After the trial Sheelagh went round to Patrick's flat. She was let in by Patrick's mother. Sheelagh hadn't gone straight round to Patrick's, but had waited a few days.

"Hello Sheelagh." Mrs Murphy let the young copper in.

"Hello Mrs Murphy." Sheelagh smiled at the older woman. "Is Patrick in?" As she asked, Patrick came out of the sitting room to see who it was.

"Sheelagh, hi!" Patrick greeted. Mrs Murphy went back into the sitting room, leaving Patrick and Sheelagh alone in the hallway. "How are you?"

"Okay thanks. And you?"

"Yeah, good thanks." Patrick paused long enough to think, 'she's gorgeous' "What, um, brings you here?"

"Just come to check see if you're coping after sending down a major criminal." Sheelagh subtly flirted but Patrick picked up on it and decided to play along.

"I may need someone to come and help me cope. When the enormity of the situation hits me." Sheelagh pretended to think for a minute and Patrick leant against the wall.

"Aren't your family going to help you through?"

"Yeah but they aren't the same as having a wonderful woman to curl up at night with is it?"
"I wouldn't know. I don't curl up with women at night." Patrick laughed at her comment.

"True. But you know what it's like to curl up with a man yes?"

"Yeah."

"Well, it's like that for a man too."

"Oh. Did you have any particular woman in mind?"

"I might do."

"Oh well, you'll find someone. I've gotta go. I'm meant to be on duty."

"You sneaked out to come and see me?"

"Sort of. I said I was going to meet an informant."

Patrick looked shocked. "You are a naughty girl!"

Sheelagh laughed. "That's me. I'll see you around."

"Yep."

Sheelagh left feeling very happy. She made her way back to the nick and said that her informant didn't know anything.

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That night Sheelagh and Des were sitting on the sofa together watching the TV. Des kept glancing over at Sheelagh who seemed distracted.

"What are you thinking about?" he asked suddenly.

"Nothing." Sheelagh answered, turning to face him. "I'm tired, I'm going to go to bed."

"Okay." Des kissed her goodnight then turned his attention back to the TV.

Sheelagh fell straight to sleep that night and had a nigh full of dreaming - but not of her husband!

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In his flat, not too far away, Patrick Murphy was also dreaming, of a gorgeous blonde police sergeant.