Breakthrough?

Ronnie tried to ignore the fact he had barely slept as he walked into the MIU office. He felt sick; something nagging at his brain that wouldn't let go. He had no idea what it was but he had to address it. Something about the names Angela had sent him seemed familiar. The first - Diane Fothergill had been expected. Clare Thomas felt familiar but he didn't know why. Glad that he was alone in the MIU office he sat at his computer, knowing he wouldn't settle until he found out who Clare Thomas was.

"Cmon. Cmon." Ronnie pushed his glasses up on his nose. He wasn't the best at working on computers but he didn't want to call Angie or Matt. This was something he had to do on his own.

"1987." He frowned. "Petty theft. Ok." He scrolled the screen down, assuming the then teenage Clare would have been arrested for shoplifting. He took his glasses off as he realised how he knew the name.

"Dear God." He whispered as he read the second report. "Not Bob." He ran a hand over his face. He felt sick, the desire to hit the local off-licence overwhelming. He had to get out of the station. If Natalie or any of the others saw him they'd know he had a personal involvement in the case. He switched the computer off - cursing himself for not recognising the name sooner he headed out of the office.

Xxxxxx

Alesha took the medication the nurse offered, knowing that she would probably be discharged later that day. The thought of seeing Cam and her husband kept her going, took her mind off the attack and her still healing body.

"Doctor has arranged a scan in the early pregnancy unit for this morning." The nurse smiled. Alesha nodded. "At 10:30."

"My husband is going to want to be there. Can I call him?"

"Of course." The nurse smiled as Alesha picked up her mobile phone before leaving the room.

Cxxxxxx

Ronnie walked along the street, hands shoved in his pockets. Every nerve cell in his body seemed to crave vodka. The self hatred that had abated over the years was back. He had been too slow when Bob had died. Too weak and stupid to realise it was the girl with the knife. He'd called it too late - and the big loud Northerner was dead. There had been nothing he could do to save him. The same had happened with Wes. He was a let down. As a copper, mate, husband and dad. The alcohol seemed the only way to obliterate everything.

Xxxxxxx

Joe gulped the takeaway coffee as he rushed up the stairs of the police station. He knew he was running late but it couldn't be helped.

"Sorry." He barrelled through the doors as all eyes fell n him. "Alarm clock died. Battery I think."

"No problem." Natalie waved a hand away. "Have you seen Ronnie?"

"Er no."

Matt and Natalie exchanged glanced as he sat down.

"Why?"

"He's disappeared."

"What? This is Ronnie Brooks we are talking about. Mr Responsible?" Joe looked from one to the other. "What?"

"If you'd got ere on time you'd know." Sam snapped. "The woman who murdered Sally may be the same woman who stabbed Ronnie's first partner in MIU. It looks like Diane attacked Alesha and Clare Thomas attacked Sally."

"And Ronnie knows?" Joe looked as Matt nodded.

"Yeah."

"Bob wasn't part of MIU." Natalie sighed. "It was CID. I was a DS then same as Bob. Big man, laugh that could drown out every other sound in the room." Natalie smiled. "Ronnie was DI. Felt responsible for us all."

"Ron was DI?" Sam asked. Natalie nodded.

"Yeah." Matt paused. "And he knows about this."

"I text him last night." Angie explained. "He didn't answer."

"Right." Natalie stood up. "Joe, Sam. You get on to forensics. Angie, luv, find me an address for that woman. I wanna know how she's not still in prison and how her and Diane crossed paths." She set about organising them all; ignoring the pit of worry building in her stomach. Everything told her Ronnie was in trouble.

"Matt, get to the hospital. Alesha needs you there more than we do."

"Guv." Matt nodded. "What about Ronnie?"

"You let me worry about him. He'll turn up. He always does." She smiled sadly.

"Do you think he's in trouble? Drinking?"

"No." She lied. "He wouldn't do that. You go on."

Matt nodded, not really believing her but praying she was right.

Xxxxxxx

The park bench in the cemetery was deserted as he walked over to it. The park keeper had vanished as he looked around. Sitting down he pulled the glass bottle out of the paper bag. Glaring at the litre bottle he remembered everything that he had done wrong. His failings as a husband - marrying too young the first time. Then his failings as a father, the death of his partner and everything since hit him like a tonne of bricks.

"Ronald William Brooks." He whispered. "You are a nightmare. You don't deserve any of this. Natalie, the kids, the job, scum like me dun deserve none of it. Should be me in the ground. Not Bob and not Wes." He glared at the bottle. He desperately wanted to open it. To let the liquid take away the pain. Feeling the fear clench around his heart he threw the bottle at the brick wall, swearing when it failed to smash completely.

"Can't even do that." He shook his head, not seeing the shadow walking towards him.

Xxxxxxx

Alesha felt Matt take her hand as the sonographer squirted the cold gel hit her tummy. The sound of a strong heart beat filled the room. The sonographer kept her eyes on the screen as Alesha bit her lip.

"All looks ok. It looks like you are fifteen or sixteen weeks on."

"Can you tell?"

"Unofficially yes but you should wait for the twenty weeks scan."

"Oh." Matt sighed. "As long as they're both ok."

"She's ok?" Alesha looked at the scan image.

"She?" Matt smiled,

"Mother's instinct." Alesha smiled.

"Baby looks ok." The sonographer smiled, leaving the couple to stare at the photographs.

Xxxxxxxxx

"Thought you'd be here." Natalie paused as she sat next to Ronnie. He shook his head.

"You ok?"

"Yeah. Alesha's had the baby scan. All ok. They'll letting her home later." Natalie smiled. "You don't need that stuff." She pointed to the cracked bottle laying in the grass.

"Why am I here? Why aren't Wes and Bob ere?"

"Self pity never did suit you." Natalie folded her arms.

"Nat."

"You turned your life around. You go back on that crap and you are letting all that go to waste." She paused, turning to him she took his hand. "I dunno why things happen the way they do but you are still ere. An I think you're ok and I dun want to lose you. So stop all this crap." She held his gaze as she spoke. He wanted to tell her she was wrong but the words died on his lips. Natalie kissed him gently. Ronnie sighed as she brushed a tear away from his cheek.

"I'm sober."

"Good."

"I dunno what you see in me."

"Good job I do. Now get back to the station. Help me work out what the Hell is going on." He nodded, getting to his feet he let Natalie lead him out of the cemetery. He didn't see the way she glanced at him wondering how much more he could take.

Xxxxx