Birthday present for Storm Wolf!
Another weird one, product of a world weary mind, please excuse it.
"Wow! You look stunning!" Kerry said as I strolled into the office, I'd just arrived back into London after spending a month on the beautiful island of Mauritius
"Thank you, I feel so much better, what the….." I lost the power of speech as I spotted John hunched over his desk "What the hell happened to John?"
Kerry took my arm and led me away to a quiet corner of the office;
"Bad obbo coupla days after you left…"
"The drugs raid?" I cut Kerry off
"Yeah, Marie, John's girlfriend got shot by one of SO19, John nearly murdered the guy when she died" Kerry said sadly
"I guess John witnessed it?"
"Yeah, unfortunately we all did, nothing we could do, she died in his arms a few minutes later. He's been like this ever since."
"Has he actually been home?" I pressed Kerry for as much information as I could
"We don't think so, he doesn't eat or sleep either, just drinks beer and coffee, won't even go out on the streets"
"Shit, we have to help him"
"I've… we've tried, but he won't let us near him"
"I'm going to help him, I have to help, I can't watch him drink himself to death as well"
"Well, good luck. Lets hear all about your holiday then!" I followed Kerry back to her desk and grabbed my chair, I shifted the files onto my desk and sat down
"It's absolutely beautiful out there, pure golden sand and clear blue water. The sun shined every day enabling me to get a tan. You'd love it Kerry"
"It sounds gorgeous!"
"It is, plenty of water sports, horse riding, walking, fishing, beach volleyball, football, so much to do not enough time" I finished telling Kerry about my holiday and got up to see John.
I crouched down besides John's desk;
"Hey" I said softly
I watched as John lifted his head and attempted a weak smile, I took his hand as he held my gaze;
"Are you all right?"
"What… What… What am I going to do Claire? Marie's gone" John whispered shakily
"You're going to get through this; I'm going to help you"
"I don't think I can"
"You can, the first step is to go home and get some sleep…"
"Ah Claire, you're back. How was it?" I was interrupted by the harsh Yorkshire tones of Jack Meadows.
"Not now Guv" I gestured to John making his way down the corridor
"I take it you heard?"
"Yes, Kerry told me, you should have called me I'd have been on the next flight home"
"And ruin your much needed holiday? I don't think so"
"You know how close me and John are, he needs me right now. You should have called me"
"Forget John for a moment, how was the holiday?"
"Good, beautifully hot and sunny, plenty to do and lots of time to relax"
"Where's John going by the way?"
"Home and I'm going with him"
"You won't get him to go home"
"He's just gone hasn't he?" I turned on my heel and marched off after John, back in the office I could hear Kerry;
"Guv, if anyone can get John to do something it's Claire, you know how much those two think of each other"
Not to sure if this is going anywhere, it may not but I'm going to give it a shot.
Fandragon, I have another chapter of Coming Round to put up later once, I've edited it.