One wobble, near finger amputation, failed undercover op and suicide later, Steve and Kate were able to close their case. Anti-corruption was actually a lot more interesting than he had initially thought, Steve realised as he read over their final report. Kate had typed as he'd offered suggestions due to his dominant hand being bandaged and in a sling.

They had headed to AC-12 from the incident scene, keen to get their report written as soon as possible whilst it was fresh in their. minds. They were the only ones in the office except for the cleaner busy vacuuming the carpets at the other end of the office.

"Can I ask something," Kate said as she sat down beside Steve and placed a steaming mug of hot tea in front of him. Just milk. No sugar. She already knew how he liked his tea.

"Sure," Steve said as he tossed the report on to his desk. It was good enough to give to the gaffer.

Kate looked around to make sure no-one was listening in on their conversation. "Why did you lie to Hilton and the gaffer about Gates dying in the line of duty?".

"You think I'm bent?" Steve challenged.

Kate looked at Steve as she considered his question. They had had a few teething problems as they started their working partnership but they had got the job done. Good partnerships were based on trust though. And if she didn't trust him, their partnership was doomed to fail.

"Well?" Steve prompted when no answer was immediately forthcoming.

"No," Kate said, going with her gut instinct. "I don't think you're bent,".

"You gonna tell the gaffer?".

"No!" Kate replied. "I just want to know what I'm helping you cover up for,".

"It's for Gates' family. His wife and kids get nothing unless he died in the line of duty,". Kate said nothing. "Tony helped us get Tommy Hunter, Kate. We owe him that much," he argued.

Kate eventually nodded. "Ok," she said. It wasn't as bad as she feared. She could live with herself for that lie of omission.

"I've got a question for you while we're at it,".

"What is it?" she asked warily. She had a feeling she wasn't going to like it.

"It was implied to me that you might have gained information from Tony by..." he paused not sure how to put his question tactfully.

"By...?" Kate asked.

"...Sleeping with him,".

Kate looked away hurt. He had made a few insinuations towards the end of the case. She finally knew what he had been hinting at. "Do you think I would do that? Not just because I'm married, but my professionalism as a police officer". This time it was Steve who stared at Kate. She knew how he had felt just a minute ago. "Well?".

"No," Steve said. "I don't think you would do that,".

"Thank you," Kate said quietly before taking a sip of her drink, relieved Steve hadn't thought her capable of such a thing. "I suppose you must've seen people committing suicide before in counter terrorism," she said, changing topics.

"A few," Steve admitted. "You?". Kate shook her head. "You ok?" He asked.

"I've seen bodies. Just never been there at the exact moment," Kate said. "I keep seeing that lorry hit him,".

"So do I," Steve admitted.

They finished their drinks and Kate took the cups to the kitchen to wash up. "Do you want a lift home?" she asked Steve. He was unable to drive at the moment with his hand in a sling.

"I can catch a taxi if it's easier,".

"It's no trouble," Kate said and Steve accepted her offer.

"This is me," Steve said as they pulled up in front of a block of flats. Kate looked at the outside of the building trying to work out what it said about the man beside her. It looked new and modern. Probably a man with a taste for up to date things. "You wanna come up?" he asked before realising something. "Actually you probably want to get home to your family,".

"I won't go home until tomorrow," Kate said. "They'll be fast asleep now," she said, not adding that Mark would be incredibly unimpressed with being woken up in the middle of the night. She turned the engine off.

"Ok," Steve said as he got out the car and led Kate to his flat. "Excuse the mess," he said as he opened the front door," suddenly remembering the state of his home. Perhaps inviting Kate up to see the squalor he was currently living in hadn't been such a great idea.

Kate followed him in and took in the basically empty flat with a load of boxes in it. Several dirty plates and glasses were waiting to be cleaned. A mattress lay on the floor of the living room with sheets, duvet and pillows lying haphazardly over it.

"I haven't really had a chance to unpack," Steve said embarrassed when Kate looked questioningly at him. "Straight in to the case. Then I had my wobble and didn't know whether I'd be staying in anti-corruption or not," he went on, "and now this makes it difficult," he finished, pointing to his injured hand.

"So are you?".

"Am I what?".

"Gonna stay?" Kate asked.

"I think I can put up with you," Steve teased.

"More like we're the only place that'll have you," Kate retorted as she once again removed her bag and coat. "I'll help," she said.

"Now?" Steve checked quizzically.

"Why not?" Kate said. "Not sure I'm going to be able to sleep right now anyway," she pointed out. All she could see when she closed her eyes was Tony Gates being run over.

Working together they managed to put Steve's kitchen in order. Unpacking all the utensils he had as well as doing the washing up. They put the table and sofas where Steve wanted them in the living room plus other small bits of furniture to help it look more homely.

The next thing Kate knew it was daylight and she was in bed, well a mattress on the floor. A warm body curled up behind her.

She stretched and rolled over and found herself staring not in to the face of her husband, but of her partner.