Ramani looked at Jodie, all the fear flooding back from 16 years ago. Her parent's faces, the dirty looks from people and his face filling her head at every turn. She didn't blame Jodie, of course she didn't, what could Jodie have done? Ramani went to talk to Jodie but couldn't find the words to say.

"How are you?" Ramani asked her. Maybe it wasn't the best thing to say when you meet your daughter for the first time in 16 years.

Jodie just smiled at her, "I'm fine thank you, how are you?"

"I'm err shocked." What else could she say? One hour ago she was DS De Costa moaning over the millions of files she had to get through. Now, just 60 minutes later she was 'Mum'.

"Yeah, I did try to ring you but I gather you've been on a course for the past 3-4 days. How was it?"

"It was interesting thanks." Not that she could remember a minute of it now, she suddenly had a very sick feeling as she'd just realised what was happening. He'd come back to haunt her, she was never going to get rid of him. Ramani suddenly stood up, "Jodie I'm really busy I have to go."

"But I've only just met you."

"Sorry but I can't deal with this…"

Ramani ran out of the room, tears rolling down her face. JT looked on from behind the desk. Jo stood in the toilet applying her lipstick as Ramani ran in and locked herself in a cubicle.

"Searge?"

Ramani sniffed as she sat down onto the toilet.

"Ramani, is everything alright?"

Jo tried to get into the toilet as it suddenly went quiet but the door was locked.

"Ramani open the door! Please!"

Jo became increasingly worried until, at last, Ramani stood up and opened the door. Her cheeks were stained with tears and her deep brown eyes blurred with tears. Ramani broke down as she saw the concerned look in Jo's eyes. Jo wrapped her arms around her and let the pain all come out.

"Hey, Ramani it's alright." Seeing a friend, especially Ramani, break down like this broke Jo. Tears started to well up in her eyes but she hung on tight as she knew seeing her like this would just make Ramani worse. The only time Jo had seen Ramani slightly like this was when Maggie was obsessed with her or when that weirdo David Russo abducted her.

Ramani looked up at Jo, feeling 17 again, vulnerable and longing for her mum to give her a huge hug. Jo wiped the tears from Ramani's face and her own.

"Hey Ramani what's happened?" She was unsure whether she should mention the fact she knew about Ramani's daughter so she decided not too. Like Sam said if Ramani chose to tell Jo, or didn't, it was solely up to her.

"He's come back…I knew this would happen, he's never going to go away." Jo looked at Ramani in a state of confusement.

"Who's back Ramani?"

Tears started to form in Ramani's eyes again, he'd broken her. She felt the same as she did when she'd found out she was pregnant. Sick, dizzy, faint. After 16 years she'd slowly learnt to put it all behind her, she could never forget but at least she could stop it being at the forefront of her mind. Not now though, this time it was back for good in the shape of a young innocent 16-year-old who reminded Ramani so much of herself. Ramani straightened up and looked at Jo. Did she tell Jo? Did she not? Could she say she could actually trust Jo, Ramani thought so.

"Erm…my daughter."

"Your daughter?" Jo asked trying to act surprised, perhaps she was surprised by the fact Ramani did actually tell her.

"Yeah."

"I didn't know you had a daughter? How old is she?"

"She's 16."

"16!" Jo couldn't help it just slipped out, when JT said that Ramani had a daughter Jo expected a toddler, barely able to talk…not a teenager! A young adult, a young women. "Sorry Ramani, I just expected her to be younger."

"So did I, I can't believe it has been 16 years."

"So how come you didn't tell anyone that you had a daughter? I'm surprised Terry didn't say anything like when it was her birthday or at Christmas."

Ramani looked down, Jo watched her. Oh no what had she said wrong?

"Terry doesn't know."

Jo looked at Ramani, now she really was confused. Terry and Ramani were the closest out of all the CID lot, they shared everything. Yet Ramani hadn't told Terry she had a daughter living with her.

"Sorry Ramani, you've lost me. Surely Terry would have noticed that you had a daughter? That there was someone living with you in your house?"

"She doesn't live with me Jo, I gave her up for adoption. I don't expect you to understand but I couldn't keep her. After everything that had happened…I didn't blame her then and I don't blame her now just everytime I looked into her eyes I saw him."

Slowly it was becoming clear to Jo, there was still a huge gap though. Who was 'he'?

Jo held onto Ramani's hand wanting her to know that she could tell her anything.

"She's still down in front office, I feel so bad. It's not her fault I just can't do this. I came into work expecting to have a day full of paper, the last thing I expected was for Jodie to come here."

"Do you want me to go and talk to her?" Asked Jo.

"Yes please Jo, if you don't mind."

Jo gave Ramani the packet of tissues from within her pocket and pecked her cheek, she took one last look at Ramani and walked down to front office.