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There was no way this was actually going to work out, not everything you see on the night program on the discovery channel documentaries had to be real.
We all knew some things to be utter rubbish.
Nevertheless it was Jamie's only hope.
The doctors said his guv needed a miracle, so why not give this a try.
Jamie wasn't much of a superstitious bloke, sure he avoided going under a ladder but mainly cause Midsomer found a creative way to deprive you of your life that way.
Sometimes even caught a falling leaf in October for old times sake.
After all he needed all the luck if he wanted to stay alive in this murderous county which held more snakes in power than the garden eden and vineyards nurtured with blood.
The air was crispy at the crossroad between upper and lower warden. It was on the brink of turning nasty, weather wise, Jamie could taste the heavy rain in the distance.
The leaves quivered, the wind carried the sound of a crows lament.
Foreboding an early demise of a season most beloved.
The frozen ground put up a bit of resistance as he began to dig a small hole.
Looking at the box with the trinkets he was about to bury, he felt incredibly stupid.
If this wasn't going to work out he could already use plan b of drunk driving and becoming an organ donor for John, given his car didn't turn into a flaming sambuca.
Covering the box with dirt and pouring a bit of Lindisfarne mead over it he waited.
First drops of rain were setting in, he decided to take a mouthful of the mead, might as well get started then.
The mead was pleasant but it felt wrong drinking it cold and not in period appropriate attire. Just as he was ready to take a second mouthful a noise made him look up and drop the bottle.
“Charlie?!” Jamie exclaimed, confused when the demon materialised in front of him.
There was Detective Inspector Charlie Nelson, his successor, standing where he had just buried the box.
They had met not long ago at Betty's birthday party and had a more or less drive-by conversation, nothing meaningful and Charlie had to leave early.
All he knew about him was that he was working with the special forces, undercover work and such. James Bond eat your heart out.
Very fancy, very sexy, very mysterious.
Apparently also demonic?
At least the kissing part would be less awkward this way.
“In the flesh. I take it it's about John?”
“Yes. Did you follow me here?” Jamie wasn't quite sure if this was real, questioning the strength of the liquor he had just consumed he checked the label.
“No, you summoned me here?
“How come you are a demon?”
“You may have noticed that some things are a bit surreal in Midsomer. I suppose working here will inevitably end up with becoming a demon. Most people I work with were once Sergeants to a DCI, especially a Barnaby, some did it for a promotion and a fancy sports car, others out of desperation to get out of here after Midsomer had taken everything from them. I don’t think you've noticed but once you enter Midsommer you don’t get to leave it unless you pay the ferryman. See it as a natural way of things.”
Jamie looked at him shocked, he had met DI Jones and would have never guessed he’d have fallen for this, but then again, it explained so much about him.
Charlie gave him a moment to get over the initial shock of the revelation but then went straight back to business.
“So why did you summon me? Fame, riches or love?”
“A miracle can you do that?”
“I can raise the dead, just be precise about the condition you want them to be in.”
“He is not dead yet. Anyways I give you my soul and you save our boss John Barnaby, grant him a long life, restore him like he was before the case. Hell, give him all the years I have left beyond that.”
“How noble of you Jamie but…”
“Don’t. I am certain. If necessary take my life now, I don’t care, I have nothing to lose.” Charlie raised his eyebrows, he knew his successor was quite a handful from their mutual friend Kam, but he didn’t expect so much fire.
He could put a Welsh dragon out of business.
Jamie stepped forward, he knew what would follow next.
Impulsive he reached out to pull the demon closer, in order to crush their lips together.
What the hell, there was a lot more sand at the bottom of his hourglass than there was at the top anyways.
Rather unprepared for such an incursion Charlie jumped startled for a second, never actually having sealed a deal the old fashioned way like this before gaining the upper hand and pulling Jamie in for a real kiss.
If he wanted the old fashioned way, damn hell he should get it.
Feeling how his soul was begging to be taken and bent to his will, Charlie was ready to make an exception to the rule of not interfering.
What harm could there be in a bit of fun?
The way the demon kissed was quite obscene.
Unwillingly Jamie arched into the touch, feeling how he lost control over his body as Charlie's tongue entered his mouth. Petrified at the sudden onslaught of sensation he wanted to pull away, but was unable to do so.
Elevating his heart rate till he felt near fainting, as if he was plummeting into a deep dark hole without a parachute.
It was just nothing he had expected.
To be fair he hadn’t expected this to work out at all.
When was the last time he kissed anyone with tongue?
Probably not since experimenting in boarding school.
Doubting he had ever been kissed like this before he was left stunned and wanting more.
It was thrilling, if this was how a kiss felt he wondered if the French were right about the small death after all.
When you're offered to die by such a gentle voice, you're tempted to agree.
Shame Jamie only had one soul to sell, cause that kiss longed to be repeated. A smug smile spread across the demon's face, reading Jamie like an open book.
“You know I would have done it for free but you left me no choice to bring in a word and offered your soul so willingly.”
Jamie looked at Charlie whose eyes had changed colours as he licked over his lips to savour the aftertaste of the kiss.
The DS scoffed still catching his breath, oh Kam was right he was a charming devil.
“Tell you what, I’ll give a month or till the end of the case which ever takes longest before reaping your soul. For old times sake I’ll even help you with the case.”
A month.
That was nothing.
Yet Jamie felt like it was a lifetime.
He’d rather die tonight than grow mad with the anticipation for the end.
A swift end without a remorseful goodbye to people who’d regard him as an anecdote in the years to come.
“Okay. What next?”
