"Morning, sir," Steve said into his phone. "Sorry for the early morning call and late notice but neither me or Kate will be in today,". He'd just woken up and Kate was still fast asleep on the sofa where he'd left her in the early hours of the morning, not wanting to disturb her before he went to bed.

"Is everything ok?" Ted asked. Both the officers had been on top form when he'd seen them the day before.

"It's Kate," Steve admitted, hoping she would forgive him for betraying her confidence. "She found her husband being unfaithful when she got home last night. Appeared at mine in a bit of a state. She's not really in the right frame of mind for work,".

"Of course," Ted agreed.

"I'm going with her to help collect some of her belongings from the house today," Steve revealed. They had chatted into the early hours of the morning about Kate's situation and how she moved forward.


"Can you forgive him?" Steve had asked, asking the most important question first.

"I don't think so," Kate had admitted. "You think I'm being harsh?" She asked when she had seen Steve react to her first comment.

"No. Not at all," Steve replied. He honestly had no idea how he would react in the same situation.

"Could you forgive your wife if she cheated on you?".

"I don't know," Steve admitted.

"It might be different if it was a one night stand. A drunken mistake or something. I might be able to forgive that," Kate had revealed. "But this wasn't that. They have done it more than once, I can tell. That's not a mistake is it? You keep on doing something because you like it,".

"I guess," Steve had answered.

"You know what I keep thinking?" Kate had asked and Steve shook his head. "You'll probably think I'm bad but Jayne's husband must be really shit in bed," Kate had said, "because I'll be honest, sex with Mark was average at best," she revealed before laughing at Steve's uncomfortable look on his face. "Sorry," she said, apologising quickly.

"No it's fine," Steve had replied, wondering briefly how he would measure up if he ever were to succeed in starting a relationship with her. "So that means divorce then?".

"Yeah, I guess so," Kate agreed, realising what a big step she was about to take, but knowing it was the right thing for her to do.


"You look after her," Ted had commanded, bringing Steve back to the present, "and tell her to take as much time as she needs," he said sadly. Marriages in the force didn't have the best statistics. He should know. His own was hanging by a thread, not that he would ever disclose that fact being the private man that he was, and he was saddened to hear that Kate was experiencing the same situation.

"I will Sir," Steve promised as he hung up. He padded through to the kitchen, intent on making them both breakfast without disturbing Kate's slumber.

Despite Steve's best efforts, Kate woke to him pottering around the kitchen. "Smells good," she said, tightening the robe she was still wearing around her as she entered the kitchen. The lovely aroma of bacon was wafting out of the kitchen and Kate could see that Steve was in the middle of cooking a very big breakfast for the pair of them. "You can cook then?".

"I'm afraid breakfast is the limit of my cooking," Steve replied.

"It's more than Mark could do," Kate admitted, not caring that she was being harsh. He deserved it after what he had done. "Can I do anything to help?".

"You can set the table," Steve suggested. "I'm just about to dish up. Knives and forks are in there," he continued, indicating the drawer where they were located. Kate set about the task.

"Coffee?".

"Please," Kate replied and Steve set about making one from the coffee machine on the kitchen top. It was soon whirring into life. He appeared with the plates of food as Kate finished the table before quickly disappearing back in to the kitchen to retrieve their drinks before sitting down to eat.

"I phoned the gaffer," Steve announced after a little while. "Hope you don't mind. Told him we wouldn't be in today,".

"Was he ok about it?" Kate asked. "You don't have to come with me today if he isn't,".

"He's fine," Steve answered, "and I'm coming with you whether you want me there or not,".

"Thanks," Kate said gratefully. She really wasn't looking forward to going back to her house to collect her things as Mark was bound to be there. Having Steve there with her would be a great support.


It was a little later that Steve was pulling up in front of Kate's house where a pile of black plastic bags in the driveway was waiting for them.

