Author's Note: I just realized I had this chapter floating around, so here you go :)

Chapter 16: Half Truths and Almost Honesty

Amelia was trying to put the case to the back of her mind as she ate. But the Chinese food kept reminding her of the menu in the alley, which in turn reminded her of the colossal effort they still had in front of them. What did they really know? The answer was not one Amelia liked to admit to herself. They were grabbing at threads, although, she supposed, at least there were some threads now. She sighed and poked at a dumpling.

"Just eat it, Bones," Fabian said, "Before somebody else does."

And he picked up the dumpling with his chopsticks and ate it.

"I was talking about me," he said, "if you didn't get that."

Amelia smiled.

"Yeah, I'd picked that one up."

Fabian frowned and picked up a mouthful of noodles, chewing with a pensive look on his face. Amelia put her chopsticks down; she wasn't feeling very hungry anymore.

"Amelia, we've got a problem."

Dolores had finished her dinner earlier and gone in search of somebody to take over the watch. She must of gone around the entire office because she disappeared for quite some time and the look she wore when she returned was less than promising.

"There is nobody available to take the night shift," she went on, slumping down in her chair with a sigh, "literally nobody. I tried, I'm sorry."

"Right," Amelia groaned, getting to her feet, "that means we're going to have to do it. Who's in?"

"Can't!" all three of the men before her said at once.

Amelia raised her eyebrows in surprise.

"Everybody's got plans?" she said incredulously, "Even Gideon?"

The aforementioned Auror looked at his feet, blushing a little. After a minute of intense stares from everyone, he finally broke down.

"Dolores and I were planning to spend some time together this evening," he admitted, "We haven't been able to recently, with both of us staying so late at work."

Amelia couldn't help but melt.

"You're too, too adorable," she said, "Exempt! Frank?"

"I was, ah," he hesitated, "planning to spend some time with my darling wife."

"He lies!" Alice Longbottom's voice piped up from a cubicle near by, "He just can't be bothered!"

"Thanks awfully for backing me up, Dearest," Frank yelled.

"Anytime, Darling," she called back.

"You should do it, Bones," Fabian suggested, giving his most charming smile, "You know, the boss lady, setting a good example for the troupes."

Amelia didn't even try to argue; to be perfectly honest, she'd expected she'd have to do the job anyway.

"Fine," she said, "I was just planning to catch up on weeks of sleep anyway."

"No, no, no!"

Dolores jumped up, a look of concern on her face.

"You can't go out on your own," she said, "in the middle of the night!"

Amelia wanted to remind her about what she did for a living, but she didn't. No, this was a good opportunity to spoil someone else's evening.

"Fabian," she said, "thanks for volunteering."

He didn't move, he just stared at her.

"Only if I get to drive," he said, crossing his arms and legs.

Now Amelia just stared. She motioned for him to follow her, but Fabian refused to get out of his chair. He just swiveled around in a childish manner. Amelia rolled her eyes.

"Lord forgive us the things that we do," she muttered, "Alright, you can drive."

Fabian jumped up with a 'Yes' and bounded off towards the lift.

Ten minutes later the pair were driving back to 146 Hardgrave Street. Fabian had selected, like a kid in sweetshop, a black BMW and he now sat in the driver's seat, relaxing against the leather interior. Amelia was surprised to find that the car was just as relaxed as he was, the engine practically purring as they glided through the now dark streets of London. He handled the machine with such ease, his hands resting lightly on the steering wheel, his fingers only having to move slightly for the vehicle to respond. On his face he wore an expression of complete contentment, his chest moving up and down evenly, his eyes not moving from the road. Amelia pulled her gaze away from him, smiling.

"What is it, Bones?" Fabian grinned, catching her smile in the corner of his vision.

"Nothing," Amelia said, turning her head towards the window, "I just didn't expect you to be this, well, skilled. Or this happy."

"Muggles have learnt how make perfection in car form, Bones," Fabain said, "I've always said that."

"Makes me wonder way the transport department is so reluctant to lend you anything?" Amelia asked, a teasing note in her voice.

"In my defense," Fabian protested, "Frank was driving. And how were we supposed to know that the jetty couldn't withstand the weight of an armoured truck?"

"On second thoughts," Amelia said with a laugh, "maybe I'm not so curious."

