Well I can guarantee that this is my last post... of 2010! Lol. Just 45mins until the clock strikes midnight and another year is gone. Hopefully, 2011 will see less upheaval although I'm not holding my breath on that one. The good news is though that I seem to have (currently at least) found a nice balance between work and play which means I actually get time to write while my muse is willing to play.
Thanks to Sez01, A for Antechinus and iheartsergeantsmith for your reviews, very gratefully received and I'm glad you're enjoying the ride. I've got a few more chapters in the tank yet so even if I hit bumpier times, there's still 5 more chapters completed and ready to upload :) And never fear, there will be more Sam/Lorna interraction in the coming chapters - quite a bit more if my memory serves me correctly! Lol.
Hope you enjoy this chapter too. As always, I don't own 'em, I make no profit and I promise to play nicely with them. Onwards ever onwards. Happy New Year to you all and may 2011 prove to be everything you could wish it to be. Thanks for keeping reading.
"In what appear to have be co-ordinated raids which took place during the early hours of this morning, police have arrested a number of people in relation to an investigation into a child pornography and smuggling ring. Among those arrested were Shadow Education Secretary Phillip Hulme, soap actor Johnny Delphino, Solitary lead singer Tobias Muncastle, ex-Scotland international footballer Adam McKinley along with the Deputy Chief Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police and other high ranking police officers. It is the largest and most high profile raid ever conducted by police and involved the cooperation of forces up and down the country. The Metropolitan Police declined to comment on the fact that a number of their own officers had been arrested, stating that they were unable to discuss the particulars of any individuals being questioned as part of an ongoing investigation." Sam listened to the news bulletin on the portable television in Lorna's kitchen as she sipped her morning coffee before getting dressed and ready for work. The past fortnight had been intense and hectic since Lorna and herself had met with the IPCC. The investigation had been taken out of their hands and it was only Eric Marshall's continuing assurances that wheels were in motion behind the scenes that persuaded her it had not been brushed under the carpet once again. Eric had advised both herself and Lorna of the need for discretion, that all hints of an investigation had to be handled off the radar to prevent anyone from being tipped off until such a time as they were ready to make arrests. As such, the information had been turned over to MI5, the organisation's technological and legal reach far outstretching that of the Sun Hill Police Force's.
"They finally nailed the bastards then?" Lorna murmured as she wandered into the kitchen, newspaper in hand displaying a suitably sensationalistic headline regarding the arrests.
"It's a start at least though whether any charges will stick against them remains to be seen. I suppose this is where we really have to start watching our backs though now. I mean this last two weeks, it must have appeared that we were letting it go with our investigation having been consigned to the back burner in favour of the stabbing on the Cockcroft Estate but this…" Sam trailed off with a worried, pensive look, chewing nervously on her lower lip as the news report filled her silence.
"…total of thirty arrests were made, in various parts of the country, but mainly centred around London's boroughs, in connection with this investigation. It is believed to be linked to the recent disappearance of Dawid Podowski, whom has since been reunited with his family. We'll have more on this breaking story as details become available." The screen switched to the woman's co-anchor as the next story began; a new death of another soldier in war-raddled Afghanistan.
"Hopefully, with it being so high profile, anyone involved will go to ground rather than risk further scrutiny. We have to hope that having the IPCC on our side and with Jack knowing about our involvement, we will be protected to some extent. Have you heard from the station whether Heaton was picked up in the raids this morning?" Lorna enquired, entering Sam's personal space and sliding her arms around the shorter woman, who leant into the embrace and rested her head against the Scot's chest.
"No, but I'm due on shift in an hour so no doubt I'll find out sooner rather than later." Sam sighed as she allowed herself to relax in the arms of the woman who was coming to mean so much to her. "This feels so nice, so right, can't we just stay here and hide from the world?"
