A different take on the episode Old Wounds, I like Aiden but I'm sorry I still miss Joe like crazy so for this he's coming back. You all should know by now that I pair the strangest of pairings and I'm certainly not forcing anyone to read them. All reviews welcome but anything rude or right out horrible will immediately be deleted. For those who like my Joe/Vera parings, I love you and thank you.

Livin' Ain't Killed Me Yet

Joe/Vera

DS Aiden Healy's eyes snapped open when his mobile began to vibrate loudly on his bedside table, making a move to grab it he knocked over a bottle of water that he had been drinking the previous night. He shook his head before silently cursing to himself when he saw the name flashing on the screen.

"Oh crap…boss I'm sorry, I'm on my way."

"It's half past nine, where the hell are ya'?"

"Yeah look I know, I had to drop my Sister off at college, she's staying with me and I…."

"Well when you have the time pet." She answered sarcastically. "No rush or anything, meet me at the fair ground…we're bringing in Mattan."

"Mattan…what..wait…you're there already aren't you…Ma'am…Ma'am, shit."

Aiden's stomach dropped as Vera hung up on him, he made a dash for the door…grabbing his jacket and keys before heading out. Aiden drove as fast as he could, calling Kenny on the way.

"What the hell do you mean she went on her own, where the hell are ya'." Kenny asked, eating his sandwich on the other end of the line.

"I slept in alright, she wouldn't actually go in there without back up would she?"

"You've got a lot to learn about the Boss sonny boy, I'll meet you there."

Kenny hung up and told the rest of the team what was happening and gave them all work to do before he made his way down to the car to meet Aiden at the fair ground.

Vera had managed to squeeze through the gates of the fair ground but only just, she walked slowly around…her eyes scanning everything around her. She made her way over to the dodgems were Terry Mattan was currently working, the fair ground was due to open in the next hour or so and knew he would likely be there. She's already called by his flat to find it empty and the fair ground was the only other place she could think off.

"Terry…Terry Mattan…it's DCI Stanhope pet, I just wanna talk to ya'. Come on love I know you're in here, I went by your flat…you weren't there. Come on pet I only wanna talk."

Vera was startled when she turned around and saw Mattan standing behind her, a knife in his hand. She could feel her heart pounding in her chest as she tried to regain her composure, fear suddenly coursing through her.

"Terry luv, I just wanna talk to you."

"I didn't do it, I didn't kill Carrie…she was my friend, I wouldn't do that to her."

"It's alright luv…it's…"

"No, you don't believe me…nobody believes me. Just because I've been in prison before I must have done this right, it's what you're all thinkin'."

"Luv please, why don't you just come with me and we…."

"NO."

Terry backed up as Vera moved slowly towards him, before she knew what was happening Terry's hand moved quickly, pushing Vera back against the wall. She froze as she watched Terry run past her and made his way out the back to the surrounding fields. She moved to follow him when she began to feel the strange sensation at her side. She moved to touch the light throbbing that was beginning and looked in shock as she brought her hand up and saw the red stains.

"Oh my god." She whispered to herself when she realised that Terry Mattan had stabbed her with the knife. She slowly felt herself sliding to the floor, her head coming to rest against the wall.

Aiden pulled up outside the fairground to see Kenny exiting his car, an annoyed look on his face. Aiden approached him, trying to lighten the mood with a smile but failed.

"You slept in; she'll have you for that." Kenny said, looking far too happy about it.

"What, it's never happened to you?"

"You're never late pal, not when you work for her."

"Talking of which, her Land Rover's over there."

"How the hell did she manage to get in, the gate's bolted."

"She must have squeezed through."

Kenny let out a loud laugh as Aiden looked at him, shaking his head.

"You two really get on then?" Aiden stated.

"We have our moments, come on."

Aiden stood and waited as Kenny struggled to fit through the gates as well, karma he thought to himself as he followed suit. They walked around the grounds checking each stall, Kenny looked to his right when he heard a noise coming from the dodgems, walking inside he couldn't see anything at first until he heard a groan as he made his way towards the small office and saw Vera sitting on the floor against the wall, her hand covering her side.

"Jesus Christ." Kenny said aloud as he rushed to her side. "What the bloody hell happened?"

"What the hell does it look like eh?"

Kenny quickly removed his jacket and applied pressure to the stab wound as Vera let out a whimper of pain. Aiden came running inside when he heard Kenny talking and saw him kneeling beside Vera and the blood that covered her hands.

"Oh crap."

Aiden rushed and kneeled beside them, fear on his face as he saw the worry on Vera's face, Kenny matching her.

"Call an ambulance Aiden, quickly." Kenny ordered.

Aiden looked in to Vera's eyes, the guilt invading him for running late and allowing this to happen to her.

"OI, Ambulance…NOW." Kenny said, taking control.

Aiden nodded before standing up and bringing out his mobile. Vera listened to the shakiness in Aiden's voice as he told them what had happened.

"Boss, where is he?" Kenny asked, trying to keep her conscious.

"He…he ran…off. I…he was scared. I didn't…I didn't."

Vera could feel her eyes getting heavy, Kenny's voice drifting off.

"Boss…VERA, come on stay with me." Kenny demanded.

"Ambulance is on the way, how's she doing?"

"Not good, she's really pale."

"Boss, you gotta stay with us." Aiden spoke up, trying to help.

"Joe…Joe." She whispered.

"It's Aiden Boss, remember."

"Joe get…get Joe."

Vera suddenly went very limp, panic setting in both her colleagues as the ambulance finally arrived.

…...

To Be Continued…