She knew something important had gone down by the constant vibration of her phone in her trouser pocket. It was her normal phone so she couldn't answer it immediately.
She was undercover and after learning her lesson being caught out by DC Nigel Morton several years ago, Kate was always extremely wary not to be caught with two phones ever again.
Making her way outside the police station and finding somewhere private, Kate glanced around to make sure DCI Ros Huntley or any of her team were not nearby before fishing the phone out of her pocket.
Lots of missed calls from the gaffer and a couple of messages asking her to call him when able. Curious as to what was so urgent, Kate pressed the button to connect to his phone.
"Ah thank god, Kate," she heard the worry in the gaffers voice immediately.
"What's happened, sir?" Kate asked, feeling fear begin to gather in the pit of her stomach.
"It's Steve, Kate," Ted said gently. "I have some bad news, I'm afraid,".
"Sir, your scaring me," Kate replied, the panic rising in her voice. "He's not...dead is he?" she asked, hardly able to say the word.
"No!" declared Ted quickly. "Sorry to give you that impression, Kate. He's been injured after being assaulted and thrown down a couple of flights of stairs. He's in hospital in theatre at the moment in a bit of a bad way. I'm waiting for an update. I thought you should know,".
"Thank you, sir. Let me know as soon as you have any news," Kate begged.
"Aye. Of course I will ," Ted answered. "I hate to do this but we should probably keep this conversation as short as possible. Keep safe, Kate," He added before hanging up.
Kate hurriedly put her phone back in her pocket and took a moment to compose herself. She couldn't believe what had happened and she didn't know what to do. Her head was telling her that Steve would want her working on their case but her heart...her heart was telling her she should be with her partner.
Swiping at the tears that had sprung unannounced from her eyes, her head won her argument and she took a few deep breaths as she sucked her emotions up and prepared to re-enter the police station.
Try as she might though, she just couldn't concentrate on anything to do with Operation Trapdoor; her mind constantly worrying about Steve. In the end she knew she was going to have to visit the hospital where he was to check up on him. It was extremely risky in case anyone followed her but he was her friend. Her best friend.
Looking up she saw DCI Huntley in her office and decided to strike while the iron was hot. Getting up from her desk she went and knocked on the door,".
"Enter!" Ros commanded and Kate hesitantly entered the room. "Yes Kate?" Ros said, wondering why she was receiving a visit from the junior officer before noticing she had a really worried look in her face. "Everything ok?".
"Umm," Kate uttered, as she thought of a convincing lie to tell her temporary boss. "I've had some bad news from home ," Kate said. She couldn't help the tears falling again and despite not really liking her all that much, Ros couldn't help but have some sympathy for her. "I know it's not the best time, but I was wondering if I could have a few days off?".
"Of course," Ros said. She was happy to grant the request as she still hadn't made up her mind about the woman in front of her. She didn't trust her for some reason and having her absent would make Ros feel much happier. "Take as much time as you need," she offered. "Would you like to leave now,".
"Thanks Ma'am," Kate said and accepted a tissue that Ros offered her. When her tears were under control, she left and quickly gathered her belongings before heading to her car. Starting the engine she was soon in her way to the hospital.
Walking into the ITU, the presence of a uniformed officer outside one room gave Kate the immediate location of Steve's bed. She walked over and showed him her ID badge. Her name was obviously on a list of acceptable visitors as he stepped aside to let her enter the room.
Her breath caught as she took Steve in for the first time. He was asleep and on a ventilator. The whirring noises as it pushed and sucked air in and out of Steve's lungs the only sound in the room. He appeared to be receiving a blood transfusion through something in his neck and was surrounded by a host of monitors.
She didn't notice that she wasn't the only visitor in the room. Ted Hastings was stood looking at Steve with a worried look on his face. He turned as Kate entered the room.
"Kate, what are you doing here? You could be seen,".
"I had to come, sir. How is he?".
"He's got fractures of his right leg, pelvis and vertebra. Fractured skull and some busted ribs. I mean, they've operated but the nurse says it's too early to say anything, so...You can never find a bloody doctor when you want one," he vented before leaving Kate alone. She had never seen Ted quite so worried about Steve as he was now. Usually Steve was causing him quite a bit of grief, but not like this.
"What the hell, Steve?" Kate exploded once she was alone. The list of his injuries had upset her. She turned to look at her friend who of course remained silent. His chest rising and falling with the ventilator his only movement. "What the fuck were you playing at?" she continued angrily. "Why didn't you answer your fucking phone?". Maneet had updated Kate and told they had been trying in vain to contact him before he was assaulted to warn him he could be in danger.
A sound near the door alerted her to the fact she wasn't alone and she turned to see that a nurse had entered the room.
"Sorry," Kate said apologetically to the woman, embarrassed at her language and temper.
"It's ok," the nurse said. "It's the shock isn't it?". Kate nodded as she collapsed in the seat beside Steve's bed.
"And I hate hospitals," Kate explained. "Something I mentioned to him when we were last here and surgeons were trying to save his finger that had nearly been removed from his hand!".
"He's a bit prone to getting hurt then is he?".
"More like he's got an incredible knack of pissing people off," Kate replied. "Not just me but organised crime gangs,". It was one of the first things she'd noticed about Steve. Once on a case he was like a dog with a bone that would not let go until he got all the answers no matter who he upset.
"He's a police officer?" The nurse asked. Steve had only been in her care a short time and didn't know much about him.
"Yeah,".
"Anything to do with the northern Irish gentleman outside who is currently scaring the junior doctors into getting the consultant here as soon as possible?".
"Oh god," Kate said, embarrassed at the behaviour of the gaffer. "Sorry," she apologised. What with police guards and irate Irishmen, the police force were definitely stamping their mark on the hospital at the moment.
"Doesn't matter. He's obviously got a soft spot for Steve here if he's so worried about him,". Kate screwed her face up, not totally agreeing with the nurse. The two men had certainly had their moments before now with Kate frequently having to act as the peace keeper.
"And are you his girlfriend?" The nurse asked. Kate shook her head.
"Work partner. That's my gaffer out there as well,".
"You worked together long?" The nurse asked as she set about doing some observations on Steve.
"Five years," Kate declared with a lump in her throat as she gently took Steve's hand that was closest to her in hers and gave it a squeeze. "And hopefully a few more,".
"I should think so," the nurse soothed. "You obviously mean a lot to each other,".
"He's my best friend,".
"I can tell. You being here is helping him a lot," the nurse informed Kate. "I'd popped out to get the doctor to come and review Steve because I was having trouble with his pulse and blood pressure, but since you've been here he's settled down,".
"Despite me having a go at him?".
"Yes, even despite that," the nurse confirmed.
Kate smiled, pleased at the progress report and hoping it would continue. "That's good to know," she replied. "Won't feel so guilty when I next have to shout at him,".
