A/N: So here we are at the beginning on Season 7. Let's see where Robbie and Laura take us...
"I'm always dubious when the next-of-kin calls come through," Laura mused, phone wedged against her ear as she dealt with her emails. She heard Robbie sigh at the other end of the phone. "And at least one of my staff would like to know why I'm Inspector Lewis' next of kin," Laura continued wryly and she smiled as Robbie chuckled. "Sorry, love. Just protocol. I'm fine, promise, though Jim is rubbing his neck which makes me think he probably isn't…" he said softly and Laura smiled. "I love you, Laura," he murmured and Laura's smile broadened. "Love you too. Catch you later," she replied. As he ended the call, Robbie turned to see James strolling back towards him. "Might as well walk back to the station, eh?" he muted and James nodded and then pulled a face. "You should see someone about that," Robbie suggested and James heaved a sigh. "I'm sure it'll be fine," he replied wearily. "Fancy a spot of lunch before we head in?" Robbie asked and James considered his watch. "Yeah, go on," he said, rubbing his neck and wincing. They walked back towards the station, before stopping off at the sandwich bar that they and most of CID favoured for a spot of lunch.
"Well," Laura pronounced, standing up as Robbie wandered onto the scene, glancing around him. "He hasn't been shot strangled, stabbed, beaten, bludgeoned or had his neck broken." Robbie met her gaze steadily. "If we're listing all the things that haven't happened to him, are we including that he hasn't been struck by lightening or savaged by wolves" he enquired dryly. Laura looked irked. "Robbie, do I stand in your office saying "have you caught them yet?" she rebuked, as James appeared behind Robbie. "What is it about those eyes?" Robbie asked, unable to tear his gaze away from the corpse, as Laura moved away. James made a funny sort of grimace, recalling the shunt from earlier."Strong painkillers, warm bath," Robbie suggested as James rubbed his neck. "That's Robbie sorted," Laura muted, amused "how about you?" She smiled broadly at the pair, as she sealed a swab inside the test tube. "The witness identified him as Randolph James, but he's Reuben Beattie on his debit card,"James told Robbie, who frowned. "So he's leading a double life?" Robbie muted and Laura arched her eyebrow just the tiniest amount, amused. "Randolph James is a practising clairvoyant," James explained. "He looks like he's seen a ghost," Robbie replied, his gaze falling back on the body and Laura glanced at him, tutted, and then reached for the next test according to her protocol.
Laura was waiting for James and Robbie when they came into the pub much later that afternoon, a glass on the table in front of her as she considered the rain running down the window pane, meandering in rivets, lost in thought. James came and sat down beside her, visibly grumpy and Laura frowned in concern when she saw his neck brace. "Oh James," she said reprovingly and he raised an eyebrow at her, as though daring her to comment further. "I much prefer it when you're the station doctor," he muttered and Laura smiled to herself. "I see," she replied, knowing full well that she was never officially the station doctor and anyone coming to see her was avoiding whichever erstwhile colleague was rostered in that day. "No lasting damage, eh, Jim?" Laura asked kindly and he grimaced. "Cricked my neck when that Landrover shunted us," James explained, a certain tone of annoyance in his voice. "I still can't quite believe you managed to be rear ended on that street of all places in Oxford. It's normally gridlocked. I'm agog anyone managed to build up so much speed!" Laura observed as Robbie set his and James' pints down on the table. "James' rear bumper is testament to the fact that it is not only possible, but possible with some significant force," Robbie said cheerfully. "And your neck's alright?" Laura enquired briskly. Robbie nodded. "Ay, fine," he replied, sipping his pint. "You're not just saying that to placate me?" Laura asked and James snorted in derision, amused. "Would I ever?" Robbie said and Laura arched an eyebrow at him before sighing. "It's turned into such a filthy evening," Laura lamented, casting her gaze to the window again. "I walked into work this morning and it was beautiful," she continued wistfully. "Not exactly picturesque now, eh?" Robbie observed and Laura sighed, before sipping her drink.
