Disclaimer: I still dont own this. See previous chapters.
Tears
Matt pulled back from Alesha feeling slightly embarrassed that she'd seen him cry. Alesha just stood there and waited for him to speak. He shrugged as he rang a hand over his eyes.
"Everyone is worried about you Matt" Alesha leant against the wall as Matt looked down.
"Thanks, but there really is no need" Alesha raised an eyebrow as Matt turned and walked towards the living room.
"Yeah I can see that." she knew Matt didn't like to show anyone how he felt. She folded her arms as Matt refused to meet her eye.
"Ronnie said this case is more complicated than we thought. That it has hit you hard" she kept her voice low as Matt continued to stare at the floor. He sat on the edge of the brown leather sofa as she sat in front of him.
"I'll be ok Alesha. Just got a bit of flu." he rubbed his hands over his eyes.
"Had some news too. I'll be ok. I'll be back to work before you miss me"
Alesha stood and walked towards him, there was no way the red rimmed eyes that stared back at her had been caused by the flu. Plus Matt never got ill. She'd never known him take time off work.
"I already miss you" she smiled as she reached up to pull his hand away from his face.
Matt knew that Alesha wasn't buying his lies. He didn't really want to tell anyone what happened, it was so long ago. Not like the ordeal Alesha had been through. He'd dealt with it as best he could alone all these years he could keep doing it now. But Alesha stood in front of him as he met her eyes made his resolve weaken. He was annoyed with himself too, he'd barely cried at the time or since but since his mother had contacted him it was as if the floodgates had opened.
"Ronnie and Angie are going to talk to Danny Morris today." Matt nodded "We go to trial in a week." she kept her voice even as she noticed Matt take a deep breath. He nodded as he stood.
"Ok." he tried to smile but it didn't meet his eyes. Alesha looked along the sofa as Matt stepped towards her. "What's the black suit for?" she noticed the black trouser suit that hung over the back of the chair. Matt had got it out when he had been trying to decide whether to go to the funeral.
"Supposed to go to a funeral next week. My step father died. Heart attack" his voice was low and monotone as he told Alesha. She ran a hand along his arm.
"Oh I'm so sorry" she gripped his arm as Matt looked away.
"I'm not" his voice was so cold that Alesha immediately dropped her hand.
"You're not sorry or you're not going to the funeral?" Alesha was struggling to understand.
"Both" he sighed as he saw Alesha frown.
"Look I really can't go and I really can't talk about this. I'm sorry" he could feel the tears threaten to fall once more as Alesha nodded. He sat on the sofa.
"I know all about not talking about things Matt. It doesn't help." she held his gaze as he nodded.
"I know. This is different though" he leant back as she frowned. She knew he was pushing her away from him but she didn't understand why. They had grown so close, she knew he had feelings for her and she knew how she felt about him,.
"Different? Because this is happening to you and not me?" she raised her voice slightly, shocked when Matt flinched. He nodded.
"What happened Matt?" she was on the verge of tears once more as she sat next to him. He looked at his hands as she took his between her smaller ones, gently rubbing her thumb over the back of his hand.
"Lesh" he whispered as they both stared at their entwined hands. "I just. I never have talked about it. I don't know how to." she smiled sadly as she raised her eyes to his.
"I'm not going anywhere. We've got time" she felt a little bolder as he smiled for the first time since she had arrived at the flat.
Xx
Ronnie and Angie had spent the best part of an hour talking to Danny Morris. Ronnie concluded he was a good kid as Angie walked back to the car.
"So, what? We put him on the stand and hope to God he sticks to the story?" Angie opened the driver's side door of the car as she looked across the bonnet to Ronnie.
"Something like that yeah. Look he wants to see his Dad punished. His older brother ended up a junkie and his brains are so addled he aint no use to anyone and his little sister is terrified. Its only young Danny that has the guts to stand up to his thug of a father." Angie nodded as Ronnie got in the car. She liked Ronnie and Matt but secretly couldn't wait until Matt returned to work.
The drive back to the police station was fairly peaceful. Angie had asked a few questions about the case and Ronnie had kept his answers short and to the point. He liked Angie but he was worried about Matt. He just hoped Alesha could sort out whatever was wrong with the young DS before things got out of hand.
