Authors Notes:
Just a quick note today. Thanks for all the reviews and support you have all given me. I couldn't have finished this without your encouragement. A special note goes out to:
Fabio, and Gem6. Thanks guys. (PS i've added alittle surprise for you in this chapter Gem, since you are missing Claire and John so much.)
Read, Review and Enjoy.
Day 6
Andrea once again awakens to the sound of her alarm clock and Neil nipping at her ear.
"Morning beautiful," he mumbles lovingly in her ear.
"Morning," she replies, rolling around to face him and then kissing him passionately.
They stay like this for a long time, kissing passionately, and hands caressing each other under the blankets.
"We've got to go see Okaro in an hour," mumbles Neil between kisses.
Andrea reluctantly breaks the contact between them and stands up; "Guess we better get ready then."
Neil gets up and follows her to the bathroom determined to get this meeting with Okaro and MIT over as soon as possible.
They shower and dress in relative silence, before going down to the kitchen and sharing a breakfast of coffee and toast. After breakfast they gather their things and head out of the front door to the car.
The drive to the station passes in silence, both too deep in thought about what is in store for them today to bother with conversation. Neil drives into the station yard and pulls up in his usual spot. As they get out of the car, neither of them notices the curious stares of the officers who pass them.
They walk straight up the stairs to the Superintendents office. Neil knocks on the door and enters the room when given permission to do so, Andrea following closely behind him.
"DI Manson, PC Dunbar, take a seat," greets Adam Okaro, gesturing to the two seats opposite him.
Andrea and Neil sit down and wait for him to continue.
"I take it you have bought the information you have gathered on PC Kent?"
"Yes sir," Neil answers placing a manilla folder on the desk in front of them all.
"As I said yesterday I have no choice but to pass this information on to MIT and CIB. I'm not happy about any of this but that doesn't matter right now. What does matter is the both of you. After what you told me yesterday, I have to consider whether it is really appropriate for you both to be working under the same roof."
"I'm not sure I see what you're getting at Gov," states Neil looking very confused, "Just because things are out in the open now I don't see how it changes things!"
"Let me put this simply," starts Okaro, "Relationships in the work place are not that rare and under other circumstances I wouldn't say anything about it, but when it interferes with work I have to consider the possible consequences it could have on not just the two of you, but the whole station as well."
"With all due respect sir, I can't see your reasoning here. As I said before, just because people know about us now, does it really change anything? We're both adults, we know when to keep things separate from work. If it wasn't for the events of the past few weeks, would you have even noticed at all?"
"Those are some good points you raise there Neil, but I just can't ignore it either. I tell you what I'll do, for now I'll leave things as they are, but I will be keeping a firm eye on the both of you. If I find that things are causing problems in any way I will have to consider transferring one, or both of you to other stations. Do I make myself clear?"
Yes Sir," both Andrea and Neil answer together.
"Also, I am going to have to put you on light duties, for obvious reasons."
"Yes Sir,"
After they are dismissed from the office they make their way downstairs to the main entrance.
Meanwhile (Downstairs in the Main Entrance Area.)
The door bursts open and a group of five people storm in, some of them very familiar. Everyone stops what they are doing and turn to face the intruders.
"What's going on?" asks Honey completely bewildered.
"I don't believe it!" mutters Smithy staring at the intruders.
"Where is PC Kent?" demands a spiky haired man who appears to be the leader of the intrusion.
"WHO ARE YOU AND WHAT THE BLOODY HELL DO YOU THINK YOUR DOING?" demands Gina Gold stepping in front of the man and blocking his path.
"Detective Superintendent Hodges, CIB," answers the man not bothering to introduce the others, "Now if you don't mind …"
Gina hesitantly steps out of the way and silently points to Gabriel Kent, who is hiding behind a bunch of the others who have gathered to see what all of the commotion is about. People step out of the way one by one as the man ploughs forwards, clearing a path way; but before the man can reach him, Gabriel makes a run for the door.
One of the other men grabs him just as he is about to escape out of the door, and pushes him to the floor.
"David Kent, I am arresting you for GBH, ABH, manslaughter and impersonation of a police officer, you do not have to say anything when questioned, something that may later be relied on in court. You do not have to say anything but anything you do say may be given in evidence, do I make myself clear?"
Gabriel nods his head in answer.
"Gov," the arresting officer says to the spiky haired man.
"Put him in the car Chris, I'll be with you in a minute."
Chris and one of the other CIB officers escort Gabriel out to the car waiting outside.
"Sorry about the disturbance," Hodges says to Inspector Gold before turning to his two remaining members of staff; "John, Claire, I trust you can take things from here?"