“You give me your car keys and tell me where you live. You don’t want to spend your last month hooked up to a machine after you crashed your car with all that adrenaline rushing through your body right now. I’m flattered by the way.”
Jamie gasped realising what he meant before handing over his car keys.
Working with Charlie would be impossible, he couldn’t be acting professional around him at the station without thinking about the magic his tongue possessed. This would be more hell than whatever laid install for him after his time had passed. One more reason why he’d hoped for a swift end now rather than waiting.
“You bloody well cause it.” uttered Jamie before walking to his car.
“I’m open to more than a professional relationship ,DS Winter if it would set your mind at ease.”
Jamie glared at him, pouting cause god dammit it wasn’t fair , he was clearly reading his mind and making him think unspeakable things.
Not that he was objecting to them, he thought Charlie was rather handsome the first time they had been introduced and now he really hadn’t anything to loose.
“Let’s just get out of here. I don’t fancy getting a cold either.”
“That wasn’t a no.” Charlie bit his lip laying his head sideways before entering the car.
“I know.”
Bringing Charlie home invoked an odd sense of domestic bliss to it, which made Jamie seriously question his sanity, for a moment. That being said, doubting if he even had any of it left.
The whole evening so far had been nothing but obscure.
“You must have a lot of questions.” Charlie sat down on the sofa while Jamie was pacing around not sure what to think or to feel.
This was all a bit much.
Half expecting his phone to go off he looked at it anxious.
“I don't know where to begin if I'm honest.”
“John's going to be fine. It does take a few hours for the deal to be settled. Nature's balance and after all multiple forces are involved and they work on different schedules. He's safe, so are you.”
“Okay that's a relief. What do you mean by multiple forces?”
“Well the entities work all together, sorta. See if you trade one life for another you have to get one of the norns and two of the Moirai involved. The one who spins the thread, the one who cuts it and the one who is able to change fate. I can take you to watch it happen, after all it's your destiny being changed.”
“I'd love to.” He replied sceptical if he really should want to see that. But then again, he wouldn’t trust it to work out if he wouldn’t see it with his own eyes.
Tentatively Charlie patted to the free seat next to him. Obediently Jamie obliged and sat down next to the demon, feeling strangely drawn to him now they were so close.
This was all in his head, he was no doubt overreacting and Charlie wasn't as appealing, but his mind kept wandering back to the kiss and the offer. It had been longer than he liked to admit since he had been feeling so drawn to someone.
“Why didn't you stop this? John getting hurt, I mean shouldn't you have seen it happening and interfered?”
“You're mistaking guardian angels with demons, cariad. We're only interfering when called upon. Then again we aren't clairvoyants.”
“Would you have stopped it if you had known?”
Charlie sighed, frowning cause it was hard to admit to such a grave mistake, compassion.
“I would have. But chances are high he would have died the moment I'd left my guard down. So you did us both a favour there.”
Jamie let out a breath he wasn't aware he was holding.
This shook up the already mixed feelings he had about Charlie, demon or not.
The feeling of him having been the better of them two, the one who wouldn't have let John get into mortal danger began to flee, along with the reservation he had.
“Tell me about the others...”
Charlie leaned back, laughing.
“Well Midsomer deities have an odd hunger for souls they like to toy with. Some to consume, monthly blood rituals, that's why our counties body count is so high. Others, to have in their pocket to do their bidding. Somewhen last century, when the time of lawlessness became near to the end of its tenure, they decided to take the souls of police officers, preferably Sergeants cause they were just in the perfect moulding stage in their lives. Diamonds in the rough, most of the time bruised and undermined by careless superiors.”
“You take advantage of their vulnerability.”
“We're demons, not the welfare. Eh although we're probably better than the salvation army.” both shuttered at the name.
“But not everyone falls for this right? You can't tell me a dozen of my coworkers are secretly demons?”
“No. You're special. There's something about Barnaby Sergeants the entities care about.”
“I'm weirdly flattered by that.”
“You should.” Charlie reached out to cup Jamie's face with a hand, getting a good look at him.
Trying to stay focused Jamie avoided looking in his eyes, feeling how his body yearned for the touch.
Melting in a kiss, getting carried away, reach out and touch faith , focus Winter!
“So we just get hand-picked when we're ripe?”
“Usually yes. With Troy we were almost too late he had already made a good change of character and had almost earned his promotion before we could help him, Middlesbrough is full of nasty people helps being a demon, see to prevent that we lighted the spark which caused DS Scott to catch a cold to never return to Midsomer and he's been haunting Birmingham ever since, happy with his phoenix teacher, now Sergeant Jones really gave us a run for our money. His grandma is of our kind so she taught him a few tricks to avoid any temptation.”
“But he still left? He's a DI in Brighton?”
“At some point he left. Walked right out of Midsomer. No clue if he actually works for us or not and frankly we're too scared to ask at this point.”
Jamie chuckled, having met Jones, it was a very odd thing to imagine any man or monster being intimidated by him. Sure he was a bit of a nuisance….
“And what about you? What made you join?”
“Who said I wasn't always like this?”
“Oh.” was all the Detective Sergeant could muster, mind flickering between arousal and flight reflexes kicking in, overwhelmed by the urge to be a sacrificial lamb on the altar of lust.
Charlie laid his head sideways, inching closer before closing the gap to kiss Jamie.
Time to ask questions was over for now, Jamie was oddly content with it, there was no harm in taking one's mind off things for the moment.
Hands on thighs.
Touches powered by the desire of unearthly delights.
