A/N: For princessozmaofoz, because she wanted chivalrous James. And I couldn't resist. Also thanks are due to her for the idea and the encouragement to write it :) hope its ok.

They'd solved the case, and as such, felt they deserved a reward. Well James and Robbie felt they did. They weren't exactly sure why Innocent and Hobson were with them, but neither man was really bothered.

So it was that all four of them were sat at a bench in the Trout's beer garden, toasting each other's health and the end of another case.

"Good work boys" Lewis raised his eyebrow. Boy? I'm old enough to be your father Jean...well at a push anyway. Lewis found himself grinning as James fell back theatrically, clutching at his heart.

"Praise? What on earth is happening? This is unheard of...Sir, I think I'm hallucinating."

"Shut up James." Innocent snapped at him but they all knew she was trying not to laugh at the younger man's antics. Lewis chuckled and Laura smiled as James almost toppled off of the back of the bench. Robbie grabbed his arm and stopped him falling on his head.

"Cheeky sod, I should just've let ye fall. One of these days you're gonna end up with a demotion on your hands."

"Yes James, you should be grateful that I'm in a good mood." James bowed his head.

"Yes m'lady." Robbie snorted.

"You've been at the beer too much lad."

The ladies watched the evolving banter with a considerable amount of amusement. It was always preferable when these two were happy. They seemed to require no effort with each other, and as a result, they were good company to be in.

.

The evening wore on in the same vein for a long while. Lewis could see that James was drinking steadily. He couldn't blame the lad, it had been a tough case, but he made a mental note to keep an eye on him nonetheless. For the most part, the young man was being jovial and entertaining. A lot of his awkwardness seemed to disappear with his sobriety. Laura caught him looking and they shared a smile, it was nice to see James come out of himself for a little while.

Then a man came over to their table and Lewis tensed immediately. Trench coat, sunglasses perched on his head, notebook in his pocket...a reporter. James caught his expression and turned around noticing all the same things as Lewis had and mirroring his scowl.

"Yes?" Lewis asked, the epitome of politeness. The reporter ignored him and looked straight at Innocent.

"Mrs Jean Innocent? Detective chief Superintendent Innocent? John Bates of the Oxford mail."

"Yes?"

"You don't have to talk to him Jean." came a low voice from Lewis' left. Ah. It appeared that jovial drunk James had gone. Well this was going to prove interesting at the very least.

"I am aware of that Sergeant" Jean Innocent said coolly. "I think having attained the aforementioned rank, I am aware how to handle the press." Her tone wasn't designed to be rude, just to put the inebriated younger man in his place.

"Handle us eh? Not a very charitable view of the press you have is it superintendent?"

"Not when the accost me during my time off, no."

"You are a police woman, you are never off duty."

"Ja-mes..." Lewis warned softly as he saw his sergeant's fists clenching under the table. The younger man shot him a look that clearly said; 'If he carries on, I'm going to hit him'. Lewis raised his eyebrow in warning as he turned to face the other man fully.

"That maybe true. But everyone is entitled to a little peace eh? If you want some sort of interview, wait until Monday."

"Yeah, shove off" James muttered under his breath, only Laura hearing him.

"I'm going to get another round in. James, would you come and help me carry it back". Hobson said, attempting to remove James before he caused a problem. Hathaway faltered for a moment and Lewis hoped that he would leave. His sergeant had the best of intentions, but he was only making things worse, being overly antagonistic. Robbie smiled at Laura, thank you.

James turned and started to walk away with Laura. The reporter chose this moment to make another snide comment.

"Don't worry, I won't wait until Monday, I'll get a story written today, ready for the Sunday papers."

"And pray tell me what will that be?" Innocent asked, growing increasingly irritated with this man who wouldn't leave.

"Oh, it'll be a feature piece. On the young sergeant there, clearly under-disciplined. And his inspector who obviously doesn't teach him procedure."

"That piece will never be printed."

"Won't it? I wonder Mrs Innocent, how the public will feel, reading about the superintendent who would rather spend time in the pub with her colleagues than keep the public informed on their safety." Lewis scowled at the man and thanked Laura for removing young James from the situation before he could do something stupid. No sooner had the thought made it through his head, than he heard a shout of "No James!". Too late, he turned to see the young man behind him. Before he had a chance to stop him, Detective Sergeant James Hathaway had put the reporter on the floor with a single punch and was now standing, menace written across his features.

"Detective Chief Superintendent Innocent does her best for the public and nothing that a poisonous little toad like you can print will convince anybody otherwise!" Lewis grabbed James roughly by the shoulder and forced him to sit down on the bench. James made to get up again but Lewis was insistent.

"Stay there!" he hissed, anger in his voice that made the still drunk sergeant realise what he had done. Not that he regretted it.

"Ah. Under-disciplined and violent to boot. My paper is going to have a field day." The reporter had struggled up from his position on the ground. Lewis rolled his eyes. The press! Never took a hint. Even when it was quite literally pushed in their faces.

