Frenemies

Jack pushed his glasses further up his nose as he read the reports on his desk. Ted was an experienced copper with an excellent record. He shook his head, knowing the affable cockney was easy to like and had never really had any trouble making friends. He shook his head as Clarkey placed a mug of tea on the edge of his desk.

"Thanks Son." He looked up. "Or should I say Sir?"

"Jack, I only made Sargeant. Not the head of the Met." The younger man smiled slightly. Jack nodded.

"I know, but it is an achievement and one you should be proud of. You're a good copper, don't forget that." He drank his tea. "Plus, our Brian has you marked for Commissioner. And you know what he's like."

Clarkey nodded, remembering a conversation with the older man years earlier. He knew the start UCOS had given him had helped him become the officer he was. "I came to see if I can help."

"You have. I needed that tea."

"Jack."

"What is it?" He looked as the younger man shuffled his feet slightly. "Do you know something?"

"No. Well, I don't have evidence. More a theory but you have such a big team now that its probably been covered. I mean, even Emily doesn't come down here much now. I just. Ted is a good bloke."

"Yes, yes he is."

"Did you know he gave me a reference for the CID exams? For my DS post?"

"No." Jack smiled slightly. "E never said. I'm glad though. You never worked with him? Did you?"

Clarkey smiled slightly, staring into his own mug of tea. "For about ten minutes before he retired and ended up working here. You know I worked on Sasha's shooting. Gerry already told Ted, just about half his team were on the take, back in the day. All I am saying is."

"You think a copper or ex-copper did this?" Brian stated as he joined them. "One of the ones Ted turned over to Internal Affairs as it was then. Independent Police Complaints now."

"I don't know. Its a theory. I know people were not happy that he was coming back to the force." Clarkey sighed. "Look, if I hear anything then I will tell you."

"No son." Brian shook his head. "I mean, Sarge. You tell DS Brooks and the others in MIU. We aren't allowed to intervene. Its not our case. Too new, too close to home." Brian rolled his eyes as he threw his woolly hat on the desk. Clarkey shrugged.

"I'll leave you to it." He slipped out of the office as Brian and Jack both knew he had just brought them a lot more work than they had been expecting.

xxxxxxxxxxx

"So?" Gerry closed the door to his beloved car as Sandra glared at him. "Don't slam the door."

"Oh for God's sake." She huffed as she headed towards the hospital entrance. "Izzy really thinks this is a planned attack made to look like a homophobic attack." She waited as Gerry fell into step beside her. Gerry nodded.

"That's what Jack said."

"So, if it is related to one of his old cases then the case is as much ours as MIU." She reasoned as they waited for the hospital lift to reach the ground floor. She pressed the button again as Gerry shrugged.

"I 'ate that term. Homophobic."

Sandra raised an eyebrow.

"I mean, its not a fear is it? Not like being phobic of heights or spiders. Its just a word to describe being a complete arsehole to others because you think you are better than them. Don't look at me like that. I know I am just an old dinosaur but I never understood it. If you're an adult and not hurting anyone else why should it bother anyone 'o you fall for? Man or woman? But then, I'm just an old dinosaur." He shook his head sadly. Sandra' lip curled slightly as she considered his words.

"Yeah, but you're my old dinosaur."

Gerry smiled slightly as they entered the lift. Sandra finally admitting they were more than just colleagues and mates was one thing, her referring to him as 'hers' in any context was new. He kept his hands in his pockets as she shot him a quizzical look as they entered the lift.

"What?"

"I'm your dinosaur. Your."

"Oh shut up, Gerry." She rolled her eyes as Gerry rocked back on his heels. "You know? Izzy may have something. Think about it. We assumed Ted took the worse beating because he tried to protect Pat, yeah?"

"Yeah. So?"

"So, what if Ted was the intended target after all?" She left the lift as Gerry hoped their friend was in more of a position to tell them what had happened that fateful night. He hated to think that there may have been a more calculated background to the attack but he had to admit there was a very real chance Sandra and Izzy were right.