Blimmin' line thing's not working - having to try and find something it'll let me substitute in as a line break but it's not working :o( Won't even let you put stars in - so please excuse the & signs!

I Can Still Feel You're Here – Part 3

Just under a week later, the Relief were gathered outside the church, stamping their feet in the cold and pulling their jackets around them. Honey glanced to the side at Gary and nodded over to where Smiffy was stood stock still, standing to attention and staring at the hearse in front of the door. Gina was stood beside him, doing her best to organise the officers who would be carrying it inside, whilst keeping an eye on Smiffy.

"I'm sorry Sarge…" Tony clamped a comforting hand on his shoulder, before sighing as Smiffy shrugged him off, continuing to stare at the hearse.

"Where's the kid?" Gary whispered, watching a woman who was obviously Charlie's mum standing behind Smiffy with a gaggle of relatives, all huddled together.

"Sergeant De Costa's got her." Honey whispered back, nodding at June as she gestured for the officers to get ready. "She's at the station."

"Funeral Procession" Gina barked, giving the orders for the hearse bearers, glancing to the side at Smiffy as Charlie's mum took his arm.

Smiffy turned to the side and looked down at Mrs Rogers, trying to smile before patting her hand as it fell at the first hurdle, and lead her to the door, before following the hearse down the aisle.

&&

The service past quite quickly, Charlie's mum kept a tight hold on Smiffy's hand through out, sniffling into a hanky, as readings in tribute of Charlie were read out.

&&

An hour or so later, the service had ended and the relief were gathered at The Rose and Crown.

"What's wrong with the Canley?" Gary muttered, tucking into a sandwich.

"It's a dive." Honey scolded, sipping her drink.

"Cheaper than this place." He muttered into his drink as Smiffy glared at him from across the room.

"He heard you!" Yvonne kicked him under the table. "Shut up!"

&&

"Dale," Gina carried him a drink over and settled it in front of him.

"Can't." he said quietly, pushing it back. "Thanks…"

"It'll-"

"I can't!" He repeated a little more forcefully. "I've got to get Rebecca soon."

"Of course." Gina pursed her lips and nodded as Mrs Rogers walked over to them.

"Dale." She squeezed him a sad smile and sat beside him. "If there's anything we can do….just let us know."

"Thanks Rachel." He said quietly, gesturing to Gina. "Gina Gold….inspector at the station," Gina nodded and held her hand out. "Rachel Rogers, Charlie's mum…"

"Nice to meet you." Rachel shook Gina's hand and picked her drink up. "I've heard so much about you…."

"That sound ominous." Gina said, smiling slightly.

"S'cuse me." Smiffy muttered, standing up and easing past them, heading towards the toilet.

Rachel watched him go, before glancing back at Gina. "He's a good lad…"

"He is." Gina nodded, "One of the best."

"Charlie always said that you were more of a mum to him than his own…" Rachel smiled sadly. "Always looked out for him…."

"Poor lad." Gina chuckled softly. "He er, he's not in contact with a lot of his family, as I'm sure you know…"

Rachel nodded. "Shame they couldn't come today…"

Gina frowned slightly, not even sure that they knew that he was married and a father, let alone actually back in Sun Hill again.

&&

"Sarge…" Gabriel nodded at him as he stepped out of a cubicle.

Smiffy glanced across at him before looking back at the mirror in front of him and washing his face.

"Such a waste." Gabriel continued tactlessly. "Widower at what….30?" he leant beside him on one of the sinks. "And she was…..25?"

"26" Smiffy muttered, twitching slightly and staring at his reflection. "It was her birthday on the 3rd."

Gabriel nodded and stared at the cubicle doors in front of him. "Still, you've got your kid ain't ya….you keeping her?"

Smiffy's head shot up and he glared at Gabriel. "What?"

Gabriel looked innocent and shrugged slightly. "Sorry Sarge?"

Smiffy glowered at him, before turning back, thinking he must have misheard, pulling some paper towels from the dispenser and drying his face.

"She was a pretty girl" Gabriel smirked slightly. "Nice with it too…"

Smiffy stared down at the basin again, throwing the paper towels into the bin.

"Question is…how nice." Gabriel smirked. "I mean, before you – she slept with Mickey Webb didn't she, and then there was that big fuss over if she was still seeing him when she was seeing you – course, she said she wasn't-"

"SHUT IT!" Smiffy flew at Gabriel and slammed him up against the wall. "I trust my wife!" he snarled. "I know she wouldn't-"

"Trusted." Gabriel smirked. "She's gone now…" Gabriel yelped as Smiffy drove his fist into his stomach, before sneering at him. "Poor, poor Sergeant Smith – no Charlie to-"

Smiffy snapped and rammed Gabriel's head back against the wall, kicking, punching and yelling at him, before Tony and Phil Hunter ran in, separating them, Tony pining Smiffy against the wall as Phil pulled Gabriel up.

"Easy Smiffy." Tony applied his weight against Smiffy as he seethed and struggled against him. "Calm down…"

Gabriel leant on Phil, trying to catch his breath and wincing as he moved. "He just lost it." He gasped, holding a handkerchief against his nose as it streamed with blood. "I just came in for a leak – and he turned on me, kicking, punching…"

Tony looked at Smiffy who'd slumped slightly in his hold and had stopped struggling, staring at the floor, and then glanced across the room at Phil who frowned and raised an eyebrow.

"Let's er…get you home…" Phil said to Gabriel, leading him towards the door.

"He ain't gonna get away with it!" Gabriel limped, milking it for all it was worth. "No need for him to take it out on me…" he winced.

"Shut it!" Phil pushed him out the door and out into the car park.