"Brian can you go with jack and find out a bit more about Karen there's something odd about her she just doesn't seem to fit in the case" Sandra wanted to talk to Gerry in private and saw this as her opportunity.
"Can't Louise do it." Brian moaned
"No she's got a date with Strickland" Gerry and jack said in unison.
"Can you lot not be mature about anything" Louise loves it when they wind her up, makes her feel like one of the team. "Anyway I'm off have fun Brian"
Jack and Louise made their way out of the office whilst Brian was still getting ready.
Strickland's office
"Louise come in" Strickland gestured towards the sofa as he opened the door for the young woman.
"Don't worry this is purely casual just to check in with how you're getting on" Strickland could tell Louise was nervous and wanted to make her at ease.
"Everything's great thank you, everyone's been so kind" Louise was glowing with happiness.
"Good well you know where I am if you need me for anything unless you've got any questions I'll let you get back to work". Louise got up from her seat and made her way to the door
"Louise" Strickland was worried he was going to make a fool of himself but saw this moment as an opportunity.
"Sir" Louise glanced over at Strickland's desk where there was a picture of his children as she turned towards Strickland.
"Oh call me Rob please, well err the team seem to know a lot about you and well I'd also like to get to know you better maybe we could go for a drink?" Rob rubbed his neck nervously.
"Sure shall I invite the others sir sorry Rob" Louise moved further towards the door.
"Well I was think maybe we could just go, I don't think I'm very popular with the boys" rob smiled as Louie turned towards him.
"Ok then where were you thinking of taking me? We could go to the wine bar just outside town, apparently it's really good" Louise got all excited over the thought of a night out even if it was with her boss.
"Right I'll pick you up about 8, err I mean if that's alright with you" once again Strickland became nervous and slightly embarrassed about how quick he jumped to picking her up.
Louise nodded. "I look forward to seeing you later then" she flashed a smile and made her way out.
Whilst Louise was in Strickland's office Sandra and Gerry had the opportunity to discuss how they were going to talk about Pete with Louise.
"Gerry what if he's done something awful to her and I wasn't there to protect her" Sandra started to get upset just thinking about the endless possibilities of what could have happened to her. Gerry walked over to her and placed a caring hand on her back, Sandra let herself lean against Gerry whilst sitting down her face placed on his stomach. "I can't do this, I mean what was I thinking I'm not cut out to be anyone's mother".
Gerry pulled away from Sandra and bent down to be on the same level as her."now you listen to me you are doing a fantastic job and that young woman is exactly like you, you can tell how happy she is to have you in her life there's no way you can let her go now" every word he said he meant it. Gerry was so proud of Sandra.
"Will you stay with me whilst I talk to her?" Sandra really needed his support especially now.
Louise walked in with a rather large smile on her face and sat herself down on the chairs facing the whiteboard with the case notes on.
"Louise can we have a word love" Gerry indicated for her to come over to Sandra's office.
"As long as you never call me that again" Louise glared at Gerry.
"Told you she wouldn't like" Sandra grinned at Gerry.
"What's up" Louise perched herself on the cupboard by the office door.
"Me and Gerry wanted to urm" before Sandra could finish Louise butted in with "you're not getting together are ya, I knew there was something between you guys, we should celebrate!" Gerry and Sandra glanced at one another before Gerry quickly moved on.
"What your mother is trying to say is we want to know what happened with Pete because if he's ever laid a finger on you then he'll have me to deal with" Louise and Sandra could see Gerry was getting all worked up which shocked Sandra, Sandra couldn't believe how protective Gerry had become over Louise almost as if he's taken over the fatherly role.
"Look it's fine honestly he just got the wrong end of the stick, he was drunk and I shouldn't have invited him in when he was like that" Louise started to get upset as she relived the memory.
"Alright, you've done the hardest part and we get you through the rest together" Sandra got up and hugged her tearful daughter.
"I'll kill him" Gerry angrily stormed off.
"Gerry no" Sandra's voice was shaky she didn't want Gerry getting hurt he meant a lot to her even if she never told him.
"The boys they can't lose another parent" Louise had grown fond of Pete's children even if he was a terrible drunk.
"Ok we'll go over you'd best inform Strickland, he's not going to like this" Sandra and Louise headed for Sandra's car in hope that they'd get there in time to stop Gerry from doing anything stupid.
Sandra put the siren on to save time.
"Sir you're needed at 16 Compton Avenue me and Sandra are on the way there but you'll want to be there" Strickland could tell the fear in Louise's voice so didn't bother asking question and got himself there as soon as he could.
Sandra and Louise got out of the car in amazement.
"Gerry what's going on?" Sandra inquired as they watched Pete being arrested and were shocked to see Pete with a black eye.
"Well I gave him a smack then thought of you two and decided to do it the proper way for once"
Gerry smiled at Sandra and Louise.
"Thank you" Sandra kissed Gerry on the cheek as Strickland pulled up in front of Louise's house.
"Something I should know about?" Strickland nodded his head towards Gerry and Sandra as he questioned Louise.
"Beyond me" Louise and Strickland stood smirking at Gerry and Sandra.
"Sir sorry to pull you out of the office but we thought Gerry might do something stupid"Sandra wanted to inform Strickland before he jump to conclusions.
"Me, never" Gerry sarcastically defended himself.
"I should collect the boys,this is going to break them" Louise sighed thinking of the boys.
"They'll be fine trust me kids bounce back" Strickland knew this from the messy divorce he and his ex wife put his children through.
"I'll drop you off at the school then you can spend the afternoon with them" Sandra out her arm around Louise as they headed towards the car.
As they pulled towards the school "can you look after the boys tonight about half 7ish" Louise grinned at her mother.
"Sure but you owe me, go on get out of here" Sandra winked at her daughter.
