Disclaimer: I do not own Ashes to Ashes or any of the characters. This is merely my own take on their awesome creation!
Chapter one
"It's been quite quiet today Ma'am," Shaz mumbled to her DI from her bedside, "a couple of potential murder witnesses who weren't saying much- bet you coulda sorted them out..." here she trailed off. She'd heard that it sometimes helped to talk to people in comas and, although she'd felt a little silly at first, she knew that her DI had spent time with her whilst she was unconscious in hospital, and so was determined to do her bit in return.
"Any change?" asked Chris tentatively from behind as he entered with two cups of tea.
Shaz spun around. "No, doctors reckon she's more stable now, though, and the bullet's definitely all out, so that's somethin'..."
She sighed.
"Ey Shaza, it's alright, she's tough in't she, she'll pull through...'ey, remember the time she punched the gov on the chin...hard as nails!"
They shared a weak smile, though each of them knew how serious the situation was.
They sat there quietly for a minute, neither sure of what to say. In the end Shaz piped up,
"Any sign of the gov? Has he been found?"
"No," Chris replied glumly. He'd been hoping to avoid this issue, uncertain of what to think about his boss' involvement in the whole incident. "Ray's out there looking for 'im now. I've never seen 'im so angry..."
Shaz shook her head. Hunt's actions had shocked and hurt them all but Ray had really taken it to heart. She could only assume that it had all been too much for him, what with Super Mac and then Chris...she didn't like to think about it.
"So, em...you had any more thoughts about the 'oneymoon?" Chris interjected by way of lightening the tone. The fierce glare in his fiancée's eyes told him he'd made something of a faux-pas.
"Chris!" she snapped, "DI Drake's life's in danger and all you can think about is holidays!"
"Sorry," Chris mumbled, a little hurt.
Shaz sighed, looking down into her lap, "No, I'm sorry, I just, well, I don't like thinking about our weddin', what with the gov away and Ma'am..." she trailed off, turning to her superior,
"I 'ope you can make it to the ceremony Ma'am," she whispered softly.
*~*~*~*
It still felt strange to walk into the office with so many people missing, a stand in DCI and Ray fulfilling DI Drake's duties. In theory the whole incident barely affected Shaz's daily routine but things just didn't feel right and so she busied herself with the daily tasks, willing the hours away until she could get out of there and return home with Chris. At least he was still there.
And then there was her desk. Normally she liked her positioning in the office as it meant easy access to all of those around her, but today all she had was a clear view of her DI's empty desk, prompting her to return to worrying about how her boss was recovering in hospital, and the thought of her being all alone in the ward. She hated that.
Just at that moment there was the sound of much hustling and bustling in the corridor and Ray entered, looking a complicated mixture of both triumphant and angry.
"They've got 'im!"
"Who?" Chris frowned, slow on the up take as ever.
"The gov...Hunt," Ray couldn't quite bring himself to entirely lose respect for him apparently.
Shaz's ears pricked up.
"Where did they find 'im?" she asked.
"'Er flat," Ray spat in disgust. "I mean, what business did 'e 'ave goin' there? Not 'appy with landin' 'er in 'ospital 'e then decides to raid 'er 'ome as well!"
"You don't know that Ray!" Chris piped up, to everyone's surprise.
"Don't I?" Ray snarled back at him. Then he sighed. "I don't know what I know anymore." And with that he sank down in to his usual desk and lit up the familiar cigarette.
"So 'is 'e downstairs?" Shaz asked, curiously.
"Yeah," Ray muttered, "only 'e's heavily guarded by officers so there's no use tryin' to go down there. An' 'es bladdered. S'obvious there's only one person 'e wants to see...and who's fault is it 'e can't?"
The remainder of his venom was taken out on the cigarette between his lips and the three of them fell silent, unable to think of anything to say.