"They better not be what I think they are," Kate said angrily as she got out the car, slamming the door behind her as she marched up to the bags. Grabbing one she opened it and looked inside. It was full of her clothes. The twat had got rid of all her stuff already! Reaching roughly into her trouser pocket she found her keys and went to the front door. She was going to have it out with Mark. How could he do this to her? She put the key in the lock but it wouldn't turn. She tried again with the same result. The bastard had changed the locks less than twelve hours after she had left. "Mark!" She shouted. She knew he was in the house. "What the hell do you think you are playing at?!" She hollered.

Watching from the car, Steve could see the commotion was causing a bit of a stir and neighbours curtains were twitching. He got out the car and headed over to Kate to try and get her to calm down. The last thing they needed was for a neighbour to call the police over the disturbance.

"Bastard's changed the locks!" Kate explained loudly. "I'm being thrown out my house and I'm not the one who was screwing around!" she continued at the same volume, directing the last comment to the person in the house.

"Kate!" Steve warned, as he placed a calming hand on her shoulder. "Let's just get your stuff in the car and head back to mine and try and find a solicitor for you to talk to tomorrow," he suggested. "All the shouting and fighting isn't really achieving anything,".

Kate reluctantly knew that Steve was right and together they started to load the bags in Steve's car. "Why did I leave? Should have thrown him out instead" Kate grumbled to Steve as they passed each other on the driveway. They were nearly done when Mark decided to put in an appearance which only succeeded in riling Kate up a bit more. "You'll be hearing from my solicitor," Kate informed him. "You might be able to stop me getting in to the house, but you can't stop me from seeing my son. I'm not the one who has broken their wedding vows,".

"And who's fault is that?" Mark asked. "If you hadn't been away from home with all your undercover work and been more present in this marriage, I would never had to look else where for company,".

"You can't keep blaming everything on my job, Mark,".

"Not sure why you're so upset anyway," Mark said.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Kate challenged as she stopped what she was doing.

"Looks like you've moved on as well,".

"What?".

"This guy," Mark said, indicating Steve who was hovering near his car, looking very uncomfortable.

Kate shook her head in disbelief before introducing the two men. "Mark, this is my new partner at work, Steve. Steve, this is my lovely husband who thinks we are sleeping together,".

"You're welcome to her, mate," Mark said casually to Steve.

Despite hating him, Kate couldn't help but feel hurt at Mark's words. That he could throw her away so easily after a couple of years of marriage and a child together. Steve could see his friend was wounded and thought about marching up to him and landing a well aimed punch into his face on her behalf, but thought better of it. "Just grow up, Mark. Just because you're shagging around, doesn't mean I am," she continued, "although if you think I am sleeping with Steve maybe I should do it. After all, you always think you are right about everything," she hurled at him. Mark shut the front door.

The bags were all in the car by now and Kate got in the car, joining Steve who was already in it. They set off in silence.

"You alright?" Steve asked after a while.

"Uh huh," was all Kate uttered in reply, sounding anything other than fine. Steve glanced at her and could see she was crying quietly. "I'm sorry you got brought into our argument," Kate apologised. "I shouldn't have said what I did,".

"Don't worry about it," Steve replied. "Already forgotten,". He didn't add that if she wanted to carry out her threat he would be a willing participant. She would probably deck him in her current state of mind.

"You don't know any good family lawyers do you?" Kate asked. "Think I'm going to need one,".

"Sorry," Steve answered.

"I'll get on to it when we get back to yours," Kate said, "and I need to find somewhere to live," she added, knowing she couldn't stay with Steve indefinitely.

"Don't worry about that," Steve mentioned. "I do have a spare bedroom that you can use until you find somewhere. It wouldn't have to be the sofa permanently,".

"You're sure?" Kate asked. "I don't want to impose,".

"You wouldn't be," Steve informed her. "It would help us get to know each other which could only be good for our working relationship. And you can show me around this city. Introduce me to all the good places," he suggested.

"Alright," Kate agreed after thinking about his suggestion, "but I will start looking for somewhere to rent this weekend,".