Here's the next chapter - as I should have mentioned at the start of the last chapter some words re Jed's

"What do you think of Steve?" Ted asked Kate at their next meeting.

She pulled a face. After her initial attraction to him, she was a bit disappointed if she was honest. "He hasn't done much since he's arrived," she replied. "You sure he's AC material?" She asked.

"Never been surer of anything," Ted replied. "He's just taking a bit of time to settle in. Maybe it's time to introduce you to him properly. Show him he's part of a team again,".

"Maybe," Kate answered. "Can he be trusted?". She didn't want her cover blown by this newcomer after all the hard work she'd put in.

"I'll stake my job on it. You able to come to AC-12 tomorrow night? I'll meet you on the roof,".

"Sure," Kate agreed.

Steve left AC-12 the next day feeling like shit. His attempt at showing Kate just what he was made of was not going so well. In the last twelve hours he'd managed to piss off his boss and the target. He was pretty sure Tony Gates wouldn't be all that helpful in future interactions with him.

He hoped news of his investigation hadn't yet reached Kate. God only knew what she would make of him now. All hope of securing a date were rapidly disappearing as it was hardly the work of an ace copper.

Hasting was waiting for him as he left the office that night and Steve had an awful feeling his evening was going to get worse.

"Come with me," Ted ordered as he walked off to the lifts and summoned one. "We're gonna get Gates with or without you, Steve. So you can either help us, or just be another prick who lost his bottle,".

Steve saw another person, a woman, waiting for them on the roof. What was going on he wondered. She turned and Steve was surprised to see it was Kate. Something clicked in to place as Hastings left them alone.

"I didn't know AC-12 used undercover officers," he said as he walked over to where Kate was.

"Hence the term," Kate replied sassily.

"You're the one that gave us the information about the laddering,".

"I'm on the inside at last, Steve," she said relieved. Finally she was making progress in this case. "I wouldn't be risking what I'm risking, if I didn't believe Gates was a special case," she told him, thinking of her son and the precarious state of her marriage.

"I thought Anticorruption was about getting the blokes who are on the take, the ones in the pockets of the criminals,".

"You took a stand and it put you out on your own. You're not on your own anymore," she informed him. "Unless you want to be," she added before walking off.

Steve looked out over the city before him as he thought about what Kate had just told him. It didn't take long to make his mind up. He was done with being the loner. "Wait up," he said as he caught up to Kate who was waiting for the lift to arrive. He was pleased to see she was happy he had followed her.

They stepped into the lift and Kate pressed the button back down to the AC-12 offices. "Follow me," she instructed as she led the way back in to AC-12.

Ted was waiting for them. He was in his coat and about to leave but had wanted to see the outcome of their rooftop meeting. He was pleased to see them arrive together. "I'll leave you two, to it," he said before departing.

Kate walked on to her desk which was close to Steve's.

"Pizza and Rioja," Steve said with a smile remembering what she had said to him in the car park when he saw what was on her desk.

"Probably should get to know you better if we're gonna be partners," Kate said as she took off her bag and undid her coat before disappearing off to the little kitchen area. Steve watched her go as he took off his jacket. She returned with a bottle opener in hand.

Over the bottle of wine and two pizzas the two new partners got to know each other. For new acquaintances the talk flowed very easily. They chatted about their childhood, police training and career to date before it veered to their private life.

"I was worried for a bit there," Steve said as he took a bite out of a pizza slice. It was stone cold by now. "Thought I'd lost my charm but I guess I realise why you were being a bit distant,".

Kate smiled shyly. She was right. He had been interested in her.

"Is the gaffer a bit of a stickler for the rules?" Steve asked as he took another bite. Kate looked at him unsure what he meant. "Would he be ok with partners dating?". He still hadn't given up chasing her it would seem.

Kate thought about his question. "He's a little old fashioned," she pronounced about her SIO. "But I think his biggest objection would be that I'm already married,".

Steve stopped mid chew. He wished the ground would swallow him up. He'd just made a complete fool of himself. Of course she would be married. Who wouldn't have fallen for her? "Shit Kate!" He said. "I'm really sorry," he apologised for his gaffe. "I'm really embarrassed," he admitted as Kate noted his cheeks had gone a very cute shade of red.

"It's ok," she said. "How were you to know? I don't wear my rings when I'm undercover," she told him. She kept them in her desk drawer. "Oh crap!" She explained as she caught sight of her watch. It was nearly 2am. Somehow they had been talking for hours although she hadn't realised. She just enjoyed being in Steve's company. "Can't believe it's so late," she said as she started getting her things together. "Some of us have to be at work in six hours," she said. Her first shift with TO-20 and she didn't want to be late.

"I'll walk you to your car," Steve said as he quickly put the empty pizza boxes in the bin and disposed of the wine bottle. Picking up his car keys he joined Kate in heading to the AC-12 car park. "Tomorrow I think I'm going to pay TO-20 a visit," Steve said, "just to let you know,".

Kate nodded. This was the start of their partnership. Time to show the gaffer and everyone else just what they could do.