Chapter 10

Set during Old, Unhappy, Far Off Things. This is one of those episodes that was just sort of meh for me. But there is one key scene where you actually begin to see Robbie turn the corner and think about a life without Val. Alas for Robson fans it was with another woman. In my alternate universe, what would happen when Laura, who thinks she and Robbie are moving towards something realizes that Robbie might be more interested in moving on with someone else.

Another note, I always thought it was wrong that Jean and Laura wouldn't be friends. So in my mind they become great chums. The question is how would that have happened. That's coming up in this cut away.

I want to thank everyone for all of the lovely reviews. They do keep me writing. That and vodka so, review or send vodka I am good either way. Hugs & Kisses to you all.

Robbie stalked across the lawn towards the crime scene. Laura looked up at him smiling. "What time do you call this?"

Rudely and loudly Robbie answered her. "No gallows humor this morning, please Laura. Just the whys and wherefores."

She raised her eyebrow and then continued. "Killed midnight to one o'clock, multiple blows."

"And I supposed nobody saw or heard anything. Damn it. Damn it to hell. I should have been quicker off the mark. But I let the grass grow. You tried to tell me and I didn't bloody listen. I was too busy looking backwards instead of concentrating on the here and now." The boyfriend of the girl arrives and starts to make a scene. Robbie looks at James. "Deal with him will you?"

James nodded. "You had no way of knowing the killer was going to strike again sir." He walked off to speak with the boyfriend.

Laura looks at him. "He's right Robbie. There's no way you could have known."

Robbie stalked away leaving Laura and James with the body.

Laura walked into the Trout looking for Robbie. She had stopped by his office and was told that he had headed out for a drink so thought she would try here. She didn't see him. She pulled out her mobile and texted him. "Fancy a drink, my treat. At the Trout if you care to join me." As she was putting her phone back in her pocket she heard a voice behind her.

"Fancy meeting you here Dr. Hobson."

She took a deep breath and smiled before turning around. "Seemed as good a place as any to grab a quick drink. I don't normally see you around here Jean."

Jean smiled at Laura kicking herself for stopping to talk. The two women had never really gotten along and since Jean had pushed Robbie into questioning her on a recent case their relationship had been even cooler. "I was meeting a friend. She suggested this place. It wouldn't have been my choice."

Laura nodded. "I thought as much."

Jean looked at her surprised by the cheek. "And what, exactly, does that mean?"

Laura looked at her. "You just don't often come down from the ivory tower to mingle with the rest of us."

Jean raised an eyebrow. "That's rich coming from the Oxford educated doctor. What brings you here this fine evening?"

Laura shook her head. "Just stopped in for a quick drink before heading home."

Jean raised her eyebrow. "Not meeting a certain Inspector?"

"I'm not really sure that's any of your business."

Jean drew in a deep breath. "Look Laura, I know that you are probably angry with me. And, rightfully so, I should have trusted Robbie's instinct. I apologize for putting procedure ahead of people, especially people I care about."

Laura stood there speechless. Unless she was mistaken, Jean Innocent had just apologized to her. "Jean, it's OK. I knew what was going on and I understand. It did hurt me at the time but it was the right thing to do."

Jean smiled at her. "How about I buy you a drink to make it up to you?"

Laura pulled her phone from her pocket. There was no return text. Robbie had never not texted back, even when he was on a case. She looked back at Jean and realized she needed a distraction. "I've a better idea. Why don't we go to my place? I've plenty of wine we can order takeaway."

Jean looked at her. "Are you sure?"

Laura nodded. "I'm sure."

The ladies left the pub and had a lovely evening. As it turned out, they had much more in common than either would have guessed. Later as Laura was walking Jean to her car Jean asked her a question. "I saw you checking your phone all night. Were you waiting on someone?"

Laura shook her head. "Not so much waiting as hoping."

Jean smiled. "There's more wine if you want we can go back inside and you can tell me about it."

Laura laughed. "No, it's OK. Maybe another time."

Jean placed her hand on Laura's arm. "Anytime. Thanks for a lovely evening. I really enjoyed myself."

Laura smiled. "I did too."

She watched Jean pull away and then walked back to her house. She straightened a few things in her kitchen then checked her phone again, still no message from Robbie. She checked the locks on all the doors and went upstairs.

She changed into her pajamas and brushed her teeth. She looked at his toothbrush sitting in the cup. She finished getting ready and headed to bed. She checked her phone again and decided to send one more text. "Sorry we didn't connect. Good night. Miss you."

She turned out the light and rolled over in the bed. She lay there for a long time before sleep finally took her. Her mobile rang at six with another call.

Robbie walked up and grumpily said to James. "Where?"

James motioned to the building and Robbie walked through the door. As he walked towards the body Laura stood and went to him. "Robbie, I wouldn't. It's not pretty."