Dark blue eyes turned fully black as their lips met, while clothes were beginning to get scattered across the floor.
Kiss me until Kingdom comes.
Jamie threw his head back enraptured by the sheer force which possessed his body.
Never feeling such a hunger for physical intimacy, it was almost a strange foreboding of a sacrosanct delirium which awaited him for gambling with the balance of nature.
The way Charlie's hands knew how to work his body made him almost believe in miracles. Sweet dreams tasted of his kisses, the way his tongue was chasing his, before he let himself be taken most eagerly. Arching into the touch, wanting to feel more and rather happy he had no neighbours to call the police on them for noise disturbance.
Although this was their first time as one, their bodies moved together in unison, conscious of what they longed for.
Panting heavily before blacking out, certain he had left his body during the height of his pleasure, when he came back to his senses he looked at Charlie who smiled at him rather unphased by their demeritorious act before throwing a pillow at his face. Gosh he wanted to tell him off for having such a smug smile, wanted to kiss it away till he was the one calling his name. Jamie was catching his breath, stopping his thoughts for a moment, cause damn was he really just thinking about giving head to someone he had just had sex with? A bit caught off guard by the realisation, that his thoughts had been spiralling already back to the taste of Charlie's lips, made him a bit dizzy.
“Hey, what was that for?”
“Oh you know.” Jamie shook his head, laughing before laying back on his pillow. Exhausted was the greatest understatement of the century but he also felt a new astounding sensation spread through his veins, shaking his core and enthralling his heart with what must be true happiness for the first time in decades.
Even the soft kisses Charlie left on Jamies neck felt like he was speedrunning a life which was worth living. A life which was loved.
“Do you maybe want to actually fill me in on the case now?”
“Oh you almost made me forget why we came together in the first place.”
“Hey, some demons are just summoned for a bit of self pleasure, not for such a selfless sacrifice as yours.”
“Just cause I was never aware of this option.” Jamie smiled, his head was spinning as he struggled to sit up straight.
Something he’d gladly get used to.
The thought of the special demon summonings made him crack up and if he was honest regret no one ever had mentioned this option to him.
Charlie kissed his shoulder blade, before pulling him back into an embrace.
“Are you feeling up to saving our guv?”
“I think so.” Jamie leaned into the embrace, savouring the serenity of the arms around him, as the pain eased out of him.
Placing one last kiss before letting him go, Charlie smiled.
“Get dressed, I know a shortcut.”
In a blurry haze Jamie followed Charlie through dark corridors of the hospital. Through the morgue upstairs their feet made no sound.
Catching absent glaces of the nightstaff.
Their empty eyes send shivers down Jamie's spine, the soulless silently judging the damned.
Desperate but voiceless the Detective Sergeant wanted to plead for forgiveness. Not even sure why he was feeling guilty.
“Have no regard for the nameless dead, they are just bitter cause there was no one to forgive or even name them.”
They moved onto the intense care ward, pushing past figures dressed in dark.
Jamie was shielded by Charlie as he shouldn't have witnessed any of this before pulling him into the room where DCI Barnaby was hooked up to monitors.
All pale, bruised and already gone.
An empty shell with a heartbeat.
Charlie looked at the medical chart.
Not understanding a lot of which had been written there just going over what was in dire need of fixing.
It pained him a bit to see his former guv hanging on by a thread, seeing the golden string so faded and almost shredded to decimation.
He had seen worse in his line of duty, but nothing hurts more than a familiar face doused in a lifeless hue.
Jamie was startled by a nurse entering the room with a facial tattoo her almost white irises saw right through Jamie and he felt sick to his stomach, painfully gasping for air when he caught a glimpse of her name tag. Naming her as Clotho Verðandi, a name no mortal was allowed to speak, forced gravity to turn on him.
Charlie caught the Detective Sergeant before his head could hit the floor in an unfortunate encounter with fate.
Placing his slumped body gently on the visitors chair, before beginning an ancient incantation he nodded at the nurse who now had split in two separate people who each pulled out a spool made from an ash tree, spinning their golden threads together with a hand spindle in a silent motion. Clothos hair was white and had a greek hairstyle while Verðandis was hidden by a veil, the blue runes on her dark skin glowed with each movement of the thread running through her skilled fingers.
Drifting between concussioness and oblivion, Jamie saw out of the corner of his eye how the steady green line of the heart monitor rose rapidly before plummeting into a flat line.
Alarms flared modern day whaling spirits as medical staff rushed in.
A nurse with a hairstyle equal to Clotho, appeared with a scissor , unfazed by the other medical staff's comotion of saving a life, but old yet juvenile her face revealed no emotion, Atropos by name.
Just as one spool had regained its threads and one was near its end, she stepped in and cut the golden thread.
Hushed voices speaking in medical tongues, their pitch in-between death deficiency and serenity of defeat, made Jamie's heart grow cold.
The vigilant sound filled with trepidation of a flatline pounding in his ears while the other senses had already left him.
The final momentum of consciousness before the darkness swallowed him was spent with the dissatisfaction of a deal broken.
Jamie woke up in his bed just as Charlie replaced a cold cloth on his forehead. Fearing the worst he fought him and checked his phone to find several missed calls from Sarah.
Breathing heaving, he placed his phone down shaking, trying to ready himself for the eventual bad news.
“Call her back.” Charlie assured him with a gentle touch on his shoulder.
“I can’t.” his lips were quivering, his shoulders were shaking with the fits of an upcoming panic attack.
Kneeling down in front of him, Charlie cupped Jamie's face, looking at him most compassionately, before taking his phone and calling Sarah’s number for him.
