Title: Closer, the hearts desire
Author: Loz
E-Mail: loz06(at)yahoo(dot)com
Rating: K+
Category: Neil.Andrea...Who else? Oh and the supporting cast, can't forget them.
Series: Story number twenty nine. What follows are titles and story ID numbers:
(1) After he's at her door – 2486705 (11) When they're back together – 2619492
(2) When the mighty fall – 2506192 (12) Life almost in balance – 2630121
(3) While his wife's away – 2525486(13) Life under pressure – 2666280
(4) While they're away – 2543010 (14) Trying to have a life together – 2699235
(5) When love's not working – 2543013 (15) Outside influences on their lives – 2704730
(6) Boundaries when broken up – 2562611 (16) When things start falling apart – 2727112
(7) What happens on the train – 2579012 (17) When they're approaching the end again - 2750079
(8) When they work together – 2595808 (18) Trying not to drift apart – 2891564
(9) When she wants him back – 2598312 (19) When the truth comes out - 2912317
(10) When they're stuck together – 2611364 (20) How things are going to be – 2954769
(21) When they work together…again – 2959211 (22) When Andrea moves on – 3181250
(23) Heart decided – 3188794 (24) When work takes over – 3198959
(25) When the truth is told – 3199261 (26) When she works out what he needs –
(27) When he lets everything out - (28) Emotions and feelings so familiar-
(29) Closer, the hearts desire -
Spoilers: So minor it shouldn't ruffle any feathers.
Archive (if applicable): www(dot)fanfiction(dot)net(slash)loz06
Feedback: The good, the bad and the very ugly it's all appreciated.
Summary: Work brings Neil and Andrea together again but this time they're a lot closer and someone notices.
Disclaimers: I'll write to my heart's desire but will get no closer to ownership of the characters you read here.
Sunday morning Andrea picks up the local papers, flicking through them and 'trying before she doesn't buy'. No one has picked up the story of Neil's accident...yet, despite her press release...then she opens the Daily News. Buried pages back a tiny column space is dedicated to the accident and while Neil is named by title it's really quite dry and contains nothing more than what was in the press release.
Andres shakes her head, there are plenty of better stories the other papers have run with and Bruce would have as well if he didn't see the opportunity to have a dig at Andrea.
"I can do you a great deal on a subscription Miss Dunbar," The shop owner teases, "Delivered right to your door, or you could go to the library, they're free to read there."
"Then you would lose your favourite customer...I have no use for the newspaper, half of the stories were written from my press releases," Andrea teases back. She picks up the Daily News. "I lied, I do have a use for them...to put on the laundry floor for Cally," Andrea says with a cheeky grin.
"All it's worth some days," Mr. Amor agrees with her.
Today is the first time Bruce has crossed her path of sorts since she left his employ, he's not the type to check what story the MET wants run or how they want it run. She's also painfully aware she was guilty once of the same thing. When he does call he always speaks with Clive Brennan who's so useless he's handy for Bruce to be able to blame when he runs the story the way he wants, not the MET's way.
Andrea's seen other Daily News reporters at scenes she's attended, it's only a matter of time before their paths cross again and she's not looking forward to that day.
Back at home Andrea cuts out the article about Neil, putting the date on top of it in her best handwriting. True to her word the rest of the paper goes on the laundry floor to catch any of Cally's accidents.
Andrea drops her bag on her desk Monday morning and picks up the post-it note stuck to her desk.
Need to know weekend run down before morning staff meeting
Andrea presses the message button on the phone, there's one from Peter Fallks from the Canley Star, Andrea listens to his rambling sentences still not able to understand what he wants by the end of the message, it's obviously not urgent so she makes him wait.
"That guy the Star has at the weekend, Peter Falks he can't understand the simplest police things let alone the complex ones, I don't know why they have him on crime," Andrea says wandering into Louise's office and sitting down.
"I know, did you catch his disease, you didn't leave me a report for this morning." Louise seems more stressed than usual.
"Sorry, I don't know what happened to me, it was quiet," Andrea feels bad for dropping the ball, her thoughts had been with Neil all weekend.
"Give me the run down now so I can tell everyone especially if they're going to be our focus for the next few days."
"I got the usual reports from stations about robberies, break-ins and assaults, all of which were too minor to report on according to the press. As far as they're concerned it was a crime free weekend, there was one vehicle incident..." Andrea knows she shouldn't have mentioned it; Louise isn't in the right mood this morning.
"And," She prompts not looking up from the work in front of her.
"Nothing, I wasn't called out, no major injuries, disputes," Andrea explains.
