Lonely nights and TV dinners
Juliet sat at the computer set up in the conservatory of the house she and Honey shared, scrolling through the list of flats up for rent,
"Fancy a cuppa?" Honeys' voice floated through from the kitchen
"Please!" replied Juliet, as she stood up from the computer and pushed her glasses onto the top of her head, she went through the patio doors, closing them behind her, searching her pockets for her cigarettes, Honey appeared with a steaming mug
"You smoking again?" she asked in surprise
"Yeah, I know disgusting habit and all that, but I'm stressed!"
"You'll give Inspector Gold some company at least" remarked Honey
"No, wouldn't dare smoke at work, not when Smithy's around anyways, he'd kill me!" she chuckled
"Who'd kill who?" said a familiar voice, Juliet flung her half smoked cigarette into the undergrowth.
"Nothing Dear!" she said "Why aren't you at your desk with a mountain of paperwork?" she asked as Smithy appeared from the side path of the house "I thought I'd locked that gate"
"You did, I did my action man bit when no one answered the door" he replied, he tried to greet Juliet with a kiss; she turned her head so it landed on her cheek.
"And if you think I can't smell smoke on you anyway then you're wrong!" he glared at her
"Sorry" she muttered, glowering at Honey as she went back through the doors laughing.
"So what you doing here anyway, not policing my smoking habits I presume?" she asked
"No, that was a bonus, I wish you'd stop, I've got to talk to you about something"
"I did stop" she retaliated
"And started again, evidently" he replied "I got this today" he handed her an envelope marked Sgt. D. Smith, Sunhill.
Juliet opened it and read
Sergeant Smith,
You are required to attend a skill refresher course on Custodial Procedures, Detaining Prisoners and various changes in the role of the uniformed sergeant, at The Midlands Centre for Police Training, Birmingham from 20th July to 5th August, inclusive. Hotel accommodation is provided and subsidised meals available from the Centre canteen.
"20th? That's Monday!" exclaimed Juliet "Bit short notice!"
"I know, I spoke to the Super and he said we have to go," said Smithy glumly
"We?"
"Me and June, some bright spark has booked us on together, we've only got Neil as a sergeant for 2 weeks" he told her "Gina is spitting feathers"
"I bet she is!" Juliet snorted "She'll have to work custody or CAD"
"Not Gina, she's making noises about dragging one of you lot down" he smirked
"Well she can have Phil!" declared Juliet "Get him out of my bloody way"
"He giving you trouble?"
"Nothing I can't handle, so you can take that look off your face"
"What?" he grinned, picture of innocence, Juliet just looked at him.
"Anyway, I know it's a lot to ask, but, I wondered if you'd stay at my place with Daz while I'm away? Keep an eye on him?"
"Well" Juliet sighed, "He can't be any more trouble than you! Course I will"
He was about to answer when his radio crackled "Sierra Oscar to all units, disturbance reported at The Supermarket in Canley Square, anyone deal?" Smithy picked up his radio
"Sierra Oscar from 54, show me dealing, over" he said
"See you later, I'll come round after work?" he said kissing her and backing away towards the gate.
"Ok Babe, see you later and wait till I..." she tailed off as Smithy vaulted over the garden gate "Unlock the gate" she finished in a sarcastic tone as he grinned at her before jumping in the car and speeding off to his shout.
Juliet stood at the side of the bed in Smithy's flat "Get up you lazy lump!" she shouted at him, he opened one eye "What time is it?" he grunted
"7 o'clock and June will be here in half an hour and you haven't even packed yet!" she said, putting a cup of coffee down next to him, he buried his head under the duvet
"Don't feel well," he said
"I'm not surprised, I had to practically carry you home, it's a good job June's driving 'cos you 'aint in no fit state" she sat down next to him "C'mon, showers running, you'll feel better after a shower"
"You sound like you can't wait to see the back of me" he grumbled
Juliet stood up and started to dress for work "That's what I love about you Smithy, you like to start the day on a good old row! Of course I'll miss you, but you've got to go whether you like it or not, so it's no good taking it out on me"
He said nothing, sighed and got of out of bed and swallowing his coffee in two gulps, and walked past her "I'll phone you when we get there" he said heading for the shower, "And you can never say sorry either!" shouted Juliet, but he didn't hear her over the noise of the water.
