HORIZONS

"When something shocks you it either brings you closer together or tears you apart - but there's no way of knowing which one it will be."

A/N: Set early 2004 before the bombing.

CHAPTER TWO – Crash and Burn

"…I've been diagnosed with cancer…"

The words swam in Jo's aching head as she resurfaced feeling the trembling hand on her face and her name echoing around her ears.

"Jo? Jo? Honey, can you hear me?"

The desperate tone in Susie's voice forced Jo to summon the strength to open her eyes and when she did, she found Susie's worried face above hers.

"Jo, are you okay?" Susie's hand gripped both of hers tightly looking hard into her eyes.

"Can you sit up for me? Are you okay?"

Jo nodded slowly still trying to gather her thoughts as Susie pulled her up into a sitting position. As she regained her vision, the memories came flooding back – the voice, what she had said…what was going on? There had to be some mistake – how could Susie have cancer? She was fit - she was healthy - she was happy – she must have heard wrong.

"What did you say?" She croaked.

"I asked you if you were okay." Susie said gently.

Closing her eyes, Jo shook her head.

"Before that."

The female constable dropped the senior constable's hands, taking her own tightly and she looked down for a moment, exhaling a shaky breath.

"I've been diagnosed with cancer Jo."

"…Oh my god…"

Jo felt the sob rise in her throat and as she sank back down, bringing her hands to her face and bending over to her knees.

"Oh god…"

She let out a trembling breath she didn't know she had been holding before she started to cry – really cry. For a few moments she just sobbed. Painful, uncontrollable sobs racked her body, her shoulders heaving, her stomach cramping fearfully, her throat feeling like she had been punched in the chest.

Only after a few minutes was she able to look up and meet Susie's eyes. When she did she regretted it immediately as she saw her eyes, which were usually so carefree and happy, were now glistening with tears of pain and fear.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you before Jo I was just…"

A tear trickled down her face.

"I was just so scared and I…I just…"

"Oh god!" Jo sobbed bending over again, as memories of the horrible things she had said to Susie, things she had done in return for the things she had thought Susie was doing behind her back, came flooding back, hitting her twice as hard. She was such a bitch, she should have trusted her friend but she didn't, she had been horrible and now her best friend was dying.

"I'm so sorry! God, Suse, I'm so, so sorry!" Jo cried throwing her arms around her friend. Clutching her shoulders she sobbed and her whole body trembled and shook violently as she gripped Susie in her arms.

"I'm so sorry!" Burying her head in Susie's body, Jo just kept repeating the words as the tears consumed her.

Trying to calm herself she was about to speak when the door slammed open and both their heads snapped up.

"Wh-" Jonesy stood at the door, one hand on the knob, his eyes large with concern and shock.

Wiping her eyes Susie jumped up, pulling Jo with her.

"Ah…are you okay?" Jonesy asked hesitantly, looking uncomfortable and out of his depth.

"Um, I'll leave you guys to it."

Sniffing, Jo squeezed Susie's hand tightly before slipping past the two of them, out the door.

Jonesy came towards Susie, holding her hand in his, taking in her sad face and tear-filled eyes.

"Suse?" He asked cautiously. "What is it? What's happened?"

She looked up at his open, warm face, filled with concern and care for her. Right at that moment she regretted the last few months with all her heart. If she hadn't played so many games...screwed him around so much…they would be together. The caring, gorgeous, generous person who stood before her would have been hers. But he wasn't. Maybe the ship had sailed. But she still needed him.

"Jonesy, I…"

But the words caught in her throat. She couldn't go on, she just couldn't. She looked up into his eyes in fear of what she might see but all she did was love and care.

"It's all right, Suse…it's okay."

Taking her in his arms Jonesy let her trembling body sink into his own chest.

She felt so safe, wrapped in his arms and there, Susie suddenly realized that the ship hadn't sailed. That it was still there, patient as ever, just waiting until she was ready to climb aboard. And she knew the time had come. Encircling his waist in her arms, she looked up at Jonesy.

"We need to talk."