Chris stared down at the cops at the table. 'I have a favour to ask.'

'Here we go,' PJ said.

Chris frowned at him. 'I'm holding a fundraiser and it's a ball. That means black

tie and dresses. I expect you all to attend.'

'Black tie?' Tom asked. 'In Mt Thomas.'

Chris gave him a dirty look. 'RSVP by Friday. And you know my expectations.'

The cops stared at each other in bewilderment.

'Black tie,' Jack said, staring at the report he was supposed to be filing.

'Long legs,' Ben smiled.

Jo stifled a smile. 'It's easy for you guys. All you have to do is dress in the suits.

Us females have to pick something different.'

'Well put Jo,' Tess told her.

'Thanks,' Jo replied.

'We're outnumbered mate,' Ben told Jack.

Jo and Tess shared a triumphant look.

Jack fiddled with his tie and Ben smiled.

'What are you so nervous for, Jack?'

'I'm going to look awful She's only ever seen me in the uniform or flannel shirts.

What if she thinks I look bad?'

'By she, I presume you mean Jo?' Ben asked.

Jack sent him a look. 'Of course.'

Ben smiled. 'No problems Jack. Jo won't make fun of you.'

Tess fixed the glittering clips in her hair and stood back to look in the mirror.

She had a dark blue simple dress on and she thought it didn't look to bad. 'Well

done Tess,' she commented to herself.

Jo entered the large hall that had been furnished with glittery tables and silver

and blue balloons. Chris came over to her, wearing a green flowing dress.

'Hi!' Chris smiled. 'You look wonderful!'

Jo squirmed slightly in her deep purple gown. Her hair was swept up with a silver

tiara. 'I feel awfully embarrassed.

Chris grinned. 'Well you look great. Besides, I think the boys look a lot more uncomfortable.'

Jo followed Chris' eyes to wear Ben and Jack stood. She caught Jack's eyes staring

at her, and quickly averted her gaze, embarrassed.

Jack's eyes widened considerably when he saw his coworker enter the room.

'Mate, take a breath,' Ben grinned.

Jack felt a blush creeping up his neck and then spotted Tess entered the room also.

'Hey Ben, check out the Sergeant.'

Ben stood stock still as he stared at Tess, and when she caught him, he quickly began

a deep conversation with Jack, who was still staring at Jo.

Tess smiled to herself, satisfied with her efforts.

'Are you trying to kill Ben?' Jo asked, sidling up to her.

Tess turned and grinned. 'Isn't it a case of the pot calling the kettle black?'

'Huh?'

'Jack hasn't stopped staring at you since you entered the room.'

Jo turned away. 'Yeah, well...Hey check out PJ and the Boss!'

Tess turned to where Jo's eyes were viewing and chuckled. PJ and Tom stood, rather

uncomfortably. PJ tugged at his tie. PJ's girlfriend, Isabella, wandered over to

him, stunning in her burgandy gown.

'Poor PJ and the Boss. They look dreadfully uncomfortable,' Jo commented.

'Nice change of subject, Jo,' Tess smiled, heading towards Ben and Jack.

As Tess and Ben began to dance, Jo and Jack sat on opposite sides of the room, occasionally

glancing at each other. Chris grew increasingly sick of this and walked up to Jack.

'Jack Lawson if you don't ask her to dance the next dance with you I shall never

serve you a beer again!'

Jack looked up at her. 'What if she says no?'

Chris smiled at him. 'What if she says yes?'

Jack stared across the room at her. 'Right. You're right. Thanks Chris.' He got up

and headed towards where Jo was sitting.

'Hi,' Jo said, watching him.

Jack held his hand out. 'May I have this dance?'

Jo smiled. 'You may,' she replied, placing her hand in his.

Jack grinned and led her out onto the dancefloor.

'Aren't they so sweet?' Chris said to Tom.

Tom glanced at her. 'You do realise, I'm holding you responsible for pairing off

most of my station?!'

Chris smiled and nudged him. 'Go on. We both know you love it.'

Tom hmphed.

Chris frowned and nudged him again. 'And don't stand here like a wallflower all night

either.'

Tom grumbled and looked at her. 'I came didn't I?'

'Only because PJ said if he had to go, so did you,' Chris smiled.

Tom widened his eyes.

'He told me,' Chris grinned, sidling off to watch Ben and Tess.

Jo jumped as Jack put his arms around her waist. He looked down at her with raised

eyebrows.

'I, erm, haven't been dancing for a while,' she stammered.

Jack nodded. 'Me neither.'

Jo relaxed slightly. 'Good,' she smiled.

