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Chapter 2
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Joe flicked the switch as he waited for the kettle to boil, he'd moved to Manchester when the chance to join there homicide team had come up, he loved working with Vera and hadn't really wanted to leave but Celine had nagged and nagged at him about possible promotion, to think of his family, his children. She had become sick and tired of Vera's constant calling in the middle of the night to go and check out leads on a case, interrupting their family time. His kids were beginning to forget what their father looked like. Things between himself and Celine had become worse since their move to Manchester, the constant arguments. She was furious with him when she'd found out that he still kept in contact with Vera, hoping that their move would rid the woman from their lives for good. If Vera had been younger, took better care of herself…Celine would have been suspicious, jealous even. Joe remembered her bringing up the subject of his feelings towards Vera once but he's steered the conversation onwards, refusing to acknowledge her suspicions. He's been down in Manchester almost a year, he was aware that Vera had a new DS by her side now, but it had been a recent thing. She had always been adamant that she didn't need a replacement for Joe and put it off for as long as she could. Joe felt honoured that he'd impacted her life as much as he did. She was always someone he'd looked up to, someone he cared about. His marriage to Celine was getting worse everyday. He'd already decided to move out and in to a one bedroom flat that was only 10 minutes from his job. Celine's parents lived in Manchester and so she was happy to move there when the job came up. The true fact of the matter was that Joe's love for Celine just wasn't as strong as it once was, he'd become work orientated, in a way Vera was responsible for that one, drumming her work ethic in to him daily. He still saw his kids as often as he could; the weekends were reserved for his children no matter what. The smell of burning invaded Joe's senses and saw the smoke coming from the toaster.
"Oh shit…not again."
He flicked the switch and grabbed the hot bread from the toaster; he attempted to scrape some of the burnt bits off but gave up and tossed it in to the bin. He poured his coffee and grabbed his phone when it started to vibrate on the counter. Kenny's name coming up on the caller id, confusion on his face.
"Kenny mate, hey how are you...it's not like you to call…must be important." He joked.
"Actually it is…listen I know you're probably busy with the new job pal but you're needed back."
"She's not killed the new guy already has she?" He laughed on the end of the phone.
"Joe mate, the Boss has been stabbed."
There was silence at the other end of the phone as Kenny listened to Joe's breathing.
"Mate did you here what I said?"
"How bad?"
"Pretty bad, they took her straight in to surgery when we arrived."
"Right, well look it's gonna take me a couple of hours to get down there. I'll get there as fast as I can yeah."
"That'd be good, she was asking for you when we found her."
"Keep me updated yeah."
"No worries mate."
Kenny hung up as Aiden stood up from the chair in the corridor.
"Well, is he coming?"
"Yeah he's coming, he'll be a few hours…he's driving down I think."
"How did he sound?"
"How do you think…they were close, you know."
"I might go get us a coffee."
"Yeah, good idea."
Kenny took a seat as Aiden walked off down the corridor, doctors and nurses running back and forth, going about their daily duties.
…
This was the one day Joe didn't need to be held up in traffic, people driving home from work, ready for the weekend ahead. So many scenarios were running through Joe's mind as he thought about Vera in surgery, he prayed to god that he'd get there in time. He couldn't imagine the station without her there, her team without her. He couldn't imagine his own life without her in it, he hadn't seen her in person since the day he left, sure he'd spoken to her on the phone a few times but it had always seemed so awkward over the phone, she'd always end up making an excuse, telling him she was busy and that she had to run. It had been a busy week, he was truly exhausted. He opened the window and turned the music up to keep him alert as the traffic began to move at long last. I was nearly 7pm when Joe eventually arrived at the hospital; he parked before quickly making his way in to the hospital entrance. He told the desk who he was there to see and she instructed him as to what floor he needed, he got in to the lift and pressed the button for the floor he needed. He waited patiently as the lift went up one floor at a time and finally arrived to the one he needed, the doors opened and he walked along the corridor to see Kenny and a young lad he assumed was Aiden sitting in the chairs by the wall. Kenny was on his feet in seconds when he heard the footsteps and
saw Joe walking quickly towards them.