"Well there's something because you brought it up," Louise begins to sound annoyed.
"Neil was driving the car that was hit," Andrea says quietly.
"Is he alright?" Instantly Louise changes, work forgotten, concern on her look to Andrea.
"Yeah, a stiff neck, seat belt burn, small cut on the head, I think he went to St. Hughes under protest."
"No one picked it up?" Louise seems surprised by that fact.
"The Daily News, the article was written from my release," Andrea explains.
"Who called you, the scene officers?" Louise probes.
"No, there was no media on site," Louise's eye catches the clock, it's nearly seven thirty. She knows who called Andrea but doesn't have time now.
"Listen, let's talk about it later I promise," She smile knowing there's more to ask and say...not realising there's actually much more. "Can you run half this meeting for me, start it?"
"Sure," Andrea doesn't hide her surprise or trepidation.
"You know what I do, start with the weekend rundown, what went on, what you got calls about, what you went to, what there'll be follow up on. I'll jump in there and continue."
"I'll be quick," Andrea informs her.
"I know but I need a few extra minutes, I'm snowed under today, I just need to prioritise a few things, it's a five minute job," Louise smiles gratefully.
"I heard Sun Hill is focusing on domestic violence and they want a media campaign," Andrea eases her way in.
"You want it?" Louise asks looking up. "Please tell me you do because I need to put someone on it who I know will just do it without having a million questions and having them lean on me."
"If you had someone else in mind," Andrea doesn't want to apply anymore pressure this morning.
"God no, I wanted you anyway," Louise shuffles through the paper in front of her.
"Thanks, I'll get this meeting started," Andrea says and slips out.
"You o.k. Guv?" Phil asks having stopped in the downstairs corridor when he lays eyes on Neil's face.
"I was involved in a minor traffic incident on Saturday," Neil explains, not really wanting to go into any further detail. He has work to do and so does everyone else.
"I suppose the press would have been all over that," Phil latches on and follows Neil past the sergeants office, inside Smithy is hunched over some work, Neil gives him a casual glance.
"Nope," The single word answer indicative of the fact Neil wants to get off topic.
"Suppose you had to call Andrea just in case and her being on call and all," Phil takes the stairs two at a time alongside Neil.
"Look Phil she put out a press release, o.k. happy now?" Neil stops on the flat where the stairs change direction and looks at Phil. His look conveys in the strongest terms he doesn't want to talk about it anymore.
"And," Phil ignores the visual he's on the receiving end of.
"She came to the hospital, met Colin, took us home and we talked," Neil lists and immediately continues up the stairs.
"That's quite a Saturday," Phil comments catching Neil up at the doors of CID.
Neil turns to look at Phil and hesitates. "I kissed her," He says quietly in the open office.
"Well that's great," Phil says once again following Neil, this time to his office, when Suzie Sim looks up from her work as they pass, Phil pauses his words. "You two are getting things together again," Now behind the cover of Neil's office, the door closed.
"I shouldn't have Phil," Neil says looking down at the work on his desk.
"Why not?" Phil questions clearly not able to see a possible reason.
"Because I still feel what she did to me, I remember the pain and I wonder what if it will happen again. I still don't have that trust back."
"Must have been some reason you kissed her," Phil suggests.
"Yeah, she's an amazing person, she's changed my life and changed me for the better, I can talk to her about anything, I love her," Neil says ironically at the situation.
"There must be some trust then," Phil points out.
"On some level but I shouldn't be giving with one hand and taking away with the other, I'll kiss you because I love you but we can't have a relationship because I don't trust you completely, that'd be like going back to square one, the affair."
"Yeah fair enough," Phil says with a shrug in his voice, after a few seconds of silence and Neil focused on work, Phil walks out.
"DS DeCosta, DC Sim, how did it go Friday night?" Neil asks exiting his office, having seen Ramani and Suzie through his window.
"Excellent Guv, we've got some great ideas to work with," Suzie takes the lead, always willing to demonstrate what a good job she does.
"When's the meeting?" Neil asks by way of showing continued interest though his phone has just begun ringing.
"Ten in the Super's office," Ramani answers him.
"Excuse me," Neil says dashing to the phone.
"Hello," He picks up the phone from the front of the desk.
"Well you must be alright then," The feminine voice of his soon to be ex-wife comes down the phone line. Neil holds the phone, cord outstretched and says nothing.
"Neil, you still there?"
"Yes, yes I am." He comes back to reality, holding up the phone cord as he steps around his desk and sits into his chair. "I'm fine, just a stiff neck, some seatbelt burn and a small gash to the forehead."