"As much as I would like nothing better than to keep you in my arms all day Sam, there are still criminals out there who need stopping and there's no one better to do that than you," Lorna murmured, dropping a tender kiss into Sam's hair and giving her a final squeeze before letting go and moving towards the coffee Sam had left for her on the breakfast bar. Sam was surprised at how Lorna's departure left her feeling, having to stop herself from following and reattaching herself to the other woman.
"Morning Mum. Hiya Sam," Katie called as she entered the kitchen, stifling a yawn as she flopped into a chair at the table.
"Morning love, did you sleep ok?" Lorna asked her daughter tenderly receiving a nod in reply.
"Hi Katie," Sam responded quietly, still feeling a little shy about the young girl knowing that she had spent the night, following Lorna's revelation that Katie knew their feelings were less than platonic for one another.
"Isn't Jo coming home today?" Katie directed her question at the petite blonde, sensing her discomfort and focusing on a conversation topic which she would hopefully be comfortable discussing.
"All being well this morning, yes. I know she's really looking forward to getting out of the hospital for a while. She's still got to go back for daily chemo starting on Wednesday but only for three days and then if her test results are as they should be, she can have a four week break," Sam informed the young girl with a fond smile, excited and buoyed by the prospect of Jo making progress enough to spend time away from the hospital. In all the activity of the previous weeks, she had only managed to visit her once or twice but hoped that after she was settled at home and visiting hours were less restrictive, she would be able to spend a little more time with her friend.
"Excellent. I bet Lucy's excited isn't she?" Katie and Lucy had been texting one another ever since the night they had been playing computer games at Sam's and the two had developed a firm friendship already.
"She certainly is. She's a little worried too I think in case Jo becomes ill again and there are no medical staff around to intervene but mostly, she's just glad to be having the chance to bring Jo home, where she belongs." Lorna watched two of the most important women in her life chatting amiably, filled with a sense of home. She found she could easily imagine this becoming a regular morning routine, a prospect which warmed her heart.
Katie caught sight of her mother, leaning against the breakfast bar sporting a goofy grin as she gazed at Sam. "Earth to Mum, any chance of some breakfast? Or are you too busy admiring the scenery?" The young redhead giggled as Lorna blushed profusely, switching her gaze to Sam and finding an equally rosy hue adorning the blonde woman's cheeks too. "Oh for goodness sakes you two, what's to be embarrassed about?" Rising from her seat, mumbling good-naturedly about getting her own breakfast, she poked her mother in the ribs as she went past, "like lovesick teenagers the pair of you!" All three of them laughed at the gentle teasing before being interrupted by the phone ringing. Lorna excused herself to go and answer it, leaving an uncomfortable Sam in the kitchen alone with Katie. "Really Sam, you don't have to be coy around me. I know Mum likes you a lot and I can tell you like her too and I'm ok with it. So long as you don't hurt her and I don't have to see too much mushy stuff, I'm happy for you both." Katie smiled, sincerely this time to show Sam she meant what she said, that she was no longer teasing her.
"Thanks Katie, that means a lot. At the minute, we're just really good friends trying to navigate through some feelings but to know that we have your support is good. And I promise that if this turns into something more than it is right now, I'll try to get your Mum to keep the gross, embarrassing mushy stuff to a minimum!" Sam rejoined with a grin of her own.
"Would you like something for breakfast? I'm not exactly well versed in the use of a kitchen but I could manage to put some bread in the toaster for you or some cereal in a bowl I think." Sam was touched with how Katie was going out of her way to make her feel at ease, it being the first time Sam had stayed over whilst Katie was there. Though she and Lorna had shared a bed, they had done nothing more than held each other and shared a few, ok quite a few, passionate kisses, still not ready to push for anything more intimate until they had successfully shared a few official dates.
Sam laughed at the self-deprecating humour of the teenager. "Some toast would be great, thank you. I'm just going to go and grab my work stuff so I can dash off once we've had breakfast. I can give you a lift to school if you want? Save your Mum going out before she needs to."
"Sure, that'd be great, thanks," Katie responded enthusiastically as Lorna re-entered the kitchen.
"What would?" Lorna asked, looking between her daughter and her could-be lover.
