"Sorry," Steve apologised to the three men in the room once his retching had subsided.

"That's ok," Derek said.

"I promised her that I'd look after her," Steve said, getting distraught at his absolute failure to do so.

"She won't hold it against you, son," Ted tried to comfort Steve. He knew how close the two were. The fact that Kate no longer worked in AC-12 hadn't changed that.

"She's been staying with you for the last couple of days?" Derek checked.

"Yes," Steve said as he fought to get his emotions under control. "I ran in to Kate unexpectedly at the pub last week. She was out with MIT," Steve said, repeating what Derek had been told by DCI Davidson. "I tried surprising her," Steve went on, "but it didn't go down very well. Usually I'd have gotten a slap on the arm and been told I was an idiot or something," he explained, "but not that night. I knew something was wrong as soon as I saw her face...,".

Flashback

"You fucking idiot!" Kate screamed at Steve before running off.

Steve couldn't help but be surprised at her words. She had never reacted like that before to a practical joke.

Out of the corner of his eye, Steve saw one of Kate's new work colleagues go to follow her, but he stopped her. "I'll go," he said. "I upset her. I should be the one to apologise," he said before retracing Kate's steps.

He didn't have far to go before he caught up to her. She was resting against the wall of the pub trying to calm her tears,

"Kate!" Steve said as he approached. He saw her look at him before turning away. "I'm sorry," Steve persisted. "I thought it would be funny but it very clearly wasn't," he explained.

Kate sniffed as more tears started.

"I don't know what's going on mate, but do you need a hug?" Steve asked. He'd only just got the question out before Kate turned and barrelled in to him, tucking herself under his chin. Steve's arms reflexively came to surround her. He held her whilst she cried against his shoulder until she had cried all her tears. "I just wanted to say hi," Steve explained. "I've missed you," he whispered in her ear once she was calm.

"I've missed you too," he heard her reply. There was no one in MIT that could give as nice a hug as Steve did.

"What's going on mate?" Steve asked. He'd never seen his friend in such a state. He didn't know what her reply would be, but he definitely wasn't expecting a stalker.

"So what's happening now?" Steve asked once she had updated him.

Kate shrugged her shoulders. "Nothing much. No one can do anything until I know who he is," she explained, repeating what she had been told by the officer when she had reported her stalker to the local police station.

"That's total bollocks," Steve said and Kate smiled. "How about you come and stay with me for a bit to escape this unwanted attention?".

"Are you sure?".

"I've got a spare bedroom. It will be fun to have a flat mate," Steve said.

"Ok," Kate agreed gratefully. "Just for a bit,".

Steve smiled, pleased she had accepted his offer. "Should we go and get some bags packed?". He felt Kate nod against his shoulder.

"I'll go and get my bag," Kate sniffed. "Actually," she changed her mind and took Steve's hand in hers. "Come with me and I'll introduce you," she instructed as she pulled Steve behind her.

They retraced their steps back in to the pub and to where the rest of MIT were gathered. "Everyone this is Steve," Kate said to her new colleagues. "We were partners in AC-12," she continued. "He can be a bit of an idiot but he's ok really," she teased, letting her new team know they had made up. Everyone shook hands with the new comer and a bit of small talk was exchanged before Kate bade MIT a good weekend and excused both herself and Steve.

They caught a taxi to Kate's and were catching up as Kate let herself in to her apartment. Just as she opened her front door, they heard a door behind them opening.

"Oh hi, Xander," Kate said as she pushed the door completely open.

"I thought I heard you," the man said. "Just wanted to check how it's all going," he said.

"Same," Kate said. "This is Steve Arnott, an old work friend. Steve, this is Xander my neighbour," Kate introduced the two men who had been warily eying the other up.

Steve hadn't met this man before but was instantly on alert and couldn't help but move a little closer to Kate, his hand coming to rest on the small of her back in a slightly possessive move.

"Steve's said I could move in with him for a bit," Kate continued and Xander looked a little surprised.

"Help Kate avoid this weirdo's attention for a while," Steve added.

"Good idea," Xander said after a little pause.

"We've just come to pack some bags," Steve went on, "and we'll be off,".

"I won't keep you then. Bye Kate. Good to see you. Keep safe," Xander said and disappeared in to his flat.

"Who's Xander?" Steve asked once they were alone inside Kate's home, trying to sound as nonchalant as possible.

"A new neighbour," Kate replied as she flicked her lights on. "We met at the resident gym one evening. Had to help him when he got in to trouble pushing weights,".

Steve nodded as he followed her in to the kitchen. "You know much about him?".

"He works in IT. Single," Kate replied. "Travels a lot. Hardly ever see him to be honest but he takes an odd delivery for me if I'm not in. Oh and he's a Leo. Cup of tea?".

"Yeah ok," Steve replied. "I think he fancies you," Steve informed her. Kate couldn't help but smile as she went about her task. "What?" Steve asked.

"Is that why you were acting all territorial out there?" she asked as she turned the kettle on. Steve pretended to not understand what Kate was talking about. "Don't think I didn't notice you standing closer to me or that hand on my back," she informed him.

"Just looking out for you that's all," Steve defended himself. "You don't know who this stalker is," he warned her.

Any other time and Kate would have been annoyed at his over-protectiveness. She was an independent woman and could look after herself. But at this moment in her life she was glad someone was looking out for her.

p"Thank you," she said gratefully.

Surprised to have been let off the hook so easily, Steve cast a glance around the place. It had been ages since he'd been at Kate's but it looked the same as it always had been, although a large stack of letters in the corner caught his eye.

"Those the letters?" He asked and Kate nodded. "Can I?" he asked again as he went over to them.

"Help yourself," Kate said as she busied herself with the tea as the kettle had now boiled. She didn't hear Steve say anything in the time it took to make the drinks and she watched him read the letters.

"Fucking hell, Kate!" Steve exclaimed as he read one of the more recent letters. He was shocked at the pervertedness of this man's mind. "Forget staying with me for a little while. You are staying until he has been caught," he said. "No arguments!".

"I'll pack a bigger bag then," Kate joked. At the rate the local police were making progress on the case it would be a long time before they caught him.

Steve found a picture of some genitalia in the letter. "Is this him?" he asked as he showed the photo to Kate. "Just in case his words don't make you fall for him?".

She shrugged her shoulders. "I presume so,".

"Not very well endowed is he?" Steve joked, and for the first time since she was stalked, Kate laughed.

"Stop it!" She scolded her friend as she swatted him on the arm.

"If I was him, I'd entice you with a picture of something a bit bigger," Steve suggested and Kate rolled her eyes.

"Why are men so hung up on size?" Kate asked. "As long as you know what you're doing with it us women don't really care,".

"I'll try and remember that," Steve said.

"I'll go pack those bags," Kate said as she walked off breaking the charged atmosphere that had suddenly appeared in the kitchen. They had never discussed things like that when they were partners. Maybe it was different now they no longer worked together. They could flirt without fear of any repercussions.

Steve had just started to read another letter when he heard Kate call his name worriedly. Noticing the anxiety in the tone of her voice, Steve put the letter down and went to find Kate.

She was at the doorway of her bedroom and as Steve got closer, he saw the reason why she hadn't gone any further.