Note: I'm aware that sometimes when writing speech there seems to a shortened version of words or spelling mistakes but can I just say that this is intentional. Many officers in The Bill speak with an accent and I'm simply trying to accommodate this by not having them speak completely proper English all the time. Thanks for reading and reviewing! The encouragement is very much appreciated.
"What happened to the new girl?", Gary Best pulled up a seat next to his sergeant.
"She went to the doctors." This piece of information gained laughs from the coppers around.
"Three hours alone with you and she's already become sickly", Nick Klein seemed to be enjoying the chance of a dig, "What'd you do to her?"
"Actually it wasn't what I did, it was what that girl did, you know, the one that jumped from the roof when she was trying to talk her down?", Smithy stood over Nick, "Now you tell me, would you feel up to spending your lunch with people like you, if you had seen that on your first day?"
Closing the door silently behind her, Izzy crept across the hall to the spare room where she had been staying and now planned to stay for however long her friend may need her. She hadn't cried. She had been strong. Eva needed her support; she had to be the one who held things together.
Eva had made it very clear that her husband was not to know oh her condition.
"He'll flip, he won't be able to cope, it'll kill him!" It may have made sense at the time but now, as she collapsed onto the bed and wept into her pillow, Izzy wondered if she should tell.
They had gone to the hospital as instructed. This meant Izzy had missed the rest of her shift but as a matter of priorities she had stayed by Eva's side, holding her hand and offering hugs when they were needed. They were involved in mindless chatter over the rooms decoration when the doctor who was treating Eva came back with the news. The mammogram and then biopsy had shown it up clear as day: she had cancer of the breast.
"We want to remove the breast as soon as possible, before this has a chance to spread", it disgusted Isabella how the surgeon could talk as if this was the easiest decision and procedure in the world. It wasn't as if he was going to loose one of the most vital parts of his identity, did he have no understanding of a woman's mind? Where was the compassion?
"I'll be half a woman!" Had been Eva's response, one which didn't go down too well. The surgeon, doctor Martin, had rolled his eyes and sighed.
"No you will not. You'll be alive which is more than you'll be if we dilly dally around."
At this point both women had wanted to reach across the table and batter the living day lights out of him, as a matter of fact, the only thing holding Eva back was Izzy's arm which had been clamped across her waist.
"How long have I got?"
"I'd say you've got a few months before you will need immediate surgery and by then, the chances of it having spread are…"
"No I mean life span. How long have I got to live if I have this mysterectomy?"
"Mastectomy. Well many women, if caught at the right stage, can live up to five years after the procedure has been done and if they have stuck to their appointments for chemotherapy."
Eva stared hard at the doctor before laughing. Hysterical laughter, which frightened Izzy and surprised Martin.
"Five years?", she chortled away, "You expect me to live five years after I go through this hell?"
"I fail to see the funny side of this Mrs Sharpe."
"You would", Eva wiped her eyes, she had been laughing so hard she had cried.
"Mrs Sharpe. This is your health we are talking about, if you don't want to take this seriously then I don't know how I can help you."
"Well, Mr. Martin, neither do I. Thank you for your time but I'd like to think this over. I have your number, I'll be in touch."
She left it at that. Not wishing to talk, they had driven home in silence and then Eva had retreated to bed. Izzy couldn't begin to imagine what her friend was going through, but the fact that she hadn't jumped at the chance of surgery frightened Isabella down to the very pit of her stomach.
"Where's mummy?", Joanne asked as she took her seat for breakfast.
"Yeah, what is wrong with Eva? She looked like death warmed up this morning."
Izzy dug her nails into the palm of her hand to stop herself from crying. If only he knew…he would never make such a comment again.
"It's nothing", she controlled herself and smiled, "Look you kids eat up and get off to school. You don't want your mum being angry when she gets up do you?"
Before she could say anything else the children ran from the room, yelled their good byes and leapt down the path to the car where they waited patiently outside.
Laughing Izzy said, "Mrs. Sharpe runs a tight ship doesn't she?"
