A CONFLICT OF INTEREST

Author:      Eggbert
E-mail:      mbejane2000@...

Disclaimer:  Not mine, but I like to make them
             misbehave now and then.

Summary:     Sleeping with the boss brings its own
             problems, especially when someone's gunning for both
             of you...

Pairing:     Jack Meadows/Mickey Webb

Rating:      PG-13.
Spoilers:    None
A/N:         I've just discovered that Chris Simmons is leaving The
             Bill in August::sniff:: So this is the way I'd prefer that
             he left. If that makes any sense at all.Oh, and I've
             fiddled with the timelines a bit.


For Hafren and kel.



The elegant blonde woman across the table from Jack Meadows raised her
wineglass in an ironic toast.

" Here's to freedom, eh Jack? "

" I'll drink to that. " smiled Jack. Nothing more was said until the
waiter had cleared away the remains of their main course then Jack
said,

" Any regrets, Laura? "

His ex-wife shook her head firmly.

" No. It was for the best really. And at least this way we're still
friends. Even if it's just for the sake of the kids."

" They've taken it amazingly well, " agreed Jack. " But it's not as if
they're babies any more. What do they think of your new bloke then? "

" How did you know? " asked Laura defensively, then smiled. " She never
could keep a secret, could she?  He's a decent man, Jack. I like him a
lot. "

" I'm happy for you, " said Jack sincerely.

Laura stared at her ex-husband critically.

" You are, aren't you? But I don't need to ask why. You've got someone
else as well. Who is she, Jack? That Debbie McAllister? "

" No, it's not Debbie, but it is another copper."

" At the same nick? Oh, Jack. Doesn't that compromise you? "

" You have no idea. " said Jack heavily.

" I just hope she's worth it, "

" Not she, Laura. He. We're not married any more so you might as well
know the truth. His name is Mickey."

She laughed, not entirely without mirth.

" The young blond one? "

Jack nodded, astonished that she hadn't hit him.

" I might have been more upset if it had been another woman. But I
couldn't compete with another man. You've always had that side to you,
I'm only surprised it didn't come out sooner. If he makes you happy,
Jack, I've got no complaints. However, I'll leave it up to you to tell
the kids, okay? "

" You're an amazing woman, Laura. " said Jack  admiringly.

" I've got to go, " she said with a grin. Jack stood as she got up from
the table and smiled as she kissed him warmly on the cheek.

" Stay lucky, " she whispered.

He watched her leave and briefly mourned the demise of their marriage.
So many good years, the children.... then he remembered Mickey was due
back from visiting his mother that day and his smile broadened.

Debbie McAllister arrived for the nightshift, knocked on Jack's office
door and walked in at his invitation.

" Evening, guv. " she said. " What's been happening? "

Jack filled her in on the progress, or lack of it, on their current
caseload while she made copious notes. As he pulled on his jacket
Debbie smirked.

" What's this I hear about you and a mysterious
blonde, guv? "

Jack started guiltily. He and Mickey had been more than circumspect on
the rare occasions they went out together, but for all its size Canley
had a village mentality and it was only a matter of time before they
were seen.

" Pardon? " asked Jack.

" Eva was telling me, " said Debbie, noting sourly that whoever the
DCI's new squeeze was, she was blonde." A long lunch today with a
blonde woman. "

Relief poured off Jack like steam.

" That was my ex-wife. My decree absolute came through today. It seemed
like a nice way to say goodbye. "

" Okay then, just curious, guv. "

" I've just got a phone call to make and I'll be off, " said Jack. He
looked pointedly at the door. Debbie took the hint and left, but not
before she noticed him pressing one of the speed dial buttons on his
office phone.

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

Mickey was slumped in front of the TV when his phone rang.

" Who the hell's this? " he muttered as he picked it up. Anyone
watching would have been amazed at the transformation in Mickey when he
realised whom his caller was. The truculent expression vanished,
replaced by a tender smile, the pupils of his eyes dilated and his
voice dropped a notch or two as he spoke.

