CHAPTER 6

"So Declan it's love then?" Lexy and Declan were sitting in the hospital restaurant eating lunch.

"Completely, I can't believe it myself but it is my friend," Declan looked like a puppy, which was completely out of character for him because he usually looked like an alligator on the watch for pray to fall into his reach. The wank cupboard was now completely redundant and was for stationary only as was its proper function, sexray was not even on the radar now, Declan was besotted with David the architect, one of Cat's colleagues. It was now six months since Cat had been killed in the accident, Sam was back at work and studying for an exam, Lexy and she went out once a week for a drink but it had not moved on from there, Lexy was desperate for Sam to make a move but she hadn't so she let it go.

"Sam, you need to go and interview Wesley Corner, he was a witness to the beating of Jack Forshaw, he won't come into the station incase he's seen but he'll meet you in his sister's house in Rutherglen, bloody strange he wants to meet there but let's see what he has to say." Sam left the station and drove out to the house on the way she spotted Lexy, she was taking a days annual leave to shop for her holiday in Australia for four weeks over the summer. Sam could feel a little bit of panic, she was so into Lexy now it was untrue but she just couldn't make that move forward to being a part of a relationship again. She had been going around the gay scene picking up women for a few weeks after Cat's funeral but it was no comfort and the sex was nothing to her, she always asked the women to leave almost as soon as they had finished. She could not bear any of them to touch her. She knew in her heart Lexy wanted more but could she be trusted. Lexy had made no effort to find anyone else since she and Sam had been going out for a few drinks and socialising with the gang. She had to make some kind of move she knew Lexy wouldn't out of respect for Cat but now she knew she had fallen for Lexy and it was going to have to be put right before Lexy did get fed up and move on.

Tess met Lexy outside The Tron, "let's go for lunch first I'm starving," Tess turned towards the street with their favourite cafe in.

"Ok, but I need to be back to get ready, Sam and I are going to a live gig tonight and I want to look right," They settled themselves in at the table Tess had a chicken salad sandwich that looked like it should be used as a climbing aid and Lexy had soup and a roll.

"What's going on between you and Sam, I know you both like each other but it seems to be at a stand still?" Tess looked up, "me and my big mouth, sorry Lexy," I didn't mean to pry it's just I care about both of you and I think you go so well together, even Sadie has been saying, 'it's about bleedin time you and Sam got it sorted,' you know what she's like in straight away."

"It's ok Tess, Sam just doesn't seem ready yet, I don't want to push it in case she runs away from me but I am totally into her, I can't think of anything else when I 'm alone and I live for our nights out, the nearest I get is a peck on the cheek goodnight but I'll hang in there a bit longer, if she doesn't make any moves then I can only think she doesn't feel the same," Lexy took a spoonful of soup.

"She does like you, I'm sure Lexy, I mean I've seen the way she looks at you and goes red when she is caught looking, like last week in Rubies we were all dancing and Sam was sitting just watching you, you should have seen her when I went back to the table she was bright red and stumbling her words, not like Sam that is it?"

"Ah well we'll see Tess, we'll see," It was obvious Lexy wanted to change the subject.

"So what are you buying today then?" Tess loved shopping with anyone who would go with her, when she heard Lexy was hitting the city she had to go too.

Sam threw her coat over the chair and herself on to the couch, the interview with Wesley Corner had been a waste of time, he had seen the beating but not who had been doing it, Sam knew someone had got to him first he wasn't going to talk now, that meant the scumbag Ray McGrainger would probably walk again. The clock said 5.30pm she would go for a short run to unwind then shower and meet Lexy at eight.

Sam was surprised when she arrived at the wine bar to find Lexy already there, "Hi, I took the liberty of ordering you beer." Lexy led her to their usual seat.

"Good day shopping?" Sam grinned she knew that Tess was going to be there shopping, one reason she declined a shopping day with Tess, Sam hated shopping.

"Hell I should have been warned about Tess, she's a professional shopper. I had everything I wanted by 3ish but we didn't get back to the flat until just after six, my feet are killing me."

