When Grace arrived in the office next morning Boyd was already there, his door shut and blinds closed. She knocked and opened the door, peering inside before entering. Boyd was sat on the settee, coffee cup in hand looking like utter crap.
"Did you get any sleep?" Entering the office and closing the door behind her.
"No, not really." Knowing there was no point lying to Grace.
"At least you went home." Taking a seat beside him as she looked at his freshly pressed shirt and trousers.
"Not much else to do." Drink his coffee as he stared off into the distance.
"Have you decided what you want?" Sighing as she sat back and looked at him.
"Not really, other than more coffee." Finishing his coffee and going to get up.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Knowing he would say no but trying anyway.
"Not really." His answer short and brisk.
"Well, you know where I am if you need me." Patting his shoulder as she stood up and went to leave.
Grace left him to his brooding, contemplating, whatever it was he was doing. She went into her office, leaving the door open so she could see when Spencer came in. She had just made her tea when Spencer walked in.
"Spencer, can I have a quick word please." Trying to be as quiet as she could calling for Spencer so she didn't alert Boyd.
"Course you can, Grace. What's up?" Smiling as he entered Graces office.
"Shut the door please." Glancing across to Boyds office as Spencer closed the door behind him.
"So, what can I do for you?" Sitting opposite Grace as he spoke.
"Spencer, I need a favour, a big one." Seeing Spencer sit up a little straighter.
"Sure, what do you need?" Spencer intrigued by Graces request.
"I need an address for someone, and I need it kept between you and me, for now anyway." Watching as Spencer considered her.
"Who? Let me at your computer and I'll see if I can find it." Standing up and moving so he was stood beside where Grace was seated.
"Frankie." Seeing the shocked look on Spencer's face when she said who she was looking for.
"Hasn't Boyd got it? I thought they met up the other day." The hesitation to look for Frankie evident in Spencer's tone.
"Spencer, please, just trust me. I wouldn't ask if I wasn't desperate. I need to get in touch with her, and I'm not asking Boyd." Knowing she couldn't tell him anymore without divulging too much information.
"Bunk over then. If he finds out you didn't get it from me." Already reaching for Graces keyboard.
Grace moved over and let Spencer at her computer, seeing him enter his police ID number and some other information that only he had.
"There we go. I didn't know she'd moved." Watching as Grace quickly wrote down the address.
"Neither did I until the other day. Thanks, Spencer. It will all make sense soon, or at least I hope it will." Folding the piece of paper with the address on and putting it in her pocket.
"If you say so." Logging out of Graces computer and standing up.
"Mums the word, Spencer." Seeing Spencer nod in agreement before he opened the door and walked out.
Grace knew that it was going to be a long day, between her court appearance on the Green case and needing to see Frankie it was going to be a very, very long day.
Court was tough, but the aftermath was tougher. Her bag being snatched, the case being reopened, old wounds picked at until they went from weeping to bleeding. Boyd was in a fowl mood, his temper even shorter than normal, his mind split between the case, Frankie, and the similarities to Luke. Stella took the brunt of his mood, Spencer not far behind her. Maybe if he put things right with Frankies or started to, he would step back and calm down a little.
Grace was out the office in a shot as soon as she got the chance. She yelled goodbye to everyone and bolted for the door, needing to be away from the case, her own past, her own demons. Driving to Frankies she mentally switched off her own problems, she needed to focus on Frankie, and making sure she was okay, which would hopefully make Boyd okay. Frankie's car was parked up outside when she arrived, a good sign that was in. Grace parked behind her and got out, locking her car as she made her way to the door. She knock loudly, praying Frankie wouldn't be too mad at her for blagging the address. When she didn't get an answer she knocked a little louder, peeking through the glass on the front door to look for movement. There was no sign of movement, but she did see that days post still sat on the doormat. Something wasn't right! Knocking one final time really loudly she stepped back and took her phone out her pocket, intending to ring Spencer and ask him to send help.
"Hello, can I help you?" Frankies next door neighbour saying hello as he came to stand at his own front door.
"Oh hello, I'm sorry to trouble you." Grace turning to look at the neighbour as she turned to face him. "I'm looking for Frankie, when did you last see her please?" Grace digging in her pocket for her ID badge.
"That's a easy one. I haven't seen her since about seven thirty this morning when the ambulance picked her up. She didn't look to clever mind, had her strapped into one of them chair things. I didn't think the baby was due yet, thought she had another few months at least." Fear and panic taking hold of Grace as she listened.
"Of right. Thanks for letting me know. I'll go up the hospital now and find her, thanks for your help." Grace dashing back to her car and getting in.
Frankie was in labour, had been since that morning. She hadn't phoned Boyd which made Grace worry more. Grace prayed it was due to the fact she was preoccupied, labour at six month was never a good thing. Frankie being in labour brought back her own loss, the pain just as debilitating now as it was then. Seeing Frankie, focusing on Frankie, that was the important thing now. What she wouldn't give to have a police car, the noise and sirens would have got her through the traffic several times faster. Arriving at the hospital she nearly ran inside, locating the main desk and quiering Frankie's location.
The lift took forever, the corridor leading to the ward seeming to go on and on forever as she stood trying to pinpoint ward numbers. Maternity ward, not a good sign, but not a bad one either. Pressing the buzzer on the ward door she gave Frankie's name and the door buzzed to admit her. She was shaking, physically shaking, every bad and negative thought passing through her mind as she stopped at the desk to ask where Frankie was.
"Third door down on the right." The friendly nurse pointing to the room as well as explaining.