Closing his eyes, Jamie swallowed hard, bracing himself for the worst, when he heard the familiar voice of Sarah Barnaby.
“Jamie! I’ve been trying to call you, you're not going to believe this! John woke up and his vitals are stable.”
Jamie looked at Charlie who was mouthing a I told you so with a smile spreading from ear to ear, which spread over to the Detective Sergeants lips. All the panic eased from his body.
“Really?”
“It’s too early to say, but the doctors are rather positive that he’s gonna make a full recovery.”
“I’m speechless, that's just wonderful news.”
“They will keep him for a few weeks till they are certain there are no long term damages, run a few more tests. It’s almost a miracle.”
“It’s a huge relief! Thank you for letting me know, I'm sure he’s going to be home in no time.”
“Don’t work yourself up too much about it, Jamie. I know you have. Get some rest.”
“I will, I promise, Sarah.”
Jamie looked at Charlie, hanging up the phone before throwing him to the ground with a kiss.
Overjoyed to have his wish fulfilled.
“Easy there.” Charlie brushed some hair out of Jamies face, grinning.
Although he was a demon, he still had a heart and in fact always had Sarah's cherished friendship and the unconventional way of turning her husband's Sergeants into surrogate sons. The love of a mother could move mountains, they say and no doubt she could probably kick her way out of hell if needed.
Deep down he knew John would be fine, yet it still felt good to hear the solace in both Sarahs and Jamie's voice.
This pure joy was rather rejuvenating.
As were Jamie's grateful kisses.
Famished taking hold of him, till he swore off his creator.
Pinning him into the mattress and taking him whole in a ravenous pursuit to still his hunger.
In the morning, over a cup of tea and some breakfast, Jamie briefed Charlie over the case at hand.
A family feud had escalated and led to a series of unfortunate events leading up to a constantly raising body count. Both families blamed the other for either murders.
No one was certain who started it.
Recently it had taken turns of the Borgia kind, with multiple family members being involved in higher power.
Jamie and John had separated to go after different leads at once, when the newest instalment of the feud had led to a kidnapping with murder adjacent consequences.
In his kindness of heart John had ended up trusting the wrong person to follow into the badlands of Midsomer.
Ending up almost mauled to death by a tame bear.
In a strange twist of fate Jamie had arrived just in time to stop him from bleeding out and get him to safety.
Moments which had haunted him since.
All the blood on his hands.
Using his tie, the med kid in the car, to stop the bleeding superficially, before helping John into his car.
The frantic words of his guv, telling him to take care of Sarah and Betty, to tell them he loves them.
In the A&E the doctors told Jamie he had found it at the right time.
But that didn’t stop his mind from imagining the worst case scenario, the one where he didnt make it in time.
Where he was now consoling Sarah and helping her prepare a funeral.
Survivors' guilt had even now been eating away at him, but at least Charlie had been there to take his mind off things.
They spend the rest of the day gathering files, making plans on how to tackle the case, analysing the evidence, before Charlie took the file off an exhausted Jamie who had worked himself up over details they had been missing.
Kissing away the rising survivors guilt, the anxiety that the bastard who did this was still out on the prowl ready to strike again and this time not missing.
Reminding him over and over that there would be no danger to befall their guv, with every kiss till he dropped the file, pages scattering over the floor as he was dragged away to paradise.
Days and nights blurred together, the investigations were more pleasant with Charlie around. Not just because they spend their free time inseparable entwined in ecstatic motion.
Interviews went smoother than before and it seemed like even the mad family members seemed to have calmed down.
Sarah kept them updated on John's condition. Brought over some lunch at some point rather worried about Jamie's bone weary look, surprised to find Charlie there and the den of evidence presenting in front of her. Her motherly instinct told her something unholy was happening here, however unaware that damage had already been done, she pulled Charlie aside to make him swear he’d take good care of Jamie, oblivious of the fact how much he already had done.
They stopped for a visit at the hospital, separately, left some grapes and chocolate and had compassionate talks. Jamie was still fighting with his own demons over the incident, but even John told him, he should cut it out, since he was going nowhere any time except back to his family and eventually work, heaven could wait, but he wouldn't mind a good cuppa tea.
As time passed they were no closer to closing the case until the patriarch was waiting in the morgue for their call.
Charlie looked at Jamie and wondered why his soul was so hungry for such a broken heart? Perhaps the pain quivering in veins longing to be soothed was equal to the solitude in his empty heart.
This was more than a bit of sex.
He was a demon, he could have whoever he wanted, without much of a remorse, whenever it pleases him.
This was more than it.
Our hearts are monsters, that's why we keep them caged.
All this time they had been together, they had avoided going to the morgue, funnily enough their pathologist wasn't even aware Charlie had been back.
Kam walked into the room and immediately froze as if she had seen a ghost before shaking out of the timid tremble and smiling brightly.
Jamie didn’t notice what truly had been going on in his microinteraction and he would never find out as there were worlds between him and them. They had history, beyond his understanding.
“Charlie, it's good to see you!” she truly meant it she closed him in his arms, all the tension which had caused her face to be more stern and concerned than usual had suddenly vanished, like a sandcastle claimed by the waves.
“And you Kam.” he reassured her.
An odd twinge of jealousy rose in Jamie's heart and he wasn’t quite sure who it was he was jealous of, but he realised there was something between them, just that he had an eerie inkling that he wouldn't enjoy finding out.
“You said you had good news?”
Kam fixed her scrubs before producing a necklace from her pocket. It was half a heart inscribed with an odd inscription.
