Disclaimer - All characters and settings are the property of Thames TV.

It was the same person. Smithy looked at Kerry realising why she froze on entering the briefing room. He looked at her, she looked scared and was shaking slightly.

"You okay?" he whispered again

"Have you got a problem Sergeant Smith?"

Smithy's head snapped towards Gina "No ma'am"

"Good so as I was saying. Sergeant Smith you and PC Ashton are on the Jasmine Allen. PC Stamp and PC Casper in the area car. PC Young and PC Sutcliffe on the high street…"

Just my luck, just my bloody luck. Why did she put me with Luke? Thought Smithy.

After the briefings Smithy took Kerry to one side. "Are you okay with this Kerry?"

"Why did they pick him?"

"He knows the area I suppose."

"I need to talk to him, see how he is"

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" she nodded

"Okay if you're sure. I recommend at refs ye'?"

She licked her lips nervously "yea now I just have to get through working with possibly his best mate."

"C'mon its not that bad!" she looked at him and raised one eyebrow he laughed and gave her a hug. "You'll be fine" he kissed her on the cheek. "C'mon constable we have work to do."

Outside Luke and PC Sutcliffe were waiting. Smithy, trying to avoid any problems for Kerry immediately started off down the hall. "C'mon PC Ashton" he called out behind him.

Luke clapped his colleague around the shoulder

"Cya mate" he said before heading after Smithy.

PC Sutcliffe held out his hand to Kerry.

"Mike" he said she smiled and shook his hand "Kerry".

His eyes widened "Kerry?"

"Yea"

"As in…" at her expression he tailed off his question answered. He paused before saying "Shall we go?"

Kerry and Mike were walking along the high street.

"Is it nice at Barton street?" asked Kerry

"Yea its alright"

"Good" she replied

"Nice day isn't it?" said Kerry, trying to make small talk.

"Yea."

They walked on in silence. After a few minutes Mike stopped and looked at her. "Look are we gonna skate around the subject of Luke all shift?"

"errr"

He gave an uncomfortable laugh.

Her expression relaxed into a concerned look "Is he alright?"

He nodded and smiled "ye'." Then he paused "Why wouldn't he be?"

"Well you know he went through a lot here especially in the last few years with, well, everything."

"Well, he was pretty shook up when he first arrived at Barton Street but…"

"He's alright now?"

"Yea"

"Good. I did love him you know. Even at the end. When I thought he had been shot… I didn't want him to leave. I still loved him."

"But Kerry, he is gay."

"I know that. I knew that then. But it doesn't stop how I felt you know?"

He nodded and they walked on in silence. "Hey what's he doing?" shouted Mike as a lad ran out of a electronics shop. They started running after him.

When they caught up with him they grabbed him "OY" said Kerry as he tried struggling. They emptied his pockets. "You pay for this video game?" the boy shook his head. "C'mon" they said hauling him back to the shop.

Sorry its really short have been busy lately please R&R cheers.