CHAPTER THREE

The alarm screamed through both men's heads at 6:30 the next morning and Emerson groaned, burying his head beneath the pillow and wishing whole heartily that he hadn't drunk lord knows how many bottles last night. His head was pounding and his body ached. Though he knew very well that had nothing to do with the drink. He smiled into the warm sheet and shifted a little, until he found the heated muscle he'd gone in search of.

No matter how many times he woke up in bed with DI Joseph Chandler, he always got a wonderful wave of excitement and mischief. They were breaking the rules on a daily basis, had been for nine months, two weeks and fourteen hours and it felt fantastic. The young DC wriggled his arse into the curve of Joe's hip and waited. It was usually all it took to wake the man up and considering how he hadn't drake last night, he wouldn't have to suffer the same hangover Kent was currently dealing with. He'd always believe there was one perfect cure for a hangover and it wasn't greasy food, black coffee or the hair of the dog. - It was sex. In any form as long as it consisted of heated body parts, sweat and preferably lots of moaning.

"Em…" Joe groaned at the intimate touch of a naked backside against his skin. "We don't have time; we need to get ready for work. - And the living room needs tidying."

Emerson was torn. Part of him wanted to moan, complain and pull the cover up over his head, while the other part of him loved the way Joe prioritized his life. He wished he was able to do it. Maybe he should behave a little more like his boyfriend. Emerson's warm flesh was suddenly attacked by cold air, as Joe threw back the covers and climbed out of bed, not bothering to put the quilt back in place, probably to force Kent out of bed too. Well it wasn't going to work, his head was pounding and his felt like hell, and if Joe wasn't going to let him overcome his hangover in the time honoured way, then he'll just have to do without him for the day.

Reaching out Kent pulled the quilt back over his body, ignoring the enticing sight of a very naked Detective Inspector padding his way to the bathroom. He was almost back to sleep when he felt the bed dip beside him. Cracking his eyes open just a touch he looked up at Joe, who was staring down at him with a sympathetic gaze.

"Are planning on getting up?" the DI said softly.

Kent grunted. "No."

Joe lent over the younger man, his lips dangerously close to the shell of his ear. "Em…" he whispered seductively.

Kent hated that sound, so far it was impossible to resist. "What?" he breathed.

"You've got to get up."

Emerson felt his boyfriends hand snake beneath the covers and brush the overly sensitive flesh of his inner thigh.

"Oh, now you wanted to."

Joe smirked, his mouth moving from Kent's ear to hover over his lips. "I always want to, you know that. - But we've got to get to work and if we're both late there'll begin to wonder."

Kent rolled his eyes. It was mornings like this when he hating shagging the boss. "Then go to work. - I'm not well."

Joe pulled back to stared down at Kent with narrow blue eyes. "A hangover is not a significant excuse to skip work, Kent."

And that's another. Kent thought. Narrowing his own eyes in challenge he countered Joe argument. "It is if I can't concentrate because of the pounding in my head, and I can't chase anyone because I might be sick and because my body is aching ten ways from Sunday." A knowing look passed between the two men. "Besides, I'll just call in and tell Skip that I was up all night being violently ill, he'll call me a load of names and threaten me with traffic but he'd understand…"

Joe's gaze was growing darker by the second.

"…and there'll be nothing you can do. You can't called me a liar in front of them…." he smirked. "…cause they'll want to know how you know."

Joe was glaring at him like he wasn't sure if he wanted to strangle him or kiss him. "That may be true Kent. But when you come back to work, I'll have your desk piled so high with paper work that it'll be a miracle if it doesn't break under the strain."

The pair stared at each other, neither one willing to look away or surrender. Emerson knew Joe would do it, just to make a point.

"You know this whole argument would have been avoided if you'd just shagged me when we woke up, right?" he said softly. "Best cure for a hangover, you know."

Joe looked genuinely surprised. "What?"

Emerson smiled cheekily.

Joe lips crashed down on Kent's, delving deep into the willing open mouth, their tongues battling for dominance that Joe always won, the hand on the younger man's thigh shifting to position itself firmly on the man groin.

"This had better work." Joe murmured, pulling back a little. "Cause you're going to work if I have to drag you there naked."

