Disclaimer: I still dont own anything. I havent stopped trying though!

Another saddish chapter!


Millie's point of view


After that tirade of abuse aimed at Max, I stormed into the locker room. I put my head in my hands and pulled my phone from my pocket I turned it back on and it flashed saying there was 10 voicemail messages and 15 text messages. I decided I would listen to the voicemails to see what he had to say. I rang my voice mail and listened to the first one.

Millie, I don't know what I expected would be the outcome of ringing you. I guess......I guess I thought that you might want to........that you might hear me out. But I don't know why I thought that. I......I don't know what to say Millie. I don't know how I can get you to forgive me or get you to speak to me so that I can tell you why I need you to forgive me. Aleks and I are getting a divorce Millie. We might as well have been divorced 2 years ago. Millie, I need to speak with you. I do love you, I hope you know that and I am not giving up on US!

Max hung up I listened to the second one.

Mills, please. I need you, I love you, please forgive me, it's you I want.

The line went dead. I listened to the third one.

Mills, please let me talk to you. Let me explain. I know that I don't deserve it but please give me another chance. Please. Millie, I am absolutely nothing without you. You make me feel outgoing, strong, loved, happy, together. When I'm with you I can actually smile and forget everything. I can face the world.......I can face anything because I know I'll be coming home to the woman I love, and that woman is you. You are the love of my life and I can't bear to lose you so please just let me explain. We can be good together. Mills, don't give up on us. I'll fight for you and I'll fight for US!

That was it I couldn't take anymore of his begging. I hung up, opened my locker and put on my uniform. DI Manson was on leave so that he could spend time with his son, so Max was Acting DI at the moment and had his own office. I stormed out of the locker room, completely ignoring Mel, Roger and Nate. I walked straight past them and up the stairs to CID. I got to Max's office, grabbed the door handle and stormed in. I saw him with his head down on the desk. So I slammed the door shut to get his attention. He looked up and there were tears in his eyes.


10 minutes earlier

Max's point of view


I was sitting in my office thinking of things to say to Millie if she would hear me out. When the phone rang, I hoped it might be Millie so I hurriedly answered it.

"Hello, Acting DI Carter speaking."

"Guv, Its PC Gayle."

"Ah, Ben what can I do for you?"

"Sir, I have a phone call for you at the front desk, I can patch it through to you."

"Okay. Thanks Ben."

There was a ringing sound on the phone. And then I was patched through.

"Hello, Acting DI Carter speaking"

"Max, it's Isabela." the other person answered. It was Aleksandra's mother.

"Isabela, how is Aleksandra, she told me to stay away. I've tried ringing the hospital but they won't tell me anything."

"She didn't want you to know just yet but I feel that it is only right to warn you. Aleksandra died last night Max. She had a brain haemorrhage. Apparently it was complications from the surgery. She asked the nurse not to ring you but to ring me if anything happened to her. We are flying her body into Poland. And would like to see you present at the funeral." Alek's mother said matter of factly, emotion hit me as i realised she had never got to fulfill her last wish of dying at home.

"Isabela, I don't know if that's a good idea. She told me she didn't want to see me."

"Aleksandra told the nurse that she wanted you there. I know she was going to divorce you Max. I know about this Millie. She asked the nurse to update me about everything. And not only do you have her blessing but you both have mine. I want whatever my daughter wanted. Please come Max." she begged her emotions slipping.

"I'll be there, when will it be?"

"2 weeks tomorrow."

"I'm going to get time off now and then book a flight in and a flight out."

"See you soon and be safe" she sobbed.

"Be safe Isabela"

She hung up and I slowly put the phone down. The world had lost a good woman and I had lost a best friend. I lay my head on the desk as I began to shed some tears. Aleks wasn't my wife she was my friend.....my best friend. 27 years old and she is gone forever. I had to sort things out with Millie. Life is just too short for us to argue. I heard someone open the door. I felt that person's eyes bore into me and then the door slammed. I looked up and saw Millie. I felt like a pathetic mess.

I saw concern in her eyes and I tried to smile. But she knew something was up. I had hoped she hadn't realised as having to explain Aleks had died wasn't going to bode well for us.

"Max, what's wrong?" she asked the dreaded question.

"Look Millie, let me explain first. Please?" i begged

"Okay, go ahead." i felt relief as she said she would hear me out and my words began to fail me. i decide the only way to get around this was to start from the beginning...... the very beginning.

"Aleks and I met in Poland when she was 16 and I was 24. We lived next door to each other. We got together when she was 19. We married when she was 21. She then fell pregnant with Max Junior just after the honeymoon. He was 4 years old when he died. The first man I ever killed had a family that were ruthless and wanted their revenge, Aleks had convinced herself she was being followed; I dismissed it and told her she was being unreasonable. They shot at her and wounded her, she couldn't stop them shooting Max Junior as she was unconscious when they shot him dead." i admitted

"Oh my God Max. I didn't realise." she seemed genuinly sorry for me. but i didnt want her to.

"When they shot her she was pregnant. She lost the baby as a result of the trauma. We both blamed ourselves, still do. Stopped speaking to each other, grew apart. We've just been sharing the same empty house for the past 2 years. We slept in different rooms, couldn't look into each other's eyes. And then I met you. And you changed everything for me Mills. I just wish I had split from her before I pursued you. I made a big mistake by not telling you the truth. And I am so sorry about it."

"So how is she?" she asked me that dreaded question again.

"Please be open minded Millie."

"What are you trying to say Max?"

"She collapsed due to a brain tumour."

"Oh Max. What happened?"

"Doctor told me she was terminal. It was already in the cervix, bowel and breast. They asked me whether I would like them to operate even though there are risks. I said yes. They operated and she was in recovery, they said the operation went well. When she came around we spoke to each other and she told me that I love you. She saw the way I looked at you yesterday. She asked me for a divorce, told me exactly what we've both been thinking for the past 2 years and that was it. She was going to Poland to spend the seven months she had left with her Mum and Dad. She told me she wanted us to be together."

"Max, you still haven't answered my question."

"She died last night. She had a brain haemorrhage as a result of the surgery."

"Oh Max I'm so sorry. When did you find out?"

"About 10 minutes ago. Her mum called me."

"I thought you would be her next of kin."

"She changed it to her Mum. Turns out she knew I was in love with someone else and didn't want to be a burden. She knew long before yesterday. She was going to tell me before she collapsed. That's why she switched places with the other copper that was supposed to be dropping that suspect off."

"Max, You still lied to me. You still made me your bit on the side."

"Millie please I need you."

"How can I trust you Max? You've lied to me before. How can I know for sure that she said the exact things you are repeating to me now? How will I ever know that I was your first choice? How can you prove to me that the reason you want me is because she's dead?"

"I don't know Millie. How can I?"

"I haven't got an answer for that either. Its over max. And anyway, it's too late. I am sorry to hear of her death and i do genuinley feel for you max but it still doesnt change anything. I'm sorry."