Chapter Text
“And in other news, a man has been named a hero today after saving 8 puppies in a barn fire. Detective Sergeant Steve Arnott was on his way home when he spotted the flames. Leaping into action, he said he just ‘did what everyone else would’ve done’”
Kate smiled and turned the TV off, looking down at her toddler, she grinned.
“How is my big boy doing?” she crouched down and held her hands out to Josh.
“Mama!”
Kate beamed, “that’s it! Come to Mummy”.
She lifted Josh into her arms and carried him towards his pram, “time for our walk”.
“Mama yay!”
Kate ruffled his head once she’d strapped him in.
Grabbing her bag she looked at her front door and bit her lip, “just a walk…a little walk…”
Kate got outside her flat and took a deep breath. Looking down at Josh she smiled, “we go for a quick walk and then back home?”
“Walk!”
Kate nodded and began to push Josh up the street. Watching everyone as she did.
A police car was parked up ahead and it made her stop.
A handsome man got out the car and he smiled at her, waving before going about his job.
Kate gritted her teeth and turned back to her flat. It was only when she got there she heard footsteps.
She turned her head sharply. Ready to fight when she saw the handsome man.
“Sorry ma’am. I just noticed your little one had dropped his teddy bear” he held out the offending item to Kate.
Kate relaxed and nodded, “thanks” she took it and handed it to Josh, “what do you say Josh?”
Josh looked at the man and held his teddy out, “Teddy!”
The man chuckled, “that his name?”
Josh nodded proudly and began to chew on his leg.
“And a tasty teddy too” he grinned, “jackpot” he looked at Kate, “me and my colleague are going to be around here for a few days. Let me know if there’s anymore teddy bears that get loose” he handed her his card and she looked at it.
“DS Steve Arnott?”
“Yep”.
“The puppy man”.
Steve grinned, “the one and only. They’re doing well. Pups have all found good homes. Well, all but one…poor little thing”.
Kate frowned, “it died?”
“What? Oh no no. It’s just a little weaker than the others so nobody's wanted him”.
“Didn’t you offer?”
“I work a lot…wouldn’t be fair”.
Kate nodded, “I used to have a dog growing up. They’re a lot of work”.
Steve nodded, “maybe your little one would like to have a best friend”.
“Wouldn’t be fair” Kate said softly, “I don’t leave the place much”.
Steve frowned, “yeah?”
Kate shrugged, “life”.
“Well, if you notice anything, you can let me know and I can come over for a chat?”
Kate nodded, “thanks DS Arnott”.
“Steve. Call me Steve”.
Kate nodded.
“Sorry I didn’t catch your name”.
Kate looked at Steve, “Kate, and this is Josh”.
Steve smiled, “Kate and Josh. I’ll remember that”.
Kate paced her flat, hating that she couldn’t leave but thankful that there was a police presence outside.
She peered out of the curtains and saw Steve and his colleague. The colleague looked like he was annoying Steve.
She smiled.
Steve turned his head and saw her. He smiled and offered a wave. Kate hid herself and felt herself grow hotter.
“Shit”.
“Mama pooo”.
Kate smiled and moved to Josh, “you need a poo baby?”
“Noo” Josh giggled and pointed to one of his drawings, “poo!”
“Ohh oh well done” she laughed and sat down, pulling him onto her lap, “my clever boy”.
A knock at the door jolted her safety. She gripped Josh tightly and stood.
“Iya it’s Steve”.
Kate moved slowly to her door and stood there, “is something happening?”
“Er it might…I uh…well I need a wee”.
Kate blinked and half smiled, unlocking her door, “and you just have to use my loo?”
“You’re the ony one who I’ve spoken to on this street. An’ my colleague keeps teasing me”.
Kate nodded and let him inside, “door on the left”.
Steve nodded and ran through.
Kate hovered by the door and waited for him to emerge. She looked at him when he emerged, “thanks for that. Lifesaver”.
“How’s the puppy?”
Steve grinned, “adopted”.
“Yeah? That’s good”.
“I went to visit them all one last time and y’know, give them all a little blanket and now I have the little menace at home”.
“You adopted him?”
“He looked so sad at me and the owner just said I can have him. I saved their lives so they said it’s only right I have him”.
Kate nodded, “you named him?”
“Kevin”.
