Inspections
Disclaimer - I don't own the rights; I just like to play with the characters.
What does the Ashfordly Police station, the Aidensfield Arms and Vernon Scripps have in common?
This a sequel to "Taking Stock" but it can be read on it's own without too much trouble.
Chapter 1
It had been a long two weeks since the funeral service of PC Steve Crane. Two weeks of grieving by the community. Although Steve had not been stationed at Aidensfield for long, he had managed to make his presence felt. From the shopkeepers and farmers, to the local youth community where he had spent most of his off duty hours, taking the youths of the area on field trips, hiking trips and encouraging them to stay on at school and out of trouble. Then on top of that, the good people had to contend with the new copper, PC Rob Walker, who was a son of a known thief from the area. Change did not come easy to some and old grudges were held long after the original dispute had been forgotten.
"Here, let me do that for you," Jenny said as she saw Dennis having trouble with his tie, "You seem to be all fingers this morning." She added with a smile.
"Aye, that I am," he replied as he stood still while she fixed it, "It's probably the inspection we're having today."
She finished straightening his tie, "There, done," she said as placed her hands flat on his chest, "Surely you've got everything spick and span at the station, that there's nothing to worry about. Besides you wouldn't let it get as bad as it was when we returned from Spain. I think your little scolding worked wonders in keeping the station clean and tidy."
He cocked his head, "How did you know about that?" he asked curiously as he placed his hands on her waist.
"Oh a little bird told me," she replied with a small smile before she became serious, "Besides, it's not the first inspection you've had, so why are you anxious about this one?"
He shrugged, "I don't know," he replied, "It's just a feeling I have. I guess it's the old saying of, what can go wrong, will go wrong."
"You're just being paranoid," she chuckled as she moved her arms up around his neck, "Everything will go just fine."
"I hope so," He replied as he claimed her lips in a sweet, tender kiss before he pulled back, "As much as I like to stay here kissing you, I need to go."
She smiled as she stepped back from their embrace, "You're sure I can't tempt you to stay."
He chuckled as he pulled on his uniform jacket and buttoned it up, "You do tempt me, as well you know but it wouldn't do for me to be late today," he replied, "Otherwise my name will be mud." he added as he picked up his cap.
She grinned, "Sergeant Mud does has a nice ring to it, eh."
"Not funny," he replied as he crossed over to her and gave her another quick kiss, "Bye, Jen."
"Good luck." she called out as he left their house.
Gina pulled on her cardigan, straightened her skirt in the mirror before she picked up the small boutique of flowers from her dressing room table. She took a moment to inhale the fragrance of the blooms before she sighed and made her way out of her room and down the stairs to the taproom, "I won't be long, Oscar." she called out as walked to the kitchen and left the pub from the side door.
"Take your time." Oscar replied somewhat gruffly. It had been several months since the death of Daniel and each week Gina went to the cemetery and placed fresh flowers on her son's grave. He knew the death of her son had affected her more deeply than she was willing to admit, even to him. She had kept her grief private, unlike Bellamy whose grief had been all too public and affected his police duties, almost to the point of being suspended. The death of their son should have brought them closer together but it, in fact, had drove them apart.
A sharp knock on the front door, interrupted his thoughts, "We're closed." He called out.
The knock came again and he sighed as he made his way to the door and opened it, "We're closed." he said once more, trying to keep the annoyance out of his voice but failing miserably. Everyone knew they didn't open the pub until mid morning.
"Well then, this makes the inspection all the more better, without the distractions of patrons and guests." said a well dressed, middle aged woman who was standing in the doorway.
Oscar raised an eyebrow in surprise, "Mrs Archer, we weren't expecting you until Thursday."
Mrs Archer smiled innocently, "I like to keep businesses on their toes, especially where food and beverages are served." she replied, "Now, shall we get on with the inspection Mr Blaketon, unless you have something to hide."
He scowled, "We have nothing to hide," he replied as he stepped backwards to allow the local Health Inspector inside, "Everything is in good order."
"I'll be the judge of that, Mr Blaketon, if you don't mind." she said as she strode through the door.
An old dusty, red truck rolled to a stop outside the dentist office in Whitby, "Come on Vernon," Bernie complained to his half brother, "We're here now. It's best to see about your tooth."
"NO, no. It's fine now," Vernon replied even as he tried his best to ignore the pain to the left side of his face, "David, drive on, there's a good lad."
David shook his head, "I can't, Mr Vernon, you need to see the dentist." he said as he glanced between the older men before he turned his gaze to the people walking by.
