Chapter Text
Line of duty
Chapter 1 I've got you mate
Kate and Steve stood together at a bar in town. It had been a terrible couple of months well a year really if they were both honest with themselves and each other. They had finally found out Ian Buckles was responsible for all the chaos that had happened within the ocg and he was as corrupt as they come but they both thought he couldn't organise a piss up in a brewery let alone be the top dog. That meant only one thing, the main man was still out there. Kate had just told Steve that she might return to AC12 and she couldn't believe the true happiness that shone from Steve's face. She really hoped that being back where she belonged it would help build their friendship and maybe possibly become more than friends. Steve wouldn't admit it but he needed her in his life just like he needed air and water. His health had suffered terribly in the last year since she had been absent from his life and Kate had made a silent vowl to help him get himself together. She had asked him if he wanted to talk about anything, meaning the painkillers and he had confided in her that he was seeing the medical officer and she could see how hard he found it all to open up. Kate changed the subject "You just sticking to the one drink then?" She asks casually "Why'd you ask" He looks at her face feeling that she felt uncomfortable for some reason "Still enough time to drive to Liverpool" She shifts around waiting for him to answer "I'm not sure if it's a good idea to keep seeing Steph" He replies honestly "But you want to?" She probes "Yeah but what chance as it got?" He sighs then thinking how easy and natural it is being with Kate but with Steph he always felt guilty and felt he was putting on an act to be like John so she would like him. Kate understood what he meant and was pleased that he was having doubts but she wouldn't let that show just yet "You wanna be careful mate, your gonna end up on your own" She states with a small smile "I'm not on my own, I've got you mate" He says flashing her a grin and making her tummy do summer saults. They both smile at each other feeling like they have never been apart. Steve downs the rest of his pint "You fancy that curry now?" He asks feeling hopeful. Kate breaks out into a massive grin "Thought you'd never ask mate" She says grabbing her bag off the table and putting it over head "Right let's go"...........
About 45 minutes later they arrive back at Steve's flat armed with enough food to feed the street. They put the bags on the kitchen side while they take off their coats. Steve then starts banging around in the kitchen cupboards getting out plates. Kate watches him move around and notices him keep stretching his back out. He turns to face her "Have I got birds muck on my favourite waistcoat or something?" He asks with a laugh as he had a feeling she was watching him "Na your waistcoat is just fine I was just admiring the view" She replies boldly. They had had a couple of drinks while waiting for the curry so she guessed it was the dutch courage she needed to actually flirt with her best mate. Steve didn't miss a beat and raised an eyebrow"Plenty more of this body to see" He says then they both burst out laughing. They had never really flirted with each other. Maybe when then they first met there had been lingering looks and a little banter but it didn't last long as they quickly got into the routine of being partners and mates. As time progressed they got more comfortable around each other and lent on each other at work but also in their private lives too. Kate had had a husband, a horrible one at that and a child and Steve had girlfriends, witnesses and nurses to add to the list so there had never been an opportunity to flirt. Until now. Kate pulled herself together "You mind if I change into my lounge wear?" She asks as Steve comes towards her "I moved some of your bits around when erm when...... " He trailed off not knowing what to say. He could hardly say he cuddled up to her jumper every night for months after she left AC12 then he got mad and boxed them up putting them in the back of the wardrobe when he realised she really wasn't coming back. Kate held his arm firmly to stop him from moving "It's alright mate, I get it and I don't blame you either" He turned to look at her feeling guilty for not reaching out to her. It was his fault too that they had drifted apart and he could have made more of an effort to catch up with her but his stupid pride got in the way. They held each others gaze for a fraction longer than normal then Steve turned back to his bedroom to rescue Kate's clothes from deep within his wardrobe.
A short while later they both sat on the sofa drinking wine and were feeling full after their massive takeaway dinner. Steve flicked off the tv and shouted to Alexa to play something. Kate rubbed her tummy "I'm not going to be able to move off this sofa tonight" She exclaims as she meets Steve's eye's "Stay mate, it's late and you don't want to go getting a taxi now at this hour" He pauses and pats her thigh gently "I'll get some blankets and I'll kip on the sofa, you take my bed" He goes to stand when she pulls him back towards the sofa causing him to crash into her slightly "I'm more pissed than I thought" He says quietly realising how close they were "You will not kip on the sofa mate. It'll do your back in you twat. Come to bed with me" She says then quickly realises how that must have sounded but she didn't correct herself as she honestly wanted Steve in her bed, well his bed actually. What she felt for Steve was like nothing she had felt for anyone before. Mark, Richard and a few one night stands it was as if nothing matched up to Steve as he would always be at the top in her eyes. She wasn't even quite sure when she started to get these feelings maybe she always had them but squashed them down as Kate Fleming didn't like to be open and vulnerable to anyone. But with Steve she could be just that. Their eyes locked on one another and Steve reached forward with his hand and tenderly cupped her cheek "Fleming you are amazing do you know that?" It wasn't really a question it was more of a statement. Kate leaned forward as Steve leaned down finding her lips in a soft gentle kiss........
