Hi everyone. This is yet again another chapter. You guys are lucky four chapters in a week, I am not sure when the next update will be, my beta has gone on holiday, but I may post anyway, see how we go, I have to be happy with the chapters first. The bill does not belong to me etc etc everyone knows that or else why would I be writing here. The song used here is called Linger by the Cranberries, a cool group.
"Will you girls hurry up? The briefing starts in two minutes!" yelled Sgt Nikki Wright to the officers in the female changing room.
They had been home a week. Today was their first shift back at Sun Hill and it appeared that Nikki was in a foul mood already, and the shift had barley started.
"Right, well welcome back everyone. Sun Hill seems to have gone into disarray since we left, so we have a lot of work today. P.C's Noble and Keane, you can go and hand out these notices then go on foot patrol. Everyone else, you know what you need to do," Inspector Gold said in her usual voice.
"Enjoy your break Diane?" Emma asked as they walked out on Patrol along one of the estates.
"It was okay, I went and saw my son so that was good. What about you?"
"Well Will and I went out with the families for a dinner and we've started to seriously plan the wedding."
They were interrupted by some screaming coming from just around the corner.
A second later they were running up to the two ladies.
"Okay what's going on Dolly?" asked Diane
"She called me some names, it's disrespectful."
"Right thanks." said Diane, walking over to Emma to get the other side of the story.
"Apparently Miss Marena was walking down the street and, as she wears the head scarf, Dolly yelled at her to go home to her own country. Miss Marena ignored her, but when Dolly kept yelling, she just told her that she was English and proud of it. What do you believe?"
"Trust me, knowing Dolly, your version is correct. I'll tell Dolly the delightful news."
"It's just cause she's Muslim isn't it, that's why." Dolly said after Diane told her that nothing was going to happen to the other lady.
"You know as well as I do, Dolly that that is not the truth." At this she left a muttering Dolly and escorted Miss Marena away from the area.
After that the rest of the day was pretty quiet, although Diane was glad when it was the end of the shift. She was planning on going down to the pub when Nikki called her back.
"P.C Noble could I speak to you for a moment, my office."
"Look sarge, if it is about Dolly Myers she deserved it, look I am just heading down the pub can't it wait until tomorrow?"
By this time they were in the sergeants room.
"Shut the door Diane."
"Nikki, instantly correcting herself Diane spoke again, Sarge what's wrong"
"Doug walked out on me last night. He's been having an affair for the last two years, since before I moved to Sun Hill. He's taking the kids, I'm actually out of the house, as it is his. I'm in a hotel at the moment."
Flashback
The last morning in Australia, Nikki and Di had been formal with each other, but nothing more. They had not really talked on the plane, and once they had landed in London, Nikki didn't look back when Doug and the kids picked her up. Diane had left to go to a cold and empty flat by herself.
The kids had been so excited to have her back, and she had been grateful for the distraction. It was only once the kids had gone to bed, when she realized that Doug had been a bit moody, and not fully there. She had tried to talk to him, but he had just said that he was tired after looking after the kids for 3 weeks straight, though he was happy to see her again. At this he had kissed her, then had gone up to bed.
The next few days Doug had not seemed so distant, Nikki just assumed that it was because he had had some sleep. The days had blissfully passed with Nikki spending all the possible time with the kids and Doug when he was off work. Two days before she had to return to work, Nikki realized for the first time that something may not be 100 right. In the morning she had been in the shower, and was just getting out, when she had heard Doug get off the phone. It was unusual, but Nikki didn't think much of it. That day they had taken the kids down to the beach and when they had been buying ice creams they had run into a Sgt from Barton Street so they had talked to her for quite a while. After that Doug had seemed even more moody.
That night after the kids had been put to bed, Doug came down to the living room where Nikki was and at the look on his face, Nikki sat up a bit straighter.
"Nikki."
"What's wrong Doug?"
He was silent for a few moments then he suddenly spoke.
"I'm sorry, Nikki, but I can't do this anymore. I can't live a lie, but I don't love you anymore, I've found someone else. I want a divorce."
Nikki was speechless, she couldn't believe what she was hearing, she just couldn't believe it.
"Nikki, did you hear me?" At this she just nodded.
"Perhaps it's best if you sleep on the couch." Doug said.
At this Doug left her there and moved upstairs.
She had sat there thinking for what may have been hours, she didn't really know. He had found someone else, he had been having an affair, and she never knew but why, how? And now he wanted her out, what about the kids? Where did this leave her and Diane, what were her feelings in relation to Diane?" With all these questions and no answers she had fallen into an uncomfortable sleep.
I swore, I swore I would be true, and honey, so did you.
So why were you holding her hand? Is that the way we stand?
Were you lying all the time? Was it just a game to you?
The next morning, to keep it normal for the kids, they got them ready for school, but afterwards Doug and Nikki sat down.
"Nikki, I am sorry that it had to come to this, I truly am sorry."
"Who are you having an affair with?"
"Melissa Copiton"
"The other sergeant from Barton Street, the one we met yesterday?" Nikki asked.
"Yes."
"How long?" Nikki asked in a cool voice.
"Two years."
"It wasn't anything serious, to start off with, but then it, I don't know how, but it became serious, I love her Nikki." Doug pleaded for understanding.
