No Matter What – Chapter 49
Disclaimer: I own nothing beyond this storyline and the original characters. All identifiable content from The Bill is the property of Talkback Thames and Freemantle Media.
"Jo, great to have you back in the office. Got five minutes for a catch up?" DCI Meadows welcomed his officer, beckoning her to follow him. Shutting the door behind them, he indicated she should sit, joining her on that side of the desk, wanting to make it clear this was informal. "I'm only going to ask this once, you sure you're fit to be back?"
Jo appreciated the gruff Yorkshire man's direct approach, finding it a tonic to her nerves at being back. "Yes Guv. I'm on phased return, all agreed with Occupational Health, just a few hours a day to start with and I've got regular reviews scheduled with Neil."
"Good, I expect you to speak up if you find it a struggle or if anyone puts you under too much pressure, OK?" Jo nodded her acquiescence. "Now that's out of the way, I wanted to bring you up to speed on the active cases we have on the books." For the next few minutes, Jack was rattling off the headline details of cases she would be assisting on and it felt good, normal. Jo appreciated his care and professionalism. "It may seem a bit alien at first, being back, without Stuart and Sam in the team. Phil's back and we've got DC Angela Walker, Angie, on secondment too who is here covering your post until you're fully back with us again. She's a bit of an enigma, her and Phil definitely don't get on too well. Last I heard, she accused him of sexual harassment, took it to Sam but refused to make it official. Phil, of course, strenuously denies it. You know what he can be like, probably a complete misunderstanding but if you notice anything, can you let me or Neil know? We've got a temporary replacement DI joining us this week as well, Liz Rawton, but with the hours you're doing, you're not likely to cross paths just yet. She might be nipping in today, if she does, I'll come and introduce her. I think you'll appreciate her style, she's a good copper. I know it's going to be difficult, you and Sam are close, but the team needs to go on functioning and until we have any update on the case, we've no clear idea of when she might be able to return." Jack left the 'if ever' unspoken, though they both knew it was a distinct possibility.
"I appreciate that, Guv, I know resources are an issue. Crime never stops." Despite her words, Jo was dreading being in the CID office without Sam's reassuring presence.
"Unfortunately not, no. Which brings me to my last thing I need to discuss with you. The Podowski family. You remember Dawid, the little boy whose disappearance triggered this whole investigation?"
"Of course, not a case I'd forget, regardless of what's happened since," Jo confirmed, steeling herself for the worst and was not disappointed as Jack continued.
"You know, I presume that the dismembered bodies of his mother and sister were found shortly before Katie was released. Dawid was nowhere to be found." Jo tried to contain her shock, not having previously been privy to that detail. She felt the minimal colour she had recovered draining from her face, a reaction not missed by her superior officer. "You didn't know? Jo, I'm sorry, I'd have worded it more tactfully if I knew that. Sam and Angie were the initial officers to attend, I thought Sam would have mentioned it."
"It's been a hectic few weeks, Guv. Sam and I hadn't had much time to chat and when we did, she was careful not to discuss work – I think she knew I would have insisted on coming back to work before I was ready if I'd known. So, I presume that's now been passed on to MI5 for them to investigate?" Jo shifted in her seat, feeling like there was yet more to come.
"Officially yes, but we're still doing some leg-work chasing witness statements, checking for any sightings of vehicles of interest. There's been no more videos of Dawid posted online, so that's something at least," Jack stated.
"Alternatively, they may have cleaned house and it'll be his body we find next," Jo commented grimly, experienced enough to know that the adage 'no news is good news' didn't necessarily ring true.
"Jo! Good to see you," Phil greeted his colleague warmly, genuinely pleased to have her back in the fold. "Rocking the bandana, I like it," he added with a wink, no malicious intent whatsoever.
For her part, Jo was grateful the elephant in the room had been mentioned early. "Yeah well, I was bored, fancied a change. You know how it is, someone as fashion conscious as yourself."
"How long you in for?" Phil asked, perching on the side of Jo's desk.
"It's not a prison sentence, Phillip," Jo quipped, before adding, "just three hours today, catching up on e-learning, doing some paperwork. Just dipping my toe back in the water, as it were. Same again tomorrow and Friday, all being well. I've got my last round of treatment for this cycle on Wednesday so I'm not in Thursday."
"How's that all going?" Not usually one to be sensitive, Jo appreciated his asking.
