A/N: The first part of this, Joe's excited announcement and his conversation with Miles are both taken from the series.

CHAPTER FOUR

When Joe's office door flew open it surprised everyone. Usually the detective inspector kept himself locked away, especially when he was having one of those days. They should have known that his emergence was due to the excitement of a possible case.

"We got one." Joe said excitedly rushing from his office.

"What a domestic?" Miles asks, leaning back in his seat.

"No, it's near the river."

"Not a suicide." Kent moaned, throwing himself back in his seat.

"Bonifaydy who done it."

Kent had to bite back the smile at the excitement in Joe's eyes, he'd been waiting so long for a proper case, something he could really sink his teeth into and while he was glad he was getting his wish, Kent feared what another big case would do to him.

It took them less than twenty minutes to make it to the sand covers bank of the Thames. Kent walked ahead but couldn't help but overhear what Joe was saying to the Skip.

"Miles, I just wanted to thank you for what you said last night."

"Well it's just the truth as I see it."

"Yes, but I - I didn't know you felt so strong about what happened. - About me."

Kent smiled to himself. Joe had seemed determined to believe the Skip hated him or at least disliked him and nothing Kent could say would convince him otherwise. He was just so sure that they were too opposite to get along. But that's what made them such a strong partnership, if Joe and Miles would allow it to become that. Over the past six months Kent had seen that they were bonding and it gave him a comfortable feeling. He was sure the Skip could bring out a stronger side to Joe, build his confidence. He was there for Joe when it came to easing the stress, to allowing him to have a normal relationship but he needed a friend, someone he could really talk to because Kent wasn't arrogant enough to think Joe told him everything. - And he wouldn't want him to.

"It was only a speech after one too many. It doesn't mean we're engaged or anything."

Kent bit back a laugh as Joe and the Skip vanished into the tent, while he walked casually over to talk with the forensics guys. They were barely in there five minutes before Joe's voice pulled Kent away from his conversation to see the Skip doubled over in the sand, fighting for breath and clutching his chest. He ran over to join Joe. The pair exchanging concerned looks.

"Call an ambulance!" Joe ordered.

While Kent did as he was told, Joe stayed by Miles's side as Dr Llewellyn tried to calm him, having him breath into a paper bag.

~WHITECHAPEL~

Thankfully it turned out that Miles had just suffered a panic attack, supposedly a case of PTSD after the stabbing. He'd come back to work after getting released from the hospital with much complaining and jumped straight back into work. Joe hadn't been happy but there was no arguing with Miles, and the DI knew it. With his return, Joe had taken him and the team through what they knew about the body before dragging Miles off to a pub to collect the dead man's last so they could finally put a name to the body, leaving the unit to finish their work and head off home.

It was one of those nights when Kent went home to his own flat. It wasn't because he didn't want to be with Joe, cause that was the only place he wanted to be. - But they weren't there yet. He was at him because he had to at least make an appearance. Mark and Robin were badgering him to meet his new boyfriend but that was impossible. What with both of them working at the station. When he was corned, especially by Mark, he'd say he didn't feel ready to make it public, even though they'd been together as far as his flat mates were concerned for at least five months. Thankfully Robin let things be and didn't push. - Not that Emerson couldn't tell she was dying to. As far as Skip and Mac were concerned, he was already on his third 'girlfriend'. He seemed to have a bad track record with his 'dates' that always reached its peak whenever he was put under pressure to introduce the 'girl' to his colleagues.

Kent sat on the coach next to Robin watching another repeat of Doctor Who. Mark was on a late shift so it was just the two of them in the house alone. Robin wasn't the only one who'd lost her partner to the job and it was practically killing Emerson. He kept glancing at the clock, wondering if Joe was home yet, fiddling with his mobile that was never out of his possession just in case the station or Joe called.

"So Em, how's things going with the mystery guy?" Robin asked casually, never taking her gaze off the screen.

"Fine." Emerson relied nonchalantly, glanced at his phone for the third time.

"Mark thinks you've shacked up with some crook and that's why you won't let us meet him."

"He's not a crook." Kent's gaze moved back to Matt Smith.

"Nuh, I don't think that you'd be stupid enough to risk your job on some scumbag."

"Thanks." he smiled up at her for a moment.

"No. - If I was a betting girl, I'd say its…." she tapped her chin playfully. "…the hot boss."

Kent choked on thin air, his head snapping around in blind panic. "What?"

Robin smiled warmly at him, a trust me look in her eyes. "Don't worry; you're secrets safe with me. I'm just a canteen girl. I don't have to answer to anyone. - Beside, I'd never do anything to hurt you, especially as he clearly makes you happy and that's something I didn't think I'd see again."

