Football Fever
Chapter 3 - England v Sweden

Days passed between England's win against Trinidad and Tobago and a tradition had begun at Sun Hill. Everytime England were playing in the World Cup members of the reliefs and CID would congregate in one of the nearby pub to watch the match on the big screen. The next match against Sweden would be even more celebrated, not only was it an important match for England it also happened to be DI Neil Manson's son's birthday. Jake Manson was going to be five years old and he was very excited. Andrea Dunbar barely had a chance to spend any time with her lover because Neil kept being whisked away on emergency shopping trips for extra presents and food by Philippa. As promised Neil had rung Andrea the day after the previous match but she knew his mind was elsewhere. Andrea was sure that Neil was having doubts about their relationship, things were getting more serious now and someday soon he'd have to choose between his family or her. She dreaded the day that he had to make the decision, she knew that it would eventually happened but until now it had been a comfortable way off on the horizon. While Andrea was thinking about Neil and what the future may hold she saew him walking towards her in the corridor.

"Hey," He smiled, the corridor was empty so it meant they didn't have to have a guarded conversation like they normally did at work.

"Hi." She smiled back, stopping to face him.

"Look, as you probably know it's Jake's birthday tomorrow and he's having a party in one of the function rooms at the Canley Arms." Neil began, studying Andrea's face for a reaction. "I wondered if you'd like to be there. I mean, most of the station will be there anyway to watch the football but I'd like it if you were there."

"I don't know..." Andrea began hesitantly. "I don't think it's my place..."

"I understand, what I'm asking you is difficult...but a few of the others are going to come along so it wouldn't be suspicious." Neil persuaded.

Andrea shook her head sadly. "Neil that's not what I meant. Jake is your son; Philippa's son. How can you expect to invite the person you are having an affair with to a party under those circumstances."

Neil grabbed her by the arm as she tried to push passed him.

"Andrea!" He called.

"I'm sorry." She said before turning and running as far and fast as she could.

Kerry Young woke up and stretched out in her bed. Looking across at the alarm clock she realised that she had overslept, panicking slightly she turned over and prodded the man lying next to her.

"Dale! Dale! Smiiiithy!" She shouted getting louder when he refused to wake up.

"Wha'?" He asked, blinking and rubbing his eyes.

"It's time to get up, actually it was time to get up half an hour ago." Kerry replied.

"Oops." Smithy groaned, sitting up in bed.

"Yeah, oops." Kerry agreed. "Gold is going to slaughter us."

Smithy nodded. "You could say that...unless we throw a sickie..." He looked at her hopefully.

"You think she'll believe that?"

Smithy pulled a face. "Um...well..."

"Exactly." Kerry said, regretfully she pulled back the duvet cover and pull on her dressing gown. Smithy put on his boxer shorts and walked with Kerry to the bedroom door.

"I've gotta go home, my uniform is there." He kissed her on the lips and hugged her. "See ya later yeah?"

"Yeah, see you at work." Kerry smiled before giving him one last kiss. With a happy sigh Kerry went into the bathroom to shower.

"You okay?" Zain asked, sitting down on the arm of sofa next to Suzie who was staring absent mindedly out of the window. They were sat in the living room of Suzie's apartment overlooking the river.

She looked up at him and smiled. "I'm fine."

Zain was less than convinced. "You sure?"

Suzie nodded. "Don't worry about me." She told him, taking his hand.

"That's my job. You've just seemed a bit distant the last few days, like something is on your mind."

"Just thinking about the Sergeant's exams." Suzie said, getting up from the sofa and taking her empty coffee cup through to the kitchen.

Zain followed close behind her. "Well you don't need to worry about them." He said.

Suzie looked puzzled as she faced him. "What'd you mean?"

"You'll do great and you're bound to pass them with flying colours!"

Suzie had to smile at her boyfriend's faith in her, but the smile faded as instantly as it had come.

"You know that right?" He asked, slightly worried by the look on her face.

Suzie shrugged. "I don't want to let my family down."

Zain lead her back into living room and sat her down on the sofa.

"Don't talk like that!" He said. "You are an amazing detective and you'll make an amazing sergeant too!"

"I wish I could believe you." Suzie said sadly.