The reporter had got up now, declining to take Lewis' offered hand. He glared at James and snarled at him.

"Your career is finished sergeant! You see if it isn't!" He left hurriedly, sunglasses re positioned to cover the black eye that was already forming. Lewis started after him but Innocent put out her hand.

"Let him go Robbie. I meant what I said. That article won't be printed." James looked up, confusion written on his face.

"Yes James, I did say that. If you had been behaving properly, Laura wouldn't have had to remove you for that bit of the conversation."

"But...The article? How?..." James trailed off miserably, realising that what he'd done must surely have repercussions.

"I happen to know the editor of the Oxford Mail. I also happen to know that he has been looking for an excuse to...relieve Mr Bates from his duties. I think harassment and involvement in an altercation with the police will be sufficient reason." Jean nodded with the end of the sentence and looked at James, sat on the bench, looking for all the world like a schoolboy sat outside the headmasters office

"Um...What about?...What's going to happen to me Ma'am?" Jean almost couldn't hide the smile that was threatening. She could see Laura and Robbie having a similar problem. James really did look adorable, sat there trying to act nonchalant when in actual fact he was just a drunk young man who had done something pretty stupid but not entirely ignoble.

"We'll talk tomorrow Sergeant", she said in her best stern voice, sure that any other tone would just result in her, Robbie and Laura breaking down into laughter. "When you've sobered up a bit and thought about this some more." James nodded dejectedly and she took pity on him.

"Don't worry James, I know you had the best of intentions"

"The road to hell is paved with the best of intentions." James mumbled sadly. Robbie snorted softly at him.

"I think you'll find that it's 'good' intentions lad. Come on you daft sod, lets get you home." Jean and Laura nodded at this idea and James let himself be lead out of the beer garden.

Lewis could hear the girls giggling as they left and he found it very hard not to laugh himself.

"Might have done something stupid sir."

"Aye, I think you might have done lad."

"Dunno how to fix it."

"Can't help you there, you'll just have to hope Innocent feels merciful tomorrow morning." James sighs ans bows his head.

"I have to admit though, you got back from the bar quite quickly Jim."

"Well, truth be told sir, I was already half way back to start shouting at him when he started saying things about you. And then I heard the rest and..."

"Thump?" supplied Lewis. He couldn't help but feel a little touched that Hathaway was ready to defend him as well. And a little guilty that he hadn't stuck up for James. All thoughts were dispelled as they arrived at James' front door and the man in question fumbled his key into the lock.

As James let himself in, Lewis grinned at him.

"Ye daft idiot. What are we gonna do with ye eh?"

"Dunno sir, Innocent will probably think of something."

"Go to sleep James. And be ready in the morning." He smiled again at James' worried and abashed expression.

"Don't worry bonny lad, she'll not kill ye." Grinning to himself, he walked off in the direction of home.

…...

The Sergeant stood inside Innocent's office the next morning, fighting both a terrible headache and a feeling of nausea as the well deserved hangover made its presence felt.

He hung his head, hoping that Innocent wouldn't shout too much. His head really did hurt.

"You're behaviour yesterday wasn't very professional Hathaway, even if it was guided by alcohol."

"I'm sorry ma'am."

"however, I am touched that you felt the need to defend my honour, but really James, you can't just go around punching people that say things you don't like. It isn't professional and it'll get you into all sorts of trouble." James nodded.

"I understand ma'am. I'm sorry."

"You look a sorry sight, that's for sure. How do you feel?"

"terrible Ma'am. I feel foolish and extremely hungover and..."

"And?"

"My er, my right knuckles hurt like hell." Innocent glanced down at the sergeants right hand and saw a little bit of bruising around the knuckles.

"Well if you will go around being drunk and chivalrous James..."

"Yes, I know, only myself to blame...Um What happens now?"

"Well since, the incident hasn't been officially reported, I think you can get away with a verbal warning. After all, it would be churlish to discipline the man that gallantly and chivalrously, albeit drunkenly, to my rescue."

"Thank you ma'am. I assure you it won't occur again."

"I should hope not...Go on James, go home nurse that hangover and be ready for work on Monday." He nodded and leaves, missing the grin that's broken out across Jean Innocents face. Trust Hathaway to actually have taken all this seriously, to have actually thought he could lose his job over such a petty incident.

On the other side of the door, Lewis is also grinning. His sergeant is nothing if not bloody jammy. James came out and Lewis threw a companionable arm around the sergeant's shoulder.

"You my boy, are very bloody lucky lad."

"Tell me about it" James says exhaling in relief.

"Fancy a pint?"

James groans and Lewis easily sidesteps the swipe that is directed in his direction, grinning. Its not often that he has the drop on his younger friend. But he takes pity on the suffering young man.

"I know what you need, and its not a pint."

"I could have told you that"

"You my boy, need a proper fry up."

"You cooking?" James asks.

"I'm cooking." Lewis confirms with a nod.

"You're on".

They walk down the corridor in comfortable silence until Lewis stops.

"Of course...this means I'm going to need to go and buy some eggs."