Chapter 3

…

Jack's eyes opened, his back protesting as he tried to sit up, stopping when he realised that Jo was still fast asleep on his shoulder, her arm lying over his chest. He could smell the coconut shampoo in her hair as he leaned in to her, breathing her in. She stirred beside him, slowly opening her eyes, looking up to see him watching her.

"Guv…"

"Jack, remember." He smiled.

"Yeah, sorry."

Jack sat up as Jo attempted the same action, his arm coming lower down her back as he helped her to straighten up. They sat side by side for a few moments before Jack finally spoke.

"I could use a coffee, you fancy one?" He asked.

"That sounds great, do you want me too…"

"Don't worry, you just relax."

…

Jo could hear the banging of cupboard doors as she waited for her coffee, finally giving in and making her way through. She stood in the doorway, her arms folded in front of her as she watched Jack search for something.

"Jack…everything okay in here?"

"Yeah, yeah I was just looking for the em…the teaspoons?"

"Drawer beside the sink." She smiled.

Jack turned back and went to the drawer to get the spoon as Jo came up beside him.

"Thanks for staying with me last night, I just didn't want to be on my own you know?"

Jack turned to her, his hand coming to her arm.

"You've been through a hell of a lot the past few months, nobody expects you to be okay."

"Jack…about what happened last night?"

"You don't have to say anything, it's fine."

"I don't want you to regret anything, because I don't."

Jack stopped stirring the coffee, placing the teaspoon down on the counter. He could almost swear he saw a slight shyness in Jo's expression when she spoke. He gently placed his hand around her waist before he leaned in and kissed her, Jo's own hand coming around his neck as she kissed him back. The doorbell rang out, causing a low groan from Jack.

"Who the hell can that be at this time in the bloody morning."

Jo laughed as she released herself from Jack's embrace.

"I'll go." She smiled. "You finish the coffee."

…

Jo made her way down the hallway, the doorbell going again.

"Yeah, I'm coming."

Jo opened the door, the smile on her face fading when she saw June standing in front of her.

"June?"

"Hi Jo."

"JO…WHO WAS IT?"

"It's June." She said as Jack came through.

"June, hi."

"Guv, look I can come back if you…"

"No don't be daft, I was just leaving."

"You were?" Jo asked surprised.

"Go on through, there's fresh coffee on the table."

Jo told June to go through before she turned back to Jack.

"You can't stay?" She asked worried.

"You and June need time alone to talk."

"I could do with the support."

"You always have my support, you know that but she feels awkward enough after staying away for so long. She doesn't want me here, making it even more uncomfortable for her. Call me when she goes. I have a few things to do at the station, I'll bring dinner later okay?"

Jo looked very apprehensive but agreed with him, he gave her a quick peck to the cheek before he left the house, Jo closing the door behind him. As she made her way back through to the front room, June was standing in front of the fireplace, looking as nervous as Jo was feeling.

"I didn't mean to interrupt anything with you and Meadows?"

"No, you didn't. He was just checking in on me."

"Right, probably something I should have done long before now myself."

"Take a seat."

June did as she asked, watching as Jo took a seat beside her, seeing the pain in her face as she tried to make herself comfortable.

"Are you in a lot of pain?"

"A little, the doctors said it would take a while before I was back to my old self."

"I'm sorry it's taken me so long to see you."

"Look June, let's not beat around the bush here. I won't sit here and pretend that I'm not angry with you."

"Yeah I know, believe me I'm angry at myself too. If it wasn't for me you never would have been in this situation and I…"

"I'm not talking about getting shot."

"Oh…but I thought you…"

"I meant about you avoiding me, I know why you have but I thought we were friends. I thought you'd be able to rise above the guilt and be there for me when I really needed you but you weren't. If it wasn't for Jack then I don't know what I'd be like right now. He was where you were supposed to be. He never left my bedside those first few weeks when they didn't know if I'd make it, and now he's here again, making sure I'm eating, resting. Doing all the things my best mate was supposed to be doing?"

"I'm sorry Jo, I really am. I wish I knew what to say but I…I'm sorry I shouldn't have come today."

June was on her feet, making her way out of the room when Jo yelled out.

"If you leave now June that's it, and any friendship we had over the years is finished. If you can't be here for me now, then we're done. If ever I needed you, it's now."

…

To Be Continued…