" Yeah, I'm at home. Not long back, actually. What? No, I haven't as it
happens. That would be lovely. About half an hour? Okay, see you then.
"

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

Jack locked his office door and went in search of Debbie.

" I'll, er, not be at home tonight, so if you need to get hold of me,
ring me on my mobile, okay? "

" Sounds as though someone's on a promise, eh guv? "

" Don't be so nosy, " said Jack as he walked away.

Now Debbie's curiosity was extremely aroused. The man had been
practically glowing, in fact he had been like that ever since Boyden's
funeral, the day he disappeared with Mickey. And only official numbers
could be stored on the CID phones.... oh, surely not? He had always
been more lenient with Mickey than any of the other CID officers and
that stunt Mickey pulled with Ron Gregory would have had anyone else
back in uniform at the very least. And she would never forget, or
forgive the pair of them for causing the suicide of her husband and
Andrew's father. Once she had enough proof, she would work out how to
use it to her advantage. There was more than one way to climb the
greasy pole and she would await developments with interest.

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

Mickey had just finished changing the sheets on his bed when he heard
the doorbell ring. Eagerly, he hurried to answer it and admitted a
smiling Jack who had a carrier bag in each hand.

" Hi, " said Mickey.

" Set meal for two from the Golden Dragon, " said Jack, dumping the
bags unceremoniously on the coffee table. " How was Dagenham? "

" Pretty much awful, " said Mickey wryly. " How's things with you? "

" Better now you're here, " said Jack, drawing Mickey close to him. "
It was bloody lonely without you. "

" Mmmm, " said Mickey, incapable of intelligible conversation as Jack
nuzzled his ear, grazed his cheek with his lips and slowly found his
mouth. Mickey kissed him back, parting his lips to allow access to his
lover's tongue, sliding his hands over Jack's broad back, feeling his
lover's arousal.

" Will that stuff heat up okay? " asked Jack breathlessly as the kiss
broke.

" That's what microwaves were invented for, " murmured Mickey as he
busied himself with unbuttoning Jack's shirt.

" Then come to bed, " growled Jack. " And you can show me just how much
you missed me."

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

Mickey shifted slightly in his sleep, the arm slung carelessly over
Jack's waist tightened briefly, just to be sure. Jack was wide awake.
Tenderly he stroked Mickey's damp blond hair and, as he did so, he was
filled with a terrible sense of impending loss. He had grown to love
Mickey, since they had become lovers Mickey had charmed, amused and
intoxicated him. Even though they were both novices, the sex was
breathtakingly good, something they had learned together which made it
all the more special. But how much longer would Mickey put up with a
relationship that was based on secrets and lies to other people? Debbie
had once told Jack he was nothing more than a sad little man with a
mid-life crisis. Was he only with Mickey in order to recapture some of
his lost youth? He didn't think so. But perhaps it was time they had a
long talk, without the hormones getting in the way. Just as he was
drifting off to sleep, his mobile rang, summoning him back to Sun Hill.

Jack slid out of Mickey's protective embrace, disturbing the younger
man.

" Wstpf? " asked Mickey blearily.

" I've got to go, " said Jack as he dressed himself. Mickey sighed and
rolled into the warm spot that Jack had so recently vacated, smiling as
his lover kissed his cheek in farewell. By the time the bedroom door
closed, he was asleep.


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

Debbie eyed Jack's rumpled shirt and look of utter weariness with
amusement as she apologised for dragging him back to the nick and
updated him on the breakthrough in the case.

" Right, " said Jack. " Here's how I want you to handle this..."

His instructions given, Jack informed her he was going home.

" There's a new DC starting today, remember? I don't want her thinking
her new guvnor's a complete scruff."

Debbie leaned in and discreetly inhaled. The DCI smelled of sex,
Chinese food and something familiar that she couldn't place.

