A/N: Includes some references to the episode "Long Time Dead".
Organising a policeman's ball left a lot to be desired. Fortunately for Michael, he had Jackie to help him. After last year's disastrous attempt, he was surprised to be given another chance to host the event. And after seeing how badly the night could go, he wasn't particularly keen on hosting again.
At least the chances of any disasters on that scale were slim. Hopefully, it would be a good evening.
It didn't stop him worrying a little though.
He was going over some of the preparations with Jackie in his office. Most of the planning was just about sorted, one less thing to worry over, thankfully.
The talk of the plans had gradually moved on to some of the attendees.
"Stuart's pleased to be going this time," said Jackie. "Actually, I think Robbie is too," she added.
"Against my better judgement," Michael said.
"That's a bit mean," she teased, before Michael shrugged. "I doubt he'll disgrace you," she added. Michael looked unconvinced. "Not too much, anyway," she smiled.
"You're still not planning on bringing anyone?" asked Michael.
Jackie shook her head, "What about you?"
"I am bringing someone, actually," he replied.
"Oh?" she smirked.
"It's Jean," he smiled.
Jackie's smirk turned into a heart-warming smile, "It's nice of you to invite her."
In truth, Michael had seen it as a good way to make the evening more different to last year's ball. He'd brought his girlfriend at the time and he didn't really want to bring a date along to this one. As he was single, that wasn't difficult.
"I think she was pleased to be invited, and it'll be good to have her there," he said.
"Are you looking forward to it?" she asked.
"I'll be glad when it's over with," he admitted.
"I remember you were looking forward to it last year," she said.
"And look what happened," he said. Jackie was about to reply when Michael continued, "Yes, I know that probably won't happen again. But that won't stop me being cautious."
"Well, I'm looking forward to it. But you do owe me," she teased.
"Is that so?" he smirked.
"Absolutely," she smiled.
"Well, let's get this wrapped up first, eh?" Michael responded, hoping that any favours wouldn't be too bad.
Jackie was the first to arrive at the ball, expecting that Michael would turn up soon. At least she imagined he'd be there before Robbie or Stuart.
Stephen arrived shortly after and the two of them conversed.
"Did Michael tell you he's bringing Jean Taggart with him?" asked Jackie.
"Yes, he did mention that. It'll be good to see her, I haven't seen Jean in years," replied Stephen.
"She's keeping well, but I'm sure she'll be able to tell you that herself," she said, sharing a smile with Stephen.
"It looks like Michael's done a good job organising this," commented Stephen.
"Well, I helped," she smiled. "To be honest, I think he's a bit anxious because of what happened last year."
"That was hardly his fault," he said.
"I know, and I'm sure he knows that's unlikely to happen tonight," she said.
Jackie was glad that Michael was bringing Jean along. She hoped Jean's presence would relax Michael somewhat.
She was also glad that Robbie and Stuart had gotten invited this time. Jackie was positive that the evening would go a lot better than last year.
The door opened and Jackie smiled when she saw Michael and Jean enter. She gave them a welcoming smile, which they reciprocated before Stephen went over to Jean.
"Jean Taggart! My, it's been a long time," said Stephen.
"Hasn't it?" beamed Jean. "How have you been?"
It was soon obvious that this was the beginning of a long catch up between Stephen and Jean. Not that Michael minded, he was quite happy to talk to Jackie for a while.
"Did you get here okay?" asked Jackie.
Michael nodded, "Traffic was a bit busy though."
"Well, there's still plenty of people yet to arrive. Are you ready for this evening?" Jackie asked.
"As I'll ever be," Michael smiled.
A member of staff interrupted them, carrying some drinks. Jackie gladfully accepted, while Michael declined as they were all alcoholic.
"I'm sure it's going to be a great evening, and that you'll be a great host," Jackie said once they were alone.
"Thanks, but I'm not sure I'd be able to pull this off without you," Michael admitted.
"Of course, you wouldn't," she smirked.
Michael chuckled as he felt his anxieties ease. Whatever happened this evening, at least he'd have Jackie there to keep him sane.
Everything was going wonderfully. Michael's speech had gone without a hitch and everyone had enjoyed the entertainment.
And, most importantly, no one had been murdered.
