Authors Notes: I know I said I was gonna get this chap up ages ago but i've been busier than I thought. Anyway to make up for it this chapter is the longest yet and i've already got rough versions or the rest of this story so it's just a matter of typing them up and ironing out the creases. Enjoy the story and more authors notes at the bottom. Also spoilers this chaper are the episode Room Service.

Beech In Australia

Chapter 5: Nightfall Revelations

When they arrived, they put the food away in the cupboards and fridge before deciding what to do to relax for the evening. They decided on watching a movie so whilst Claire and Marion started cooking something to eat, John and Stephen checked the TV guide to find a good movie. There wasn't much on the TV so Stephen suggested they go rent one. They all agreed on an action movie, so John and Stephen went to get one, Marion unwilling to let the boys near the cooking incase they burn it. (SEE CORRUPTION.)

When the boys got back with the movie, dinner was done and so they all settled down to eat it.

"So what movie did you bring?" asks Marion, curiosity getting the better of her.

"Under Siege 2: Dark Territory," answers Stephen, "It's one of my favourites." (1)

"What's it about?" asks Claire.

"A terrorist hijacks a train, to control a satellite weapons system. Its good," explains Stephen.

After finishing eating and washing the dishes, they all settle down in front of the TV to watch the movie.

The movie finishes about 2 hours later. "Your right gov," says Claire, "that is a good movie; how'd you find it?"

"The lead actor is one of my favourites."

"Y'know Claire," comments John, "I've been wondering why do you keep calling Stephen, gov?"

"Erm … I guess I should of told you sooner. I … I'm CIB. I was sent to Sun Hill to trap Beech. That's why I had to be careful about what I said to everybody, and all that crap about visiting my mother; that was just a code; my mom died when I was seventeen years old," explained Claire.

"Oh, sorry, maybe I shouldn't have asked."

All of a sudden Marion burst out giggling for no apparent reason.

"What's so funny?" asks Claire.

When she doesn't get a reply, Stephen says, "Don't know. Mar?"

"Sorry ….. Sorry …..," Marion says between fits of laughter, "I was just thinking of something from when I was younger."

"Oh do tell," says Stephen.

"A practical joke I played when I first joined the police," starts Marion, "this one guy was obsessed with this one case, so as revenge for getting me into trouble for something the week before, I gave one of his informants a fake tip off, making sure it couldn't be traced back to me. Well anyway he told the boss about the tip off and was allowed to set up an obbo, and obviously nothing happened. So when he figured out it was false info he was really pissed off and stomped back to the car not looking where he was going and he fell in this hole. Everyone was laughing too much to help him out so when he finally managed to clamber out he was even more pissed and went and fell back down the hole again. Obviously no one figured out I 'd set it up otherwise I'd have been in deep trouble." (2)

"That's hilarious,2 comment John and Claire.

"So as well as losing everything you're a prankster too hey Mar?" asks Stephen.

"Yep."

"What do you mean losing everything?" asks John.

"Don't tell me you haven't told them about the tumble dryer incident Mar?" (3)

"No I haven't actually Ste," she said to Stephen, then turning to the others she said, "I once left my mobile and keys in my coat pocket, and put it in the tumble dryer. I've got no idea why I forgot to take them out but when I came to find them later they couldn't be found. Imagine my surprise when I took my coat out of the tumble dryer the next day and found them still in the pocket."

They all burst into laughter at that. "Have any of you guys done anything incredibly silly like that?"

"Not really," said John, "although I did make a phone call in a funny voice the once."

"What do you mean?" asks Stephen.

"Well Don picked up this case from uniform about some assaults in the London Dock Hotel. He was going through the surveillance tapes and I was worried he might find me on one of them so to get him out of the way I called the main office from my mobile and when Duncan picked up the phone I pretended to be one of Don's informants. In a funny voice I said 'I'd like to speak Mr Beech please,' when I was told he wasn't available I went on to say 'who's this? Hey I wanna speak to the organ grinder not the monkey, now fetch me Mr Beech now and tell him its very important.' so Duncan went off to fetch Don and by then I'd cancelled the call. Correct me if I'm wrong Claire but while Don was yelling at Duncan you went and made the tape disappear so to speak." (4)

"Yeah," said Claire now laughing, "his face when he realised the tape had vanished was a classic."

"I later had a quiet chat with Duncan and told him to give Don a message that someone had come forward with information and would meet him in crystal palace park, the other side of the river. Anyway with Don safely out of the way I solved the case."

"I wondered how you managed to keep him out of the way," comments Claire.

"He had a meeting with a plastic dinosaur," laughed John.

"How did he manage to get you involved Claire?" asked Stephen.

"Erm … there was a strong chance I was on the tape as well."

"That sounds sort of familiar," comments Marion.

"What are you on about Mar?" asks Stephen

"Devon."

"What's all this about Devon," asks Claire, "did I miss the memo or something."

"There wasn't a memo," points out Stephen, "It's a good thing too, I could really do without getting into that sort of mess again."

Marion looks at Stephen silently asking permission to let the others in on the secret. "Remember what was said in Great Yarmouth when we played truth or dare?"

"Yeah," says Claire, "You said something about skiving off down there or something."

"Exactly, well the bit you wasn't told is … it was only the two of us that went."

"I still don't get it," said Claire.

Getting fed up Stephen butted in, "you know what you keep saying about you think we act like a couple or something?"

"Yeah?"

"Well it used to be true back then. Now do you get it?"

"Yeah, I think so, really?" answers Claire. Silence was her only answer.

"Well that explains a lot," comments John.

"Don't get any ideas," said Stephen, "it was a long time ago." Not counting the other night, although I wish it were still true. "Which reminds me, is it true that you two are together or am I seeing more than there actually is?"

John and Claire look at each other before answering together. "Yes," they mumble.

"What are we doing tomorrow," asks Marion, breaking the uncomfortable silence that had descended on the room after the admission.

"We'll go back to the police station, to see if they've got anymore information, then depending on whether we get anything useful or not we'll continue asking questions and make a plan of action," explained Stephen.

"Maybe we should all get some sleep then," suggests Marion.

They all agree and get up to go get ready for bed. "Can I have a quick word Claire," interrupts Stephen pulling her to one side.

"Gov!"

"About what we was all talking about earlier, I'll turn a blind eye if you keep it separate from work understand?"

"Yes gov," says Claire before making her way to bed. Within fifteen minutes they are all fast asleep.

Authors notes:

(1) this movie is a real movie. The main actor is (Steven Seagal) is one of my dad's favourites. He suggested I watch it so I did and now it's one of my favorite movies too.

(2) this is a really weird dream I had one night and thought it fit this story perfectly.

(3) the tumble dryer incident is mentioned in the prequel to this story. Stephen knows about it cause Marion told him about it. See Corruption chapter 17 for the details.

(4) a direct quote from the episode Room Service. This is one of my favorite eps and I couldn't stop laughing about this bit for weeks after I first watched that episode.