"It's not pleasant but the alternative is worse. I finish this cycle, have some tests and if those come back as we hope they will, I'll have a break for a couple of months before I need any more treatment and ideally that will be less intensive. Signs so far are giving us hope that we can be positive." Jo spied another officer entering through the double doors, one she didn't recognise but would hardly forget in a hurry. The shock of vibrant orange hair stood out in stark contrast to her mocha-coloured skin.
"Oh yeah, that's your replacement," Phil muttered following Jo's line of sight. At Jo's quizzically raised eyebrow. "No, you needn't be worried we prefer her over you! There's something not right with her head."
"Would that be because she managed to resist your manly charms?" Jo rejoined cheekily.
"Are you a bloody psychic or what? How'd you know about that? There's no truth in it, honest. I mean, really, with that? Not my type, love." Phil scoffed.
"No, true, blondes are more your speed aren't they?" Jo wise-cracked, thinking back to his dalliance with Sam, casting a wistful gaze in the direction of the DI's office.
"She'll be back. Nothing keeps Sam Nixon from her job for long. MI5 will be dropping her off in no time, not least cos being in solitary confinement will be driving her bonkers, which means she'll be an absolute nightmare for whoever's minding her." Jo realised that Phil wasn't in the loop regarding Sam and Lorna's relationship or their current enforced cohabitation. Not for the first time, Jo wondered how they were getting on, if they were coping with the sudden escalation in their living arrangements so soon after figuring out they had feelings for one another.
"DC Masters, I presume?" Angie approached the pair, breaking into Jo's musings. "DC Angie Walker. Sorry to do this your first morning back but the DI asked me to pass on these witness reports for you to go through. He said you've prior knowledge of the case from before you went off." Jo flicked through them, some of the names ringing vague bells with her from what seemed like a life-time ago. "And if you fancy brewing up, mine's a coffee, black, two sugars."
Jo watched as the woman swaggered away, gobsmacked at the cheek of her younger colleague. "Oi!" she called after her. "Firstly, I'm not your skivvy; secondly, I've nicked more criminals than you've had hot dinners and I'd like you to show a little respect. I've been off sick, that doesn't make me useless or here to be the butt of anyone's ridicule. You want a brew, make it yourself and if I check with the DI and find you've tried to pass your work off onto me, thinking I'm an easy target, you and me lady are going to have a problem, alright?!" Phil valiantly attempted to hide his mirth, glad to see the fire hadn't been diminished at all by the illness ravaging his friend. As Angie stomped off, Jo switched her attention back to Phil. "Bloody cheek of it!" she exclaimed, rising from her desk and crossing to the coffee pot before asking, "want one Phil?" Both of them shared a chuckle before getting on with their work for the day.
"How's she doing?" Sam asked softly as Lorna padded back into the dining kitchen of their 'new' home.
"As well as can be expected," the redhead advised, running her hand down the shorter woman's back and dropping a tender kiss against her crown as she passed by the scarred wooden table where Sam was seated. "Want another brew?"
"I'm good thanks. Did Katie talk to you much about her session?" Receiving a short shake of tousled ginger hair, Sam felt her heart go out to the other woman, knowing how hard it was to know something was causing your child pain and feeling like you were being kept on the outside. "You ok?" Sam rose and stepped across the compact space and wrapping her arms around the slender woman's waist from behind and leaning her cheek against the rigid plains between Lorna's shoulder blades.
"No…" the CSE admitted quietly. She spun into the embrace being offered, gathering up her new partner and holding her tightly. "It's so difficult to know how to help her for the best. I don't want her to feel like I'm smothering her but by the same token, I don't want her to think I don't care either. One thing Katie has asked for is some space to herself. Sam, I know you've been sleeping in the second bedroom so Katie and I could share…and I appreciate you giving us that, me that, more than I think you'll ever know…but would it…would you…" Words dried up, the significance of the situation hitting home with that redhead once more.
"Katie's more than welcome to that room to call her own. None of us know how long we're here for so it's only right she has her own space that she can escape to," Sam agreed instantly. "If you're not comfortable sharing the main bedroom, I can sleep on the couch. I'm short enough that it won't be an issue," Sam offered, not overjoyed at the prospect but also not wanting to assume or crowd her lover. It was all so new between them and they were suddenly thrust into living together before they'd even been on a traditional date. As beginnings went, this one was bound to either defy the odds or crash and burn in the most spectacular of ways.
"I don't want you to sleep on the sofa…unless you don't want to share with me?" Sam cut off any further rambling from her partner, silencing her with a tender kiss, cupping her cheeks in two warm palms.
