I know, I know, I'm sorry as soon as a made a commitment to making one update a day I broke it! Unfortunately I left my laptop charger (among other things) at my dads so my story was trapped on my computer with no charge :( I will be finished this before uni goes back though as otherwise I will never finish it. So hopefully people are still reading and enjoying! I' really happy with this chapter as well so hope you like!

Also disclaimer- still don't won anything although I wish I did! But thanks Stephen for creating such awesome characters :)

Chapter 7

… Not in Neverland …

Early the next morning the officers had a meeting with Captain Fuller. "So the labs tell me the stuff you got from your meeting is the right stuff, it's the same drug so you boys are good to go. As for the numberplate it seems to be taking a little longer to trace. Now, tell me what else you got for me" he said getting straight into business as usual.

"Doing well, thanks for asking Cap'n," Doug remarked cheerfully.

"Give me a break Doug, I am not in the mood. It's taken you boys too long to get this one meeting,"

"But captain, we've only been at Grandvale for 4 days," Tom replied a bewildered look on his face.

"Well according to downtown that's 4 days too long,"

"Downtown is involved again, those guys wouldn't know how to catch a criminal if he tried to sell them dope in the middle of the mall," Penhall said as he laughed at his own bad joke.

"I know, I know but as funny as it is they are a pain in my backside and therefore I am going to be a pain in your backside until this is done."

"Well Captain I don't really have very much to tell you apart from the guy we talked to was obviously just a middle man, I think I convinced him we meant business, but I don't know how far that will take us I mean he's just a washed up junkie who probably has no real standing. Regards to who is at the top though all I know is that they're going to a lot of trouble to keep his identity a secret,"

"So how soon until you think we can organise another meeting with the next guy in line then?"

"That's the thing, I didn't even meet him. We were told to hide the coke in a tyre and drive away,"

"Hey what do you mean we, I wasn't even there, " Doug interjected.

"What? You are telling me you went without your partner?" Tom looked down unable to face what he knew would be the uncompromising eyes of Adam Fuller.

"I had no choice," he said knowing how weak it sounded.

"You could have insisted you wouldn't do it without your brother, seems pretty simple to me," the captain said as if Tom had just slapped him in the face.

"We were lucky he even let me come along,"

"And whose fault is that, Mr. I can't defend myself for 2 minutes when my partners not there," Doug remarked viciously.

"I'm not the one Mathew thinks is an airhead, you know you should try a little harder not to slip into yourself when undercover Douglas," Tom shot back, pissed off at the stab Doug had just had at him. It hurt more than he would ever let on.

"Captain, he got punched out by some hormonal adolescent!" Doug cried turning his captain for validation. All he got was a stare both the boys were way to familiar with for their liking.

"Well I've got other stuff to deal with, so when my officers decide to stop running around that god forsaken school like two children and actually do their jobs make sure someone lets me know. Thanks." The captain said no tolerance left in his voice.

The officers left the room swiftly, feeling like a scolded dogs. "I see where you get your sass from," Doug joked trying to ease the tension knowing the friends had both taken some low blows at each other.

"Just shut up," Hanson said tiredly, he was obviously not in a forgiving mood today. He walked straight into Penhall not even attempting to dodge him as he powered towards his desk.

Judy watched cautiously from behind her desk as her fellow officers argued. She was used to seeing the two best friends and partners bicker like an old married couple and knew it was always best to stay out of it and let them sort it out. She wasn't very good with conflict resolution between those two anyway.

She couldn't help but worry that this fight was different, although Penhall was his normal stroppy self, Hanson wasn't wearing his usual stubborn but indignant expression, instead he looked like he didn't give a shit, like he was willing to just surrender if it meant he would be left alone. She didn't like seeing him like that; she had grown to love the stubborn but fiery and passionate Tom. The way he was so particular about following the rules, rules that seemed to give him structure and something to believe in. Unless of course he was on a case where he believed there to be a great injustice or if there was a kid in distress. He would then proceed throw the rules out the window along with any regard for his own wellbeing, risking everything in order to close the case. She envied his ability to so whole heartedly believe that everything would be alright and that he would always be ok just because he was doing what he believed was the right thing. Because he was the good guy, be was a cop. She thought it naive of him, but she also admired him for it. However she hadn't see side of Hanson in a while.

