A/N This chapter is for EmmyLovett, you know why :) x
Sally cautiously approached Callum's office the next morning, before briefing.
Callum was standing by the filing cabinet, as Sally knocked on the door. He turned, his face clouding, and his scowl deepening as he realised it was Sally.
"Come to gloat?" he asked, slamming the drawer shut with more force than was necessary. He turned away from her, as she entered the office warily, and began working on his computer.
"I just wanted to say how sorry…"
Callum looked up from the computer. "Sorry?" he demanded. "Sorry doesn't even come close, Sally!" He shook his head, disgusted at her nerve.
"I just wanted you to know, that despite how it looks, I'm not taking sides in this," Sally endeavoured to explain. She couldn't really blame his bad mood. He looked exhausted; he'd obviously had as bad a night as Emma had.
"Sally, I'm not interested in any explanations!" he exploded, returning to the filing cabinet. "Get out, before Emma sees you fraternizing with the enemy."
"It's not like that…"
"Get out!"
Sally retreated from his office, and headed towards the locker room to get changed.
Callum sat down heavily in his chair, his breathing harsh in his fury. He squeezed his eyes shut tightly, and pinched the bridge of his nose. He blew out a ragged sigh, as he dragged his hands down his face. His mouth turned down unhappily, as he glared at the open door, still fuming at Sally's nerve.
Sally groaned inwardly when she was paired with Stone, not relishing the idea of having to work an entire shift with him. But when she looked at it from his point of view, Sally figured that he'd feel the same way about her.
Callum was waiting impatiently for her at the rear doors. Sally muttered something of an apology, barely meeting his eye, before she realised that he was already several steps ahead of her; and hurried to catch up with him, however his long stride made it almost impossible.
The morning had been relatively quiet, allowing each of the officers a chance to mull their thoughts over in the stagnation. Callum was heading in the direction of the High Street, in suffocating silence, when his radio crackled into life. "Sierra-Oscar, we've had a report of a robbery and assault at 12a Queen Street. Can any unit deal?"
It was with a sense of relief for Sally, as Callum acknowledged the call; until then he'd shown little interest in a conversation. Callum crossed the road without waiting for Sally, his pace quickening, leaving Sally in his wake.
When they finally arrived at the convenience store, the place was a shambles. Merchandise was scattered in every direction, their contents spilled and crumbled. A glass cabinet had been pushed over, its shattered glass scattered as far as the eye could see; down aisles, across shelves and towards an open door at the back of the store.
A young man was being wheeled on a gurney towards a waiting ambulance, his forehead covered in a bloody bandage.
Callum turned to the shopkeeper, pointedly leaving Sally to deal with the assault victim and the paramedics.
"Mr Khan?" Callum questioned as he cautiously stepped around the debris. "I'm Sergeant Stone, and that's PC Armstrong. What happened?"
Mr Khan shakily looked around his ruined shop. "They ruin my shop!" he answered, still clearly shaken. "They attack my son…"
"Did they say anything; demand any thing?" Callum pushed the issue.
Mr Khan shook his head. "My son was serving, I was out the back taking in a delivery…"
Callum sighed and shook his head minutely. He automatically glanced up checking for CCTV. He pointed at the camera overlooking the cash register.
"Does that work?" he asked.
Mr Khan, followed his glance, and paled even further, his agitation growing. Callum glanced in the same direction. A man, with a goatee beard and wearing a long black overcoat over his grey suit, was talking on his phone. He glanced at his watch, as he continued to talk, and then carried on walking.
Callum turned back to the shopkeeper. "Mr Khan, the CCTV, please."
"It doesn't work," replied Khan, turning back from the window. "I keep meaning to get it repaired…"
Callum was almost finished typing up his report when the door to his office opened, the visitor neglecting to knock. Callum looked up from his computer screen, ready to take out his bad mood on the unsuspecting individual – how dare they not knock?! – however he found his words ripped from the tip of his tongue, as he saw who it was.
"Emma," said Callum, not expecting to see her in his office. His heart leapt at the sight of her, and continued to hammer against his chest.
"I was wondering if I could stop by after my shift ends tonight?" Emma asked without preamble. "I'd like to pick a few more things up."
