A/N: I swear I had no intentions of going here again but this little idea for a story popped into my head and I thought I would go with it and see how it turned out. Some things do cross over from my other stories, hard to stop that when I've written so much about these two characters which I can't seem to stop writing about despite the fact that I feel like I've written all I can for these two! But, well, here I am at it again.

Many thanks to Eyeon who convinced me to upload this chapter.

Chapter 1. First Impressions

Her eyes were the most vivid blue he had ever seen. Like the azure ocean blue on a warm winter's day, crystal clear, sparkling; beautiful. Eyes he could get lost in. It was the first thing he had noticed about her. Those eyes, sure he'd seen them in another life time, perhaps. If he believed in such things, he didn't. She was a regular plain Jane alright, the second thing he noticed about her. Loose, ill fitting clothes, hair dragged back into a bun, not a scrape of make-up on her face.

"That's Juliet Burke," Miles said alongside him as they stopped at the entrance to the meeting room, where she stood, waiting for them.

Somehow or another he had expected her to look different.

"Juliet this is Jim Ford."

She stepped forward, shook his hand.

"Hello Jim." A slight hesitant smile crossed her face.

"Juliet," he returned, the name rolling of his tongue, like he'd uttered that name a million times before weird.

"Let's sit down," Miles suggested, pushing the door open.

They moved to the table, James pulled out a chair for her.

She raised an eyebrow.

"I'm from the South," he shrugged.

"Well that explains it then," she quipped and sat down.

He sat opposite and his eyes rested on her face. Edmund Burke's ex-wife, hard to imagine it, she didn't seem the type to hook up with a slime ball like him. She seemed smarter than that given her no nonsense appearance. He knew she was a fertility doctor, some important top notch medical researcher, high up in her field too, well respected and admired. She had been working in partnership with Edmund Burke on finding a treatment for infertility, and she had found a cure. Impressive, though somewhat controversial but Edmund had had other plans, of the illegal kind, had already put them into process implicating her along the way and as a result she had contacted the police. He and Miles had been assigned to the case. So far Miles had done most of the leg work and this was the first time he'd seen or had anything to do with Juliet Burke.

"So you're willing to rat out your ex-husband?" he asked getting straight to the point.

What was her motive? Sure she wanted to maintain her good standing record but she could simply pull out of the research project, couldn't she? Why hadn't she? Then there was the money she could make if she went along with Edmund.

Her face was cool, collected, the ice maiden Edmund Burke called her, according to work colleagues, but who'd take his word for anything?

"I'm willing to do what I have to in order to protect my research," she replied, hands clasped together in her lap, "and to be blatantly honest here Detective Ford but my ex-husband is an ass of the lowest possible kind."

Her voice was calm, but direct and strangely soothing. She was well spoken. It was at odds with her dowdy appearance.

Edmund Burke, from what they had investigated on him was all about himself, driven by an almost obsessive need for glory and recognition among his peers, irrespective of who he brought down in the process. Obviously Juliet wasn't going to be one of them if she had her way and had given them inside information of what Edmund Burke was about to do. But so far his ex-wife had said very little about his character, until now.

"He's highly intelligent, dangerous and very clever," she continued, her eyes skimming over him, making him feel uncomfortable, like he didn't measure up to her expectations.

"If you are going undercover you need to be convincing because Edmund Burke is no fool Detective Ford."

He met her direct gaze.

"Call me Jim."

"And quite frankly Detective," she continued, "you really don't look like the type to pass for a research assistant."

Talk about being straight down the line. He gritted his teeth. Maybe Edmund was right about the ice maiden tag after all.

"All due respect ma'am," he began, hell if she wanted to be formal then so be it, "but I'm pretty adept at fitting a role when I have to."

And what was it to her? He wasn't about to be told by some fertility doctor, what the hell she know about what he did? Leaning forward in his seat, his eyes bored into hers. "You just tell me what I gotta do and I'll do it."

