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Newly DS Jamie Winter was just on his way to his, probably temporary, new workspace. His B&B was just outside of Causton itself and made his way to the station short enough. His Boss, DCI John Barnaby, had he met a few days prior in the office, helping out with the paperwork as good as he possibly could. The same was supposed to be this day, but the Murderers of Midsomer County decided to change their plans. Jamie had nearly reached the station when his Phone started to ring on his passenger seat. He only looked over for a Moment, before grabbing the device and taking the Call. “DS Winter?” He greeted, keeping his eyes focused on the street Infront of him. “DC Kelly. We have a Body in Little Auburn.” The men on the other side of the line said. Jamie signed. “Of course. We will be on our way.” He said, turning his car into the direction of his Bosses house.
He knocked on the door, looking a bit uncomfortable back at his car. A moment later the door opened and a woman, Barnaby’s wife he assumed, stood on the other side. “Hi.” She said as a greeting, smiling at him. “Hi, I am Jamie. You must be the Bosses Wife.” He greeted her, trying to smile in a friendly manner, even though he just wanted to get going. “Yes, Sarah. Come on in.” The older said, already making her way further inside, making him follow her into the garden, where he got to see the sight of the older Barnaby playing with his daughter. After a short introduction to the youngest Barnaby, he was finally able to leave with his Boss.
The drive to the village was mostly quiet, except for the few information’s they had to share with each other. Jamie stopped the car at the tape, leaving the car, followed by Barnaby. The DC nodded towards them, filling them in on the basics, before telling them where the Body was. The DCI gave them a short thanks, before making his way to the body, the younger following him towards the tank. Walking around the Tank to see the Body, he also spotted a familiar face. Kneeling in the dirt next to the Body was Kam Karimore. He didn’t really take in what exactly Barnaby said to her, when she turned towards him, her eyes falling onto him. Back stared the same dark blue eyes, her eyes widening slightly. The oldest seemed to catch onto something, which broke Jamie out of his trance for a moment, just to greet the slightly older woman. “Kam Karimore, I didn’t expect to see you out here in Midsomer.” He said, forcing a smile onto his face. “Jamie.” She said, raising to her feet.
The Sergeant looked over at his Boss who looked both disinterested and interested at the same time. “Kam and I met-“ He broke up for a moment, scratching his head for something believable, before finishing his sentence. “-At a course about proper crime scene management.” Barnaby seemed to believe it(or not care enough) because he just turned towards Kam, waiting for her explanation. She just nodded, turning towards the Body and starting her explanation.
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Kam and Jamie had kept their distance for the rest of the case, both thinking of the other. Jamie didn’t know how to start the conversation and to afraid of getting shut out, accepting the fate of just leaving Midsomer again and never look back. Kam had asked him for a ride back to the station, after her car broke down while trying to bring Paddy back to his owners. The Car ride was, to say the least, awkward. None of them knew how to start the conversation, a conversation they knew they should have. “You said the Barnaby’s just lost their Dog. Why don’t we see if they would take Paddy?” Jamie suggested, not looking away from the street. “Yeah, why not try it.” She answered, ending the short conversation with it, till they stopped in front of the Barnaby house.
Just as the younger wanted to leave the car, Kam spoke up. “Jamie.” She said, which made the Sergeant look at her. “I Love you.” Was everything that left her mouth, watching her closely. A small smile found it’s way onto his lips, before he nodded, always having trouble showing love. “Let’s get Paddy a new Home.” The older said, leaving the car, followed by Jamie, who took Paddy and followed Kam towards the house.
To say the Barnaby’s were overjoyed was an understatement. Little Betty started playing with him right away, running after Paddy and laughing happily. DCI Barnaby was watching his daughter play, while Sarah was talking to Jamie and Kam, both already knowing what they tried with their “We thought you could take care of him until we find a place for him” excuse. The older male’s Phone rang and made him take the call, while walking towards the house. Only a few Minutes later he entered the garden again, phone still in hand. “See you Nelson.” He said, hanging up the call, before looking up at the other three adults. “Did you ask the Family?” The DCI asked, looking at the younger Officer. “Yes, the daughter has a dog-hair allergy and the niece doesn’t want him. I would take him, but I don’t even know how long I will be here.” Jamie said, getting down to pat the dog in question.
“Nelson’s transfer is pushed back by at least another year.” That made the younger look up, directly at his boss, who continued talking. “The Job is yours, if you want it.” The Sergeant didn’t know how to react, not knowing if Kam would want him there or how things were between them, which was the only reason he turned slightly to look at the woman in question. Kam had a smile on her face, while looking at him. His Questioning look answered she with a nod, her smile getting bigger. With a smile forming on his lips, the younger stood up to face Barnaby properly. “Thank you, Sir.” He said, which made Sarah walk over to him and congratulate him in an instant.