"Sounds like they need a good rub then." Sam could not believe what she had just said but the reaction it brought in Lexy made her heart skip.

"Are you offering?" Lexy had a mischievous look on her face as well as a look, that said I've been waiting for this moment.

"Come back to the flat and I'll do them for you," Sam knew she was doing the right thing but her nerves were jangling.

"What about the gig?"

"What about it? Sam smiled at her, "come on then."

"Have a seat," Sam had the flat spotless, nothing like the day they had first met, Lexy sat down on the couch, Sam pulled a couple of beers from the fridge flipped off the tops and handed one to Lexy.

"Come on then let's get those shoes off and I'll fix your feet," Sam sat down next to Lexy and reached out for Lexy's foot. Lexi lifted her foot up onto Sam's knee and Sam slipped off her shoe then she indicated Lexy's other foot, soon Lexy was in ecstasy as she felt the warm fingers gently massaging her foot.

"Oh wow Sam you are amazingly good at reviving a girls feet," Lexy was relaxing back on the couch, she felt Sam's hand touch her leg briefly, electric shocks shot through her body, Lexy groaned, Sam stopped, Lexy opened her eyes and saw Sam looking at her, "You're beautiful Lexy, I really do like you, Sam leaned towards Lexy rapidly changed her position to receive Sam's kiss, her whole being was floating on a cloud as Sam's lips touched hers. The kiss was soft and long, Lexy could feel the need in Sam and slowly ran her hands through Sam's hair, Sam reach out and touched Lexy's face, her breathing was heavy and she could feel herself becoming more and more in need of Lexy.

Lexy reach down to Sam's shirt, she ran her hand over the front of it lightly touching Sam's breast through the fabrics, she heard and felt Sam gasp, Sam's response was instant and she began to unbutton Lexy's shirt. Before they knew it they were making love, gentle love not the pure raging sex Sam had been taking from women just to get some relief, something that had not happened with any of the women she had brought back to the flat.

Lexy woke first the next morning, she thanked god she wasn't on call that weekend, she lay looking at Sam sleep for about half an hour, "Morning beautiful," Sam looked into her eyes, suddenly tears were in her eyes, "Sam are you ok?" Lexy looked worried.

"I'm more than ok, Lexy I've fallen in love with you over the last months, I have wanted this moment so much now it's here I'm happy, so happy, I haven't felt like this for such a long time." Sam reached up and pulled Lexy to her. Lexy could feel her own happiness, she had had a few relationships in the past but this was different, she really was in love with Sam despite the time it had taken for them to admit it to one another, "I love you too Sam, more than you know."

Lexy arrived back at her own flat on the Sunday morning wearing a whole new outfit and a bag with her dirty washing in, "Sadie looked up from the magazine she was reading, "Take it you stayin' out all weekend and wearin new clothes, means you and Sam finally got things going."

"We did Sadie," Lexy was on cloud nine.

"About bloody time," Sadie stood up and hugged Lexy, "I'm glad for you both, you know I really care for you both, I may not show it but I do," with that Sadie retreated to her room.

Lexy made herself a coffee and flicked through the magazine Sadie had left on the table, Tess arrived home an hour later from her performance at the Tron, "Lexy you're home, a good weekend?" Tess had that glint in her eye that said thank god at last.

"Fan 'bloody' tastic thanks," Lexy was giving nothing away.

Sadie came back through and threw herself onto the couch, "Shit I'm board, Lauren's away with the wife, I've got to open up the gallery tomorrow." Getting a delivery of some crappy artists work in the morning, you want to see some of the shite that passes for art in there, I ain't got a fucking clue why some of it sells but it does."

"Keeps you in money Sadie, so don't knock it," Lexy liked Sadie's direct approach to life but she could see through a lot of it to the woman who longed for true love and to settle down.

"I ain't knocking it Lex but christ, you should see some of it, I could stand on me head and it still wouldn't make any bleedin sense to me but as long as I can flog it to gullible twats what do I care."

"Sadie can I ask you something personal?" Sadie looked up, "you're gonna anyway so fire away."

"Don't you feel kind of lonely and frustrated that Lauren is with Jo and has no intention of leaving her?"