"No, I don't," Vernon said, "It's nothing really, just a slight twinge."
Bernie sighed, "It's more than a twinge," he replied, "You've been like a bear with a sore paw all week and it's driving me mad. Now get inside. The dentist is waiting for you."
"But...but I don't have any money and you know what these dentists are like. They rob you blind over nothing."
David half smiled as he turned his attention back to the conversation, "Well, we could use me Auntie's remedy for a sore tooth."
Vernon sat up straight, he would do anything rather than go to the dentist, "Oh yeah, what's that."
"Well, if we had a tooth ache, me auntie would tie a piece of string to a door handle and -"
"Ahh, no thank you, David," Vernon interrupted as he slumped back in the seat, "That's something I don't want to do."
"Well, it worked for us." David said somewhat disappointed.
Bernie shook his head, "That explains why your family doesn't have many teeth left, David. It's a wonder how you can eat at all," he commented before he turned to his brother, "Go on Vernon, the faster you get it done, the sooner we all can get back to Aidensfield."
"But -"
"NO buts. Now go or do I have to take you inside myself." he said with annoyance. He often felt that dealing with his brother, was like dealing with a child.
"Oh all right, I'm going but don't expect me to thank you for this." Vernon complained as he opened the truck door.
"Your silence will be all the thanks we need." Bernie muttered to himself.
Jenny smiled as she parked her scooter outside the surgery and noticed that Liz's car was in the driveway; it meant she was back from her week long conference in Leeds. She got off her scooter and removed her helmet before she made her way to the front door and entered the surgery, "Liz." She called out, "You're back. How was the conference?"
Liz rolled her eyes as she came to the entrance of her office, "Just what you would expect when you get a large group of doctors together."
Jenny chuckled, "Drinking, drinking and let me guess, more drinking," she replied as she placed her things on the bench, "Does that sum it up?"
"Perfectly," Liz said with a grin, "But I did attend many of the lectures over the five days, although it was a mixed bag of upcoming treatments and medicines that are about to be approved by the National Health Board for human consumption, and some rather dubious treatment for mental illness."
Jenny nodded thoughtfully, "Sometimes I wonder if we will ever get out of the dark ages, regarding mental illness. That the medical profession need to do more than it is already doing," she replied, "And I've been doing some reading up on some of the new drugs coming through but I don't think we'll see a need for them here, not with our small population."
"I agree that more needs to be done for all aspects of health," Liz replied before she paused for a moment, "So, how's it been here, while I've been away? Was I right not to get a locum in."
"Aye, it was the right thing to do," Jenny replied, "Since you had already informed our patients that you would be away, they said they would wait until you returned. Any urgent ones, went to The Royal."
"That's good, but I expect that today will be busy."
Jenny smiled, "You can count on it."
Liz chuckled, "So before the hoards of patients come in, how did your break with Dennis go?" she asked, "We never really had time to chat before I left, not with Steve Crane's funeral and everything else that's happened."
Jenny nodded, "I realised now that I went about it in the wrong way. I should't have left like that. I left you in the lurch, without any notice and how I left Dennis -"
"Don't be too hard on yourself, Jen," Liz interrupted as she reached over and gently touched the younger woman's arm in comfort, "You felt you had no choice. So, have you worked it out between you the two of you?"
Jenny leant against the door frame, "Aye, we have," she replied with a smile, "It was what we needed, to get away from everything. We talked a great deal, about a lot of things. Do you know, I don't think we've ever really talked so much, I mean there was always something that interrupted us or it would end in a row."
Liz nodded, "I know how you feel, a doctor's life is just as bad."
"True," Jenny replied, "We both talked and more importantly, we both listened. I truly believe we've come to understand each other better now. More than we ever did before."
"I'm glad for you, for both of you," Liz replied with a smile.
Jenny nodded, "So am I," she paused for a moment, "Liz, I need your advice as a doctor, and I assume everything we've talked about is between us."
Liz noticed the worry on the younger woman's face, "Of course Jenny, you know me better than to give away confidences," she replied, "Would you like to tell me about it?" she added as she moved behind her desk.
Jenny moved over and sat down on the chair, "One of the things Dennis and I talked about was having children."
"I see," Liz said non-committal, "I guess from your expression, he doesn't want them."
Jenny sighed, "It's a bit more complicated than that." She replied as she quickly filled h er in on her husband's fears.
"That's awful, Jenny, just awful," Liz replied, "But I am not sure how I can help you, medically speaking that is."
Jenny let out a long breath, "What I want to know is there any medical reason for Dennis not to have children. What I mean, can this kind of abuse be passed down through from parent to child."