She didn't blink at all, the ice maiden. That term really was fitting for her. Again her cool gaze wandered over his face, resting on his hair.

"You could start with looking less hot," she suggested, a ghost of a smile hovering on her lips. Oh so maybe she had a sense of humour too.

Miles made a guffaw sound. "Trying to make Jim look less hot, that should be interesting."

James felt annoyed. And why was the ice maiden looking at him as if somehow that wasn't possible? He'd show her, glared at Miles, him too.

"How hard can that be?" he muttered, looking straight at Juliet.

God those eyes how could she have the most amazing eyes he'd ever seen when she was so drab?

"So when do we start the training?" he asked.

"Tonight, if you're free?"

He wasn't, was supposed to be taking Paige out for dinner. And he knew where he'd rather be and it wasn't spending the evening with Juliet Burke but he had to admit to being slightly curious about her and this whole medical research case. Though he couldn't figure out why? However it was a rather unusual case that had caught his interest but basically all they had to go by was her word against Edmund Burke's and a few dodgy documents, hence the decision for him to work undercover alongside her to find out what he could. They needed concrete evidence. If Juliet was correct then Edmund Burke was about to commit a federal offence for selling medical breakthrough knowledge, half mine she had had stated, to another country without food and drug administration approval. She could testify to that.

"You could also stand to make a lot of money too," James had pointed out, "if you agreed to his plans so why didn't you? What's in it for you Juliet if you testify against him?"

Again that icy cool gaze met with his. "This isn't about money detective."

His eyes searched her face, for what? He couldn't fathom her. What did he expect to see there?

"I don't want to be associated with him, I don't want criminal charges pressed against me," she said, in that direct matter of fact way of hers, her gaze steady as a rock, "my work is my life."

He had no doubt, saw she spoke the truth. And he wanted to help, though he wasn't sure why.

It shouldn't take long. Sure he could pretend to be a research assistant for a few weeks, should be a real straightforward job, right? How hard could it be? As for Paige and their date, he'd just have to tell her he was working on a case. Maybe he could call by her house later that night? He leaned back in his chair and looked into her cool gaze.

"Just give me a time and address."

Juliet poured herself a glass of wine, her eyes coming to rest on her sister. Rachel was sitting on the recliner chair, looking content and happy. Juliet envied her. When was she last content? She was cursed, was sure and felt the bitterness return, her everyday companion.

"No more drinking days for you," Juliet declared as she sat down on the sofa.

Rachel smiled. "I can live without it." The smile was soon replaced by a frown.

"It's a bit early for it don't you think?"

Juliet glanced at the clock on the wall. Four in the afternoon, normally she was never home much before eight in the evenings but after leaving the police station an hour ago she hadn't felt like going into work. Besides she had told Detective Ford to come to her house at seven. No point in going to work for just an hour or two.

She had felt strangely restless after leaving the station and decided to call in on her sister. Taking a sip of wine her thoughts drifted to him, Detective Jim Ford. When she was told about having a detective work undercover with her she had imagined someone totally different to him. Someone more like Miles Straume, someone ordinary looking and well Jim Ford was totally gorgeous. Not that it mattered to her because she was immune to men, hated them all, totally jaded and happily so. No more men for her, no Edmund had put her off them for life. But she still knew a good looking man when she saw one and well for a moment there, when she had shook his hand, there was a tingling in her fingers, a slight increase in her heart rate when she gazed into his eyes. Impossible, when was the last time she'd felt that? That rattled her, just slightly but she soon regained her cool composure. But Jim Ford posing as a research assistant, really, it was almost laughable.

"You think I'm doing the right thing by exposing Edmund?" she spoke aloud and looked into Rachel's concerned gaze. "It could get ugly."

"He deserves it Juliet," Rachel stated emphatically, "you can't let him get away with stealing your research and not to mention all the other things he's stolen from you."

