"Sit down Robbie" He does so after a pause.

"What do you want to talk about?" He smiles wanly at her as he settles in the seat.

"You seem to forget doctor, that we come here because we are ordered to. There's nothing wrong with me."

"Innocent thinks different."

"Innocent doesn't like me." Where did that come from?

"What makes you say that?" Jean Innocent has never given any impression of dislike about the two men that had been forced into her counsel. Eileen Moreland is curious.

"Well, maybe not dislike...maybe more of a grudging tolerance" Backtracking. He hasn't thought this through. Defence Mechanisms out in force today eh Robbie?

"You don't actually have proof then? I'm surprised at you Robbie, you are a policeman after all."

"Er no-I...I don't actually know where that came from actually. Innocent probably doesn't hate me. Although she may hate James, making him do this." He gives a small smile and she wonders how much of that statement is true. Quite a lot, she decides, Hathaway is not a natural talker.

"She worries about you both. The notes say a man was shot in front of you today" He blinks, she sees the moment when he pushes thoughts away. Robbie Lewis doesn't realise just quite how expressive his face is.

"Yeah, Nicki Turnbull. Celebrity criminal, professional Geordie"

"Doesn't sound as if you liked him very much."

"I didn't, nah I guess I warmed to him a little. But he was a show off and all, and not even an honourable one, nicking other peoples stories and such."

"No great loss then" Prompting for a reaction, always a good technique.

"He didn't deserve that! People don't."

"I didn't say he did."

"You implied it."

I imply a lot of things, its my job." There's accusation in his eyes and she continues; "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that."

"No, no, its ok. Its been a long day." Ever the gentleman.

"You were with him weren't you?" A weary nod.

"Aye. He was just admitting to the death threats being a hoax. Ironic really. 10 seconds later he was dead. Knowing bloody Oxford, there's probably some academic quote to fit. Hathaway'd know one."

"How did you feel about it?"

"I didn't. One minute he was talking, next he wasn't. Didn't really have time to feel did I? Not anything but relief anyway."

"Relief?"

"Relief when I realised that I hadn't been shot I suppose. That the killer didn't intend to shoot me. Natural reaction I reckon."

But you still feel nothing?"

"Not really. Just another body in an Oxford morgue. That wasn't the hard part."

"What was?" She knows she has to tread carefully, push him too far.

"The hard part was telling his wife, questioning his wife. That's never a good job."

"You knew her?" Its not really a question, she has read the files after all.

"Aye... dated her even. She was a canny lass, still is. But...well its never easy is it. All that 'where were you when?' and 'Can anybody confirm that?'. Not what you should have to hear after..." Did anyone ask you Robbie, when Val died? Did anyone ask your kids? You'd have answered wouldn't you, all that police procedure ingrained in you?

"You could have got Hathaway to do it. He'd have done it for you if you'd asked."

"Nah, its not fair on him is it? Anyway, what kind of example is that to set the lad? 'If you don't like it, get someone else to do it'. No. He seemed intent on working with me, the least I can do is teach him properly. Not teach him to hide from things he doesn't like." Oh Lewis, that boy has been doing that already. And sooner or later, he's going to need you to set an example that stops him getting hurt. Sooner or later...he'll need that memory of you backing down to make him realise its alright to tell you that he can't cope. Doctor Eileen Moreland of course, couldn't know how right she would be about that. Time to leave the grimness behind.

"Did anything positive come out of this Robbie?"

"Aye, I guess. Innocent, she was...nice. She seemed genuinely concerned for me welfare. Was a nice surprise really, I was expecting a bollocking." Eileen raises an eyebrow and he grins ruefully.

"Nah, she wasn't really ever that bad. Just me being a grumpy old bugger I suppose."

"And James?"

"James is James. I don't know what you want me to say. He was there and he was helpful. But he's still quite reserved. Although he did turn up at my flat without invitation. But it wasn't a social call. He had case related information. I dunno."

"Don't know what inspector."

"He doesn't talk about friends or anything. Seems to be lonely...No, not lonely, alone."

"There's a difference."

"Lonely implies you don't have a choice." Her heart went out to the old copper in front of her.

"And alone?"

"I can't explain it. You can choose to be alone. Push people away and...its just not the same." She nods and waits for him to go on.

"I think he's got used to being alone. He does have a band though. Plays madrigals or something. Not bad either, he let me listen to a recording thing on his music player. So I guess he has some mates his own age" Lewis, you recognise it in others, but what about yourself? The doctor thinks that this is probably enough. She's got what she needs and anything else, while helpful, should be dealt with at a later date.

"I think that's enough Robbie. Go and write your reports."

"Aye, fun. Thanks Eileen."

She watches him leave. Again, she thinks that this partnership will last along while. Her proof? Robert Lewis is already worrying about the young man he's working with. And James Hathaway is showing his superior officer the music that he plays. They'll be there for each other through what ever the job throws at them. They just haven't realised it yet.