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

Sex: M/M

Swearing: Mild

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.

The rest of the night and most of the next day passed in a blur of inactivity. Joe kept to his office as much as possible, hiding from his guilt, thankful that Kent didn't venture in to see him. He hated that he was avoiding the younger man, especially when everything seemed to he going so well. But he couldn't help it; he was confused over his feelings. How could he love Emerson - and he was sure he still did. - and yet be attracted to Morgan? He'd never had to deal with anything like this before. Was this normal? He glanced up through the glass door and fixed his gaze on Miles. Maybe he should talk to his friend, but that would not only mean having to acknowledge that he was back with Kent, but that he was interested in Dr Lamb too. And could Miles even help? He was happily married, had been for years. What could he possible know about what Joe was feeling?

Thankfully Joe was distracted from the turmoil that was his relationship by the arrival of Mantis' Psychiatrist and then by the possible appearance of their murderer a few streets away.

~WHITECHAPEL~

Kent stood beside the police van with Riley and Mansell watching from a distance as Joe and the Skip argued. He couldn't hear what was being said over the noise of the CI19 team and his own pounding heart. He hadn't failed to notice that Joe was avoiding him and it didn't take a genius to know it had something to do with that woman. He'd planned on getting him alone at some point and talking to him, but in there current situation, that was going to have to wait. Though he hoped it wouldn't have to wait until the end of the case. He feared what it would do to their relationship if it did.

When Joe stepped out from behind the car Emerson's heart leapt into his throat and he rushed forward as Joe moved slowly towards the armed man. He made a metal promise that if Joe died before they'd sorted things out he'd kill him. His heart raced harder and harder as Mantis moved closer to Joe. What was the bloody hell was the man thinking? He was going to get himself killed. When the gunshot rang through the air, Emerson could have sworn his heart actually stopped.

~WHITECHAPEL~

After the crime scene had been fully searched the team headed back to the station. Miles having already gone off to calm himself down, having barely spoken two words to Joe since the shooting. The senior officer headed off to his office to collect his bag before heading for the men's room. He'd barely stepped though the door when someone followed him in. He turned to see Emerson glaring at him furiously.

"What the bloody hell were you thinking?" he snapped. "You could have gotten yourself fucking killed!"

Joe sighted, dropping his bag on the floor beside the sink. "It wasn't a real gun."

"You didn't know that."

The senior officer ran his hand through his blond hair and down his face. "I wanted to stop him, without killing him."

"Seriously Joe, sometimes you just don't think!" Emerson complained leaning against the sink. "No wonder the Skip's furious with you."

Joe stared into the mirror. "That's all I ever do." he sighed warily.

There was a strained silence, a thick suffocating one that filled the whole room. Joe continued to stare at himself, while Emerson watched his feet.

"You've been avoiding me." Kent murmured.

Joe's back instantly straightened. "Of course I haven't. I've been….busy. We're in the middle of a murder investigation." he insisted, still not meeting Emerson's gaze, unsure what the younger man would see if he did.

Kent shared Joe's uncertainty, not wanting to know if his suspicions were true. He swallowed hard, shifting on his feet before forcing an awkward smile. "So much for our date." he sighed lightly, pressing his hands deep into his pockets.

Joe finally looked at his lover. - Or would be lover if they made it through this case without him screwing it up. - His eyes searching the man's soft features, racking over the skin that was darker than his own. The dark lashes settling against his cheekbones, the fall of brown curls over his forehead. Emerson pulled his lower lip through his teeth, worrying at it, and Joe's heart stopped at the sight, his body warming. He drew in a gentle breath as he stepped closer to the man, towering over him. Emerson's brown eyes rising to meet his blue ones, a wariness and confusion in their depths, - Also just the smallest spark of fear. All feelings Joe shared.

A tension built between them as they just stood watching each other until Joe finally leant that last few inches, closing the gap between them, pressing his lips to Kent's. The man didn't move but reciprocated instantly, opening his mouth to allow Joe's tongue to sweep inside. Joe's hands clinging to Emerson's face as if scared to let go, which was probably true, his fingers pressed into the flesh as he kissed the man desperately. The weight he'd been carrying since last evening finally lifting.

How could he ever think he wanted anyone but the man he had? So they couldn't be open about their relationship but when everything was settled, when he was sure that he wouldn't mess up his career - not that he had a career. - They'd come out. Even as Joe thought it he knew it was another of those lies he told himself, but he didn't care. Sometimes it just hurt less to lie to himself.

He pressed his body closer to Emerson's, the younger man's hands gripping at his waist, pulling him in so that their hips met and ground dangerously, while their kiss grew more heated and passionate. Emerson's back curved as Joe's weight forced him back against the washbasins, his head connecting with the wall behind. Joe's hand slipped beneath the young officer's suit jacket, around his waist to grab at his backside, squeezing gently. Emerson moaned and pressed forward. Neither much caring that they were in a restroom.

Kent's fingers combed through Joe's golden blond hair, curling tight around the strands, his heart thundering beneath his ribs so hard there was no doubt that Joe could feel it. Emerson pulled his mouth away with a moan, panting breathlessly at Joe's ear at the man nipped his way alone the man's jaw.

"Joe." Emerson part panted, part moan. "I…God, Joe, I really want…." he let out a deep throat groan as Joe's teeth sank into the skin beneath the collar of his shirt, Joe's hips pressing harder against his younger lover. Unable to take anymore, too desperate and frustrated, Emerson pushed Joe away, the senior officer looking down at him with confusion and concern that vanished with Kent grabbed his wrist and dragged him towards the cubicles.

"Em, we can't."

The younger man smirked as he strolled backwards into the small cubicle, dragging the man in after him. "It's not like it's the first time." he murmured.

Joe watched him for a moment, pausing on the threshold, questioning the sense of what they were about to do. Emerson was right, it wasn't the first time they snuck off to the toilets, especially during a tough case, but that was how they'd been figured out. They couldn't let that happen again. - No, he couldn't. Kent wouldn't care; he didn't have anything to lose. Do you? He asked himself.

Swallowing hard he glanced at the toilet door and stepped over the threshold, his heart pounding as he pushed the door closed behind him. He glanced down at Emerson as the man sat down on the toilet seat, his deep brown eyes looking up at him expectantly, filled with desire and want, a small smile curving his lips. Joe reached out, running his fingers through the dark curls. Kent sighed, pressing into the hand like a cat, Joe grinned, stepping forward between the man's knees. Slowly he lowered his head to press their lips together again.

As they kissed with more feeling, Emerson's hands moved to Joe's belt, tugging till it was undone and the black suit pants were slipping down the man's muscles thighs. Emerson's hand then went to work on Joe's tie and shirt, all done by memory and instinct. With his shirt hanging open, Joe moaned at the touch of Emerson's hands on his chest, as the fingers took in the hills and valleys of the man's taunt muscle. Joe straightened, breaking their kiss, though his hand never left the other man's hair. Emerson smiled warmly as he got to his feet, backing his lover to the door.

"I've missed this." he whispered.

Joe swallowed hard and nodded. "Me too." God so much.

He sucked in a breath as the younger man's mouth moved over the bear chest, sucking and biting lightly at the flesh, burning a path to the waistband of his boxers. Joe's head dropped back against the door as cool air hit his erection, but it was soon replaced by warm moist heat. He stood breathing heavily as Kent worked him towards his climax, his eyes fixed on the head of dark curls bobbing in front of him, his heart racing as the peace he always craved came over him. How could he ever think that Morgan Lamb could replacing Emerson Kent?

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.