Disclaimer: I do not own Endeavour, nor do I own any of its characters. Sadly I am not as devoted to Morse as I am Endeavour, so this will not quite follow the path into Morse as it should, but this is fanfiction, hence why you are allowed to make what decisions you like. Well, (That actually probably didn't come out right, and if it didn't I am sorry.) I just got over a little bout of flu and my head is still a wee bit cloudy. Oh, because I am lousy at describing people and features DI Martin Tate is David Tennant, DI Lawrence Carson is Christopher Eccleston and Blake Euland is in fact Benedict Cumberbatch.
After spending a week in hospital Morse was returned to County, although he hardly looked well. He was paler than when he first arrived, and he was clearly in pain. Worse yet was the fact he arrived in the same outfit he'd worn leaving. DI Carson walked up to him removing the handcuffs.
"You look like hell." He said. Morse shrugged and then winced.
"Um, not that I'm arguing, but I was told that I was not to return to cell block until it had been discussed with your superior, something about Chief Superintendent Bright and your superior meeting…." He left off as a man came up with handcuffs, dressed very much like Superintendent Bright.
"Have a coffee Morse, meeting will start when Bright arrives."
"Thank you sir, but no, doctor's orders, accusations of insomnia or something of the like." Morse looked around suddenly and then shook his head.
"All right Lad?" Morse straightened and nodded.
"Sorry, Sir, I do not believe I ever got your name."
"DI Martin Tate, and this here is Lawrence Carson, also DI." Morse shook both their hands and winced.
"Sorry Mate." Carson noted the bandage around Morse's wrist.
"Still getting used to it." Morse said. Carson nodded.
"Ah Morse," he turned and then bowed his head slightly at the look on Chief Superintendent Bright's face. "Good, God, didn't they bring you a change of clothes?"
"No Sir," Morse acknowledged somewhat sheepishly.
"Well, I shall have to have a word with Thursday or Jakes." Morse nodded. He followed the man from earlier, obviously Chief Superintendent of this particular precinct. He turned.
"Oh Morse, try not to be too obvious, I would hate to think what the civilians might make of you." Morse nodded before he could confirm anything or respond Bright continued.
"Maybe you could look over a case file or something, goodness you've complicated enough of ours, maybe try making someone else's life difficult for a change." Morse simply nodded as they went in and hung his head when they left. His head cocked as he looked over a case file, when he heard a somewhat disdainful remark.
"It's called sarcasm Morse." He stood up and looked at Jakes. Jakes grabbed the case file and placed it on another desk. "I hardly think Bright wants you causing any more trouble between County and City, besides, know where your loyalties lie." Jakes got up and left heading toward what Morse presumed were the restrooms. Morse rolled his eyes and picked up the case file, meaning to deposit it back on the original desk when some papers lipped out he caught them as well as the photograph and began to read through them. He ended up picking up a pen and Tate raised an eyebrow as it began tapping against the side of his head as he read.
"Nice to see some things never change." Morse jumped up and winced. He smiled a thoroughly genuine smile.
"Sir, you're all right." The man frowned.
"What in God's name, Morse…." DI Thursday shook his head. "Morse is there no one you could have asked for a fresh shirt?" Morse made a face.
"There you are." The girl that they recognized as the hostage and an older woman came through. "Mum, have you got that bag with the shoes?" Morse cocked his head in confusion.
"Right here Luv," she replied smiling. "Hello Morse dear, oh my." She touched her chest, Morse crossed his arms and swallowed.
"Very sorry Mrs. Thursday."
"Morse Luv, it's Win." She said smiling sadly at him, her attention was stuck on his shirt. He felt a touch on his arm.
"Miss… Joan." She nodded. And Morse nodded as well, probably acknowledging the slip up.
"It'll do Dev, now go on, go get changed, there's a proper suit and tie in there, new shoes and everything. Just put your old stuff these bags."
"Joan, there was no reason really," he tried to protest, but she simply removed the folder from his hands, placed the bags in them, and pushed him towards the location of the restrooms.
"If you're not changed in ten minutes I'm coming in there to check on you." Morse turned mouth agape with shock. "And come out with your shirt unbuttoned, your bandage and wrapping needs changing, and I know you're having an awful time of it." He turned lips pursed almost as if to argue, however, when she placed her hands on her hips and fixed him with a firm stare he simply turned himself around muttering slightly and headed into the bathroom. Thursday crossed his arms amused watching his young assistant.
