Chapter 2 - Waking Up

I'm sorry for all the ranting at the start and end of the last chapter this time I'm determined to keep it short so thank you so much for your kind reviews. I hope you like this chapter to and I look forward to your reviews. Luv Laura

In a private room in St. Hugh's hospital, PCs Honey Harman and Yvonne Hemmingway were sitting next the bedside of a young woman. It was the same woman as the one in the photo on Smithy's desk.

'How're you feeling?' asked Yvonne.

'Not bad, considering I've just been shot,' Kerry replied, 'How did you two get here so quick?'

'Oh we're working on a case of domestic violence; the wife has just been brought in here for the third time in two months but trying to convince her to press charges is like drawing blood from a stone… but anyway, I'm really glad you're okay.' Honey gushed.

'Have they any idea who … I mean … well, who shot me? Do they think it might be the Radfords?

'Kerry,' Yvonne said slowly, 'All the Radfords are dead.'

'What? How?'

'Well, Wayne was killed in prison, David hung himself in prison, and Rob Thatcher shot Irene.'

'Just how long have I been asleep?'

Yvonne shot a sideways glance at Honey before answering. 'Just under two years,' she stated solemnly.

A look of disbelief crossed Kerry's face, 'Wow,' she breathed. Then determined not to sound as panicked as she felt she asked, 'Well, what's been going on with you then?'

'Oh, not much, just the usual. When you're up to it we'll all go out for a drink and fill you in on everything.'

'What about Sun Hill, any news?'

'Well, the station's been refurbished,' Yvonne began but seeing Kerry's look of 'about time' continued, 'One of the PCSOs drove a van full of petrol containers into reception. Ken was in the back of the van and he didn't make it. Smithy tried to save him but it exploded before he could get him out.'

'Smithy's okay though,' Honey interjected, 'He spent a few days in St. Hugh's but he recovered. Shame the same can't be said of Marilyn and Andrea Dunbar.'

A memory flashed into Kerry's mind, 'She was a journalist, and she was having an affair with the DI.'

'Yes, apparently she slept with him just to share secrets under the covers,' Honey said with a cheeky smirk.

'Honey!' Yvonne exclaimed, 'I think it was more than that. He bunked off Ken's funeral to go to hers, didn't he?'

'Well it didn't last very long did it? Word around CID is that he's having it off with Suzie.'

Kerry shook her head, 'How do you know all this stuff?'

'Oh you know me, I'm just friendly, I talk to people.' Honey said.

'Gossip more like!' said Yvonne, chuckling.

The chat carried on as Yvonne told Kerry about Gary being promoted to an acting DC before getting shot and going home to Manchester, about DS Debbie McAllister leaving to spend more time with her son, about Jim developing a gambling habit and leaving before he could hurt June more, about the new arrivals in uniform including Amber Johansson who had then left, Leela Kapoor, Dan Casper, Roger Valentine, Will Fletcher and in CID: Jo Masters, Zain Nadir, Stuart Turner, Mickey coming back. They failed to mention Rachel.

Eventually, even with Honey's interruptions, Yvonne fell silent.

'What about Gabriel, is he still here?' Kerry asked trying to sound casual.

'He threw himself off a roof after June, Smithy and Sheelagh found proof that he wasn't Gabriel Kent.' Honey sat up and opened her eyes wide for dramatic effect but looked rather crestfallen when Kerry continued.

'I know that's what I was coming to the station for – to tell Inspector Gold before I was … shot.' She tailed off.

After a few seconds she added: 'What about Smithy? How is he?' Trying even harder to sound casual.

Yvonne and Honey looked at each other, both seemed unwilling to speak.

Eventually, Honey said tentatively, 'He came to see you everyday at first until Inspector Gold told him that she would turn your machine off herself if he kept sneaking up here when he was meant to be on duty.'

'He still has a photo of you in his drawer that he thinks we don't know about,' Yvonne supplied.

'He went absolutely spare at the Super for not letting the ambulance in sooner.'

'He blamed himself for what happened to you.'

'Okay,' said Kerry, slightly overwhelmed.

'When we told the station that you had woken up he said he would come right over.'

'But seen as he's not here yet, he's probably got held up.'

Yvonne and Honey looked at each other again.

'But umm, about three months ago a new PC arrived at Sun Hill and well…'

'She's female,' said Honey helpfully.

'Yes and her name's Rachel Sanders and um…'

'He's been seeing her, hasn't he? Well you guys, I don't mind, I mean I have been out of it for a pretty long time, you couldn't expect him to hang around for ever.' Although Kerry smiled and tried to sound realistic and sincere, her friends were not fooled.

The three of them sat there in silence for a few minutes before Yvonne said that they had better get back to work or Inspector Gold would be after them too. Kerry thanked them for coming to see her and for cheering her up. Yvonne wasn't so sure they had, but they said they would visit again soon and left the room.