My Girl

Disclaimer: I don't own New Tricks or any of it's characters. All I have is a good imagination.

Just a little light fluffy filler.

/

When Rob woke the next morning, he initially couldn't place what it was that was that had disturbed his sleep, but as the fog lifted from his mind he realised the bed next to him was empty. He listened for few moments, checking the clock. It was only six am, which was the time he usually got up for work. He swung his legs out of bed and pulled a tee shirt and pair of shorts on. He crossed the landing, quietly opening the door to Gerry's room. The mop of blonde hair was barely visible above the covers, he was still sound asleep.

He moved to the end of the landing, he could hear movement coming from the bathroom. He tapped softly on the door.

"Paula, are you alright sweetheart?" He asked, he waited for a response. "I'm coming in, ok?" He turned the handle, and opened the door. Paula was sitting on the floor, her face white. Rob felt a pang of guilt. "Morning sickness?" Paula nodded, before kneeling over the toilet and retching. Rob gathered her hair up and held it out of the way, gently rubbing her back. "How long have you had it?"

"Only a couple of times. This is the worst it's been."

"Did you suffer with Gerry?" Rob sat down next to her, she leaned against him, she felt completely drained.

"No, I never got sick with Gerry. I often wondered what the other women I saw at the pre-natal clinic were moaning about. God, if I saw any of them in the street now I'd get down on my knees and beg forgiveness. She heard him chuckle.

"I know it's not funny, but you are beautiful, even when you're throwing up." She smiled.

"Did your wife have morning sickness?" She asked. He nodded.

"Both times, for three months solid."

"So this is your fault then." She joked, he grinned.

"The good news is, I know how to help. First, lets get you back to bed." He helped her stand and get back to the bedroom, she slipped back under the covers. "Right, now you stay there, I'll be right back."

He disappeared from the room, reappearing a few minutes later with a plate of digestive biscuits.

"These should help. Have a few now, get a little bit more sleep then have a some more before you get up."

"Raise my blood sugar level. I know what causes morning sickness, I am a nurse remember." She said wearily.

"Maybe, but right now, I'm the nurse. Now, I'm going to get a shower. You rest." She smiled at him as he left the bedroom, before nibbling at one of the biscuits. As she sat munching on the sweet treat, she looked at the two suit bags hanging on the wardrobe. They had stopped off at his place on the way home yesterday so that he could stay another night and go straight to work from her house. She finished a couple of the biscuits, and laid back on the pillow. she soon fell back to sleep. When Rob returned, freshly showered a while later, he found her sleeping soundly. He gave her a soft kiss on the forehead before setting about getting ready for the day.

/

She woke a bit later to the sound of voices. She was about to get up when her door opened and her favourite bundle of energy ran in and got up onto the bed beside her.

"Rob told me to make sure you ate your biscuits." He told her. He put on his stern face, which was so cute Paula had to fight not to laugh. She picked up her biscuit and started to eat it under the watchfull eyes of the four year old. A few minutes later Rob came in with a cup.

"Tea in bed." He told her. Gerry smiled.

"I helped Mummy."

"That's lovely, but I had better get up, I need to get you to playschool, I see you're already dressed. She straightened the collar of his yellow polo shirt, smoothing down the shoulders of his blue playschool sweatshirt."

"Rob got me breakfast, and he helped me get ready. I've even cleaned my teeth." She smiled at her son, before looking over at the man who stood shyly by the door.

"Uniform today." She noticed. He nodded.

"Meeting at the town hall at ten. I'll go into the office, then to the meeting, then come back here to change. I can pick up some ginger beer for you. It really works in settling morning sickness." He looked slightly nervous for a moment. "Gerry, why don't you go and get your shoes on, I'll be straight down." Gerry gave his mum a kiss on the cheek and jumped off the bed, she heard him run down the stairs and looked back at Rob, a puzzled expession on her features. "Why don't I drop Gerry off at playschool. It's on my way."

"What about his lunch..."

"All sorted, lunch packed in his favourite power rangers lunchbag, bottle of juice and a banana for snack time. I had very precise instructions. He's had sun screen put on his arms, neck and ears, and his sun hat is in his bag, ready for playtime. I've done this before, remember. Let me help.. please. You can spend a few hours in bed, let your body rest. You've been through the ringer these last few days." He sat on the bed next to her. "I know you don't want to be coddled, but I do worry about you, and the baby." He laid his hand on her stomach. "And I want to be that little boy's dad." He leaned in and gave her a soft kiss. "Let me be his dad today." She smiled and kissed him back.

"How can I say no when you put it like that. But be warned. It's a war zone in that playschool yard in the morning. And you'll probably be the only man there. You won't be able to leave him until five to nine, will you get to your meeting on time?"

"I'll be fine. If it gets late, I'll just go straight to the meeting. And don't worry about me, I can always radio for back up." He kissed her again, they were interupted but a high voice from downstairs.

"I'm ready!"

"He's ready. Are you?" She smiled against his lips. He grinned and stood up.

"As I'll ever be." He saluted. She laughed and watched as he left the room, she heard the shuffling in the hall.

"You'll need the booster from my car." She called.

"Already got it." He called back. She heard Gerry giggle.

"Bye Mum." He called up.

