28 DAYS

Author:     Eggbert
E-mail:     mbejane2000@yahoo.com
Rating:     NC-17

Disclaimer: Not mine, but I do like to exercise them every now
            and again.

Summary:    Mickey's had enough. He feels suffocated and needs to get
            out of what he feels is a parasitic relationship. But will
            a certain uniformed sergeant be what he's looking for?

Pairing:    Mickey/Jack, Mickey/Craig. Sort of an eternal triangle.

For Sharleyne. I know it's three weeks late, but Happy End Of Exams
anyway.




 " Where the hell have you been? " demanded Jack Meadows as Mickey sat
down in the chair opposite him in the restaurant.

" Working, " replied Mickey with a small sigh. " We don't all clock off
at five o'clock, you know. "

" I phoned Stafford Row. " said Jack. " They said you left over an hour
ago. "

" You what? " yelled Mickey, absolutely furious. " What the hell are
you playing at? "

" I was worried, " mumbled Jack, a little shamefaced.

" Bloody nosy, more like, " fumed Mickey. " D'you know what? I've had
it with you. I can't stand feeling like I'm always being watched, that
I can't do anything without you knowing about it. I'm being suffocated,
Jack. "

" So it's over then? "

" I'd say so, " said Mickey and got up with such force he knocked his
chair over and stormed out of the restaurant.

The waiter was concerned and glided over to where the older man was
sitting, his face buried in his hands.

" Can I get you anything, sir? " he asked.

The man lowered his hands and the waiter was horrified to see such
grief on one human face.

" Red wine, the house wine'll do. And keep it coming. "

" Yes sir, "

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Mickey didn't sleep a wink that night and as he pulled up at Stafford
Row station his resentment at Jack boiled over again. He was only here
because of him; he had requested a transfer out of love, the thought of
him ruining Jack's career had been too much.

" And what about //my// fucking career? " Mickey snarled to himself as
he wrenched open the front door. He had always been ambitious but
Stafford Row already had its full complement of D.S.'s so his promotion
prospects looked dire to say the least.

Craig Gilmore happened to be at the front desk as Mickey marched in and
attempted to get through the security door using his video club card.

" Try your security card, " said Craig, smiling.

" What?" snarled Mickey, then blushed as he realised his mistake." Oh,
shit. Thanks, Sarge. I'm not with it this morning. "

" So I see, " smiled Craig.

" Sorry for biting your head off, "

" I'll live. " said Craig.

The one good thing about that day was that it couldn't last forever and
Mickey was delighted to get finished and go home. There was a small
pile of mail on the doormat and he picked it up. One was a wedding
invitation from Lauren; one of the DC's Mickey worked with. She was
marrying a lawyer that Mickey knew vaguely. He had planned on going
with Jack but that was obviously out of the question. Lauren had been
good to him after his transfer; she'd be hurt if he didn't go. Leaving
it until he was in a better frame of mind, Mickey went into his living
room. Automatically he pressed the button on his answering machine.

" Mickey, it's Jack. " His former lover's broad Yorkshire accent filled
the entire room. " I haven't rung you because I know you'd hang up.
Please, Mickey. I need to talk to you. Give me a chance to explain..."

Mickey leaned forward and pressed the //erase// button.

" It's over, Jack. Live with it. " he muttered out loud.

*~*~*~*~*~*~

At the same time that Mickey was talking to himself in his flat, Craig
Gilmore was getting drunk with Gina Gold.

" Looking forward to your holidays? " she asked as she leant back and
lit one of her cigars. Craig finished the last of his pint and gestured
towards her empty glass.

" Fancy another one? "

" Yeah, go on, you twisted me arm, " she replied.

When Craig returned from the bar she repeated her question.

" Yeah, who wouldn't look forward to two weeks Mediterranean sunshine?
I can catch up with all books I've promised myself I would read this
year. "

Gina snorted into her whisky. Craig glared at her.

