Thanks for the responses last time, folks, it was amazing! Interesting to see what people think of Sue both here and in the show—huge range of opinions. Personally, I'm wondering if that moment with Hector at the end of 9b is going to factor in Simon's ultimate departure in any way so… I'm intrigued for what's coming, not least to see how Christine copes with her demotion. That was one of the reasons I decided to follow canon with this story.

Reviews, then!

Faith: I'm not sure it would matter even if he did know, given she's his daughter. Although… h'mm, you've given me an idea. I'll have to play with it first!

Paisley: Thanks!

Jessiekat89: Christine knows the odds are against her, but the question is whether it's as much of an issue as she thinks… ;) As for Louisa, more on that next time!

Guest: I usually only update once a week, but inspiration has flowed unusually freely this time.

can't log in: Sue on magic mushrooms? That is genius. Instead of tranquillisers, perhaps.

: Sue's not too pleasant in this next bit, but I do have sympathy with her. I think Simon was right—she's probably better suited to a more academically inclined school. I've had experience of trying to teach in a school that's not academic and it can be soul destroying if you're that way inclined yourself. You really need to rethink why (and how) you're doing it.

Sue Spark: um, oops? LOL.

AmyOncer: Seems like he's already gone, as far as current filming is concerned!

Fliss: Thank you! And thanks for sharing about Simon, that's interesting (as well as annoying because it's still what, three months before it's on again?!).

Guest: More on Sue coming up next! Whether it's 'redeeming' or not will be for you to decide, I think.

Loveistheprotection: You should enjoy this next bit!

SweetiesNCupcakes: Thanks! I'm starting to develop more of a backstory for Sue in my head, but if you've any dark secret ideas you'd like to share/see pursued drop me a line and I'll think about it.

Staff Room, 8.30am

Tom was in a good mood as he followed Simon Lowsley into the staffroom for that morning's briefing, his eyes automatically seeking out Christine, seated as usual between Audrey and Maggie with Sonya perching on the arm of the latter's chair. The other teachers huddled in clusters throughout the room; at this time, the heating was very reluctantly coming to life and the room often took hours to reach a comfortable temperature.

Simon, he saw, seemed rather pleased with himself. Sue, seated alone across the coffee table from Christine et al, was anything but if her long face was anything to go by. He looked towards his stepdaughter, who'd forged an awkwardly tentative friendship with the young teacher, and raised questioning eyebrows, but Mika's only answer was a shrug. Then Simon started talking about his big idea for the day and Tom found there was no time for extras.

'Some of you might have seen the coverage in the Times Ed last week about raising classroom participation by banning the raising of hands. Yeah? It was in one of the supplements—' As the staff murmured, Tom's heart sank as he scoured his own memory of the articles in question. 'Well, we're gonna give it a go, because hey, anything's worth trying to raises standards, yeah?'

This time the murmur was unquestionably dubious. Tom could see how Simon's shoulders slumped at the lack of enthusiasm.

'Come on, folks, it'll be great! This is how it works. Instead of the kids putting up their hands, the idea is that they call out answers and generate discussion amongst themselves. Or, you lot can steer things by inviting people to answer. They'll all have to pay attention because anyone can be picked on, see?'

'But that requires advance planning on our parts,' Audrey objected while George Windsor groaned. 'We haven't had the chance.'

'It'll be chaos,' George predicted gloomily. 'Sorry, Simon, no can do for me. I'll stick to tried and tested if you don't mind.'

'Oh, come on, George, you can't do that!' Simon protested. 'This is only gonna be a proper trial if we're all in it. C'mon, give it a try? Sue? Surely you did this last year—'

Sue visibly wilted, but with the battery of eyes on her she'd clearly decided she had to stand by her man, regardless of her true opinions. She gave a bright nod. 'Yes! Honestly, people, it's amazing! The kids really enjoy it, they find it so—so liberating!'

A profound and sceptical silence was the only response, and as Tom began to mentally file this under Great In Theory But Utterly Impractical in Real Life he was startled when his lover spoke up.

'For what it's worth, I'm in,' she said. 'I'm all for getting those kids who don't usually contribute to speak up and if this works—' She lifted her shoulders. 'Well, it's only for one day and it's worth a go.'

'Thanks, Christine. Thanks a million.' Simon sounded pathetically grateful. 'Anyone else?'

One by one the majority of the other staff agreed, and Tom had to struggle to repress a smug smile. Last term to the contrary, he found Simon to be a decent bloke, by and large, but he couldn't help appreciating this demonstration of the staff's continued loyalty to their former Head.

