Chapter 8

James didn't search for long. Maddox was in the break room making a cup of tea. Seeing him she meekly asked, "Can I get you something?"

James cringed at her body language, almost as if she was afraid of him. He shook his head, "No, I can get my own."

"I don't mind sir, really."

"I know you don't but I shouldn't have asked." He poured a cup of coffee, adding the right mixture of sugar and cream. He noticed her watching his movements and felt certain the next time she got him a cup of coffee it would be perfectly prepared. "I know it's late but I had a few question about the post mortem. Any chance you could stay a bit longer?"

"Sure, my husband is working the late shift so no need to rush home."

James motioned to the door, "After you."

They settled at their desks, James opened the file and began to pepper her with questions. An hour later she had answered all of his questions. He stared at her for a moment, perhaps he had underestimated her. He knew some of her answers would have had to come from Laura's team, if not Laura herself. But she had taken the initiative to follow through. He hid a smile thinking it was something he would have done.

"How did you know all of those things?"

"I asked, sir. While you and Inspector Lewis were out interviewing witnesses I read the report. There were things I didn't understand so I asked." She paused for a moment not wanting to give away her conversation with Laura, "I'm pretty sure I annoyed Dr. Hobson and her staff with all of my questions but I needed answers."

This time he did laugh, suddenly she reminded him of him, only nicer. At her quizzical glance he stood, "Lizzie, how about I buy you a cup of real coffee? I can give you a few pointers on not getting on Dr. Hobson's bad side."

She stood to follow him, "I would appreciate that sir. I fear I may already have two strikes with her."

Patting his pockets looking for his pack of cigarettes he pulled the empty packet from his pocket. "I'm afraid I might have a few more."

Lizzie reached into her desk and pull a fresh pack, offering it to him tentatively, "I noticed, earlier, that you were low. When I went to the canteen I picked these up."

He took them from her, "Maybe rather than coffee, I could offer you something stronger."

She smiled, nodding shyly, "I'd like that, sir."

James turned off the lights in their office, "Who knows, together we might solve the mystery of how to get back into the good graces of Dr. Hobson?"

Laura opened the front door, letting herself into the house. She could hear Robbie puttering around in the kitchen and followed the sounds, "You're home early."

"James went in search of questions on one of your PMs, I took advantage and left. I wanted to get home to you." He held up a bottle of wine.

She nodded, "And were you surprised to find me not here?"

Taking two glasses from the cabinet he opened the wine. Pouring wine into each glass he handed one to her, "Not terribly, I thought you might have gone for a walk, clear your head?"

She took the glass and smiled sheepishly, "I went to work."

Walking around the counter he smiled down at her, "Really Dr. Hobson, working on a weekend?"

She tilted her head, shrugging as she looked up at him, "I figured what's good for the goose…"

"I don't want us to fall into bad habits Laura."

Resting her head against his chest, she nodded, "I agree. I added it to my list of things we need to talk about."

He kissed the top of her head, "You have a list?"

"A small one."

"Shall we take our wine to the patio and talk through your list?"

Shaking her head, she took his hand, leading him into the living room, "Not the patio."

He grabbed the wine as she pulled him along, "It's a beautiful night Laura."

"I know but that damned canoe is still out there."

His laughter filled the room as he settled on the sofa. He pulled her to him, smiling up at her, "You might want to take peek onto the patio before you pass judgment."

Pulling away from him she looked through the windows, the canoe was gone. She looked down at him, "You got rid of it? I thought you wanted to take Jack out in it at half term."

"I told you I had a plan."

Laura set her glass on the table then took Robbie's from him. With a raised eyebrow and flirty smile she looked down at him, her knee between his legs. "And are you going to share your plan, Inspector?"

Her use of Inspector lit a fire inside him. He thought about how long it had been since she had flirted with him. They'd had sex, but the playful, flirty side of their relationship had been lacking. It wasn't until she'd said Inspector in that breathy voice that he'd realized how much he'd missed it.

He wanted to pull her to him, kiss her, remove every stitch of clothing and make love to her but he paused. "I am happy to share anything you want to share Laura." Her eyes darkened and he was almost lost, "But not if it means we don't talk."

She blinked, unsure of what she'd just heard. Was he really turning her down? She pulled back, hurt, confused. A maelstrom of emotion flooding her, had she misread the situation.

Robbie's touch stopped her. He pulled her into his lap. His hands cupping her face, "Laura, don't read anything into my comment. It's taking everything in me not to throw you down on this sofa and make love to you until the morning. But I don't want us to get distracted." He kissed her, "And you do distract me, love."

Pressing her forehead into his, "I need to know two things."

"Go on."

"You're going to talk to me Robbie, really talk to me. I need to know we are a team not just two people in a canoe rowing in the same general direction."

He smiled at her canoe reference, "We are Laura. I was wrong not to talk to you. I was wrong not to ask you what was going on. Things between us have been so easy, I forgot how much work a relationship really takes."

"Are you saying I am hard work Robbie Lewis?"

Wrapping his arms around her, he kissed her neck. He growled against her skin, "You, Dr. Laura Hobson, are a lot of work. But it's a labor of love."

She laughed as she wrapped her arms around him, "You're no walk in the park either Inspector Lewis."

He looked up at her, eyes filled with love, "Then it's a good thing we found each other. What's the other thing on your list?"

"I don't want us to fall into bad habits. Working late, forgetting to call, we have to make time to be alone and I don't mean just sex. Have breakfast together, lay on the sofa and read, watch telly, I don't really care what it is as long as we do it together."

"And no working on weekends unless we are on call, no slipping off for an hour or two just because the other one is otherwise occupied."

"Yes."

"Yes what Laura?"

Pulling him closer she whispered against his lips, "You made an offer about this sofa and morning. I am saying yes."

Here's where your vote matters. Take it M or gloss over the sofa time.