"Show me." She steps from in front of the body so he can see. He scratches his head. "When?"

"Early hours, between 2 and 4. She wouldn't have known much about it, after the first, if that's any comfort."

Robbie looked a few seconds more and then turned away. Laura followed him. She touched his arm. He looked down at her and she could see confusion on his face. "I only saw her last night. We went for a drink."

Laura paused for a moment taken aback. He had been with the dead woman last night. That's why he hadn't returned her text. She took a step back to get some distance and tried to think how to ask the question. "You were…"

He shrugged. "Could have been. Who knows?" He looks back towards the body. "I'm sorry if I was uh…"

She filled in the blank. "Brusque."

"Oh I was thinking more rude."

"You're entitled."

He shook his head. "No, not with you." They stared at each other until James interrupted them.

Laura walks towards him from the scene forcing cheerfulness that she doesn't feel. "Hot work eh. Fancy a drink."

"Make it dinner and I'm paying. I owe you one."

She shook her head. "No you don't"

He nods at her as she walks away. "8 o'clock The Turl?"

She looks back at him, smiles sadly and nods.

She stood outside the restaurant. She had seen him inside at a table waiting for her. Suddenly she found that she didn't want to go in. She knew they needed to have a conversation but she wasn't sure she had the strength to do it. She took a deep breath and opened the door.

She weaved her way through the tables. He saw her coming and stood. "Hello Laura." He pulled her chair out and helped her get settled. He sat back in his chair. "I saw you standing outside so I ordered you a drink. Hope you don't mind."

She shook her head. "No, you know what I like."

He smiled at her and reached for her hand. "Yes, I do." She nodded and pulled her hand away placing it in her lap. "What's the matter Laura?"

"Nothing, I'm fine."

"Laura, I've known you for a long time. I know when something is wrong. Tell me, please."

"I'm not sure I know. I thought over the past few weeks we had gotten closer."

He smiled. "I think so too. Is that a problem? Are we violating some rules that I'm unaware of? I thought we had gotten past that."

She looked at him and he could see the beginning of tears in her eyes. "Yesterday at the scene I asked you if you were involved with her. You said you might have been."

Realization dawned on his face. "Laura it wasn't anything. We had drinks, she kissed me and she expressed interest. That's all."

She took a deep breath. "But you were interested in more?"

"I don't know what I wanted. She took me by surprise."

She looked at him. "But you thought about it. You thought about the possibility of a relationship with her."

He looked away from her. "Yeah, for a moment I did."

"So despite the face that we've gotten closer you contemplated a relationship with her."

"Laura, I didn't think that's what this was."

The first tear fell down her cheek. "You know, suddenly, I'm not very hungry. So I'm just going to go. Thank you for the invite." She stood to leave.

"Laura, don't go."

She looked back at him. "I can't do this Robbie." She turned and walked away.

Robbie threw some money on the table to cover the drinks and followed her outside. He caught up with her on the street. He grabbed her arm. "Laura, please can't we talk about this."

She shook her arm from his. "No, Robbie, we can't talk about this. I need to get some distance. I thought we were moving toward something. But apparently I was alone. You were moving toward something just not with me."

He reached out and touched her cheek. "Laura…"

Tears streamed down here face. "Please Robbie, let me go. I'm begging you."

He dropped his hand and watched her walk away.

There was a knock at the door just as the kettle whistled. Jean turned off the kettle and went to the door. She looked out the side window and saw Laura Hobson standing on the doorstep with tears streaming down her face. She opened the door. "Laura what's happened?"

Laura collapsed in her arms. Jean helped her inside, fixed her a cup of tea and got her settled. She watched Laura drink her tea. She reached over and brushed her hair out of her eyes. "Do you want to tell me about it?"

Laura nodded. She took a deep breath and told Jean the whole story. Jean listened to the story in shock. She was stunned that they had been able to hide this for the past two years. She had always known there was something between them but had assumed it was an unrequited situation. She let Laura talk until she ran out of words. "Do you want advice or just an ear?"

Laura laughed. "For tonight, an ear and maybe some place to stay. I don't want to go home. Then maybe tomorrow, some advice."

Jean pulled her into a hug. "I can do that. Let's get you settled." She took her upstairs and showed her to the extra bedroom. "Why don't you go take a bath? I'll bring some pajamas in and put them on the bed. I'll be downstairs if you need me."

Laura nodded. "Thank you Jean. Does mean that we're friends now?"

Jean laughed and nodded. "I think it does. But let's not let that get out."

Laura laughed. "I'm OK with that."

Jean closed the door. She returned a few minutes later and set a pair of pajamas on the foot of the bed. She looked at the bathroom door for a moment then left. She headed downstairs to finish her paperwork.

She finished her paperwork and straightened the kitchen. As she was putting the last dish in the dishwasher she heard the back door open. She turned and smiled as her husband walked through the door. "Hello you."

