Disclaimer I still don't own New Tricks

Truth

"Gerry." Sandra sighed as she stared out across the bar. "Are the boys ok?"

"Yeah." Gerry lifted his glass to his lips. "Actually no. Steve thought he had a lead on that robbery but I don't think it's gonna come to anything. Charlie hasn't been well so he's stressing out over her."

"I thought they were finished." Sandra frowned. She looked into her glass, unable to believe that Gerry had talked her into coming to the pub. She was supposed to be walking away from the unit. Her time with UCOS was over. "What's wrong with Charlie?"

"Dunno." Gerry shrugged his shoulders. "You got Jack and Brian in a right state. You do remember Jack only just had a bloody 'eart attack?"

"Of course I remember that." Sandra snapped. "I'll never forget it."

"Yeah." Gerry huffed. "Me neither. Strickland has got his knickers in a knot an all."

"He has no need to. My team. That team." She corrected herself. Gerry smiled. "Know what they are doing. Jack was the highest rank of you all. If he doesn't know whats what then there really is no hope."

"UCOS only works with a serving officer." Gerry stated. "You know that Clarky is away on a course. He's doing his exams next month."

"Clever boy." Sandra smiled. She genuinely liked the young PC.

"Yeah, Pushkar is going for DC in the computer crimes thing the Met are setting up and Emily. Well, shes not going to want to be saddled working with 'er old man for long is she?"

"Gerry." Sandra picked her glass up from the table. "Thanks for the drink. Go back and tell the lads you found me. That I am alive and in one piece. Then tell them to get on with their work and their lives and forget I was ever anything to do with UCOS. Oh and tell Steve I hope Charlie is better soon." She gulped the wine down and stood up as Gerry stared at her in disbelief. "Bye Gerry."

"Sandra!" He was on his feet and following her before she had even reached the door.

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"I don't like this." Jack stated as he took his glasses off. Steve looked up.

"Neither do I. Och, Jack I know I'm the new boy but Sandra is a good boss. I don't fancy some CID upstart taking over for five minutes while they wait for the next run on the career ladder."

"He has a point." Brian huffed. "Why would she do this?"

"I wish I knew." Jack narrowed his eyes as he tried to think. "Strickland said he contacted her mother."

"Yeah."

"They don't get along." Jack explained as Steve seemed to understand what he was saying. "So Grace would never cover for her. If she says she hasn't seen her daughter then she hasn't seen her."

"Is there anyone else she would go to?"

"What about that Detective Cruz? From Gibraltar?" Brian asked. "They got along well."

"No." Jack frowned. "She said she had health issues. That means she's going to stay near home. Maybe Gerry has found her. Until then, lets get on with some work so she has a UCOS to come back to."

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"SANDRA!" Gerry ran after her. She stormed towards a taxi rank on the other side of the road. "SANDRA!"

"What?" She turned. "You wanted me to have a drink with you. I did. Now what?"

"I thought we were friends." Gerry sounded genuinely hurt. "I thought."

"Gerry." Sandra's voice softened as she forced herself to look away. "We are. Please just let me do this on my own."

"Do what?"

"My treatment. I don't want Jack worrying, Brian panicking, Steve scared of what he can and can't say or you acting like my self-appointed protector."

"I don't."

"Oh you do." Sandra smiled slightly. "And I appreciate it, most of the time."

"But not now." He stuck his hands in his pockets and stared at her.

"Not now."

"Will you tell me what the treatment is? What it's for?"

"Chemo." Sandra sighed. "I'm starting Chemotherapy. Now please don't tell the others. I don't want to worry them more than I already have." Gerry swallowed hard. He had no idea what to say. Chemotherapy had only ever meant one thing to him.

"My granddad had chemo. This was back in the 1960s. Bowel cancer."

"Yeah. I know." Sandra's eyes filled with tears. "There's been so much research since then. So much work has gone into it. It's not like it was back then."

"Why?"

"Gerry." She felt him step nearer to her. "I."

"Where?"

"My." She blinked. "My. I have breast cancer."

Gerry pulled her into his arms, hoping that she didn't realise his eyes were filled with tears too.

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A/N more soon, all medical things in this story are made up.