Chapter 4

"No." Smithy shook his head, backing from the bed. "That's not funny ma'am." He said, attempting to dismiss it.

"It's a laugh a minute for me!" Gina scoffed. "Sorry for not letting you in on the joke sooner."

"Cancer.." Charlie repeated softly, her eyes already full of tears.

"Oh save me the waterworks." Gina looked down. "I'm not out yet!"

"Nana." Rebecca turned so she was facing Gina, resting against her lap as she hugged her.

Charlie squeezed her a tight watery smile, watching Rebecca carefully, ready to sweep her up if Gina were to cry out in pain..

Gina sighed slightly, noticing the look. "I'm fine." She said softly, looking at Smithy as he stood with his back to them, one hand on his head. "Really."

Smithy turned slightly. "Have you told anyone else?" he asked, not completely looking at her.

"And have them treat me like some exhibition." Gina tutted. "Of course not."

Charlie stepped over to Smithy, cupping his face in her hands as she looked up at him.

"There's life in the old dog yet." Gina cuddled Rebecca back.

Smithy slowly reached his hand to Charlie's, squeezing her hand before sitting on the side of the bed. "How…" he paused, trying to work out how to phrase his question. "I mean, can it…are they-"

Gina dismissed his question with a quick shake of her head. "It's cervical cancer." She answered for him. "They've caught it early." She turned her head and looked at them both in turn, fixing them with almost a glare. "This goes no further." She said quietly.

"Of course not." Smithy answered, glancing across as Charlie sat the other side of Gina's bed.

"We won't tell anyone." Charlie squeezed Gina's hand. "But don't you think-"

"The less people know about this." Gina smiled tightly. "The better."

"But if you're-"

"I'll tell Adam," Gina looked from Smithy's sorrowful gaze down to Rebecca, unable to meet the intensity of it. "And you can cover for me whilst I have my treatment."

"…How long have you known?" Charlie asked, tightening her grip on Gina's hand slightly, already surprised that it hadn't been shrugged off.

The older woman smiled slightly, glad of the comfort, although she'd never let on. "Not long." She admitted. "About a month."

"And you've not told anyone." Smithy's eyes widened slightly.

"I don't want to be a burden." Gina said simply. "I just need you to cover for me for a couple of hours in the mornings when I have to have my combined therapy."

"Combined therapy?" Smithy looked confused. "What's that?"

"Chemotherapy and radiotherapy." Gina answered smoothly, looking almost surprised at Smithy's concerned frown.

"You expect to work after-"

"Sergeant." Gina cut him off. "I don't tell you how to do your job, and I certainly don't expect you to tell me how to do mine."

Smithy sighed, knowing he wouldn't get anything else from her now. "Ma'am…"