The precinct is fairly quiet when Jacob arrives. Graveyards shifts are the same everywhere; bleary eyes and steaming cups of coffee, people shuffling around and wishing they were in bed. He stops at the front desk and shoots the receptionist his most charming smile. "Hi, I'm looking for Sergeant Abberline?"

She reaches for her phone. "I'll call him out-"

"Nah, I know the way. Can I go through?"

When Jacob finds him, Freddy has the feverish look of a man on a mission, his hands clicking along his computer furiously. He's surrounded by empty stained mug cups and his tie is coming loose.

Jacob clears his throat when he doesn't look up. "Wotcher, Freddy."

Freddy nearly jumps out of his skin and knocks a cup off of his desk in the process. "Oh, I- shit," he says, leaning down to collect the glass shards. "Sorry- what- Jacob? Why are you here?"

"Heard you've arrested one Maxwell Roth."

Freddy's eyes narrow. "Ah, yes. Is this about the note on the bedside table upstairs? 'Had a great time, see you soon, Jacob F. xxx'? I thought it was too big of a coincidence at the time, but now I feel like I shouldn't be surprised."

Ah, fuck. He'd completely forgotten about the note. "Yeah, I can explain that-"

"Explain what?" Freddy goes back to typing at his computer, face blank. "You're a free agent."

"C'mon, Freddy-"

Freddy clears his throat loudly. "Sergeant Abberline."

This is getting him nowhere. He scoots around the edge of Freddy's desk until he can perch on the side, leaning down until he can force Freddy to make eye contact. "Look, I need to talk to you. It's about Roth. It's important. It's relevant. Please?"

Freddy is caving, he can see it, so he cheats and leans in a little closer. "Please?"

"Fine," Freddy finally says, jerking his head towards the back door. "Outside."

Freddy grabs his coat and they shuffle out the back, the alley illuminated by the one flickering lamp above the door. "So," Jacob starts. "You want to arrest that douche, right?"

"Is this some sort of revenge for a bad one night stand?"

"For shit's sake- Freddy, we didn't do anything. I just drugged him so I could search his house."

Freddy blinks. "What?"

"I mean, he would've been more than happy to think something happened, which is why I left the note- sort of hoping he'd just assume he drank too much."

Freddy is starting to look like he has a headache coming on. "Are you serious?"

"He let me in willingly, to be fair. That means it's okay, right?"

"… Unless you're a vampire, no, that's not how it works."

"Look, either way, he's up to some bad shit. He's in league with the guy that Evie's been investigating- you remember that conversation?" Not that Jacob particularly wanted to replay that chat, his humiliating confession about the kiss with Attaway fresh in his mind. "Yeah, so, this guy is involved. Anyway, I knew you were working tonight, so I-"

Freddy puts a hand up to silence Jacob. There's a long pause while he looks like he's thinking, and then he shifts his hand to cover his eyes and groans. "The smashed windows? The 999 call?"

"Yeah, that-"

"No, seriously, shut up, do not say another word. Don't say it out loud. Especially not here."

Jacob fidgets, hooking his thumbs into his pockets. "Gotcha."

Taking a deep breath, Freddy lowers his hand to frown at Jacob. "Why? Why does it matter that I was working tonight?"

Because I'm looking for literally any reason to talk to you again, Jacob thinks, trying to keep his face even. "I knew you'd do the job properly, and I thought you might be pleased."

"That I might be… Pleased…"

"It would be a good arrest, right?"

"Well, I mean- yes, he's been brought in a bunch of times but we had to let him go because we didn't have enough evidence…" Freddy trails off, still frowning. "Jacob, is this meant to be a gift?"

Rocking back and forth on his heels a bit, Jacob looks up at the lone lamp. For once, he's finding it a bit hard to come up with the words. "Maybe?" Freddy's still not saying anything, so he clears his throat. "I know you said that you needed space and I know I've been a total prat but I kind of, I don't know, I thought that maybe if I helped you out with something that means a lot to you- and I mean, you still can have all the space you need, but if you were willing to have me back, I promise I won't be a dickhead about things again- I'm absolutely serious about nothing happening with Roth, because how could it when he's not a patch on you-"

Rambling again, that voice mutters. Never could quit while you're ahead.

Freddy holds up a hand again to stop his words. "Jacob," he says slowly. "This is completely, utterly insane."

Squeezing his eyes shut, Jacob braces for rejection.

"… And, it's also one of the nicest things that anyone has ever done for me."

He pops an eye open and sees Freddy who, against all of his expectations, is actually smiling. It looks a bit pained, but it's a smile nonetheless. "It is?"

