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The weather had cleared a little by the time Sandra reached the car. Jack sat in the passenger seat, not looking forward to the visit to the nursing home. He knew the place was the best Sandra could afford but he couldn't help see the irony that the man they needed to speak to was in the same nursing home as Grace Pullman.

"Did you have to tell him?" Sandra asked as they worked their way through the London traffic. He sighed heavily.

"It's Gerry."

"I know."

"He cares about you. Sandra, believe it or not you need someone in your life. Your mum won't be here forever, neither will I."

"Jack."

"Sandra. What your mother did was wrong but it was a long long time ago. Mary and I have always thought of you as family. Mary's gone, God rest her but she'd tell you what I'm saying now. Stop pushing people away. You're not a kid anymore and you may just end up a lonely, bitter old woman. Like Grace if you don't at least let someone close. I don't want that for you, Sandra. I know what it's like to feel old and alone. You deserve more." He looked out the passenger window as she drove along.

"Jack?"

"What?"

"Thanks."

"Don't get me wrong. Gerry is a pain in the backside at times but he means well and he's always been there for you. Now I know he's a bit older."

"But not wiser." She parked the car as Jack realised where they were. "I might pop in on mum before we go."

"Good idea." He followed her out of the car as Sandra headed towards the main entrance of the austere looking building.

Xxxxxx

Gerry shoved his hands in his pockets as he walked towards the small cafe on the street corner. He had hated his time in Vice Squad, knowing that they were never going to be able to break every porno ring or sex trafficking scheme the sick people of the world came up with. He shook his head remembering why he had hated visiting the sex shop so much. It wasn't that he was a prude, far from it! Only the 'sexy' gear he saw in the shop made him think of the victims he had seen, girls roughly the age his daughters were exploited and abused. Nothing about that shop had been appealing to him. Sighing he pushed the cafe door open, glad that the woman who owned the shop had suggested they meet on neutral group.

"Gerry Standing. UCOS."

"Thought so, you look like a copper." The middle aged woman smirked. Gerry raised an eyebrow. "Sit down then, I won't bite. Not if you don't want me to."

Xxxxxxxxx

Danny walked through the doors of the Mental Health Referral Unit knowing the doctors would question him about his wife's relationship with Holly. The truth was his daughter was bright, intelligent, bubbly and determined. The teenager knew her own mind. There was no way he could force the girl to see her mother if she didn't want to. He nodded to one of the nurses he recognised before heading towards the consultant's office.

"Ah Mr Griffin."

"Doctor Reynolds."

"Thank you for coming. No Holly?"

Dan sat in the chair opposite. Narrowing his eyes he knew the man opposite him thought Holly should visit her mother.

"No. She's not a thirteen year old child anymore. She's an adult - studying at uni. She's getting her life together and while I would never dare stop her seeing her mother I won't force her to either. Holly was born with cerebral palsy, she's never let it define who she is. Holly Griffin is a strong, independent and beautiful young woman and I am proud to be her Dad, now if she doesn't want to see the woman who tried to kill her because she wrongly believed the cerebral palsy was the devil's work I will not force the issue. I'm sorry, but neither you nor my wife has any right to try to force the issue."

"She's desperately sorry. The new medication has allowed her to gain an insight into her condition."

"Good." Dan stated.

"She won't see you unless Holly is with you. I'm sorry, Mr Griffin."

"Well, that's her choice." Dan got to his feet. "I'd better get back to work." He turned, leaving the office and the doctor behind him.

Xxxxxx

A/N please review