Part Three!

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Several weeks, nine more armed robberies, one arrest, and numerous arguments later – John and Tess had nearly cracked the string of armed robberies. They had made an arrest and they were sure that they had got their man. Both of them couldn't wait to interview this suspect.

Kerry walked into the CID office and looked around for John and Tess. She spotted them sat at their respective desks working through files of evidence separately. She walked up to John's desk, which was the closest one to where she was stood.

"I saw June on my way here and she told me that your suspect's brief has arrived."

"Great, about time too," said John, as he jumped up out of his chair and made his way out of the CID office.

Tess looked up.

"I take it the brief has arrived?"

"Yeah," Kerry replied.

"Hmm nice of him to wait for me…"

She jumped up to leave the office, leaving Kerry behind with a knowing smirk on her face.

Tess caught up with John outside the interview room, where the brief was talking to his client inside.

"Right, I'm going to lead this interview," she said determinedly.

"Excuse me, I think you will find that I am going to lead this interview."

"No, I am leading it."

"Since when?"

"Since now," she said, pushing past John and making her way into the interview room. John followed, not particularly making any effort to hide his temper.

Tony Stamp and Cass Rickman who had been stood nearby with their ears practically flapping, had witnessed this entire exchange. They grinned at each other and headed out to the area car.

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The station gossips had been working overtime on their latest topic of conversation. This was the constant debate over why John and Tess were arguing so much. Everyone had their own theory, but most people agreed that the root of the problem, was that they fancied each other.

A large group of PCs were sitting together in the canteen, discussing their thoughts on the relationship between John and Tess.

"Well, I don't know about all this fancying each other lark, but I love seeing him being put in his place for one," chuckled Dave Quinnan.

"Well, I don't disagree there," said Nick Klein, with a grin.

"If you ask me, they definitely fancy each other. You can see the sexual tension a mile off," Vicky Hagan added, smugly.

Cass agreed.

"They argue like an old married couple!"

Kerry and Liz both passed the group carrying their lunches. Kerry nudged Liz,

"See, I told you so!"

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After yet another day of arguments, John and Tess were both in the mood for a stiff drink.

"You two coming for a drink then? We can celebrate you two charging that suspect for the armed robberies," asked Don, as John and Tess walked back into the CID office.

"Yeah, come on. Its June's birthday and everybody is heading down to the pub. Apparently there is going to be some food laid on and everything!" exclaimed Duncan.

"I knew there must be some reason why you were all going!" John grinned. "Count me in then."

"What about you, Tess?" asked Don.

"Go on then."

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It was a great night. June felt very special and spoilt by the effort that had been made to celebrate her birthday. All of CID had turned up as well – even DCI Meadows. By 10:30pm everyone was drunk, and having a fantastic time. Several of the PCs were having a team darts competition with some of the DCs. Neither of the teams were very successful, due to the fact that all of the players were very drunk, and consequently they kept missing the dartboard entirely, instead hitting the floor, the scoreboard and the wall. This was leading to many laughs, jeers and banter between the officers.

Jack Meadows, Derek Conway, Matt Boydon, Chris Deakin and Don were having a rather heated debate about the comparisons between various football teams, and who they thought was likely to get picked for the England team in the big tournament. This was accompanied by the drinking of a lot of whisky, and all of the differences in rank had long been forgotten in the haze of drunkenness within the group.

John had been drinking with Duncan for a while, and getting rather fed up with Duncan's increasing interest in watching the darts match, he decided to leave him to it and get himself another pint.

Tess, who had been drinking and gossiping with some of the other female officers, including June, also decided to escape for a moment to get herself a glass of water from the bar.

She looked across to the other side of the bar, and she spotted John ordering a pint. Deciding that she really ought to try and make an effort to sort things out with him, she walked over to him and offered to buy his pint for him.

"Thanks but you don't have to."

"I want to. I want us to stop arguing."

"Your drunk."

"So are you! Come on lets try and bury the hatchet."

"As long as its not in my head."

Tess laughed, and tried to jokingly hit John. Instead she embarrassingly slipped on one of her high heels. John managed to grab her, and stop her from falling.

This left the two of them stood very close together. They stared into each other's eyes, and didn't move a muscle. Suddenly, they both moved closer to each other and began to snog furiously.

They were both totally oblivious to the fact that the entire pub were watching them…