"It's mental, and you're mental, and please don't do it ever again." But with those words, he leans forward and presses his lips to Jacob's. When he pulls away, he's still smiling. "I wanted space because I wasn't sure if you were actually as interested in me as I am in you. But if you're willing to do this kind of insanity…"

"I am," Jacob jumps in. "And more. And also I'll return your texts from now on, I promise. I'm mad about you, I really am, I just got cold feet."

Freddy is shaking his head. "Just maybe use your words, next time? Please, please don't do anything crazier than you already have. Please. And for the love of God, stop breaking the law. It's not that I'm not glad to have Roth in a holding cell with a pile of cocaine that he's trying to explain away, but it's a bad habit to get into."

"I swear," Jacob says, solemnly doing the sign of the cross. "Oh, actually, wait- I will need to, uh, work around the law one more time. And I was kind of hoping you would help, actually."

Evie's picked a noisy pub in Southwark, one filled with music and yelled conversations. Jacob is frankly impressed that she's managed to find a table on a Friday night, but then, Evie's always been good with sweet talking people and getting what she wants.

He finally spots her sitting in a corner booth, waving him over. The sour faced woman next to her can only be the infamous Lucy Thorne.

"Hey," he calls out, making his way across with Freddy following behind. He slides into the other side of the booth and grimaces at them. "Sorry, had to wait for three trains at Waterloo. Also," he gestures a little awkwardly, "this is Freddy. My boyfriend," he says, only hesitating for a moment before he adds the words.

Evie's smile is just a little bit too knowing. "Lovely to finally meet you, Freddy."

Jacob sneaks a look at Freddy, and to his delight, Freddy is glowing. It's a shy glow, one that no one else would probably even realize as Freddy's equivalent of singing and throwing confetti. But it's there nonetheless, and it makes Jacob happy down to the tips of his toes.

For his part, Freddy hadn't exactly been pleased when he learned about Operation Steal Thorne's Laptop. Luckily, news of potential child trafficking had helped him to overcome his legal qualms. Showing more moxie than Jacob expected (again), he had finally rolled his eyes and said that he would go along but absolutely disavow them if things went south.

Which worked for Jacob. Wynert was nowhere to be found, and Evie was strict about at least bringing along one other person to not arouse suspicion. Who could be better?

Leaning back as Evie and Freddy shake hands, he takes the chance to eye Thorne. She definitely looks like she's already had a few drinks; there's a half-empty wine bottle on the table and a clear flush rising high in her cheeks.

Evie cranes her neck around. "I've ordered some appies, but I don't know what's happened… I think I'll go ask." She subtly motions to Jacob, who coughs and mumbles something about needing a piss.

Once they've rounded a corner, she starts hissing instructions. "I cancelled the order and told the waiter we needed more time, I wanted more time for us to drink before she gets any food. She's already on her way, so just keep it going, okay? Then I just need to look for a chance to take her purse to the loos, I have a USB key and I'm 99% sure I know her password because she uses 'ShroudOfEden' for literally everything else. No idea what it means."

"Make sure she drinks. Keep her distracted while you get the laptop. Got it."

They bump fists and he heads back to the table.

Everything goes according to plan, for the most part. Thorne is already practically falling over by the time the food eventually does arrive, and that was before Jacob announced that shots were in order to celebrate Freddy's recent success.

"What success?" Thorne slurs.

"I work at-" Freddy starts, before Jacob elbows him sharply in his side. Thorne doesn't need to be reminded about Roth's arrest.

"Freddy's a clockmaker," Jacob says. "Niche trade. Fixes gears and shit."

"That's interesting," Thorne mumbles.

Evie picks that moment to clear her throat and say that she needs a quick trip to the toilets, shooting a significant look at Jacob. He nods and watches as she subtly pulls Thorn's bag along, tucking it under her arm before she disappears into the crowd.

"So," he says to Thorne. "Freddy gets to work for himself. Wouldn't that be the dream?"

"Don't I know it," she says, gaze dropping. "I work for the biggest gaping dickhole in the world."

Freddy gives her hand a sympathetic pat. "That bad, eh?"

She grimaces. "You have no idea. He's constantly making unreasonable demands, and his emails are completely incomprehensible. He couldn't be less clear if he tried."

They both make sympathetic noises.

"Here, let me show you, they're on my phone. They're fucking unbelievable" she says, and to Jacob's horror, she starts to reach for her bag. "Wait, where…"

Shit. Shit, shit, shit. Evasive action required. Jacob sticks his leg out and a passing waiter trips, sending a tray of drinks cascading to the floor.