Nikki just couldn't understand so asked the next question that she thought of.
"So what's the plan now?"
"Well the house is mine, "
"So I suppose that you want me to move out."
"That was the plan."
"Oh, so there was a plan, and let me guess this was all organized whilst I was away in Australia," Nikki snapped.
"It wasn't meant to come out that way Nikki."
All of a sudden Nikki didn't want to fight anymore all the fight had left her body but there was one more thing she had to fight for.
"What about the kids."
"Every second weekend?" asked Doug.
"Every second weekend there my kids, first you want to kick me out of the house that has been my home for over 10 years then you want me to give up the kids."
"Mel and I would be more of a family"
"You're the one breaking up the family Doug, not me."
"Please Nikki"
"What you want me to give up, no chance Doug"
"You don't even have somewhere to live Nikki, how can you look after 2 kids."
"2 Kids, What about the boys"
"Their old enough to decide if they want to stay with you, they already go to see their mum some weekends."
"Look Nikki, I don't want to drag the kids through the courts just because we couldn't be adults and settle this ourselves?"
"You suggest one weekend a month and you think that I am not acting like an adult when I knock that back, you have some nerve Doug."
"Nikki please" Doug pleaded with her.
"No Doug, I will move out today and as soon as possible I will find a flat then the kids, our kids can have a place to stay with their mother, and if you can only let me keep them for only every second weekend then I have to take this to court. They are my children as well and they need their mum no matter what you think."
The rest of the day was spent with Nikki packing all her belongings and moving them to a cheap hotel about 15 minutes away.
Later that afternoon, once the kids had come back from school, they sat them down.
"Kids we want you to know that we love you all very much, but something is about to change."
"Mummy is going to move out, okay, I still love you and I am just going to be around the corner but I have to go okay."
"Why?" her youngest daughter asked.
"Because otherwise we won't be happy, and you want us to be happy, don't you?" Doug answered.
At this the child nodded. So after making sure that the kids were coping as best as they could, Nikki, had given them one last big hug, and then left the house that she had called home for so long.
At this Nikki sagged into her chair. Diane could not do anything as she was too shocked.
"Is there anything I can do? You can stay at my place if you want." Diane finally said.
"No, I don't think we should rush anything."
"Of Course, oh Nikki you should have called me, I would have understood."
"Seriously Di, I still don't know what I am thinking, I seriously don't."
Suddenly, all the emotions that had been building up in her let leash, and she sobbed furiously into Diane's chest, who had pulled her into her arms.
"Why did this happen? I thought moving stations would make our relationship better, not worse, and Mel even came up to me and said she was going to miss me, it was all an act!" yelled Nikki. After that they were silent for a few moments then Nikki spoke up.
"I'm sorry Di, I shouldn't be taking my emotions out on you, you don't deserve it."
"Nikki, don't even apologize, okay. Yell, scream do anything to me. If it will help you, then I don't care okay, just as long as you feel better."
"I don't even know if this is a blessing or not, Di."
"Do you want me to stay with you tonight? I can stay here as long as you want."
"No, thank you, but I need to speak to Inspector Gold, I need to tell her, but I wanted to tell you first."
All Diane could do, was wrap Nikki up in another hug as she could not describe the feelings that went through her when she had heard those words. Nikki had wanted to tell her first.
"Look Diane, you better go, I am meant to meet with the inspector in a sec."
"Okay, but only if you promise to call me if you need me, and I don't care what time it is all right?"
Nikki smiled and nodded her head in agreement.
As she left Nikki's office, she saw Inspector Gold walking down the hallway. As she neared her the inspector spoke up.
"Everything okay, Diane?"
"I'm fine Inspector."
"What did Nikki want with you? You haven't been in trouble again have you?"
"No, I have not been in trouble inspector, and what Sgt Wright wanted to see me about was personal."
"Goodnight Diane."
"Night Inspector."
At this Diane made her way out of the front doors. She decided that she was not going to go to the pub tonight, she was too angry, angry at Doug. He had hurt the woman she loved. She wouldn't do anything, because she knew that it would not help the situation, but there was no way she could like him now, not after everything that he had done.
Meanwhile, Gina had made her way to Nikki's office.
"Nikki, you wanted to speak to me?" asked Inspector Gold as she opened the door to the sergeant's office.
"Yes Inspector, could you shut the door please."
Five minutes later, Nikki had finished telling the inspector a brief overview of what she had told Diane.
"Is Diane Noble to blame in this?"
"The only people to blame in this story is my soon to be ex husband, and Sgt Copiton, Diane has nothing to do with it," answered Nikki who was suddenly angry that someone had tried to blame Diane.
"Right, well in that case, do you want me to do some digging on this Sgt Copiton.?"
"No, I worked with her for two years before I moved to Sun Hill, I know her pretty well but thank you."
Right, well if you need anyone to talk to, or need some leave, just come and ask me okay.
"Thank you Inspector."
"Night Nikki."
With that the Inspector left the room, and left Nikki to contemplate going home alone for the first time in as long as she could remember.
Well thank you for reading, now please update. I am sorry that it was so short, Now I have to finish the next chapter (actually just tweak it so I am happy with it.) I thought that I should tell you. I am leaving for Canada in 5 and a half weeks so this story will be finished before I fly out. Finished by August 15. Cheers A