Disclaimer not mine

A Case to Answer?

Steve stared at the computer screen in front of him. The case seemed to be taking on a life of its own and he did not like it. Sighing heavily he looked up to see Sacha place a mug of steaming coffee next to a pile of files Brian had dumped on his desk earlier.

"Danny called." She stated.

"Oh right." He paused. "And?"

"And it seems Holly has been able to help. She ran the CCTV footage through a clean up. Whatever that is and she has come up trumps." Steve shook his head.

"Holly?" He watched as she smirked. "Isn't she his teenage daughter?"

"Yeah, he didn't say it was her but I've known Holly since she was a toddler. There is no way Danny would have a clue what to do with that footage." Sacha smiled. "Have you spoken to Jack?"

"He's called. He's on his way back."

"Right." She bit her lip for a moment. "How is she?"

"Sepsis." Steve looked up. "Jack said the doctor thinks she has this thing called sepsis. Like an infection but all through her system. Could be because her immune system was run down after the chemo." He looked away as Sacha sighed heavily. She knew Sandra was still the UCOS Guv and as far as the men on her team were concerned she always would be.

"What? Never heard of it." Sacha frowned, knowing that this mystery illness would not be good, and that it would take away the focus of at least four of the team. That would leave her, Danny and Steve to focus on the case. Her brother had to have been wrongly convicted and now Gail was missing she knew they were on to something. But how? How could she follow it up with just two officers when she knew everyone would think that she was on a personal vendetta to clear her dead brother's name. She shook the thought from her mind, knowing that it was selfish to think of her case, her brother when Sandra seemed to be so ill.

"I hadn't either. I called Charlie. You know? My Charlie." He smiled as he thought of his younger fiance. Sacha nodded.

"Yeah. And?"

"She is really poorly. Sepsis is a nasty illness. Think of the body being poisoned by a pathogen that it can't fight. There's all this research saying that the first hour since onset of symptoms is vital. If you can catch it then there is a fairly good chance."

"The Golden Hour." Brian stated as he looked up from his own computer. "Esther called. I told her to pick me up. I'll go down the hospital when we've finished 'ere. Give Gerry a break."

"Ok." Sacha nodded. "Good idea. Danny is on his way in, you can go now if you want."

"Thanks. But I'll finish this."

"What are you doing?" Steve asked, suddenly interested in the older man's work.

"We know Sorenson died three years ago."

"Yeah." Steve nodded.

"We know he had cancer. Testicular cancer." Brian continued, oblivious to the face that Sacha was glaring at him.

"So?" She snapped.

"He had to attend hospital once he was diagnosed. He didn't find the lump or at least he didn't report it to the prison doctor until it was too late to really do anything." Brian continued. "But looking at the records he did stay in hospital over night at least twice. In that time he had two visitors. One was you, Sacha. Of course you visited him."

"Who else?" Danny asked as he walked into the office.

"Gail."

"We have to find her." Sacha stated. Brian nodded.

"Didn't Gerry say the girl at the bar gave them her address?"

"I'll get a warrent." Sacha headed into the office she shared with Sandra, picking up her phone before she had sat down.

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Gerry looked up as the doctor walked into the room. Sandra had barely moved, the only sign she as alive the rhythmical bleeping of the monitor that signalled each breath she took.

"We have her blood tests back."

"And?" Gerry couldn't hide the fact he had been crying. Sniffing he blinked as the doctor sat down.

"Your wife has been through a lot physically. Chemo and radio have taken their toll." He began as Gerry nodded. "But we have her on the right antibiotics. Her urine screen and chest xray are clear. We're waiting on blood cultures but I am confident her infection markers are going to settle down in the next day or so."

"So, she's going to be ok?"

"Sandra is unwell. Very unwell but we can help her. The breast cancer is being treated appropirately and we have her on the right medication for the sepsis. The rest is up to her." The doctor watched as Gerry nodded before turning his attention back to Sandra. Sighing heavily the doctor mumbled something about him getting some rest before leaving the room.

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"I have a warrent." Sacha yelled as she walked out of the office. "Come on Steve, Danny we have work to do."

"What about me?" Brian turned back as he picked up his cycle helmoet.

"You look after Gerry and Jack. They are going to need you." Sacha smiled before ushering the other men out of the office. He just hoped he could.

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A/N More soon. PLease review.