Truth be told, Laura had been relieved to get to the pub first. It had ensured she'd been able to order herself a tonic water without raising any suspicion. James might tease her mercilessly but she knew Robbie would quickly question why she wasn't drinking. Laura was almost always up for a post-shift G&T, unless she was on call, in which case she simply wouldn't come to the pub at all. And while Laura was being cautious, she was currently lacking specific proof. Well, Laura mused to herself, that wasn't quite true. Her chest ached, and had done for days. And, much to her surprise, almost all her bras had stopped fitting. She was shattered, emotional and hormonal, and absolutely desperate not to appear to be any of these things until she was completely sure. At least, she considered, at least she wasn't nauseous. In her line of work, it was simply unforgivable and Laura was hoping that they would get through the summer without too many badly decomposing bodies in need of her attentions. At some point, Laura knew she was going to have to cave, take a pregnancy test, but for now, she just didn't dare, couldn't bring herself to be disappointed if it turned out that she wasn't pregnant. God, Laura, she chided herself inwardly, you are overthinking this to an extreme degree. Get a grip, woman. James frowned and nudged Robbie. "I think we've lost Dr. Hobson," he noted gravely and Robbie considered his partner. Laura's gaze was fixed at some undecided point in the distance, and she was clearly completely lost in thought. "We really have, haven't we?" he replied, sipping his pint and James chuckled to himself. "Has she had a bad week, do you suppose?" he wondered aloud and Robbie shrugged. "Not such as I know," he replied thoughtfully "but I'm hardly privy to the ins and outs of her diary, so who knows." James scoffed slightly, for he knew that Hobson and Lewis were close, although both of them seemed inclined to play it down. "Well," James said decisively "she's certainly in a world of her own tonight, whatever's going on." Robbie glanced at Laura, amused by her daydreaming. "She really is, isn't she?" he said " Laura? Laura. We've lost you, pet." Laura started slightly, and then smiled at them apologetically. "Sorry," she said and they smiled at her. "You were miles away. Bad week?" Robbie enquired kindly and Laura ran her hand through her hair. "Yeah, something like that," Laura said and James flashed her a sympathetic smile.
Sometime later, after he had drained his pint, James set the glass down on the table and tucked his wallet back into his pocket. "Right," he said decisively "time I made a move. I'll see you first thing, Dr. Hobson?" Laura sighed and considered him. "For goodness sake, Jim. How many times do I have to tell you to call me Laura?" she replied, arching an eyebrow at him. James laughed, stooped to kiss her cheek affectionately and then raised a hand to Robbie before making his way through the pub and out into the evening drizzle. Robbie shifted himself to sit next to Laura, slipping an arm around her shoulders and pressing a loving kiss to her temple. "You alright?" he murmured, and Laura nodded. "Fancy some dinner at mine?" he enquired and Laura nodded again. "Yes please," she said and Robbie smiled. "Reckon I can run to a bit of pasta and sauce, if that suits?" he offered and Laura smiled. "That'd be lovely," she said quietly. "Shall we finish our drinks, and make a move?" Robbie suggested and Laura nodded. Robbie drained his pint, glanced at Laura's empty glass and stood up, holding his hand out to Laura. "Come on then, love," he said cheerfully and Laura stood up, picking up her briefcase and shrugged on her mac. They strolled back into towards the station to collect Robbie's car, arm in arm, a comfortable silence sat between them.
As he drove them back towards his flat, Robbie filled Laura in on how the case was proceeding, as far as he could. "So he was masquerading as a medium?" Laura said and Robbie nodded. "Aye," he replied and Laura looked astonished. "Goodness. It seems a very strange route to choose. Why on earth did he do that?" she asked and Robbie considered his answer. "It's not entirely clear. Maybe a way to explore his academic work further? Maybe a side line to make a bit on the side? I dunno…" he said, at length and Laura thought about this a bit. "I've never even considered seeing a medium," she said thoughtfully "did you? When Val died?" Robbie frowned, and then indicated to turn onto the road that led to his flat. "No, I can't say that I ever did. I've never really believed in a spirit world, which in some ways makes it harder. For the end, to be the end. It's not easy," Robbie replied and Laura nodded. "You and I have talked about grief and grieving a lot," she mused and Robbie glanced at her, flashing her a brief smile. "We have, haven't we?" he replied warmly "I don't know what I would have done without your quiet counsel and kind words over the years." Laura bit her lip, half smiling. "It's not for me, this medium malarky, but like I said to Jean, if believing in the spirit world gets them through, who are we to knock it?" Robbie voiced, and Laura met his glance in her direction. "Each to their own," she said softly and he nodded. "Aye," he replied, parking up outside his flat, and pulling the handbrake on. Robbie shut the engine off, and looked over at Laura. She met his gaze levelly, and he smiled sadly at her. "They met at a fresher's ball, got engaged six days later. Whenever they weren't together, they were incomplete, that's what his wife said. I mean, geez, Laura, they are so young. Barely in their early twenties, and she's widowed with a little one. Hardly bears thinking about…" Robbie said and Laura swallowed hard, blinking back a tear. Laura nodded. "They told me she was very upset at the identification," she replied and Robbie grimaced. "Never gets easier," he said, slightly gruffly and Laura squeezed his knee affectionately. "Your humanity and empathy make you a good copper, Robbie Lewis," she reminded him and he leant in to press a kiss to her cheek in response.