" Maybe you should try sleeping in your own bed for a change, " said
Debbie archly, then whispered, " Or buy Mickey a decent iron."

Jack stared at her in utter disbelief.

" What the hell are you talking about? " he blustered.

She didn't reply, malicious glee apparent in her eyes as she realised
she had hit the nail on the head.

" Your secret's safe with me, guv. " she said.

" I'm going home, " said Jack abruptly." Just get on with what you're
supposed to be doing, eh? And leave the gossip for those who don't have
anything better to do. "

" Guv. " said Debbie.

Jack's heart was in his boots as he drove back to his own flat. Of all
the people to guess about him and Mickey, it would have to be her. And
he thought he had been so careful...

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

" Ken. Mickey. My office. " said the DCI later that morning.

The two men stood respectfully in front of his desk as Jack said.

" We've got a new DC starting this morning, DC Becker. I want the pair
of you to look after her, show her the ropes. This is her first CID
posting, so make sure you do everything by the book. She'll pick up
enough bad habits without you two showing her yours. Okay, that's it. "

" It'll be good to have another woman here, " said Ken amiably as he
reached for another chocolate biscuit.

" I thought you'd given them up? " asked Mickey with a grin.

" Not as completely as you seem to have, " said Ken loftily. " When did
you last have a date? "

" Last night, " said Mickey huffily.

" Who was she? "

" None of yours, " laughed Mickey. But Ken wasn't paying him much
attention.

" Oh, who's a lucky boy then? " he breathed as Jack Meadows guided a
tall, slender woman with long, red hair and deep brown eyes towards
them both.

" Mickey, Ken, this is DC Becker. Juliet, this is Ken Drummond and
Mickey Webb."

" Pleased to meet you both, " said Juliet, her voice low and sweet with
cut-glass vowels.

" Mickey and Ken will look after you. If there's anything else, you
know where to find me, all right? "

" Thank you, guv. " said Juliet.

Mickey nudged Ken in the ribs.

" What? "

" You're drooling, "

" Is it any wonder? "

Juliet seemed highly amused and was more than happy to be shown round
the station by Mickey and Ken, each trying to outdo the other in terms
of charm and, in Ken's case, smarm.

Juliet ended up in the canteen drinking tea with Mickey who was aware
of the envious glances from the others who passed him by.

" All right, Mickey? Who's the bird? " asked a large bald uniformed
officer with a strong Liverpool accent.

" Juliet, this is PC Des Taviner. Des, DC Juliet Becker. "

" Oh, right. Sorry, " grinned Des apologetically. " I thought you'd
struck gold for once, mate. Nice to meet yer."

" Likewise, " grinned Juliet.

She watched Des sit beside another uniformed officer, an older man who
favoured Brylcreem and was thin to the point of emaciation. As she
looked, Des slid his arm around the other man's shoulders.

" And who's that? " she asked.

" Reg Hollis, Des's partner. In every sense of the word. They've been
together for ages. "

" They seem very fond of each other, " agreed Juliet as she watched Reg
laugh at whatever Des had just said. " Is this a tolerant station then?
"

" It's not too bad. "

" Do you ever get hassle about being bisexual? "

Mickey choked on his tea.

" How the hell did you know? " he spluttered.

" Takes one to know one, " she replied with the ghost of a wink. Mickey
was intrigued. " Are you seeing anyone at the moment? " she asked.

" Kind of. It's complicated. "

" Isn't it always? "

" Yeah, only it's more complicated than most. "

" He's another copper then? "

Mickey nodded and Juliet tactfully changed the subject.

When they returned a furious Jack summoned Mickey to his office. Debbie
had just left and smirked at Mickey as she passed him.

" And shut the door behind you. " he said.

" What's up? " asked Mickey, noticing how drawn his lover looked. How
tired and how old.

" Debbie McAllister's just told me she knows you and I are having an
affair."