"Indeed she does", Paul laughed along with her, "You can tell me you know…if there's something wrong with Eva, you can let me in on it now."
"We don't keep secrets in this house", Eva joined them in her dressing robe, "That's something you know for definite so why don't you stop harassing our guest here and take our babies to school?"
Paul kissed her goodbye and waved to them as he drove off. Izzy stood alongside her friend, a smile plastered across her face but once the door was closed she asked the dreaded question of what Eva planned on doing.
"What do you mean?" Eva replied innocently.
"What do you mean what do I mean? The cancer. You're going to have surgery aren't you?" She tried hard to disguise her begging tone, to make it seem as if she were more annoyed then anything else. She failed. Eva took a glass from the cupboard and filled it with water. Planting herself at the wooden kitchen table, hand placed over breast, she requested Izzy sit down. She sighed deeply and looked her in the eye; she needed to make sure she was taken seriously.
"Iz, you know the life I lead. If I take too much time off work I'll loose my job, Paul will have to be sole earner and parent to the kids for a long time and for what? For me to die on them only a year or so later and leave them alone again? I can't put them through it. I want to live the life I have left to the fullest, no hospitals, no surgery, no bloody chemotherapy and especially no pain for my loved one's until the very end. I know I'm asking a lot from you, but will you respect my decision and allow me to have control over my life? Keep my secret just that, a secret."
Isabella was devastated. She was going to loose her best friend: the woman she had known since they were knee high, the woman who had shared the most important events in her life, the woman who dominated her memories, the woman who's child she was god mother to, the woman who's wedding she was maid of honour at, the woman whom she loved more then anyone else.
"You can't choose that", Izzy was filled with immense anger. She was being selfish, of course she was, if she really loved her family and friends then why would she choose to die? Why would she want to deny them the chance to gain more memories, to have more special moments, to share more time?
"I already have", Eva tried to take Izzy's hand but she pulled away, "I called doctor Martin. He agreed to send a nurse round today to discuss the care I'll need when it comes to the later stages. He also told me my expected life span."
"And?"
"He said…um, he said it could be six months, a year. He couldn't tell me how quickly the cancer would grow and how it would affect me. Apparently every woman is different but you know me, I'm a fighter and I'll fight this as long as I can!"
"Why bother? You've already given up the battle, you've let it win."
Izzy stormed from the kitchen. So far she had managed not to shed a single tear, Eva had whimpered every now and again but nothing too bad. She knew as soon as she was away Eva would rid herself of the backlog of tears but she needed her own form of release. Reaching the bathroom, Izzy turned on the taps and promptly threw up.
"Where is Eva Sharpe!", Samantha Nixon's voice shattered the serenity which had descended over the CID office, "Mickey!"
"You bellowed?"
"Your close to Eva, right?"
"Well, not as close as some…"
"But she'd confide in you, right? If something was bothering her…or if something were wrong?" It was clear that Samantha was offering him the chance to tell her if he knew anything of her whereabouts.
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Well should you come in contact with DC Sharpe anytime soon, you'll tell me won't you?"
Mickey nodded, not particularly liking her threatening tone. The DI was on what seemed to be a hunt and she wasn't about to give up so Mickey took the first chance he got to call Eva, to warn her most of all. The phone sat in the hall, but there was also a direct link next to Isabella's bed. She lifted the receiver but instead of speaking , slammed it down again. Work, she had forgotten all about work! She was due in for a shift but would she be able to concentrate? It wasn't much of a choice, either she stayed in and hoped to avoid Eva for the rest of the day or go to work where she could possibly put it to the back of her mind. Work it was.
Mickey threw the phone down in frustration. She hadn't even been bothered to talk to him! He saw the DI watching from the corner of his eye so he quickly pulled out some paper and began fiddling with his pen. He chewed on the tip as he thought of how to make Eva come into work. So far he had imagined himself planting drugs in her house, faking a burglary and even phoning in a bomb scare after placing an unmarked bag in her garden. He chuckled as he thought of the horror on her face should a bunch of armed police burst into her house and arouse her from her slumber, unfortunately with him being stuck behind his desk he had limited options. If only he could get out of the building…
As if from nowhere DS Hunter materialised by his desk and told him of some raid going down. Back up was needed and he was requesting Mickey's help.