"Fuck you're as forward as me, yeah I do but I am in too deep to let her just go, and I know she feels the same about me."

"When's she back?" Tess joined in.

"Tomorrow evening seeing her Tuesday, Jo's in the gallery so we're going out, I love her you know and I want to have her all to myself but I can't so I stay with it just to have anything from her is wonderful."

"I'm goin' to bed girls, I'm fucked see you tomorrow, night." Sadie sauntered back to her room.

"It's sad for Sadie, I mean for once she absolutely is in love but with the wrong woman, well not the wrong woman eh but."

"I know what you mean Tess; I guess sometimes, the crumbs are better than nothing at all."

"Ok so spill, you and Sam?"

Lexy grinned, "now that would be telling, " they switched on the TV and watched and episode of Friends and went to bed.

Sam and Lexy saw each other every spare moment they could manage. Sam's boss cottoned on immediately and knew Sam had changed again she was even more cheerful and happy than she had been when she had met Cat. Declan was delighted Lexy had cracked the cop's crack as her put it, Lexy was not impressed at this analogy but let it go. "You're still loved up with David?" Lexi was walking down the corridor with Declan, "Oh yes totally," infact I brought the cupboard out of retirement just for him yesterday. He came in to see me and came was the operative word, thought I was going to have to gag him but he's not into kinky sex, Lexy rolled her eyes.

"Lexy, eh I need to ask you something," Sam appeared nervous, Lexy felt her own nerves kick in, "How would you feel about us eh looking for a place together, a rental, just to see how things go, I mean I don't think we will get on each others nerves but it's totally up to you," Sam's smile was nervous and she was avoiding looking Lexy in the eye. Lexy reached out and lifted Sam's chin she locked eyes with her and replied. "When do we start?" Sam broke in to a huge smile that lit up the room, she leaned over and kissed Lexy, she could feel herself becoming aroused and pulled Lexy into her arms. They had been going steady for 7 months now and spent most of their time in Sam's flat, "I don't want to stay here anymore I want to put the past behind me and start afresh with you in our own place."

The flat hunting started in earnest, eventually they found a duplex apartment in a converted warehouse it had been completely altered on the side that looked on to the river a massive window filled the wall of the sitting room looking out across the river to the other side of the city. They moved in two weeks later and were loving it until a neighbour moved in down stairs, Frankie was back in Glasgow and had rented the smaller flat below them. She had no idea they lived there until they all met in the lobby one morning on their way out to work.

"We have to move Lexy," Sam could not entertain Frankie being in the same building.

"No Sam we don't you have to, you have to get over her being here, we have as much right to live here as she does, ok you hate her but we never see her so what is the problem?" Lexy knew the answer but Sam did not voice it.

Frankie had a string of women in and out of her flat but nothing could fill the gap Cat had left. She could see Sam had moved on but she hadn't Ali had left her a month after the funeral but she didn't care all she wanted was Cat.

Sam was going down the stairs as Frankie was coming up, they stopped and looked at one another, "Frankie," "Sam, how are you?" "Wonderful thanks, you?" "No good not now," "You're pathetic Frankie, and I don't blame you for Cat's death, I blame her, and you need to too, she was the one with the choice, she made the wrong one in my book but that's the ultimate reason she died. You sent the text but ultimately she had the choice." Frankie's eyes filled with tears, "Like you care about me," "I don't really, but you have to care about you," Sam could feel a seed of pity forming in her, looking at this pathetic specimen in front of her. She had heard from Cat that Frankie had had a difficult life and that trusting anyone was not her strong point. She had also heard recently through Jay in London that Frankie's mother had given up on her as she was becoming nasty to her too so Frankie was alone in the world.

Sam pushed past Frankie and carried on with her run, she couldn't get the picture of the gaunt forlorn woman that was Frankie out of her mind, "Ok she would love Cat forever, but the betrayal had made that love feel like it wasn't deserved and Cat was a past love but Frankie well she had lived in hope all that time, she couldn't move on because of the guilt of the way Cat died." Sam arrived back at the apartment and showered.