Jean, in particular, was having a great time. Though she couldn't help but wonder what Jim would make of this. She was sure that he would have hated the thought of having to organise something like this and would probably have gotten her to do it instead. Either that or he would have delegated the task to Michael, who was playing the role of the host rather well.
Some of the guests had started to dance with each other. And she could see that Jackie and Robbie, were dancing. Jean also noticed what appeared to be a hint of jealousy on Michael's face, but it was only there for an instant before he checked in on someone.
Shortly after, Michael joined her, and they chatted for a bit. Until Jean noticed that Jackie wasn't doing anything.
"You know, I think Jackie would be glad to have a dance with you," Jean suggested.
"I wouldn't want to leave you alone. I've already spent much of the evening talking to some of the higher ranks," Michael replied.
"Which is why you could do with some fun. And I'm sure I can find a way to occupy myself," she smiled.
"If you're sure…" he said reluctantly.
"I'll be fine," Jean said.
Michael smiled before he left Jean. However, it would be a while before he would have the chance to go to Jackie as he was interrupted by another officer.
After the polite (but dull) conversation had ended, he found himself relieved to find that Jackie was still unoccupied.
He tapped her back, Jackie turned around and smiled when she saw it was Michael.
"Care for a dance?" he asked.
"Sure," Jackie replied as she reached her hand out for him to take.
They walked to the dance floor and Michael put his free arm around her. Jackie was surprised at just how much she was enjoying their dance and found herself resisting the temptation to put her head on his shoulder. They danced through a couple of songs and Michael had just twirled her when a faster-paced song started. They shared a smile, silently agreeing to stop.
Jackie's smile turned into a snicker.
"What?" asked Michael bemusedly.
Jackie nodded to indicate that Michael should turn around. "I think Robbie's getting a knock back."
Michael turned and smirked. Robbie was getting rejected and the woman in question had quickly found another man to dance with.
Robbie caught the amused look on Michael and Jackie's faces.
"I see tonight isn't quite going your way," Jackie teased.
Robbie shrugged, "You win some, you lose some."
Robbie then sauntered to the bar, before Michael and Jackie had a quiet chuckle.
Michael spent the remainder of the ball making sure that everything was going well and attending to Jean.
Jackie also took some time to chat to Jean. But it wasn't too long before she was back on the dancefloor sharing a dance with Stuart and later, another dance with Robbie.
Through it all, Michael and Jackie had managed to share some glances and smiles. There were times when it was almost like they were having silent conversations.
After a while, the place gradually quietened as the night came to an end. As Jackie left the venue, she was surprised to find Michael just outside the entrance, standing on one of the steps.
"You alright?" she asked, as she went over to him.
"Jean's having another chat with Stephen. I thought I'd step out for some fresh air," he explained. "You heading off?" he asked, noticing that she was wearing her coat.
Jackie nodded, "I think we can agree that this ball was better than last year's."
"Which wasn't difficult. Thanks for helping out, I really do owe you one," he said.
Jackie smiled, "That's good to know. Thanks for the dance, by the way."
"My pleasure," he smiled.
Jackie went to kiss Michael's cheek, but tripped up on a step and kissed the corner of his mouth, almost touching his lips.
Michael placed his hands on her shoulders to steady her, Jackie was about to apologise, but the words died on her lips. They stayed like that for a moment, both caught up in the intense look in the other's eyes.
In a burst of Dutch courage, Jackie leaned forward again, and Michael met her half-way. Their eyes closed just as their lips grazed. Jackie parted her lips, but the smell of alcohol on Jackie's breath forced Michael back to reality, and he broke away from her.
"Oh God, Jackie. I'm so sorry," he said.
"For what?" she looked puzzled.
"I don't want to take advantage of you," he said.
"Michael, I may have had a few. But I'm not drunk enough that I've lost my wits," she said firmly.
"Even so…let's not start something we can't finish. Especially something you might regret in the morning, eh?" he said softly.
Jackie crossed her arms and was about to reply, but the sound of Robbie's voice stopped her.
"There you are," said Robbie, who looked the worse for wear as the result of the alcohol he'd consumed throughout the night. "Can I get a lift?"
"I took a taxi here. What about Stuart?" Jackie suggested.
"He's left," Robbie replied.
Jackie sighed, "Come on then, you can share a taxi with me, and we can split the fare."
