DISCLIAMER: NOT MINE! Jen's challenge was to include a pet, any pet you like so here you go, enjoy! :)


When Sandra walked into the UCOS hub first thing Monday morning she had to take a double take. Her thoughts had been correct there was indeed a tropical coloured snake in a tank on top of the fridge.

"Where's Brian" she sighed, quickly assuming her was the culprit as this was very like him to take up a new interest involving strange animal. Not to mention he had previous when it came to bringing in exotic animals in the form a rare lizard.

"He's not here yet" Jack said looking up from his newspaper.

"Oh, well how in God's name this that get here" she said pointing to the snake which was giving her the creeps.

"Ask Mr Poker Face, over there" the older man replied.

"Who?"

"Gerry, it's his".

"What why on Earth would Gerry have a pet snake" she asked screwing up her face in confusion, this certainly wasn't his style.

"I won it" Gerry voice said creeping up behind Sandra.

"Christ, have you been stood there long, you gave me the fright of my life!"

"Nah only a few seconds Guv" he answered.

"Well are you going to explain what that thing is doing on top of my fridge?"

"Like I said, I won it in a poker tournament last night, down the pub and well I don't especially like snakes, actually the make me feel uncomfortable so I thought I would bring her in and see if I can re home her, Brian loves all this sort of stuff, he might take her, or you could" she suggested half heartedly knowing exactly how she would react.

"Oh no, Gerry we are not to bloody RSPCA re home your snake in your own time, not in Met hours".

"Well she's here now and Mr Allen the guy I won it off said she likes company, there's not many of her left".

"Yeah well there will be one less if you keep that thing in here longer than a day" Sandra snapped.

Gerry saluted "Yes Guv".

"Hang on a minute you called it a she, how do you now that?"

"Mr Allen told me, apparently her name is Sandra, just like yours Guv" he winked. Sandra didn't say anything she had reason to believe he was twisting her arm.

The office was silent until Brian trundled in bike and all. "Morning, ooh is that a snake-" he said commenting on the unusual object on top of the fridge.

"No Brian, it's a small lion" Sandra rolled her eyes Monday mornings were bad enough without having a rare snake to deal with.

"Isn't she beautiful" Brian said pressing his nose up to the tank.

"Yeah she is, listen mate do you fancy taking care of her, she's no trouble and free to a good home" Gerry tried.

"She's even called Sandra" Jack added but quickly retreated back to his paper after Sandra shot him an unimpressed look.

"Ah, Gerry I would love to but there is no way Esther would allow me to keep her, do mind if I have a stoke?"

"Nah go ahead, oh well I will see if Mr Allen will take her back tonight then, unless either of you too want her"

"No" Jack and Sandra both said in unison.

Footsteps could be heard approaching the door "Quickly, Brian, someone's coming, hide that thing, Strickland will kill us if he sees it!" Sandra yelled in a blind panic.

Brain quickly put behind the filing cupboard just in time as Strickland poked his head around the door.

"Morning all I can't stop, I have an urgent meeting with the Commissioner just wanted to give you the annual clean up stats, most impressive, even better than last year, once again you have the best clear up rate in the Met, I shall buy you all a drink to celebrate tonight" he smiled and disappeared before any of them could thank him.

"That was close" Sandra said flicking through the report.

"Oh no!" Brain exclaimed.

"What is it Brian" Jack asked.

"You know when I put Sandra behind the filing cabinet-"

"Can we not call that thing Sandra please" The snake's namesake protested.

"Well I must have forgot to shut the lid, she gone"

"Oh Brian you bloody idiot, what are we going to do?!"


The End :)