Xxxxxxxxxxx
Natalie Chandler had returned from her meeting with the DCI in a bad mood. He'd given all the DI's a right talking to and she wasn't happy about it. Shaking her head as she sat in her office she couldn't help but wonder what had happened to her team, the outer office was empty as she decided a strong coffee was in order if she was going to get through the rest of the day without screaming. She was boiling the kettle as Ronnie walked in looking slightly dejected.
"What's wrong with you?" she got two extra mugs out as Angie hung up her coat.
"Danny Morris. Poor kid, went through hell with Jimmy Morris. Think we got enough witness statements lined up to go to trial though. I spoke to James and Alesha this morning." he sat at his desk.
"Good" Natalie poured the coffee as Angie leaned against Matt's desk
"Yeah. I can't see him getting away with it this time, especially not now uniform have found the drugs factory" she smiled slightly as she sipped the coffee.
"And Matt? Where is he?" Natalie raised her eyebrows as she drank her coffee
"Sick Ma'am" Ronnie answered
"Sick? That's not like him. Everything ok?" she had a feeling whatever was wrong with Matt it wasn't medical. Cases where children and women were victims or the slightest hint that families were involved he took the case to heart. He seemed to take it personally. She watched as Ronnie tried to find the right words. Sighing he eventually answered.
"I 'ope so Ma'am. I really do" before opening another file on his desk.
Xx
Alesha had sat listening to Matt for the last hour. He talked as if he was giving evidence. Just the facts, no emotion as Alesha tried to swallow the lump in her throat. Matt sighed as he laid his head back against the sofa.
"Is your sister going to go? To the funeral I mean?" she turned her head to look at Matt as he nodded
"Yeah I think Kate will go. She never really got hurt. She's a fair bit younger than me, was only 5 when Mum married him see. I was 11. I made sure he never touched her. I did my best to make sure Kate was never alone with him. Got in between them as we grew up, made sure I took the beatings rather than her." Alesha smiled. That sounded like the Matt she knew and loved. Always trying to protect the ones he loved, people that couldn't stand up for themselves.
Alesha leant up and kissed Matt's cheek. Their hands were still entwined as he looked down. He couldn't help but smile slightly as Alesha rested her head on his shoulder.
"What about your Mum?" she almost whispered as Matt closed his eyes.
"Dunno. I expect she will be there. Honestly Lesh, I haven't seen her since the day I left home at 18 and Kate went to live with my Gran. She didn't ask why her 11 year old daughter didn't want to live with her, just let us both go. I was determined to have Kate with me, but she was happy with Gran. She died after Kate left school. The only person in my family I see now is Kate. I don't want to see any of the others" he took a deep breath as Alesha turned to face him on the sofa.
"If you want to go. If you change your mind I'll come with you." he smiled as she touched his face, bringing their lips inches apart. He closed his eyes as Alesha pulled him closer. She had intended the kiss to be brief but when Matt deepened it she didn't resist, this time she didn't pull back until the need for oxygen became over whelming. The pair sat there breathing heavily as he rested his forehead against hers.
"Alesha" he whispered as she smiled. "Um?" she answered
Her eyes locked with his as she stood up, pulling his hand so he stood with her. Both her hands came to rest on his chest.
"Matt" she smiled as he rested his hands on her arms.
"Go to bed." his eyes widened. "To sleep!" she laughed lightly. He blushed and nodded as she reached up and kissed him again.
"I'll be here when you wake up. You don't have to do this on your own."
Xx
Ronnie and James had been going over the case for the last hour. He had explained the reasons why Alesha wasn't with them. James hadn't seemed to mind that she had skipped work. He knew they needed Matt back and if Alesha skipping a few hours work got him back to them then he was happy. He just wouldn't tell George.
"So we go to trial with three witnesses from the 2001 case. Natalie will give evidence too. Along with myself and Mattie boy we've got Danny Morris, Elaine Wilson and his girlfriend Tammy Jones." Ronnie read the file as James nodded.
"Yes that's right." he was tired. It was Friday night and he wanted to get home. His son was staying for the weekend.
"Monday we'll meet up go through everything before the trial starts. How about we meet here at 9? Alesha and I don't have to be in Chambers before 11." Ronnie nodded.
"Sounds a plan James" he stood and retrieved his coat "I want this one James. I want this scumbag to go down for this." James smiled.
"Oh I think he will Ronnie. I think we will be seeing Mr Morris pay the price for what he did"
author's note. Thank you so much for the reviews. Hope you like this bit. Really isnt much left. Please review x