“Whoever this used to belong to is your murderer. “
“Vae victis, woe to the conquered.” translated Charlie taking the necklace studying it before handing it to Jamie.
“It’s a quote rumoured to be said as Rome was besieged by the Gauls, didn’t end very well for either, if that’s any help.” The pathologist moved over to her desk, Charlie eyed her hourglass which was about to run out of sand, before sneaking a gentle look to the detective whose tense body language told him he was in need of being held. Hearing his cruel thoughts made him brush his hand softly against his, reminding him that he was not what those dark voices tried to make him believe. Jamie chased his features, longing to be alone in the room with him, just for a moment to bring time to a halt in an embrace. Tapping against his finger, Jamie woke up from this self inflicted trance as Kam handed him a file.
“We have a history teacher who isn’t all too fond of the Romans, thank you Kam.”
“Always a pleasure.”
Kam turned to her hourglass, lamenting every grain of sand which would fall from now on.
Obtaining a warrant and arresting Marcus Camillus went smoothly.
It was almost as if he wanted to be caught at this point.
Red eyes of a man haunted by his action, made Jamie wonder if this had been Charlies doing.
However he wasn’t complaining though, it was poetic justice to bring the man finally to justice who caused all of this.
Jamie wouldn’t be there long enough to witness the trial but Charlie had promised him that he wouldn't see the light for a long time, with a smile that sent shivers down his spine.
With the paperwork having been done and the case finally having wrapped up, Jamie was free to take some long overdue leave.
Leaving the office behind, switching the computer off for the last time had an odd sense of liberation.
Putting on his suit jacket before walking out gave him closure he wasn't aware he needed.
It was a goodbye for sure, but not a sad one, he was embracing the mystery which laid ahead of him.
There would be others to take on the mantle of Sergeant and keep his place occupied.
He simply hoped his successor would remember to water the plants in the office.
Ah that is a good reason to haunt the office!
Kam had been talking to Charlie and he caught a snippet of their rather vexed conversation, “Blue eyes are destined to make you cry.” which made him frown, especially after they noticed his arrival, their both grief stricken expressions changed to a more cheerful yet weary one.
There was something between them, Jamie couldn’t put his finger on it. Wondering if Kam knew about them, he looked at Charlie, who just shook his head.
Nevertheless he could feel his eyes linger on him. Searching for the truth of Kams words, chasing it in a passing glance, dissatisfied by the reveal.
“So off to an excotic island, now DS Winter?”
“My heart says yes, my paycheck says St Davids is excotic enough.”
“They got Puffins down there, you'll fit right in there.” Kam gently tapped his shoulder before leaving him and Charlie without much ado.
Jamie looked after her puzzled. “What's up with her?”
Charlie shrugged, not entirely sure if Kam was criticising Jamie's fashion choices or had a different point of view entirely. “Perhaps inhaled a bit too much formaldehyde? You're not a monk.”
“Excuse me?”
“The Irish believed them to be the vessels of reincarnated souls of monks. Hence they wouldn’t eat them.”
Jamie stopped to stare at him in disbelief before continuing to walk.
“Just a legend. Monks aren’t able to possess any animals.”
“I am not sure if I should be relieved or not.”
Charlie chuckled, not sure what to tell him.
They had little more than a week left till the month was over.
Jamie had wanted to spend the majority of his time remaining in Pembrokeshire at the seaside, the place which always had made him feel alive.
Starting the day with a swim and enjoying the rough beauty of the countryside.
John was in remission and would be allowed to leave the hospital next week.
He’d be back then for a proper goodbye.
Sarah had invited them separately to come over for a family reunion dinner.
It had a tragic note of humour, this game of shadows they were playing.
One returns and one leaves.
Jamie mused, knowing how hard Sarah had pursued her matchmaking for either of them, only to never get the satisfaction of knowing they had found each other.
Taking his eyes off the road for a moment to study Charlie's facial expression, he was highly focused while reading a brochure of St Davids.
No one would know they had been a thing.
No one would give him any condolences.
To the world they would have just been acquainted.
What would happen to Charlie, when he was gone anyways, would he just continue with his life?
Perhaps Jamie was easily replaceable?
Not worth a tear.
Demons don’t cry.
The scriptures only speak of angels tears, but never demon tears.
Taking a deep breath as he felt a hand on his knee.
“Let’s stop here for a moment.” suggested Charlie who was aware of his turmoil.
They had been driving just past Felindre Farchog and were near Pengelli Wood, when Jamie stopped the car near out of sight of anyone.
They were an hour away from their destination, but the impending darkness would require full attention of anyone driving.
Placing his hands over his face Jamie leaned back taking another deep breath, when the engine made its usual cooling off noise.
Charlie gently took his hands away from his face, they didn’t need any communication, Jamie just submitted to his touch and willingly accepted his kisses.
Succumbing to his attempt to take his mind off things.
The dissatisfaction of the unknown and inevitable may have lingered on the back of mind, despite the best distraction strategy.
As it turns out the back of the car provided more comfort when the kisses were no longer sufficient enough to keep the shadows at bay.
Jamie was only ever truly at peace when he could feel Charlie's bare skin against his as their body entwined till their hearts beat in union.
Burning with his touch, Jamie looked at Charlie who had rested his head against his chest, stroking through his hair, enjoying this soft moment as the last rays of the day had abandoned them.
Suddenly he knew he’d wanted to spend his last moments just like this, Charlie's lips on his carefree.
Kiss me until my lips are no longer red.