Mickey looked appalled.

" How the hell did she find out? "

" You tell me! " yelled Jack. " Someone in this nick's got a loose
mouth. "

" You don't think it was me...No, of course I wouldn't do anything as
stupid. She //is// a bloody good copper, Jack. Don't you think she
might have worked it out for herself?"

" It's possible, " said Jack grudgingly. " But it puts you and I in a
bloody awkward position."

" Yeah, I'll end up directing traffic in Newcastle if this gets out, "
said Mickey gloomily." And you'll be retired on the grounds of
temporary insanity."

Jack got up from behind his desk and drew Mickey close.

" I need to ask. Do you want out? It's not been much fun for you, never
being able to go anywhere together, or do much in case we're seen. And
you're so young, you'd find someone else in no time..."

" I'm not interested in anyone else, Jack, " said Mickey firmly." I
love you, and whatever it takes to stay with you, I'll do it. "

" You're out of your mind, " said Jack. " You've got your whole career
ahead of you. Didn't you always say you wanted my job?"

Mickey silenced him with a brief kiss.

" Some things are a lot more important. I've realised that ever since
you and I got together. Trust me, it'll be fine. "

" But..."

" Shhh. I promise. Just give me till the end of the shift and I'll sort
it, okay? "

" Don't do anything stupid, " said Jack, pleadingly.

" I'm well known for my reticence, " grinned Mickey as he moved from
Jack's embrace. " Come to my place tonight and I'll tell you."

Jack fretted all the way through the rest of that long afternoon,
wondering what Mickey had up his sleeve and wondering if he'd have time
to countermand anything too insane.

Mickey returned from the Superintendent's office looking thoughtful but
refused to be drawn about what was the matter.

As Debbie returned he gave her a broad smile.

" I reckon you did Jack and me a favour, " he said. " What are you on
about? " she asked.

" I think you know. So why don't you tell everyone? It's all been
sorted; it makes no difference if everyone knows now. Your sad little
plan for blackmail or whatever won't work. "

With hidden glee he watched as her face fell. Serves you right, you
bitch, he thought. If you'd hurt him I would have killed you.

" You're disgusting! " she hissed.

" So are you, but at least I'm not two-faced about it, " said Mickey
cheerfully and walked away.

Later that night, in the warm security of Mickey's bed, he told Jack
what he had done.

" You're transferring? " said Jack. " Oh, Mickey...."

" It was the only way, " said Mickey firmly. " This way you're still
the DCI and there's nothing to stop us seeing each other. No conflict
of interest any more. The Super was very understanding. Said he'd fast
track my application. Stafford Row are expanding their CID so they'll
be looking for a bright young DC. Or that's what Okaro said."

" The Super knows about us? "

" Jack, thanks to the evil ice queen pretty soon //everyone's// going
to know. Does that bother you? "

" They'll only be jealous, " grinned Jack, hugging Mickey tight." Well,
I suppose you'll be expecting me to court you now? "

" Something like that, " laughed Mickey.

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

Two weeks later, Mickey finished emptying his desk. He still had a
blinding hangover from his farewell party the night before; it seemed
that everyone had been there, all bearing drink. His last memory was of
Jack putting him to bed in the recovery position with a bucket at the
bedside. He hugged Ken, shook hands with Phil and kissed Eva goodbye.
At the door to the CID office, Jack stood waiting.

" You'll be missed, " he said.  " It's for the best. " said Mickey,
smiling. " It's a new start. For both of us. "

" See you tonight, love" said Jack.

Mickey grinned as he walked down the stairs and into the car park for
the last time, heading for his new start. With Jack at his side he knew
he could cope with anything.

 The End.

11/06/2003

=====
'Out of the crooked tree of humanity no straight thing can ever be
made'  Immanuel Kant.

*~*~*~*

Out Of The Blue. Britfic. http://www.rose-tinted.net/eggbert