" And what's funny? "

" All those handsome blokes and you're planning on //reading//? I doubt
it somehow. "

" Some people actually don't go on holiday to get laid, Gina, " said
Craig primly.

" Bet you do, " she chuckled. Craig gave a long-suffering sigh.

" I'll send you a postcard. Oh, thanks for telling me Mickey Webb was
transferring to Stafford Row. "

" Ah. Actually, I forgot. Well, he was CID, it wouldn't have affected
you anyway."

" Why would he transfer, though? " asked Craig.

" Well, the rumour is that he was having an affair with Jack Meadows. "

Craig choked on his pint.

" Sorry, " muttered Gina as she slapped him heartily on the back. Craig
wiped his watering eyes.

" But..." he spluttered. " What about Robbie? And all the others? "

Gina shrugged. " I don't know. But I //do// know that Jack has been
like a bear with a sore head all day today, wandering about and finding
fault with everything. Sounds to me like there's a bit of trouble in
paradise. Anyway, he won't be the first bloke to think he's straight
and find out otherwise, will he? "

Craig glared at her. The last person he needed to be reminded of was
Luke Ashton. Then he remembered how miserable Mickey had been that day.
There might be some truth in it after all. Shame he wouldn't find out
for two weeks. He checked his watch.

" I'd better go, " he said apologetically. " The flight leaves at six
tomorrow. "

" They won't let you on if you're pissed, " agreed Gina, standing up. "
Come on. We'll share a taxi. "

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

 The two weeks passed quicker than Craig would have believed possible
and he soon found himself back at Heathrow. He instructed the taxi to
take him to Stafford Row as he had put his car keys and one or two
items he didn't want stolen in his locker. He emerged from the
sergeants' locker room and walked straight into Mickey.

" All right, Sarge? " asked Mickey politely. Then he got a proper look
at Craig and a strange feeling blossomed in his stomach, as though he
had missed a step going downstairs. Dressed in a pure white T-shirt and
shorts Craig was deeply tanned and looked utterly relaxed. " Where've
you been? " Mickey asked.

" Zante, " answered Craig. " Dead quiet but very relaxing. "

" You look well on it, " admitted Mickey. Craig was intrigued by the
interest in the other man's eyes.

" Thanks, " said Craig. " Anyway, must go, I've got a ton of washing
and I'd better let Lauren know I'll be going to the wedding. I
completely forgot before I went away. "

" I'm going as well, " Mickey blurted out. " I'll see you there. "

" So you will, " said Craig, hiding his amusement at how flustered
Mickey had become. " See you later, Mickey. "

" Yeah, bye Sarge. " said Mickey and fled. Craig stood in the corridor
and grinned to himself. It looked like this wedding could be more
interesting than he would have believed.

In the toilets Mickey doused his head with cold water. It didn't help.

He stared at himself in the mirror.

" What's //wrong// with you? " he demanded. " Fancy another transfer,
do you? Twice looks a bit like carelessness, no brain. "

But he's gorgeous, protested his conscience. No one would know.

" I must be out of my mind, " said Mickey firmly and walked out.

*~*~*~*~*~*~

Lauren's wedding went exactly as planned, but it was only at the
reception that Mickey caught sight of Craig and his heart did another
one of those strange backflips. A cream silk shirt and black jeans
showed off Craig's body to perfection and Mickey was seized with pure
lust.

He was standing at the bar when Craig caught up with him.

" Enjoying yourself? " asked Craig, his eyes shining.

" I am now, " said Mickey pointedly. Craig's grin broadened.

" They'll be leaving for their honeymoon shortly, " said Craig
casually. " I think I'll head home after that. "

" Oh, " said Mickey, trying and failing to keep the disappointment out
of his face and voice.

" Come home with me, " offered Craig, his voice softening to a honeyed
purr.

" I...I..." stuttered Mickey.

