Chapter Two

Two months on...

It was early morning on a Tuesday, and James saw Alesha arrive for work, taking off her coat and scarf at her desk.

"Hello" James said with a smile "How are you feeling? I didn't expect you to be back in." Alesha sat at her desk, giving James the chance to have a proper look at her "Alesha, you look awful!"

"Oh thanks very much!" she said sarcastically, before she sighed and rubbed her stomach "I feel so ill!"

"Alesha, you really don't have to be here. I know you're suffering, take as much time off as you need."

"No, I've missed enough already" she moaned as she put one hand on her stomach and the other clapped over her mouth "Oh god, I'm gunna be sick!" she leapt up from her desk and ran down the corridor, rushing past George who cheerfully said in greeting "Hi Alesha" but she continued to run straight passed him.

George approached James with a bemused laugh "Where's she off to in such a hurry?"

"Morning sickness" James replied.

George looked concerned "She should still be at home."

"You know Alesha" James grinned "Too stubborn to listen to us."

George chuckled as they headed back into the office.

...

"Hey guys" James greeted Ronnie and Matt into his office.

"Hi James" Ronnie grinned "You all set for the trial?"

"Yeah, just waiting for Alesha."

"She's here?" Matt said, with much surprise "She told me she was staying home."

"Well she said she was feeling a bit better, but judging by the way she's been running back and forth to the toilets every few minutes with her morning sickness, I don't think she is."

"Where is she now?" Ronnie asked.

"I'm here" Alesha said, after appearing in the doorway, looking very pale, but wearing her coat and scarf and carrying her bag.

"Aww Alesha, sweetheart, why did you come in? You aren't well enough" Matt said worriedly, as he came over to hug his wife.

"I'm okay" Alesha tried to reassure Matt, but she wasn't fooling any of them.

"Alesha, you're not going to like this" James said seriously, putting on his coat "But I don't think it's a good idea for you to come to the trial with us."

"Why?" Alesha protested "I'm okay, I feel fine."

"No you aren't darling, you aren't well. It's okay we all understand" Matt said comfortingly.

"But I want to be there!" Alesha looked tearful "I've missed so much work already, I don't want to keep missing more! I hate feeling ill all the time!" she burst into tears and Matt hugged her and kissed the side of her head.

"Hey it's alright, shhhh, it's okay. Come on, let me take you home, yeah?" Matt suggested, as he glanced around at the others who all smiled encouragingly.

Alesha sniffed before nodding in response, and then she looked at James "I'm sorry."

James smiled sympathetically "You have nothing to be sorry about. You just go home, rest, look after yourself and just come back to work whenever you are feeling up to it."

"Don't worry about us" George said with a grin "I'll keep an eye on James."

"More like the other way round" James replied with a mischievous tone to his voice, all of them smiling.

Matt kept his arm around Alesha as she gave a small laugh "Come on then, let's get you in the car, do you think you'll be alright for the journey?"

Alesha nodded "I think so."

Ronnie grinned "Does this mean I don't get a lift to the Old Bailey?" he asked as they all headed out of the office.

"You can, just we have to make a detour to the house first" Matt responded, as he held Alesha's hand as they walked outside.

"See you in a bit guys" James said cheerily, as he and George went one way and Alesha, Matt and Ronnie went another to Matt's car.

"Can we make a detour to get coffee too?" Ronnie asked eagerly.

"No, please not coffee" Alesha moaned, as she sat in the front passenger seat of the car. Matt getting in the driver's seat and Ronnie in the back.

"Why not coffee?" Ronnie asked, raising his eyebrows.

"I'll be sick if I even smell coffee."

"Why do you think I'm so knackered when I come into work?" Matt asked Ronnie "She won't let me have coffee in the house!"

"Hey I am still here!" Alesha protested "And if you don't want me to be sick in the car, Matt, you'd better get a move on."

"That's you told, Matty" Ronnie laughed, as did Matt, before he drove the car away, much to Alesha's delight.