Chapter One:

Warning. This story takes place during Mystery in The Sky. If you have not seen the special, then maybe this story isn't for you. This is my retelling of the story from Malcolm's POV. If you cannot handle the fact that there's a homosexual couple in it, then don't read it.

-Den Moother

Sunlight filtered in through the window. I groaned and placed an arm over my face. I turned over onto my side only to be met with something soft. Winter had curled up rather close to me. He began to stir slowly. His eye lids fluttered. "Mal? You okay?" he asked tiredly.

I nodded. "Yeah. Just have the case of the "I don't want to wake up"" I muttered.

Winter chuckled tiredly. "Forgot that you aren't much of a morning person."

I shoved the blankets back. Tomorrow was the day of the new station's opening. Winter and I had to make sure construction was finished beforehand. Winter slowly sat upright. "I have to check on my flowers before we leave. This summer heat is killer."

"You do that and meet me down at the station."

"Sounds good." Winter's stomach then howled. "Maybe after breakfast though."

Warm smells wafted through the house. Winter was trying his hand at making pancakes. I sat in the living room, watching him. The two of us had been married for a little under a year. It took Winter a lot of courage to ask me out. He turned a pancake over in the pan. "Yes! It didn't stick!" he cheered.

I chuckled quietly. "I think you've finally got the science of cooking down, babe."

"I did tell you that I would try to get better." muttered Winter.

Winter finished making breakfast. He set the plates down on the coffee table. I could smell the hazelnuts he crushed into the pancakes. I took a bite of one. I cracked a grin at him. Winter tilted his head to the side. "Spot on."

I saw his face light up. "Thank the gods." he sighed.

The two of us ate in silence. Winter took our plates to the sink. He gave them a quick scrub. I grabbed my helmet off the wall. I loaded my baton and taser onto my belt. Winter snagged his cap off the counter. He put it on his head. "Let's roll."

We headed for Sam's house first. Winter took the spare key he had for Sam's garden out of his pocket. He used it to unlock the gate. Winter headed over to his flower garden. With Winter checking on his flowers, I headed off to the new station.

A large blue tarp covered the vast majority of the police station. I swapped my Constable helmet for a hard hat as soon as I entered the sight. One of the builders looked up at me. "Everything is all set to go for tomorrow's launch."

I nodded. "The tarp will come off before noon tomorrow, right?"

"That's correct."

"Excellent. Just make sure everything is nice and neat."

"Oh don't worry, PC Malcolm, we'll make sure things are clean for the Sergent's arrival."

"Good. I just don't want her to get the wrong idea."

The builder laughed. "well this is PontyPandy."

"True. I'm still learning that this town isn't what it seems." I mused.

I remembered the first day I arrived in PontyPandy. The fire station was hosting an Open Day for all services. That was when I got to help with my first rescue. I still think about Nipper driving Hyrdus from time to time. Didn't realize dogs could drive. "Well I'll leave ya to it. Officer Price and I will be hanging out in the temporary if you need us."

Winter came running down the street. He joined me outside of the new station. "So, what did I miss?" he panted.

"Nothing much other than preparations are nearly complete."

He nodded. "Good. It'll be about time too. Shall we head for the portable?"

"Yep."

We had a portable set up close by. I sat down in the chair close to the camera system that was set up. Winter sat at the table. He took out his gardening book. "You know, the one thing I miss about London is always having call outs." he muttered.

"Same here." I leaned back in my chair.

The two of us sat in silence for a long while. Winter closed his book. He laid his head on the table. The rest of the afternoon dragged on slowly. Winter had to clock out for the day so it was just me in the portable alone. The radio sitting on my desk went off. "A Norman-Man rescue has gone wrong at Joe Sparkes Garage." came Station Officer Steele's voice over the radio.

I shook my head. "That Norman is really something."

I grabbed a binder off the shelf. Since I wasn't needed right there and then, I figured I would try to at least sort the schedules for next week.

I heard a light tap on the portable door. "Come in."

Winter walked in. "Hey big cat. I figured I would keep you company. It's kind of boring at home without you."

I chuckled. "Well it's not much better here. I'm doing the schedule for next week."