"Bye love."

"I'll see you in a few hours." Rob called up, she heard the door open and shut, then the roar of his car engine outside. She felt completely content for the first time in months.

/

It was almost to nine when Robert pulled into the little car park outside the primary school, the playschool was in the building next door, children and mothers were milling about everywhere, some dressed in the same blue as Gerry, most in the red sweatshirts of the primary school. The playground in the school yard was heaving, children swarming over the apparatus, like ants on a picnic blanket.

He got out of the car and took Gerry's bag for him.

"Do you want to play for a few minutes first?" He asked the little boy. Gerry nodded enthusiastically. As he jumped out of the open door he turned to Robert.

"You've forgotten your hat." He pointed out.

"No, it's in the back. Do I need it on now then?" He asked, he laughed as Gerry nodded again. Rufus had always insisted he wore his hat. He reached into the back and pulled his hat from it's dust cover. He set it on Gerry's head. "You can wear it for a bit." The little boy beamed from ear to ear as Rob locked his car. and they walked towards the playground. They made a very sweet picture, the little boy wearing a police peaked hat which he could barely see out from under, and the tall imposing policeman in his pristene black uniform, the silver buttons and shoulder crests shining in the early sunlight, holding the little lads hand, carrying a power rangers rucksack in his other hand.

Some of the mothers turned and watched as he approached the yard, Rob felt a little bit like a zoo specimen. As they got to the park, Gerry started to run towards his friends.

"Hey, Gerry." Rob called after him. Gerry turned. Rob pointed to his head. The lad smiled sheepishly and came back, and handed Rob his hat, smiling. "Isn't that your friend Charlie, from yesterday."

"Yeah, and that's Luke with him." He ran off to join his friends. Rob stood awkwardly. 'At least I'm in uniform' He thought, he wouldn't be mistaken for a paedo at least. He watched his 'son' playing, the boy waved from the top of the climbing frame, Rob waved back.

"Hi, you must be Rob." A voice next to him drew his attention. He turned, one of the other mothers stood next to him.

"Yes. Yes I am." Rob looked slightly puzzled. She smiled.

"I'm Joanne. Charlie's Mum. You met my husband Martin yesterday. Charlie told me all about you. The four year old version of the story anyway. I was going to give Paula the third degree this morning." She smiled good humouredly. Rob laughed.

"I'm afraid the interrigation will have to wait. She's feeling a bit under the weather this morning." Joanne nodded.

"Charlie did mention that Gerry told him he was going to have a little brother or sister. Morning sickness?" She enquired. Rob nodded.

"Congratulations. I have to say, she kept you very quiet."

"There were 'complications'. Her family know about me now, so we're 'coming out' so to speak."

"Well, I think It's wonderful. Charlie and Gerry have been friends since they were crawling. Paula is lovely, she'll do anything to help anyone, she deserves someone to look after her. Gerry looks so happy."

"That's all I want." He smiled. Just then the doors to the school opened, the children started to filter inside.

"Come on Gerry, you need to show me what to do."

"Just remember, watch your feet, hold your ground and don't show any fear." Joanne whispered, smiling.

"I've had riot training, will that help?"

"It's a start."

Gerry slipped his hand into Rob's and he led him into the little pre-school, they stopped in the lobby where several rows of colourful coat pegs greeted them, other mother's were bustling past, in a hurry to get away.

"This is my peg." Gerry showed him a green peg with a picture of a police car above it.

"So I hang your bag and hat here, what about your lunch, snack and drink."

"That goes inside." He led Rob into the classroom. A riot of colour assualted his eyes, everywhere he looked there were letters, numbers, and shapes. The children were bustling around, chattering like birds. Gerry pulled him over to a set of cubby holes. "My other stuff goes in here."

"Does it matter which one?" Rob asked. Gerry shook his head.

"Mum says, as long as my snack is with my lunchbag it's ok." They put the bag, banana and drink into the nearest cubby hole.

"Morning Gerry, are you going to tell me who this is?" A middle aged lady in a bright pink tabard had come up to them.

"Hi Mrs MacKenzie. This is Rob, he's my Daddy now." The little boy announced proudly. "He's a policeman."

"I can see that. It's nearly register time, do you want to go and sit with the others." Gerry nodded and reached up to Rob, he swung the little boy up into his arms.

"I'll see you later. Maybe I'll come and pick you up later." He told Gerry who nodded enthusiastically. He stood the boy back down and watched as he ran to join his friends.

"If you do come to collect, we'll have to get a phone call from his mother." She looked apologetic, "I realise that you're probably not used to having to..." He held up his hand to stop her.

"No, of all people, I understand better than most the reason behind those rules." He assured her. She nodded. "I'll get Paula to ring you, she wasn't feeling too well this morning. If I don't pick him up, it may be his Grandad."

"Oh, we know Gerry senior." She smiled, "Just let us know in advance."

Robert left the play school, nodding and smiling his way past the clusters of mum's who had stopped for a gossip. He could see the glances that were being aimed at him, and he could tell that some of the whispered conversations were about him. He finally made it to his car, slumping into the seat and shutting the door. He let out a breath. He felt like he'd just taken on an entire picket line on his own, in fact the more he thought about it, he realised, maybe a picket line would have been easier.