A slow song started playing, and both wondered how they'd get through this.

"Look at the sky tell me what do you see

Just close your eyes and describe it to me

The heavens are sparkling with starlight tonight

That's what I see through your eyes"

Jo's arms moved to encircle Jack's neck. (Yes it was a Stretch!!hehe)

"I see the heavens each time that you smile

I hear your heartbeat just go on for miles

And suddenly I know why life is worthwhile

That's what I see through your eyes

That's what I see through your eyes"

Jack smiled and moved her a bit closer.

"Here in the night, I see the sun

Here in the dark, our two hearts are one

Its out of our hands, we can't stop what we have begun

And love just took me by surprise, looking through your eyes

I see a night I wish could last forever

I see a world we're meant to see together

And it is so much more than I remember

More than I remember

More than I have known"

Chris smiled happily at the couple.

"Here in the night, I see the sun

Here in the dark, our two hearts are one

Its out of our hands, we can't stop what we have begun

And love just took me by surprise, looking through your eyes

Looking through your eyes"

As the song ended, both seemed reluctant to part.

'Um, I'm just going to get some air,' Jo said, heading for the doorway.

Jack grinned and followed her out.

Tom sent Chris a look and Chris just smiled.

Ben and Tess were both feeling rather awkward, dancing with each other.

'You've got two left feet,' Tess told Ben.

'So have you!' Ben protested.

Tess giggled. 'Pity one of us doesn't have two right feet.'

Ben shook his head. 'You're terrible.'

Jo turned around when she heard the ground crunch behind her. 'Jack, I must have

just been a bit overwhelmed back there. It was very hot in the room and I felt a

bit dizzy and...'

Before she could get another word out, Jack's lips had fused down on hers. Jo moaned

and instinctively wound her arms around his neck, pulling him down to her level.

Jack smiled into the kiss and moved her closer. The passion in the kiss exploded.

When they finally parted, Jack smiled down at Jo.

'This is always going to be a problem with us, isn't it?'

'What?' Jo asked.

'The height difference.'

'I don't care,' Jo replied, pulling his head down to her level again. 'I'll just

pull you down,' she said huskilly, kissing him again.

Chris walked up to Tom and glared at him. 'Get up Mister.'

Tom stood up a bemused look on his face. 'Mhm?'

Chris held out a hand. 'Dance with me.'

Tom smiled. 'I'm not much of a dancer.'

'Neither is anyone else here,' Chris informed him, taking his hand.

Ben and Tess sat outside, watching the stars.

'Hmm,' Tess sighed. 'This is one thing I love about that country and hate about the

city.'

'What?' Ben asked.

'In the city, it's hard to see a real starry night.'

'You should have been an astrologer,' Ben joked.

Tess turned around to face him. 'Do you hate me?'

Ben widened his eyes. 'Hate you? Why?'

'I took your sergeant's position. I burst into your station and took over.'

'Well, I wasn't really impressed, but I don't hate you.'

'Jo hates me,' Tess said.

'No, she just wants you to know that you pissed her off,' Ben corrected.

Tess chuckled. 'Well, she's getting throught loud and clear.'

Ben smiled. 'That's just Jo's way. She's done it to me before.'

'But not Jack?'

Ben smiled slyly and pointed over into the dark night. Silohuetted was two figures,

kissing.

'Oh,' Tess said, it dawning on her.

'You better not transfer either of them,' Ben warned her.

'No,' Tess said. 'True love comes in all sorts of places.' She turned to look at

Ben. 'Do you believe in true love?'

Ben looked at her. 'I don't know.'

Tess smiled and kissed him gently. 'Well, here's to finding out.'

Chris and Tom sat down on the bench after their dance and Tom scanned the room for

his officers. PJ was dancing, albeit awkwardly with Isabella who was helping him

along, but as for Jack, Jo, Ben and Tess, there was no sign. The only problem, he

knew pretty well, exactly where each of them was, and who was with her. He turned

to Chris.

'You,' he said, pointing an accussing finger at her.

Chris smiled. 'Oh Tom. We both knew it was just a matter of time.' She grabbed his

hand and led him over to the door. She pointed first at Ben and Tess who were talking

closely on the bench. Then she pointed to the silhouetted figures of Jack and Jo,

who were so close to each other, that it seemed that they were one person.

'Now how can something as wonderful as that, be so horrible?' she asked him gently.

Tom harumphed. 'Trust you to put it like that,' he told her. He glanced again at

the two junior officers and smiled. 'Those two remind me of me and Nell when we were

young.'

'How bad can that be then?' Chris grinned, patting him on the back.

Tom nodded and led her back inside.

The End