"Of course Gov," Claire answers him.
With that Hodges leaves the building and chatter erupts between the people standing in the station. Andrea walks up behind Honey and Yvonne, Neil following closely behind her.
"Hey Andy, you just missed Gabriel being arrested," Yvonne tells her.
"I know," she answers honestly, being careful not to give too much away with the tone of her voice.
"What do you mean? What do you know that we don't?"
Andrea looks at Neil, the silent question shining in her eyes. "I was told a couple of minutes ago that CIB were coming to arrest him. I can't say anymore than that," she tells them.
"Ok, I suppose, I still can't work out how you found out before the rest of us though," mumbles Yvonne dejectedly, "and where were you this morning, I didn't see you in the briefing."
"We had a meeting with Okaro," Andrea answers her.
"I'll be back in a sec," Neil butts into the conversation, before wondering off into the crowd.
"Have you told him then?" asks Honey a bit too loudly.
"Told who, what?" asks Smithy hearing Honey's question.
"Yes Honey, I told him yesterday, just after you found me. It's a bit of a long story serge, can I explain later?" she asks Smithy after answering Honey's question.
"I guess, but why can't you explain now?" asks Smithy.
"I've got a doctors appointment, excuse me," says Andrea before disappearing into the crowd to find Neil.
"Hey," Neil says when she appears behind him and taps him on the shoulder, "you ready to go?"
"As ready as I'll ever be," replies Andrea.
They make their way to the entrance door but before they can leave, they are stopped by the remaining two CIB officers.
"I'm awfully sorry but I'm afraid we can't allow anyone to leave the building until they have been questioned," states Claire.
"I've got a doctors appointment, Superintendent Okaro knows about it," explains Andrea.
"Ok, I guess, just make sure you return here afterwards, but that doesn't explain your reasons for leaving," she says to Neil.
"I was instructed to go with her, to give her a lift," says Neil.
It wasn't entirely the truth but was the best he could come up with on the spot.
Claire steps out of the way, silently giving them permission to leave the building.
Two Hours Later
Andrea and Neil arrive back at the station to find nobody about.
"Where is everybody?" Andrea asks Neil.
"I've got no idea," Neil replies.
They continue walking through maze of corridors. Eventually as they walk past the briefing room they hear voices. Andrea pokes her head around the door and sees Yvonne and what looks to be the rest of the relief standing around chatting.
"Why's everyone in here?" she asks.
"The Superintendent called a staff meeting," someone answers.
Andrea shrugs her shoulders and walk's into the room, choosing to stand by Yvonne and her friends. Neil not knowing weather to stand with Andrea and the others or walk up to CID lingers in the doorway.
Andrea gestures for him to come and stand with her, and her friends, so after one final glance around the room he slowly approaches her. Hot long after Smithy approaches the group, "So, are you going to tell me what you lot was talking about earlier?" he asks directing his question towards Andrea.
All eyes turn to her expectantly.
"A little help here?" she asks looking in the direction of Honey, Yvonne and Neil.
Finally gaining the courage she needs she whispers, "I'm pregnant,"
"WHAT," shouts Gina from the doorway inadvertently hearing the conversation, "did I hear that right?"
"Here we go again," mumbles Neil under his breath.
"Would I be right in assuming this has something to do with the other day?" Gina asks.
"What happened the other day, have I missed something?" asks Smithy turning to look at each of them in turn, totally confused.
"May i?" asks Gina.
"May as well," answers Neil, "get it all over with and announced to the whole station."
Gina tells Smithy about her surprise visit to Andrea's flat the other day, before gaining the attention of the whole relief and stating that she has an announcement to make.
She proceeds to tell the whole relief the news of Andrea and Neil's secret relationship, causing a riot of questions.
Eventually the shift ends and after the events of the day have sunk in the endless questions stop and the relief all start to head home.
"Thank heavens that's over with," comments Andrea to Neil on the short walk to his car, "let's hope they don't start up again tomorrow."
They reach the car and get in, driving the short journey home.
The Next Morning
Andrea wakes up early and before heading to the kitchen, picks up the newspaper from by the door. She drops it on the kitchen table and then proceeds to boil the kettle for tea.
A few minutes later, Neil walks into the kitchen. He gives Andrea a good morning kiss then sits down at the table. He notices the newspaper on the tabletop and picks it up to look at the cover. On the front page is a picture of Sun Hill Station and underneath it is the headline 'Police Officer Arrested In Connection With The Sun Hill Sniper'. It seems Bruce doesn't need Andrea's help to get stories after all.
The End.