"Sam's offered to drop me at school on her way to work," Katie supplied with a smile.
"Are you sure that's ok? I don't want to put you out or make you late or anything." Lorna was touched by the mere fact that the offer had been extended but wanted to make sure it wasn't out of some misplaced sense of obligation on Sam's part.
"Of course I'm sure, it makes sense since I'm going out anyway. It'll give you a bit more of a leisurely start to your day," Sam assured her companion with a tender smile.
"Thank you." Lorna's tone was intimate, reaching out to Sam like a physical caress. Sam simply nodded slightly in response, not trusting her own voice in case it betrayed the surge of desire which had coursed through her veins at the heartfelt display of gratitude.
"I'm doing toast for Sam, do you want some too Mum?" Katie broke in, effectively dismissing the tension between the two older women. Sam excused herself to gather her belongings, knowing that they would need to leave soon if she was to drop Katie at school and make it to work on time.
Once she was convinced Sam was out of earshot, Lorna focused her attention on her daughter, a proud gleam in her eye. "Thank you sweetheart, not just for making breakfast but for knowing that Sam was nervous and making this morning easier on her. How did you get to be such an amazing young lady?"
"Oh I don't know, I guess you might have had a little to do with that." Katie affected nonchalance but was inwardly glowing at her mother's praise. "I'll tell you the same as I told Sam. I'm good with the two of you being together in whatever way you want to be together. She's good for you, you look happier than I can remember you being since before Daddy died. But I have made her promise to make you keep the mushy stuff to a minimum when I'm around – there are some things a child does not wish to know or witness about their parent's love life!"
"Are you ready to break out of this joint then?" Lucy asked as she helped Jo to finish getting dressed, crouching down in front of her to lace up her boots.
"More than you would believe! I can't wait to spend the night in my own bed, surrounded by my own things, without that ever pervading smell of hospital in my nostrils. But most importantly, I am so ready to lie next to you, if you'll stay with me tonight?" There was an undercurrent of uncertainty in Jo's tone as she asked her lover to spend the night with her, a certain shyness which Lucy was not used to witnessing in the brunette.
"There's nothing in the world that could make me leave you, not tonight, not ever." Lucy rose from her haunches and cupped Jo's face between her own hands, tenderly stroking the smooth skin of her cheeks as she gazed at her adoringly. "Now, do you think you're going to be ok walking to the car or shall I fetch a wheelchair just in case?" Jo appreciated Lucy letting her make the decisions for herself, knowing the other woman wouldn't let her overdo it or push herself too hard but seeming to realise that she needed to feel like she had some control over some aspects of her life.
"Help me stand up so I can test my legs and I'll let you know," Jo requested holding a hand out, palm down, in invitation for Lucy to take it. Steadying herself against her girlfriend, Jo pulled herself upright, taking a moment to regain her equilibrium before making her decision. "So long as we take it steady, I reckon I'll make it on two feet." Lucy's steady gaze assessed the veracity of her lover's statement before she acquiesced with a tiny nod and swung the bag containing Jo's belongings over her shoulder and sliding the opposite arm around the taller woman's waist.
"Then let's quit this place and get you home." Slowly, the two women shuffled out of the ward towards the car park, thanking the nursing and medical staff on their way out for their care.
"Jo?" A familiar voice called as they stepped out into the cool late afternoon air. She turned her head in the direction of the voice, a broad smile appearing on her face as she spied her old work colleague and sparring partner, Phil Hunter.
"Phil, what you doing here?" Jo asked as the tall, brooding man approached the two women.
"I was in the A&E department interviewing someone, just heading back to the nick. How you doing? Sam mentioned to me you were in here last time I spoke to her." Despite his reputation (a well earned reputation) for being tactless and brash, Phil genuinely cared for the detective he had worked with.
"I'm doing ok, thanks. The nurses have finally had enough of me and kicked me out so I'm heading home. Unfortunately for Lucy here, she gets to be my nursemaid now." Turning to the woman standing silently beside her, she offered, "Phil and I used to work together when he was at Sun Hill."
