I'm so happy you're enjoying this - thank you for your comments! You also took me by surprise by thinking of the fic as angsty, but then I reread chapter 2, and you're right, it does have a ring of that. Chapter 3... perhaps not so much.

Onto the further adventures - chapter 3 of 6!

Jack already knew Phryne was one of the cleverest and most competent people he knew, but it still shocked him how capable she was. Despite the Commissioner wanting to chastise Jack in front of all his men, Phryne managed to talk about their peculiar circumstances in such a way that it didn't sound damning. Jack had seen her turn director for an earlier case – now she turned into an inspector in front of his eyes.

Jack had also found a way to share space with Hugh Collins that only felt slightly awkward.

So, Jack decided he could only take the developments in his stride. Commissioner Fuller obviously wanted to embarrass him. He probably didn't know just how much he was messing with Jack's mind – it was only days since Jack himself had appointed Phryne an honorary constable, and the look she had given him in her hallway as he did had been so tender and tense he wondered how he hadn't combusted. The last time he had seen her before today's meeting, she had been in her tennis whites, he had laughed more than he could remember doing for years, and it was a wonder Jack hadn't succumbed and kissed her.

And now, she was to be constantly at his workplace, and supervising him! His stomach was a whirl of emotions. Attraction, tenderness, humiliation, anger, humour, and incredulity all swirled together (oh well, why not just own up to it, Jack, obviously quite a dose of adoration too).

He wondered if the Commissioner had any clue about that last part, which is to say, he wondered exactly how insidious this punishment was meant to be.

With all these competing emotions, Jack managed to grumpily settle into sharing workspace with Hugh Collins. From time to time they just looked at each other with raised eyebrows, as a wordless coping mechanism.

"Collins!" Phryne said in a singsong voice that was so different to his boss's usual bark that Collins had to smile. "Be a doll and fetch me the ten latest open cases, will you?"

Jack wondered if the Commissioner really understood what power he had given the inquisitive mind of Phryne Fisher. And all that just to reprimand Jack for letting her in on police work. He couldn't help feeling there was a major flaw in the plan.

Jack did feel snubbed, he did, but probably much less than the Commissioner had counted on. He didn't mind so much Phryne being there – the pride he put into his work was not of the vain and insipid kind. Her having authority over him was not only frightening but also intriguing, and he was rather curious to see her in such an odd role. But the loss of his room did grate on him.

"Inspector Robinson, would you mind stepping into my office?" she said as she had come out to fetch some tea.

"Of course, Honorary Inspector Fisher," Jack said, trying for his driest voice, and fighting to subdue a smile.

He followed her into the room and, at her gesture, closed the door behind him. When he turned back, she was sitting in his chair with her feet on his – her? – desk, sipping tea and very deliberately eating biscuits from the secret stash she had obviously found.

Jack didn't give away anything as he eyed her.

"Please, have a seat," she said and pointed at a chair; he nodded and sat down, waiting for her next move. Being a visitor in his own room felt like having entered Alice's wonderland.

Jack cleared his throat and looked her in the eyes. They were so sparkling with enjoyment he couldn't think of any witty comment at all.

"Biscuit?" Phryne asked and pushed the tin closer to him.

"Don't mind if I do," he said and flashed her a grin as he took one. "Delicious," he continued while munching. "Secret recipe?"

"Incredibly secret," Phryne answered.

They chewed in companionable silence.

"What are you doing here, Miss Fisher?" Jack finally asked. At her wide-eyed look, he added: "Honorary Inspector Fisher."

"So far I think I have a solution for two of the cases you're working on."

"No, why are you here, as an Honorary Inspector?"

Phryne grabbed a second biscuit.

"Why, I am the means of teaching you a lesson, Jack."

"Which is?"

"To not fraternise with civilians against explicit orders."

Jack pondered this for a while, then he got up from his chair and rounded the desk, to instead sit down on what was unquestionably her usual spot. He towered rather massively above her, far too close for her to easily size him up, and she couldn't read his mood.

"And the punishment for that is... more fraternising with civilians?" he asked, his voice deliciously deep and a tiny bit alluring. Slowly, he let a smile bloom in his eyes and then move down into the corners of his mouth.

Phryne made her most mock innocent eyes.

"Who would have thought?"

Jack didn't answer. He just sat there on the corner of the desk and watched her with that tiny smile – a smile that made her feel rather hot under the collar. Phryne wanted to lay her hand on his enticing thigh, and she imagined herself standing up and pressing him against the desk while kissing him; she could even feel the way he would meet her kiss and perhaps even caress her head while he took over the command of the kiss as she pressed her body harder into him.

Dear God, Phryne thought to herself while considering her thoughts. This must be what it feels like for Jack when he sits in this chair. The agony! The indecisiveness! Had she become Jack Robinson? Phryne felt her stomach drop when she processed this insight. Did he have to fight against this kind of urges every day? How could he stand it?

And, more importantly, why did he stand it? But Phryne realised she understood the weight of honour and duty more than she cared to admit. So, despite being the notoriously rash Phryne Fisher, she didn't put any of her thoughts into action. She gazed into his eyes and felt her breath hitch, then she swallowed and looked away.

"I'm sorry I'm making this awkward for you, Jack. When the Commissioner proposed it, I didn't realise he meant it so literally. It doesn't feel right to take over your room."

She rose and moved to give up her space, but he caught her arm to prevent her.

"Don't apologize, Miss Fisher," he said. "You know it only confuses me." She smiled at his deliberate use of words. "I don't mind. Or at least, not that much," he added truthfully.

She looked down on the hand he had put on her arm, and then up into his eyes. That man! He was so generous and open-minded, and she felt tears prick in her eyes. Even though she had agreed to take part in this scheme, and even though he didn't know her actions were preventing a more severe punishment, he was still so careful and kind to her. She couldn't decide which one of his eyes to focus on, and when she swayed slightly towards him, she dared to briefly flick her eyes down to his lips too. His eyes… she felt she could positively drown in them. Was this really happening? Was she going to kiss Jack Robinson, and of all ill-chosen moments at the exact time when she had deprived him of his position and his office, and possibly also part of his pride? As tempting as it was, it didn't feel right.

Reluctantly, she pulled back and forced herself to give him a smile that was more professional than suggestive.

"Well then," she said in a slightly wobbly voice. "We should probably go back to our business."

Jack searched her face, but said nothing. He just nodded and turned to leave the office. Over his shoulder, he added:

"Don't forget you need to go through the full log, and check the schedule for tomorrow and the status of the cells before you leave for the night, Honorary Inspector."