Respite

Sandra stepped out of the lift as Gerry followed her, both headed towards the Intensive Care Unit where Ted was still being cared for. Gerry smiled slightly as he thought about their exchange in the lift. He had known Sandra for years, and knew when to push her. It seemed that the time had passed as they rounded the corner.

"SANDRA." A decidedly female voice called out. Sandra smiled as she was suddenly pulled into the arms of a much younger woman. She hugged her back as Gerry realised who the dark haired girl was.

"Kelly Anne Case."

"Hi." She hugged Gerry as Sandra stepped back. "Are you both ok?"

Sandra nodded. "Pat, your Dad?"

"Pat called me. I was due annual leave anyway, so I took it and some compassionate leave. I ain't gonna go back to work until I know they are both ok." She sighed as Sandra smiled.

"Where is Pat?"

"Getting some tea. He is dead on his feet."

Sandra nodded, she knew the effect worrying and guilt was having on her friend. Pat was a good man. There was no way he was going to be anywhere that at Ted's bedside unless he was physically dragged away. She guessed Kelly had probably done that.

"You?"

"Shocked, upset that one of our lot is in 'ere." Gerry answered. "He's a good bloke, your dad. Doesn't deserve none of this."

"I know." Kelly folded her arms as they headed to the waiting room a few doors away from the Intensive Care Unit.

"Bloody Hate Crimes." Gerry shook his head.

"What? As opposed to the I really love you crimes?" Kelly answered as Sandra smirked. "In 2020 in London, outside one of the most well known Restaurants in London? An attack on two older men holding hands? Really?" She shook her head, knowing that she was one of the few people who knew her father well enough.

"Homophobic attacks have risen in London over the last couple of years." Sandra sat opposite her. "It is a possibility his sexuality was the trigger for these scumbags to do this."

Kelly pulled her black cardigan closer to her. She felt sick at the thought of how much she wanted to spend a few minutes alone with the people responsible for her Dad being in hospital. She ran a hand through her hair as she watched her father's friends for a moment.

"Dad has always been open about who he is." She stared off into space. "Him and my mum, having me was a last ditch attempt for them to be straight in many ways. To seem normal whatever the fuck that was in the late 1980s. You know my Mum is a lesbian? She wanted a baby and her best friend is my dad, so." She shrugged. "They had me. Of course Mum has been with Marie since I was a baby and Dad and Pat are together. You see my old man as a quiet, by the book copper."

"He is, that's one reason we approached him for UCOS."

Kelly nodded. "And there are many people over the years who have mistaken my Dad's sexuality, his calmness and gentle ways for weakness. He isn't. He would never have survived in the police all these years, especially when gay officers were taboo if he had been a weak man. No, my Dad is the strongest man I have ever met."

Sandra squeezed her hand as Gerry smiled slightly. He wondered if his girls would say the same about him.

"Have you called your Mum? Barbara, isn't it?"

"Her and Marie are on holiday. In South Africa. Even with contacts out there, which I don't have it would be a nightmare to get to her." She looked at her hands for a moment. "Pat should be back. I don't like him on his own too long."

"Why?" Sandra appraised her. "You worried?"

"Yeah, actually I am."

"Who would want to hurt Ted? You think you know?" Gerry paused. Kelly closed her eyes. "That's why you ain't called your Mum. You think it would put her in danger too."

"It could and I am not risking it." She paused. "Look, when I was at home last, I stayed with my Dads yeah. He was acting weird. I heard him on the phone one night. He told me I was being daft. That the job was getting to me. But it isn't. He was being threatened."

"He didn't tell us."

"Because, knowing him he didn't take it seriously." Gerry huffed as Sandra shrugged. Kelly sighed.

"No, if e didn't tell you then I think it was to protect you. He was taking it seriously." She paused. "Someone intended to hurt my father. Not because he's gay but because of something else in his past." She got to her feet at the same time Sandra and Gerry did. "I need to see Pat."

"Of course." Sandra ushered her out of the room knowing that she was going to have to talk to the MIU team. Something from Ted's background had come back to haunt him, she just had to find out what.

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