She let her head fall back against the headrest, expelling her breath with a sigh. Then she reached into her jacket and fished out a cigarette. Fabian's hands tightened around the wheel.

"Do you have to do that in here?" he asked.

Amelia pursed her lips and jerked her head a little, but put it back in her pockets. She left her hands there and shifted in her seat.

"What's up with you, Bones?" Fabian said, bringing the car to a stop, "Something's wrong. We've ascertained it's not my driving and you've gone much longer without needing to poison your lungs, so what's the problem?"

"Nothing's the problem!" Amelia insisted, "Keep driving!"

Fabian looked at her.

"We've arrived."

And they had. 146 Hardgrave Street was right in front of them and she hadn't even noticed. Amelia gave another sigh. Fabian was right; there was something on her mind. She had been thinking about the job offer all day, wondering what the right decision was. People would kill for that position, she knew it, kill to just have to opportunity to be considered for the job. Head of the Auror Office was a stepping stone for Head of Magical Law Enforcement, maybe even for the Minister for Magic. All logic was telling her to say yes. But she didn't want to. She didn't know why. What she did know was the last thing she wanted to do was talk to Fabian about it. But he was going to find out sooner or later, regardless of what she decided to do.

"I've got the job," Amelia whispered, "Head of the Office."

"Well, that's great!" Fabian gushed, "Congratulations! When do you start?"

"I haven't actually accepted yet," Amelia admitted, "But it's there, if I want it."

"Are you kidding?" Fabian exclaimed, "Of course you have to take it!"

"Really?" Amelia asked, her voice hopeful, though in a way it probably shouldn't have been.

"Yeah," Fabian said, "It's a great opportunity. And you'd be perfect at it, probably the best anyone's ever seen."

Amelia nodded, not as an agreement, just to show she was taking on board what he had to say. Her face formed an involuntary frown and she spoke without thinking.

"You want me to go?"

Fabian twisted in his seat, so his body was, to the best of his ability, facing hers.

"You're ridiculous," he breathed, "for thinking I would ever want that."

Amelia bit her lip, feeling sheepish.

"I know," she said quietly, "I know."

Fabian's face softened.

"Are you waiting for someone to beg you to stay?"

"No, of course not," Amelia scoffed.

It wasn't a convincing tone that she used. And that was because she was lying; the whole time she'd been worried that no one would even realise she had gone, that they'd want her to leave, that they'd soon realise they'd be better off without her. Deep down, really deep down, Amelia Bones was a sentimentalist and a romantic. She wanted to think that she'd be missed if she left. Fabian gently placed his hand on her knee and Amelia felt herself tense as he did so.

"If I was selfish then I would definitely beg you to stay," he said, "I really would, Amelia. I would get down on my knees and I would plead with you, I would probably cry if I had too. You're my partner and I've gotten used to having you around. I like having you around."

Amelia was blushing, heat stinging her cheeks, and she hoped, in the dimness, it couldn't be seen. Fabian took his hand back and folded his arms, turning back to stare straight ahead.

"But I'm not that selfish," he continued, his voice much lower, "This isn't about me. This is about you and what is best for you. Right now, Auror Unit B might seem safe and familiar, and you might be comfortable and happy with that, but tens years on, if you don't take the job, you'll be kicking yourself. And probably me too."

"Why do you care so much?" Amelia asked her partner, somewhat naively.

Fabian looked uncomfortable, clearing his throat a few times before answering.

"You're like family to me, Bones. And caring, so I'm told, is what families do."

He looked out through the windscreen, his bright blue eyes somewhere else. Nothing stirred outside the car and, for a moment, the inside mirrored this, both wizard and witch saying and doing nothing. Occasionally the wizard would appear to go to say something, but he stopped himself. It was cold, Amelia noticed all of a sudden. She shivered and pulled her jacket tighter around herself. Fabian must have noticed because he took his coat off and draped it over her like a blanket. She tried to refuse, tried to give it back, but Fabian wouldn't take it. In the end, she gave in and curled her legs up on her seat, spreading the coat over them. It smelt like Fabian, like his cologne and other warm and comforting things. Hers, she reflected sadly, smelt like ash.

"We'll talk about it when the case is over," Fabian said quietly.

And they both settled down to keep watch.