“Kevin?” Kate grinned, “you can’t call a puppy Kevin”.
Steve laughed, “trust me. He’s a Kevin. Adorable too” he pulled his phone out and showed Kate a picture of him and the puppy. Steve was dressed in a casual shirt and shorts and holding a copper coloured puppy.
“Oh he’s beautiful” Kate whispered and smiled, “hi” she whispered.
“Mama Dog!”
“That’s right sweetheart. This dog is Steve’s”.
“Seeeeve”.
Steve grinned at Josh, “hiya mate. You being good for mummy?”
“Mama!”
Kate smiled, “he’s always good”.
“With a mum like you, of course he is” Steve smiled at Kate, “you live here alone I take it?”
“Well-“
“Aside from Josh. Only, with us being outside, I just wanted to make sure I knew who was meant to be going into each house so I don’t tackle the wrong person”.
“Oh” Kate chuckled, “of course. I mean, yeah. Just us”.
Steve nodded, “does his Dad come an’ visit?”
Kate looked terrified at the thought for a split second before she smiled tightly, “no no…he doesn’t”.
Steve placed his hand on her shoulder, “I promise if I see anyone outside, I’ll question them”.”
“You don’t have to”.
Steve nodded, “well, if you’re ever worried. I’m here”.
Kate woke up in the middle of the night to a banging on her front door. Sitting up, she moved to Josh’s cot and held him tightly as the banging increased.
She shut her eyes and breathed him in, “okay sweetheart. Okay sweetheart. Mummy is here”.
Another bang and then a thud occurred before the banging on her door stopped.
A gentler knock sounded now, followed by “Kate. Josh. It’s Steve. DS Arnott. Are you okay? Can you come to the door?”
Kate gripped Josh and stood. She shakily walked towards the door. She unlocked the door and slowly opened it. Spying behind Steve a man being forced into a police van. She looked at Steve.
“You both okay?”
Kate sniffed and nodded, “y-yeah. Yeah we…”
“Want me to come in? Make sure?”
Kate nodded, “p-please”.
Steve stepped inside, “I thought, when I saw a man banging on the door it looked unusual. Luckily back up weren’t too far- you’re shaking!”
Kate nodded, “w-was it my- was it Mark?”
“Mark?”
Kate looked at Josh.
Steve softened and placed his hand on her shoulder, “he won’t be allowed near you if it was. Let me make you a brew okay?”
“He’s gone?”
“He’s gone”.
Kate nodded and sniffed, “I’ll put Josh back down” before she shuffled over to her room. She placed Josh back into his cot and rubbed his stomach, “sweet dreams…” before she joined Steve.
“Take it…not witness protection then?”
Kate shook her head, “was offered it. But…”
Steve nodded, “is it something you would reconsider?” he asked before he handed her a mug.
“No” Kate said softly, gripping the mug, “Mark he…he ruined my life. I don’t leave my house as often as Josh deserves but- moving away from my home? From my world? How could I?”
Steve smiled, “what did you do before?”
“Not sure I should tell you”.
Steve grinned, “oh yeah?”
Kate grinned back, “you’re a police officer. I was your worst nightmare”.
“A criminal?”
Kate shook her head and sipped her tea.
Steve looked at Kate, “my worst nightmare…well, suppose a visit from AC-12 would be pretty nasty. But naa, you-“
Kate looked at him and he stopped speaking.
“What rank?” Steve managed.
“Detective Inspector”.
“Fuck” Steve laughed, “shit really?”
“Yeah…amazing how fucked I got because of one man”.
Steve rubbed her arm, “you didn’t let it put you into witness protection. You didn’t get fucked Kate. You just took some time out”.
Kate shrugged and pulled away, “maybe…Josh was an accident. Kids were never a factor for me. It was career”.
“Same here. I mean, I’m a Dog Dad now but, stuff like that never factored into my life”.
Kate nodded, “until you became the puppy saviour”.
Steve laughed, “yeah” he rubbed his neck, “mum said Aunty Carol has been bragging to her mates that her nephew did that. I mean, I just acted. My Gaffer berated me for it. Could’ve died an’ all”.
“You saved puppies without a thought for your own safety” Kate stated, “my Gaffer would’ve put you for a commendation”.
Steve smiled, “maybe AC-12 isn’t so bad”.
