Your Love Is King – Chapter 4

"Night night baby." Charlie stood over Rebecca in the spare room of Gina's house, tucking her into the bed, sitting on the end. The night before when Gina had first taken her home, Rebecca had had a fretful night and had hardly slept for crying for her parents.

"Mummy…" Rebecca cried, clinging on to her, standing up on the bed to cling around Charlie's neck.

Charlie held Rebecca closely, and kissed her forehead as she tried to calm her. "I'll be back soon..." she yawned herself, biting back a yelp as Rebecca accidentally kicked her stomach whilst attempting to cling on.

"Nooo!" Rebecca whimpered, still holding on tight. "I want daddy…I want to see my daddy!"

"You can…" Charlie unlocked her arms from around her neck, laying her back down on the bed.

"Daddy!" Rebecca screamed. "DADDY!"

"Shhh…" Charlie wiped her own eyes as a tear trickled down her cheek. "S'alright sweetheart. You can see daddy tomorrow, but you're tired." She kissed Rebecca's forehead as she tucked her back in, effectively pinning her daughter in place as she struggled to get back out from under the duvet. "I'll be right here…" She lay beside Rebecca, both her arms wrapped around her, Rebecca's head resting on her chest, both hands gripping on to her top as if she was scared Charlie would disappear the second she closed her eyes. Charlie held her tightly, softly singing and talking to her as Rebecca's head tilted forward and her grip on Charlie relaxed.

Charlie carefully and gently laid her back against the pillow, tucking her in and planting a soft kiss on Rebecca's forehead. "Night night baby…" She swallowed, smiling tightly as she watched Rebecca sleep for a few seconds, before going down to Gina.

Gina looked up as Charlie walked downstairs, "She get off alright?"

Charlie nodded, going through to Gina. "Thank you for looking after her…"

"Couldn't keep her at the hospital." Gina smiled, looking at Charlie, taking in the dark circles around her sunken eyes, the red nose from the cold she'd got from both Rebecca and Smithy, the omni-present tear stains streaking her cheeks…. She sighed and leant forward. "You should get some rest…"

"I sleep at the hospital." Charlie coughed, resting a hand on her stomach as she leant back in the seat. "If I'm not there, and something happens…"

"He's doing well." Gina assured.

"I'm not taking any chances."

"Where's he gone?" Mickey looked round the office, before grinning as Terry came back into sight. "About time mate!"

"Am I keeping you from one of your 'birds'?" Terry said with a good natured grin.

"As it happens…" He smirked, before faltering slightly. "Was just wondering if I could give Chaz any news." He sat on the edge of Terry's desk. "Gonna go by the hospital and see how Smithy is before going home…"

Terry shook his head. "Charlie's statement's been worked through, but she didn't actually see anything. The neighbours were worse than useless. Smithy's cases from the past 6 months, there's at least 34 people there who have the MO for firearms, they all have the motive….and that's only the last 6 months."

Mickey sighed and nodded. "Cheers anyway mate." He pursed his lips and sighed, watching Suzie cross the office, "I'll see you anyway." He smiled tightly, leaving the office, pulling his jacket on as he walked down the stairs.

"Mickey!" JT called as he reached the bottom. "Hang on."

Mickey looked over, frowning as JT bounded over. "What?" He said, backing off slightly.

"You're going to the hospital soon?"

"Right now…" Mickey looked at the large envelope in JT's hands, looking back to him. "Why?"

"A whip round." JT smiled, passing over the envelope as well as a card. "For Smithy and Charlie…"

The noise around him grew louder, machines beeping, as if in answer to each other, one on the left, then the right, then the left…. His eyes fluttered open and he blinked at the wall in front of him, everything a loud mix of colour, causing him to squint and attempt to rub his eyes, frowning at the wires weighing his arm down, wincing as he lowered his arm back to the bed. He blinked a few more times and attempted to lift his head, before scowling, rolling his head to look round the room. Cards, flowers, more cards, even more flowers and numerous boxes of chocolates came into view, his gaze settling on a picture drawn in wax crayon propped up against a bottle of lucazade and a vase of flowers. He smiled, taking in the drawing of what he assumed was himself, Rebecca and Charlie stood by a police car, grinning at the shaky 'daddy' crayoned at the top of the picture, before rolling his head to the other side, taking in the figure slumped in the chair, her hair draped over his hand, the fingers of one hand linked through his, tightly even though she was asleep. "Oi..." He tried to speak, his voice hoarse. "…Rogers!"

Charlie's shifted slightly, not stirring. Her head lolled to the side, letting Smithy see her face. He lifted his hand and lightly traced the track of one tear stain with one hand, accidentally catching her cheek, knocking her head sideward. Charlie scowled in her sleep, pulling her head up, blinking a couple of times to focus on Smithy, before breaking out into a large grin as she saw his eyes open.

"Alright?" He grinned, blinking as Charlie launched out of her chair at him, wrapping her arms around him as carefully, but tightly as she dare, "Easy tiger." He chuckled, smiling as she kissed his cheek. "Give us a proper one!"

Charlie grinned, only too happy to do as he asked, brushing her lips over his, letting them linger, parting her lips gently. "Love you." She whispered into the kiss.

"Love you." Smithy whispered back, returning the kiss, pouting as she broke away to call a nurse.