'George?' Christine prompted, glaring at her old friend, and Tom grinned. Christine's management of George Windsor was a wonder to behold. 'Come on, you're not going to sit this one out, are you?' Her lips twitched. 'Because otherwise we might start wondering if you're up to it—'

'Fine. Anything to keep you happy,' George snapped, folding his arms. 'But if the school tumbles down around our ears, it's you I'm blaming, Chrissie darling.'

She was unmoved.

'Blame away. I can't be held accountable for your poor classroom management.' The bell went at that point and Christine rose. 'Are we done?'

She still had difficulty using Simon Lowsley's given name, Tom noted.

Simon nodded. 'Yeah, unless there's anything anyone wants to add?'

A series of rustlings as the staff rose to their collective feet was his answer, and Tom grinned again when the other man began to move towards the connecting door. He'd a feeling Simon Lowsley wasn't enjoying being Head of Waterloo Road as much as he'd anticipated—

'For God's sake, Tom, turn it down,' Christine muttered as she passed him. 'You're grinning like a loon.'

'Sorry.' He tried to moderate his smirk, but it was sabotaged when she gave a small but unmistakable wink. 'Lunch? My office?'

She looked surprised. 'Will you be back in time?'

'Bloody well better be,' he grumbled. 'Curriculum meetings are like watching paint dry. Having lunch with you, on the other hand—'

'Get a room, you two, and stop blocking the traffic,' George complained as he tried to get past. 'At least last term the rest of us didn't have this rubbed in our faces.'

Christine gave Tom a second wink and pivoted on her heel. 'What's the matter George, getting a little green?'

'Sod off, Chrissie.' George stalked past them, slamming the staffroom door in their faces, and Christine and Tom exchanged a look before bursting into laughter.

Next it was Sonya.

'Well done, boss! That's put 'im in 'is place an' all.' The secretary looked so wistful as she joined them that Tom gave Christine a meaning nudge; he'd a feeling that Sonya would appreciate the opportunity to vent.

As he'd hoped, she took the hint, putting a hand on the shorter woman's shoulder. 'Fancy working your magic on the photocopier for me?' When Sonya nodded, visibly brightening, Christine gave Tom a nod over her shoulder as they departed, and Tom turned to retrieve his own bag from where he'd dumped it.

And found the one other remaining occupant of the staffroom watching him with narrowed eyes, her arms folded.

'You and Christine are up to something,' Mika remarked. 'Going to tell us?'

'Nope,' he responded. 'None of your business.' He glanced at the door. 'Haven't you got somewhere to be?'

Mika gave a dismissive wave. 'Yeah, shadowing Sue.' She scoffed. 'Like I'll learn much from her, I think I can manage a class better than she does.'

Tom raised an eyebrow. 'Easy to say, my love. Easy to say. Fine, make yourself useful.' He pushed his briefcase into her arms. 'There's a whole pile of schemes of work in there. Sort 'em by subject, would you?' He turned to boil the kettle.

For several moments the only sounds were the bubbling of the water and the rustlings of the papers Mika was sorting, underscored by her melodious humming.

'It's serious, you and Christine,' she observed at last, and he stiffened, recalling her behaviour of the previous week.

'Yeah, and no trying to mess this up, Mika,' he warned, pointing the flat end of his teaspoon at her. 'Christine and me…. Well, we fit. Like I haven't experienced with a woman since… since your mum,' he ended softly.

Mika's eyes were very bright, their blue glistening. 'She's nothin' like my mum.'

'No,' Tom agreed, remembering Izzie. 'She's not, but that's OK. She's—she's amazing.' He gave a sheepish grin. 'I feel like a kid near her. I thought that part of me died when your mum did.'

'OK.' Mika's expression was very soft. 'As long as you're happy, that's all me and Chlo care about.'

'I am.' He thought of their secret resolution, their secret hope, and all at once he had to share it with someone. 'We're gonna try for a baby.'

Mika laughed. 'Very funny.'

'I'm not kidding.'

His adopted daughter stared. 'You're crazy, you've only been with her for how long?…And let's not forget, the woman's a alcoholic! How d'you know she won't fall off the wagon again and leave you literally holding the baby?'

Tom's lips compressed as he grabbed her by the wrist and dragged her to a seat. 'You don't know what you're talking about. D'you know why she drank?'

Her eyes round, Mika shook her head.