"Sarge, you're the answer to my prayers!"
Not knowing what the DC meant and not particularly caring Hunter briefed him and they left together, passing Izzy as they went.
"Who's that?", The DS turned on his heels and carried on walking backwards as he watched the new woman's backside intently.
"Dunno", Mickey was eager to get to this raid. He needed some excitement before he died of boredom, "Why'd you care?"
"Why'd I care? Mickey, didn't you see her?" Both men now glanced towards Izzy as she carried on into the building. A smile parted Mickey's lips.
"I get ya now…but I thought you'd have had enough of inter-office relationships, wasn't that how you got caught by your missus last time?"
"So? She forgave me didn't she?"
Mickey shook his head disapprovingly but kept quiet. He did however decide to get to know this new girl and perhaps let her know exactly what to expect from the men of SunHill.
"Hey!", Kerry greeted cheerfully, "What happened to you yesterday? Smithy's been going off his head."
"Do I look like I care?"
"Alright, I'm just saying that I wouldn't like to be in your shoes when he does catch up with you", Kerry appeared to notice who was coming down the hall, "Which is going to be within the next five seconds."
"PC Angel!", Smithy gripped her arm, "A word."
Isabella looked over her shoulder, shocked. Kerry could only shrug and wish her luck. He eventually found an interview room which was free, the sergeant room had been taken up by Sheelagh and Des, and when they were alone Smithy threw her into the desk.
"What the hell are you playing at?", his voice was a sharp whisper.
"What?", Izzy was still reeling from the force used on her.
"You made me look like a complete idiot yesterday, I drop you at the doctors as a favour and you take that as an indication to take the rest of the shift off! Did you really think you would get away with it?"
"I don't know…"
"Well you won't. I know you're new but I'm seriously considering reporting you to Gina Gold…" At this point he stopped, Izzy hadn't lifted her head the entire time but from her shaking shoulders he knew she was crying. He wasn't sure how to deal with the situation so he left.
"Bloody typical man!", she yelled after him.
As darkness fell, Mickey and Phil were still camped out in their car, waiting for the action to begin.
"I'd have been better off behind my desk", he folded his arms moodily.
"Oh stop moaning will you?"
"It's ok for you, after this you get to go home but I still have to complete that bloody paper work you dragged me away from."
"Dragged you away from? You called me the answer to your prayers!"
"Yeah well…hey", Mickey faced the Chemists again, "Isn't that…?"
"The new girl!" They said in unison.
"What the hell is she doing here?", Hunter questioned angrily.
"Buying something it looks like", Mickey snorted, "Should we go and get her? She'll spoil everything if she's in there for long."
"Yeah on you go then", Phil leaned over and opened his door. He watched as Mickey jogged eagerly towards their new colleague and laughed when she smacked him…
"What do you think you're doing?! Get your hands off me!", she demanded as Mickey hauled her towards the car. Phil rolled down the window and produced his warrant card.
"Sorry sweetheart, we couldn't have you in there when this thing goes down but DC Mickey Webb here also couldn't reveal who he was so close to the chemists", Izzy was out of breath but she nodded and stepped into the back seat when asked.
"It's nice to meet you by the way", Mickey offered her his hand, which she took warily.
"You too, I guess. I'm Isabella Angel but everyone calls me Izzy."
"Sorry it couldn't have been under different circumstances but…Mickey! He's here!", Phil leaned forward and watched carefully as a young man entered the chemists, it was so well lit that the officers could see everything that went on, including the exchange of something from under the counter for money.
"Let's go!"
Both man leapt from the vehicle and ran towards the now escaping criminals.
"You get the kid!" Phil yelled as he took off around the back of the building.
Izzy got out and leaned against the car awaiting the arrival of one of her new contemporaries. She then saw the, what she made an educated guess to be, drug dealer heading back out the front of the shop. Clearly he had had a change of heart and of direction. He walked resignedly to Izzy and held up his hands.