"If you're happy to share your bed with me every night, I would be delighted to do so," the diminutive blonde affirmed, eyes telegraphing her adoration for the other woman.
"Is it selfish of me to be glad you're here?" Lorna asked, almost reverently.
Sam shook her head and nestled in closer. "I'd be beside myself if I was at home, not knowing where you were or if you were safe. Am I devastated to have to leave Abi and Jared? Absolutely but I have to believe we will get home before my grandson becomes a teenager and until it is safe and these bastards are behind bars, there is nowhere I would rather be than by your side. I know it won't be easy, we're both women of a certain age, used to living on our own without another adult to defer to or compromise with and for my part, I have frequently been told I'm stubborn enough to drive even the most patient person crazy. But I promise I will try to curb my more antisocial tendencies and not lash out at you or Katie in my frustration at suddenly having no work to focus on and fill my time."
"I can't promise we won't argue and get on each other's nerves either. I mean, even in a normal relationship, couples don't spend 24/7 together so let's try and agree to always be honest with how we're feeling, even if we think it may not be what the other wants to hear," Lorna implored, wrapping her arms more securely around her lover, dropping her head to rest a pale cheek against platinum blonde locks. Changing tack, the Scot asked, "want to watch some mind-numbingly boring daytime TV for a bit?"
"Throw in a couple of biscuits and you've got yourself a date," Sam joked, feeling content in spite of the unusual and less than ideal circumstances. "First though, let me go and shift my stuff out of the back bedroom and I'll let Katie know she can settle herself in there, make it her own."
"I don't deserve you, you know," Lorna admitted receiving a firm chastisement from the woman within her arms.
"As if it's a hardship sharing a bed with you," Sam hummed, accepting a proffered kiss with an adoring smile. The exchange deepened, both women revelling in the freedom to explore their physical attraction without the threat of work or something else tearing them apart. Hands began to wander, smoothing over planes and peaks, stoking fires within each of them. A low guttural moan escaped from between Sam's lips as Lorna's hand probed the pliant flesh of her breast, teasing the nipple to full distension and sending molten tendrils of desire southwards.
"Go, move your stuff into our room, before I can't help myself and do unspeakable things to you right here in the kitchen," Lorna growled, palming Sam's taut buttock before giving it a gentle tap. "I don't think Katie or our jailer would appreciate walking in on that!"
"Jo, how are you getting on?" Neil asked as he approached the DC's desk. Her first hour seemed to have flown by with getting all her passwords and log ins up to date and clearing the mammoth backlog of unnecessary or redundant emails from her inbox.
"I'm getting back into the swing of things, I think, Guv. I'm just about to make a start on the witness statements, see if anything leaps out," Jo supplied, reaching for the pile Angie had deposited on her desk earlier.
"What statements?" Neil queried, grasping one of the files before Jo could reach it. "Where did you get these?"
"DC Walker said you'd asked her to have me look through them, see if anything jogged any memories or jarred any information loose from the initial investigation into Dawid's disappearance. I don't mind doing it, if it'll help," Jo offered.
"I do. I asked DC Walker to cross reference with your initial reports, with statements from neighbours, not to offload her work onto you. I appreciate you offering Jo and maybe, towards the end of the week, if we're still drawing a blank, it wouldn't hurt but it's your first day back, you're only in for a couple more hours and the training that's been assigned to you needs to be completed this week. Focus on that and leave DC Walker to me." Neil's tone was terse, his irritation clearly directed at the newcomer rather than Jo herself. "Anything else she tried to pass off onto you?"
"Only trying it on with brew making duty," Jo smirked "but I soon put her straight on that."
"Good. If she does bring anything else to you, you have my permission to remind her that your assignments come from me, not her." Neil turned to leave with a subtle nod but paused and redirected his attention towards his returning detective. "Oh and while you're likely to be desk-bound for a bit, I'd like you to consider putting in for your Sergeant's exams. I appreciate the timing isn't ideal but it's highly likely we're going to be looking for a replacement for Stuart once this has all fallen as it will. After what's happened with him and Heaton, I think we'd all appreciate it being someone we know we can trust."
"Thanks Guv, I'll certainly give it some thought," Jo mused sincerely, grateful for Neil making it clear he didn't consider her ill-health to be an obstacle to her continued progression within the department.
