Lisa had just walked back into the kitchen when suddenly her phone rang.
"Yeah I am with Alexis' parents.
No not yet!
I've just finished the character statements and everything seems to be in order.
Okay I'll be right there.
Bye."
"What's going on?" Sandra asked getting slightly worried, she had that feeling something was wrong.
"I have to go." Lisa told her.
"Is it Alexis?" Sandra asked.
"Yes, I can't tell you anything though."
"But we're her parents!" Sandra protested
"Birth maybe but at this moment you aren't her legal carers."
"Well how long will that take?!"
"Well I've accepted your appeal to get Alexis back but it needs to be put through legally."
"Well how longs that going to take?! I'd like to know what the hell's happened to my daughter." Gerry shouted.
"Anywhere between a few hours and five working days."
"Are you joking?!" Gerry shouted again.
"I really must be going." And with that she let herself out the front door.
"Can you please go?" Sandra asked Brian, Esther and Jack.
"If you're okay?" Jack replied.
"I am fine Jack, now can you go?" Sandra almost begged, before walking out the room anyway.
"Don't worry I'll look after her." Gerry told them.
He walked up the stairs with a cup of coffee and found Sandra curled up in bed. She was laying on her side so she hadn't yet seen Gerry, she jumped a little when he got in beside her and wrapped his arms around her. She turned around and pressed her lips into his. Her face was red and wet.
"Why are you crying Sandra?" Gerry asked her gently as he played with her hair. "They haven't told us anything bad, anyway we're getting her back."
"Something horrible's happened." Sandra told him as she wiped away tears that began to roll down her cheek.
"How do you know babe?"
"I don't know I just do."
"Motherly instinct?"
"I suppose."
They lay there a while, in silence in each others arms.
"Come on, let's get to work. I need to get away from all this."
"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Gerry asked her softly
"Nope, but I'm gunna go it anyway."
Sandra sat in her office throwing herself in to her work, when her phone rang she just assumed it was the detective who previously investigated the case she'd just reopened.
"Detective Superintendant Pullman."
"Miss S Pullman?" Asked the caller
"Yes." Sandra answered realising this wasn't who she thought on the other end of the phone.
"I'm delighted to be able to inform you that you and Mr G Standing are now legal parents of Alexis Hawkins." She beamed.
"Thank you." But the way things had been rushed through worried Sandra.
"Can you and Mr Standing please come to the hospital, we need you on the children's ward." The colour drained from her face, she'd known something was wrong all along, and now her little girl was in hospital, she didn't know why all she knew was that she wasn't there to protect her.
"We'll be right there."
"Gerry, we need to get to the hospital. I was right, something's happened." Sandra spoke while the tears poured.
"Oh God, yeah come on." He grabbed his keys, he had tears in his eyes and he'd also gone a funny colour. They ran out to the car both in a state of panic.
They ran up to the children's ward as fast as they could, Sandra wasn't at all happy as she stood outside the door waiting to be buzzed in.
"Sandra Pullman and Gerry Standing, Alexis Hawkins parents." Very quickly they were buzzed in.
"We need to talk to you, come this way please."
Hope its okay, more soon. Reviews welcome.
Beth xx