Laura had just smoothed down the cloth over the corpse as the door swung open and James and Robbie strolled into the mortuary. "Apologies for the delay, gentleman," she said as Robbie rounded the corner. "It took some time to find," she explained "if you screw your eyes up really tight, you'll see a tiny puncture wound." Laura gestured to the site, and the two men peered at the shoulder of the corpse. "Looks like a bite," James proffered. "8mm hypodermic needle," Laura corrected. "Delivering what?" Robbie asked, considering Laura. "An extremely powerful paralysing agent called M99. The pharmaceutical name is etorphin. It's a controlled substance, strictly for use on large mammals," Laura replied. "Etorphin's a sedative. He didn't seem very sedated when he died," James remarked. "That's because, first of all, he was fed barbiturates," Laura replied, a certain glint in her eye. "How?" asked James. "A piece of cake," Laura replied, and Robbie looked amused. "For you maybe," he replied, fully aware of exactly how brilliant his future wife was. "He was fed a piece of cake, soaked in barbiturate," Laura replied steadily, just slightly raising her eyebrow at Robbie. "But surely the barbiturate would have eventually stopped him breathing. Why two drugs if you wanted him dead?" James asked. Laura began to undo her plastic apron, and she made her way over towards the other side of the mortuary, behind James. "Barbiturates operate in three broad stages: sedation stage, unconsciousness," Laura tossed the apron into the medical waste bin before glancing over her shoulder and fixing them with a steady look "and death." She came back over to them. "Based on his weight and height, I've calculated that he was only given enough barbiturate to sedate him," Laura continued. "So the murderer wanted him woozy, but not completely out of it?" Robbie asked. "Yeah", Laura replied "and some time after, injected him with a lethal dose of etorphin." Robbie frowned. "But like James said, why not just finish the job with a lethal dose of barbiturate?" he asked. "Because that would involve a complete loss of control and a lot of wild thrashing about," Laura said "could be messy, could be noisy." She shrugged her shoulders slightly, knowing it wasn't really her place to make suppositions about motive. "Attract unwanted attention" James mused. "Whereas a massive dose of etorphin would shut down respiration in a matter of seconds," Laura explained. "Mmm, " Robbie said thoughtfully "it explains the look on his face if he was conscious enough to know what was happening to him, but unable to stop it." He wouldn't have suffered any physical pain. On that front his murder was as considered as the most compassionate form of euthanasia," Laura muted thoughtfully, and Robbie glanced at her, as though surprised at her statement.
"Oh god," Laura said "so you and James were there?" Robbie nodded curtly. "She died in front of us, in James' arms, more or less though I'm making it sound more romantic and less horrific than it actually was" he said, still clearly aghast and Laura squeezed his leg. "We had to give statements and so on, you know how it is," Robbie continued wearily. "That can't have been the easiest end to the day," Laura muted, nudging her toes under Robbie's thigh as they sat in her garden, glasses in hand in the early evening sunshine. "Murder cases are rarely easy," Robbie replied dryly and Laura rolled her eyes at him. "That isn't what I meant and you know it," Laura chided and Robbie squeezed her shin. "Quite a lot of discussion about grief, and how one deals with it," Laura continued knowingly and Robbie glanced at her. "Life goes on, Laura," he reminded her and she smiled at him. "I know, sweetheart," she replied softly and Robbie reached for her free hand, lacing their fingers together and squeezing them. "Anyway, one mad cat lady is quite enough for one case," Robbie mused and Laura laughed. "Yes, that does sound like quite something," she retorted, swirling her drink in her glass. Robbie considered her for a moment. "You didn't fancy a glass of wine?" he enquired, surprised and Laura considered her glass. "No," she said slowly and Robbie considered her, a frown beginning to crease his brow. "No?" Robbie asked and Laura shook her head. "Are you….?" he trailed off, watching her carefully, and Laura considered her drink again before looking at him. "I don't know," she replied honestly and Robbie squeezed her fingers. "Don't know, but not drinking just in case," he mused and Laura shook her head. "I'm being absurd, I know," she owned and Robbie allowed a silence to sit between them, knowing that it was the most likely way to get Laura to talk. After a while, Robbie squeezed her fingers. "There is an easy way to remedy this quandry," he reminded her and Laura sighed. "Love," he murmured and she met his gaze. "Go on," he said encouragingly and Laura sighed heavily. "What if…?" she began, and Robbie squeezed her fingers again. "If you're not, you're not. And we can talk about what that means and what we do next. But I don't think we'd be having this conversation if you weren't already pretty sure," he said kindly and Laura sighed. "I didn't want to bring this up in the middle of a case," she lamented, and Robbie scoffed. "Bugger the case," he retorted fervently "this is far more important!"
