Epilogue

"Have you heard anything?" Kat asked as Shapps and Butchers walked in the office. Shapps shook his head.

"We arrested the little scum bag." Butchers frowned. "Any news from the hospital?"

"No."

"I hate this, I really hate this." Kat folded her arms as Shapps squeezed her arm. Kat smiled slightly as the older man stepped away.

"We all do, luv we all do."

Xxxxxx

Richard tried not to wince as the young nurse shone a light in his eyes. Janine smiled as she watched.

"Oh don't be a baby." Janine smiled. "Richard."

"I'm not."

The nurse wrote something on his chart before leaving the room. Janine stepped nearer as Richard smiled at her.

"I missed you."

"I bet." She rolled her eyes. "All the nagging. Kids running everywhere, chaos and never quite ready."

"I missed you and the kids." He held her hands as she spoke. Jasmine smiled slightly. The worry had abated a little but she knew it would never really abate. The kids would always be a worry to her and so would Richard and the team. Shaking her head she blinked back a tear. "Hey." He got to his feet pulling her to him.

"Richard." She let him hold her for a moment before pulling back. "You nearly died. He could have killed you. I wasn't there and he could have killed you."

"No." Richard touched her face gently. "No you weren't there. It was my fault to go in undercover. It was my choice to confront him. We caught him. It's over, the kids, Kat and the boys are fine."

"This time." She pulled away slightly. "I was so scared. I don't think I can do this again."

"What?" Richard pulled his jacket on, determined to go home. He'd spent too long away from home dreaming of being there. His heart rate jumped as he saw the look on her face. "Janine?"

"Be a copper anymore."

"What are you talking about? You know you're the best. We're the best murder squad that force has ever had."

"You're a good team. But I can't do this!"

"I wish I knew what you're on about."

"You sure e didn't bang your head a bit too hard?" Richard smiled.

"Not sure."

"I can't watch you or any of the team get killed. How many nutters have taken a pop at us over the years?"

"Dunno. But if you quit so do I."

"Emotional blackmail."

"Yeah."

"Evil bugger."

"Yeah." He smiled. "Don't give up, don't let the really evil buggers out there win."

"Just don't get yourself killed. I." He hugged her as tightly as his battered body would allow.

"Is this what this is all about? Oh Janine." He kissed her gently. "Take a lot more than this to keep me away from you." Janine let her eyes flutter closed as he kissed her again. "Home?"

"Home. Oh I need to call the station. They were worried about you. Hogg even got some poor PC to drive me ere, kid was terrified. Seems we are common knowledge. Butchers thought we'd been together for years!"

"Haven't we? In some way?" He watched as she nodded slightly before taking his hand and leading him away from the hospital. Seeing him had put things right, for the first time since he had gone undercover it felt like she wasn't breaking inside.

Xxxxxx

A/N please review