"Kenny."
"Hey mate, how are ya'." He said, shaking his hand.
"Yeah good thanks."
"Hi I'm Aiden, your replacement."
"Nice to meet ya', she working you hard is she?"
"Always."
They all went silent for a few moments before Joe lifted his head and looked Kenny in the eye.
"How is she?"
"She's out of surgery, the knife punctured her kidney but the docs were able to repair it, they said what she needs now is bed rest, take things easy you know."
"Take things easy…Vera."
"Tell me about it." Kenny grumbled.
"So come on then, what the hell happened eh…how the hell did she get stabbed?"
Joe took note of the way Kenny glanced at Aiden who had suddenly found the floor very interesting.
"Yeah look it was all my fault, I was running late for work and the boss wanted to interview a suspect in our current case. She erm, didn't wanna wait for me clearly."
"She went in on her own, what the hell is it with that woman. She couldn't wait 5 minutes for back-up."
"You know what she's like mate." Kenny said, trying to ease the tension.
"Yeah too well."
They all looked up when the doctor came out of Vera's room, a chart in his hands. He walked towards the three men who looked completely exhausted from the hectic day.
"Gentleman, Miss Stanhope is out of harms way…you should really go home and try to get some rest."
"Doc this is Joe Ashworth, he's driven a long way to be here tonight…any chance he could see her before he goes?"
"She really should rest."
"Please, I just wanna see her, I won't stay long I promise."
"Very well, not too long."
Joe turned back to Kenny and Aiden. "You guys should take off; I'll stay at hers tonight."
"You sure, my couch is always free." Kenny said.
"Nah you're fine, I'll call later okay."
"Sure, night mate."
"It was nice meeting you Joe." Aiden smiled.
"Yeah you too and hey, don't blame yourself for what happened today alright…she should never have gone in on her own, that's the one thing that pisses me off about her."
"Thanks, night Joe."
…
Joe stood outside Vera's room for a few moments, watching her shift uncomfortably in her bed…the IV drip moving as she did so. He rolled his eyes at her before he finally entered the room and over to her.
"Here, let me help."
"I'm not a bleedin' invalid pet." She groaned in pain.
"Course not, would never have suggested it. Just stop complaining for one minute will ya'."
Vera went quiet as Joe leaned against her and adjusted her pillows for her and helped her to sit up a little better. Having Joe back was already helping to ease her pain. She looked up at him as he took a seat on the edge of the bed, watching her flinch in pain.
"I can sit on the chair if you…"
"No no pet…it's fine." She said, trying to smile.
Joe went silent for a moment, Vera watching him closely. She could see by the look on his face that he wasn't happy.
"Just say it will ya'." Vera said.
"What."
"I don't know pet, whatever it is that's bothering ya'."
"Well what the bloody hell were you thinking eh."
"What."
"Vera, you went in there alone…without back, if I'd ever done that you'd have ripped me to shreds."
"Well I'm the boss and I…"
"Just because you're in charge, doesn't give you the right to put yourself at risk. Do have any idea how worried Kenny and Aiden were about you huh…that lad blames himself for what happened to you."
"Don't be daft."
"I'm not, he apologised to me for getting you hurt."
"You? What's he apologising to you for."
"Oh I don't know, maybe because I actually give a damn about what happens to you, not that you ever seemed to bloody notice."
Vera's eyes found their way to the glass window in front of her before turning back to Joe who looked ready to kill her.
"Look am' sorry pet…alright?"
"Yeah well, it's been a long day, a long drive down here. Listen can I get your keys, I'll crash on your couch."
"Oh."
"If you don't mind, I can always go to a hotel or something."
"No don't be daft; keys are in the drawer there." She said, pointing to the bedside cabinet.
Joe stood up and opened the drawer and retrieved Vera's house keys before turning back to her, he took her by surprise when he leaned down and placed a chaste kiss to the top of her head.
"Get some rest; I'll see you in the morning."
She nodded slowly as Joe lest the room, rain beginning to fall outside.
…
To Be Continued…
