Disclaimer - as ever all characters belong to ITV and Cath Staincliffe. I own nothing. No copyright infringement is intended nor should be inferred.
Set during 'Steady Eddie.'
1
"Bloody Nora." Richard washed his face, cursing himself as he did so. It had been a strange and disconcerting few days. The death of a police officer on duty was always abhorrent. The thought of some nutter taking pot shots at an officer turned his stomach. A man had died. He and Janine had been there and part of him couldn't stop thinking that it could have been either of them killed. It was looking more and more like Eddie had been targeted deliberately but he and Janine had been there. It could have been either one of them. He could have died - he could have been killed and he had never told her. She would never have known. He contemplated calling her; telling her but that could wake the kids. He closed his eyes. She would also think he was drunk. Part of him wished he was.
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Janine closed the bedroom door glad that the youngest of her children were sleeping. Charlotte was a notoriously light sleeper and she knew her older three had seen the news. Ellie had questioned her the moment she had got home. Sighing heavily she headed back down stairs in need of a very strong coffee.
'Could have been me. Could have been Richard.' She thought as she filled the kettle.
"Oh God." She closed her eyes, suddenly realising four children could have lost their mum. Richard's parents could have lost their only son. She felt sick. He didn't know. She had never told him. He could have been killed and he hadn't known. Walking through to the living room she saw him lurking the other side of the front door - his figure distorted through the glass. She marched towards him; her heart hammering in her chest. He was there. They were both alive. They were together. As she opened the door it was all that mattered.
Xxxx