Arriving at the door Grace looked through the open blinds and saw the single bed, Frankie lying on her side with her back to the door. Panic and fear coursed through Grace as she rapped lightly on the door and turned the handle, pushing the door open.
"Frankie." She called out softly, seeing Frankie quickly turn her head towards the source of the familiar voice.
"Grace." Frankie managed to sob as Grace rushed into the room and straight to Frankie's side.
Grace's eyes went automatically down to the very obvious bump that was still very much a part of Frankie.
"Oh thank God. I thought, when the neighbour came out and told me you had been rushed here, I thought the worst." Looking at Frankie as great big tears rolled down her face.
A maternal instinct kicked in in Grace and she did what any mother would do, leaned in and wrapped her arms around Frankie, holding her as securely as she could. Frankie sobbed, deep, heart wrenching, soul felt sobs. Grace was welling up as she heard Frankie cry, knowing the pain and fear she was going through. She wanted to ask, needed to ask about the baby but was scared to. Even though she could see Frankie's bump it didn't mean all was well. Just then Grace felt a sharp movement against her side where she was pressed against Frankie, then seconds later another.
"She's okay?" Grace pulling back slightly so she could see Frankie's face and get the confirmation even though she had felt the baby move.
"She is, still sticking with extra glue added for good measure." Frankie's words slurred as she wiped at her eyes.
Grace sat up, still keeping one arm around Frankie as best as she could. Grace managed to dig in her pocket and pull out a neatly folded hankie. Instead of passing it to Frankie she reached out and wiped Frankie's face, drying the tears in the corner of her eyes and on her cheeks.
"That's better. Now, how are you feeling?" Watching Frankie as she rested her free hand on the baby.
"Relieved, exhausted, terrified. I thought I was going to lose her Grace." Her hand rubbing over her bump as she spoke.
"I know, but she's hanging in there. She a tough little thing, just like her mum, and her dad." Seeing Frankie look up at her as she mentioned the baby's dad.
"How is he?" Knowing that she could have the conversation with Grace and get the truth.
"Truthfully, he's a mess, and this new case isn't helping him one bit. Street kids being abducted, killed, a link to my very first case years ago. His instinct as a father, to protect, it's in free fall. The boy that's currently been abducted, he accidentally used the term 'when I got my boy back,' as we discussed the case, then quickly corrected himself. He's ripping people's head of, poor Stella is getting it the most. Even Spencer is taking some flack. He told me what happened, between you two, or at least his version of it. You up to telling me your side or you want to wait a few days, get some sleep and build yourself up a bit? Have they said how long they plan on keeping you here?" Not knowing exactly why she was brought in so not being able to guess.
"A couple of days, just to make sure labour doesn't start up again. And for once I'm not complaining. You know I hate hospitals, being confined, but not this time. They can keep me here until I reach full term, as long as she's okay, I really don't care." The fierceness and determination in her voice showing part of the Frankie she remembered.
"As a parent the need to protect overrides everything. She is all that matters now, to both you and her father." Bring the conversation back around to Boyd.
"Have I blown it? Will he forgive me?" Tears gathering in her eyes as she asked Grace about Boyd.
"Frankie, he loves you, I think he always has. This, is a bump in the road. Peter's problem is he needs to get his head out his own arse and realise he needs to take into account that it's not all about him. He has to remember that when she was conceived, you were both in a really rough place. You did what you thought was best for everyone. Are you going to tell him you're here?" Watching as Frankie did that thing with her bottom lip when she was nervous.
"I thought about it, when I got settled, then I saw my phone had died." Reaching across for the small mobile on the bedside cabinet.
Grace dug in her pocket and pulled her own mobile out, looking between Frankie and the small device.
"You want me to ring him? Cushion the blow." Frankie again chewing her lip before nodding her head.
Grace opened the phone and pressed a few buttons before placing the phone to her ear, Frankie hearing the ringing in the deadly silence of the room. Frankie heard when he answered, heard him say Graces name.
"Peter, where are you?" Frankie now sat fidgeting with the blankets tucked around her as he tried to listen to both sides of the conversation.
"That's good. Listen, and don't interrupt until I'm finished okay." Grace smiling as both her and Frankie heard Boyd swearing about the fact he always listened. "I'm at the hospital, with Frankie." Pausing long enough to let what she had said sink in. "Calm down, Peter, they are both fine, now." Making sure she added extra emphasis on the word now. "Can you bring in a few bits, maybe one of your shirts, or a t-shirt, some wash things. Just until one of us can get to Frankie's and get her some of her own things. You know how uncomfortable hospital gowns can be." Frankie not hearing Boyd's response to Graces request. "Good, we're on the maternity ward, just ask for her when you get here." Grace pausing as Boyd said something. "Okay, see you soon, bye." Removing the phone from her ear and pressing the end call button.
"So, he's on his way." Frankie sounding a little nervous as she looked at the clock on the wall.
"Of course he is. He was sat at home brooding, so now he's got something to focus on. Do you want anything? Tea, coffee, lemon tea?" Remembering what Boyd has said about her in the coffee shop.
"He literally told you everything didn't he." Smiling as she remembered his response to her herbal tea in the coffee shop.
"He did, and we'll talk about that after I get us a drink. I'll be right back." Giving Frankie a quick hug before she got off the edge of the bed and stood up.
Frankie watched Grace leave, smiling at the older woman as she shut the door. She was glad Grace had come to find her, even if it was in the hospital. She lay back and closed her eyes, smiling as the baby kicked and moved about. They were both okay, Boyd was on his way, and Grace was about for support and a cushion for when Boyd arrived. Things could be better, but they could also be a lot worse.