“I like it. I get to do work from home at the moment. It’s mostly data but it fits”.
“Well, if I ever get bored of saving puppies I might have to pay a visit to AC-12…see what they’ve got”.
Kate nodded, she looked at her front door, “after tonight, I’d give you a recommendation” she looked back at Steve.
“Yeah?” Steve grinned, “I’d appreciate that”.
Kate blushed and looked at her clock, “wow, I didn’t realise it was that late”.
Steve nodded and rubbed his neck, “probably should get back to my colleague, else he’ll berate me for sleeping with you or something similar”.
Kate nodded, “wouldn’t want that on your record”.
Steve nodded, “night shifts are shit”
Kate chuckled, “who’s got Kevin?”
“Oh uh…my neighbour said they’d pop round”.
Kate bit her lip, “what shift you on this week?”
“Uhh mostly nights, why?”
“Why don’t you bring Kevin over. That way you know he’s being looked after, getting fed and well…it might just give me a reason to leave the house more”.
Steve smiled softly at her, “you’d do that?”
Kate finished her tea, “I would”.
Steve considered it for a second before he grinned, “alright, I’ll bring Kevin round…and his puppy pads an’ treats and toys”.
Kate nodded and smiled, “sounds like stuff I have for Josh”.
Steve kissed Kevin’s nose, “now, be a good boy for Kate and Josh…Daddy needs to get some sleep before his night shift an’ you need someone to look after you in the day”.
Kate smiled at Steve, “christ you look shattered”.
“I am” Steve yawned, “had a late night dickhead kick off about an hour before my shift was meant to finish”.
“I was gonna say, was expecting you at 8 not 10”.
Steve nodded and closed his eyes, “mmm”.
Kate bit her lip, “I have a spare room. Come on inside…Kevin might settle better if he can sense you’re here”.
Steve nodded and stumbled into her home, following her half awake towards the empty bedroom.
Once settled into the bed, he found sleep came easy.
Kate was asleep on the sofa with Kevin in her arms when Steve woke up. He walked out and Kevin woke up, running towards him he yelped.
Steve picked him up and grinned, “hiya mate…you been good?” he asked, kissing his head before putting him down again.
He looked across at Kate, “knackered her out have ya?”
“Combination” Kate murmured and nodded to the cot in the corner, “one man cries the other wakes up”.
Steve chuckled, “sorry…listen I’ll get out of your hair. I can –“
“You’re working” Kate stated and looked at him, “why don’t I cook you some breakfast before your shift an’ you can go off fed”.
“I really should go…Kevin...”
“Kevin’s been fed. He’s been out for a poo and a wee…he’s okay Steve. You can leave him here and know that your flat won’t be ruined”.
Steve smiled at her, “you’re brilliant. You don’t mind?”
“S’warm body in my bed”.
Steve grinned, “yeah he normally sleeps on my pillow. Till he farts”.
“I’ve smelt worse” Kate replied, “I’ll stick breakfast on an’ just feed Mister over there”.
“I can uh feed him. If you want?”
Kate eyed him cautiously, “I mean…it would be helpful. The bottle is on the side, it’ll be cool enough now”.
Steve nodded and moved to Josh. He leaned over and smiled at him, “hiya Mister. You hungry?”
He paused, “uh…” before he reached and cautiously lifted him up, pulling him into his arms. He smiled at Josh, rocking him gently before moving over to the sofa. He sat down and looked up at Kate. She smiled, “you got nieces? Nephews?”
“No…why?”
“You just…you’re holding him like a natural”.
Steve blushed, “I’ve never held a baby before. Didn’t wanna drop him”.
Kate handed him the bottle and smiled, “there’s a cloth on the side if you want to wipe his mouth. He might spit up”.
Steve nodded and gently eased the tip of bottles’ teat into Josh’s mouth, “there we go mate” he murmured and watched as bright eyes stared into his. Drinking greedier than a drunk after a night out, Steve watched Josh and was utterly besotted with him.
It wasn’t long before the bottle was finished and as though he’d been feeding babies all his life, he placed Josh against his chest and patted his back, wiping his mouth with the cloth beside him.
“All fed” he smiled and walked over to Kate who was plating up his breakfast.
She smiled at him, “brilliant. Thank you”.
“Shall I put him down?”