“Hey, no more thoughts of darkness.” whispered Charlie, lifting his head to leave kisses on Jamies chest.
“What do you suggest I think of then?”
“The week ahead of us. The ocean. If you even want us to leave the bed once we get there.”
“If you keep on kissing me like this and I'm not sure I even want to leave the car .”
Jamie chuckled before pulling him back into a kiss.
They eventually made it to Saint Davids in time to catch a pint at the Bishops before closing time.
The scent of a storm racing across the ocean was carried into the streets of the town as Jamie and Charlie walked back to their accommodation.
Feeling his spirits much lifted by it and the consumed liquor Jamie took his lover's hand, what the hell he had never had the chance to dance with someone in the rain let alone during a storm.
So why not use this chance and begin to live a thousand million lives in a night.
Charlie wanted to call his lover ridiculous as he was spun around in a very badly choreographed waltz.
It took them a tad to find their right rhythm, there was stepping on toes on both sides but the laughter made up for the missteps.
Once the gales had presented themselves as too violent to be ignored, they continued their journey to their apartment.
Soaked to the bone, fighting with their clothes which had clung to them like a second skin they moved towards the bedroom, anticipating to get lost in each other once more.
Jamie pushed Charlie back against the door, his hands on either side of Charlie's face, kissing him hard as if he was the only thing saving him from drowning.
He pressed the length of his body along Charlies, rolling his hips to let him feel how much his body longed for him.
Charlie grinned, moved his hands to Jamies neck and down his chest, making a move on removing his clothes
It was overwhelming and wonderful, slipping wholly under Charlie's spell.
His body should have been aching from the overuse, but he had mastered learning to overcome the pain till only pleasure remained, wanting to use every chance they had left to chase that high.
His time was up soon anyways, besides he had been hurt in the line of duty countless times, he knew what his body could take.
And he wanted more.
More of Charlie's hands over him.
Wanted to taste his hot tongue as his skilled fingers worked him open.
The demon's hands stroked leisurely down his now exposed lover's chest, already having marked every single inch of his skin in the previous nights spent together. By now he had known this body almost as well as he had the one he was possessing.
Knew every turn of his muscles, how the veins on his arms became more prominent when he rode him in unattained passion without care for tomorrow.
It was the most intimate knowledge, he’d never give up, knowing it would leave him pulsating while dreaming of his kisses in the lonely eternity before him.
Carpe Noctem, seize the night, and the body who was so beautiful presenting himself in front of him.
Jamie calling your name, could make any angel fall from grace, thought the demon, Lips of a saint, eyes of an arctic ocean, gorgeously reduced to uttering blasphemy as he worked himself deeper into him, begging him with each trust to make this last forever.
“How does eternal life feel for the undead?” Jamie had rolled over to face his lover who had fallen onto the bed next to him.
Tracing his fingers across Jamie's pulsepoint up his muscular arm to his chest for a kiss, Charlie smiled.
“Barely tolerable without voracious and beguiled curious souls to get lost with.”
“Then why do you do it if it’s barely tolerable?”
“In between the devil and the deep blue sea, the devil is a gentleman.”
“Beg your pardon?”
“The devil that you know is better than the one that you don't. When I chose this life I wanted change in a hopeless situation, wanted to bring change and I do, that’s all that matters.”
“You’ll never reveal what made you this life won’t you?”
Jamie studied him, trying to find answers in those dark blue eyes of his, who looked like they could have witnessed the fall of Troy, besieged Carthage, saw the embers rise in the obsidian horror of Herculaneum or tasted the wine as roses rained over Elagabalus feast.
Oppressit in tricliniis versatilibus parasitos suos violis et floribus, sic ut animam aliqui efflaverint, cum erepere ad summum non possent.
Was written all over them, more alive than the painting in Marcus Camillus house.
If anyone were to ask Jamie about his time with Charlie, he would have told him, falling in love with him was like being smothered with violets, beautiful but inescapably forsaken.
“You care too much for other people's heartache, you don’t need to take on mine.” Charlie offered Jamie his arms to cuddle up with, which Jamie happily accepted.
There hadn’t been enough kind and quiet moments for him like this.
“But I want to, I care about you.”
Charlie closed him tighter in his arms, wanting to never let go of Jamie, but no matter how tight he would hold him, time was running out in an inconsolable avalanche.
When their time in St Davids came to an end, Jamie went to the ocean one last time with Charlie and made him swear to come back here in order not to not forget him.
Funnily enough he wouldn’t need a place to do that, but he promised it anyway, knowing how much it set his heart at rest.
The last few weeks with Jamie had been the best of his life and he’d work something out to make the last an eternity.
Midsomer awaited them with the usual blood and rain.
Jamie's flat was still a mess with the scattered files of a now solved case.
Pages were scent flying when they opened the windows. There was an eerie cold entering the room. Making the Detective Sergeant aware of his mortality. Maybe he should make arrangements for his death.
Pick his coffin, but for all he cared he could be buried down by the highway side, a feast for crows and other critters of the night. Beneath a willow tree so his bones could mingle with the roots and become a home for blackbirds, who’d whistle and sing of his true love wherever they fly.
Tell his family, his real family Sarah, Betty and John, about it, or at least visit them one last time, before the inevitable.
Made sure they remembered him with a smile, a last meal without knowing it was a goodbye.
Thankfully Sarah had called Charlie, to ask them to come over for dinner, so he’d spent his final hours with the people he loved most.
Not everyone was lucky enough to celebrate their vigil.
Observe their obsequies with drinks and shared laughter.