"Cheers," said Robbie. It was then that he picked up on the tension between Michael and Jackie. "Have I interrupted something?" Robbie asked.
"No," Michael replied. "I should see to Jean and take her home. Goodnight," he rushed inside before either had a chance to reply.
"Are you sure I didn't interrupt something?" Robbie asked.
"Positive," Jackie replied. "Now let's go before I change my mind," she said, trying to ignore her disappointment and embarrassment.
Unfortunately for her, her encounter with Michael would be on her mind all night.
Jean could tell that something was off about Michael as he drove her back home. The journey had been silent, Michael seemed lost in his thoughts. Jean was sure she knew what it was about.
She might not be a detective, but she liked to think she had a good instinct, and her instinct told her this was somehow about Jackie.
"Would you like a cup of tea?" she asked when he parked outside her house.
"Best not," he replied apologetically.
"There's something I want to ask you," she said. At the reluctance on his face, she added, "Please?"
"Alright…thanks," he said.
They left the car and entered Jean's house. Michael hung up her coat for her, and she smiled in thanks. "Make yourself at home," she said, resulting in a polite smile from Michael.
Michael entered the living room and sat on the couch. He could not take his mind off Jackie. He wasn't sure if their encounter counted as a kiss, their lips had barely touched. And he'd had the sense to put a stop to it before it had gone further.
But the guilt wouldn't go away. Part of that came from the embarrassment that he was sure Jackie was feeling. But he also felt bad because he had wanted to kiss her, wanted to deepen that kiss, and lose themselves for a moment in time.
He just hoped things wouldn't be awkward between them tomorrow.
Michael shook his head before he went into the kitchen to check on Jean. A moment later, they took their teas to the living room.
"Are you okay, Michael?" she asked.
He nodded, "I'm fine."
"Are you sure? You seem a bit off," she said.
"Nothing's wrong," he lied.
Jean decided to bite the bullet, "Does this have something to do with Jackie?"
Michael was unable to hide his surprise, "How did you know?"
"I didn't get a chance to say goodbye to her, but I did notice her leaving. A couple of moments later you came in to take me home and you've seemed preoccupied since. Did something happen between the two of you?"
"We…sort of kissed," he confessed. "But I stopped it, she'd had a few and I didn't want to take advantage of her," he continued in a rush.
Jean drank some of her tea to hide her smile. Michael certainly acted like a gentleman, but sometimes he could act too gentleman like. Perhaps in this situation it was for the best. But poor Jackie wouldn't see it that way, probably feeling humiliated in the process.
"And if Jackie hadn't been drinking?" she asked.
Michael wasn't sure how to reply to that, not really wanting to admit the truth to Jean. But his silence told her all that she needed to know.
"I see," she said.
"Look, the last thing I want is to engage in something she might regret," he said.
"And what makes you think she'd regret it?" she asked.
"I think she's interested in someone else," he admitted.
"It wouldn't be that DI of yours, would it?" she asked. Michael drank some of his tea to avoid answering. "I thought you looked jealous when the two of them danced," she commented.
"I wasn't…" he trailed off. There was no point in denying it, not to Jean. She was hardly going to tell anyone. "I think something almost happened between them months back."
"They're not together though," she stated.
Michael shook his head. Unless their incident had made Jackie decide to go to the arms of Robbie. But he doubted that, it looked like Robbie would only be sleeping off a hangover tonight.
"So, you could still have a chance. If you're interested that is," she said. Though she was certain by now that Michael's feelings for Jackie were more than platonic.
Michael looked doubtful, "I suppose I think that Jackie's too good for me," he admitted.
"I think the only person who can decide that is Jackie. And I think she would find that idea ridiculous," she said. Michael drank some more of his tea, contemplating Jean's words. "And if Jackie made the first move, maybe she feels the same way you do," she suggested.
"Maybe," he said, though still not really believing it.
Jean sighed, "I just want you and Jackie to be happy."
"I know. I guess I have some things to think about," he said.
"It sounds like you do. But whatever happens, you know my door's always open if you need to talk," she said.
"Thanks, Jean," he said, appreciating her words.
Even if the idea of talking to Jackie terrified him.
Jackie walked into the station the next morning like nothing had happened the night before. Finding the bullpen empty, she decided to make herself a cup of tea. Stuart arrived shortly after, and neither were surprised when Robbie turned up slightly late. They both noted that Robbie's beverage of choice was a black coffee.
