More chapters! Yay!

I'm falling even more in love with you
Letting go of all I've held onto
I'm standing here until you make me move
I'm hanging by a moment here with you
I'm living for the only thing I know
I'm running and not quite sure where to go
And I don't know what I'm diving into
Just hanging by a moment here with you

Hanging by a moment- Lifehouse.

Ashley walked into the crowded pub and looked around for anyone she may know; she let out a short laugh as she saw a familiar figure sitting down by the bar. She walked over to the seat next to him and placed her bag by her feet. He turned to look at her and smiled grimly "Fancy seeing you here" He smiled "I thought you would be at home with Harvey"
"So did I" She smiled at the bar tender who gave her a black Russian. When she saw Max's eyebrows raised, she sighed "He wants me to quit my job" She said as she took a long drink out of the glass.

Max took a swig of his pint and looked over at her "What do you wanna do?"
"Stay. I love my job. Except for days like today. And yesterday. And the day before that" She chuckled slightly as Max gave a small smile into his drink "How're you feeling anyway?" She asked after a moment of silence.
"Sore. But, the doctor's gave me some painkillers" Max said, knowing what was coming next.
Ashley raised an eyebrow at him "Should you be taking them even though you've got another type of pain and brain killer?" She asked; noting the eye roll Max was giving her.

"Ash. Give it a break" Max wasn't really in the mood for Ashley playing the high and mighty on him at that point.
Ashley nodded and finished her drink; motioning for another "I know, I just came here for a drink..." She thought about this for a moment "Or eleven. Christ" She smiled at the bar tender as she took a sip of her new drink.
Max looked over at her "Things are that crap at home huh?" He noticed that she was playing with her engagement ring.
"Understatement of the bloody year" Ashley said as she placed her head in her hand, leaning on her elbow "All we seem to do is fight these days. If it's not about work; its about me not wanting to move in with him" She sighed and took a drink "It's a load of crap" She mumbled.

Max had never really known much about Ashley's home life, as far as he, and he suspected everyone else, knew; they were the model couple.
"That bad huh?" He asked as he finished his drink.
Ashley nodded "Yep" She looked over at her sergeant and smiled "Sorry. I know you probably came here to get away from the moulder life" She smirked.

Max shook his head "Nah. I came here because I wanted a drink. Bumping into you was just the added bonus" He said sarcastically.
Ashley slapped his arm and had another drink; she could feel her phone ringing in her pocket. She pulled it out and looked at the screen; when she saw her fiance's name on if, she placed it on the bar and stared at it, willing it to stop.
"You're not going to answer it?" Max asked with surprise.

"Nope. I don't think I really can" Ashley mumbled as she finished another drink. She let out a sigh and tapped her fingers on the bar; wondering if she really wanted to get plastered or not "He wants me to talk about work with him"
Max looked at the bar tender and motioned for another two drinks for them both "And you can't?"
"What do I tell him Max? Sorry hun, the reason why I'm like that is because I'm worried about my cocaine taking boss and what's going to happen to him?" Ashley suddenly blushed when she realised what she had just said.
Max looked at her with a bemused expression "You're worried about me?" He asked.

Ashley shook her head "Nope. I was just saying" She said as the bar man placed two drinks in front of them.
"Sure. Ashley I'm fine. You know that" Max said as he took a sip from his drink.
The younger woman nodded "Yeah. Of course you are" She mumbled, taking a small drink from her glass. She moaned as her phone rang again.
"I really don't want to answer this" She said as she twirled her phone in her hands.
Max held out his hand "I'll answer it then" He said.
"Nuh uh. He already thinks I'm cheating on him" Ashley mumbled as she downed more of her drink "You answering it won't help"

"Alright. You going home tonight?" Max asked as he slid off the bar stool.
Ashley shrugged "Maybe. I think I better" She sighed, also sliding off the stool.
Max walked with her outside "If you want, I have a spare room" He stated, wrapping his coat around him tighter.
"Seriously?" Ashley couldn't hide her surprise at this; she thought they hated each other.

Max nodded "Yeah. If you want it?"
Ashley thought about this for a moment before also nodding; sending a text to Harvey saying that she's staying at a girlfriend's.

Max unlocked his door; allowing Ashley to walk in. She looked around, on the glass coffee table, she saw traces of white powder on it; she bit something back as she looked around. Max pointed up the stairs "Bedroom's first door on the left. Bathroom's straight across the hall" He smiled at her.
Ashley nodded "Thanks" She said as she began to walk up the stairs.

"Serge" She turned around and looked at him "I really, really. I feel really uncomfortable here; with" She motioned to the coffee table "I'm a police officer. It's my job to arrest people like you. It's yours too" She pointed out.
Max nodded and looked away "Ashley. You're my partner, and I like to think of you as one of my friends. But; it's not that easy to get rid of an addiction. You know that" He said quietly.
Ashley walked back down the stairs and over to him "I also know what the end result is. I've seen it. I know what it does to families. I don't want to have to go through that again" She said, now standing in front of him; she felt her heart beat that little bit faster.
She didn't know if it was the alcohol or what, but she did hear herself whisper "I don't want to loose you"

Max swallowed deeply and traced her jaw with his finger, bringing his lips down on to hers. When he pulled pack, he searched her eyes, looking for approval. When Ashley was the one who initiated the second kiss; he knew that maybe he was in love with her.
She felt slightly bad for Harvey at home; but when Max traced the skin on her lower back with his fingertips; all thoughts of her fiance went out of her mind.