Go to confession, but the only person worthy of confessing his sins was the cause of all of them. The rogue thought of Charlie as a priest, all blushing and chaste made him crack up.
Said was sitting in his lap, plotting on how to make the most of their remaining hours.
How to turn hours into forever.
Shatter a reaper's hourglass, but a cursed man knows when his time is nigh and didn’t leave his lover out of sight.
Mirthful trading salvation for one last sunrise spent in the blissful afterglow of passion.
Legs entangled, hands entwined, chasing every heartbeat with a kiss, wasting no breath not being connected.
Savouring each, as the ravens started their requiem, soon how soon they had to part.
Valedictory pain was a sweet companion, for the final ride.
Jamie fixed Charlie's collar, smirking with pride at the now invisible marks etched into his neck there trailing down his chest and thighs, a tell tale of a star crossed alliance.
John, who was supposed to be still resting, had greeted them with the story of how a headless rider went rogue near a haunted house near Quitewell Hall, when they arrived at the Barnaby residence. A silent nudge for them to check it out, once Jamie’s leave was over.
Sarah had a hard time containing her husband, who was fussing around more than he should given he had just been released from the hospital. Long suffering Sarah was still immensely worried about his condition, it troubled Jamie and Charlie not being able to tell her that there was no need to worry about him.
The sorrows had caused her hair to be adorned with a few sneaky greys, which gave her regal glow if anything.
Betty threw herself at her surrogate brothers once she heard their voices.
Not knowing whom she should hug first she settled for both their legs before Sarah took pity and lifted her up so she could be held by both.
Eventually Betty settled her inner conflict and decided to be on Jamie's arm,listening to her dad's description of how they should approach solving the case, till dinner was ready.
They had a good laugh over dinner, John wanting to know how the ship did run without their captain, enjoyed some wine from France, Sarah had retrieved it from the cellar for this joyous occasion of their family having united.
They toasted to life and new old friends.
Jamie and Charlie stole glances over the table with a smile sheepishly, if only Sarah knew. They shared tales of their cases together, laughed at mishaps and the occasional nutters and prophets of Midsomer county. Reminiscing the good times and toasting to hard times would come no more. Betty joined with her sippy cup the toast, which caused everyone at the table to erupt with even more laughter and hail her as the next great detective who would bring down Midsomers worst. Jamie had no doubt about his favourite partner in crime's future being bright, he just regretted not being able to see it himself, but he had no doubt Charlie would make sure she'd be able to reach her goal.
After dinner John had retreated with Paddy outside, wanting to give Sarah some space and give the dog a bit of a walk. His former Sergeant who had a reputation of a kitchen wizard had offered to take over the dishes to give Sarah a bit of a break.
Who happily ignored his offer and joined Charlie in the kitchen anyways with her glass of wine, like a grande dame.
They both had the perfect spot to watch Jamie play with Betty. Trying his best to tell her all the things he wouldn’t be able to tell her, but in the end it was just a story which she cared about, a story which would remain as their goodbye.
“You two make a great team.”
Charlie smiled, getting the plates ready to be washed.
“We've been told.”
“No no I mean it. You two are working together so well. I don't think I've ever seen Jamie smile so much. Or you for that matter. It's so refreshing to see.” Sarah watched him fondly with the interrogating glance of a mum trying to get information from her adopted son.
“I wouldn't have noticed, really.” a soft chuckle escaped his lips, which made Sarah hit him with a towel.
“Ow!” he feigned being injured but continued to laugh.
“What's that murder on the white tiles?” asked Jamie who carried Betty into the kitchen.
“I was just telling Charlie how wonderful it is to see you two get along.”
“We do? I haven't noticed!” Jamie teased.
“Come here Betty, uncle Jamie and uncle Charlie have to work on their team building skills while doing the dishes. We'll go check on dad outside.”
Sarah shook her head, before taking her daughter and walking outside to join her husband.
Both men waited for them to be out of sight to steal a kiss.
“How's that for team building skills?” asked Jamie when they parted, stroking over Charlie's chest.
“We might need to reassess this.” He chuckled before initiating another kiss. They stopped when they heard Paddy snarl and bark outside, catching themselves being a bit too careless. Sure Charlie had the power to make people forget, but still nothing you'd want to do to your found family. Especially not on this night.
“You think Sarah is suspecting anything?”
Jamie tapped his lover's chest where he suspected his heart to be. Strangely he had never thought about asking whether he had one.
Charlie shook his head with a smile, checking if they were still alone before stealing another kiss.
“If we continue like this maybe.”
Jamie pulled away laughing, fate indeed was a cruel mistress to have brought them together like this.
Making him experience true happiness for the first time only to take it away in the blink of an eye.
Maybe it was so beautiful cause they were doomed.
Charlie hugged him from behind, closing his arms around his mid. Taking in all of the heartbeats spiked with memories they had made and those they would never get to create.
Love was made for mortals, not for monsters.
Jamie leaned into the touch, savouring this fleeting moment of bliss, before the premonition of what laid in the sunset cladded his heart once more with an arctic blitz.
The howling of the hounds of hell in the distance.
Squeezing him softly, placing a soft kiss on his temple Charlie tried his best to ground him again.
Thinking, I'd sacrifice myself to you, if it were possible.
As the sun was setting on the last day Jamie was content with it as he went behind the wheel of the car to drive into the night.
Charlie didn't stop him.
Didn't object to the way Jamie had chosen to go.
It was only right not to interfere.
He had been able to spend one more evening with his chosen family, hugged Betty and Sarah one last time and even saw John smile.
It was all worth it.
