Disclaimer i don't own Law and Order UK. All copyright belongs to Kudos and itv. No copyright infringement is intended nor should be inferred

Understanding

Matt drove towards the house desperately wishing the minutes away. He knew Alesha and Cameron were home. He knew he was being irrational but he was desperate to see them. Pushing his foot on the accelerator he knew once he was home he would be fine. The rational part of his brain taunted him - there was no reason to believe anything was wrong at home. Even Lucky the cat had survived his run in with a car. The new baby was almost due and Alesha had reluctantly agreed to take proper maternity leave. He sighed as he parked the car outside the small house he shared with his family.

"Get a grip Devlin." He opened the car door as the rain began to fall.

Xxxxxx

"That poor poor woman." Natalie sat on the sofa with her tea in one hand. Ronnie nodded.

"Yeah."

"That little boy. Same age as our Matty's oldest."

"Yeah." Ron sighed heavily before taking her free hand. "Bad business. Young Mum and her little boy murdered like that. Bloody domestics. I hate them." He felt her tighten her grip slightly for a moment. "There are times me and my ex wanted to kill each other. More than I dare to think but we never ever got like that. I suppose we always thought of our girls."

"Arguments are normal." Natalie sipped her tea. "That today, that murder was not normal."

"At least Sam and Joe arrested the scumbag. Tell you something, Luv. I'm glad they picked up that excuse for a human being before me and Matt." He shook his head slightly. Natalie frowned.

"You and him are professional and I know would have acted as such. We've had bad cases before. Let James and the others deal with him now." Ronnie turned to her.

"Yeah and at least Joe and Sam have to handle the paperwork now." Natalie rolled her eyes as she let him rest his arm around her shoulders.

Xxxxxxx

"Daddy!" Cameron launched himself at his father as Matt walked in. He immediately picked the four year old up in his arms.

"Hiya Trouble."

"I ad spaghetti hoops!"

"Did you?" Matt smiled as Cameron's explanation of the day continued. Alesha stood in the doorway of the living room already tired as she watched the two most important men in her life chat.

An hour later Cameron was curled up in his bed, snoring quietly as Matt slipped out of the bedroom.

"Hey." Alesha stepped towards him. "What is it?"

He ran his eyes over her, remembering the crime scene from that morning.

"Matt?"

"I'm ok."

"I heard about the case on the lunchtime news. Murder-suicide gone wrong?"

She reached up, caressing his face as his eyes closed. "Lesha."

"Bad one."

"Yeah. Mum was pregnant. About as far on as you." He touched the baby bump. "Kid was a year older than our Cam. What could a five year old boy do to anyone? Why?" His eyes filled with tears as she hugged him tightly.

"I don't know." She clung to him as he buried his face in her shoulder. She knew he'd make comparisons between the dead family and them. She knew the nightmares would come but she'd be there to help him- to pick up the pieces and see justice done.

Xxxxxxx