" I'm not a great one for one-night stands, " said Craig. " But you and
I would be good together. I've seen the way you look at me recently,
Mickey. How about it? "

" Yeah, okay. " Mickey heard himself saying.

Craig smiled.

*~*~*~*~*~*~

The taxi ride to Craig's house seemed to take forever and Mickey was in
a fever of excitement as the taxi drew up outside number seventeen.
Mickey got out as Craig paid the driver and followed him up the path as
Craig unlocked the door. The front door was no sooner closed behind
them than Mickey found himself wrapped in Craig's arms and Craig's
mouth was on his. They traded warm, deep sensual kisses as Mickey
relaxed into Craig's embrace. He knew he was in the hands of an expert
and was more than happy to let Craig take the lead.

Craig nudged Mickey up against the wall of the passageway, sliding his
hands inside Mickey's shirt as he did so, moving them upwards over
Mickey's soft skin till his questing fingers found the twin nubs of
erect flesh. Breaking the kiss, Craig drew Mickey's shirt off and
renewed the assault on his nipples, but with his teeth and tongue this
time and Mickey groaned deeply, thrusting his hips forward against
Craig, the feel of Craig's arousal exciting him even more.

Craig savoured the taste of Mickey's skin, salty with a hint of the
soap he used. As Craig descended and fiddled with the button of
Mickey's jeans, he paused as Mickey made a small noise of dissent.

" What's wrong? " asked Craig.

" I won't last a second, " said Mickey. " I'm about to come just from
this. "

" Better in my mouth than all over your pants, eh? " said Craig,
drawing down the zipper and guiding Mickey's erection into his mouth,
stimulating himself at the same time. With a soft cry of protest mixed
with completion, Mickey came hard. Craig eased off his knees and placed
Mickey's hand on his hardness. He fucked hard into Mickey's fist,
climaxing over his lover's bare belly.

Out of breath they leaned against the wall.

" I'm getting too old for knee tremblers, " said Mickey.

" Me too. " grinned Craig. " Why don't we go to bed instead? "

It was Craig's privilege to initiate Mickey into some of the pleasures
of the flesh that Mickey hadn't quite got round to discovering with
Jack, and the volume in the bottle of lube fell as the pile of
discarded condoms grew. They only called a halt when Mickey insisted
that if he came one more time he'd have a heart attack.

" I feel like I'm seventeen again, " said Mickey wonderingly as he
cleaned himself off with a damp towel. " You haven't been slipping me
Viagra, have you? "

" That's one thing you don't need, " laughed Craig. " You're just
enjoying the novelty of it. Come here, " he insisted. Mickey snuggled
into his arms, falling asleep to the sound of Craig's soft breathing.

Mickey was astonished at how guilty he felt the next day. He woke in
Craig's arms and groaned as he recalled how he had spent the previous
night. Over coffee, he could barely meet Craig's eye and the older man
watched this, troubled.

It was going to be Luke all over again. He knew it.

" I'd better go, " said Mickey, kissing Craig gently on the mouth. "
See you around, Craig. "

" Yeah, bye Mickey. " said Craig sadly.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Mickey did a lot of hard thinking over the next few days about what had
happened between him and Craig and the still unsolved problem of Jack,
whose messages were becoming more frequent and sounding even more
desperate than ever. The sex with Craig had been out of this world but
that was all there was to it. The man supported Cardiff City for fuck's
sake. But the matter was taken out of his hands the very next day he
went to work.

In the canteen, Craig cornered him and insisted that they talk.

" I don't think we should see each other again, " said Mickey.

" That's not why I want to talk to you, " said Craig gently. " There
was a rumour you were having an affair with DCI Meadows. "

Mickey laughed bitterly. The last thing he wanted to do was to talk
about Jack but this was Craig. He owed him an explanation for why he
had been avoiding him.

" Yeah, we had a relationship. I transferred here on the strength of
it. But it didn't work out. He wanted my complete and undivided
attention all the time. I never got to see my mates or do anything on
my own. So I ended it to give myself some breathing space. "

" Did you ever try and talk to him about how you felt? " asked Craig.