Laura's hands were shaking. There was no way around it. Properly shaking. She breathed in deeply and sat back against the bath, wondering what she should do next. "Laura?" Robbie's voice drifted up the stairs and she exhaled softly. "I'm up here," she replied, standing up and heading out onto the landing. "You alright?" Robbie asked, offering her a cup of herbal tea and Laura shook her head, before handing him something. Robbie frowned, and looked at what she'd given him, before putting the cup down on the side of the sink. "I can't look," Laura said frankly and Robbie chuckled, drawing her close and kissing her forehead. Laura nestled herself in his arms and he wrapped an arm around her shoulders, holding her close. "You want me to look?" he asked and Laura nodded. "You are funny," Robbie told her and Laura murmured something. "Come here," he soothed and Laura leant into him. "Laura," Robbie said softly and she glanced at what he was holding. "It looks to me, my love, that you are pregnant," he told her and a funny noise burbled up in Laura's throat, somewhere between a laugh and a sob. "I think you knew that already," he observed, smiling as Laura slid her arms around his waist. He smiled broadly at her. "We are having a baby, my love," he said and Laura nodded, suddenly finding herself tearful. "So it would seem," she said, her voice cracking and he cuddled her close, resting his chin on the top of her head and holding her tight in his arms. Later in bed, Robbie asleep at her side, Laura lay still, mulling over her day. She'd known what the tests would say, even before she'd taken them. Her body had defied her belief that perhaps this might not happen. It was a conviction she'd clung to in a funny sort of way, lest she be disappointed. But now, lying here, knowing that they'd managed to conceive, Laura felt she wasn't fully in control of her emotions. If she was honest, she'd suspected for a couple of weeks now, putting off the test until she absolutely had to. Her figure was already changing, she could tell and she allowed her palm to rest over her pelvis. Her medical training was telling her that she couldn't possibly be showing yet - a first pregnancy not even through the first trimester, but something compelled her. There was a sort of giddy elation beginning to seep through her, and she smoothed her hand over her belly self-consciously. Sometimes Laura thought she might just need to take some time for her brain to catch up, and she was desperately hoping this would all work out. Getting pregnant was one thing, but carrying the baby safely to term was quite another. She inhaled softly and Robbie slid his hand over her stomach softly. "Stop lying awake worrying. You've got a PM in the morning, and you'll want to be rested for that," he chided gently, kissing her shoulder. Laura turned her head and kissed his forehead. "Probably never going to happen," she replied and he laughed, linking his fingers with hers and resting them on her stomach. "It's going to be alright," he murmured, and Laura sighed. "I hope so," she said quietly.
"If you look in the centre of the bruising," Laura explained, pointing to the spot "you'll see a tiny hole which may seem familiar?" Laura glanced up at him. "The same as the one on Reuben Beatty's arm," Robbie replied and Laura nodded. "Someone just banged into her," Robbie said and Laura looked up at him. "Next thing she's on the ground," Robbie continued, stepping away from the body "figure in a hoody ran off, got away." Laura glanced up at him. "Man or woman?" she asked. "No idea," Robbie said "light on their feet, I'll give them that," "And injected the same drug, etorphin," Laura observed, turning as James loomed into view. "I heard you were with her when she died?" Laura asked, looking straight at James "that's rough, I'm sorry." James nodded curtly. "Yeah. Etorphin, we've had a result back from our enquiries. Grassington Equine Centre have reported a theft," he said, before turning and heading out of the room. Robbie and Laura exchanged a sympathetic look, before he followed James out of the mortuary, leaving Laura to cover the corpse back over.
