Title: Second Chance
Author: Ros Jordan
Rating: K
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters ValMcdermid does….I don't own anything!
A/N: this is my first EVER fanfiction. All feedback is welcome (I won't take criticism personally). Hasn't been beta'd so all mistakes are mine…sorry in advance.

Summary: Now she has a second chance, Carol has to make some choices about her relationship with Tony.

Set at the end or Series 3 straight after Synchronicity.

(However, in my world Carol would never leave at the end of the series).

Walking briskly together down the road as they exited the doctors, Carol glanced sideways at Tony feeling relief wash over her that he was going to be alright. The tumor was gone. Everything would go back to normal. Striding round to the drivers door Carol was about to get in and take Tony home when she heard his voice.

'I'm tired of putting things off. Come hand gliding with me.' Tony suddenly exclaimed over the bonnet of the car, surprising himself as well as Carol with his words.

'No. I've got work to do.' Carol replied quickly without thinking. In truth she was terrified by the idea of hand gliding regardless of whether she was with Tony Hill or not.

'You're making excuses.' He stated knowing how much Carol hated him analysing her but being unable to stop himself - after all, it is what he is paid to do.

'Yes'

Slowly Tony inched around the car until he was closer to her and tentatively reached out his hand to offer it to her 'Life's dangerous…come with me.'

Carol looked down at the pavement lost in her thoughts. Her mind wandered back to earlier in the day when Tony had told her about when he thought they were lovers, her mind replayed the conversation in the head. Do you ever wish we were still lovers? Do you remember that weekend in Paris?

He studied what he could see of her face while she starred at the ground, and wondered what she was thinking. Noticing she was no longer paying attention to him, he withdrew his hand and let it fall limp at his side. As he watched her features he saw the corners of her lips turn up in a smile before they opened.

'Paris' she whispered almost inaudibly.

'What? What about Paris?' Tony asked, confusion showing on his face as his brows creased down.

'Oh, nothing.' Carol countered hurriedly a pink blush spreading across her face, embarrassed at having been caught daydreaming by Tony.

Watching her blush he realised what she must have been thinking about and decided to carry on, already feeling bolder than normal.

'If you won't go hand gliding with me…' he paused, unsure for a second, his mouth suddenly feeling dry. Swallowing he continued 'Will you come to Paris with me?' he reached out and offered her his hand again as a sign of openness with his palm up. He gazed at her as a multitude of emotions crossed her face, each fighting for dominance over her beautiful features as she weighed up the pros and cons of the situation in her analytical mind. He hoped she would choose to come with him.

Her eyes glanced up at him as she searched his piercing blue eyes for any hint of his true feelings. Seeing a vulnerability she had never seen before, she looked back down to his hand and everything it symbolised. Everything it offered with it. She thought back over everything that had happened in the last few hours, when she didn't even know if he would survive each hour let alone a few months or years with the tumour. She had thought about how life would be without him, without his guidance for their police investigations and for her personally. She didn't want that, she wasn't ready to loose him not then…not ever. They had been given a second chance that not many people got, and she was damned if she was going to waste it.

'Yes. I'll come with you.'

Reaching over she tenderly took his hand in hers and stepped into his arms. Clutching at each other, they both sighed in a mixture of pleasure and relief never wanting to let go. Her head rested contently on his chest as they held onto one another so tightly they could feel each others hearts racing. After what seemed like an eternity Carol slowly broke the embrace and looked up at his face but it was not his eyes that caught her attention this time, it was the ominous navy cap the rested loosely on his head, covering the surgery scars. Tears started to form in her eyes and threatened to fall as she took a caring hand off his arm and touched the edge of the cap apprehensively as if afraid that touching it would hurt him.

Seeing the glistening tears form in her loving blue eyes, Tony gently reached up and grasped her hand, covering it with his own. Bringing them back down together he placed a lingering kiss on the back of her pale hand and whispered that everything would be okay.

Leaning forward Carol briefly kissed his cheek before moving her mouth to whisper in his ear.

'I'm also tired of putting things off. We've got a second chance to make it right now, let's go.'

Tony shivered involuntarily as he felt her breath in his ear, before taking command of the situation and pulling her towards the car.

Please review; it would help my confidence greatly :-)