Disclaimer:  Ain't mine. But I reserve the right to play.

Title:       On Suspicion
Pairing:     Carver/Burnside
Rating:      G
Chrono:      Set during "Lock In"
Summary:     Upon reaching the cells
Comments:    Cleaning oop t'hard drive and this fell out. Something too
             long for a drabble that never evolved into a full fic.  And
             probably never will now. Posted in the spirit of
             'Wotthehell archie wotthehell'.


============
On Suspicion
by kel
============


"Yeah, well, I know you go back a long--"

"Fuck off, Reg."

Burnside brushed past roughly with a back-pat that held more thanks than
he'd ever let fly out loud. Reg had always understood.

It was quiet in the cell, and dark compared to the harsh light of the
corridor. Frank stopped himself half-in, half-out of the open door;
watching the silent and unmoving figure in the white paper suit.

Did he remember... Christ, seemed like these days he did nothing but.
All those years ago... locking horns with Sun Hill as a rival, as
someone to watch. Watching Carver following that tosser Galloway round
like a wet and moonstruck puppy. CID dressups, he'd thought, green as
the proverbial, knows it all and going to change the world.  Bless'im.
Fuck'im. Forgotten in moments.

Until he'd moved in, taken over, made it his patch. Until James Michael
Carver, off attachment at last, turned up for their first Big Talk;
nervous and defiant, a Proper DC, terminally out of place despite
everything. A great shambling boy in a suit that didn't fit.

And smiled.

Some things never change.

My boy, he thought, my boy, shadowed and waiting once again for Carver
to wake.


==== © arjuna 2000 ====