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------- Part Six --------
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Susie and Jonesy trudged back to their desks, plonking themselves in their chairs and letting out long, tired breaths. They looked at each other. Susie raised her eyebrows, getting up from her chair.
"Another coffee?"
"I'll get it this time." Jonesy protested.
"No, no, no. I'm up, I'll get it." She reassured him, heading for the mess room.
"Come on, it's my turn." He persisted, starting to stand.
"Sit down." She replied sternly. Jonesy froze, half in, half out of his chair, making up his mind. He came to a decision, following Susie from the room.
She glanced over her shoulder as she heard him walk into the room. She smiled.
"Miss me already?" she joked, spooning the coffee into two mugs.
"Something like that." He sidled up behind her, resting his hands on her hips. She jumped slightly at first, but relaxed into his touch, leaning back against him.
"Sugar?" His hands slid around to her stomach, pulling her closer.
"Please." He leant down, placing a soft kiss in the crook of her neck. She giggled, both ticklish and pleased. He kissed her again, this time moving up to the side of her jaw. She grasped his hands, holding him close and resting her head back into his chest.
Jonesy gave a deep, contented laugh. Susie smiled as she felt it rumble against her back. She turned, so they were face to face. She leant on the bench, all thoughts of coffee forgotten. She looped her arms around his neck, pulling him down towards her.
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The Sarge wandered into the office drowsily. He rummaged through the clutter on his desk, not worried by the lack of other people in the room.
"Ah!" he held up his wallet triumphantly, slipping it into his back pocket. He turned to leave, but hesitated, before deciding to check the rest of the station for his colleagues. He checked the locker room, but found no one. He moved on to the mess room, stopping in his tracks as he spotted Susie and Jonesy in each other's arms.
"Constables!" he blurted, not sure whether to laugh or yell at them. The couple split apart immediately, leaping a foot into the air from shock. Jonesy sprang back, his leg smashing into the corner of the table, almost sending a chair flying. He grappled with the chair and his own feet, eventually managing to get the chair onto all four legs, and himself onto his own two. He straightened up, facing in the Sarge's direction, his features distorted in a mix of pain, embarrassment and guilt. Susie remained over by the bench, sporting a sheepish grin.
Mark stared blankly at both of them in turn. Slowly, he started to chortle in delay at Jonesy's performance and the expressions on his and Susie's faces. Jonesy rubbed at his leg, desperately searching for an explanation.
"Ahhh…" he failed miserably. Susie jumped in.
"We were just, ah…" The Sarge waved his hand, putting and end to her ramblings. He gave one last chuckle.
"I don't even want to know." He turned on his heel, dismissing the situation with another wave of his hand and walking out the door. "Enjoy the rest of your shift." He mused.
Jonesy stared after him, open-mouthed and blank-faced. He whipped around, expecting Susie's attitude to reflect his. To his surprise, she was laughing. He was shocked.
"It's your turn to make the coffee." She quipped matter-of-factly, slapping him on the back as she left the room. He watched her walk away, smirking as the humour of the situation dawned on him.
Jonesy sauntered over to Susie's desk, placing the steaming mug in front of her. She snatched it up eagerly, taking a long, slow mouthful. He did the same, sitting down on the edge of the desk. He glanced at his watch.
"So. Twenty minutes to go. Think we'll get another call?" He asked.
"Nah, I reckon we're in the clear." Susie replied. Her answer was half reasoning, half wishful thinking.
"Ooh, I don't know…" He stressed his point sarcastically. Susie acted insulted.
"Are you doubting my intuition?"
"Yes I am." Jonesy nodded defiantly.
"Pessimist." She retorted light-heartedly, riling him up.
"Alright, you're on. Twenty bucks says we get one last call." He challenged.
"Game on."
Jonesy downed the last of his coffee. He walked over to his own desk, smiling over his shoulder at Susie. He sat down, shuffling around a stack of papers.
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Susie looked up at the clock.
"Hey Jonesy." He looked up. She pointed to the clock gleefully. "Twelve-thirty, time to go." He gave a huge sigh of relief, pushing his chair away from his desk and springing from his chair. He clapped his hands.
"Finally. Let's get out of here." He made for the door.
"Not so fast." She stopped him. "Aren't you forgetting something?" she held out her hand, palm flat. He looked at it, then back up at her. She was smiling sweetly.
"I'll tell you what. I'll make you dinner instead. Hungry?" He smiled charmingly, trying to get out of paying her her winnings.
"Smooth."
"Why, thankyou."
"Your place?" He paused, holding up a finger.
"Hang on a tick." He grabbed his phone from his pocket, pressing speed dial. He frowned. "No answer. I'll try Alex's mobile." He dialled again.
"Hello?"
"Alex, it's Jonesy."
"Oh, you off already mate?"
"Yeah."
"I'm out for the night."
"You are?" Jonesy's voice perked up.
"Yeah. Don't wait up for me, though."
"I won't. Who's the lucky lady?"
"I gotta go. Talk to ya tomorrow."
"Okay, see you later."
"Bye." The line went dead. Jonesy turned to Susie.
"Looks like we've got the place to ourselves." They headed for the door, turning off all the lights and locking the door. Susie looked impressed.
"Very nice. No interruptions." She winked, getting into her car. "Meet you there in 10." Jonesy laughed, getting into his own car as she drove off, tooting the horn.
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