2

Sandra had been silent for the thirty minute drive to the hospital, her mind focused on what Pat had told her. He had thought the police would have told her but then realised they probably hadn't thought to call Ted's boss. He had wanted her with him, knowing that her and Ted had become firm friends. She sighed heavily, knowing Ted was the only one on the team who knew how close she and Gerry had become. She knew Jack and Steve suspected it but the others had no interest and were caught up in their own troubles. She had told Esther but knew Brian would probably not have listened to his wife, deciding it wasn't his concern or that Esther hadn't wanted to worry him. Either way, nothing had been said at work, other than Ted squeezing her hand and whispering 'about bloody time' when he had found out. She knew he was happy for them. The thought someone had hurt her friends made her want to be physically sick.

"Sandra."

"Um?"

"What did Pat say?"

Sandra sighed. "Ted came off worse. Head injury apparently, was knocked out for a few minutes. Punched in the head."

"Bloody Hell."

"Pat has sore ribs and a few bruises."

"Why them?"

"It was outside the George and Fox. On Oldham Street."

"Its a quiet pub. Nothing much happens there."

"Not usually." Sandra agreed. "MIU are taking the case. Matt Devlin has already taken Pat's statement."

"Good. Nat Chandler's team are shit hot. They'll catch the bastard." Gerry couldn't help the anger that built up in him. He liked Pat and Ted but knew there was no way UCOS would be able to take the case. He knew his friends in MIU would throw everything at it. A copper was injured. Didn't matter what unit they were in or if they were technically no longer a copper. One of their own had been assaulted and left for dead. It wouldn't go unsolved and he knew he could trust his old friends to work the case while he concentrated on being a mate.

"Seems it was a homophobic attack." Sandra felt the anger build. "Ted's daughter, Kelly is on the way home from Paris. Pat wouldn't call her if it wasn't serious."

"True." Gerry pushed his foot to the accelerator, hoping they were being unnecessarily pessimistic.

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"Hi." Pat got to his feet as Sandra walked towards him. A moment later she was hugging the older man tightly as he buried his head in her shoulder. Gerry shoved his hands in his pockets, embarrassed by the show of emotion. He looked over to see two detectives he knew from MIU chatting quietly. Leaving Pat and Sandra he headed over to them, determined to find out what they knew. Sandra sat next to Pat, still holding his hand.

"Sorry I called you so late."

"Don't be." She smiled slightly.

"Gerry already with you?"

"Yeah." She sighed. "Doesn't matter now. What happened?"

"We had been out for the evening. You know? A nice meal, bit of wine and back home ready for the late news. He didn't want to be out late, not with this case you and the others are working on. Don't worry. He's not told me much. Just that it is a big complicated mess."

Sandra shrugged slightly. "Its what we specialise in. Big, messy and old cases."

"Yeah" Pat looked at his feet. His breath caught as he realised his shoes were stained in blood. "Oh God."

"You were in the George and Fox?"

"Yeah. Well, just outside. We were looking for a taxi. 'ad a drink see, no way either of us were going to drive. Some lads saw us. Took offence to us holding hands. Its 2020. I thought we were passed that. Especially the younger generation. I told your man there all this." He nodded to where Gerry was talking to Ronnie Brooks. "I thought this would have ended by now. Took a fair bit of crap in my younger days. So did Ted. Especially back when gay coppers were seen as the lowest of the low."

"Its not like that now."

"I know. I know. Not in the circles we move in. You lot are family. I mean, UCOS."

"What happened?"

"I was pushed forwards. I heard some lad swear at us, turned and two lads were kicking and punching Ted. Some young girl. Couldn't have been older than our Kelly screamed. The lads ran off. We got 'ere about half hour before I called you. Ted was unconscious when I got to him. He's not woken up." Pat closed his eyes. "What if?"

"Hey." Sandra squeezed his hand. "Don't."

"He's worked for Trident, Vice, Anti-terrorism. You name it, he's had some of the toughest jobs in the Met and now. This is how he ends up on a ventilator?" He ran a hand over his face. "I don't know what I'll do if. If." He closed his eyes as Gerry joined them. The Doctor was a few steps behind.

"Hi. Are you Edward Case's family?"

"Yes." Gerry stated firmly. "Pat's 'is 'usband. Me and Sandra are friends."

"Ok." The doctor ushered them into the family room a few feet away. "You know Edward."

"Ted." Sandra paused. "He likes to be called Ted."

The doctor nodded and smiled.

"Ted."

"What is it, Doc?" Gerry watched the colour drain from Pat's face/

"He's just got back from his CT scan. We did a brain scan as he was unconscious from the moment he was assaulted. Its what we call a Bastion Trauma CT so basically we scan him top toe, back to front."

"And?" Sandra knew the younger woman was stalling, trying to find the right way to word it.

"I was a nurse." Pat sighed, "When I was younger. I was a nurse on a neurosurgical ward."

"Right. Well." The doctor frowned. "Ted has a bleed on his brain and a depressed skull fracture. The bleeding from his ear was concerning when he arrived. His neck and spine seem to be ok but we have had to pop a chest drain into his left lung as a broken rib had punctured it. He's stable and we are going to transfer him to the intensive care ward shortly."

"Can I see him?" Pat watched as the young woman nodded.

"Follow me."

Sandra ushered him out of the room as Gerry patted his shoulder. A moment later they were alone. Sandra blinked back a tear as Gerry stepped towards her, for once silent.

"I'll have to call Sasha and the others."

Sandra swallowed hard as she tried not to cry. The anger that her friends had been attacked giving way to worry. She turned her head, determined to get herself back into 'guv' mode but before she could get herself in check Gerry had pulled her into his arms as they thought about their friend.

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Blink and you miss it crossover with Law and Order Uk. I don't own that either but I do write fanfic for it. Would love it if you read them too x