Friends?
Gerry drove across the city towards Sandra's house. He knew she was well aware of what he felt for her; when she'd been ill he had told her. Then there had been the snogging session in the early hours of Christmas Day but they had barely spoken of it since. Sandra had always kept her emotions close to her chest; determined not to get hurt. He sighed; knowing he had to respect her for that. He had done the same.
"Cmon." He cursed the red traffic light as he forced his mind to focus on the road, of his visit to Sandra and not the heartbreaking scream of a mother who had learned her son was dead. He knew the scumbag responsible was in prison but the three young kids that had been murdered weighed on his mind. He startled as the Car behind him sounded the horn.
"Ok, ok! Bloody Nora!" He drove forward as the lights finally turned green.
Xxxxxxx
Sandra wiped angry tears away from her eyes as she picked up the now half empty wine glass before heading to the kitchen. She hadn't intended to let her guard slip, but she knew she could be honest with Gerry. Over the years he had become her closest friend. He was uncouth, loud and a bit of a neathanderal but he was also kind, supportive and fiercely overprotective of those he cared about. She ran the glass under the hot tap, lost in thought.
"Bloody Hell." She snapped as the glass shattered in her hand. The shard of glass hitting her finger. She frowned, busying herself with cleaning the cut and getting rid of the broken glass completely forgetting that Gerry was on his way over.
Xxxxx
He parked the car a few doors away from her house. The street was quiet but then, after 11pm he thought it would be. He sighed as he looked towards the house. She wasn't people expected of her. Sandra Jane Pullman didn't fit into boxes easily. He shook his head when he thought about everything they had been through since his first day in UCOS. She had hated him on sight. Gerry smirked, knowing she had thought him a moronic, homophobic, mysoginistic dinosaur. Now they were close; the line between best mates and something more constantly blurring. He ran a hand over his face as he thought of the time she had almost died of Sepsis and then the car crash. "Bleeding ell." He mumbled. "She knows I love her, dozy mare." He opened the Car door half wondering why neither of them had acted on their feelings properly. God only knew Sasha and Steve had tried to get them together more than once. Even Pat and Ted had tried. He pulled his coat closer as he jogged along the street keen to get out of the rain.
Xxxxx
Sandra turned the kitchen light off as she heard the door bell. "Sandra! It's chucking it down out ere!" He yelled as he saw her approach the door through the glass panel.
"Well, you didn't have to come out." She snapped as she opened the door. He raised an eyebrow before stepping into the hallway. He shrugged off his coat as she berated him for letting it drip on her carpet. He smirked; glad the banter was back.
"I mean it, Gerry." Her voice hitched as his shoulders sagged.
"Sorry." He lied. "That girl. The oldest."
"Keira."
"Would be my Paula's age now." Gerry sighed. "Same age as Ted's daughter."
Sandra nodded. "What that monster did. To his own kids! I." She closed her eyes as anger and sadness overwhelmed her. They knew the testimony of the youngest girl; aged only seven at the time had secured his conviction. Gerry pulled her into his arms; fighting his own tears as she wrapped her arms around him. He kissed her hair, hugging her for a moment longer than would be considered friendly. She pulled back first, taking his hand she led him into her living room.
Zzzzzzz
