DISCLAIMER: 'The Bill' characters depicted in this story is copyrighted to Thames Television/Pearson Corp
"PC Dunbar." Andrea swung around to face him, she knew who it was, she recognised his voice. "Sir." Andrea replied, Neil looked around them, like he was checking the perimeter for wanders that could listen in.
"Can I see you in my office?" Andrea smiled, she could see Smithy in the distance searching for her.
"Yes Sir, but it must be quick, Smithy needs me." Neil's face said it all, Andrea couldn't help but to smile.
"I'm joking, come one then!" Andrea lead the way, she checked regularly behind, whether Neil was still following, after the third time, he caught on and walked alongside her.
Walking though CID made Andrea nervous, she couldn't believe that Neil didn't countless times she's been in his office and no-one had found out, he walked faster when she turned the corner to his office, he got to his door first and opened it for her.
He closed the door behind her and sat in his chair, guiding Andrea to the one opposite.
"Neil?" Andrea asked, she had no idea what was going on.
"I thought that we could have another go, you know at 'us'?" Neil sat in his office seat examine Andrea for guidelines that'll tell him what she's thinking,
"I don't think so Neil… I just," Andrea paced along his office, "It's hard…" "I want you Andrea, don't you want me?" Neil gazed at Andrea's eyes he was hurt, and he was about to be in agony. Andrea sighed, "This isn't me Neil…" Neil bowed his head, Andrea placed her reporter ID badge on Neil's desk. "This is me." Neil's eyes raised to meet with the unsuspecting truth, she was a reporter. He looked up at her almost suddenly Neil thought that she didn't want him, that it wasn't herself to be with a married man, but that was far, far from it. Neil starred at the plastic ID card, Andrea looked different then, she wore glasses. He saw her hand reach in and hold the card, "I'm sorry Neil I didn't know how to tell you…" Neil pushed his seat back as he stood, "Didn't know how to tell me!" Andrea iced over, she didn't move. Neil was in a rage. He wasn't angry but upset, she continued.
"Neil I was briefed to see if the MET was too politically correct since the other undercover journalist was discovered. To me it was a job that was going to make my name, I didn't expect to like you all, I didn't expect to fall in love with a DI. This was not what I wanted beyond my wildest dreams, Listen Neil…" He stood facing the window, listening to every word she spoke, so far she seemed genuine. But he couldn't find the courage to look at her. " At first I tried to get out, my editor wouldn't let me, however… as I fell deeper and deeper for you I didn't want to go, I found myself begging him to let me stay." Neil still stood as a stone sculpture, Andrea sighed, Neil wanted answers, but he also wanted. He didn't know what he wanted, all he knew was it involved Andrea. "The leaks? They were you?" Neil asked, Andrea nodded.
"Some of them… most of them." "Hmmmm" Neil turned around, scratching his head.
"You're not going to…" "Turn you in?" Andrea flinched backwards, tears began to grow in her eyes. "I need time to think Andrea." Neil tried to bargain with her. She stood studying him, guessing his next move, but it was hopeless. She nodded a tearful nod and opened his office door. Neither of them getting the answer they wanted.
Andrea was packed, she decided to move back to Scotland, and to get away from the memories of her bad judgements, she'd only be taking the essentials at first, as her brothers would come down and drive a van of her stuff up when she had found a place. While zipping up the last bag, she looked out the window, the weather was bleak, very bleak. The rain was hitting on the window, it reminded her of Scotland's weather she didn't miss it, but it bought memories, and now it would bring memories of her flat in London, and the one thing she left behind. Love.
Andrea sat on her kitchen counter drinking a final cup of tea before taking the ten hour journey by car to Scotland. She'd take other transport, but she wasn't keen on the other modes. She prefers car, then she can play Shaina Twain all the way and sing her heart out. Minus the embarrassment, except when she stops at traffic lights, then the embarrassment catches up on her. She walked out her front door, clutching her handbag under her arm, as she closed the door behind her. A shadowy figure was stood by her car, she couldn't see their face but under the street lighting she could clearly see they were drenched in rain, she walked slowly towards them, they didn't se her coming as they were fixed on the road her car was parked on. A retired traffic warden? she thought. As she drew nearer the dark and alone figure looked at her, their head rose. His hair was plastered to his head by the rain, the droplets stoked his face, using the marks on his face as motorways. His face showed that he was hurt, maybe sulking. Andrea continued to walk closer, she knew he was no threat to her. He spoke, "Andrea." That one word made her knees melt, she knew that she didn't have to explain, so she choose not to. "It's too late, I'm off to Scotland, I must go now or I'll hit the traffic in the big cities up North." He took a small walk around the car, and retuned back to her. Strange she thought, but to him it was buying time. "Andrea…" She put her index finger on his saturated lips,
"No Neil, no." She was about to open her car, but he clasped her arms and turned her around facing him.
Neil held up a wedding photo of him and Phillipa, "This isn't me Andrea…" he ripped up the photo, letting the broken pieces be taken into gravity and to fall on the rain-soaked pavement. He held Andrea's face tightly but softly, "This is me…" He leaned into Andrea, and they kissed. Neil moved his hands down to her shoulders and held her closer, Andrea placed her hands behind Neil's neck. The rain was still pelting down on them, but they remained glued to each other. But would they keep to it?
A year and a half later
Andrea walked into the office, saying a good morning to all of her colleges, the very people she worked for, she knocked on her boss' office door and waited for him to answer. He did, she walked in, "Hello, Andrea got another case for me to look at have we?" He smiled. Neil knew that Andrea was worth it, Andrea knew Neil was the real thing, and both of them gave up what they had for so long. Baggage. Andrea became Mrs PC Andrea Manson, and Neil became DCI Neil Manson. This is one tale, they have to tell the Grandchildren.