“Not bad.” Was everything Kam said to it, not really hiding her happiness. “You should take a look for a place for a while.” Barnaby said. “Of course Sir. It might take me a few days to find something fitting.” He answered honestly, not able to hide his smile. “I might told him that you just had to go through some losses.” Kam said without any warning. “So we thought you might want to take care of Paddy in the meantime.” Jamie chimed in, making the oldest look at his family, who were playing with the dog, Betty seeming very Happy. “Thank you Winter.” The DCI said, showing positive emotions for the first time directed at the Sergeant.
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A few weeks later Kam and Jamie still hadn’t really talked with each other, both putting off the much needed talk. They worked fairly well next to each other, but you could feel that something was off. Even the DCI had caught onto it, even though if Jamie was to believe the gossip at the station, only through his wife. He himself had moved into the Cottage of one of his predecessors. He got the Number from an Officer at the Station and by talking to DI Ben Jones, he learned that DS Charlie Nelson, his direct predecessor, had gotten the same offer. He didn’t get to meet Ben, but took the offer of place to stay.
They were on a case when Jamie finally found the courage to initiate the talk between them. Barnaby and him were trying to solve the murder of a butcherer in the furthest away village of Midsomer, when he realized that he couldn’t push her away forever, so he took the opportunity when she brought them the lab results. He listened to her explaining the results, before she turned around to leave. “We should go get dinner tonight.” He said, taking the folder. His heart was beating 100 Miles an hour, his breathing was slightly uneven and he desperately tried to focus on something else. He saw Kam turn around from the corner of his eye.
“We should get Dinner together?” She asked, like he spoke another language. The younger took a breath before turning towards her. “I think we need to talk.” He said, honest. Kam seemed a bit taken back, walking back towards his desk. “About what?” She asked, not really understanding what he was getting at. “You know about what.” He said, looking at the older directly now. He understood that she didn’t want to have the talk, but it had to be. “No, I don’t. I have no Idea” Kam said, trying to make it seem like the talk was over. “London.” He just said, watching her face fall a bit. “We really shouldn’t talk about it further.” Kam tried, but Jamie just stood up saying “I will Pick you up at eight.” Before walking past her and leaving the office.
The Sergeant wasn’t really surprised when most of the station knew about it by the evening, he guessed that even Barnaby knew, but didn’t really care about it. Though the older seemed to deem it important enough, since he stopped the younger before he could leave the driveway of the Family Home. “Winter.” He said, leaning in through the window. “Yes Sir?” Jamie was confused about what his Boss could still want from him, but also nervous and stressed, since he was already behind his plan. “I do not care with who you have a relationship with, but don’t let it get in the way of our work.” The older said firmly, confusing the Sergeant even more. “Sir?” He asked, the confusion in his voice clear. “Kam, Winter. If your relationship with her gets in the way of your work or affects your work, your out.” Barnaby said, before walking to his front door, leaving a confused Jamie.
Jamie was only ten minutes later than planned at Kam’s flat, ringing the doorbell. The older came out of the house only a minute later, wearing some casual clothes, though they were still quite nice. The Sergeant himself wore a simple blue shirt and some black jeans. He gave her a small, nervous smile, which she returned, before the two went to his car. The drive went over in awkward silence and dragged itself out, but they stopped before a small restaurant, in Midsomer Malham, after all.
Once they sat at a table together, the silence continued. “Barnaby thinks I would take you out on a date.” Jamie said, after they had put in their orders to break the ice. “What? No, Hell no. Not ever, no matter how our relationship would be.” Kam said, clearly offended. “I know that Kam, but they don’t.” He said, giving her a smile, what made her smile in return. For a few minutes both fell quiet again. “I was really surprised to see you again, especially here.” Jamie said, always being the one who liked the more rural areas than big cities, while Kam was the opposite. “I wanted to escape Mother. She was starting to drive me crazy with all that ‘Why don’t you look for a good wealthy man’ and ‘Search for a better Job, Kam’ and I really couldn’t do it anymore. God, that woman is so annoying. Here she won’t find me at least and it’s quite nice out here.” She explained, taking a sip from her pint.
Jamie only nodded for a moment. “How is Father?” She asked, watching his face harden for a moment. “The same asshole he was the last time you saw him.” He answered, which she could only nod too. “Look Kam. It isn’t our fault that we couldn’t keep contact. They had their divorce and decided to take one each, not allowing us any contact. It isn’t our fault, not mine and not yours, theirs and I am just glad to get to spend time with you now. This might be weird for now but I want to work with you and meet you again, because we grew and we aren’t children anymore.” Jamie said, watching Kam’s reaction closely. “Yeah, I would like that.”