Part 3

Charlie slowly raised her head, looking up to Jo. "You were watching?" She frowned slightly.

Jo shook her head. "Listening." She pointed up. "Balcony - not that half of CID couldn't hear the banter." She nodded to Mickey who was sheepishly coming down the stairs too.

"I didn't mean it like that..." Charlie looked down, "I just...She gets under my skin, I can't just let her make dig after dig!"

"No, you can't." Jo said. "And I know you didn't. But you don't help yourself by fuelling her argument with comments like that do you? It just makes her react more because she knows it gets to you."

Charlie sighed and nodded, still looking at the floor. "I'm sorry..." She said softly, "I shouldn't let her, I know..."

"No - you shouldn't." Jo looked down at her and sighed, rolling her eyes. "Come on." She finally put her arms round her and pulled her closer. "Stop those tears, she's not worth them." She lightly kissed against Charlie's hair.

Charlie melted against Jo, almost sighing with relief as she hid her face in Jo's neck, wrapping her arms around her.

"Alright?" Mickey mouthed to Jo.

Jo nodded and sighed. "Look - I can't stay; I've got a meeting set up with an informant that I can't miss." She pulled Charlie back a little so she could see her. "You okay? And are you gonna behave?" She smiled slightly.

Charlie nodded and wiped her eyes a little on her sleeve. "Promise." She said, smiling a little at Jo.

"Good girl." She squeezed her arms and kissed her forehead. "We'll talk properly later." She turned and shepherded Mickey out of the building.

Charlie nodded and watched them go, sighing to herself as she walked back behind the desk, checking her makeup and tidied herself up.

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"Andrea's gonna get it one day." Jo hissed as she got into the car with Mickey. "I'm not having that."

Mickey sighed. "S'the thing with those two, they're never gonna get on, no matter what happens. They know each others weaknesses and the buttons to press, and they exploit it."

"Well it's gonna stop, and I'm gonna make damn sure of it." Jo told him adamantly.

Mickey raised his eyebrows almost skeptically. "Right..."

"Don't doubt me Mickey." She insisted. "I mean it. When have I ever not done what I said I would?" She looked at him.

"What are you gonna do?" Mickey frowned. "It might make things worse, if Andrea sees you steaming towards her, she'd know it'd worked and push twice as hard."

"Oh no." Jo shook her head. "Mickey - I'm a Detective Constable. Not an idiot." She snorted. "So please don't patronise me yeah. A little research never did anyone any harm..."

"Just be careful..." Mickey glanced back inside, nodding at where Charlie was talking to Amber. "Andrea twists things..."

"Mickey, I don't need a minder. I can look after myself - and Charlie." She said pointedly before driving off.

"Yes mum." Mickey said with a wink, looking through the file pages on his lap.

Jo tutted and drove off towards town.

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Charlie smiled at Amber as she left, glancing around the office, shifting awkwardly.