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

Sex: M/M

Swearing: None

Setting: This chapter takes place during episodes 5 & 6.

I'm having a bit of trouble with Word at the moment, so if there are more Spelling and Grammar mistakes than usual, forgive me.

Joe stared at the mirror unsure how he felt, part of him was glad they finally had a case, his mind was already sparking to life. He couldn't really describe it as excitement but he could feel his body flooding with adrenaline. But there was another part of him that cursed it, that normal part that wanted a night off to spend with his boyfriend. That part of him was angry and frustrated that once against his job was taking over and coming between him and Emerson. But they had a suspect, with a bit of luck the case could be tired up quickly and he and Emerson could see to their plans.

Smiling to himself Joe shrugged into his suit jacket, fixing it over his fresh shirt and headed back to the incident room to start work on the case. He was writing the information on the whiteboard when Miles strolled over.

"I could do that."

"No, I like it. I like the process. It makes me see things clearly." Joe replied calmly.

"Is that a new shirt?" Miles quizzed.

"Crimes scenes make me feel…..grubby." Joe defended, not taking his eyes off the board.

Miles took a step closer, dropping his voice. "Listen, if your going to have a wobble and start counting out piles of coloured pins, you've got to let me know."

Joe frowned down at his sergeant, torn between being touched at his concern and annoyed by it. "This isn't the beginnings of a crisis, it's basic hygiene." and it really was. Joe wasn't feeling anxious, not about the case anyway, in fact he felt the most relaxed he had in months, and he knew he had Emerson to thank for that. Maybe he should tell Miles that, then the man might stop worrying about him constantly.

"Yeah, well. I'm keeping an eye." Miles insisted walking away before Joe could say anything at all.

~WHITECHAPEL~

Joe shifted in his seat as he listened to Dr. Lamb. Since meeting her at the crime scene he'd been unable to shake the feeling of attraction. She was smart, strong and not easily scared. How could he not be attracted to that? She was amazing. The more she spoke, the harder it was to deny that he admired her. He was a little disappointed that she couldn't tell him anything about Mantis, as there seemed to be no obvious connection between them.

The guilt didn't hit until later, when Kent returned to the office after searching the Mantis house. It was like being hit in the face, hard. There they were trying to get their relationship back on track after over a year of separation and here he was being attracted to another person. Hadn't he put Emerson through enough? He inwardly shook himself, he'd made his decision, he wanted Kent, this was just a ridiculous attraction that meant nothing. As soon as the case was over he'd never see Morgan Lamb again. He just had to keep telling himself that.

~WHITECHAPEL~

Emerson sat at his desk picking at the plate of food he'd gotten from the table they'd set up for Mansell's party, his gaze flickering between his computer screen and Joe. He looked tense, more than usual, the kind of tense he'd been during the Kray case, and the Ripper before that. Emerson wasn't quite sure why, this case wasn't really to that standard, they knew who they were looking for, it was only a matter of time till they found Mantis. Yet Joe was on the verge of freaking out.

Emerson looked down at his plate for a long moment. Back during the Ripper and Kray cases he'd drag Joe off somewhere to help relieve that tension and stress, it always seemed to work, at least for a while. He wondered if he should do that now. Glancing up, he scanned the room. He couldn't, he realised. There were too many people around, they'd know something was up if Joe and him suddenly vanished. Sighing he turned back to his work. He continued to watch Joe though, until he left the room with Miles, then he relaxed into his seat. The sooner this case was done with the better, cause he really wanted to get Joe in bed. He should never have agreed to this whole take it slow thing.

~WHITECHAPEL~

Joe pushed open the door to the interview room. "Morgan, we're just going to get someone to drive you home." he informed the waiting councillor. The sooner she was out of the station and away from him the better he'd feel.

"Oh, okay." she smiled back and Joe refused to acknowledge the effect it had on him as he pulled the door closed.

"Uh!" she quietly called, stopping him. "Could you take me?"

Before Joe could answer, Miles jumped in. "Of course he can. - Oh she's only around the corner, go on, take twenty minutes, get some fresh air."

Joe suddenly wanted to hit his friend, if that was even what Miles was. He stared back at Morgan for a moment, wishing he had told Miles about being back with Kent, then the man would stop trying to set him up with women. He swallowed hard at the hopeful look on Morgan's face and knew he couldn't deny her request. "Fine, um…I'll leave you in charge, Miles."

"The moment I've been waiting for." Miles smirked, heading back to the office.

Joe looked at Morgan with unease, his heart racing. "I'll…just get my keys." he said nervously, pulling the door closed with a small smile.

He rushed to catch up with Miles. "You can't match-make during a murder." he scolded.

