At Scarborough Station a Sergeant brought Lenny a hot meal and drink
"Here," he said putting the tray down next to him.
Lenny, who had been snivelling more or less the whole time he'd been brought in, wiped his eyes. "Is the policeman dead?" he asked.
"Not heard. I wouldn't get your hopes up. You slashed him in the belly with an axe. Even if he pulls through – which would be a bloody miracle – it would still be attempted murder."
"Can I see me mam?"
"No. And you need to get used to not seeing your mam that often and all." The Sergeant sighed as Lenny continued to snivel. "I can't have sympathy for you lad. Not after what you've done."
"I didn't mean it."
"Then why do it lad? Why?"
"I just wanted everyone to go away Make them leave me alone! I never meant for all this to happen!"
"It makes no odds lad. None at all. When all's said you've slashed a copper with an axe. You should swing for what you've done." The Sergeant left the cell locking the door behind him leaving Lenny curled up sobbing.
Jessie Tomlinson was being comforted by Mavis Buckley in the Buckleys house – Jessie's house was being treated as a scene of crime and out of bounds.
Jessie clutched a wet tissue in her hands. "I never thought he'd do this Mavis," she said. "Never. Its losing that job that's done all this." She wiped her eyes. "I'll pay you for the damage."
"You won't Jessie." Ted Buckley came in and put a cup of tea in front of her. "I'll have that window back in, in two shakes. Won't cost me much. I won't take a penny off you."
Mavis smiled at Ted, mouthing thank you.
"And you'll stay as long as you like love," Mavis said to Jessie gently.
"You're that good." Jessie wiped her eyes again. "That poor policeman. Will they tell us do you think if – "
"Aye, they said they'd phone," Ted said.
"He was badly hurt though wasn't he?" Jessie demanded.
Ted nodded slowly. "I'm sorry love. I wouldn't give him much of a chance to be honest of pulling through."
"Oh Lenny, Lenny, what've you done," Jessie began to weep again.
Back in that dingy waiting room, when John Cadman came back into the waiting room, James involuntarily took Kate's hand because he felt so sure the news wasn't going to be good.
"Kate. James." John sat down opposite Kate on the low table again. "Kate. Nick's going to be all right."
She stared silently at him.
"The axe slashed more than stabbed meaning it didn't penetrate deeply. Along with the thick jacket Nick was wearing - that gave some protection too. The axe didn't hit anything major and we've stopped the bleeding."
"He's really going to be fine?"Kate realised she was trembling violently.
"Yes and I can take you to see him. But you mustn't expect much. He's had anaesthetic, pain killers. He's not going to know much about the world for a while."
She shook her head. "I don't care. I just need to see him."
"Of course you do," James said gently. "You go and I'll phone Ashfordly Station. Give them the good news."
When Blaketon picked up the phone and the voice said, "Sergeant Blaketon? Dr Radcliffe here," That to Blaketon seemed to confirm the news was bad. But James went on quickly, but clearly, "Its good news. Nick's come through surgery. The blade missed the major organs and they were able to stop the bleeding. Nick's going to be all right."
"How's Dr Rowan?"
"Gone to see him. That's why I've phoned. I gather he's going to be pretty out of it for awhile but he will be all right that's the main thing."
"Thank you Doctor. It's a great relief." Blaketon paused. "I – we thought –"
"We all did," James admitted. "We've been lucky Sergeant – it could have ended so differently."
Blaketon put down the phone with a shaky hand.
"Its good news lads," he said. "Nick's come through surgery and is going to make a full recovery."
There was a general cheer and everyone's tense expressions relaxed. Phil Bellamy still did not react however.
"Phil?" Ventress leaned towards him.
It was too much. The young constable broke down in tears.
"All right lad," Blaketon said gently putting a hand on his shoulder. "Lets get you off home. You'll be all right."
Despite being a doctor and being forewarned Kate felt some element of shock when she saw Nick for the first time. John showed her to a small side room. Nick lay with his eyes closed, still deathly white. He was on oxygen and a heart monitor. Drips ran into both arms, tubes snaked from under the bedclothes. Understanding her shock, John helped Kate into a chair by Nick's bedside.
