Sorry it's been so long....been having a bit of a block with my multi chapters, still not that sure on this one so apologies if it's not up to much - I will try and re inspire myself more for the next one.....

Disclaimer as norm

TRYING TO DEAL….

"So where the bloody hell are you two right at this moment?"

"Well…we are both in Ria's car boss"

"Very smart Loker – Where is Torre's car parked that you are both sitting in it?"

"We are outside Sandra Willsons house"

"Stay there- I'll be with you in about 15 – and you better have some damn good answers for me when I get there"

xXx

"Answers! Answers about what?"

""I don't know Ria – about the fact that we know a member of our staff could be on the point of suicide and we didn't let him know! – maybe"

"I think that's being a little over dramatic – I mean yes, she's upset, probably a bit depressed – but suicide! I don't think so Loker"

"Well if you don't think it is that serious – Torres – why have you been sitting in your car with me, outside her house, for the past 2 or more hours?"

Ria couldn't answer that, mainly because she, like Loker, had seen that certain 'something' in the girls eyes when she had run out of the building, she wasn't sure though.

In hindsight it was probably best that Lightman had found out and was now making his way over, if anyone could spot those particular signs in a face – he could!

xXx

Loker moved into the back as Cal moved into the front passenger seat and gave them a good 30 seconds of the Lightman Glare.

"Well…talk to me"

Torres cleared her throat, "Well, from what we have worked out….Sandra has apparently been in love with Loker here from the day she started at the company – which is 4 yrs now – but she has kept it well hidden. I'm guessing that as long as he has never been in any kind of …long term…relationship she has been happy enough, but then she came back from her study trip and found out about …well..Loker and I being …well…an item I guess and she has just freaked out"

"Define 'freaked out'?"

"She just sat in the coffee room in a kind of a trance until I went to speak to her – which was probably not the best thing – but I didn't know what was the problem…anyway she was hostile to me. Loker tried but then she just sorta .broke down and ran out of the office"

"And you two are sitting here because?"

"She had a kind 'look' in her eyes boss" Loker finally spoke

"What look would that be Loker? And how the hell can you be around a woman for 4 years - and NOT notice that she is besotted with you?"

"Hey, you and Dr. Foster managed it for longer than that!"

Torres threw him a shocked and then a 'shut up' look.

"You and I will be having a talk about that comment at some point Loker – but right now – wot LOOK?"

"Well like she was ..outta control and ..maybe..might be thinking about doing something…well"

"Suicide" Ria cut in seeing that Lightman was getting impatient.

"Oh – Fuckin brilliant! So you two think the woman might be suicidal and what do you do!....Sit outside her house like a pair of pratts while she could be dying inside"

He let out a loud hiss of anger and, just to let them know in case they hadn't worked it out, just how angry he was – the car door was slammed so hard that the side window shattered. They briefly heard "That is cumin out of your wages Torres" as he crossed the road and started banging on the door.

xXx

Cal wondered how many more times this evening he would find himself sitting on a couch trying to console a near hysterical, virtually incoherent female.

Cami had been slightly easier. He knew her, yet despite the fact that this woman had worked for his company for 4 years – he really had no idea of who she really was.

He had known how to reason with Cami. What could he say now? All that came to mind was 'Loker – for Christ's sake girl, he isn't worth this' but Cal knew that would be highly inappropriate at this point in time.

' Don't worry, you'll forget about him in time, you'll find someone else'

The big problem with that was if she truly was in love with Loker – would she ever forget – find someone else?

He never had. He had fallen in Love with Gillian so many years ago, and he never forgot it. He had tried to find someone else – marry them even – but that hadn't worked. Ok – he had finally got lucky, he and Gill had gone through so much but they had found each other in the end. It had been close, he had so very nearly lost her…..

The sobbing was decreasing, soon he would have to think of something to say to her, some words of wisdom and solace…

There was just hiccups now and he was still at a loss with mild panic beginning at the pit of his stomach. If he said the wrong thing…if he said nothing at all……

The front door squeaked a little as it opened ….

His arms were gently removed and replaced by his wife's.

"Hush now Sandra, we can sort this out you and I"

She mouthed silently to him "Go home Cal, I've got this" his smile was one of pure love and gratitude as he crept out.

xXx

"So Gilly is with her now?"

"Yeah she is so…"

"Thank God for that"

"Yer know what Cami, there was a hint of – 'thank god it's her and not you' – in that statement"

"Well…seriously Cal….it's not exactly your 'forte' is it…comforting sobbing women" a grin softened her words.

"I did ok with you" he turned on the hurt look

"Well…yes…but I could feel you wanting to be 100 miles away the whole time…but that's probably because I know you so well, I'm sure you would have been great Sandra really…."

"You really didn't mean the last part of that sentence did you?"

"Well….no…Oh Cal – you are what you are…totally brilliant at most things….but comforting crying young women isn't one of them"

Cal was glad he could see the sparkle back in her eyes, and he couldn't resist adding to it.

"So…how about a quickie in the bedroom while the wife's out doing her thing?"

"Oh I'd love to Cal – but do you really want to have to console me again when I start crying with guilt after?"

"Bloody hell no! Lets hit the scotch instead"……