If Tomorrow Never Comes – Chapter 8
"Caspeeeeer, the friendly ghoooost." Charlie sung under her breath, smirking at Dan from under her fringe.
"You can go off people you know." Dan reached over to the counter in front of them, picking up an apple.
"You love me." Charlie beamed, shaking her head at him. "You can't."
"I wouldn't be too sure on that." Dan grinned, paying for his lunch and carrying it over to the table as Charlie followed, balancing her tray, sitting beside him.
"Chaz?" Amber glanced up, "What's going on with the inspector?"
"Eh?" Charlie frowned slightly over her cup as she raised it to her lips, taking a sip.
"Whenever we see her, she's always accompanied by either you or Smithy." Amber leant forward. "She looks well rough."
"Dunno what you mean." Charlie shrugged as casually as she could muster. "Nothing's wrong."
"She doesn't look well at all." Reg interjected, sitting beside Amber with a cup of tea.
"She's just tired." Charlie smiled awkwardly. "All the overtime must be taking its toll."
Amber dipped her head as she snorted; "Overtime?" she took a bite of her sandwich. "She's hardly here as it is!"
"Amber." Charlie frowned, glancing to the door as it opened and Smithy appeared, "There's nothing going-"
"I went to give her property report earlier." Dan sipped his drink. "She wasn't in."
"She was on a call." Charlie tried to cover, knowing Gina had been at the hospital.
"The Sarge wasn't either." Amber continued, unaware of Smithy being in the room.
"Rebecca's not well." Charlie shot a desperate look over at Smithy. "She's-"
"One rule for him and another for the rest of us." Amber mocked gently.
"Something bothering you, PC Johannsen?" Smithy stood behind Amber with his arms folded, scowling down at her.
"Sarge!" Amber jumped and turned to face him. "I was just-"
"I know exactly what you were doing." Smithy glanced at his watch. "My office – five minutes." He said, glaring at Dan as he hid a snigger behind his cap. "Something you'd like to share, PC Casper?"
"No Sarge." Dan sobered slightly, looking up.
"Then you won't mind accompanying Amber." Smithy glared at them both, stalking back to the serving hatch.
"Someone got out on the wrong side of the bed." Amber murmured, smirking at Charlie. "Did he not get his leg over last night?"
"Shut up." Charlie narrowed her eyes at Amber, standing up. "Just think before you engage your mouth yeah!" She picked her lunch up, carrying it out the canteen, exchanging a glance with Smithy as she passed.
"Aww, sweet." Amber drawled, rolling her eyes. "His and hers matching tempers."
"What happened?" Smithy stood behind Charlie as she stared out the front window of the station, picking at the sandwich in her hand.
Charlie turned her head and glanced at him, sighing. "Nothing." She shrugged with a tight smile. "Just Amber asking questions."
"About Gina?" Smithy dropped his food beside her, sitting on the edge of the table.
"Yeah." Charlie shrugged slightly. "She had a point though…"
"Oh?" Smithy frowned, tilting his head.
"Yeah, there's only so long we can keep this quiet." Charlie absently ran a hand through her hair, fiddling with the ends. "Reg said she looks ill, Dan noticed that she wasn't in earlier, Amber noticed you weren't, and that we were always round her."
"So?"
"So," Charlie sighed and shifted so she was leant against Smithy, her head resting on his stomach, closing her eyes as he stroked her hair. "We can't keep pretending nothing's wrong, Dale." She turned her head slightly, glancing up. "…She could die."
Smithy swallowed and he forced a nervous shaky laugh. "She's invincible."
"That's just it." Charlie murmured softly, standing up between Smithy's legs, wrapping an arm around his neck, tracing his cheek with one finger. "She might not be…." She closed her eyes and kissed his forehead, gently guiding his head to her shoulder. "We don't even know what she wants if…if the worse comes to the worse." She said softly, unable to say the words.
"It's not going to happen."
"Denial isn't going to help, sweetheart." Charlie gently stroked his hair, resting her head against his.
"Charlie." Smithy pulled back, his voice tight and loaded with emotion. "It's not going to happen." He pulled away from her, before turning and quickly hurrying out the front office, leaving Charlie staring after him and sighing.
"Everything alright?" Gina brushed herself down as she stood by the desk, glancing through.
"Gina." Charlie smiled slightly. "How are you feeling?"
"As great as ever." Gina smiled tiredly. "Have I missed anything?"
"Er," Charlie debated whether or not to tell her what had happened with Dan and Amber, before clearing her throat. "…The relief are asking questions." She said softly, "Smithy's having words with Amber and Dan now."
"Words?" Gina raised an eyebrow. "About me?"
Charlie shifted uncomfortably, nodding slowly. "He seems to think that if he blanks out-" She trailed off, before shrugging. "Ma'am."
Gina held Charlie's gaze for a few seconds before pursing her lips. "Come with me." She turned to the door, heading towards the Sergeants Office.
"Gina?" Charlie blinked, following Gina along the corridor, stopping in the doorway as Gina pushed open the door.
"Sergeant." Gina nodded at Smithy as he turned to look with Dan and Amber.
"Ma'am." Smithy acknowledged with a nod.
"PC Johannsen." Gina spoke directly to Amber, holding her gaze. "I believe there's something you wish to know?"
"Ma'am?" Smithy cleared his throat, frowning slightly. "I-"
"Well?" Gina continued staring at Amber. "Lost the use of your tongue?"
"No…" Amber said eventually. "I-"
"Ma'am, can I have a word?" Smithy tried to bustle Gina outside the door, Gina staying where she was.
"You…?" Gina coaxed, folding her arms.
"I just mentioned how you weren't in." Amber stammered. "When Dan-"
Gina leant closer to the smaller woman, "This may shock you PC Johannsen," She said almost coldly. "But the whereabouts of a senior officer are none of your concern."
"No ma'am." Amber looked down, staring at her feet.
"Seen as you're so worried about my welfare, it only seems fair that I'm straight with you, after all – it seems to unfair to burden you with the worry."
"Inspector Gold..." Smithy warned, trying to attract Gina's attention.
"I have cancer." Gina said calmly, holding Amber's gaze, the PC's expression changing from shock, to horror, and then to concern.
"Ma'am." Amber blinked, "But…"
"But nothing." Gina raised an eyebrow, stepping back to let her and Dan pass. "Out."
Amber swallowed and cleared her throat. "If there's anything I can do…"
"You've done enough." Gina turned away, sitting at Smithy's desk.
"Ma'am." Dan glanced from Gina, to Smithy and back again. "Do you want-"
"OUT!" Gina raised her voice, not looking at either officer, Charlie side stepping to let them out, before going inside the room, closing the door after her.
Smithy stared at Gina, glancing across at Charlie, scratching his head. "Do you think that was wise?" he managed to force out.
"Does it matter what I think?" Gina exhaled slowly, resting her head in her hands.
"Of course it does." Charlie walked closer, leaning on the edge of the desk.
Gina scoffed, "I give that five minutes before it's around the nick! Then finally maybe you'd both stop fussing around and allow me to do my job!" Gina rounded on both of them, before stalking across to her office, slamming the door behind her.