Miles smiled innocently up at him. "Whose match-making? I'm not. The witness asked for you to take her home. Maybe she senses a rapport with you. Maybe she'll talk to you alone, away from here, things she wouldn't mention in front of me."

Joe has to admit that makes sense. "Okay, you have a point." that doesn't stop him hating the idea though.

"I'm full of them." Miles chuckled continuing on to the office. "You should ask me more often."

Joe walked back straight back to his office feeling like his body was spiralling out of control under the warring emotions. It didn't get any better when he walked thought the doors of the incident room and his gaze instantly fell on Kent, who was talking with Riley. The guilt flooded him again, drowning him. He told himself he was just doing his job, he was just taking a witness home, hoping to get more information on her attack. It wasn't anything to feel guilty about. He'd take her home and come back with more information and once this case was over he'd take Emerson home and straight to bed. He grabbed his coat repeating that mantra over and over as he strolled back out of the room silently, without looking at his boyfriend.

Emerson frowned as Joe walked out of the incident room. He knew Joe well enough to know there was something wrong. Glancing around the office and seeing everyone occupied, he headed out after him. He caught sight of Joe heading for the car park with the surviving victim. He doesn't know why he follows, but he does. He watched from the doorway as Joe led the woman to his car. He can't ignore the way they are walking so close to each other, or the way she keeps smiling up at him. His chest tightens as they stop by the vehicle and Joe opens the door for her, helping her inside.

His heart pounded painfully in his chest as the car pulled away. Turning sharply he marched back to the incident room and over to the whiteboard, to stare up at the evidence photo's and information. Turning it all over in his mind. A small voice at the back of his mind was telling him it's just jealousy, there's nothing untoward going on with Dr. Morgan Lamb, but he refuses to listen to it. "How long can you hold your breath?" he asked Riley absently.

"Umm, 30 seconds, then I go really red."

Emerson fixed his eyes on the photo of the ribbon. "Yeah. You wouldn't look dead, would you?"

~WHITECHAPEL~

Joe had just intended to drop her off then head back to work but when she'd invited him in he found himself unable to say no. He strolled nervously around her flat, making aimless small talk while battling with himself over what the hell he was doing here. He couldn't really understand what was going on in his head. Why everything was suddenly complicated. A week ago he was on cloud nine, he had Kent back in his life, things were looking up. Sure he was still hiding from everyone at the station, he knew he could trust Miles, the man might even be happy for him, but he couldn't bring himself to tell him.

Morgan handed him his cup as they joked lightly about her failed cooking attempt. It surprised him how easy it was to talk to her. He was nervous but not uncomfortable. The only other person he'd ever been this at ease with was Emerson. He was so at ease with the woman that he found himself discussing the case without ever really noticing. When he did he forced himself to stop. "I'm the one whose supposed to be asked the question." he smiled.

"My job to…so second nature."

Joe fidgeted with the candles on the fire place absentmindedly. "So uh, why did you become a councillor?" he asked casually.

"I've always had a very clear perception. People would come to me and I would help them achieve clarity to help them over come the obstacles in their lives."

Joe stared at her warmly, impressed and amazed all over again. "Sounds like you have a gift."

"Knowing what people are thinking is a curse in a relationship. No one can lie to me, so no one stays. - Do you lie?"

Joe shifted under the weight of question. He lied on a daily bases, he was lying right now. "Only to myself." he told himself to be honest, to tell her, and everyone the truth. Maybe if he did he wouldn't be feeling so at sea at that moment.

A knock broke into their conversation. "Oh that'll be…um…I arranged for an officer to watch over the house. That'll be him now."

"Oh, that's not necessary."

"I want you to sleep easy." Joe insisted. "I should go. Thank you for the tea." he handed over his mug nervously.

"Thank you for being honest."

Joe looked down at the dark haired woman as another wave of attraction took hold of his body. Straightening his back he gave her a small smile he headed for the door.

Morgan was on his mind all the way back to the station. She was so refreshing, he knew she'd understand his problems and would be able to live with them. She'd get the work too. She'd be prefect. It wasn't till he strolled into the station and saw Kent that he realised where his mind had been. What he'd been fantasizing about. He needed to find a way to stop thinking about the woman before it destroyed what he potential had with Emerson. Why did he have to meet her now? Why not three or four weeks ago? Before he'd gotten back with Kent. When he was single and ready to move on there had been no sign of her. He swore the universe, if he believed in such nonsense, was out to get him.

A/N: Hope you enjoyed the chapter, sorry it was so short.

Oh, and you if you want to keep informed of any future stories or the progress of any I'm currently working on, you can check me out on Tumblr, link in my profile.