Half Hearted Love Affairs – Part 3
Charlie groaned and squinted as the light streamed through her half open curtains, grunting darkly at the sun as she slowly drew herself into a sitting position. "Thought I'd shut them." She muttered to herself, glancing down to get out of bed, before physically jumping as she saw a figure sprawled beside her, one hand disappearing under the pillow, flat on their stomach.
She did a double take and rubbed her bleary eyes, before reaching out and lightly poking the shoulder of her bedmate.
Mickey grunted as his he felt a sharp jab on his shoulder, shifting away from it, almost causing him to fall out of bed. "Whatthefuck." He yelped, grabbing onto the duvet to stop himself falling, frowning up at Charlie from half closed eyes.
"….Morning." Charlie managed to say eventually.
Mickey blinked twice at her, pushing himself up, a slight smirk flicking over his lips.
Charlie raised the corner of the duvet, peering under it, before squeaking. "…We..."
Mickey grinned and nodded. "We did…" He smirked, shifting up closer, curling an arm around her waist as he drew her to him. "Fancy a-"
"We'll be late." Charlie pulled back, reaching over the side of the bed, pulling her dressing gown on under the covers, before scurrying out the room, leaving a confused Mickey behind her.
Smithy rolled over glaring at the alarm, pushing the duvet off, glancing briefly at the empty space beside him, before heading through to the bathroom, staring the shower whilst he shaved.
Charlie stood in the shower, her head resting against the cool white tiles thinking through the parts of the previous nights. She'd wanted to get to know her colleagues on a more personal note, though sleeping with one of them wasn't what she actually had in mind. Not when she'd already got her eye on another. It made things complicated…
Half an hour later, Charlie was stood in the kitchen, eating a piece of toast, idly flicking through the post, glancing behind her as she heard Mickey.
"Morning." Mickey grinned, helping himself to the other piece of toast on the plate.
"Oi!" Charlie batted his hand gently, making no attempt to take it back, frowning thoughtfully at her credit card bill as she studied it, pulling her head to the side as she felt Mickey's arms snake around her waist. "What're you doing?"
"Whassit look like?" Mickey rolled his eyes, brushing soft kisses down the side of her throat.
Charlie shivered slightly, before pulling away completely. "Micks.." She sighed, resting one hand on his cheek. "Shouldn't you be getting back…getting changed or something?"
"Why?" Mickey looked down, smoothing some creases from his shirt, evidently missing the small lager stain on his sleeve, and the fact he smelt like a brewery.
Charlie turned his sleeve round, frowning as he shrugged, realising he wanted people to know they'd slept together. She pursed her lips and sighed, before shrugging, downing the last dregs of her coffee. "Come on then." She moved to the door, gathering her bag and jacket. "Work."
"You're early." Gina remarked as Smithy walked up the ramp in the yard, checking her watch.
"Nice to see you too ma'am." Smithy smiled, stopping in front of her as she released a steady stream of cigarette smoke.
Gina simply smirked slightly, finishing the rest of her cigarette, before following him inside, purposely opening the doors opposite to the ones Smithy held open for her.
Smithy rolled his eyes and grinned good-naturedly, stopping outside his office. "How's the newcomers settling in?"
"Leela?" Gina nodded, "Seems bright enough, might be an idea not to pair her with Sheelagh for a few weeks seen as Sheelagh's friends with Carole Barnes…"
"We can't have two officers who can't work together." Smithy glanced down the corridor as 2 members of the relief walked through, joking and laughing together on the way to the Locker Room.
"No, but we can avoid any possible flare-ups, at least for this week." Gina looked thoughtful.
"Hmm." Smithy glanced back. "And Charlie?"
A slight smirk flicked over Gina's lips, disappearing almost as soon as it had appeared. "Good, she's settling in well with the officers."
"Mickey Webb seems a bit keen." Smithy remarked, as casually as he could, looking as innocently at Gina. "He's almost always draped over the desk."
"Is he?" Gina raised both eyebrows at Smithy. "I haven't noticed."
"Might be worth a word…" Smithy nodded, "Just so as it's not interfering with work…"
"Oh, of course…" Gina said, the note of sarcasm in her voice unmistakable, even to Smithy.
He grinned and rolled his eyes. "Thank you ma'am." He smirked, closing the door after him as he sat at his desk.
"Mickey!" Charlie closed her eyes, sighing softly as she rested her forehead on his. "It was just one night…"
Mickey smiled and brushed his lips back over hers. "You saying you don't wanna play at mine no more?" He grinned cheekily.
Charlie returned his kiss softly, before pulling her head back. "Micks…we're at work now." She smiled slightly. "It was one night, not some declaration of undying love…" She undid her seatbelt, squeezing his hand. "We were drunk…"
"Not enough not to know what we were doing…"
"Well, no…" Charlie shook her head. "But still. Please." She pulled back and moved to open the door. "It doesn't mean anything."
A flicker of hurt passed across Mickey's features, but he shrugged it off and followed her out the car. "Course not…"
"Mickey…" Charlie sighed. "Please don't look at me like that." She leant across and hugged him, before pulling back. "I'll see you later…" She smiled up at him, hurrying inside the building.
Duncan looked over from where he was locking his car up, smirking at Mickey. "The old Webb magic in full flow?" He grinned, patting Mickey's shoulder.
Mickey looked up from where he'd been watching Charlie, grinning. "Y'know how it is." He smirked, scratching the stubble on his chin.
Duncan leant closer, raising both eyebrows. "Have you been home?"
"No chance mate," Mickey grinned, gesturing to his clothes. "Woman's like an animal, once we got in that door-"
"Spare me the details." Duncan smirked, "You should at least get a shower and a shave before Manson sees you…."
"Ah. Mickey." Smithy stopped him in the doorway of the showers, blinking at the change of shirt and handful of toiletries he was holding. "Everything alright?"
"Sarge." Mickey nodded, tilting his head. "Something wrong?"
"I was just wondering…" Smithy looked either way. "Charlotte."
"S'Charlie alright?" Mickey frowned. "I only left her…"
"She's fine." Smithy frowned slightly at what Mickey said before continuing, "It's just me and Inspector Gold have been talking."
Mickey looked baffled, nodding, "Sarge?"
"And we'd appreciate it if you could stay away from the Front Desk unless it's a work matter. It doesn't look good on the public to see you draped across it and it stops Charlie from working."
"Sarge…" Mickey nodded, bemused. "Alright to…" he started, nodding at the showers.
Smithy nodded, looking Mickey over. "What happened to showering before work?" He said sternly.
Mickey just grinned and shrugged. "Won't happen again Sarge, if I'd have gone back to mine after Charlie's, I'd have been late, and I-" He blinked as Smithy stalked off in the opposite direction. "….Sarge." He blinked, going to shower.
Part 2 of the series will be along soon, s'where it finally starts to get interesting.