Two hours later and Sheelagh was just on her way to the station to start her shift. She still had the mark on her face and she was starting to get a black eye from when Patrick had hit her the night before. She wasn't worried about what people would say, she'd had plenty of time to think up a story.

The gossips started the minute Sheelagh stepped her foot through the door,
"What's happened to Sheelagh?"
"Have you seen Sergeant Murphy she looks awful?"
"Looks like Serge has been getting a bit of a beating."

Sheelagh just wanted to shout "SHUT UP" but she held it together and just tried to keep her head down. The first person to have the guts to say anything to her was Gina Gold,
"Erm, Sheelagh?" she said at the end of the briefing, "Can I have a word?"
"Er, yes maam, sure"

Gina took her into her office and firstly told her to sit down.
"Right well, Sheelagh how are you?"
"Erm, fine thanks maam."
"You sure? Everything going well at home with Patrick is it?"
"Yes fine, why? What do you mean?"
"Just concerned that's all, I mean no arguments or anything?"
"No, not really maam"
"Oh, erm, well..."
"Look maam, I know why I'm here so lets stop beating around the bush and I'll save you some embarrassment. Patrick has not been abusing me; I just walked in to an open kitchen cupboard door this morning that's all. I'm fine and it was my own, stupid fault. Patrick and I have our fair share of arguments but he would never hit me," lied Sheelagh.
"Right, ok, well if you ever need to talk you know where I am ok?"
"Thanks maam, I'll bear it in mind"

Sheelagh went outside to find Des waiting for her by the car.
"You ok? Where've you been" Des said as he got in the car.
"I'm fine. I've been to see the inspector."
"Oooh someone's been a naughty girl" mocked Des laughing.
"Don't Des, I'm not in the mood."
"Sorry, what did she say?"
"I don't think it's any of you're business PC Taviner, do you?"
"Sorry, only asking," said Des quietly.
"Well don't. Like I said I'm not in the mood."

There was then an awkward silence which carried on for ages. Des felt really bad, he didn't mean to upset her and he hated seeing her like this. He normally looked forward to working with his sergeant but seeing her like this just made him want to cry. Sheelagh also felt bad. She didn't mean to be snappy with Des and she hated the silence, Des and her were normally laughing there heads off all day.

"I'm sorry, I...' they both said in unison.
"You've no need to be sorry, it was me," said Des
"No, I shouldn't have been so snappy," said Sheelagh.
"Truce," said Des.
"Truce."
They both smiled and for the rest of the day they were back to normal, chatting and laughing, both of them bright and bubbly.

At the end of the shift, as the were just pulling into the yard, Des suddenly turned dead serious and said,
"Look, Sheelagh if there's anything you want to talk about I'm here for you ok?"
Sheelagh went quiet for a minute but then turned to Des, looked deep into his eyes and said,
"I know what you're meaning Des, I'm fine but if I'm ever in trouble or I ever need to speak to someone, you'll be the first person I come to. I trust you Des and I know anything I say to you will stay with you. Thanks."
Sheelagh put her hand onto his right cheek and kissed his other. She then got out the car leaving des in happy thoughts and wondering whether she felt the same way about him as he did about her.