Tom had to take a deep breath, to prevent himself from screaming at her. 'She was raped. Connor's a product of that rape.' Mika's softly tanned complexion bleached to a sickly sallow tone before flushing. 'Yeah, exactly. Most women would have aborted, wouldn't they? Wouldn't you?' He glared and her gaze dropped. 'That's what I thought. Christine'd be the first to admit her failings as a parent, but what you're implying is absolutely not one of them.' A pause. 'She and her kids are my family now, just as much as you and Chlo. If you love me—'

She swallowed. 'OK, OK, keep your hair on. I'm sorry.' She hesitated, then, 'Connor's really…? And she's kept him his whole life, she's never—?'

'Yup.' Tom folded his arms. 'For better or for worse, that boy's only ever lived with his mother.'

Mika sighed. 'It still seems dead risky to me. She's how old, forty? Forty-five? Even if yous get pregnant the chance of complications is sky high. What if something goes wrong?'

'Then we'll deal with it, together. But we're not gonna borrow trouble!' He sat on the table opposite and reached for her hand. 'Please. I don't need your support, but I'd like to have it… especially as I'd like to marry her, eventually. If she'll have me.'

He was surprised when his self-possessed elder stepdaughter hurled herself at him.

'You're my dad, Tom,' she whispered into his ear. 'Better than our real dad ever was… I love you, no matter what. So yeah, if you're sure—'

His smile stretched from ear-to-ear when he pulled back. 'Thanks, love. I appreciate it. And I'm not ignoring your concerns,' he added more gently. 'We're not stupid, we know the risks, but nothing ventured and all that.' He glanced at the clock; it was nearly nine. The bell would be going at any minute and he had a sudden desperate need to speak to Christine before going to his Year 12s. 'I've gotta head; can you finish those papers for me?'

She nodded and he grinned and ran.

Mrs Mulgrew's room, 9.05am

'Best behaviour, you lot,' Christine warned her Year 10 tutor group as they began to file out on their way to Science. 'Remember, I'm just up here, h'mm? If I hear any trouble I will intervene and whoever's responsible will end up feeling extremely sorry for themselves, trust me. Understood?'

Her form group murmured and grumbled in response and she shook her head in exasperation, shuffling the piles of exam papers on her desk. She'd done the best she could; it was up to Sue now, and in the meantime Year 8 would be upon her at any moment.

'Come on, hurry up!' she heard Tom call, and she glanced up to see him at her classroom door. 'You're like a pack of snails, what is this, some kind of reverse race?'

Taking the hint, Year 10 moved with a little more alacrity and Tom entered, kicking the door shut behind him before crossing to her, his hands going to her shoulders and his eyes fixing on hers.

'What's wrong?'

His mouth quirked. 'Just thinking. You do want this, don't you?'

''Course I do.' She licked her lips. 'Where's this coming from?'

'I don't want to pressure you into this, after all, you're the one who'd need to do the hard work!'

'Tom, do you really think I'd let you pressure me into this? This? Really? Idiot.' She leaned forward to kiss him gently. 'It's just … what if we can't? What if we're too old? If I'm too old?' Her pulse was loud in her ears as she posed the question.

'We'll just accept it's not meant to be,' he said philosophically, and some of the tight ball of twisted anxiety inside her began to relax. 'But there's nothing stopping us from having a hell of a lot of fun in the meantime, is there?'

She laughed. 'You're worse than the kids.'

He grinned. 'Yeah, and you love it. Talking of the kids—'

'What?'

'You should tell them,' he said in a rush. 'Or at least Connor.'

Momentarily she closed her eyes, trying to picture all the ways that conversation could go. 'That'll be awkward.'

'Better than Imogen's lectures on contraception,' he reminded her, his own eyes twinkling, and once again she found herself laughing. Despite everything, she'd done more of that in the past month that she had in years.

'Fine, I'll do it.' Her stomach flip-flopped at the mere thought, but there was no time for anything more for her Year 8s were pouring in and she was acutely aware of twenty-seven curious gazes. 'You'd better go,' she murmured.

'See you at lunch.' A final wave, and he was gone.

Christine turned back to Year 8, who'd seated themselves with a remarkable minimum of fuss and gave them an approving smile. 'Right, then. Your exams!' She split the pile of papers into two. 'Lauren, Justin, hand these out, will you?'

She leaned back against her desk as they obeyed, trying not to worry about that promised conversation with Connor. If only she could get out of it. If only she could lie…

But pregnancy—or the lack of it—was one thing that could not be hidden indefinitely.

Mr Clarkson's room, 9.20am

'Sorry I'm late,' Mr Clarkson called as he entered his room. 'Only got a few minutes with you, folks, 'cos I've got this curriculum meeting to get to. I'm trusting you lot to look after yourselves while I'm gone, but Miss Boston's next door if you need anything, yeah?'

