ sarcastically.
"PJ, Evan has applied for a transfer, citing personal conflict. What the hell did you tell him?"
"I told you I wouldn't lie for you and when you didn't return my call you left me with no option. I told you before you left to talk to him, why didn't you do as I said?"
"You condescending prick," Tess was in no mood to play games. "Cut to the chase PJ, what 'exactly' did you tell him?"
"Excuse me Tess, you leave town, expecting me to clear things with your boyfriend for you and when you do come back you abuse me. Why the hell should I tell you anything? Get out Tess, next time get someone else to do your dirty work."
Tess banged the palm of her hand against her forehead, "PJ, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean…"
"Save it Tess! I'm busy, so if you don't mind," PJ's voice trailed off as he bent his head leaving Tess no further choice but to leave the office.
"You going to say hello this time?" Jo peeved that she had been ignored once wasn't about to let it happen a second time.
"Constable, get on the radio and tell Stewart and Jones to come back in."
"Don't I get a hello, nice to see you Jo, first?"
"What? Oh, umm, hi Jo, now get on the radio, 'please'."
***
By the time Ben and Jonesy made it back to the station Tess was half way through the previous few days running sheets. It wasn't something she had to do but Tess liked to keep herself informed.
"Hey Tess, have a good few days?" Ben stopped at Tess' desk on his way into the station.
"Yeah, wasn't too bad," Tess looked straight past Ben to watch for the door to open again.
"You looking for Jonesy? He actually offered to go and get the lunches, I reckon he must be avoiding you," Ben was joking unaware of the situation between the pair.
"What makes you say that?" snapped Tess.
"I 'was' joking Sarg," Ben walked away from Tess. "Got to see PJ 'bout a case."
"What case?" she asked all business once again.
"Just a case he's working on," Ben replied evasively.
***
"Mate, is Tess touchy today or what?" Ben stated as soon as he walked through PJ's door. "What's going on?"
"Buggered if I know," PJ replied. "Did Jones come back in with you?"
"Nope, he's gone to get the lunches. I made a joke to Tess that he was trying to avoid her and she nearly bit my head off," Ben laughed. He sobered slightly, "Is there something going on between those two I should know about?"
"Mate, I wouldn't have a clue, just send Jonesy in with my lunch as soon as he gets back would you, I'm starved."
"Yeap will do."
***
"About time Jonesy, thought you gone to bake the bread," Jo snatched her sandwich from the box that Jonesy dumped on the front counter. "No sandwich for Tess," Jo noted. "You can be the one to deliver that news to her, she's in the interview room."
Jonesy entered the interview room with a grim look on his face; unsure of the reception he was about to receive, "Hi!"
"Hi," Tess replied looking up into Jonesy's eyes. She could see the uncertainty in his eyes, hear it his voice. Tess hated the fact that they had come to this and she had no idea how to fix it.
"You're back," Jonesy stated.
"That I am."
"There's no lunch for you today, no one knew when you were coming back," sarcasm crept into his voice.
"Great, what else can go wrong today?" Tess snapped.
"Can I help?"
"Why would you even care?"
"What the hell's that supposed to mean? Dammit Tess you know I care!"
"Yeah right, and that's why you're transferring, personal conflict remember," Tess yelled, instantly regretting it, knowing the other members were just outside the door.
"Hello, aren't you the one that left town and didn't tell me? Aren't you the one that wouldn't return my calls, aren't you the one who told her sister …"
A brief knock at the door halted Jonesy's tirade.
"Is there a problem in here?" asked Tom knowing full well there was, having heard yelling through the wall adjoining his office.
"No Boss," Tess forced her reply.
"Not anymore Boss," replied Jonesy brushing past Tom and leaving the interview room.
Tom turned to close the door behind Jonesy. Left alone with Tom in the in the room Tess tried to avoid his gaze.
"Want to talk?" asked Tom softly.
"No…yes…I don't know, I'm sorry Boss, it won't happen again," Tess stumbled over her answer.
"Yes Tess it will if you and Jones don't sort out your personal differences."
Tess thought for a few moments before asking, "Boss can I ask some advice?"
"Tess, you don't have to ask, you know my door is always open to any of you."
"Boss, I've been seeing someone," Tess started.