"Where's this coming from?" Zain asked.

Suzie sighed, she didn't want to go into detail about her family. Not with Zain so close to the start of their relationship. "Just stuff to do with my family." She said vaguely.

Zain raised his eyebrows, signalling for her to explain more.

Although they hadn't been dating long Sam and Stuart had been living together from early on in their relationship. Sam was letting her daughter live there with her baby son for now and didn't want to impose on Abi when her relationship with Stuart fell apart. For the third day in a row she woke up to the strange sensation of being in another man's bed again, this time it was Phil Hunter's. She dragged herself out of bed and put on one of Phil's shirts over her nightdress. To some it may seem a strange thing to do but to Sam it seemed perfectly natural. She and Phil had known each other for four years now and although they had had their ups and considerable downs it had made their friendship stronger in the end.

"Mornin'." Phil called from the couch as Sam walked passed on her way to the kitchen.

Despite protests from Sam, Phil had insisted on sleeping on the sofa while she stayed there.

"Coffee?" She called from the kitchen.

"Thought you'd never ask!" Phil laughed, going into the kitchen too, to cook some toast for them both.

Ten minutes later they were both say on the sofa watching the morning news. Sam swallowed a mouthful of toast.

"Oh yeah, England are playing tonight."

"I've taught you well." Phil smiled. "You going to the Canley Arms to watch it?"

"I dunno..." Sam began, she wanted to go and she wanted to see Neil's son on his birthday. "What if Stuart's there?"

"Don't let him ruin it for you!" Phil said, he was still angry with Stuart for hurting Sam but maybe if it hadn't happened she wouldn't be eating his toast, on his sofa while wearing his shirt. What was it they said about clouds and silver linings?

Neil Manson took a lunch break that day and went home to see his son.

"Daddy!" Jake exclaimed, running towards the front door as soon as he heard the key turn in the lock. "Look what Auntie Lorna bought me!"

Neil knelt down so he was almost equal height with his son. Jake held out a remote control car in bright red and pressed a button on the control. The car set off at a break neck speed and Neil smiled at his son's obvious joy, the toy car speed along the hall and shot into the kitchen where Philippa was preparing the food for the party.

"Jake!" She shouted at her son. "Take that outside." The car had caught her off guard and she had narrowly missed tripping over it. Looking at the ground, Jake went into the back garden to play with his toy.

"You didn't have to be so hard on him." Neil said walking into the kitchen. "It is his birthday."

"I know that." Philippa snapped, raising her hands and pointing at the mess than looked like a bomb was responsible for it.

"I'm here now, let me help." He said in a soothing voice.

"If you want go and play with your son. He misses you, y'know?"

"Yeah I know." Neil nodded slowly and went outside to where Jake was practicing his Formula One racing on the lawn. He smiled at his son, he was the one thing that made life without Andrea bearable.

Sam, Phil, Kerry, Smithy, Honey, Dan, Lewis, Emma and Will helped Philippa and Neil to unload the car and bring the food inside later that day when the shifts were over. Suzie and Zain had decided not to come tonight, wanting to spend some time alone together but of course they didn't tell anyone else that but it left Kezia feeling suspicious. They set the food out on a table in one of the function rooms at the back of the pub. As they set the party up Neil couldn't help wondering if Andrea would turn up. The party went well and Jake enjoyed it, to add to the atmosphere England won the match against Sweden but Neil found it hard to relax and enjoy himself. Neil left Will and Lewis playing with Jake and his toy car and sneaked outside to call Andrea. The ringing seemed to go on forever before Andrea finally answered.

"Hello?" She said and Neil thought her voice sounded louder than usual over the phone.

"Hi it's Neil, where are you?" He asked. "It wasn't the same without you tonight."

"Turn around." She told him and he did.

Neil smiled, hanging up the phone.

"You made it."

Andrea smiled too, they shared a kiss before she broke away from him.

"So where's the birthday boy?"

Neil lead Andrea to the room where the party was being held unaware that they had been watched.

Yeah I know the Football is over but this fic barely has anything to do with it anyway lol! Thanks for all the reviews so far and please keep reviewing! lotsa luv, Vikki xxx