Juliet didn't need to ask what? Rachel knew all of the grim truth, the only person who did and the last thing she wanted was to be remembering any of it.

"If there is a way to bring that bastard down then why not?" Rachel continued, her eyes darkening.

Juliet had reasoned this within herself for weeks now. It had taken all of her nerve to contact the police department. Miles Straume had visited her, spoken to her and other colleagues. They hadn't wanted to arouse Edmund's suspicion though. Miles had suggested maybe to get someone to work undercover for a few weeks alongside her, try to get some evidence and she had readily agreed. But she really hadn't expected Jim Ford. So what if he was good looking, all that really mattered was if he could pull it off or not and he really did seem to have his nose put out of joint when she'd told him he didn't look the part. That made her smile and she stared reflectively into her wine glass.

It's just there was something about him, something she couldn't put her finger on and it unsettled her in ways she could not explain. Sighing she took another sip of her wine.

"You created this miracle Juliet," Rachel spoke breaking the silence, her hand resting on her stomach, "me pregnant when I shouldn't be, not Edmund Burke, don't you dare let him steal this from you."

Rachel's eyes sparked with anger. And she was right but it wasn't that simple. Nothing ever was, least not when it came to Edmund Burke.

Juliet shook her head. "I might not have any choice Rachel."

She knew Edmund far too well, knew he'd probably win but this time she wouldn't go down without a fight. And if by chance she did win then she could finally put the whole misery that made up the last five years of her life behind her and maybe, just maybe move on. Until then she was in limbo caught up in this vicious cycle of lies and deceit.

Juliet eyed her reflection in the mirror critically. Sometimes she just no longer recognised herself. Whatever happened to that happy go lucky girl she had once been and who replaced her with this bitter, sad woman?

Her mother had been in fine form last family get together.

"Juliet honey but you really are looking a bit peaky and drab lately, you work too hard."

Work was her only salvation, her life which is why she couldn't let Edmund get away with selling it to the highest bidder, as she had pointed out to Detective Ford.

"I know the divorce was ugly and messy but that was two years ago now, time to move on don't you think?"

She had sat there numbly, not knowing what to say. How could she move on after everything that had happened to her?

"You're only young still, just 31, your might want to find another man …"

She had laughed at that. "I doubt it mom."

Her mother had folded her arms, given her that stern look she knew all to well.

"Okay maybe you feel that way now but it won't last."

Juliet had just given her mother a patient look and felt like saying that after what Edmund had done to her there was no possible way she would ever be getting with another man. She could never trust another man!

"What about children?"

"You've heard of in vitro fertilization haven't you mom?"

Her mother hadn't looked impressed and Juliet had felt bad. Wasn't her mother's fault she married an ass for a husband.

"What did he do to you?" she had whispered and Juliet ignored the sharp sudden pain in her chest.

Something that can never be fixed, she had muttered inwardly. There were just some things she could never talk about, some things that should be left forgotten and buried.

The doorbell chiming broke her out of reverie. She ran a hand over her face. It was seven and it had to be Jim Ford. She gave herself the once over and pulled her shirt down over her hips, frowing at her plain black trousers.

Jim Ford, a research assistant, ha, she mused as she made her way down the corridor. Not likely. Least he was punctual. Pulling the door open she gazed at the man standing on her doorstep and it took a moment for her to figure out who he was.

"Juliet Burke," he drawled and she knew that accent in a heartbeat.

"Detective Jim Ford," she returned.

Wow, he looked different. His too longish hair parted to the side, tucked behind his ears, brushing the collar of his plain blue shirt, tucked into beige trousers and she had to stifle a grin. The glasses really topped it off, black rimmed old coke bottle style glasses, how could he see anything wearing them.

"Are they for real?" she asked.

He grimaced. "Yeah well I generally wear contact lenses."

She could see why.

"Blind as a bat without them," he continued.

"How did you get into the police force with such lousy eyesight?"

He grinned then, looking far too gorgeous. "I cheated."

