Jim was sat in front of the telly in an old T-shirt and boxer shorts, the remains of a takeaway curry on the floor beside him as he dozed with the football highlights on the screen in front of him. He woke suddenly as the doorbell rang. He moved to the front door of the flat, pulling his T-shirt down and flattening his hair as he cracked it open and peered round the door.
"Sarge?" Jim rubbed his eyes.
"Jim... can I use your loo?" June tottered on the spot.
Jim frowned. "First on the right."
"Thanks." June stepped forward, tripping over the doorstep as she went.
Jim rubbed his face with the back of his hand as he watched June stumble down the corridor. He moved back into the lounge room, waiting for June to reappear. A few moments later, June entered the room and stopped in front of him swaying slightly. "You know something, Jim..." She hiccuped, dropping her jacket and bag onto the sofa.
"What Sarge?" Jim ran his hands through his hair trying to flatten it.
"You..." She slapped his hand away. "You're gorgeous you are."
Jim blushed. "And *you* are drunk"
"I am NOT..." June wobbled as she stared at him. "...drunk."
"Right Sarge..."
"I mean it you've got such sexy eyes...."
Jim blushed even more. "You're going to regret this in the morning"
"I don't regret anything... I know what I want and I go out and get it..." She pushed her body against his.
"Sarge!" Jim jumped away.
"Don't say you haven't thought about it." June reached out, grabbed his T-shirt.
Jim jerked away, just missing the remains of his takeaway lying on the floor. "Just how much have you drunk?"
"I hardly touched a drop... Polly though, she's completely ratted." June wobbled again.
"Somehow I think you're deluding yourself."
"I'm not so drunk I don't know what I'm saying..." She stepped closer. "Come on, Jim... you know you want this."
"I couldn't - you don't even know what you're doing."
"I dooooo!" June pouted. "I think I... think I love you, Jim Carver..."
"Now I know you're drunk." Jim laughed nervously.
"No, I really do, you're my best mate you always have been." June hiccuped again.
"Mate yes... that's all it is."
"Nooooo... Mr Conway's mum was right... we make a lovely couple..." She moved in closer.
Jim stepped away again. "Do you want a coffee?"
"No... I want you..." She leant in and kissed him hard on the lips.
"Sarge!" He pulled away looking shocked and bemused.
"Aw, Jim, don't be such a spoilsport." June sulked.
"I can't take advantage of someone in your state."
"I'm not IN a state..." She approached him, backing him into a corner. "I'm in love... I should have realised it sooner..." She grabbed his T-shirt again.
"Sarge... really. June... listen to me. You don't know what you're doing."
"I am in total control of my own facultaties." June giggled.
"That's exactly what I mean." He looked for an escape route but realised June had her arms either side of him pinning him to the wall.
"Come on, Jim, I've wanted you for 18 years... I don't want to wait anymore." She slid her hand under his T-shirt.
"June." He squirmed and pushed himself further up against the wall.
"Jim..." June breathed.
"Help." Jim muttered under his breath.
"Jim, I... I..."
"You what?" He looked down nervously as June's hand moved across his skin.
"I..." She swallowed. Then a panicked look crossed her face. "�think I'm going to be..."
"...sick." Jim finished as June vomited down herself.
June stood back and looked down at her clothes. "Now why did THAT happen!"
"Because you're drunk?" Jim escaped from the corner.
"I am not drunk!" June wiped at her mouth and slid down the wall to the floor.
"Are you OK June?" He looked concerned.
"Just feeling a little dizzy. Think I might be coming down with something." She stamped her feet into the floor. "This is typical."
"Come on..." He reached out for her arm. "Let's get you cleaned up."
June pouted and let Jim pull her to her feet. "Only just bought this top..." She grumbled.
"We'll get it clean... you can have one of my T-shirts in the meantime... bathroom... now!"
"Yes, Sir." June shuffled along after Jim, clutching tightly to his hand. Jim took her into the small room, pulled on the light and picked up a face flannel which he dampened and wrung out under the tap. He wiped her face with it, his eyes meeting hers for a moment, then looking quickly away. "You should take these clothes off... I'll get one of my t-shirts... you can change into that then pass your clothes out."
"OK..." She murmured as Jim tossed a grey t-shirt through the door. She picked it up, lifting her own top over her head at the same time. "Jiiiiim..." She whined. "I'm... stuck."
"June...." Jim shook his head, couldn't help but laugh at her plaintive cry. "Just keep pulling it."
"I'm all tangled up... and this top stinks."
Jim sighed, then pushed the bathroom door open. "Alright� come here..." He stepped towards her, helped her untangle her top and pulled it clean off her, tossing it out into the hallway. Then he picked up the t-shirt and slid it over her head, engulfing her small frame. "You OK from here?" He asked, softly.
"I can try." June looked up at him with big eyes. "Thank you." She burst into tears.
"Oh... June..." He made to move then turned back and pulled her into a huge bear hug. "What's the matter?"
"I don't know..." She sobbed. "You're being so nice to me."
"You're such a fool." Jim shook his head as he regarded her. "You can sleep in my bed tonight."
"With you?" June looked up hopefully.
"No... I'll be sleeping on the sofa." He ran his hand slowly down her arm. "Now you get out of the rest of your clothes, and I'll put your top in the wash. I think you missed everything else. Then you wait for me here and I'll take you into the bedroom - I don't want you falling over anything else." He leant in and kissed her forehead lightly.
"You're adorable... do you know that?" June sniffed. "Why are you single?"
"June..." Jim stroked her hair then backed away. "Just stay here, OK?" He left the room, picked up her top and walked into the kitchen, where he filled the sink with water and washing powder and left it to soak. Then he returned to the bathroom, rapping on the door lightly. "You ready?"
"Think so..." June muttered.
"Come on then...." Jim approached her and before she could react, he had scooped her up into his arms.
"Ooooh." June grinned. "I could get used to this."
"It's only so you don't fall down. Don't think I'm sweeping off your feet or anything." Jim smiled as he carried her the few feet from the bathroom to the bedroom. He kicked the door open with his foot, then carried her to the bed, softly placing her down on it in a sitting position, while he pulled back the covers.
"You're a proper gentleman Jim."
"Well, I could hardly send you home in this state. Come on, get in." He watched as June shuffled over and slid in underneath the duvet.
"Talk to me..." She shuffled under the blanket, removing her skirt and dropping it onto the floor beside the bed. She looked up at Jim, burying her head into the pillow.
"About what?" Jim smiled, perching on the edge of the bed beside her.
"Anything..." She reached out for his hand. "I just love the sound of your voice."
Jim pulled his hand away. "I don't know what to talk about - there's not much about me you don't already know..."
"Mmmmmm." June sighed sleepily.
"And you need to get some sleep." He tipped his head and regarded her, reaching out a hand almost instinctively to brush her blond hair from her face.
"Mmmmmm." She smiled up at him as her eyes closed. "Night night JimJim..."
"Night night, Sarge...." He watched as her eyes fell closed, then stood. He found himself watching her as she mumbled lightly in her sleep, turning a little, finding a comfortable position in this strange bed. "How much of this will you remember in the morning..." He muttered.
................. on to Part Three
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