Lately his messy brown hair and deep brown Bambi eyes had become more pronounced against his skin that seemed to look paler than ever. She wondered whether she was the only on to notice this as she knew she had the tendency to stare a little too long in his direction. She hoped she was just being overly observant as she continued to listen into the boy's conversation out of both worry and curiosity.

"Look I can see you woke up on the wrong side of the bed, or something, but we need to talk about this case,"

"What about it, it's going fine,"

"Yeah, that's why we just had a super friendly conversation with Fuller," Doug spoke flatly leaving his frustration unmasked.

"Look why don't you just play the protective older brother and cut off my supply, tell him he Isn't to deal with me unless you're there, problem solved,"

"That's a good idea man, but that's not really what I want to discuss," Doug continued carefully, "I know this case has been tough on you and I can see your really getting on well with Mathew. I'm just worried you're getting a little too close to the whole thing?"

"I'm just doing our job, remember, get close to him so he will trust us, then let us in on his business," Tom said as condescendingly as he could.

"Tom we are going to talk about this whether you like it or not," Doug said with a slightly raised voice, quickly lowering after once he realised other people were looking over in interest.

"I'm sorry man, It's just he's a good kid, I just want to see if I can turn him. I don't want it to be like all the others you know, I won't let it." Hanson said deciding to give a little bit, seeing if this would get Penhall to drop it.

"What are you talking about?"

"You said it yourself Doug sending them away it just makes them worse, he Isn't a hard core criminal but he might come out as one," as he said this a wave of realisation flooded over Penhall, he knew exactly what Hanson as talking about, he gently touched his friend on the shoulder as he tried to reassure him.

"Tommy were not really after him remember, we want the guys at the top,"

"Yes, but you and me both know that he will get swept up in all the shit," as Tom said this forcefully his partner realised he could smell something on Toms breath. He pulled back completely astonished.

"Have you been drinking?"

"Yeah, what is it to you? I'm still over 21 the last time I checked." Doug was even more taken aback by Toms' complete honesty. Tom sat down in his chair lazily, seemingly bored with the conversation.

"You're also an undercover officer, on duty," he said dumfounded.

"Just getting into character," He smirked.

"Bullshit Tom, you know that's not funny and I know something is up with you!" He spat back in a loud whisper. Tom knew he wasn't going to get out of talking about this but he really didn't want to deal with it at that moment.

"I'm fine, Doug really", he said trying to ease Doug's concerns the words slipping far too easily from his lips.

"Don't lie to me Tom, you're drunk and it's not even nine in the morning," he said now clearly pissed off.

"I'm not drunk" he demanded clearly offended, "I just had trouble sleeping last night, couldn't turn off my brain, you know?"

"No I don't know Tom, this is so unlike you" he said almost to himself under his breath as he turned away and brought his hands to his face in disbelief. This triggered a reaction that Hanson couldn't control. Words came flying out of his mouth, sounding venomous as they left his lips.

"I'm sorry what were you saying? This isn't this like me, are my actions not in alignment with your perfect image of me? Is it not ok that I'm no longer that naive kid that first turned up at Jump Street, ready for you to take under your wing and teach the ways of the world. Is it not ok that I'm now capable of being corrupt and flawed all by myself? I'm sorry if that's the case, but Penhall but that stupid kid is no longer here so you're stuck with me… " the last sentence sounded like he was pleading, for what Doug had no idea. He just sat in shocked silence, Tom stopped as he saw the incredibly hurt look plastered on his friends face. "I'm so sorry Doug," he quickly added feeling incredibly guilty, "I didn't, you know I didn't mean that," at least he thought he didn't. He hated himself for allowing himself to get too emotional and know he didn't know how to take it back.

Tom tried to start some playful banter and flashed his partner his best smile. Doug was too stunned by what had just happened to convincingly participate in the antics probably put on for his benefit. As at that moment he had believed him, Hanson was right; the man he was looking at was no longer his best friend. He looked at the man in front of him and saw someone who was twisted and bitter. Someone who had no kindness or youthful spark left in his eyes. It frightened him to death. Penhall was used to Tom being the put together one of the two, he was usually the screw up. Even though Hanson had had his fair of share of reprimands for being out of line, Doug had never seen him this desperate, this out of control. Dog was scared for him, he needed Tom more than he would ever admit. Even to himself. So when he saw the Tom he knew return to the eyes of man who was standing in front of him he felt so thankful he just wanted to hug him. He instead allowed himself to be comforted by their usual banter and decided to let it go.

For now.

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