"Jesus Morse, you look like a bleeding vampire." Morse walked out shirt unbuttoned but uneasily.
Tate had to agree, the black suit against the pallor of his skin, made him look like a vampire. The reddish hue hair only helped him to stand out, never mind those wide bright blue eyes of his. Regardless of his comment, he didn't know who the Jakes was, but he was beginning to get annoyed with him.
"Some people ought to have manners." Joan hissed, Morse walked over concerned.
"Are you all right?" he asked her, she turned to him incredulously.
"He's Jakes." He said shrugging with a wince. She laughed and pulled him over removing the bags from him and instructing him to hold up his shirt.
"What are you doing?" She removed her gloves.
"This will be a bit cold." She said, rubbing an ointment over the healing injuries, he winced. "Now this here will reduce scarring." She said.
"Cold, much colder than the first one." He bit his lips and looked up. She smiled and wrapped a fresh bandage and wrap around the injuries. Morse nodded as he buttoned up his shirt.
"I feel better actually." Morse said. Joan smiled and he blushed slightly as Win's eyes watered at the pair of them, she clapped her hands once. Morse stepped back and Joan simply handed the file back to him smiling. Morse gave her a small genuine smile and he sat on the edge of the desk reading the file.
"Anything interesting?" Morse sighed and closed the file. He breathed out and rolled his eyes. "If I'm bothering you…." Morse looked at her then shook his head coming awake.
"No, so sorry…" He gave a cough and continued, "Joan, so sorry Joan." Joan gave a wry smile and crossed her arms. "No just, uh, well, nothing." He shook his head. "Perhaps you could tell me what you are still doing here? Shouldn't you be heading off to work?"
"Nope, someone has to make sure you eat a healthy meal. If you are staying here, then Mum and I will bring you something, if not, you're to come home and have a nice home cooked meal." Morse stood up to speak.
"Meatloaf with gravy, mashed potatoes, and roasted carrots." She said looking at him, Morse sat down and raised his hands, giving a slight chuckle.
"How?" was all he asked, looking at her mildly impressed. She gave a shrug and replied somewhat cheekily.
"I took a guess." Morse gave a laugh, a good one and nodded.
"Well, as the lady wishes." Joan sat up preening like a peacock. Thursday gave a slight cough and Morse stood up at once wincing.
"Morse, have a seat, Joan, you and your mother go for a walk; I need to have a word with our young Morse."
"Dad?" Joan turned to her mother exasperated.
"Come on Luv," Joan grumbled and was on her way out, "Fred." He turned to his warning wife's voice and looked at her.
"Just a word." He said. She nodded and smiled at Morse, who smiled back. The two ladies went out, Joan complaining about her father scaring everyone off.
"You two are getting on again." Morse nodded. "I noticed after, well, after your dad you two didn't really talk."
"Um, Sir…." Morse shook his head sitting up straight. "It's, no…." Morse shook his head.
"Look, I'm not sure, what it was like growing up with him, Lord knows I get the impression that you two didn't get on, and maybe it's worse than I think, either way, I'm glad you two are talking again, but do me a favor eh?" Morse nodded and looked at him expectantly.
"When you take her out, try not to take her to those seedy places like the moonlight room and such, try and take her someplace…."
"Respectable sir?" Morse supplied. Thursday nodded. Morse stood and looked Thursday in the eye.
"Sir, I don't know for sure exactly what Joan and I are doing, but I can promise you this much, I will always treat her with the utmost respect, and I would never lower her standards in any way." Thursday nodded.
"However, I am not beyond listening and responding to a request." Morse stated and shrugged. Thursday nodded. He suddenly turned to Morse with a curious expression.
"Morse?"
"Sir?"
"What made you take Joan to the Moonlight Room, I mean, that doesn't really seem your speed?" Morse froze up and Tate happened to sneak a peek at Jakes who was watching the whole thing with a sense of unease. Morse was trying to respond when Bright came out and called Thursday into the room.
"Right, sir." He gave Morse a strange look and headed in. Morse slouched in his chair and looked almost hopefully at the cell block.
"Just make something up." Morse turned to Jakes.
"I am not about to lie to him over that."
"Well, say she wanted to go." Morse turned to ignore him then suddenly turned back.
"Why did you?" Jakes looked up brows raised. "Why did you take Joan to the Moonlight Rooms?" Jakes looked at him smirking.