"He's going to be all right Kate," he said gently. "A day or two, most of this will be gone, and he will be more interested in the world again."
She nodded as she took Nick's hand instinctively. "I'm here love." She stroked his hair with her other hand.
Inconceivably she felt his fingers curl in her hand gripping briefly then relaxing. She looked up at John.
"I think he just squeezed my hand."
"I'm sure he probably did," John said gently. He put a hand on her shoulder. "I'll leave you to it for a few minutes. Mr Pilbury will come and speak to you later as well. Nick's a VIP patient to us Kate!"
"I can never thank you enough," she said.
"No need." John smiled a little. "He's tough your husband – a real battler - and that made our job easier."
He left the room nodding to James as he came in. James too was stalled momentarily when he saw Nick, then recovered himself and came to sit with Kate.
"I've told them at the station," he said quietly, "and I'll speak to Nick's mum for you if you like."
"If you would thanks James," Kate replied. She looked back at Nick. "I never thought – I was so sure –"
"Hey come on. He's come through it Kate."
"By some twist of fate," she said. "If that blade had been deeper.."
"It wasn't. Come on, don't torture yourself."
Oscar Blaketon went back to the hospital about two hours later. He was shown to Nick's room and cautiously tapped on the door which was ajar. Kate's voice called softly to come in. He opened the door wider but still stood on the threshold hesitantly.
"If you want me to leave Dr Rowan.."
"Of course not, come in." She smiled and he felt more encouraged. He sat on the other side of Nick's bed.
"Dr Radcliffe?"
"Had to go on a call and when he comes back he wants me to go home and rest. But I don't know if I can leave Nick."
Blaketon looked at Nick and bit his lip. "I know they say he'll be all right but –"
"I know. It's a shock seeing him like this. But he'll be fine Sergeant, I promise."
"Aye." He paused. "Is he hearing us like?"
"I don't know. He's pretty heavily sedated but he managed to squeeze my hand earlier."
Blaketon nodded. "You're going to be all right lad," he said to Nick. "Need you back in that duty room. How am I going to cover your shifts with you lying around in here?"
To their surprise Nick managed to open his eyes and looked at his sergeant. He barely focused before the effort was too much and he drifted off again. Kate gave Oscar a weak smile.
"Well you've had more effect on him than I have!" she said.
"Aye. I like to keep them on their toes!" Blaketon replied. Then he spoke in more serious tones. "How are you Dr Rowan?"
She swallowed. "I'm all right." She looked down at Nick. "I need to be strong for him." She looked down at his hand in hers then looked back at Oscar. "But I'm not sure I can live through any more days like this one. I really thought I'd lost him."
Blaketon nodded. Looking down at Nick, the Sergeant realised with a shock he wasn't sure if he was up to facing many more days like this one either. For the first time Blaketon to his surprise realised he was feeling his age. Retirement he thought couldn't come soon enough.
Alf Ventress had seen Phil home, and into the hands of Mrs Ventress who gave Phil the mother's touch the badly shocked young constable needed. Seeing Phil was in good hands, Alf changed out of uniform and went to see Jessie Tomlinson.
"Jessie?" Ted Buckley had let Alf into the house. "Jessie, Constable Ventress is here."
Alf felt terribly sorry for the woman and hoped he could relieve a little burden from her as he sat opposite her.
"I've just called in love to say that Constable Rowan is going to be all right. He's had an operation and come through it."
"Oh thank God," she whispered.
"What does this mean for Lenny?" Ted asked.
"Well that's not such good news." Alf took a deep breath. "Its attempted murder Jessie."
"He's going to prison for a long time isn't he?" her voice was bleak.
"I'm that sorry love."
"I blame that Webster for all this." The woman's voice was low, bitter. "He never wanted our Lenny working there, made his life a misery and if he hadn't lost his temper with him this morning all this might never have happened." Then she began to weep again. "If I'd only been here when Lenny came home..."
"No, love, its not your fault," Ventress said looking helplessly at the Buckleys. They all knew there was nothing they could say to Jessie to make this any better for her.