There's silence from Philippa.
"Did Colin call you?" Neil rubs his face in his spare hand.
"He rang yesterday," Philippa says and Neil immediately latches onto the delay.
"You waited to call until now," Neil questions.
"Well I knew if I got you alone at work and we could talk privately in case there was anything you weren't telling Colin for some reason, I knew you were home from hospital so you obviously weren't hurt too badly and you're at work now," Philippa explains her reasons and Neil softens a little.
"I thought it was my life now, no concern of yours," Neil gently repeats Philippa's words from a past phone conversation.
"I still care about what happens to you Neil, you're my son's father," Philippa reminds him
"I'm sorry, thanks for calling," Neil apologises, he hasn't been rude or accusational still unaccustomed to being so far apart and divorcing but still connected and caring.
"That's o.k." Philippa says and the silence that follows is indicative of the fact they have nothing to talk to each about other than Colin. "Well I'll let you get back to work then; I just wanted to check you were alright in case you were holding back something to protect Colin."
"No nothing," Neil says normally, picking up a pen and twirling it absently between his fingers.
"O.k. then," Philippa accepts and Neil can feel she's about to hang up.
"Listen Philippa," Neil says hurriedly.
"Yeah."
"Everything's o.k. with you," Neil squeezes his eyes closed, it's not what he wants to ask.
"Sure," She replies and Neil searches for anything in her voice that's unusual.
"I mean work and life and everything," Neil extends.
"Of course," She says giving Neil nothing.
"Good, o.k.," Neil sighs.
"Bye."
"Bye." Neil holds the handset in front of him shaking his head for not asking Philippa what he wants to outright.
"O.k." Louise sighs pulling a chair up to Andrea's desk. She puts a slim folder in front of Andrea.
"This comes at a really bad time because we've got our emergency training/practice/drill day whatever on Friday that I'm still organising," Louise stops, something has occurred to her. "Neil asked you to get involved in this didn't he?"
"Sort of," Andrea admits sheepishly. "He mentioned it and before he could say anything more I said I'd try and get involved, he said good to that."
Louise smile almost to herself.
"What?" Andrea asks a little embarrassed.
"Nothing," Louise says opening the folder and stopping. "O.k. I was going to say, no I'm not wearing an ugly bridesmaids dress."
"Can we just do this?" Andrea encourages with a smile.
"Yes let's. Basically domestic violence is on the rise in the borough, city wide actually and Sun Hill wants to crack down on it. They're tired of the attitude that someone won't be arrested because the abused won't make a statement, the attitude that what goes on behind closed doors in a private home is private business, and the misconception that someone doesn't fit the image of an abuser, all that smug and arrogant stuff. Also there's a code of silence in the community, people turn their backs and ignore domestic violence when they know it's going on."
"The design of the campaign will spring from there," Andrea suggests.
"Yes, now Friday there was a meeting of senior officers which raised the issue and they decided what they were going to do...this. Ramani DeCosta is the driving force behind this, do you know her?"
"Well," Andrea nods.
"She's good, she'll tell you what she wants, likes and doesn't like," Andrea nods.
"They're meeting today to get their ideas down formally for you and then they're going to fax them over but..." Louise turns over a page of paper in the folder. "18 months ago the MET ran a domestic violence campaign, I suspect you'll be able to use this one or rejig it a little which should save you some time and work."
Andrea looks through the mock up of the campaign posters and scripts of radio ads.
"I've organised a meeting for tomorrow at nine," Andrea looks in almost horror at the short amount of time she has to prepare. "I know it's fast but I want the consultative phase of this process done so we can concentrate on this emergency day. You're about the only one I know can handle this and all they want tomorrow is a rough idea of where you're thinking of going, read over the notes from my conversation with Adam Okaro, familiarise yourself with the campaign and take it with you, show it to them. I get the feeling they'll go for it."
"Doesn't sound like there'll be any problems," Andrea says confidently.
"Good," Louise looks like a weight has lifted from her. "I can't stop for lunch today but do you want to have a drink tonight?"
Andrea holds up the folder indicating what she'll be doing tonight. "Oh come on what are you doing now?"
"Stafford Row's community day, I'm writing the article for the magazine and sorting the pictures," Andrea explains.
"Mmm, Neil's old stomping ground," Louise says cheekily.
"I had a job to do," Andrea takes the high ground. "I wasn't there to snoop."
"Look leave it, it's not due for a week," Louise switches back to serious. "We'll talk tonight."
"Sure," Andrea smiles and Louise goes back to work.