BETA: None. WILL have spelling and grammar mistakes. (Please don't complain as I've just warned you.)

Sex: Not in this chapter.

Swearing: None

Setting: Chapters One - Six take place during episodes 1 & 2 of season three.

CHAPTER FIVE

Kent knew something was wrong, Joe was being more distant than usual, sending him home when he'd tried to stay behind to help tidy the office, and his tone had been harsher too. He wasn't looking at him, not properly; no longer giving him brief glances before turning to talk to one of the others. He wanted to talk to him, wanted to ask him what was wrong, but they were never alone long enough.

A noise from the door had Kent turning to see the Skip strolling in.

"Everybody can I um…I've got an announcement to make."

Kent felt his stomach clench, they all knew what was going on with the Skip's wife and they all feared the worst.

"It turns out that the symptoms for ovarian cancer can sometimes….be confused….in older women….with those of pregnancy. - I'm going to be a dad again."

The room erupted as everyone rushed to congratulate the sergeant.

"And soon too, she's six month's bloody gone."

"Oh, I love babies, you're a lucky sod." Riley sad, planting a kiss on the skip's cheek.

Kent was happy for the man, but he couldn't help feeling a little envious. He glanced over his shoulder as Joe vanished into his office, their gazes meeting for a long moment, before Joe dropped his and walked to his desk.

"I don't know how I'm going to cope with a baby again, at my age. - And a girl too. What do I know about girls? The only girl I know is him." Miles joked, pointing to the office.

"And me." Riley insisted.

"You're not a girl, your one of us." Miles informed her. "Huh, hang on a tick."

Kent watched the sergeant head into the office. He stood talking to him and Kent wondered what they were discussing. Joe was rubbing his temples, something he hadn't seen him do in months and he looked tired. When the Skip exited, walking back with a cheer. Emerson continued to watch Joe, desperately wanting to go in there and talk to him, but not sure he'd be welcome.

~WHITECHAPEL~

Joe fussed with his desk, he was happy for Miles, he really was, but he couldn't help but feel the man's happiness only highlighted his own misery. Without that spark of hope he'd held for him and Emerson sorting things out, he had nothing. He would never have what Miles had. He put on a happy mask at the sergeant entered the office.

"You called Lizzie yet?" Miles asked almost the moment the door was closed.

"Unsurprisingly, I've been busy."

"Everything I have, Judy, the kids, my whole life, started with a phone call."

Joe reached for his tiger balm, rubbing it into his temples. "I'm in the middle of a huge manhunt for a mass murderer, I can't think about starting relationships."

"And I can't think about being a dad, but I have to." Miles insisted, leaning forward on Joe's desk. "Life goes on. This job will always give you a reason not to make that call, not to have that dinner….but this job won't keep you warm at night."

Miles looked at the younger man. He wanted Joe to have what he had, wanted him to be happy, the man deserved it, they all did. He hadn't been blind; he'd noticed the added tension between Joe and Kent over the past couple of days. Something had chanced between them, he didn't know what it was, but there was something. And now without the worry over Judy out of the way, Miles was determined to sort it out. If it meant pushing Joe at Lizzie then so be it. - Unless he wanted to confess. No? Oh well. "Just call her."

Joe turned Miles's words over in his head as the man left his office. Maybe the man was right, maybe he should take the chance, what's the worst that could happen? It wasn't marriage; it was just a drink, maybe dinner. - And if Kent was moving on, why shouldn't he.

~WHITECHAPEL~

"Where's the boss?" Kent asked as he accepted the drink form DS Miles.

"Got a date." Miles said proudly. "That nice bird from SOCO, Lizzie."

Kent almost dropped his glass at the news. "Oh?"

Miles hide his smile by turning back to the bar. "Yeah, and it's about time he found himself someone. He's been in Whitechapel almost two years."

Kent sipped at his drink silently. So Joe was moving on. "How long have they been seeing each other?" he asked trying to sound causal.

Miles turning to him with a shrug. "I have to say I sure he was gay." He chuckled a little.

Kent's gaze snapped up from the pubs dirty stained carpet. "What?"

"Yeah, he kept saying he wasn't but…" Miles shrugged again. "Just an instinct."

Kent swallowed. "Would…would it have mattered if he was?"

"No." Miles said, meeting his gaze. "What a man does in his free time is his own business, as long as it's not illegal. - And frankly, the boss is a good bloke, I would like to see him happy, with whoever he wants to be with."

The younger officer shifted on his feet, uncomfortable under Miles's intense stare. He knew, Kent knew he knew, he could see it in his eyes. Let alone what he was saying was clearly aimed at him. Coughing, he nodded. "I guess."