"Are you serious?" he asked and Morse nodded. Jakes suppressed a laugh, and looked at him. "And exactly where would you take a girl?" Morse shrugged.
"Dinner, a cinema, a concert or recital of some sort, I don't know, it would depend on the woman."
"Yeah, some of that might work if you were dating some fifty or sixty year old bird, but if you're looking at the younger generation, they want dancing and music, good music. Not your…. Opera." He said with a slight smile. Morse sighed and shook his head. Jakes looked over at Morse and took a drag of his cigarette.
"I took her to the moonlight room because that is the kind of place that happens to be her speed. You know, fast, dancing, music." Morse turned and looked at him.
"Jakes, what were you thinking though, I mean, surely you knew that Mr. Thursday and that Casper fellow were on bad terms, do you not think it was a little… dangerous?" Jakes looked at him.
"You really are a wet blanket aren't you Mate?" Morse's jaw took on a certain set.
"It's one thing Jakes to put yourself in danger, it's a whole other matter to involve an innocent bystander." Jakes just looked at him brows raised. "Especially the daughter of a colleague." Morse simply stared back at Jakes and Jakes leaned back looking at him. Suddenly he smiled.
"You know what Morse," he leaned forward and Morse braced himself. "I've missed you," Jakes leaned back. "There's a definite lack of stuffy Oxford pride when you're not about." Morse shook his head and turned to the door opening signaling the return of Joan and Win Thursday. Morse went to stand but a well-timed glance from Win sent him sitting back down. Joan was all smiles as she came and sat down on the edge of the desk.
"If you like," he said, offering the chair, but it was Joan's turn and Morse sat down and threw his hands up. Joan sat on the corner preening while Morse shook his head with a smile. Win Thursday was positively aglow with delight. The door from the office opened and Chief Superintendent Bright, the county Chief, and Thursday came out. Thursday had a dark look on his face.
"Sir?" Morse asked, standing. Thursday stopped and shook his head.
"Morse." Morse nodded, concerned and looking at all three. "Until any evidence appears that you're in fact guilty, you are released on your own recognizance." Morse nodded still uneasy at the look on his superior's face. He abruptly turned to Bright, realizing he had been speaking to him.
"Sorry sir," Bright held up a hand and looked at him quite steadily. There was something different in the way he was looking at him.
"Morse, I have some good and bad news." Morse straightened.
"I'm afraid that your flat has been rented out to another tenant." Morse winced, "However, Strange did manage to procure your things, which are sitting at your desk back at Cowley." Strange appeared and Morse nodded at him. Strange nodded back. "On the good side, you are free to go, and I believe Thursday is wanting you to stay with him until this mess clears up. It goes without saying I think it is the best option for you." Morse nodded.
"You shall be put on light general duties on your return to work." Morse nodded, unhappy, but accepting, Bright nodded. "I know that you're not a fan of it, but due to your injuries, I think it would be best."
"Actually Sir, everyone turned to Thursday. I'd rather not have Morse working at the moment."
"Thursday?" Bright asked curiously.
"Well Sir, I just had a thought, Morse missed the last Sergeant's exam, and the next one is in three weeks." Morse looked at the nearest paper and made a face.
"Five weeks Matey, including hospital." Morse nodded at Strange and rubbed the back of his neck.
"I think it would be best, if Morse, were to focus on healing and studying." Thursday said.
"Morse?" Morse looked between Bright and his superior for a moment.
"I could use the extra time, I haven't been able to study as proficiently as one might like recently. If Sir could put up with me for the three weeks, it would be no problem."
"You'll have a place until you have a new flat." Morse nodded in affirmation.
"Well everything is in order."
"Morse," he turned to Thursday. "Drive to Cowley to pick up your things, then take Win and Joan home." Morse nodded. "And Morse," he turned, "I want you to read or rest, nothing else, you got that?" Morse made a face and nodded.
"Yes, Sir, read or rest, nothing else." Morse turned.
"And Morse?" Morse turned, "I don't know what's in that file, but you put it on hold, once you're a DS then you can have a look and offer an opinion or two. Till then, forget it." Morse nodded with a slight flush.
"Sorry Sir." Morse offered his arm to Joan who took it, giving a giggle and gently nudging him.
DI Martin Tate leaned against a desk trying not to laugh at Morse, who was quite humorous, despite not being funny intentionally in the least. They had been holding him five weeks including his hospital stay. Morse was a curiosity to be sure.