"Rough night?" asked Jackie.
"More like rough morning," replied Robbie. Counting down the hours and minutes before he could next take some aspirin.
Stuart and Jackie shared a smile, both deciding not to make any further comments.
What had surprised Jackie, however, was Michael. She had expected some awkwardness, maybe that he'd even avoid her for a bit. Neither seemed to be further from the truth. He had treated her just as he usually would, well almost. Every word they'd spoken to each other had been work related, but there wasn't any kind of tension.
So, we're just going to pretend last night didn't happen, Jackie thought. She spent a large portion of the day ignoring her disappointment.
Until she had to go to Michael's office.
They went over some paperwork, and when Jackie thought she was being dismissed turned to go, until Michael called her back.
"Can you stay behind for a bit when the others leave?" he asked.
"Why?" she asked, none too pleased about the idea.
"There's something I want to talk to you about," he said almost shyly, though perhaps Jackie imagined that.
"Alright," she agreed.
"Great," a small smile appeared on his lips. "Meet me on the rooftop when the others have left, okay?"
"Sure," she said, before he dismissed her. "Alright then," she muttered when she left his office, not quite sure what to make of Michael's request.
The rest of her shift seemed to drag by, and she found it difficult to concentrate on her tasks. Eventually, the bullpen slowly started to empty, and Jackie made her way to the roof.
She unconsciously tightened her coat, thankful that she had her denim jacket underneath, as she took in the dark sky.
Michael appeared a few moments later, slowly walking towards her. "Hey," he said when he reached her. He placed his arm on the balustrade, "Thanks for coming."
Jackie shrugged, not really knowing what to say.
Michael let out a breath, this wasn't going to be easy.
"I'm sorry about last night. If I embarrassed you, it wasn't my intention," he said.
"Thanks, I guess," she said.
Jackie had felt embarrassed. She had felt like she'd put everything on the line, just for Michael to brush it away. As if anything that could happen between them wouldn't mean anything.
And she acknowledged to herself, that idea hurt.
"Do you remember when we first met? Back when you were a WPC?" he asked after a moment.
Jackie was taken aback by his question. She had expected some sort of spiel about how they would be better off as friends, not a question on their past.
"Yes, of course, I remember," she answered.
"Well…," he looked to his side briefly before he maintained eye contact with Jackie. "Jim Taggart warned me off you."
"He what?" she asked with disbelief in her voice.
Michael nodded, "Threatened to transfer me if the two of us got any friendlier. And to be honest, had he not warned me off, I probably would have asked you out."
She didn't immediately reply, needing a moment to process his admission.
"I would have said yes," she finally said.
Michael looked away and took in the view for a moment. He faced Jackie again before he spoke, "I wonder how we would have turned out."
"Do you?" she raised an eyebrow.
"Yes, it's actually something I've been thinking about a lot recently," he confessed.
"I suppose it would be one of those things that you'd never really know for sure unless it actually happened," she said.
"Hmmm," he murmured in agreement.
"So, it's a good thing I'm sober. Means you can't worry about taking advantage of me," she smiled at the bemused look on his face before she leaned in to softly kiss him.
She was relieved when she felt him kiss her back, both forgot about their anxieties as they enjoyed the moment.
Jackie broke away and smiled, "Well, that was-"
But whatever she had been about to say left her mind as Michael crushed her to him in an open-mouthed kiss. Jackie put her arms around him, both surprised at the passion that arose.
But neither would ever complain.
Eventually, the kiss ended, and they both took a moment to catch their breaths.
"Feel free to do that again," Jackie said after a moment.
Michael chuckled, "You can count on it." He sobered, "Look, Jackie I…This is more than…" he trailed off, not sure how to articulate his feelings.
Jackie stopped him from continuing by caressing his lips with her thumb. "I love you too, Michael," she smiled.
He returned the smile, as he silently told her with his eyes that he felt the same.
"If you're not doing anything tomorrow, would you like to come over? I could cook you dinner?" he offered.
"I'd love to," she answered.
"It's a date then," he smiled.
"That's what it sounds like," she said. "Just one thing though, Michael."
"What's that?" he asked.
"You still owe me," she teased.
Michael gave a short barking laugh before he kissed her again.
A/N: One more chapter to go