"Maybe him and Lizzie will hit it off splendidly. Maybe get married."

"Who's this?" Meg Riley said, coming over.

"The boss and Lizzie Pepper from SOCO."

"Really?" Riley frowned, looking at Kent in that knowing way. Did everyone know? "Nuh, can't see it myself." she shook her head and took a seat. "Girls way too forward, never an attractive trait. - Beside, something tells me, that the boss likes the quiet loyal type."

Miles bit back a laugh when Kent turned red and dropped his head.

"Well, we'll have to wait and see." Miles smiled, winking at Meg.

~WHITECHAPEL~

Joe rang the bell and instantly wished he hadn't. What the hell was he thinking come here. He had not slightest interest in Lizzie; she wasn't even close to his type. He would have left but for the fact it was too late. The door opened to reveal the young woman, looking….nothing like she did at work.

"Come in. I'll be ready in a minute."

Joe painted on a smile and stepped over the threshold. He could do this, it was just one drink and he wouldn't have to call her again, and he could get Miles off his back at the same time. He fused with his tie and shirt as he stepped into the living room and froze at the sight. The place was a mess, dirty plates and cups, bottles and papers, as well as clothes everywhere. His flesh crawled at the sight and he felt his head beginning to throb. How could anyone live like this? He'd never seen anything like it. He tried to ignore it and followed Lizzie into the kitchen where she stood smoking a cigarette.

"I'm glad you called me."

"I wasn't going to, but my sergeant made me." he knew he'd said the wrong thing. "But I'm glad I did. I mean you know, it isn't a bad thing, I'm just always too busy to huh…get around to um…stuff." Joe insisted, stepping further into the kitchen. He could do this, he kept telling himself.

Lizzie gave a soft forgiving laugh at his unintended insult. "Sit down, make yourself at home."

Joe looked back at the living room, his heart pounding at the prospect of sitting. "No….um, where's your bathroom?" he asked.

"Downstairs." Lizzie smiled.

Joe opened the door without taking his hands out of his coat pockets, not wanting to touch the place.

The bathroom was no better than the living room. Underwear hanging from the shower rail, make-up everywhere, clothes soaking in bath water, open toothpaste on the sink. He felt sick. He glanced up into the dirty mirror and his mind couldn't stop reminding him that Emerson had kept his flat spotless, never giving Joe a reason to complain about mess or open toothpaste tubes or make-up or underwear. Emerson had fitted perfectly and understandingly into his life.

He rubbed tiger balm into his temples, trying to stop the aching and disgust. He headed back to the kitchen to find the young woman brushing at her hair, sending another rush of disgust through him.

"Do…do you have a flat-mate?" he asked, having noticed the men's shoes in the bathroom.

Lizzie laughed. "Yes and no. He's a porter at the London, works nights. So he's here during the day while I'm at work, and I'm here at night when he's at work. I never see him, I only know he exists because he eats all the food and leaves the loo seat up."

Joe stared at her, his mind clearing of fog, the case forcing its way to the front. He wasn't even aware of the woman in the room with him.

"It's like living with a hungry ghost."

"So you live with him but you….don't know he's there." Joe murmured as the pieces slipped into place.

"Exactly."

"I have to go." Joe said, turning sharply and rushing for the door.

~WHITECHAPEL~

When Miles opened the door to see a flustered Joe, he couldn't help but think his plan had worked. "Thought you had a date?"

Joe shook his head. "It didn't work out."

"You made your mind up blood quick." Miles smiled, stepping back from the door to let the younger man in. Was this it? Was Joe going to finally confide in him, he hoped so, cause then he could tell him to stop being an idiot? "Go through to the kitchen." he smiled. He paused in the living room for his tea, Judy looking up at him questioningly. "Joe." he mouthed, holding thumbs up. Judy rolled her eyes and went back to watching the telly. He closed the kitchen door and sat down at the breakfast counter.

"We've been thinking that Driscoll had been hiding in those houses on the day of the murders, waiting for a few hours. What if it's bigger than that? What if he's living in those houses? For days, maybe weeks, biding his time, waiting for the right moment.

"How can he live in the house without anyone noticing?" Miles asked, irritated that this wasn't the conversation that he'd been expecting.

"Well they noticed the food was going missing and they blamed each other. That's why there wasn't any food in his bed-sit. He's been taking it from his victims."

"He hides in the walls and comes out when no one's looking." Miles murmured, the case overshadowing his attempt at matchmaking instantly.

"He's there when you're not, like a ghost."

A/N: This story really isn't the smooth ride I'd pictured it to be. So I apologize if it's not up to standard. Still hoping it picks up as I go.

Thanks if your sticking around.