They say when you're in love, time runs like sand through one's hands.
If he had one regret it would be not having asked Charlie out right after they had been introduced.
Or even given him his number.
If he could turn back time he'd do it to this moment.
As if she had a premonition of what was to come, Sarah had tried to persuade them to stay longer, not drive into the night with the threat of a storm, but they wouldn’t want to let any harm befall them when the time came.
Jamie looked at the familiar stretch of empty forest road ahead of them.
Midsomer roads, built with blood and on bones.
The barks of hell hounds came closer.
He looked at Charlie content and lovingly, who knew it was time.
It all had been worth it.
Slowly he removed his hands from the steering wheel, pressing down the gas pedal as he closed his eyes.
Exhaling, calculating, knowing how much of the road was left till the curve would catch them he opened his eyes again.
Grabbing Charlie by the collar for one last kiss before falling victim to Newton's laws.
As if time was preserved in a bottle the crash seemed to happen in a fluid slow motion.
In an elegant swift motion just like Odette in Swan Lake, their story came to an end.
The snarling of the hell hounds had stopped, it had been replaced by a horrible ringing noise, the breaking of bones and glass.
Charlie was left unscathed despite having been propelled through the windscreen along with Jamie who was withering on the ground, desperately trying to mobilise his last resorts to reach him.
Blood oozing from his orifices with every painstaking breath he drew.
It had to happen naturally otherwise there was no other way.
Charlie couldn't condemn Jamie to become like him.
Slowly he removed himself from the ground where he had landed.
The vessel he had possessed had already healed but the gaping hole in his heart would never be recovering.
It was only right.
Lips quivering in anguish Jamie looked up at him with tear filled blues hues.
Fearing abandonment more than death at this very moment.
Even now he was more concerned about someone else's life than his own.
Oh Jamie, in another life they would have made you a saint .
Now you'll just be a name in the Sunday paper, to be tossed away by an uncaring family.
Standing on the crossroad,where their journey had begun, looking in the empty darkness of the forest, Charlie took a deep breath, reading himself for what was to come.
“Don't leave me…please… Char…lie”
It had been a millennia since he had shed his last tear, but he didn't want Jamie to see them.
If he'd walked away now it would be okay.
He could do it.
Where Orpheus failed he'd succeed.
One foot in front of the other.
The wind carried the sound of the spirits which moved the realm that was Midsomer, satisfied by yet another sacrifice to the night.
Always hungry for blood.
One more step.
He could do it.
“I… Lo..Love…you…” Jamie's voice was broken, there was not much breath left for him to spare.
Charlie bit his lips, cursing the night sky as he looked up at it.
This wasn't fair.
He couldn't let it end like this.
One more step.
He couldn't let him die without saying it back.
One more step, Charlie, you can do it, the siren call of the moon encouraged him to keep his promise.
Jamie had dragged himself across the ground, just as Charlie had almost reached the saving grass.
Just like that the moment was gone.
Charlie turned around as he felt Jamie's hand around his ankle.
Pressing his eyes shut, his lips quivering as a silent no escaped his lips.
Maybe not all was lost?
Don't fear the reaper.
The mirror crack'd from side to side and by the pale moon the reaper weary would soon appear on sight,
To love is to lose
He would moved onward, with one star awake
Impossible to reach
Purity and rage.
Be gone with a dance of the leaves when the autumn winds blow .
Orpheus must call him a fool now. Oh how he must laugh and revel in his misery. Charlie felt yet another long lost emotion rise in him once more, anger, but he couldn't waste his time now.
Kneeling down next to Jamie before lifting him into his arms, Charlie carefully brushed away the pieces of glass which had dared to intrude his handsome features.
“Oh Jamie, I was ready to give up forever. Forgive me.” he whispered gently, voice barely holding back a sob.
Curling his lips into a broken smile Jamie reached up to cup his face, with Charlie's assistance, who kissed his broken fingers.
“To… love… is… “ he began, fighting against his breath, smiling as blood ran down his lips. “to forgive… forgive me..for not…staying…”
The life in his eyes seemed to fade away quickly, dying was easy , thought Jamie as he felt himself slowly being consumed by the cold darkness. Knowing his spool had run out of thread.
Charlie kissed his temple, cradling him in his arms as he felt his lover's life essence became no more.
If Jamie's lips were still in possession of a voice he would have told Charlie how afraid he was.
“Hush cariad, not long now. Close your eyes, it's easier that way. I’m here.”
Jamie could hear drums in the distance.
The sound of an incoming army racing across the fields.
War chants of the ancient times.
A black raven dove down to them.
He was too weak to turn his head to see the raven land.
There was comfort in seeing them, he had always liked them.
When the dark night seems endless please remember me, Charlie.
Out of the black mist rose a familiar figure, wearing a cloak out of raven feathers and carrying a scythe with an hourglass attached to it, in silent orison.
The grim reaper knelt next to Charlie.
Removing their hood, revealing a familiar face stricken with grief and kindness.
“Here let me take over. His heart is too light to be condemned to darkness.”
Kam placed a reassuring hand on Charlie's shoulder who wiped tears from his cheeks.
“They warn us not to fall in love.” uttered the demon, kissing Jamie's cold lips one last time before letting him go.
“Amor vincit omnia, et nos cedamus amori.” Love conquers all things, so we too shall yield to love.
“Mors Vincit Omnia.” he corrected with a stern remorseful look. Death conquers all things.
“In another life you will have more time.” promised the reaper with a smile before taking Jamie's soul in her hourglass.
“Sometimes a night is a lifetime.”