There's a high pitched shriek from the next booth, and a woman is standing, soaked through. "How dare you," she says, "this dress is designer-"

"Hey," Jacob says, standing up and waving. "Hey, so sorry, don't blame him, my fault, so sorry-"

Her chav of a boyfriend stands up, revealing an unexpectedly burly set of shoulders, and shoots him a filthy look. "You owe my girl a new dress."

"Let's be reasonable," Jacob says, holding his hands up. Out of the corner of his eye, he can see how Thorne is now watching the unfolding scene with rapt attention, completely distracted from the missing purse.

"Reasonable, my ass, this is your fault!"

"Come on, man, it's not even that nice of a dress anyway."

The woman makes a screeching noise and the man stomps over, sticking his finger in Jacob's chest. "You take that back, asshole."

Jacob pushes back against him, standing up and squaring his shoulders. "Call 'em like I see 'em, so sorry."

When the man grabs Jacob's drink, Jacob ducks just in time, the liquid sloshing over onto the cricket team celebrating at the next table over.

As Freddy stands to rush to Jacob's aid, the cricket team roars and leaps up, followed by the rest of the screechy woman's gang of friends. Someone screams "PUB BRAWL" and everything descends into chaos.

Two dickheads, three cricket team members and one solid punch to his ribcage later, Jacob sees Evie fighting her way back to their table. She looks exasperated- probably at him, it's a familiar look- but triumphant all the same. That's his cue for calling it a night, he thinks, so he finds Freddy and drags him out of the scrum towards the exit.

They take off at a sprint down the sidewalk, waiting until they're a few blocks away to duck into an alleyway.

"Oh my God," Freddy says, hands on his knees, wheezing. "I should give myself an ASBO for that."

Jacob can't help but giggle a little. "Don't worry, there was so much chaos, you can defend yourself from yourself by saying you got trapped in the fray. And hey, you were in top form back there." He gives Freddy a little punch in the shoulder. "You just got even hotter."

Freddy starts to laugh as well, leaning back against the alley wall. "This is mad. That was mad. You're mad. And I'm mad for being in love with you." He stops short and clears his throat, suddenly looking embarrassed. "I mean-"

Rounding on him, Jacob pins Freddy to the wall with his body, face nearly hurting from the wideness of his grin. "You'd better mean exactly what you said, because you'll break my heart if you didn't."

Freddy is turning pink. "Well," he says, with a cough, "can't have that."

"Hopefully I don't have to break and enter anywhere else to prove I love you too."

"Oh, God, please don't."

"See? I can learn to use my words."

Kissing Freddy is as fun as it's ever been, and Jacob is suddenly wondering if it's dark enough that he could get away with giving that surprise blowjob after all.

Jacob practically bounces back to the flat, resisting the urge to Charleston along the sidewalk. He expects Evie to be asleep, but instead she's perched at their table, illuminated only by the glow of her laptop.

He tuts at her and flicks on the lights. "I thought you said sitting in the dark was bad for your eyes."

"Mm," she says absently.

"So did you find everything you needed?"

There's a grim set to her brow. "And more. If I want to justify not handing this over to the police straightaway, I think I have to publish immediately. I've already phoned Henry- he's moving heaven and earth to try and get me a big headline space tomorrow." She looks at her watch. "If I can just finish this in the next half hour, I should make it."

He avoids her after that, tiptoeing around the flat, listening to the occasional bursts of furious typing.

When she finally slumps back, he dares to speak. "All done?"

"Done," she agrees, triumphant note clear in her voice.

"Excellent!" he hops to his feet. "I think this calls for a drink."

"More drinking?"

"It's a celebration!"

Three beers later, she's leaning across the table to pat him absent-mindedly on the head. "Thanks for helping me tonight, baby bro."

"Evie, I'm four minutes younger than you."

"Like I said. Baby bro. My adorable baby bro. Who now has an equally adorable boyfriend. When was the last time you had a boyfriend? When we were 16?"

He sighs and takes another swig of his beer. "Fuck off."

"Seriously, though." She stands and leans to press a sticky kiss to his forehead. "Couldn't have done it without you."

"You're welcome," he mumbles, embarrassed at the open display of affection. "I'm cutting you off now. Come on, no more- yeah, I know, don't moan," he says, moving the bottle out of her reach. "Bed now, big day tomorrow."

That seems to clear her head a little, and she takes a deep breath. "Don't answer the door to any lawyers."

"I won't. Now, off with you. Don't make me be the responsible one, this is embarrassing for everyone involved."