A/N: So this is the other fic I've been talking about. It's set in series 3, roughly after Stuart comes in, but the fire hasn't happened.

Please enjoy.

Burning under your control

Chapter one.

Controlling someone is having the ability to influence and dominate a vulnerable human being.

Embarrassed.

On opening her eyes, Rachel Mason awoke to unfamiliar surroundings. A second went by before it had hit her; she was naked. She had been in a foreign bed, naked, with an oh so familiar friend. Eddie Lawson. This was not happening. This couldn't happen, afterall she was a professional. A ringing sensation echoed throughout her ears which was accompanied by a thumping to her head. Great. An almighty hangover, and she desperately needed to find a way home.

Slowly and quietly sitting up, she swiftly brought her legs around to the edge of the bed. Before pursuing finding her clothing, she looked over her shoulder one last time. There he lay, sound asleep. He was rather handsome. However, this was not the time to start a saucy sexual relationship with her deputy. She winced as she thought about the fact that she was his boss. Focusing her eyes back on the wall, she cleared her conscience, or so she thought. Tiptoeing out of the room, she made the mistake of opening the door too quickly and with that the door clashed against the wall. She made her escape down the stairs and quickly dressed before making a mad dash for a taxi.

She had in fact, missed how a certain deputy of hers had been awake the whole time.

It was getting late, nine o'clock to be precise and only a handful of the teachers were left in the pub. A Friday night, and it had become their weekly tradition. It had been a tough week with the inspections, and so, true to her word, Rachel had promised them a round or two on her. She just didn't quite prepare for the staff to be absolutely rat arsed two and a half hours in.

She and Eddie had sat in their own little booth a few meters away from the rest of them. They'd had enough of Grantley's moaning and Steph's terrible karaoke. He'd sensed that she'd had enough, and so he wanted to convince her to stay. He had been feeling a strong attraction towards her for quite some time but hadn't really known how to approach it. He didn't want it to be whilst they were intoxicated, however it was the only time that she really let herself be free.

He knew he had to act tonight, and fast. He could see her reaching for her coat and reacted quickly.

'So Miss Mason, would you like another drink?', he questioned to make her spend at least another hour with him.

'I think I best be going, it's definitely a taxi home for me', she laughed as she drank the last remains of her drink.

'Go on Rach, let your hair down! Just one more..', whined Eddie as he stood ready to make the journey to the bar. He didn't really want to give her a choice.

'Please?', he begged. She didn't like to say no to him, and so, she agreed to one more.

'One more, and I mean it Eddie, that's it.'

Two hours later and here they were, drunk. One drink did in fact turn into five.

Half nine soon came around, and Eddie and Rachel were ridiculously drunk. They also seemed to be the only last two standing. Grantley had dragged Steph in the taxi along with him an hour ago to save her from anymore embarrassment.

The bell rang out for the last orders, and she felt a sudden urge to get home.

'I def- .. definitely best .. go', she slurred as she looked for her bag. He laughed at her awful attempt to get up off the chair.

'Need help?', he questioned grabbing her hands to help her up. He felt rather intoxicated too, just not quite reaching her level.

'Thanks', she whispered. Finally getting herself sorted, she made her way to the doors. On approaching them, she felt the cold night air hit her skin. Oh dear God, it made her worse.

'I've called a taxi. I think it's wise to get you home first', Eddie said as he pulled his coat tighter shielding him from the wind. Realistically, he wanted to pull her into him but didn't want to cross any boundaries.

'Or ..', she began, watching as he took her words cautiously.

'Or what?', he questioned with the slightest smirk emerging across his lips. He had known exactly what she had implied, and he thoroughly looked forward to the idea.

'Or just one .. destination.'

'Miss Mason are you implying that we-'. Eddie had been playing dull, and they both knew that. And so, on that note, she pushed her finger to his lips. A slight 'shh' was all that was needed to silence him.

Within seconds their lips found each other's, and they became so transfixed that they didn't see the taxi waiting for them. It was only when they heard the horn tooting that they quickly climbed in. They eagerly awaited their destination and decided that they would go to Eddie's as his house had been closer.

She sat at her kitchen bench pondering on the awful taxi journey home this morning. She was a grown woman who took pride on her level of professionalism, and yet only this morning she had done the walk of shame. She ran her fingers through her hair and breathed an almighty sigh before reaching for her glass of water. She'd had several painkillers, water and a nice hot shower, and yet this hangover still loomed.

Her phone started to vibrate, and she looked in horror when she saw his name appear.

Eddie.

She really didn't think now was the right time to talk about this. A sudden wave of nausea hit, and instantly she ran for the kitchen sink.

Great.

Just as she finished cleaning the remains in her sink-an experience she'd never forget- she heard another vibration from her phone. She sighed and walked over to reach it. It was him, again. She really felt a strong attraction for him and if she could, she'd be with him in an instant. This however was just never possible. She couldn't let him in and feared that she would tarnish him. She ignored him once more before her head found her hands.

Maybe she'd go for a lie down?
Maybe she'd hide in her bed for the whole weekend?
Maybe she'd book a trip away and never return?
No.

She jumped as her doorbell rang, and curiosity washed over her. Placing her fingers around the lock, she gave herself a moment before swinging the door open. She stood bewildered and felt an urge of uncertainty fall upon her.

'Avoiding me?'. She sighed ever so slightly as he continued to look at her. She felt an almighty pressure to answer him and for once, she couldn't blame him.

'I'm not avoiding you, Eddie.'

Shit. Had it really been that obvious? He stood before her, hair untidy, clothes wrinkled but there was the desire to kiss him, again.

'I've rung you, twice', a sharp grunt echoed through his voice. He watched as her eyes shifted downwards as she desperately searched for an answer.

'I've been busy'.

That was an awful lie. She hadn't been busy at all. All morning she had been preoccupied with thoughts of him, well them, together. He shifted his feet slightly, and his hand landed on the frame of her door before he cleared his throat.

'Five minutes, that's all I'm asking for, Rach.'