Kate was on top of Steve now straddling him and kissing him like there was no tomorrow. He gripped her waist with one hand and his other was in her hair and pulling her closer to him. Never in his wildest dreams would he have thought this would have happened tonight. He honestly thought their friendship was done and dusted and they would just be passing colleagues at parties or award ceremonies. All this crap with Buckles had brought her back to him and he would be forever thankful even if the circumstances were absolutely horrific. Kate stood up and pulled him by the hand off of the sofa and into the bedroom.
Steve sat on the edge of the bed feeling awful for letting it get this far and not telling her the whole truth about his problem. Kate sat up and scooted up behind him wrapping her arms around his waist "Steve, mate was it? Have I done something wrong?" She asks quietly biting her lower lip. Steve turns to face her "God Kate no, it's not you, it's me........ I've had problems with........you know and it affects me in bed. I'm sorry" He wobbles. Kate reaches out to run her fingers over his beard "Oh Steve, why didn't you say? It's nothing to be ashamed about and we don't have to do anything" She explains carefully feeling her heart breaking looking at him look so devistated. He runs a hand over his face "But I want to Kate, more than anything with you" He whispers and kisses her again pushing her backwards onto the pillows.
They resume kissing slowly but deeply running their hands over each others clothed bodies. Steve pulls up Kate's jumper pulling it up over head and is shocked to find she isn't wearing a bra. He looks at her breasts they are firm and round and to his surprise they fit perfectly in the palm of his hands. Kate moans as he rolls a nipple between his fingers and sucks gently on the other one. He traces kisses back up her breast to her collar bone, neck then finds her lips again. Kate pulls his top up between kisses and they both laugh at their fumbling fingers on each other. Their jogging bottoms come off and are thrown quickly to the sides of the bed. They lay on their sides slowly stroking one another eyes locked. Steve cups her bottom and brings her further towards him as she hooks a leg over his. Kate trails kisses down his beard to his neck breathing in his faint aftershave and runs a finger under the elastic on his boxer shorts "You alright?" She whispers and looks up into his brown eyes "Yeah I'm good" He smiles then bringing her closer so he can kiss her again. He moves so his on top and discards his boxer shorts in the process then goes about removing Kate's lacy knickers in a slow drawn out movement. He cups her gently feeling her heat on the palm of his hand and Kate withers underneath him desperate for more contact. Steve rolls back onto his side and pulls her close "We really doing this?" He asks quietly "It looks like it" She says realising that once anything happens it will change their friendship for good. Hopefully for the better she thinks quietly to herself letting her hand wander down. She is surprised to find he is semi hard and he moans into her mouth as she starts to move her hand. Steve follows her lead and lets his hand find her again and very slowly he teases her gently by drawing a little circle around her opening. She gasps and moves her hips wanting to feel his fingers inside her but never breaking the contact of her hand over Steve's now hardness. He pushes a finger in slowly pleased to find she was already wet and kisses her deeply pushing his tongue into her mouth. They are both gasping for more of each other and Steve very quickly reaches for a condom before it disappears. He quickly rolls her over and Kate laughs at his haste but she is desperate just as much as he is. He angles himself between her legs and looks at her thinking how beautiful and flushed she looked laying in his bed and slowly he pushes into her making them both moan in pleasure. Kate wraps herself around him meeting each thrust with his "Close Kate" He whispers in her ear worried that it will be over all to quickly so they both use their strength and Kate finds herself on top in control. Steve marvels at her beauty and can't quite believe it had taken them over 10 years to finally do this. She was getting close now rocking on him and he was able to hold off this way. She lent down to kiss him and pushed deeper just as he flipped them over again making her laugh out loud thinking he would definitely have a bad back tomorrow. She lifted her legs higher as he thrust deeply that left her crying out his name as she come undone around him and that made him follow quickly behind her shuddering against her shoulder "Jesus Christ Kate" He says breathlessly leaning his head against her shoulder and the pillow. He rolls over and discards of the condom then pulls the sheet up around them tucking her into his arms.
They lay there like that just staring up at the dimly lit ceiling for a little while both not wanting to break the spell of what they had found together. Steve drew lazy circles and hearts on her back making her giggle. She tilted her head up "Not so bad for someone with a problem" She says smiling as he shrugs his shoulders in confusion as he hadn't been able to get hard in ages. He put it down to being with Kate and being comfortable with her that helped him over come his problem. He stroked her hair back off her forehead " I love you mate" He says quietly not expecting to hear it back or anything but wanting to let her know anyway "Love you too" She replies sleepily.............