"Nice to meet you," Lucy responded with a small smile as Phil looked to her.
"You too." Turning his attention back to Jo, he winked and told her in a stage whisper, "got yourself a good looking girl there, Jo. I'd be glad to take her off your hands if she ever gets bored with taking care of you. She can be my nurse any time she likes!" His leer was grossly exaggerated, to illustrate that he was just fooling around.
"In your dreams Hunter," Jo rejoined with a laugh, holding a hand up to forestall any further comment that might illicit regarding what precisely he would dream about. "Button it Detective Sergeant Hunter before I set Sam on you and let her whoop your ass into next week!" Knowing what was good for him, Phil simply smirked and offered to carry Jo's overnight bag to their car for them, leaving Lucy to concentrate on helping Jo remain upright.
"So how's the new job going? Anyone slapped you yet?" Jo quipped as they slowly meandered through the car park.
"Not quite, came close last week but my charm offensive worked in time to call the dogs off." Phil grinned his trademark cheeky smile as he recalled a particularly sparky conversation with one of his new colleagues. "It's good though, I'm getting used to it and working out who can take the banter and who can't." Phil stood by the back end of the car, waiting for Lucy to unlock it so he could deposit the bag in the boot.
"It still seems strange not having you around at Sun Hill, I can't quite get used to not having my daily dose of insults," the brunette detective teased, knowing Phil would understand that she missed him without her having to get all sentimental and say it outright.
"Well I've not dropped off the face of the earth you know. Let me give you my mobile number and any time you feel the need to be insulted or otherwise ragged on, give me a call, you know I'm always happy to oblige!" Phil pulled his notebook out of his pocket and scribbled his number on a blank sheet before tearing it off and handing it to Jo, who took it gratefully and stuffed it inside her jacket pocket with a promise to store it into her mobile as soon as she was home. Phil watched the two women climb into the car and drive away, waving them off and watching them until they were out of sight before he pulled his own mobile from his pocket. "They're on their way home from the hospital now. No sign of anyone hanging around paying them undue attention and no one followed them out of the car park either."
"Thanks Phil, I owe you a drink. I'm probably being paranoid but thank you for humouring me and putting my mind at rest. I'll talk to you soon and we can maybe see about getting together for that drink." Sam was immensely grateful at that moment for the friendship she and Phil had salvaged, knowing that he too cared a great deal for Jo and wouldn't want her to come to any harm.
"I'd like that, Sam. Anything else you need just give me a call and I'll do whatever I can. I know you can't talk to me about what it is that has you so rattled but do me a favour and stay safe ok? There's a lot of people who'd hurt if anything happened to you."
"I will Phil, I will. Thanks again."
"Who's in charge until they replace Heaton then? I mean, are we sharing with Barton Street or what?" Mickey asked, looking around the blank faces of his colleagues. With the exception of Sam, they had all been blindsided by the arrest of John Heaton and she was giving no indication that she knew any more than they did, not wanting to be put under scrutiny. Stuart had not spoken since he came on shift and discovered that Heaton had been caught up in the dawn raids on the paedophile ring, having always been assured that he was untouchable by the man. Sam had watched the colour drain from his olive-skinned face and fought to suppress the smirk as he folded in on himself, all previous bravado and brashness disappearing as he realised he was very likely in trouble too. He had to realise that the adage 'no honour among thieves' proved to be accurate all too often to work in his favour and she hoped it was only a matter of time before they could be rid of the insidious weasel of a man.
"At least for the immediate time it appears so, yes," Jack informed Mickey and the rest of the team, having heard the question posed as he entered CID.
"And longer term?" Terry asked, arms folded across his broad chest.
