Sheelagh Murphy was is a dither, it was three days before her wedding and her stress levels had increased dramatically over the past two weeks, even more then usually. It was common knowledge that being a Sergeant wasn't the easiest job in the world but add planing a wedding onto of it, and that equaled, living hell. Over the past few days she had shouted at more people then she had shouted at in her life. She kept shouting at them for just little things like, walking to loudly or not not closing station doors, or even just standing about. Her friends and colleges had tried to clam her down, but that turned out to be a bad idea. One incident in last Thursday's briefing was enough remember, Sheelagh, June, Smithy, Tony Gary and Jenny were siting in the briefing room waiting for the Inspector, when Gary seeing how tense Sheelagh was these days tried to cheer her up by paying her a complement hoping to cheer her up instead she ended up throwing a file at him. So everyone was now keeping there distance. Sheelagh had all ready been pulled into the Inspectors office already five times that week, which was even more then usually, but she really wasn't worried about that, she had other things to worry about, the rehearsal dinner. Sheelagh and Des parents, brothers and sister would all be meeting for dinner tomorrow night and Sheelagh, knowing Des's past history when it came to women, weren't to sure how her parents were gonna react. Her mother, father, two older brothers and little sister were flying in from Queensland, and Des's parents, four brothers and sister were driving down from Liverpool. Des kept assuring her that everything would be fine, but the more he told her the more nervous she felt.
Sheelagh sat in her office at her desk, although you couldn't really see it as she had been putting of her weeks paper work since last Monday. When there was a knock at the door that interrupted her line of thought and Jenny opened the door.
Jenny: Is it safe to come in our are you gonna throw something at me?
Sheelagh: No its OK.
She came in and sat in Smithy's desk chair, Sheelagh looked at her best mate but before she could say anything Jenny said.
Jenny: Your still worried about this dinner aren't you?
Sheelagh: Is it that obvious?
Jenny: I can read you like a book.
Sheelagh: Look, all I want to do is have a normally wedding with my friends and family and marry the guy I love, but in stead I've become a stress bomb that's just waiting to go off, I've bitten my nails all the way down to the bone, If I get called into the Inspector's office one more time I'm sure she gonna suspend me. My blood pressure has risen dramatically and this wedding is turning into my nightmare!
She took a deep breath, and looked at Jenny who for some reason was smiling at her.
Sheelagh: What?
Jenny: Feel better, for letting it all out.
Sheelagh: A bit, its just you know what my dad's like right and you now what Des's is like, I can just see it now, world war three breaking out over Salmon and Volavonts.
Jenny: Come on it's not gonna be that bad.
Seeing the look onSheelagh's face which said quite planly shewasn't going to change her mind about this, she stud up.
Jenny: All right come on.
She takes Sheelagh's hand.
Sheelagh: Were we going?
Jenny: I'm gonna buy you a chocolate bar so you can cheer up.
Sheelagh smiled.
Jenny: Come on.
Jenny drags Sheelagh out of the office and down to the canteen. Meanwhile out in the Yard Des and Reg had just pulled in the are car for refs. They walked into the canteen, while Reg was getting the tea's in Des went to sit with his 'fiancé' Jenny, Tony, Cameron and Gary.
Des: Hey gorgeous
Sheelagh: Hey
Des sits down next to Sheelagh and they kiss.
Cameron: People trying to eat here.
They break apart.
Tony: Speaking of which there's a cherry bun with my name on it excuse me.
Tony gets up and joins Reg in the que.
Jenny: Hey Tony grab me a folk will you?
Tony: Get it yourself!
Jenny: Bloody charming.
Jenny, gets up just as the radio goes of.
CAD: Serria 21 form Serria Oscar, bag snatch on Canley High street, the victims a Miss Veronica Taylor.
Cameron: Looks like Refs is over and done with.
Gary: Serria Oscar form Serria 21 show us attending, see you two latter
Des: See you
Sheelagh: Bye.
As Gary and Cameron got up, Sheelagh looked at Reg in the que then turned to Des.
Sheelagh: Well?
Des: What.
Sheelagh: What did Reg say?
Des: About what?
Sheelagh: You mean you haven't asked him.
Des: Well -
Sheelagh: Des were getting married in three days, and you still haven't asked him.
Des: I keep trying to but something either interrupts or I just can't get the words out.
Sheelagh: Des -
Des: All right, all right I'll do it.
Just the Reg comes over, sits down and hands Des a cuppa.
Reg: There you go.
Des: Thank's Reggie Babe
Sheelagh nudges Des in the arm.
Des: Hey listen Reggie Babe em, I was, well we were wondering if -
CAD: Serria one from Serria Oscar -
Sheelagh looks up at the ceiling.
CAD: - Assistance required, on the Coal Lane estate, PC's Dunbar and Powell on scene.
Reg: Serria Oscar form Serria One on way, see you latter Sgt.
Sheelagh: See you
Reg gets up and walks to the door, Des gets up and looks at Sheelagh, who nods at him, when Des and Reg get to the canteen door, Des turns.
Sheelagh: (mouths at him) Just do it!
They disappear threw the door as Jenny sits back down.
Jenny: Everything OK.
Sheelagh: Yeah.
Before Jenny could take a bite of her chocolate cake Sheelagh had nicked the cherry of the top.
Jenny: Oh!
She threw her napkin at Sheelagh who was laughing and now had stated to choke.
Jenny: (grinning) Serves you right.
They both laughed. It was nearing the end of the shift now and Des still needed to ask Reg something but at every opportunity something happened. They were now both in the male locker rooms getting change, he new he had to do it now or Sheelagh would be on his case all night. He waited until Cameron had left the room, so they were now the only two in the room.
Des: Reggie Babe there's something I've been meaning to ask you.
Reg: Yeah.
Des: Well you now we've known each other for quite a while now.
Des had started pacing the room, he really wasn't good at this sort of thing.
Des: Well I was, well you see, me and Sheelagh were kinda hoping you'd.
Des stopped pacing, looking at the wall.
Des: God this is stupid.
He turned to face Reg who was looking confused.
Des: Reggie Babe, will you be my best man?
Reg was taken a back.
Reg: What?
Des: Will you be my best man? I'm asking you because, well your best mates I've ever had and I want you to be next to me when I marry the woman I love.
Reg looked for a moment like he was going to cry but instead.
Reg: I'd be honored mate.
Des: Really?
Reg: Yeah
Des: Ha ha!
Before he new what he was doing, Des had hugged Reg just as Gary walked into the locker room.
Gary: Em -
Des quickly shoved Reg of him looking embarrassed.