"Jones?" he questioned knowing what the answer would be.
Tess looked surprised.
"Don't look so shocked Tess. I've been a copper for 30 years. My instincts are pretty good 'and' I've seen other couples in this station."
"Why haven't you said anything?" Tess asked.
"I don't like office relationships, but I've learnt there is little I can do to stop them happening. Until now you and Jones had managed to keep things at home, which is the way I like it. If problems start occurring at work, as they are now, and can't be sorted out, then I don't have much choice but to transfer one of the parties. In this case Jones has pipped me at the post. Are things that bad Tess that you can't sort them out?"
"They weren't Boss, until I went to Melbourne." Tess stated forlornly. "I had to go, needed to sort out some stuff, see if I still had feelings for someone else. I'm sorry Boss, I shouldn't be talking to you about all this."
"You went to see Jack didn't you?" Tom asked. "You and Jack, took me a while to cotton on to that one. His actions hit you hard Tess, I know that but you have to move past it. I'm guessing you still have feelings of guilt, plenty of questions."
"Yeah, I did, still do, but seeing Jack did help clear things a little. I was his sergeant Boss, I should have…"
"Tess, you can't live your life full of could have's and what if's, it won't bring you anything except a lot of heartache. You had no control over Jack as his sergeant 'or' as his lover," Tom interrupted Tess, knowing the ways in which she had been torturing herself. "And you can't cast Jack's sins upon Jones, you do that and you may as well finish it now."
"I think he's already made that decision Boss. Seems Evan isn't the only one I have offside," Tom raised his eyebrows questioning Tess, "I yelled at PJ."
"Is that all? Don't worry about PJ, he'll come round. I do think you and Jones need to sort some things out though. But please do it at home," Tom said firmly.
"Yes Boss," Tess answered demurely.
***
Tess stood in the small kitchenette waiting for the kettle to boil. She was in dire need of a strong cup of coffee, anything to keep her awake for the next few hours of her shift. The trip to Melbourne had drained her physically and emotionally. Emotionally, she knew there was more to come; talking to Evan wasn't going to be easy.
Unaware Tess there Jonesy strolled in from his afternoon patrol to also make a coffee. "Hi again," he muttered uncomfortably.
"I'll make you one," Tess offered feeling the need to remove Jonesy from such close quarters.
"Why, so you can throw it in my face?" Jonesy asked ungraciously.
"Don't be so stupid, lets be adult about this," Tess stated her eyes brimming once again with unshed tears.
"Tess are you…?"
"No!" Tess turned away and furiously wiped her eyes with the sleeve of her jumper.
Jonesy put his arm around the woman he loved. It didn't matter how angry he was he hated to see her in pain.
"Don't!" Tess shrugged her shoulders, "don't do anything you don't mean."
"We need to talk Tess, all this bitching at each other isn't getting us anywhere. Tonight?"
"Yeah okay, come round after work," Tess sniffled. She busied herself with the making of the coffees hiding her face from him. She knew if she looked into his eyes her tears would spill over leaving her a blubbering mess, something she would not allow to happen at work.
Tess dealt with her remaining paperwork for the rest of her shift. Keeping her mind on work was a sure way of gaining her composure. Emotions part way under control Tess knew there was one more thing she needed to do before leaving for the night. Making yet another coffee by way of peace offering Tess knocked on PJ's door.
"Just on my way out Sergeant," PJ crisply informed Tess. "Jones and I are going out on surveillance for the night."
"What? Why wasn't I informed? Jones is supposed to…" Tess voice trailed off realising she had no room to argue with PJ. "Okay then I'll see you tomorrow."
***
Tess sat staring at the television screen, she wasn't aware of what was on, her mind full of other matters. Had Evan known about the surveillance and deliberately lied to her? If he had then she had serious doubts about the future of their relationship. Had Evan and PJ talked and PJ set up the surveillance because she'd been such a bitch? It didn't seem like the type of thing PJ would normally do but then Tess had never really been on PJ's bad side before.
Tess turned the television off and went to take a long hot shower. Half an hour later she was sitting in her pyjamas with a tub of ice cream and a block of chocolate. Comfort food Kate called it. Thinking of Kate Tess picked up the phone to call her sister. As she did there was a short rap at the door.
"Tess, it's me."
