Hello Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries fans,

Here's another little story that was floating around in my head. Mostly just Jack thoughts, no smut. Set after Murder at Montparnasse, and based on a cocktail called A New Life.

-j&p-

Jack felt his constable's eyes on him as he re-entered the office, and he could tell the younger man had something on his mind. He lifted his eyebrows in a quick and accepting greeting before making his way into his own private office, and Hugh followed him. Jack motioned to the chair across from his, but Hugh chose to stand. He was fidgeting, and working what looked like a handkerchief in his hands. With a frown, Jack tilted his head to the side. "What is it, Collins?"

Hugh's lips parted a fraction of a second too long before he spoke, and he flushed. "Well, sir. I um, I had a question…about the case today."

"Okay, what is it?"

"Right. Well, um…it's regarding Miss Fisher." Hugh flushed a deep red color. "I was just wondering, sir…about the protocol and all, and…" his words trailed away, and Jack held up a hand to stop him.

"Your question, Collins. Out with it."

"You kissed her," the reply came in a rush. "I thought I had all of the sting operation details memorized, sir, but not that one, and-"

His words trailed off, and Jack sat straighter in his seat. "All part of the job," he explained, proud when his voice was steady and authoritative. "Just as I told Miss Fisher."

"I see," Hugh nodded.

"Yes," Jack continued. "Her mind was not on the task at hand, and I needed a way to effectively distract her. I did what anyone would do in the same situation."

"Anyone, sir?" Hugh had a small look of horror on his face, as if the possible consequences of kissing Miss Fisher without her consent were crossing his mind.

"Well," Jack conceded. "Let's just say I did what was necessary in that particular moment. Completely professional."

"Right, yes. Yes," Hugh considered the response. "And so that is considered appropriate? If I were to, somehow, find myself in a similar situation. Kissing someone is…police business?"

Jack felt his jaw clenching and he pulled in a breath that didn't quite make it all the way to his lungs. He opened his mouth to reply before he realized he didn't know what to say. After swallowing with a bit of difficulty, he nodded toward the office door. "Was there anything else, Collins?"

The younger man blinked and then shook his head rapidly. "No. No, sir…not at all. I'll just…I'll just be getting back to work now."

"Very good," Jack replied and stood as his constable made his way back to the front section of the station.

But once he sat and pulled in a deep breath, he allowed himself one more minute to reflect on his visit with Miss Fisher. He would deny and continue to deny that he'd blushed, but he couldn't deny the way his body still felt warm…even hot all over. But if he was honest with himself, it wasn't the painting that had warmed him from the inside. That had begun when he'd first met her, a soft ember he'd kept under control for the most part. There had been small flares—the first time they'd shared a drink, the way he'd made her smile with his gold joke in the chemistry lab, the feel of her hand in his when he'd helped her up on the stage.

But feeling her lips against his, feeling her shocked breath against his mouth, feeling the tentative stroke of the tip of her tongue against his had set him ablaze. There was no other word for it. And he knew it was time to stop fooling himself. He was more than just intrigued by the inarguably lovely Miss Fisher, more than just amused by her flirtatious tone and unorthodox methods.

He wanted her, wanted her in a way he'd never wanted a woman before, in a way he couldn't quite articulate, not even to himself just yet. He just knew he wanted more. It wasn't just sexual, though he couldn't deny he admired her beauty. He'd woken up more mornings than he could lately count after teasing, sensual dreams. And now, he knew that the knowledge of her taste and the shape of her mouth against his would turn those dreams into near erotica…if he ever found himself able to sleep. So yes, he could admit he wanted her physically. But it was more than that. He wanted more of her vivacity, more of her charm, and more of the silky slide of her hair in his hand while her slim waist was in his other. And more of what went on in her mind, more of what made her exactly who she was: strong, sure, sensitive, and intense. And for the first time in a long time, he felt like something else, something he couldn't quite put his finger on, was possible. And he was intrigued by the possibility and by the way he wanted to pursue it. He'd never been complacent, and he'd worked hard for everything he'd had, but this felt new. This felt like tapping into a part of him that he'd locked away for a long time.

Jack rested his fingers on the top of his desk and pulled in another breath, noticing with some clarity that even now, even after his self-admissions, he was able to breathe slightly easier.

He opened his bottom desk drawer and used two fingers to move aside papers until he found what he was looking for, a single unmarked envelope. He knew what he'd find inside; on his worst nights, he'd read and re-read the divorce papers, sometimes to torture himself, and sometimes just to feel something, anything, when a case was bad and he had no one to go home to.

It had been a while since he'd needed to do that, and he had enough self-awareness to know why that was, to know who had unknowingly helped him in that way. And as he opened and read the legal text, it felt like he did so with new eyes, and in his mind, he could imagine an amicable end…one that would be necessary if he hoped to even consider any new beginnings. And for the first time in a long time, he was ready for those new beginnings.

He took his pen and signed his name to the last paper, and in that moment, he knew it was over. And he knew that something new was officially beginning.

-j&p-

A New life Cocktail

Ingredients:

1 1/2 oz. Tequila

1 Sugar cube

3 dashes Angostura bitters

Lemon twist

Muddle sugar and bitters in an old-fashioned glass and fill with crushed ice. Add 1 1/2 oz. Sauza Tequila. Garnish with lemon twist.