Last Chapter my lovelies xxx
Chapter 9
…...
Ronnie watched from the entrance of the station as Matt said goodbye to Claire, smiling as she gave Matt as hug before she left. He walked back inside, looking a lot more happier than he had a few hours later.
"Everything okay Mattie?"
"Yeah, I'm glad she came to her senses. He'll go down now, it's the least Lane deserves."
"Well I agree with you there Mattie, come on…I need a coffee."
They were just about to go back upstairs when Natalie came storming into the building, her face like thunder.
"Guv, good news…we've charged Lane with the assault on Claire aswell as you."
"Oh, that's great Ron…"
"Hey, you okay."
She looked between Matt and Ronnie and Matt could see she wanted to speak to Ronnie alone.
"I'll eh…leave you to it." Matt smiled, as he walked away.
Ronnie waited for Matt to leave before taking Natalie's arm and leading her over to the row of seats in reception.
"Alright what's up?"
"James…"
"Ahh, what's he done?"
"He's being a childish idiot that's what."
"This about the friend thing…?"
"He told you."
"We had a chat while you were in with Claire."
"Why is he being like this Ron, what did he expect me to say for god sake."
"I don't know what to say Nat, us Men…we can be idiots sometimes. We say things without thinking first. Don't take it to personally, he'll be back grovelling before you know it."
…
Alesha arrived back at the office and dumped her belongings on her desk, she turned around and nearly jumped out of her skin when she saw James lying on the couch by the window.
"Bloody hell James, you scared the hell out of me."
"Sorry."
"You alright, what's the matter?"
"What makes you think anything's wrong."
"The look on your face, what's up." She asked, walking over and kneeling beside him.
"Natalie…"
"Oh, is she okay?"
"Don't worry, she's fine. It's just me, I messed up."
"The case?"
"No, in a personal sense."
"James, what are you on about."
"Natalie and I."
"You and DI Chandler, really."
"You didn't know, Matt didn't tell you?"
"No, he didn't. It's becoming a habit of his, I'll talk to him about that later. So come on then, what did you do to make her mad at you?"
"She referred to me as her friend in front of Claire and I got a little offended by it and I…."
"Seriously, what a stupid thing to fall out over. What did you expect her to say, this is the man I'm seeing."
"I know okay, I acted like an idiot…it's just."
"What?"
"I really like her Alesha….alot" He smiled.
"Yeah…"
"Yeah."
"Then why are you lying there telling me, go and tell her." She smiled.
…
Natalie was just packing up for the evening when Ronnie poked his head around the door.
"Guv, we're heading over to the pub…care to join us."
"Not tonight Ron, I think I'll go home and take a nice hot bath."
"You sure."
"I'm okay Ron really."
"See you in the morning Guv."
"Night Ron."
Ronnie closed the door behind him as Natalie continued putting some of her files in to her very large handbag when she heard the door again.
"Ron, I already told you I….James."
"Hey." He smiled.
"What are doing here?"
"I thought I'd bring you a piece offering." He said.
He walked further into her office, producing a large bunch of flowers from behind his back, handing them to Natalie. She took the bouquet of roses and inhaled the sweet smell before placing them on her desk.
"Is this supposed to make up for your childish behaviour."
He gave her a sympathetic look before moving closer to her and wrapped his arms around her waist, bringing her into him.
"I was an idiot…a childish, stupid idiot. Forgive me."
"I can't deal with all that crap again James, I put up with that with David…I won't do it again."
"You won't have to, I know you've been through a lot and I promise never to behave like that again. I don't want to hurt you, I care about you too much."
He leaned in and kissed her gently on the lips, Natalie brought her arms around his neck, bringing him closer.
"Alright, I'll forgive you…this time and only this time. I meant it James, no more crap."
"My word, I love you."
Natalie took a step back, looking a little shocked by his sudden declaration.
"You what."
"You heard me, I love you."
"Don't you think it's a bit early to be saying things like that?"
"No I don't, life is short….it's okay, I'm not expecting you to say it back or anything. It's just…you really do something to me, I can't explain it."
"I do like you James…a lot, just give me a little time okay."
"Of course, are you heading home."
"Yeah, all I want now is a nice long hot bath." She smiled.
"You fancy some company." He grinned.
"I think there's room for two."
He took hold of her hand as they made their way out of the building and home to enjoy the rest of their evening, safe in the knowledge that Maxwell Lane would pay for everything he'd done.
…
-end