'I'm sure we'll cope perfectly well, sir,' Louisa said in her smooth way, and Imogen inwardly marvelled. She was starting to think of Tom-and-Christine as a single unit which made him family in her eyes (if not Connor's, just yet) but even she would not dare to speak to him like that.

Tom didn't seem to mind. 'Glad to hear it. Oh, one thing before I go. Mr Lowsley wants us to try something new, so for today there's to be no hands. Shouting out allowed,' he added with a grin, and Imogen's heart sank as several people took immediate advantage and Tom's answers turned piecemeal and—from her perspective—utterly incomprehensible, lacking either explanation or context.

'Yes…. No… Shouldn't think so… Very funny, Jack … What's that, Kevin?'

Kevin's voice asked something from where he sat halfway down the classroom, but as far as Imogen was concerned he might as well be speaking in Mandarin.

'Yeah, if it works,' Tom was saying. 'Apparently it's the latest and greatest in education, so who are we to argue—' He shrugged and the class laughed.

By this time Imogen's dismay had turned to frustration laced with anger. In defiance of the new dictum, her hand shot up. She was making a point, she told herself fiercely.

'Imogen,' Tom said, sounding surprised. 'No hands, remember?'

'Will I just go home then?' she demanded, glaring at him. 'Cos why should I bother staying at school today, eh? 'Cos it's just gonna be a waste of time!'

'Imogen—'

'It's just for one day,' Connor said, leaning across the aisle. 'You can cope for one day.'

'And what if it's not one day? What if Mr Lousy decides to make it permanent, h'mm? I'll be screwed, totally screwed! It's hard enough takin' part in class discussion as it is, without hands to help…!' She came to stop, horrified to find that her eyes were filling. It was times like these that she hated being the only deaf pupil at a hearing school. It was times like these that she felt positively alien.

Tom was looking troubled. 'I'm sorry, Imogen.' He came closer, hunkering down. 'Sorry, love,' he repeated, his tone softening. 'Should have realised how this would affect you, but… it slipped my mind.'

Imogen's throat was too tight for words, but Louisa spoke up.

'It's all right, sir. You're not a teacher of the deaf, are you.' The insolence was only lightly veiled, but for once Imogen did not care. She sent Louisa a grateful glance, and the other girl's lips curved. 'Perhaps I could help?'

Ignoring Tom's presence, Imogen signed, 'How?'

'That's how,' Louisa signed back. Aloud, she said, 'If the staff agreed, I could interpret for Imogen during discussion.'

'Would you? Could she, sir? It'd make such a difference!'

Tom was looking unsure. 'Yeah, but she's here to learn, not act as learning support. If she's doing that for you, she can't take part herself.'

Imogen stiffened. 'Well, you lot should've thought of that, shouldn't you? Either way, one of us is going to get left out!'

'Shut up!' Connor hissed across the aisle. 'What are you trying to do, wind him up?'

'Thanks for your support!' Imogen hissed back before deliberately slanting herself so that she couldn't see him. 'Mr Clarkson, if you don't let Lulu do this, I'm telling you, I'm walking.'

'If you do, you'll be walking into the cooler,' Mr Clarkson warned. 'You're Head Girl this week, remember.'

Imogen was just about to tell Tom what he could do with the Head Girlship when she recalled that she was simply holding it for Dynasty—Dynasty, who'd been suspended. If she too was to get into trouble during her tenure as acting Head Girl, serious questions would be asked about Tom and Christine's prefect appointments the previous term. No matter how angry she felt, she wouldn't do that to either of them.

She subsided, her head moving in a single nod.

Tom sighed. 'Good.' He hesitated, then, 'Louisa, if you're happy to do that then… be my guest. I'll let the rest of the staff know.' A pause. 'And thanks; it's good of you to offer.'

Louisa beamed, her blue eyes sparkling as she shook her hair away from her face. 'It's no problem, Mr Clarkson. I'm only being a friend. Isn't that what friends do?'

Imogen took advantage of that to send a triumphant glance towards her husband: See! I was right!

His answering glower told her what he thought of that.

Miss Spark's room, 10.15am

'If you could just settle down and concentrate on your worksheets,' Miss Spark was saying a touch desperately for the fifth time, and Kacey and Harley rolled their eyes at each other. Why did the woman think it would work now when the last four attempts had failed?

'She's a numpty,' Lula declared in disgust as she flipped over her own worksheet. 'Look, she is doing nothing to make them behave—' She flinched and twisted, one hand rubbing at the back of her neck. 'Darren Hughes, if you that again I will kill you!'

