Story List

1. S2 E7 – Just Another Working Couple

2. S2 E7 - Come Stay At Mine (2 parts)

3. S2 E7 - It's Just Drinks

4. S2 E7 - Soft Pleadings In The Night #2 (3 parts)

5. S2 E7 - The Bet (2 parts)

6. S2 E7 - Just Looking at Him (2 parts)

7. S2 E8 - Higher Education

8. S2 E8 - WHAT Was He Thinking? (2 parts)

9. S2 E8 - Sharing (2 parts)

10. S2 E8 - The Offer

11. S2 E8 - La Manche (4 parts)

12. S2 E8 - One of These Days...

13. S2 E8 - Character Growth

14. S2 E8 - The Goodbye

15. S2 E8 - You Won't Come Back, Will You?

16. S2 E8 - Harry Dances (3 parts)

17. S2 E8 - After the Rant (3 parts)

S2 E7 – Just Another Working Couple

"We are dealing with a sharp and devious mind, Camille!" he proclaims confidently over his shoulder.

She smiles as she writes, "Oh, kind of like you, is it?"

He smiles with pleasure, "Well, yes, if you like… but I'm sure we're up against someone clever."

Camille looks to Fidel and scoffs, "Oh, yeah, just what this island needs… another Richard Poole."

Fidel chuffs a laugh and keeps working but also a sharp eye on his boss. Just watching the man is an education unto itself. Fidel can almost hear the man's mind working, can see his responses to the crime scene and when new thoughts occur to him. If I could only bottle that mind of his! I could pass my exams in my sleep! To heck with studying the book - I just need to study the Chief.

"You're awful confident, aren't you?" Camille calls to the suit's back.

The Chief swings around to face her once more across the debris strewn lawn, nods, "I didn't go through hell with the Anderson case just to be unsure of myself once more." He cocks an eyebrow and says cheekily, "I was right all along with that case, may I remind you. I just had the wrong end of the stick."

She scoffs, "Stick!"

"Yes, stick! The same stick that I will rap you with if you don't stop tweaking me!"

She stops writing, shoots a hot glance suit-ward, "But that's my job… tweaking…"

Fidel sees the Chief colour slightly and drops his gaze, concentrating on his work bagging up evidence. A working couple has to find their private moments where they can and he doesn't want to intrude on whatever moments they manage to snatch together. When he hears the Chief snort, he knows the moment is over and looks back up. Yep, the man is back to studying the crime scene and Camille is back to writing on evidence bags. Fidel sighs. He hopes these moments are enough for them. He hates to think they are denying themselves.

Twenty-four hours later, on the Chief's veranda, Fidel is staring down at the grubbiest, oldest, most disreputable pencil stub he had ever seen… and he takes it with hushed reverence. The Chief's own pencil! His exam pencil! Oh, this is the last bit of armour I need to go into the fray! Fidel lifts shining eyes to his mentor and all he can think to do is nod hard and march away, the pencil clutched in his hand like a weapon. He hears Dwayne's scoff behind him but it doesn't take away the honour of taking the Chief's pencil into battle.

"A pencil?" says Dwayne, giving his Chief a snotty look that he would never have dared a year ago. Sharp eyes snap to him and Dwayne gulps a bit, He can shave skin off when he wants to! Yes aye!

The Chief pauses for effect then says, "Yes, a pencil! Just be glad I don't give you 'the boot'! Off with you! See that he gets to the exam in good time and don't take him to La Kaz afterwards. He needs to get back to his family." He looks to Camille, "We can all use a little down-time. We've earned it."

Dwayne nods and goes, happy to escape with his head on the right way around. Down-time, he thinks, I know what I'm gonna do with mine. I wonder what the Chief is gonna do with his? A book, most likely.

As they watch Dwayne leave, Richard turns to Camille and mutters, "I really wish you wouldn't do that bossy little snap-click in front of the other officers. It's unseemly. I'm not a pet!"

"Oh, you like it only when we're alone, do you? Like now?"

He steps back, gives her a side-ways look, his voice rising in a warning tone, "Ca-mille, don't you start! It's been a very trying day… and NOW we have to worry about Fidel."

She is turning herself subtly from side to side, presenting her profile – both her glorious profiles, "I know ONE thing that will help you relax."

He takes another step back, holds up a warding hand, tries to say firmly, "NO! Absolutely not! It's too hot! It's too early. It's not even 3 pm yet!" His voice loses vehemence as she sidles closer, "It's too…"

She holds her right hand up in front of his worried eyes and gives him an evil smile, "It's too good a chance to pass up," and she snap-clicks right in his face then looks down and drawls, "Works like a charm. Every time!"

He is being backed up towards the door and stamps a leather-shod foot, "It's SO humiliating! I resolutely resist your advances!"

Her hand reaches out to brush against his shirt-front, dropping slowly to brush against something she can feel is very resolute indeed, "Non, it is not humiliating. It is very gratifying. To ME. As for you," she takes him by the shoulders and pushes him none too gently over the threshold and into the shadowed interior, "I hope you take SOME pleasure in my bad manners!"

As the door closes behind them, shutting out the bright sunlight and any inquisitive eyes that may be on the beach, his voice is heard, "Your bad manners will be the absolute death of me!" More quietly is the last bit of actual speech heard in the vicinity for almost an hour, "Thank God!"

Hours later, they lay tangled in utter exhaustion. As the day darkens down, she slips out of bed and lights candles. When he rouses enough to see what she's doing, he laughs in delight. All the candles are in little tin cups and tea pots. He takes her back into his arms and whispers against her lips, "Oh, god, woman, I love you."

This is their private moment and they deny themselves nothing.

END

**Well, I have to admit, I'm feeling a bit sad to start the final leg of a year-long journey into fandom. Once these episode-inspired stories are done, whatever shall I do with my life?**