Kate nodded, “if he’s been fed he’ll have a little nap now”.
Steve eased Josh back into his cot and stood back, “what milk does he have then? Take it not breast milk?”
Kate shook her head and put their plates on the table, “formula at the moment. I have to order online…ever since Mark…”
Steve nodded, “well for the first feed I’ve ever done he gobbled that down”.
“He does” Kate laughed and sat down, “he goes through it. Nurse says he’s good for his age though”.
“Well that’s good. I mean, I know nothing about babies, I just figured they drank milk and pooed”.
Kate smirked, “well, now you know that they also can spit up” she gently rubbed a wet cloth against his shoulder, “sorry about that”.
Steve blushed, “I didn’t even notice. Cheers. Is it okay?”
“It’s all off. Don’t worry. It only starts to smell when he decides your back is his personal spit up cloth”.
Steve smirked and nodded, “he’s so sweet I would offer my back for him”.
Steve spent most of his shift thinking about Kate and Josh. Worrying how Kevin was and wondering if he could convince Kate to go on a date with him.
The thought startled him.
Going out with Kate.
She was a new mum, single and by all accounts had a nasty previous relationship.
Mark had since been released on bail and given a court order to stay at least 300 feet away from Kate and Josh.
She’d said was a Detective Inspector at AC-12.
Everyone knew AC-12’s address, nobody visited unless they absolutely had to. But by lunchtime, Steve found himself outside of AC-12.
Ted Hastings, the Superintendent of AC-12, was surprised to be asked to meet DS Steve Arnott. No officers wanted a meeting with AC-12 unless they had a problem.
He greeted DS Arnott with a warm smile and held his hand out.
“DS Arnott. Superintendent Ted Hastings. To what do I owe this visit? There are channels you can go through if you wish to make a complaint about-“
“Oh no no it’s not a complaint I’m here for. I’m here about your DI Kate-“ Steve froze, he had never actually found out Kate’s last name. Luckily, Hastings smiled and nodded.
“Ahh you know Kate and her wee one I take it”.
Steve smiled and nodded, “yeah. I’ve recently made friends with her and then had to deal with her ex”.
Hastings nodded, “well, she’s currently on leave for her wee boy…I’m not overtly sure as to why you are here. Is she well?”
“Oh yeah” Steve smiled, “she made me breakfast this morning after I fed Josh”.
Hastings smiled, “aye did she now?”
Steve nodded and breathed out, “I came here today to ask if I could transfer. I really like her and if we were to work out I’d like to make sure that someone would be there for Josh and Kevin”.
“Kevin?”
“Oh. My puppy. I saved him from a fire”.
“Ah! I knew your name rang some bells. Well, if it’s a transfer you’re after son. Follow me. It’s not often we get a request- in fact, Kate I think was the last. As for perhaps a relationship with my DI, I would be glad to work some form of shift pattern so that Josh and er Kevin don’t suffer”.
“Thank you Sir. I’d really appreciate that”.
Kate had dinner made when Steve let himself in.
“Good day at work?”
“Mmhm…I’ve made a request for a transfer and it got accepted. Dinner smells nice by the way”.
“What?” Kate turned to look at Steve, “f-for where?”
“AC-12” Steve beamed, “the boys good for you?”
“Yeah” Kate said and rubbed her neck, “wait- AC-12?! You asked to move?”
“Yep. Your Gaff- Our Gaffer was really great. Said he’d sort out a shift pattern for us so that Josh or Kevin didn’t suffer”.
Kate blinked, “i-I’m-so you- you asked- you- Hastings he-“
Steve smiled, “I think he sort of thought we were together, but I’m happy to look after Josh when you’re in if you’ll continue to have Kevin?”
“Course. Josh is fascinated by him- you’d babysit?”
“Course” Steve grinned back, “only fair. Pretty sure your- our Gaffer was all for us having a matching work rota so that childcare and doggy care are sorted”.
Kate smiled softly and began plating up his dinner, “you know, I was the last person to request to move to AC-12”.
“Yeah the Gaffer said. I start in two weeks so any tips I’d gladly appreciate”.
Kate tilted her head and looked at him, “you’re really moving to AC-12?”
Steve beamed at her, “I really am”.
“What if…what if you hate it?”
“I doubt it” Steve grinned, “I’ve got you on my side…how could I ever hate that?”