The Year 10s started to jeer while Darren leered, and Lula made a sound that could best be described as a growl and launched herself off her stool.

Kacey and Harley made a concerted grab for her. Lula could be unpredictable, as both knew to their cost.

'C'mon, don't do this,' Harley murmured. 'It's only Darren an' that, you know they're muppets.'

Kacey nodded, taking Lula's other arm. 'Yeah, just ignore 'em. Not worth it.'

'Ooooh, an' who do you think you are, Kacey Barry?' Darren asked. 'Got a bit above yourself, 'ave you? Decided yer better than everyone else? Look at yer, you can't even be bothered to dress right, you look like you just rolled out of bed, like lads do.' A pause. 'Oh yeah, that's right, I forgot. You're not a proper girl, are you. You're not a boy either, you're just a freak!'

Kacey folded inside, his words biting deep. She didn't need to be reminded of how insignificant she was, how useless she was. She was just a waste of space but it'd been Barry who'd died. Barry who would have chewed Darren into itty-bits for saying such a thing to his sister. Once upon a time Dynasty would have jumped to her defence, but there was no Dynasty at school today and at home… she'd taken to locking herself in her room and burying herself in her schoolwork, suspension or no suspension. There was no-one to stand behind and Kacey was frail and weak, exposed to the world.

'Miss, are you gonna let him talk like that?' Harley demanded. 'Did you hear what he said?'

'I—' Miss Spark faltered and the class grew utterly still, the Year 10s vibrating with suppressed excitement and the Year 11s watchful, ready to defend one of their own. 'Darren, you really shouldn't have said that, should you?'

'But miss, look at her!'

'Look at yourself!' Lula shouted. 'You're even worse, you sit there and drool over the girls with your mouth open, you are a pervert!'

Miss Spark lurched into action at that.

'Right, I've had it with you, Lula. That's the second time in five minutes you've yelled across the room and I won't put up with it. Cooler!'

Kacey was on her feet before she had time to think. 'Miss, you can't, she was just bein' a mate, standin' up for me an' all! If you're gonna send anyone to the cooler it should be me!'

Year 11 exploded at the mere suggestion and Miss Spark picked up a long ruler and cracked it across her bench, causing the apparatus sitting there to wobble ominously.

'Shut up! Why can't you behave like human beings instead of nasty horrid animals who won't sit down and listen? In fact, I've had dogs behave better than you do, d'you hear that, you lot? A dog behaves better than you, although I suppose I shouldn't be surprised, given what's in this room. Let's see, foreigners, check, kids in care, check, oh and let's not forget, a Barry—' She broke off when the door swung open.

'I think you should stop right there,' Mrs Mulgrew said in her iciest tones, and Kacey could have sobbed with relief. She was shaking from Miss Spark's onslaught, and a glance at her compeers showed that they were looking equally stunned, including the Year 10s. The English teacher transferred her glare from Miss Spark to the class at large. 'It's nearly Break. Take it early—and believe me, this isn't the last you've heard of this. Go!'

They didn't need to be told twice, grabbing their things and streaming past their former Headmistress in dead silence. Kacey, Harley and Lula hung back to the end.

'Are you OK, Kacey?' Mrs Mulgrew asked, and Kacey nodded, refusing to meet the older woman's eyes.

'It wasn't Kacey's fault,' Lula said, her hands warm on Kacey's arm. 'It was Darren's fault, he started it, and then she—' Her voice started to rise as she jerked her head in Miss Spark's direction and Mrs Mulgrew lifted a finger.

'That's enough. Take Kacey to Mrs Budgen and get her a drink, it looks as if she needs it. And Lula?' The trio halted. 'I don't want this spread across the school, do you understand me? If any of the others start to talk I'm relying on you three to choke them off.'

'We'll try, miss,' Kacey volunteered in a small voice. She was only too happy to do so; she felt physically ill at the thought of the lesson's events becoming common coin throughout the school.

Mrs Mulgrew's features relaxed and she gave them a short nod. 'Good. I'll catch up with you later.' A small movement ushered them out, but Kacey turned to look over her shoulder as the classroom door shut behind them and her chin lifted at what she saw.

Miss Spark was sobbing openly and Mrs Mulgrew's rigid posture told Kacey all she needed to know. Some of the tightly coiled anger and hurt inside began to dissipate; one way or another, she knew that justice would be done.

Soooo... next time: Christine and Sue clash, Connor reacts to his mother's news, and Simon spills more than he should.

Don't forget to let me know what you think!