THE SWEETER THE TUNE

Author:     Eggbert
E-mail:     mbejane2000@...
Fandom:     The Bill
Pairing:    Jack Meadows/Mickey Webb
Rating:     PG-13

Disclaimer: Not mine, damn and blast. The Bill is the property of Thames
            Television, etc, etc. The story is mine, for entertainment
            purposes only.

Spoilers:   Yep, for eps #103 (the abduction) and #113 (the funeral)

Summary:    The house of cards that Jack built. Will it all come
            tumbling down?

A/N.        These two are getting close to being the next set of newly-
            weds at Sun Hill. I just couldn't resist, especially after a
            wander through the back catalogue of episodes.

Dedicated to Hafren who made me realise I wasn't the only one who saw
their potential.



Laura had been right, mused Jack Meadows. Right reason, wrong person.
Oh, he had fuelled her anger by pretending his lack of interest over the
last three years was down to Debbie McAllister because he knew that if
she discovered the truth, her wrath would know no bounds. It was just as
well the kids were grown up and doing their own thing, Jack knew they
would judge him harshly enough but even more so if they found out the
object of his desire was a sweet, Essex boy DC.

That sweet Essex boy was also the reason Jack was confined to his
office, forbidden to take part in any attempt to rescue Mickey and
Robbie from the clutches of Ron Gregory by a stern-faced Adam Okaro.

" You're too emotionally involved, Jack. " he had said. " If Mickey gets
hurt..."

Jack was under no illusions. Gregory was a killer. If he laid one finger
on Mickey....

Restlessly Jack paced his office, waiting for word of the rescue
attempt. Waiting to hear the good news while secretly preparing himself
for the worst.

But the worst never came. The Superintendent brought Mickey to Jack's
office.

" He's all yours, Jack. " said Okaro sternly and closed the door of the
office behind him.

Relief, sweet, searing relief coursed through Jack's veins as Mickey
stood unharmed in front of him. Mickey's expression was one of a little
boy caught stealing sweeties from the corner shop and Jack had to fight
the impulse to hold him close and whisper how glad he was that Mickey
was okay. His expression was grave as he gave Mickey the telling-off of
his life, insisting Mickey took the rest of his leave allocation to
decide if Sun Hill was the right place for him.

Mickey's response was muted. All he wanted to do was go home and sleep
for a month. He had never been so scared in his life. He had cut a few
corners, true enough, but he should be praised for bringing in that scum
Gregory, not being told he was a hairsbreadth away from a transfer. He
had thought the DCI would have understood.

Jack was furious at the lack of response. Before it registered, he had
grasped Mickey hard by the biceps, hard enough to leave bruises the next
day and Mickey winced.

" Have you got any idea how worried I was? " hissed Jack, shaking the
younger man. " If anything had happened to you, Mickey..."

" Do you want me to transfer, guv? " asked Mickey, his heart sinking.

" No, I couldn't bear to be without you, " said Jack softly, so softly
Mickey doubted the evidence of his own ears, but the evidence of his
body was another matter entirely. He could feel the DCI pressed hard
against his him and, no doubt about it, DCI Meadows was aroused.

" Then I won't, " said Mickey, arching closer against the older man. "
But I think there's something I need to think about, isn't there, guv? "

Blue on blue, their gazes locked. Jack could hardly deny it; not the way
he was responding to Mickey's enforced closeness.

" I'm sorry, " said Jack desperately. He would have given anything to
recall the last five minutes or so.

" Don't be, " said Mickey. " Just let me go, eh? "

Wordlessly, Jack released him and Mickey left the office.

Jack slumped behind his desk. What the hell had gotten into him? He
cursed himself for being a stupid old fool. He should have taken the
transfer to East Anglia after all, removed himself from the temptation
of blond hair and blue eyes forever. Now it was too late, now he could
only wait and see what would happen.

The cricket ball soared through the air and landed with a clatter in the
bin. Jack was never the most patient of men. Willing his errant body to
behave itself, he went out to find out what was going on with the rest
of CID.

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

Mickey did a great deal of thinking over the next few days. He had
always had an inkling that the DCI liked him, and not just as a copper.
They made a great team, bringing down Chandler wasn't the best of it.
Mickey had allowed Jack Meadows to get closer to him than any other man
previously, Mickey admitted to feeling the odd pang of jealousy whenever
Meadows seemed to be favouring any of the other detectives over him. He
had told himself it was all professional. Now he wasn't so sure. His
mind kept returning to that scene in Meadow's office, the knowledge that
if he'd stayed one second longer they both might have ended up doing
something they'd later regret. Except Mickey wouldn't have regretted it,
not for one moment. Meadows was a DCI and had the power of life and
death over Mickey's career. Best to leave well alone was his final
decision.

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

Mickey's return to Sun Hill went almost unnoticed in the awful aftermath
of Matt Boyden's murder. Robbie seemed quite pleased to see him, even if
she was flirting with Cameron Tait at the time. It was even worse when
the DCI ignored him almost and sent Cameron out to infiltrate the
shoplifting gang.

" He's gorgeous, " purred Meadows. 'Women love him, "

Not you as well, thought Mickey savagely.

His bad temper was not improved when Cameron achieved a good result,
even if he tried to give Mickey some of the credit.