"I can see that."

Another knock came at the door. I frowned. "Did you bring a friend?"

"No. It's just me."

I stood up and answered the door. An older female sporting a Sergent's uniform stood on the other side of it. She smiled at me. "Afternoon, Constable."

"Serg! You're early!" I exclaimed. "The new station hasn't been finished."

She entered the portable. "I'm aware. I figured I would arrive early. Has anything happened before my arrival."

"Nope. You've got the case of the small town blues here, Sergent." interjected Winter.

Rose turned to him. "Constable, who is this?"

"Rose, this is Officer Winter Price. He's a transfer from London."

Winter smiled. He bowed. "At your service."

She nodded. "The HQ didn't tell me that there was a second person here. Forgive my sudden surprise."

"They've been doing that an awful lot lately." said Winter.

Winter then turned to me. "I thought you told her about me, babe?" he said through the corner of his mouth.

"It slipped my mind. I've been very busy the past couple of weeks."

"Yeah sitting around." He folded his arms over his chest. His size made it rather hard for me to take him seriously.

"We've been over this, your size couldn't intimidate a Chihuahua."

Rose sat down near the cameras. She cleared her throat which caught the both of us off guard. She looked to Winter. "Officer Price, what are you doing here if you're off duty?"

"Oh. I came to keep Malcolm company, ma'am."

"I see. I don't think that'll be necessary now that I'm here."

"Of course. See you later, Malcolm."

I grinned apologetically at him. He gave me a small hug before leaving. I walked back over to the desk. I picked up the schedules. I sat down at the table with them. The two of us sat in silence until the evening hours. I signed off for the night, leaving Rose to tend to the portable by herself.

Winter was in the process of making dinner. The smell of chili sauce hit the roof of my nose. My mouth watered. "smells good, babe."

"Thanks. I'm trying one of your mother's recipes. I just hope I don't end up burning it."

I slid off my work vest. "I'm sure it'll come out okay, Winter. I'm off to shower and get changed."

"Cool. Dinner should be ready by the time you come back."

I headed upstairs to shower. I let the warm water rush down my backside. A tired groan left my lips. A part of me wondered if moving to PontyPandy was a good idea considering how quiet it was. I leaned my head against the wall. I could tell boredom was just settling in. "Hey Athena!" I shouted.

I heard my phone chirp on the other end of the bathroom. "Play the newscast for today!'

In local news, the science community is watching Joe Sparkes rather closely as he nears completion of his Sparksmaster battery. Mr. Sparkes has gone on to state that he is close to making the prefect power source that can power things in large quantities.

I shook my head in amusement. "And yet his inventions always seem to have it out for PontyPandy."

In world news,

The leader of the , Henry "Enrique" Tarrio, was arrested Monday in Washington, DC, for allegedly burning a banner taken from a Black church last month during protests in the city after a "Stop the Steal" rally.

A law enforcement official told CNN that the DC Metropolitan Police Department charged Tarrio, of Miami, with destruction of property related to a banner that was burned on December 12 outside a church in northwest DC.

I groaned inwardly. "Athena! Play my music playlist!" I shouted.

"Ghost Town" by Layto x Neoni became playing through my phone. I continued to scrub myself down. I finished up and closed out of the app. I dressed into my usual green shirt and jeans. Winter had dinner waiting downstairs. He looked rather proud of himself. "I did it."

I sat down at the table. I took a bite of the chicken. I grinned. "Yeah you did."

"It's not too spicy?"

I shook my head. "Even then it would still be tasty to me."

Winter let out a sigh of relief. The two of us ate in silence again. Winter had his book in his lap. "You've been reading that an awful lot lately." I commented.

"I can't help it. I love this book. It's my favorite thing." chirped Winter.

"Nothing wrong with that. Sam got you that book, right?"

Winter nodded. "It's been super helpful when I've been tending to my garden. I thought about making a flower garden out here too."

"You should considering it'll still be safe from your brother."

"Well I'll get to work once this heat season ends."

The night hours soon came. I cuddled down underneath of the sheets with Winter. He laid against my chest. "Good night, Mal."

"Night Winter." I closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep.