Disclaimer see previous.

Waiting Game?

Justine rested her head on the pile of folders on Ronnie's desk and began to let her eyes flutter closed. Her unruly curly hair fell in to her face as Natalie watched from the doorway. She couldn't help but smile as she realised the little girl was like a miniture version of Angie.

"Guv?" Ronnie pushed his glasses to the top of his head as she looked up.

"Yeah?"

"She definately staying wiv you?"

"Yeah." Natalie nodded. "My oldest is away at uni and the baby. Listen to me, baby! He's 16. Anyway he's not back from that football trip until tomorrow. Me and Justine will be company for each other."

"Right."

"Ron?"

"Well, it's getting on a bit. Police station is no place for a five year old. Look I was thinking."

"Careful." Natalie couldn't help but smirk at the contrite look on Ronnie's face. He rolled his eyes.

"As I was sayin'. Justine has only got the clothes she's sat in, now my little 'un has a spare pair of pjamas at 'ome. I could drop them round. Then in the morning get to the shop or get Angie's house key and get 'er own stuff." He folded his arms as Natalie smiled. The stallwart of MIU really was more thoughtful than they all gave him credit for.

"Yeah, that'd be nice. You could 'av your dinner wiv us. I mean Justine knows you, so it'd be nice for her to have a friendly face around." Natalie glanced back at the now snoring five year old as Ronnie smiled.

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James stared into space. There was definately more noise from outside the room than there had been since he had been dumped there a few days earlier. All he knew was everything ached. He felt as though he had been dragged through the mill. He closed his eyes and listened as the sound of footsteps and a man's voice began to get nearer.

"Matt?" He strained to hear the younger man call his name but was half afraid he was hallucinating. He closed his eyes once more and yelled back, hoping that his friends could hear him.

###############

Alesha stared at the paper work in front of her. The case seemed to have more loose ends than it had answers. She sighed as she looked at the clock hoping that Matt and the team had found her friend. The last thing she wanted was for Natalie to upgrade the charges to include murder. She pushed the paperwork away from her as she closed her eyes. It was getting too much, her friend was missing and another was in hospital. It was only hours earlier that she thought Matt had been shot.

"Alesha?" Jake walked in as she opened her eyes.

"Hi."

"Have you seen what the time is? Go home." He perched on the edge of the desk as she tried not to glare at him. While she had been grateful that he had taken her to the hospital she still couldn't bring herself to trust him.

"I'm fine." She faked a smile.

"Alesha."

"No Jake." She stood up and walked towards the filing cabinet, resting her hand on her abdomen as the baby kicked. "I'll go home the same time James does. And he is coming home."

"I don't doubt it." He smiled. "James was a good bloke."

"Was? He isn't dead and you just said yourself that you didn't doubt it." Alesha glared at him as they both fell silent. A soft knock on the office door broke the atmosphere as Alesha turned to see Bea walk in.

"Hi, I er. Is there any news?"

"Bea McCardle?" Jake folded his arms. "Why would you be so interested?"

"Jake, this is Bea. James' ex wife. Andy's mum." Alesha sighed. "No Bea, nothing concrete yet."

"You would tell me? I know we've not seen eye to eye." Bea bit her bottom lip as Jake made his excuses and left. He already felt out of place. He knew James was dead but it seemed none of his team would acknowledge that fact.

"Bea." Alesha started. "How's Andy? Sit down." She motioned towards the chairs next to the wall as she waited. She was convinced the defense lawyer had something to tell her. She dreaded to think what.

##################

Matt took a deep breath as he assessed the area. He wished Ronnie was with him but knew there was no way his partner could have got to the small lock up garage before him. He nodded to the PC that was currently battering the door down.

"Remember we think there is a misper in there." Matt sighed as he saw the impossibly young police man nod.

"Yes Guv."

Matt shook his head sadly. He had never been referred to as Guv, he hoped it was a long time before he was referred to as it again. He let the PC and another uniform officer walk in first before pulling his scarf tighter and stepping in.

"POLICE!" He yelled as one officer located a light. "POLICE!" Matt yelled for a second time. He paused as he heard a muffled reply. "JAMES? JAMES!" He waited as the impossibly young policeman turned to him.

"Sir?"

"He's here." Matt jogged towards the steel door at the end of the short corridor. "Get back up. We've just found James Steel."

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A/N More soon.