I was asked to write a new blue murder story. Hope this is ok

Disclaimer I don't own Blue Murder. All copyright belongs to Cath Stainton and itv . No copyright infringement is intended nor should be inferred

1 Shock

Janine stared at the desk in front of her. She knew the kids were ok, that everyone at home were safe. The rational part of her mind told her that all members of her team were ok. She screwed her eyes shut, resting her face in her hands she felt her heart racing and the panic rising. She breathed slowly, deliberately trying to calm her breathing.

"Charlotte, Thomas, Eleanor, Michael, Alice." She paused, knowing reciting the names of her children and granddaughter sometimes helped. "Shapps, Butchers, Kat, Hogg, Richard." She whispered, not hearing the door to her office quietly open and close. Before she could register his presence she felt a warm hand gently prise away her fingers from her face.

"It's ok." The soft Manchurian accent calmed her. "It's over. It's ok." He held her hand as she looked at him.

"Only it's not. Is it? Richard?" She paused. "I don't think it is ever going to be ok again."

He smiled slightly, crouched in front of her he reached over to brush away a tear. "If you think that then they win." His own voice wavered with emotion as Janine held his gaze. "This time we stopped the bad guys. This time we won." He smiled slightly but Janine noticed it didn't reach his eyes.

"Yeah." She tried to snap herself back into work mode. Janine Lewis was nothing if not professional. There was no way she was going to let the rest of the team see her behaving otherwise.

"It's ok."

"No it's not but those monsters are behind bars. That kid was the same age as Charlotte. Just a baby."

Richard nodded. He remembered every detail of the case; from the time the first call was made until the sentencing in court. He was a step father now; he knew there would always be a part of him that would identify with the dead children's step dad. He knew the whole team were struggling to deal with the aftermath of the case.

"Where is everyone?" Janine wiped her eyes, still a little shaky as she tried to save what was left of her mascara.

"Butchers and Shapps have gone to the pub. Hogg is talking to the media and I think Kat has gone to see her mum." He sighed. "I called Michael. He's going straight home after work. Ellie and the kids are fine. I promise." He watched as her eyes filled with tears once again before he pulled her into his arms. She hugged him tightly as she finally let the emotion she had kept in go. The damn burst as she felt him rock her in his arms.

"They can't hurt anyone any more." Richard kissed her temple. "It's done. It's gone." She closed her eyes once more, letting him hold her. She just prayed he was right.

Xxxxxxx

A/N please review