*~*~*~*
Later that evening Shaz was very quiet at Drake's bedside. She knew that there was now a lot of news to impart, but actually discussing it out loud didn't really feel appropriate. Fortunately, not long after she had arrived a little woman came in and asked her if she wouldn't mind waiting outside as Drake was due another dose of medication.
Sitting outside with Chris, Shaz's mind was racing. What did this mean? They didn't normally give her more medication at this time, she'd know, she'd been there every evening since it had happened.
"It's alright," Chris had told her calmly, "it's probably just that they're running late or something."
Soon, however, they got their answer.
"Er, Miss Granger, sorry for the wait, only Ms. Drake is awake now, if you'd like to come in."
Shaz felt like jumping for joy on the spot.
"But that's fab!" she yelped, following the nurse in.
Her smile became a broad grin as she noticed the bed in which her DI was lying, eyes open, looking dazedly about the room.
"How're you feelin' Ma'am?" Shaz smiled affectionately at her.
"Well, I've been better, y'know..." she smiled, weakly. Then, suddenly, for no apparent reason she became very agitated.
"Shaz...the gov...where is he? He didn't do it Shaz he..."
"Hey, Ma'am, shhh, it's okay," she tried to calm Alex, looking around frantically for a nurse, who was fortunately just outside.
"No, Shaz, listen, it was an accident, he didn't mean to..."
Just at that moment, the nurse's medication kicked in again and the Inspector slipped quietly in to a light sleep.
"That'll be the shock," whispered the nurse in her soothing Irish tones, "she'll be awake again in about twenty to thirty minutes."
"Okay, thanks," Shaz muttered, still a little taken aback by her boss' outburst. What had she meant?
Just then Chris returned from having phoned the station.
"Well, perhaps she was 'avin a bad dream or somethin'," he suggested helpfully when Shaz had explained.
"Yeah, maybe," she mumbled unconvinced. "But what if she was talking about the gov...I'm serious Chris, maybe we should tell Ray...the gov might be innocent..."
*~*~*~*
Having barely slept a wink the night before, the next day Shaz decided to take matters into her own hands and so, nervously, knocked on the door of the Super's office.
"Come in!" a voice boomed from within. A little shy, Shaz pushed open the door.
"Sorry to bother you sir," she muttered, "it's just there's some new evidence, involving the Gene Hunt case. I mean it might be nothing but..."
"No need to be nervous, er, Sharon, isn't it?"
Shaz was taken aback and blushed. "Er, Shaz, yeah..."
"Yes, I've heard some very good reports about your work Shaz. Now, what was it you wanted to tell me?"
Beaming at this appraisal, Shaz carefully imparted the information that she gathered from Alex the night before. The Super listened carefully, nodding at various intervals.
"I see, right, I think it might be important for me to pay a little visit to DI Drake, to hear what it is she has to say, possibly even get her to sign a declaration if that seems appropriate."
Shaz nodded.
"Right, well, thankyou for bringing this to my attention, Miss Granger, I shall be sure to look out for your work in the future."
Her cheeks burning once again, Shaz muttered a word of thanks and made her way to the door.
*~*~*~*
The rest of the morning passed without incident until, at around lunchtime, a call came through to CID. It was the Super.
"Thankyou for coming to see me this morning. I've been to see DI Drake and have a written declaration so DCI Hunt should be released this afternoon. Er, probably best not to mention it to too many people just yet, just until we can get everything sorted out..."
Shaz could have jumped for joy.
*~*~*~*~
The next week or so in the office was very strange, as everybody knew that the department would soon be returning to 'normal' but it was not clear when DI Drake or the gov would be returning to work. Gene had been given a few days' leave on compassionate grounds after his incarceration and, though Alex had now been discharged from hospital, she was not yet deemed strong enough to return to work. Neither of them had been present in Luigi's either, making it feel very strange and incomplete, though the look on Luigi's face when they arrived shortly after Drake had returned home told its own story.
*~*~*~*~