Kent stared a little wide eyed at his best friend. He'd known Robin for years, well before he'd joined the force. He was actually responsible for getting her and Mark together. He knew he could trust her, and actually wondered why he hadn't told her before now.

"You're happy, I'm happy." Robin added softly.

Kent slouched into the sofa. "Thanks Rob. But huh…don't tell Mark. He does have to answer to people and knowing will only put him in a difficult position. I know it's wrong of me to ask you to keep…"

Robin waved a hand and nodded understandingly. "Of course, I don't tell him everything you know. A girl's got to have her secrets. - And besides, it's not my secret to tell."

Emerson sighed with relief and turned his full attention back to the TV for twenty minutes, then came the inquisition he should have expected.

"So why are you here tonight anyway? We've barely seen you the past few months."

Kent sighed, shifting in his seat to look at his friend. "Joe's following a lead with DS Miles. He thinks there might be a new interesting case to throw himself into."

"You don't sound too happy about that Em." Robin frowned.

"It's just…. After everything with the Ripper, I'm just a little scared where this might lead. It's so quiet lately and it's given us time to concentrate on us."

"You think it'll come between you?"

"No. Not exactly. Just. Well….Joe's been so bored and restless, and I'm glad that he's finally found something to get his teeth into but….well, he doesn't handle stress all that well and if it's half as dangerous as the Ripper…" he couldn't believe he was finally able to talk to someone about his hopes and fears concerning his relationship with Joe. "…I'm just scared of losing him Rob. We've got, I hate to sound a drama queen cliché, but I think we have something special and I have a bad feeling it's too good to last."

"Em." Robin sighed, shifting in his chair so she could face Kent eye to eye. "You're just being paranoid, probably because of what happened with…" she clenched her jaw. "…Tom. - That doesn't mean things are going to fall apart between you and Joe. You've been together for what, four months."

Kent clewed his bottom lip. "Well actually if you go from the first time we….you know, it's actually been nine months."

"What?" Robin all but squealed. "Nine Months? And you're only just…."

Kent lifted a brow.

"Right." she shook her head, her face still shadowed with hurt. "Shagging the boss, big no, no, I remember."

"If I could have told you, I would have. You know that right?"

Robin nodded after a moment. "Anyway, so you've been together nine months, you've been able to pull off working together while sleeping together and not letting anyone find out. I'd say if that hasn't put the pair of you through the stress test machine without breaking you up, I can't imagine what will."

Emerson glanced at the end credits of Doctor Who, swearing it had only just started. "I hope your right Rob. I really like him, I don't want to lose him." his tone a little strained and wishful.

"Like him?" Robin quirked a brow. "Is that all?"

Kent clewed his lip again and shook his head. "More like love him actually."

You couldn't wipe the grin of Robin's face with steel wool and bleach. "That's wonderful. I'm so happy for you. You deserve to be happy."

Emerson blushed scarlet.

Robin turned back to watch Doctor Who Confidential. "Wish you didn't have to hide it though, you could have brought him to Mark's birthday booze up the Friday night."

"Sadly we have no choice in that matter, unless Joe or I leave the job. And neither of us is willing to let the other do that. - Joe's a good copper."

"So are you." Robin gushed.

Kent just rolled his eyes, knowing he was nowhere near being a good copper. He was just a decent copper. Joe was on the verge of being a great one. "Besides, I'm not sure Joe is the booze up type."

"Maybe, but he'd go for you and then at least you wouldn't spend the whole night in the corner like a wet lettuce."

"I don't spend the whole night in the corner." Kent gasped.

"You're right." Robin apologized. "Just until your too smashed to care who you talk to or dance with."

Kent laughed at himself, knowing that could not be denied. "Well, I can't bring him, not as half of uniform will be there, so the subject is moot."

"I know, but it would be nice if you could. It's times like this when I hate that you and Mark are coppers, all those ridiculous rules and phobias. It's not far on you… or Joe."

Emerson shifted closer to Robin and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "You're the best friend a guy could ask for, you know that."

"Of course I know." Robin laughed. "You've told me often enough."

TO BE CONTINUED…

THANKS FOR READING AND REVIEWING, PLEASE KEEP THEM COMING.

A/N: I'm not at all sure if this is working, to be honest season two is way harder to write than season one. Oh well, I've started so I'll finish, even if it does suck.

BTW: Doctor Who reference is because Sam who plays our sweet Kent was in last year's Christmas Special which I will get round to watching as soon as I remember what tape I recorded it one. Lol.