" I never gave him the chance, " admitted Mickey. " I was far too
resentful for that. "

" Maybe you should, " said Craig. " You're not the type to put yourself
about, Mickey. "

" No, I'm not. I felt bloody guilty after we...you know..." He blushed.

" Go and talk to him. " advised Craig. " Sort things out once and for
all. I care about you; I hate to see you so miserable. "

Mickey nodded and looked deep into Craig's soft brown eyes.

" I'm just sorry it couldn't have been you, Craig. You're going to make
some bloke the happiest man alive. "

And with that he got up and walked out of the canteen, Craig watching
him intently until he disappeared from view.

*~*~*~*~*~*~

Mickey took a deep breath before he knocked at Jack's office door.

" Come in!" barked Jack.

Nervously Mickey pushed the door open. He was deeply touched by the
look of sheer pleasure on Jack's face as he saw who his visitor was.

" Mickey! " he exclaimed, getting up from behind the desk. " I was
beginning to think I'd never see you again. "

" I came to try and sort things out, " said Mickey.

" Yes. Anything you want, " said Jack breathlessly. " Sit down, please.
"

" Why didn't you trust me? " said Mickey bluntly.

Jack sighed.

" It wasn't like that. My marriage to Laura broke up because I never
paid her any attention. I couldn't have cared less what she got up to
and it showed. I was far too involved in work The last three years,
when I wanted you, were awful. I swore if I was lucky enough to find
someone else, I wouldn't neglect them. And I found you. I couldn't
believe my luck and I swore I'd pay you the attention you deserved. I
didn't know you'd come to resent it. "

" I did. I thought you didn't trust me any more. And there was no need
for that, Jack. "

" I've acted like a stupid old man. But you could have told me how you
felt. "

Mickey nodded.

" Yeah, we need to be totally honest with each other from now on. "

" What? D'you mean...."

" I've missed you a hell of a lot, Jack. If you want to, I'd like to
give it another try. But you must talk to me, eh? Let's not get so
carried away with each other that we don't talk as well."

" Do you mean that? Shall we give it another try? "

" If that's what you want..."

" Come here, " said Jack softly.

Mickey settled onto his lap as he had done countless times before.

" I love you, " whispered Jack." I can't believe I almost lost you
forever. "

" Just one thing, if we're going to be completely honest with each
other, "said Mickey, dreading Jack's reaction. "While we were apart, I
had a one-night stand. "

Jack held him tighter.

" I'd kill to keep you, " muttered Jack " But what you did while we
were apart means nothing. "

Mickey looked amazed.

" Total honesty, " said Jack, his blue eyes twinkling. " So, can I see
you tonight? "

Mickey laughed.

" Of course. Why don't we finish the meal we should have had four weeks
ago, eh? "

Jack kissed him hard in reply.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

SIX MONTHS LATER

Craig looked gloomily at the invitation in his hand. It was to Jack and
Mickey's housewarming party and Mickey had insisted he attend when he
had given him the invite.

" If it wasn't for you, we'd still be apart, " Mickey had said,
positively aglow with happiness, so Craig had agreed.

" Craig? " said a man's voice, shaking him out of his reverie. " Can I
have a word? "

" Of course, sir, " said Craig courteously and followed the inspector
into his office.

" Got a new PC starting tomorrow. An old hand, so he won't need puppy
walked, not for a long time anyway. Thought we should put him with Dave
Green. "

Craig nodded. Dave Green was Stafford Row's equivalent of Tony Stamp
and usually got the new recruits.

Th inspector looked at the file and frowned.

" He's a transfer bloke. Oh, and he's one of you. "

" What, Welsh? " asked Craig.

" Gay. " replied the inspector.

There was the most appalling feeling of deja vu and Craig asked in a
voice that shook.

" What's his name, sir? "

" Luke Ashton. "

 The End

21/7/2003