Liz leant forward, "Do you mean, is the abuse genetic? Like some kinds of diabetes or cancer that is passed from one generation to the next," she paused as Jenny nodded, "I don't believe so. It's more of a behavioural problem than biological one. I think it's a matter of acknowledging the abuse, which he has done. If anything, he might overcompensate in other ways, by giving too much love to any children to make up for his own terrible childhood."
Jenny frowned, "But you don't think it should stop him, stop us from having children?"
Liz sighed, "Not from a medical point of view but it would be something you need to work out together," she replied as she studied her friend, "You could always stop taking the contraceptive pill."
Jenny jerked back in anger and hurt, "I could never do that to him. I want him to have children because he wants them not because it's forced upon him when he's not ready. It could do more harm than good."
"It's all right, I was just playing devils advocate," she soothed her friend, "And I agree with you, it would be best if he comes to it himself."
Jenny sighed and shook her head, "I'm sorry, it's just..."
"It's just that you want children, don't you?" Liz asked kindly.
"Oh yes, I do. I wasn't sure before but now I do. And I do believe that Dennis wants them too. It's just this fear of his, is stopping him."
Liz nodded, "Well, fear is a powerful emotion," she paused for a moment, "Is he good around children?"
Jenny shrugged, "I think so, he was good to my niece at our wedding," she replied, "What are you saying? That we should be around children more?
"I'm not suggesting anything. But it might help you both to decide if you want children or not."
Jenny sighed "I don't know, that's almost as bad as going off the pill on purpose. It would be like trapping him into making a decision."
Liz sighed as she leant back in her chair, "It was just a thought."
"I know -"
They held the door of the surgery opening, "Ah, our first patient seems to have arrived."
PC Rob Walker was becoming more annoyed with each second that passed, as he helped Watkins round up his sheep, which had strayed onto the road through a broken fence. Merton had given implicit orders the day before, that all officers were to attend Ashfordly station well before the morning shift stated at 9 am, for their inspection, or be permanently assigned to nights. He had left the station house almost an hour earlier than normal but now, because of the damn sheep, it seemed that he was going to spend the rest of his posting at Aidensfield doing night shifts. It was not something he wanted or envisioned when he was transferred a week ago.
Eventually between the two men and Watkins' sheep dog, they managed to drive all the sheep back into field.
"Thank ya, constable." Watkins said gruffly.
Rob nodded and gave a small smile, "Any time sir," he replied, "It might be best to fix that fence. We wouldn't want any further accidents to happen."
Watkins scowled at being told the obvious, "Don't worry constable, I'll get fixed." he replied as he walked away, whistling to his dog.
Rob shook his head as he glanced at his watch and he knew he was going to be late. He made his way to his bike and picked up the handset of the radio, "Delta Alpha 2 4 to control."
Seconds later, "Control receiving, over." Alf's voice crackled over the radio.
"Tell Sergeant Merton I'll be a little late. Some sheep had strayed on the Aidensfield road and I had to stop and help Mr Watkins to get them back, over."
"Ah, right, Rob. I'll tell Merton. Get in as fast as you can, over."
"I'm on my way. Delta Alpha 2 4, out." he replied as he replaced the handset before he rode off.
Dennis frowned slightly as he emerged from his office, "Was that Walker?"
Alf nodded, "Aye, Sarge," he replied, "He said he'll be a little late. It seems that some sheep had strayed out onto the road and he stopped to help."
"Oh great. Why today of all days did that have to happen," he complained, "The inspector is due in twenty minutes."
"It can't be helped, Sarge," Alf tried to sooth the anxious officer, "Rob said he is on his way in now."
Dennis sighed, "Well, he better not run into any more escaped animals." he muttered before he strode into the duty room.
"What's wrong, Sarge?" Phil asked as he watched the older man gazed intently around the room, looking for anything amiss, "You seem overly concerned about the inspection today. It's not the first one we've had."
"Aye that's true but I feel something in my bones," Dennis replied as his eagle eyes spotted something wrong, "Bellamy, fix your whistle chain." he ordered even as he continued with his intense study of the room.
Phil glanced down and the chain was indeed hanging down, "Sorry, Sarge, I don't know how that happened," he replied as he quickly readjusted his uniform jacket, "I think we're ready as we ever be for this inspection."
Dennis frowned as he stopped his search, having found nothing else out of place, "We better be." he replied as he made his way back to his office. He just couldn't shake the feeling that something bad was going to happen, either with the inspection itself or during it.