He put his things down on the island and pulled her to him. He kissed her deeply. "Hello love."

"I wasn't expecting you for another hour."

He chuckled. "Clearly, your lovers' car is still in the drive."

She laughed. "Yes, I'm afraid you've caught me red-handed."

He kissed his way down her neck. "I don't see anyone is he climbing out of the bedroom window?"

She pulled him closer to her. "Actually, she is in the guest bedroom most likely asleep by now." He looked at her; which made her laugh. "It's a friend from work. She's had a rough day, needed a place to hide."

He looked at her skeptically. "A friend from work. You don't have friends at work. You have friends outside of work but I have never heard about a friend from work."

She shrugged. "It's new."

He kissed her and pulled her towards the stairs. "Why don't you take me to bed and you can tell me all about it?"

She followed him laughing. "Well I am OK with half of that statement. Why don't I take you to bed and in the morning I can tell you all about it?" She turned out the lights and followed her husband up the stairs."

Robbie waited outside her house. He didn't see her car and there were no lights on inside the house. He had knocked several times and called every number he had for her even more. He was prepared to wait all night if necessary. He adjusted his car seat to get more comfortable. As the seat pushed back he smiled thinking about the last time he had reclined in a seat in a car.

Laura awoke the next morning and for a moment didn't know where she was. She thought about the prior night and it all came back to her. She got out of bed and headed to the bathroom. She showered, dressed and headed downstairs.

She heard noise in the kitchen and went towards it. She rounded the corner expecting to find Jean. Instead there was a very tall, dark haired man cooking breakfast. "Good morning."

The man turned towards her. He was quite good looking but she had no idea who he was. He smiled at her. "Good morning, you must be Laura. I'm Richard Innocent."

She looked at him stunned. "Good morning."

"Can I get you something coffee, tea an omelet?"

She laughed. "Tea and an omelet?"

"My specialty." He pointed her to the table. "Have a seat."

Laura sat at the table and watched him bustle around the kitchen. "Where's Jean?"

"She likes to take a walk in the mornings. She should be back any minute."

He handed her a cup of tea. "Thanks."

They both heard a door from the living room open. "Hello, is anyone awake?"

Richard answered. "We're in the kitchen."

Jean came into the kitchen went around the aisle and kissed her husband. "I hope some of what you are preparing is for me."

He handed her a cup of tea. "Go sit with Laura and I will have omelets in just a few moments." He kissed her then turned her towards the table. He smacked her bottom as she walked away.

Jean joined Laura at the table. She rubbed Laura on the back then sat at the table with her. "How are you this morning?"

"As well as can be expected."

"You ready for advice yet?"

Laura took a sip of her tea. "Probably not but go ahead."

"I think you have to end things with him. And you have to do it cold turkey. I know it will be hard but you want more and he doesn't."

Laura nodded. "That's the same conclusion I came to last night."

Richard placed and omelet in front of each woman. "Bon appetit ladies."

Jean grabbed his hand. "Aren't you joining us love?"

"No, I have a few calls to make. Come see me before you leave." He turned to Laura. "Laura it was lovely to meet you. I hope next time we will have time to get to know one another."

She smiled at the charming man. "I hope so too. It was a pleasure and thanks for the omelet."

The two women watched him walk away. "He's lovely Jean."

Jean blushed. "He is pretty wonderful."

They ate in silence for a few moments. After a while, Laura looked at Jean. "I have to go deal with this."

"You're welcome to stay here again tonight if you need."

"Thanks Jean. But I'll be OK. After all, it was nothing just an arrangement."

Jean took her hand. "That might be how it started but I don't think it is that anymore."

Laura nodded. "You're right but he doesn't want that. At least not with me."

Robbie woke up in his car outside of Laura's house. He looked around and didn't see her car. He checked his mobile and there were no calls or texts. He walked to her door and knocked but there was no answer. He checked the time and realized he was going to be late.

He rushed home, showered, redressed and headed to the office. On his desk was an envelope. He opened it, removed the letter and read it.

Robbie,

I think it's best that we end our arrangement. I realized lately that I want something more from this arrangement. And last night you told me that you wanted something more just not with me. A year ago I might have been able to continue this but now I can't.

I hope you can understand this and will respect my wishes. I need to find someone who is going to make me happy. I had hoped it would be you. I know now that's not the case. I hope that we can be friends again someday.

Always,

Laura

Robbie read the letter two more times. He folded it and put it in his pocket. He grabbed his jacket and headed towards the morgue. Once there, he looked around for her. He stopped one of the nurses and asked for Laura. "I'm sorry Inspector. She came in this morning and cleared her caseload. She put in her for two weeks vacation."

He stared at the nurse. "Do you have any idea where she went?"

She shook her head. "No idea."

I know, I know. But honestly, it's Robson you didn't really think they were going to sail off into the sunset that easily, did you?