Funerals always depressed Mickey, and Boyden's was particularly sombre.
He couldn't wait to escape down the pub to get pissed.

Most of the relief were there, even Bob Cryer turned up to give Matt a
proper send off but the final straw for Mickey was to have Cameron show
up and be praised to the skies by Meadows.

" You've got a great future..." murmured Meadows, placing his arm around
Cameron's shoulders and steering him away from Mickey and Ken.

" Where's //my// arm around the shoulder? " wailed Mickey. Grinning, Ken
slid his arm around his friend.

" It's okay, I still love you, " he said, fluttering his eyelashes in a
camp manner.

" Gerroff! " exclaimed Mickey, shrugging him off. Across the room
Meadows was nose-to-nose with Cameron. Mickey had seen enough. He had
left it too late. Meadows had obviously got fed up waiting for an answer
and had set his sights on someone else. Miserably, Mickey downed the
last of his pint and set off to look for a taxi.

He hadn't even got out of the car park when he heard his name being
called. To his utter amazement, it was the DCI.

" Where are you going? " panted Jack.

" Home. " said Mickey sourly.

" The party's just getting started." protested Jack.

" I'm not in the party mood, " sneered Mickey. " I bet Cameron is
though, " and he turned on his heel about to stalk off. What stopped him
was a loud peal of laughter.

" What's so funny? " he asked as he turned to see Meadows convulsed with
mirth.

" You're jealous! " he spluttered.

" No, I am not! " protested Mickey hotly. He was going to get out of
this with at least a shred of his dignity intact.

" Yes you are, " said Jack, moving closer. " Did you think //at all//
about what happened in my office? "

" All the time. "

" And? "

" Minus the bruises, I wanted it to happen again. But then I realised it
was stupid, you're my boss and it could turn nasty. Now..."

" Well? " Jack seemed almost unable to breathe.

" I saw you with him and wanted to rip his heart out, " said Mickey
sincerely. " I want you all to myself, guv. "

" Under the circumstances, " breathed Meadows, " You can call me Jack."

In a daze, Jack felt Mickey's arms slide round him and he lowered his
head to receive Mickey's kiss. Hesitant at first, then growing bolder,
Mickey's tongue demanded entrance to Jack's mouth. The slamming of the
pub door made them both start and move away from each other.

" I don't want it to end here, " said Jack. " Will you come home with
me? "

Mickey nodded as the last escape route to the way he used to be crumbled
behind him.

Early morning light filtered through the curtains, disturbing the slim
figure on the bed. Mickey opened his eyes and checked his watch. He
swore softly as he realised he'd be late for work if he didn't go home
and change right at that very second. His lover eyed him hungrily as
Mickey bent to pick up his crumpled suit.

" What's the rush? " asked Jack sleepily.

" I've got to get changed, " replied Mickey. " Can you imagine the
comments if I turn up for work in a suit? "

Jack smiled indulgently and sat up.

" Come here, " he murmured, in a voice rough with desire. Mickey
clambered back onto the narrow bed that had creaked like a tea clipper
in a high gale as they had made love the night before and wrapped his
arms around Jack, rubbing his cheek against the soft fuzz of Jack's
chest. Jack held him close, his heart bursting with things unsaid, but
reluctant to disrupt this fragile happiness with his own needs and
wants.

Mickey slowly disentangled himself, and looked at Jack with real regret.

" I've //really// got to go, " said Mickey, but it didn't stop him
kissing the older man a long, tender farewell.

" See you later, " he said as he left the room.

Reluctantly Jack got out of bed and made for the bathroom. A scalding
shower did much to restore his equilibrium, as did the feel of fresh
cotton against his skin. As he stripped the semen-stained sheets from
the bed, something glittery fell on the carpet. He picked it up and
looked at it. Mickey's crucifix. As far as he could remember, Jack had
never seen him without it. He tucked it in the pocket of his jacket as
he set out for the station.

" Can I have a word, Mickey? " he asked the young DC the minute he
reached CID.

" Of course, guv, " said Mickey with a grin. The suit was gone to be
replaced by faded jeans and a blue T-shirt. Jack's nostrils flared as he
was kneed in the groin with lust. He didn't think he could bear it if
Mickey didn't want to see him again.

" Shut the door, " Jack instructed. Mickey complied.

" Have you lost anything? " he enquired.

" Don't think so, guv, " said Mickey cheerfully. " Unless you count my
virginity, and I doubt you can get that back for me. "

Jack chuckled. " What about your crucifix? "

Mickey's hand went automatically to his neck.

" Shit! It's gone! " he mourned. " Did you find it? "

" Yeah, when I made the bed this morning. "

" That's okay then, " grinned Mickey.

" Don't you want it back? " asked Jack.

" You can give it to me tonight. After dinner? " asked Mickey hopefully.

" My pleasure. Leonardo's at eight? "

" I'll be there. Thanks, guv. "

Jack left his office and walked into CID, switching the kettle on.

" You all right, guv? " asked Debbie. " You seem a bit, I don't know,
distracted? "

Jack caught sight of Mickey as he leaned over his desk to pinch
something from Eva. Their eyes met and Mickey rewarded Jack with a smile
laced with desire and tenderness.

" Oh I'm fine, " smiled Jack. " Couldn't be better. "

 'The older the fiddle/The sweeter the tune'

 The End

12/5/2003