"Is he alright?" Laura asked, over the phone later that evening, long after she had left the mortuary while Robbie and James lingered on in the office, pouring over their notes and files, keen to try and put the pieces of this puzzle together. Robbie considered James' desk, mercifully empty as the lad had gone out to acquire them something pertaining to dinner, allowing Robbie to call Laura briefly. "I dunno. He's talking the talk, but he doesn't quite seem himself. He's weary and you know how he gets," Robbie replied and Laura arched an eyebrow. "Mmm, yes. I do indeed. I suppose this means you don't know when I'll see you next?" she countered and Robbie chuckled. "Not a clue," he replied warmly "this'll be a late one, but maybe we might wrap it up before the end of the week? I promise I'll buy you dinner soon, make up for being at work so much this week." Laura laughed. "Sweetheart, I knew what I was signing up for," she said, amused and Robbie grinned to himself. "I miss you," he said and Laura smiled in return. "Give me a call when you head home, however late it is. I love you," she told him and he grinned. "I love you too," he replied, ending the call as James appeared on the other side of CID.
The following day, after James and Robbie had eaten their lunch in the sunshine, recovering from their near miss in the covered markets, James cried off and headed back to the office to finish off some paperwork. As James rounded the corner, Robbie fished his phone from his jacket pocket and hit the preset he had for Laura. The phone rang a couple of times before Laura answered. "Hobson," she said crisply and Robbie smiled. "Hiya," he said and Laura sighed. "You are going to be the death of me, Robbie Lewis," she rebuked gently and Robbie laughed. "I'm sorry. I didn't realise they were going to put out a next of kin alert. And I certainly didn't realise they were going to phone the lab!" he said and Laura sighed again. "I'm sorry pet," Robbie said softly "have ye had your lunch?" Laura considered the clock. "I haven't, and I need to run out and get a sandwich," she said thoughtfully. "I could meet you on the bridge if you wanted to stretch your legs?" Robbie suggested and Laura smiled to herself. "Yeah, go on then. I'll see you in ten?" she replied. "Grand," Robbie said cheerfully "see you soon." Robbie packed up the remnants of his sandwich, disposed of it neatly and strolled casually over towards the banks of the river where he and Laura sometimes indulged in a lunchtime stroll. It was a pleasant enough day, he mused and it would be nice to see Laura. He'd not seen her since the day before and he'd missed her. A late night stint in the office, trawling lists, and then an early start to steer the raid on the Dukka residence meant he'd barely managed six hours sleep in his own bed, cold and exhausted. As he turned the corner towards the riverbank, he saw Laura strolling briskly towards him from the opposite direction.
As she approached him, Laura smiled, relieved to see for herself that he was in one piece. "Hello," Robbie said warmly and Laura's smile broadened. "Hello yourself," she replied softly, and he ducked to kiss her cheek affectionately. Their gaze met for a moment, and Robbie smiled at her. "Sorry," he said and Laura sighed heavily. "You'll turn me grey, Robbie Lewis," she chided and he tucked his arm around her shoulder, drawing her close, before pressing a gently kiss to her temple. "James definitely had it worse," he muted and Laura nodded. "Poor James, he really has had a rough few days," Laura said sympathetically and Robbie nodded. "And it can't have been much fun for you either," she continued and Robbie considered her. "Well, work hasn't been thrilling, exactly," he said wearily, shifting his hold so that he could draw her back against his chest. "I'll say, two next of kin alerts within a week," Laura chastised affectionately and Robbie sighed. "James badly needs a break," Robbie observed and Laura nodded. "He's going to take some holiday, I think" Robbie continued, slouching so that he could rest his chin on Laura's shoulder and press a kiss to her cheek. "Mmm, holiday, now there's a thought," Laura mused and Robbie slid his hands around her waist, resting his fingertips over her pelvis. Laura glanced down and smiled to herself. "I had much nicer things to think about at idle moments," Robbie observed, and Laura allowed her hands to rest over his. "You could probably do with a break too," Laura muted and Robbie smiled. "We could both do with some holiday, I'd hazard," he replied warmly and Laura huffed out a breath. "You and James?" she enquired lightly and Robbie fanned his fingers over her abdomen. "James, and you and me," he murmured "but probably not the three of us together, if it's all the same to you. Besides, I think he's got plans with some mates." The three of us. The phrase sparked a reaction in Laura and she closed her eyes, inhaled quietly as the thought overwhelmed her somewhat. "You alright love?" Robbie asked, perplexed by her response and Laura nodded, glancing down to where their hands were resting. "The three of us," she murmured and Robbie grasped her meaning. He grinned broadly. "The very thought," he murmured against her ear "has been making me smile all week, my love."