"See that you do. In the meantime, anything I can do, my door's open. I know we've not always seen eye to eye," Neil offered a self-deprecating wry smile at that statement, "and I may not be any kind of substitute for Sam, but I do want to support you however I can. You're an important member of the team, Jo, I hope you realise how much we all value you and are very glad to see you back in the office."
Jo offered a final heart-felt, "thank you," to her supervisor before opening up the site which housed the online training she had been assigned. She felt rather than saw the moment DC Walker re-entered the room, a tension suddenly palpable as the younger woman spotted DI Manson beside Jo's desk, witness statement files in hand.
"DC Walker, my office," Neil barked, his distaste dripping from every syllable. The door closed firmly behind the pair but it did little to disguise Neil's raised voice as he tore a strip off the temporary DC.
"You're going to popular when she gets out," Mickey grinned with a wink, placing a mug of fresh coffee on the edge of Jo's desk. "You got a hug for your old mate?" The sandy-haired detective opened his arms wide, his smile growing warmer and more genuinely affectionate as he gathered his friend close. "It's good to have you back. We've missed your miserable Northern mug around here."
"Cheeky. I'll give you a good Northern wallop if you're not careful!" Jo rejoined, enjoying the banter from her mate, glad he'd got over his initial reservations about the impact her health may have on her ability to do her job.
"Promises, promises," Mickey teased ducking out of the way as a firm swat headed his way. "Seriously, I'm really glad I got back before you left for the day. How you doing? Bored to death of that desk yet?"
Jo barked out a short burst of laughter, "I've only been back a little over an hour and a half! If I'm terminally bored already, there's no hope for me." Sobering a bit, she added, "honestly, I'm just glad to be seeing something other than the same four walls of the house or the chemo suite at the hospital. And some time apart will do me and Luce good too. She's amazing but I think my cancer, on top of her creep of a boss is wearing on her more than she's letting on."
"What's her boss done?" Mickey asked, instantly feeling his protective instincts kick in.
"Easy tiger, it's dealt with. He decided to get a bit too handsy, picked the wrong woman to try it with. We sent a complaint in to the higher ups after he saw fit to rope in his brother-in-law to 'investigate' the altercation after Luce physically resisted. We're waiting on a response, giving them opportunity to do the right thing before we decide what further action we're taking." Jo appreciated the immediate support despite her assurances that all was in hand.
"Well if you need a hand or some extra muscle, you know you only need shout," Mickey advised, beating a hasty retreat to his desk as Neil's door swung open and Angie stalked out, fixing Jo with an incendiary hate-filled glare. The mysterious woman slumped into the chair at her own desk, dumping the files containing the witness statements onto the surface and pulling the top folder towards her. After a few moments of awkward, tension-filled silence, the team returned their attention to their work and the white noise of the office returned to normal levels.
Jo knocked on Neil's door, waiting for permission to enter before she stuck her head around the doorjamb. "That's me done for today, Guv. I've done all those training sessions I was allocated so let me know in the morning what you want me to look at next."
"Thanks Jo, quick work as always. I'll catch up with you in the morning, see how you're feeling and what you can pick up. Get some rest and we'll see you tomorrow," Neil replied.
"Maybe I can use the time to gen up for the Sergeant's exams," Jo suggested, making clear she was seriously considering his suggestion.
"I think that would be a very good use of your time whilst you're on desk duty, Detective," the DI affirmed.
Jo merely smiled and headed out of the station, waving to Phil and Mickey as she went. As she descended the stairs, she saw the gloomy figure of her temporary replacement coming up to the CID office. Gritting her teeth and hoping to avoid any confrontation, the auburn-haired DC kept her head down, focusing on putting one foot in front of the other. Though she wouldn't admit it to anyone at the station, the short time working had rendered her more tired than she had been prepared for. She was glad that Lucy had insisted she would pick Jo up and not allowed Jo to drive herself in. She wasn't too proud to accept when she needed to give in to her body and was working hard to override her more stubborn instincts to insist on being independent.
"Leaving already?" Angie sneered, unable to resist lashing out as she passed the older woman on the stairs.
"Yeah, HR's orders," Jo replied tersely, continuing to walk.
"Hardly seems worth it. I mean you've barely logged on. Not exactly contributing anything to the team, you being back is it," Angie pressed, seemingly determined to push Jo's buttons.
