Chapter 2

…

June flicked the switch on the kettle, standing by the counter as she waited for the water to boil. She heard the knock at the door, immediately freezing. There were a few more loud knocks to the door when June didn't go to answer it.

"JUNE, IT'S JACK…COME ON, I KNOW YOU'RE IN THERE, I CAN SEE YOU?"

June sighed before she tucked her hair behind her ear and made her way down the hallway to the door, opening it to see Jack looking back at her.

"I'm not in the mood for visitors guv?"

"Well tough, you'd better get the kettle on."

June was taken aback when Jack walked in and made his way through to the front room. June slammed the door behind him, before she went to the kitchen and brought back two mugs of tea, placing one down in front of him.

"Sorry for the mess, I wasn't expecting any visitors." She said as she sat down beside him.

Silence filled the room for a few minutes before Jack finally spoke.

"I don't know if you knew this but Jo was released from hospital last week? I did try calling you then but you ignored my calls?"

"Yeah, Jim said. Sorry about that, I just wasn't ready to talk."

"She wants to see you?"

"I don't think that's such a good idea, do you?"

"Actually I do, she's still recovering and what she needs right now is her friends and colleagues around her, supporting her."

"I'm the last person Jo wants to see right now."

"Don't be so sure."

June got to her feet and went over to the window, her arms crossed over her. Jack got to his feet, coming up beside her.

"I can't see her, not yet."

"Jo doesn't blame you for what happened to her."

"How can she not, if it wasn't for me then she never would have been there for god sake?"

"The first thing she asked when I brought her home was when you were coming to see her. She wants to see you."

"To yell at me probably."

"Oh come on June, you know Jo as well as the rest of us, if not more and she's not like that. She doesn't blame you, or me. The only ones she blames are the Coopers and Seaver…that's it, not us."

"I can't."

"I thought you were her friend?"

"I am."

"Then bloody well act like it. She spent months in that hospital and you never visited her once. I was by her bed side for the first few weeks, I never left her, and you…her so called friend, couldn't even be bothered to be there for her when she needed you the most."

"That's not fair…I."

"Don't give me any of that "I needed time" crap. If she's really your friend, if you care about her at all, you'll get over your own guilty conscience and go and see her. She deserves that much, if you can't do that, then maybe you're in the wrong job after all."

June was about to reply, but Jack turned and left, the front door slamming behind him as tears fell from her eyes.

…

Jo was asleep on the couch when Jack let himself in to her home, closing the door behind him. He came in to the front room to find her asleep. He sat on the table beside the sofa for a few moments just watching her sleep, something he had become used too over the past few months and finding it somewhat comforting. Jo was suddenly aware of someone else in the room, opening her eyes slowly to see her governor watching her.

"Jack I…"

She tried to sit up, for a moment forgetting that she was still healing as she let out a hiss of pain, her arm coming around her waist. Jack was on his feet immediately, at her side to help her,

"Hey, take it easy Jo…let me help you."

Jack's arm came around her back as he helped her in to a sitting position, giving her a few moments to catch her breath. He went to get some water for her, bringing it through and passing it to her.

"Here, take a few sips."

She did as she was told, before Jack passed her two of her painkillers and taking a seat beside her. They sat in silence while Jo regained her composure.

"Did you see her?" Jo suddenly asked.

"Who?"

"Come on Jack, you know who I'm talking about. Did you talk to June again for me?"

"Yeah I did, I was round there earlier."

"She's not coming is she?"

"I did try Jo, but she still feels responsible for what happened to you, and no matter how hard I try, she won't forgive herself, I'm sorry."

Jo lowered her head, her eyes closing tightly. Jack's arm came around her shoulder, bringing her close to him as she lay her head on his shoulder before releasing a breath.

"I need to be back at work, I can't stand being stuck in the bloody house on my own, day in, day out."

"I know, but you and I both know that you are far from ready to come back, you're still very weak."

"I hate this so much Jack." She whispered.

She looked up, tears in her eyes as Jack grazed the side of her face with his free hand, before he knew what he'd done, he'd kissed her, taking Jo by surprise. He pulled back, to see Jo smiling back at him.

"I'm sorry." He said.

"No, I needed that…to know someone is there for me."

"So many are there for you, even if it's not June okay?"

"Will you stay with me tonight?"

Jack saw such a vulnerability in Jo in that moment that he found himself agreeing to stay.

"Of course I will, for as long as you need me. Come here."

Jo's head found Jack's shoulder again, just lying together as Jack listened to her soft breathing.

…

To Be Continued…