Previously on The Bill

"Well I hate to have to tell you this but..................." Dr Roberts started.

Chapter Three

"While we were in working on Charlotte, she arrested." Dr Roberts finished.

"Oh my god." Smithy gasped. "Is she............."

"But." Dr Roberts continued. "We managed to revive her and she's stable."

Everyone let out the breath they were holding.

"Can...can...I see her?" Smithy asked. "Please, I'll be really quiet."

"She's still unconscious, but you can go and sit with her." Dr Roberts answered. "But only you."

"Now that we know Charlotte is alright, we'll go." Gina said quietly. "Is that okay, Gary?"

"Tell Char that we're waiting for her to come back to work." Gary said. "And give her our best wishes."

"That goes for me too." Gina cut in. "Come on, Gary. Bye, Smithy."

"Seeya." Gary added.

"Bye." Smithy said vaguely, as he followed Dr Roberts to Charlotte's room.

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"I'll leave you to it." Dr Roberts. "The nurse will be in shortly to check on her."

"Thanks you so much." Smithy said. "You saved her and I can't thank you enough."

"Well that is my job." Dr Roberts smiled. "I'm always happy to help. Now I must be going."

"Thanks again." Smithy replied, as Dr Roberts walked out the door.

Smithy went and sat down next to Charlotte's bed.

"Charlee, I was so worried about you." Smithy said to Charlotte's unconscious body. "You know I love you right. So wake up for me please. And get better and come back to work. I know everyone will be very worried about you. Especially Gary, he was waiting here for news on you and Honey, you guys are the best of friends. Please get better, for everyone. I love you and always will."

And for the first time that night, Smithy's eyes welled up and tears started to fall.

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The next day, Gina was sitting in her office when Honey burst through the door.

"Ma'am is Char okay." Honey asked frantically. "Gary has just told me what happened. Is she okay. I need to know."

"Honey calm down." Gina soothed. "Charlotte will be fine. Anyway I'm about to call a debrief. Maybe you could tell as many people as you can. Tell them it's in the canteen."

"Okay, Ma'am." Honey said more calmly. "I'll do that.

"Good girl." Gina replied. "Now get to it."

A few minutes later, everyone Honey could find was gathered in the canteen.

"You probably all know why you're here." Gina started. "Last night PC Charlotte Mathews was seriously injured on an obbo."

"Is she alright?" some called out.

"Charlotte is stable, but in ICU." Gina continued. "Sergeant Smith is with her at the hospital. I know that you all are worried about her, but work will continue as usual. That's all."

Everyone filed out of the canteen and continued with their work.

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Meanwhile, CID were working round the clock to try and find Charlotte's attacker.

"Debbie, Ken, I want you to check out all possible suspects." Neil Manson barked. "Phil, Rob, speak to the victims again. We need a result. One of you fellow colleagues has been injured and we need to find out how did it. Uniform is trying to see if they can find any witnesses."

"Yes, Guv." everyone replied, and hopped to it.

"Him." Debbie asked, half an hour later. "He fits the profile."

"But he's been in jail for the past year." Ken replied, pointing to the screen. "Next."

Debbie sighed. "What about him, he could be it."

"Well he does have priors for assault and indecent assault, but he's also in jail."

"Look." Debbie said suddenly. "He's just been released on probation."

"When? Ken asked curiously.

"On the 29th of July, a week before the attacks started." Debbie said. "And his home address is only a couple of streets away from the park."

"But he's on probation." Ken answered. "Something like this could put him straight back in there."

"But he's the closest we've found." Debbie argued.

"Okay, okay." Ken agreed. "Let's bring Marc Lawson in, if we can find him."

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Back at the hospital, Charlotte was still in the same condition and Smithy hadn't moved since he had gotten there.

"Hey, serge." Gary said he and Honey walked into Charlotte's room.

"Oh my god." Honey whimpered, when she saw Charlotte. "Oh my God."

"Why don't you take a break?" Gary suggested.

"No, I have to be here when she wakes up." Smithy replied. "She'll need me."

"We'll stay with her." Honey said, after she had gotten over the shock of seeing Charlotte. "And you look like you need a break."

"She'll be okay, serge." Gary added. "We'll look after her."

"Okay." Smithy answered after a minute. "But only for a few minutes."

And with that, Smithy got up, kissed Charlotte on the head and walked out the door.

"Poor Smithy." Gary said when Smithy had left the room. "Having to see Char like this."

"Yeah." Honey agreed. "She'll be okay, won't she?"

"Of course." Gary said quickly. "She'll be back at work causing trouble in no time."

"I just hope you're right." Honey said, very quietly so Gary didn't hear her.

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"Here we are." Debbie said, as she and Ken got out of the car. "17 Walkers Road. Let's hope he's home."

Ken walked and rung the door bell, and a couple of seconds later the door opened.

"Yes, what do ya want." he said.

"DC Drummond, DS McAllister Sun Hill Police." Ken said, showing his warrant card. "May we come in?"

Marc Lawson froze for a second and then turned and ran.

"Debbie, try a backdoor." Ken shouted, as he went after Marc.

"No you don't." Debbie said; as she pulled him down to stop him climbing a fence. "Come with me."

Debbie dragged him back to the house and found Ken inside.

"Sit."

"What's this about?" Marc asked. "I haven't done nothing."

"Then why did you try and run form us." Ken asked.

"I've just gotten out of prison." Marc shot back. "You're cops, I was I meant to do."

"You could have just lets us in." Debbie replied. "Now it looks like you have something to hide."

"I haven't done nothing." Marc said again.

"Where were you on the nights of the 9th, 16th and 21st of August?" Ken asked.

"On the 9th and 16th I was at home." Marc started. "And on the 21st I was at my sister's birthday."

"Can anyone vouch for you?" Debbie asked.

"Yeah, my girlfriend was with me on the first two dates and I would have lots of witnesses who can give me an alibi for the 21st." Marc answered. "Happy?"

"Well we'll need a list of all the people at the party and contact details of my girlfriend." Debbie said.

"Then we'll leave you alone. But if we find out that you've been telling lies, we'll be back."

A couple of minutes later, Debbie and Ken were back in the car and driving back to Sun Hill.

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A/N Please Review. I hope you've enjoyed the story so far.