8

Matt walked alongside Sam as they headed towards the entrance to the mortuary. Neither man liked visiting Joy, the only consolation for Sam was that, if he was in luck Chloe may be on duty. He smiled slightly as he thought of the curly haired pathologist as Matt shot him a look.

"What?"

"You smiling?" Matt teased. "Chloe working today, is she?"

"I dunno." Sam huffed. "Once upon a time a DI got some respect." Sam huffed as Matt raised both eyebrows.

"Maybe, but those days are not today." Matt held the door to the mortuary main entrance open. Sam rolled his eyes before going in. "Maybe Joy will have something for us. You never know."

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Ronnie stood in the bathroom, half dressed and deep in thought. He knew Natalie was downstairs and he knew the kids were not supposed to be home until later that night, Lucy and Sarah had school and college the next day - even if their lessons were now online. He shook his head, knowing that was something he would not understand. How could anyone learn if a teacher wasn't there to ask questions of? He thought back to Lucy's maths homework and shuddered at how different things had been for kids in his day compared to what youngsters were supposed to know now. It didn't seem fair, the kid had enough going on without finding out he was not right. Sighing he leant on the sink, determined to concentrate of having a shave and sorting himself out. However much he had been tempted to jump in the Thames or take the entire prescription of fluoxetine he had been prescribed he knew he wouldn't do it. He wouldn't leave his girls orphaned, even though he felt useless to them, he decided in that moment he wouldn't add that burden to their young shoulders.

"Nat?" He turned, sensing her in the doorway. "You ok, Luv?"

She nodded once.

"Matt sent me a text."

"He's ok?"

"Yeah, he's fine. Said, Angie had put that cow upstairs in her place. Bloody woman, how did she climb the ranks? No more of a detective than that Peppa Pig our Lou watches."

Ronnie smiled slightly, the image of Flynn as Peppa Pig, complete with cartoon police car hit him. He shook his head.

"I was just gonna shave. I'll be down then."

"You've been so long, I thought you fell down the plug." She watched as he covered his face in shaving foam. "Anyway, Matt says that you and I are self isolating due to you having symptoms of that bloody virus. Complete lie but it gets us ten days home together."

"They lied. To Flynn for us."

"And apparently Angie sent her away with a flea in her ear." Natalie smiled, proud of the Detective Constable everyone seemed to rely on. "The investigation is going well. Joe and her are interviewing a suspect this morning while the boys are at the mortuary. Should charge the lads best friend over the murder in less than a day."

"His best mate?"

"Um." Natalie folded her arms. "All over some girl apparently." She shook her head. "I called Angie when I got the text from Matt. Seems Jake and Kate are taking this one."

"Good." Ronnie washed the remaining soap away before turning to her. "Now what?"

"Now?" Natalie sighed. "I dunno. Its a Saturday. What do couple's do on a Saturday when they can't go into work but the house is empty of kids and grandkids?"

"Watch telly?"

"Then we do that." Natalie slipped away, hoping this was the start of Ronnie's recovery. He looked himself in the mirror sighing heavily before heading into the bedroom to finish getting dressed. He was already exhausted but knew he had to at least venture downstairs. Moping in bed was not going to do anyone any good. He sighed heavily wondering if he would ever feel normal again.

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