Chapter Text
Line of duty
Chapter 1 I've got you mate
In the bar of the high Street, Steve stood and waited for Kate to come back with the drink's. It had been a tough few month's at work but finally they had found the fourth man. Kate came back from the bar and handed Steve his pint "Nice one mate" he said "Nice one mate" she replied while clinking their glasses.
Kate took a sip of her gin and tonic and sighed "Well this is weid in it, wrapping everything up, do you think Buckles will talk?" she ask's "Well i hope so, the gaffer want's him protected around the clock in case the ocg come after him" Steve replies, Kate nod's slightly "What we gonna do about the gaffer?" She ask's, "I believe him" replies Steve full of certainty "Yeah me too but if Carmicheal take's over that's him out anyway" she say's "Yeah me too" Steve say's sadly, "And me if i decide to come back" she say's with a hint of a smile and eye's locked on each other "Will you" he can't contain his great big smile, the thought of Kate coming back to AC12 light's him up "Someone has gotta keep you lot in line" she say's feeling her body spread with warmth the thought of working full time with Steve again. Steve chuckle's lightly and Kate look's down "You don't realise what you got till it's gone" she say's then lift's her eye's to Steve's "Likewise" he mean's it too, he has missed Kate so much it hurt after she left. Kate is looking awkward and shuffle's around then say's "So do you want to talk..... about stuff" Steve look's uncomfortable and look's toward the door then back at Kate "You don't have to just when you are ready" she is soft and gentle with him knowing how hard it is for him "I've been seeing the mo" he say's quietly "Kate nod's" About the pain killer's? " Steve nod's" Yeah" kate feel's full of sympathy for Steve and the thought that he went through this alone break's her heart "I had no idea mate" she say's full of concern in her voice "I should have told you, but if people knew i might have been taken off active duty, still might" he finishes with a long drink. Kate decide's to change the subject "Are you going to stick to the one drink" she ask's with a hint of something in her voice "Why'd you ask" he replies "Still enough time to drive up to Liverpool" She say's and hate's having to ask but she has to know "I'm not sure if it's a good idea to keep seeing Steph" he say's, Kate feel's a little giddy "But you want to?" she hold's her breath, "yeah, but what chance has it got?" he say's with a smile, Kate Shake's her head a little and roll's her eye's"You wanna be careful mate, your gonna end up on your own" but Steve look's right at her and say's simply "I'm not on my own, I've got you mate" They both hold each other's gaze and smile because they know they have each other.
They stay for another hour and just have idle chit chat and talk a little more about Hasting's retirement then they call it a night. Steve walk's Kate to her car, even though they both know she is more than capable of looking after herself but they want just a few more minute's of each other's company before going home to empty flat's. "So you will let me know how it goes with Carmicheal" Steve ask's "Of course mate, maybe in a few week's I'll be back, finger's crossed" Kate replies holding both hand's up with finger's crossed.
"Take care yeah, and call me in the week" Steve say's while leaning in for a hug, they hold each other close and Kate whisper's near his ear"Ok, and call me if you want to talk, I'm here always mate",they part and Steve nod's" Night mate" Night mate " they both say then Kate get's in her car and Steve turn' s slowly to walk away, he turn's back to wave as she drive's off watching until she has turned the corner just not wanting the contact to be over.
Once back in his car Steve put's the heat up and turn's up the radio and police is playing "Every step you take, every move you make I'll be watching you, oh can't you see you belong to me, my poor heart ache's with every step you take" he smile's to himself thinking of Kate and how different it had been tonight. They had been out load's of time's with the team and on their own but something had shifted tonight, was it their loyalty to each other, was it the thought of working together again or had their friendship deepened in to something else?
Kate was driving home listening to police too and she was smiling and singing along, how she loved this song. She had thoroughly enjoyed tonight with Steve it was so nice to be together without all the stress of work, thinking of work she had to speak to Carmicheal tomorrow to see about a transfer back to AC12. The look on Steve's face when she told him she might come back it was a picture bless him she can't remember seeing him so happy or smiling as much as he did tonight and that thought gave her butterflies for some reason. She hoped she hadn't put her big foot in it by questioning him about Steph but she didn't trust her and she was pretty good with telling the difference between a good or a bad apple and Steph was definitely the latter.
Two week's later and it was the morning of Kate's first day back at AC12, she could hardly contain her excitement, she felt to sick and nervous to eat breakfast so she grabbed a latte from the cafe near the office. Steve was feeling nervous and excited too, he had got in the office early to arrange a little surprise for Kate's first day. They had been in touch all the time since their night out and both couldn't wait to start working together again.
Kate took the lift up and tried to calm her nerves, she knew thing's were going to be different as half the team had been sent elsewhere there was only about 10 that managed to stay on and get promoted, Steve and herself included. The door's opened and she used her badge to get through the gate and then she saw her desk.......There was a 'welcome back' banner and balloon and a big box of her favourite biscuit's and a mug that said ' Best mate' on it,with Steve standing beside her chair, she was all choked up with emotion she couldn't believe he had done all this for her. She walked up to him and gave him a hug "Thank you mate" she said leaning right in to him and knowing that this is where she was ment to be, she finally felt home. It didn't last long as Carmicheal was then standing over them "Good morning DI Fleming, welcome back, can we have a chat in my office, as you were" She said with what sounded like poison dripping from her mouth,"Good luck" Steve whispered and gave her wink and Kate's heart gave a little flip as she smiled shyly at him and followed Carmicheal to her office.
To be continued........