A/N: Yay! Another character who never gets a story :) I figured if I was going to do this properly I should have Stephen in it (plus I like Stephen, he makes me laugh)

Dedicated

Stephen Andrews was a man dedicated to his job. He might greet each new case with some levity but he always took his role very seriously and accorded each victim the respect they were due.

Being so dedicated to his job he had little time for those who didn't display similar commitment. He didn't conduct post mortems for enjoyment; he expected those who read his report to be just as vigilant in their hunt for those responsible.

It had been due to this shared dedication that he had gotten along so well with Jim Taggart, both had respected the ability of the other and worked together to solve the case. He enjoyed a similar working relationship with Michael; he had had a soft spot for the younger man ever since he joined Taggart's team as a DC.

It didn't escape Stephen's analytical mind, however, that Michael's dedication to Jackie ran a close second to his job. Sometimes Stephen wondered if it surpassed it.

Not that Stephen would have considered that a bad thing; the first time he had met Jackie he had noticed her positive influence on the younger man. She made him smile and seemed to be able to exert a calming influence on him that enabled him to relax.

Both things Stephen felt Michael was in need of as he occasionally took things too seriously.

As he had gotten to know Jackie better he had noted that Michael was good for her as well. His faith in her was something that Stephen could see she built upon, what surprised him was how his protectiveness didn't appear to excite any comment.

Many people had observed that Jackie was always two steps behind Michael, like a shadow, and saw it as a sign of the bond they shared and her dedication to him. Whilst Stephen didn't dispute that idea it was often part of his job to see things a little differently, therefore what was significant for him was Michael's position.

To Stephen Jackie wasn't two steps behind Michael; Michael was two steps in front of Jackie.

Not as her leader, or even her superior, but as her protector; entering into situations before she did to keep her safe. For even when they stood, apparently side by side, Stephen noted that Michael was still slightly in front. He never looked entirely comfortable in situations where Jackie was in front of him, exposed as it were.

In a work environment that was predominantly male it was easy to forget that Jackie wasn't just one of the boys and Stephen felt that it was a good thing that someone remembered that she wasn't.

----

A/N: As he would have known them the longest I think that Stephen would have had his own take on their relationship and seen things in a different light to the others. It didn't really end up having much to do with being dedicated, but nevermind :)