"I was hoping we could talk…"
"I don't want to bring our problems to work Callum. I'm not trying to be difficult, but we spent enough time showing we could be professional around each other, the same still rings true now. I finish at 5pm, so we'll talk then."
She turned not waiting for his answer, quietly closing the door behind her.
His face was a mask of misery, as he stared at the closed door, before abruptly rising to his feet and leaving his office.
He was breathing heavily by the time he reached the locker room. He paced the room, trying to get himself under control. He hitched in breath, his mouth turning down, as he fought back the tears that threatened. He whirled and struck out at the metal locker, once, twice, a third time.
He's breath was a ragged rasping sound, as he leant against the locker, with his forehead resting on his fist. His eyes screwed shut.
Emma arrived at the house, shortly after 5.45. His stomach flipped nervously as she walked past him, into the living room.
She took off her coat, draping it over the nearest chair, and turned to face him. The maternity top she was wearing emphasised her baby bump flatteringly, and the teal hue drew out the blue flecks in her eyes. She was glowing; Callum wasn't naïve enough to suggest that the past few days hadn't been as hard on Emma as they had on him, but yet somehow, she still managed to radiate an alluring glow which made him feel proud and yet in the same breath still somehow managed to make his heart ache in a way that was becoming increasingly familiar.
"Can I get you anything?" he asked, awkwardly.
Emma smiled, somewhat nervously. "I'm fine," she replied, then winced slightly, and placed a hand on her bump as the baby's foot caught her under the ribs. She rubbed the spot, hoping to coax the baby into moving again.
Callum resisted the temptation to feel the baby's movements with difficulty, sensing that at this point in time at least, it would be unwelcome of him.
Emma seemed to understand what he was thinking and what he's hesitation meant. Catching his eye she gave silent consent, and stepped closer to him, as he placed his hand on the bump feeling the baby roll sideways.
Callum's breath caught slightly, as Emma suddenly covered his hand with hers, both feeling the familiar tingle at the contact.
Emma watched him as he closed his eyes briefly, as if savouring this moment.
Her heart ached at the expression on his face; alienating Callum from their child wasn't her intention, and whatever else happened between them in the future, that was one thing never in doubt.
She released his hand and stepped back, catching the look of regret on his face.
"Before we talk, I want to grab a few more things," Emma said quietly, as he remained standing by the living room door, his clenched hands deep in his pockets. With the briefest of hesitations he stepped aside, bowing his head as he turned away from her, hiding his heartache.
When she returned, she placed the hold all by the chair with her coat, and turned to face him.
"I know I've hurt you Callum, but Sally isn't to blame for this, so why are you taking it out on her?" Emma asked bluntly; needing to hear his excuse for being so rude to her friend.
Callum swallowed, held her gaze for a moment and looked down at the floor. "I'm not blaming…"
"She's not taking sides; she was trying to tell you that she is here for you! This was my decision, Callum. She tried to talk me out of it, said to think about it first. The only reason I'm staying with Sally is because she thought a little break might actually help calm things down."
"I didn't want this…" he said carefully, still not quite able to look at her. He swallowed painfully, and concentrated on keeping his voice steady. "Just because I can't tell you…" he paused, and finally took the chance of facing her. "Doesn't mean I don't love you…"
He looked down at his hands, his mouth a tight line, his heart hammered against his ribs, his stomach flipped and turned sickeningly. "I'm sorry," he whispered, "That it came to this…" he blinked rapidly, grateful that she couldn't see his struggle. "But I will be there, for you and the baby…" his voice trailed off unable to say anything more.
"I never thought we'd end up like this, either," Emma quietly admitted. "I want this to be as amicable as possible, Callum. Being involved with Devon or Charlotte, was never in question; I want them to know their Daddy." Emma paused and bit her lip, before putting on her coat, and grabbing the hold all.
She slowly held out her hand. "I think you should have this back," she said, leaving her engagement ring on the hatch next to him, before quietly leaving the house.
When she'd gone, he picked it up, in trembling fingers, his face a mask of misery, as he stared at the white gold band, the stones twinkling brightly.