Emerson couldn't avoid the laugh that bubbled up his chest. His eyebrows lifted and that cheeky grin returned. "That might be a little difficult to explain to Sk…..." his words stolen when Joe's mouth was on his again and the taller older man shifted his weight to lie on his junior officer, the duvet pulled high over their heads and his hips working effortlessly in their pursuit of pleasure.

~WHITECHAPEL~

It turned out that Kent was completing correct, sex was the perfect way to get rid of a hangover. And two Aspirin and two cups of strong coffee didn't hurt. While a blissfully happy Emerson showered and dressed, an already suited and booted Joe tired the flat of last night's debris, dropping Kent's and his own clothes in the laundry basket behind the bathroom door, only pausing a second to admire the young man's physique.

The ride to work went as it always did when Kent spent the night at Joe. - Which had slowly become almost every night. - They drove in comfortable silence or discussing dinner or what to do on their day off. Joe would drop Emerson at the bus stop four stops from the station, or as like this morning, park down a small residential street to let the man out as they couldn't arrive at work together. They'd share a fleeting kiss then Kent would walking - or bus. - To the station. Some days Joe would beat him there, to be sat patiently behind his desk when the man strolled in. While other days, like today, he would drive to a nearby coffee shop, have himself another coffee or herbal tea and give the junior officer enough time to be at his desk when he arrived. It had become a long standing domestic routine that worked perfectly for them. They never arrived together unless they had a reasonable excuse prepare.

So this morning DI Joseph Chandler strolled into the new offices of the Whitechapel incident room to find his boyfriend, - No, at work he was just DC Kent. - sat sharpening pencils while Miles read his morning paper and McCormack huff in boredom and frustration.

Joe did it without even thinking, stopping beside Kent's desk. "Was there any thing called in overnight?"

Kent, the professional he was, didn't even flinch at the question. Sometimes it amazed Joe how the younger man was able to detach himself from his, their private life and play the role of innocent copper. At times it was as if they were two different men. Sometime he wondered which Kent was the real one?

"Nothing sorry."

What, no sir? He thought, desiring to hear the respectful word that was almost like an endearment between them. He stared at Kent a little longer before another huff and moan from McCormack had him turning his own frustration on the room.

"Haven't you got any work to be getting on with?"

Miles smirked up at him. "We're all up to date…" the look in his eyes spoke volumes.

Ever since Joe had taken over the paper was done on time, the office was the most clear and tidiest place in the station and it was boring the living hell out of him.

"…You should learn to enjoy these moments, take it easy." there was almost a challenge in Miles's eyes and amusement in his voice.

Joe dropped his briefcase and snatched the small pile of paper work that were waiting to be filed. "Here, review the files. Have a look around, see if there's any tidying to be done." knowing that there was none.

"You want us to look busy for the sake of it?"

"I want you to be ready for action." Joe snapped frustratingly, picking up his case and marched into his office, shutting the door with a bang.

Kent watched him vanish into the room. He knew what was wrong with the other man; he could see the stress rearing its ugly head. While it had been a rarity over the past six months, there had been days and nights when Joe became just that little bit more fidgety, when his eyes looked that little bit more tired. The junior officer glanced at the door and knew without looking just what Joe was doing. He would be sorting his desk in front of him. Kent still couldn't understand why that helped ease the stress. Glancing down at his own wrist, he removed his watch and placed it neatly on his desk. Rearranging the entire contents of his desk to match how he knew Joe would have them. Leaning back, Kent gazed at the orderly desk top, nodding to himself. He waited to feel whatever it was that help ease Joe's mind but there was nothing. There was just a tidy desk. He sighed to himself, wishing he could understand the man just a little.

"Kent? What ya doin?"

Kent flushed and glanced over at Miles. "Huh, um, Nothing. Tidying like the boss says." he snatched his watch off the desk top and returned it to his wrist before pulling the file Joe had left on his desk to him and flipping it open.

"I hope you're not going to start that nonsense too." Miles scolded. "It's bad enough deal with it coming from him." the older man nodded towards the closed door.

Kent shook his head, keeping his attention on the papers, while occasionally glancing through his lashes towards the office.

TO BE CONTINUED….

THANKS FOR READING AND REVIEWING.

A/N: I hope my explanation for Kent behaviour in the first episode in regards to copying Joe's OCD is plausible. It was the best I could come up with. Personally I think he does it cause he wants to be like his idol/mentor.