Fearful Lightening

Authors Note: Set the morning after!

Jackie arrived at her desk, glad that she was only one in so early as it would give her a chance to catch up on her reports. She opened her drawer retrieving her mobile she stashed their last night, how wrong could she be, she thought to herself. She switched it on and placed it on her desk and started to work on her reports. She only picked up her phone, when it started furiously beeping, she sighed seeing the 10 missed calls from Robbie. She put the phone back down, she had no interest in revisiting her stupidity. "you're in early!" Michael smiled checking his watch, as he strolled into the bull pen.

"you are one to talk, did you go home last night?" he nodded, fully appreciating the irony of him commenting on anyone being in early. She smiled pointing to her paperwork "I wanted to get catch up on some paperwork!" she watched him heading for the coffee machine, smiling when he picked up her mug as he went past. "how are you this morning?" she swivelled her chair round as he poured her a coffee.

"I'm alright, still don't feel quite like myself!" he smiled, the knowledge that Strange hadn't actually met Taggart had thrown him, he spent the night thinking about it.

"I know what you mean!" she accepted the coffee that he had poured for her "listen Michael, I am sorry for telling Robbie about the spirit messages. I'd actually said to him before you asked me to keep it quiet. It really wasn't intentional!"

"I know that, I thought we cleared that up yesterday. You know,..after I overreacted!" she exhaled loudly, after her near miss with Robbie, she had been replaying everything over her and over.

"I guess it just bothers me that I let you down! I should have known better" she said turning her chair away from him, she was so annoyed with herself.

"you didn't" she shrugged. "listen…" he waited for her to turn back around "don't worry about it, we are fine! Ok?" She reluctantly nodded. He leaned back on the filing cabinet.

"so….. how was your date last night?" she looked at him, surprised that he knew she had been lying. "you are not that good at lying!" she laughed. "you know I could have sworn, we agreed to not be keeping secrets anymore!" He smirked.

"I know, but I am starting to think, we weren't being that realistic! You are my boss afterall!" he couldn't help but feel disappointed, but he knew she had a point.

"perhaps, …I presume it was someone I know?" she didn't answer and he could tell from the look on her face that it was. He had a suspicion that Robbie's charms had worked on her, that she wouldn't have discussed Taggart with him otherwise.

"to answer your question, it didn't go well!" She said exasperated.

"that's a shame!" He leant forward and whispered, "it's his loss!" He smiled and he meant it, it would be a very lucky man that would win here heart.

"maybe!" she shook her heard exhaling loudly. "when did it all get so … so complicated?!"

"tell me about it!" he smirked. "listen, you free for dinner tonight? my treat!"

"yeah, sounds good!" she nodded.

"Morning all!" Robbie sauntered into the office, he stopped in his tracks seeing Jackie at her desk. "em… Jackie you got a minute?" Michael could almost feel the tension rise in her, confirming his suspicions.

"I'm a bit busy Robbie! Can it wait?" Robbie hovered not sure what to do with himself. Jackie just pulled her chair forward to her desk and continued working on her reports. Michael couldn't help but feel awkward.

"is there some sort of problem here?" Michael finally asked.

"no problem!" she smiled. "Robbie and I had a slight disagreement, but all is forgotten!"

"really?" Robbie asked.

"really!" Jackie smiled.

"ok then, let's get on with the day!" Michael squeezed her shoulder as he walked past her, noting a slight ease in her as he did.

Michael sat back in his office sitting with his coffee, Jackie went on a date with Robbie, he thought to himself. He didn't know what to think about it or why he felt a sense of disappointment. He knew she was dressed up for someone, that dinner with girlfriends was a lie, but the fact it was Robbie didn't sit well with him. He shook his head trying to chase the thoughts away.