Lexy arrived home worn out, "that was a hell of a day, real busy, saw that guy what's his name Crawford from your place today, he brought his son in he's real poorly."

"What's up with him?" Sam was immediately concerned, Crawford had been a real friend to her for a number of years.

"Suspected Meningitis, it's not good Sam; he'll need a lot of support from you guys."

"He'll have it Lexy anyone would going through that."

The conversation got on to kid's and having kids then somehow swung onto Frankie, "She can't move on Sam because she has nothing and no one, she has alienated her friends even Tess got the short straw when she tried to help her."

"I know she told me but I didn't think she had got so bad, I do actually feel sorry for the woman, she… fuck what the hell was that?" A loud scream came from below then a crashing sound. Sam and Lexy raced onto the landing and saw a woman about to leave Frankie's flat, Frankie was covered in blood and was trying to hold on to the woman, "give it back now, Frankie grabbed at the woman's coat, the woman hit out again and more blood appeared on Frankie's cheek, "You bitch it's all I've got," Sam ran down the stairs and grabbed the woman, Sam's strength over powered her and she fell to the ground. The police left with the woman in the back of the car.

"She's a known to us Frankie now are you alright? Sam was concerned, Lexy had looked Frankie over and patched her up, the wounds were superficial. "What do you care," Frankie was acting like a petulant child.

"Despite you being a shit and Cat being in love with you and me at the same time I do care about you now, Frankie I didn't give a flying fuck last year but I see you now and you can't move on you function you don't live. I care but if you don't want me to then that's fine," Sam left the flat and went back upstairs with Lexy, "that was some speech Sam I'm glad you said it too, it means you really are moving forward you and me together, I love you Sam."

"I love you Lexy more than I have ever loved before."

The knock at the door came as a surprise to Sam and Lexy, "wonder who that is, " Lexy opened the door and Frankie was standing there, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sor…." she sunk to the floor and cried, Sam was beside Lexy they helped Frankie into their flat. "I'm so sorry," Sam was about to speak but Lexy made the cut signal to her, They sat as Frankie's tears fell, she eventually stopped and went to stand up, "I better go I shouldn't be here."

Sam stood and gently pushed her back on to the chair, "You don't have to Frankie, look I hated you but that has all gone now, I will always love Cat but I have moved on Lexy is the light in my life she and Sadie took away the darkness."

At Sadie's name Frankie looked up "Sadie?"

"Not like that she took me out of myself we are good friends and I love her for the care she gave me when I needed it most, she made me see sense," Frankie looked skeptical but said nothing, "You need someone Frankie, someone just to be there for you, I can be if you want me to be, I know Cat would have wanted you to find happiness now she can't give you that."

"I can't stop wanting her, I totally fuckeded up when I ran, I was scared it was going too fast and when I came back you were there and I couldn't bare it I tried but she was in to you so I ran again thinking I could let her go but I couldn't and when she had said in an email you were to marry and that she wasn't sure she was ready that's why I came back again to try again and when she came to the hotel well, I wanted to win her back, she was the love of my life Sam but I screwed up your life and mine and everyone lost Cat because of me, Judy and Jerry don't want to know me and they were good to me, I was so lonely when I was growing up only Aunty Karen cared about me that shit of a father of mine used me as a punch bag, he hated me but Jerry was the father I dreamed about, he was kind and he doted on Cat, Judy was lovely but too fussy over us she didn't suspect us until Cat's Gran caught us kissing in her shed when she came home from her game of bridge early."

"I found the wood with your initials on it and the note in her draw."

"I carved them on the side of the blackboard as kids, when the school was being torn apart I asked a workman could I have that piece and he got it for me."

"Cat was yours Frankie she never stopped loving you it was the trusting that had been broken apart, I know it now Cat loved me but not like she loved you, you were her true love, I have found my true love now Frankie, I thought I had with Cat but it wasn't, Lexy and I have no secrets and I am totally devoted to her," a voice from the kitchen came back, "and me to you Sam forever."

Frankie slept for the first time in years, she lay on her bed and sleep overtook her in minutes. She could feel something was changing inside her, it was small but it was a beginning.