4

Steve sat in the chair deep in thought. He knew the nurse had told him that she had made it through the surgery and was being moved to the ITU when she was believed to be stable enough to move. He knew his back would play up as he sat on the plastic chair but he didn't care. There was no way he was moving until he got to see Kate. The idea Jo had been instrumental in her shooting made him feel sick. He closed his eyes as he thought about everything that had happened since they had started investigating the Gail Vella murder. He looked at his phone once more, wondering if he should call the office. He knew if anyone else had been shot he would out there tracking down the gunman, but something kept him there waiting and he knew it was more than the Gaffer stating he had to 'watch over their girl'. He swallowed hard as the nurse appeared once more calling his name.

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Ted glared at the computer screen as he thought about everything that had happened over the last few hours. He knew if Carmichael hadn't pulled the back up Kate had needed she would never have been shot. The anger built up in his gut as he thought about his DI currently fighting to live. The idea that the shooting could potentially leave her with brain damage made him want to punch something. His hands curled in fists as he read the report on the screen. Gail Vella's murder had been a farce from the beginning, not that was a great surprise. His head snapped up as Chloe walked into the office.

"Sir."

"What is it?"

"The car we found has been ripped apart by the SOCO team." She bit her lip. "DNA evidence shows that Pilkington was in the car with Jo. Kate's gun was in the footwell of the car." She watched as Ted swore under his breath. "There was some blood on the door handles. Forensics are looking at it now. Finger print in it was Jo's."

"Davidson is injured?"

"Potentially." Chloe paused. "But it could be Kate's. Jo might have tried to help her."

Ted closed his eyes. "Mother of God."

"Forensics said they will get us a full report as soon as. Manpreet is looking through CCTV from where the car was dumped. Other than that."

"We have nothing."

Chloe looked on the verge of tears. "Not yet, but we will." She sniffed as he smiled slightly. He knew she was the best analyst AC-12 had ever had. He made a mental note not to let Carmichael move her to another team. The acerbic woman had a habit of pushing the best members of his team to other sections.

"Aye Lass." He sighed. "We find them and we find out the truth. For Kate. Yes?"

"Yes Sir." Chloe turned before leaving the office. Ted waited until the door closed before resting his head in his hands.

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Jo wanted to cry. Everything had gone wrong in her life. She had tried to stay away from the OCG, knowing that it would only lead to more and more trouble. Ruining the lives of people she had become friends with seemed even more cruel.

"Why are you doing this?" She looked over at Pilkington. "What did Kate Fleming ever do to you?"

"Keep moving." He pulled her roughly by the arm as she tried to drag herself out of his grip. She swore as he held the gun to his ribs.

"She's got a kid. Did you know that? You murdered a mother."

"SHUT UP." He was beginning to panic. "Just keep moving." He dragged her towards a multi-storey carpark as she looked around hoping that someone would see and step into help her.

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Steve winced as he got to his feet. His back burned as he took a step forwards. He knew Kate was in the Intensive Care Unit but he couldn't imagine seeing her wired up to the life support machine the nurse had warned him about. He stepped into the ward as the nurse ushered him towards the bed.

"She is still in there, your Kate." The nurse smiled at him as he swallowed hard. "Talk to her."

He nodded before sitting down next to her bed sighing heavily.

"Kate." He took her hand as he looked at the monitor above her bed and the various tubes snaking from under the bedsheets to the various monitors, intravenous drips and machines that were monitoring her and keeping her alive. "Bloody Hell, Mate." He took her hand as he realised half her chest was covered in heavy bandages. He paused, swallowing hard. "I told the Doctor in A&E that we are partners. I think they thought I meant outside of work too. That's why they let me in." He brought her hand to his lips, surprised that how warm she felt. Despite looking as if she was on the verge of death her skin was as warm as it always was. "Josh has been. He's a good lad. Grown since I last saw him." He rested his forehead on her hand. "You have to wake up, ok. You can't let them win. You just can't." He watched her face for a moment as the tube leading from her mouth to the ventilator seemed to reinforce how much of a fight she still had ahead of her.

"They said you are going to be in 'ere until your blood pressure is better. They've given you a blood transfusion, a tonne of antibiotics and more medication than I've ever seen in my life." He sighed. "Mate, if I can get over a fractured skull and a knackered back you can come through this. I need you." He sighed as he closed his eyes. "Mate, I need you."

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(A/n not my best chapter but next time we find out what Pilkington is really up to.)