Honey sat in CAD almost bored to tears "Hello, Sunhill?" she answered another call as Inspector Gold came in "Everything OK PC Harmon?" she more or less demanded
Honey finished her call "Yes Ma'am, Tony and Reg are dealing with the burglary on Ryman Street and PC Till and Debbie are out on patrol in the shopping centre"
"Good girl" said Gina as she turned on her heel and left, she looked at her watch, ten minutes and her shift ended, Steve would be outside waiting ready to take her to the hospital for her scan, to see how far pregnant she was. Honey rubbed her forehead with the heel of her hand, Steve was really taking to this being a Dad thing, he'd bought some things already and was talking about birthing pools and TENS machines, Honey on the other hand was having trouble dragging herself out of bed in the morning, well actually, any time of day really. And another thing, she frowned as she recounted the details, she wasn't at all happy about Juliet moving out so that her and Steve and the baby could be a proper family, she quite liked the girlie household and was loathe to become 'mummy' with her fella coming home every night expecting his tea on the table, maybe she'd talk to Juliet when she came back from Smithy's and see if she would stay, she needed a woman's' support at the moment, not the suffocating consuming love Steve was smothering her with.
Honey stood up and stretched "See you tomorrow" she smiled at Dean, heading towards the locker room. Once changed she went out to the car park and got into Steve's car "Hiya" he said, "How's you? Not too sick I hope? There are some ginger biscuits and water in that bag, two pints you've got to drink isn't it? I've got two smaller bottles but you'd better start drinking it now, you have to start an hour before, and not go to the loo"
"Steve!" said Honey "For Gods sake you sound like Reg! Give it a rest will ya?" she lent back against the seat and closed her eyes.
Honey unlocked the front door just as Juliet drew up in her car, she waited as Juliet came into the house "I got us a Chinese" Juliet told her
"Great" said Honey
"You ok? I got you something weird with ginger in it"
"Yeah thanks" said Honey "What time do you have to be back for Daz?"
"Ten – ish, though if he wasn't such a nice kid I'd have told Smithy where he could shove his babysitting, the mood he was in this morning!"
"Oh not you too!" groaned Honey "Me and Steve had a row this afternoon as well"
"Ours wasn't so much a row as Smithy being the arrogant sod he is so well at times, I love him but sometimes I wonder why!"
Honey laughed
"What's so funny?" asked Juliet through a mouthful of Chinese food
"It's just you are moaning 'cos your fella's not sensitive enough and I'm moaning 'cos mines too sensitive!" Juliet laughed too
"Well, enough about them two how was the scan?"
"Ok" shrugged Honey, handing her a scan picture "I'm about 14 weeks, no wonder my jeans were tight!" she said "And at least I don't feel left out tonight, with you having to drive back tonight, you can't drink either!"
Samantha Nixon breezed through the doors to CID "Morning all!" she called "We've got a busy day ahead of us, I hope you are all feeling fit! Ramani, Inspector Gold has asked for a sergeant to help out on custody so if you wouldn't mind?"
"I've got to finish this report Ma'am," she said
"Take it with you, Ken can you have a look through crimin for a Mr. Craig Philmore please, he's wanted for a hit and run but has done just that and run, find his last known and track him down, take Gary with you, but keep him on a tight lead" She smiled sweetly at Gary as he mouthed indignantly "And Juliet, the drugs squad has a major operation going down this week around here, they'd like a couple of officers to lend a hand, they're at Victoria Wharf, meet them down there, a DCI Hadel is heading up the op, liase with him, take erm....." she looked around the office
"I can go if you like?" offered Phil
"Good idea" said Sam "Local knowledge goes a long way, the rest of you I want finished reports on my desk by afternoon tea please, there's a lot of loose ends to tie up" she headed for her office, pausing to admire the new brass plaque on the door saying DI Samantha Nixon
"Afternoon tea?" said Jim, bewildered
"She's let this promotion go to her head!" said Phil "How you coping without June then?" he asked
"She only went this morning," said Jim
"I know, but you must be dreading all those lonely evenings in front of the telly with a microwave dinner for one, mind you" he shot a look at Juliet "You could always take Juliet out and cheer her up"
"Huh?" frowned Jim
"Well, your missus, all alone with Smithy" he'd lowered his tone "I wouldn't be happy"
"Shut up Phil" said Jim, turning back to his keyboard.
"You ready?" he asked Juliet
"Yes" she snapped, putting her coat on and following him out of the office, Jim watched them go, frowning he picked up the phone and dialled June's mobile
"June?" he said when the phone was answered "Oh, Smithy, right, yeah get her to ring me when you get there, thanks" he replaced the phone and stared at it for a few minutes
"Don't let him wind you up" said Ramani on her way out "He likes causing trouble, June's married to you and Smithy's with Juliet"
"I know," replied Jim "Phil just has a way of stirring things up"