"Oh I don't know, my colleagues seem happy enough to have me back. DI Manson has made it clear he values my presence and DCI Meadows has personally asked me to keep him updated on how I'm doing. It's my first day, I'm not expecting miracles. If you were, then I'm sorry to disappoint you." Jo brooked no further conversation on the matter, jogging down the final few steps, ignoring the discomfort she felt from the exertion, and pushed through the security door at the base of the stairs, escaping out into the front desk reception area. The fresh air as she pushed through the external doors was a welcome relief, even though it was almost frigidly cold. As Jo spied Lucy awaiting her in the car, a broad grin settled on her face, heedless of the audience watching her through the window on the stairs.
"Hi babe, how are you?" Lucy asked, casually leaning over the centre console and pressing a kiss to the older woman's lips in greeting.
"Tired, glad to see you, ready for home," Jo admitted, sinking into the seat and letting her head rest back against the seat, suddenly overcome with an overwhelming fatigue even greater than she had previously felt.
Lucy reached over and pulled her lover's seatbelt around her, murmuring quiet instructions as needed so she could fasten it across the other woman's shoulder and lap. "Let's get you home and you can lie down for a bit then before lunch." The raven-haired beauty fired up the engine and pulled away from the station, tweaking the radio to a soft, unobtrusive volume and allowing Jo to simply rest on the drive home. Despite it only being a relatively short journey back to the house they shared, Lucy had to smile at the fact Jo had nodded off by the time they pulled up outside. She parked up, turning off the engine and pocketing the keys before leaning over to soothe a gentle hand down Jo's cheek, speaking softly and gently as she coaxed her to wake up. "We're home, sweetheart. Come on, let's get you inside so you can have a more comfortable rest."
Together, they made the short walk to Jo's front door, the brunette accepting the offered physical support gratefully.
"I love you, Luce," Jo muttered earnestly, gathering the younger woman closer still and dropping a tender kiss to her crown.
"Not that I mind being told that as often as you want to, may I ask what prompted that?" Lucy asked with a gentle smile, looping her arms around Jo's slender waist and resting her clenched hands against the taut slope of Jo's buttocks.
"I just…today, it sounds daft having been in for just a few hours but it's left me more tired than I expected it would. A lot more tired. And I just…I just need you to know that I appreciate you going out of your way to drop me off and pick me up again. You've got your own things going on, you don't have to be my chauffeur but you have been…so thank you." Jo pressed in close, placing a sweet, almost chaste kiss against her lover's lips, not having the energy to stoke any flames of passion.
"You don't need to thank me, love. It's the least I can do to help you, especially since I have the free time on my hands." Watching her partner stifle a yawn, Lucy continued, "do you want to head up to bed for a bit? I put fresh bedding on this morning."
"Would you mind? If I get a couple of hours sleep now, I might make for better company the rest of the day for you," Jo admitted, feeling herself being steered towards the stairs.
"Give me a shout when you wake up. I'll bring you a cuppa," Lucy instructed, patting the older woman on her behind as she sent her on her way.
"You've been busy!" Jo exclaimed as she poked her head round the lounge doorjamb, seeing the freshly cleaned and tidied room. Every surface practically sparkled and was free from the everyday clutter that had accumulated and even the large windows had clearly been polished.
"It gave me something to do with all my nervous energy. James dropped his statement off earlier so I posted the complaint off. I know it's stupid because they won't even receive it for days and it's unlikely I'll hear back from them before they've looked into it anyway but I'm just too keyed up to stay still. So, I thought I'd make myself useful. And I'm on cooking duty tonight so what do you fancy? Please bear in mind I'm no cordon bleu chef though!" The energy was practically fizzing out of Lucy, her movements constant and somewhat erratic.
"Damn, so no beef tartare or perfectly baked souffle then?" Jo joked, taking hold of the vibrating woman's hands and stilling them with her own. "Hey, it's OK to be nervous but you're going to give yourself an aneurysm if you keep this up until you hear back from them. I really appreciate you channelling the energy into cleaning and the place looks amazing but…I need you to look after yourself too, not just me."
"I am…I will, I promise. It's just, sending it off, there's no taking it back now," Lucy said, gripping her fiancée's hands tightly.
"And that's a good thing, sweetheart. Too often, these things go unacknowledged, unchallenged and unpunished. It's long since time that the remaining Neanderthal's are made to accept that a woman has every right to decline anyone of any gender access to her body. And to have any hope of making that happen, the perpetrators must be made to suffer the consequences of their actions." Jo squeezed the hands in hers before gathering the shorter woman to her and wrapping her in a solid, warm embrace. "Now, how about we make dinner a joint enterprise? Fancy a stir fry? I'll chop, you rock the wok."