She was stumped, didn't know what to say. Okay so he had a really cute smile, so what.

"You drink beer?" he asked holding up a six pack.

Did she ever! Maybe this night wouldn't be such an unpleasant experience after all.

"Yes."

His smiled widened. "Great."

"Come inside," she said taking the six pack of beer from him, "I'll put these in the fridge."

He followed her into the kitchen, taking in his surroundings and she could tell this was a guy who didn't miss a thing.

"Nice place," he remarked.

God he really did look different in those clothes, and those glasses really didn't do him any justice but he was still far too gorgeous. She doubted anything could dent that.

"I have to confess I was wrong," she spoke, her eyes coming to rest on his face, "you kind of got the research assistant nerdy look happening a lot more effectively than I thought you would Detective."

His eyes met hers.

"Why don't we do away with the formalities Juliet," he returned, "after all we are going to be working alongside each other for the next couple of weeks it wouldn't do for you to be calling me Detective now, would it?"

He had a point. She felt her face reddened a tad. Did he always have to look at her so directly? For a moment it felt like he could see straight through her.

"Okay so what should I call you then?" she asked, raising an eyebrow, "not Jim I hope."

"James," he added, "you can call me James."

Juliet ignored the buzzing in her ears. James. James. Where had she heard that name? Okay it was a common enough name, but did she know any James? God it was odd but up until now she hadn't even realised how much she liked that name.

"James," she said, the name slipping off her tongue so smoothly.

An expression she couldn't define crossed his face.

"Sounds right coming from you," he murmured as if it shouldn't, as if that thought bothered him.

She tore her gaze away from his.

"Let's get a beer, sit down and discuss business."

Juliet was straight down to business, straight down the line. He hadn't met a woman so efficient, so emotionally shut down. It shouldn't bother him. Hell he didn't even know her but it did. His gaze had scanned the living room for any photos but there was none. He knew she had family so why were there no photos around? It got him wondering if a person actually even lived here because the place hardly looked lived in. Miles had told him she was a workaholic. Strangely enough he understood that. He kind of lived for his work himself. Something he had in common with the ice maiden. His eyes came back to rest on her.

She was smart, too smart and at times he picked up a dry witty sense of humour about her that made her appear less drab, less austere and more alive. But those glimpses were rare and hell she could drink for a woman. He had to remind himself that she was in fact a woman, because her choice of clothes was really bad. She was wearing tracksuit pants and a long brown oversized top that did little for her pale reflection or figure. He couldn't tell what that was like. It didn't help that her hair was pulled back tightly into a bun, not even a stray hair out of place and it would probably be a pretty enough blonde colour if she'd let it loose.

Why did she dress so drab? Was it her aim to make herself appear as unattractive as possible?

By the end of the night he came to the conclusion that her ex must have done a real number on her to make her like that; emotion less, distant, drab, cold, and completely unfeminine. And it shouldn't bother him at all right, so why did it? But he'd also sensed something more, there was something more to her, a hint of humour, even sassy at times, a hint of what she might have been, once before.

He visited Paige after leaving Juliet's. She was all pouty at first, wanted to know why he was dressed so weirdly and those glasses, they had to go. He soon sweet talked her around and they made love and he ran his hands over her perfect figure, grabbed handfuls of her long soft silky hair, gazed into her perfectly made up face and somehow or another found himself not wanting to be there.

He put it down to tiredness. Told her he had to get up early tomorrow, which was the truth. He was meeting Juliet at the research lab at 7.00am. Well before Edmund arrived so she could get him a lab coat and a name badge made up and give him a rundown of all the lab equipment and what function it served.

He went home and slept and dreamt about a girl with deep sky blue eyes that sparkled with life and love, and he wanted to hold onto her and never let go.

A/N: Thanks for reading. Should I continue with this for a couple more chapters? Let me know. I've already written quite a lot on this story. Feedback is VERY welcome.