A/N: I was inspired by an article I saw recently to write a lockdown Taggart fic. I may continue this with more Jardine family shenanigans, but I have marked it as complete for now. Hope you enjoy :)

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Organised Chaos

"Alone at last," Michael commented as Jackie came to sit next him on the couch.

"It won't last long," she predicted, cuddling into his side as he slipped his arm around her shoulders.

Michael smirked as he kissed the top of her head, "I'll take what I can get."

They sat in companionable silence for a long moment, each relishing the peace that had descended now that all of the children were in bed. Days in the Jardine household were chaotic at the best of times, but in the current lockdown things had only intensified.

Michael had taken a few days of leave to help the family adjust to the 'new normal' and he wasn't entirely sure that he'd succeeded. Then again, they were all still adjusting to having a new baby in the house so it was probably only natural that adjusting to another serious change in their routine would take some time.

"I've been thinking," Michael began, breaking the silence, "about when I go back to work."

"Oh?"

"Although I'll still be working cases, I have been informed that we will be deployed to help make sure people are adhering to the lockdown restrictions," he told her, "which means that I will be mingling with the public more." He paused, "I'm…concerned about how that might impact our family."

Jackie shifted in his embrace so that she could see his face properly, "How so?"

"Andrew is still only a few weeks old, I'd hate to infect him," Michael confessed, "or you. Or any of the children. So, I was thinking of maybe taking up the offer of alternative housing."

Jackie sat up properly, "Michael Jardine, if you think for one minute you're going to leave me alone with five children you are sorely mistaken," she informed him, with a hint of playfulness in her otherwise serious tone.

"Jackie…" he began, but she cut him off.

"I know you're concerned," she said softly, "I'd be lying if I said that I wasn't worried about what could happen if you were to become infected. But…I can't do this without you," she confessed, "I need you here, with me."

Michael searched her face, "You're sure?"

She nodded, "Yes."

Michael smiled, "Then I'll stay with my family."

"Good," Jackie replied, settling back against him, "we'd miss you."

Michael pulled her closer, "I'd miss you too."

"Besides," Jackie continued after a long moment, "you're a much better referee for sock wrestling or pillow knockout than I am."

Michael gave an exaggerated groan at the mention of the new games that Jimmy and Katie had invented to pass the time.

"This is going to be a long couple of months," he commented, dryly.

Jackie grinned, "Just remember you love us."

Michael chuckled as he kissed her forehead, "Always."

...

A/N: Sock wrestling is actually a thing (you try to pull the other person's socks off), not entirely sure about the rules of 'Pillow Knockout' but I imagine it involves knocking the other person off a bed with a pillow ;)