"I very much doubt anything's been decided yet given that the vacancy only arose a matter of hours ago. But as with any vacancy, should it come to it that the allegations against Superintendant Heaton are upheld, there will be an interview process and the most suitable candidate will be elected to fill the position. I think it's safe to say that in the meantime however we will all be under increased scrutiny to behave professionally and to prove to the public that they can trust us to uphold the law. None of this will make our lives any easier but in time, hopefully the public will see that it proves we shelter no one who commits a crime, no matter who they are, what position they hold or how far into the public eye they live their lives. Any cases that go to trial need to be watertight so make sure all your paperwork is completed thoroughly and diligently, make sure you keep your noses clean at work and in your personal lives and so long as you stay on the right side of the law, nothing can be used against you. Uniform are getting the same speech from Inspector Gold so don't let me down. We're all in the spotlight following this, let's make sure no more skeletons come out of the closet whilst the eyes of the nation are on us." Jack watched the majority of his officers nod their heads to acknowledge his words, the slight remaining colour draining from Stuart's face as he sat stationary, staring towards the floor. "Anyone who has anything they are concerned about – big or small, even if you think it's irrelevant – my door's always open." With a final glance around his team, Jack swept back out of the office, wondering if Stuart would voluntarily admit to his part in Heaton's persistent vendetta against Jo and Sam, which Jack had been filled in on by Sam during the previous week, or if he would wait for the wolves to come to his door.
Jo sighed in blissful relief as she sank down into the cushions of her sofa. "You have no idea how good this feels right now," she admitted to her lover, who hovered nearby watching with a concerned expression.
"Are you sure you wouldn't rather go straight upstairs? You look a little pale, should I fetch you a bowl just in case you're sick? And some water? How about something light to eat? Or a blanket, are you chilly? I can turn the heating up if you like," Lucy babbled, looking as though she would continue indefinitely unless Jo broke in and silenced her.
"Babe relax. I'm fine here, at least for the moment. Come and sit with me? Please?" Jo stretched out an arm, beckoning for the younger woman to join her. Lucy dropped down gingerly, keeping a slight distance from Jo lest she cause her pain. "I'm not so fragile you can't give me a cuddle, I promise. I mean, you don't have to… don't feel obliged to… but if you wanted to…" It was Jo's turn to ramble, allowing her uncertainty over her interpretation of Lucy's actions to show. Neither woman was used to feeling so tentative around one another, having always been comfortable in one another's space and company since they had first begun dating. As soon as Lucy leant back beside Jo, curling into her body and wrapping an arm around her trim waist, they felt the void being bridged. That same sense of coming home settled over them as they reclined in the casual, loose embrace, allowing each of them to release a deep sigh of contentment.
"God I've missed this," Lucy admitted, her lips brushing over the soft skin of Jo's slender neck, warm breath teasing the older woman and giving rise to goosebumps.
"Mmmmm, me too," Jo concurred dreamily, pulling Lucy more tightly against her and resting her cheek against the crown of the brunette's head. The two women sat in comfortable silence for many long minutes, simply drinking in one another company without interference from anyone else.
After a while, Lucy raised her head from its position in the crook of Jo's neck, fixing her girlfriend with a tender, sweet smile. "Hi," she murmured as Jo's blue brown eyes met her own.
Jo smiled back, leaning down and covering her lover's lips reverently with her own, offering a sensual, sensuous kiss by way of greeting, "hi yourself."
"I keep feeling like I should pinch myself to make sure I'm not dreaming this. It feels too good to be true to finally have you back here." Lucy confessed shyly, slapping the brunette's hand down when it went to do just that.
"It's real sweetheart, I'm here and I intend to stay here for a very long time so I reckon you've got a while to get used to it." Jo offered up another deep, loving kiss in an effort to assure her young companion she was not hallucinating.
"That's good because it might take me forever to get used to being kissed like that without my knees going to jelly!"
"Oh I don't want that to happen because if it does it either means you've gone off me or I'm losing my touch!" Jo replied in jest.
"I can assure you the former won't be happening. As for the latter, well, I guess we'll just have to make sure you get plenty of practice so that your technique never becomes rusty." For the next long while, the only sounds in the room were the quiet moans and whimpers generated as a result of the two women reacquainting themselves in the art of kissing one another.