Disclaimer I do not own Law and Order UK. No copyright infringement intended.

Absent Friends.

The morning sun did little to appease Alesha's mood as she walked up the stone steps of the offices of the Crown Prosectution Service. Her feet were killing her and she had barely got any sleep the night before. Now she had to help prepare for a trial. She almost punched the button on the lift as she thought about the case they were working on. The more she though about it the more her stomach turned. Between almost constant morning sickness and the evidence she was going to have to wade through with James and George she didn't think she was going to have much of an appetite when Matt picked her up to go to lunch.

"Morning Alesha." Clare from records smiled as she walked into the lift next to her. Alesha nodded and smiled as she looked at the impossibly bouncy and happy blonde woman. She knew the girl was just trying to be friendly but all her presence did was confirm to Alesha just how fat and unattractive she was now. She held her handbag across her abdomen as she remembered Matt's response to her moaning about her figure as they had got ready for work. She couldn't help but smile.

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"You alright Matty boy?" Ronnie handed him a coffee as the younger man nodded, stiffling a yawn.

"Yeah."

"Well you don't look it."

"Thanks for that Ron."

"What's the matter? Your Alesha keeping you awake? Poor girl seems to be wearing you out my old son." Ronnie pushed his glasses further up his nose as they walked along the high street.

"It's not like that." Matt smiled as he thought of the Junior Crown Prosecutor. "She's ok. It's the baby."

"What's the baby?" Ronnie was suddenly concerned about his two young friends.

"Keeping her awake. And therefore keeping me awake." Matt shoved his hands in his pockets as they crossed the street that was going to lead them to the market.

"I thought that was only supposed to 'appen when the kid is born?" Ronnie looked on as the younger man nodded.

"Yeah, so did I. But this one is a bit lively. Decides to kick Lesh all night. And then when she's awake, it's morning sickness and backpain. Gotta, tell you Ron. For some reason I feel really guilty that Lesha's in pain like this." Ronnie shook his head as he listened to the other man speak. Before he could say anything Matt was digging in his jacket for his mobile phone.

"Devlin." He paused. "Lesha, slow down. Lesh." He sighed as Alesha continued to panic on the other end of the phone. "Right, I'll get uniform over there now. No, don't worry. You stay with George. Ok? Lesh?" He put his phone back in his pocket as he looked towards Ronnie who was patiently waiting to see what all the fuss was about.

"Well?"

"That was Alesha."

"Gathered that son." Ronnie waited.

"Seems James has been abducted. He never turned up for work, and he's always the first person there in the mornings. Lesh called his mobile and home number, didn't get an answer." He sighed. "So she called Bea, who hasn't seen him since yesterday morning. So she tries his neighbour who says his door had been kicked in and there was a bit of noise in the early hours."

"So this neighbour didn't think to call the plod then?"

"No."

"You think James has been abducted?"

"Stranger things have happened." Matt looked at Ronnie as he considered his words.

"Yeah, you're right there. Like a gorgeous girl like Alesha Phillips agreeing to marry you. Right, we better get over there. You drive, I'll talk to the Guv. Got a feeling this is something to do with that case they are working on?" Both men almost jogged back to the car.

"The windscreen wiper murder? Yeah I don't see what else it can be." Matt didn't like the words as he said them.

"If it is that and I reckon it is, we better find our James, sharpish."

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A/N In my world George and James never left. I am not sure how to write the newbies just yet. Please let me know if I should go on with this. Thanks.