Disclaimer: Sam, Jo and Smithy are not mine.

Chapter 30:

"Sam!" Jo exclaimed, running over to the woman the other side of the interview room, hugging her as she reached the blonde.

"Hey."

"How did it go? Are you okay? Are you getting bail?"

"Um fine. Yes. And I don't know yet." Sam replied earnestly, answering Jo's series of questions in order.

"Good, good, and I'm sure they'll give it to you soon, they have no real reason to not allow it." Jo commented on each of Sam's replies in turn.

"Jo…um, I'm so sorry, I really am very sorry, but they might ask you if you were raped." Sam still felt sick at the use of the word but tried not to show it in front of Jo. "I'm so sorry. I described Stuart as your attacker and they picked up on it. When they asked me if you were sexually assaulted I didn't deny it, but I didn't admit it either. It's up to you to tell them. But please don't feel you have to tell them, deny it if that feels right. It just didn't seem right that I tell them either way."

"It's okay Sam. It seems I'm gonna have some thinking to do."

"I'm so sorry."

"Really Sam, it's fine. All you did was not lie in an interview. I can't blame you for that. You did the right thing."

"I still feel guilty."

"Sam, please, don't feel like that. I don't think you did anything wrong. We'll get through this, together. Yeah?"

"Yeah, of course. Look, I hate to have to ask, but…"

"Yes. I'm gonna report it."

Sam nodded, Jo's statement confirming what she thought the brunette had been saying.

"Sam…"

"Yeah?"

"What you were saying before, about, how you'd handle the case, professionally, y'know, whether you'd be involved or not…"

"Yeah?"

"Well, do you still mean it?"

"Every word I said Jo." Sam was not sure whether Jo was asking her to be involved in the case or not. Knowing that it would be near impossible to persuade the DCI that she can handle the case professionally if that was what Jo wanted. Although equally not sure she could cope with taking a back seat and avoiding the case like the plague if that was what Jo wanted.

"Will you still do the interview? I don't think I could bring myself to tell anyone else."

"Yeah Jo, of course I will. Whatever you want."

"Thanks."

The two women felt startled as they heard a knock at the door. Smithy popped his head around the door, "Sam, you've been granted bail."

"Oh that's great, thanks Smithy. Am I alright to go back to work?"

"Oh I dunno Sam. Isn't it a bit soon?"

"There's something I need to run by Jack."

"Well I can't stop you Sam, if Jack agrees then it's fine. Do you want me to put a call through for him so you can ask him?"

"Oh thanks Smithy, but I really need to talk to him in person."

"Okay then. Are you gonna wait for her Jo?"

"Um, I'm gonna need to speak to Jack too."

"My, my, he is popular today. Well, make sure you don't work too hard."

"Yes mum!" The two women replied in unison, causing the man to blush slightly.

"Yeah, well, I'm just making sure you don't over do it."

"Look, thanks again Smithy, you've been really great."

"Anytime."

Smithy left the room, allowing the two women to talk for a few minutes before finding their DCI.

"Jo?"

"Yeah?"

"Are you sure about this?"

"Yeah. As long as you're there for me."

"Of course I will be Jo."

"Then yes, I'm sure. I couldn't do this without you, y'know?"

"I'll be here for you. I promise." Sam sensed the brunette needed reassuring of that fact, cautious of the trauma she was about to relive in her interview.

"Thanks Sam. You don't know how much that means to me."

"I think I do Jo."

"Yeah, well, thanks anyway."

Sam gave a reassuring smile, not feeling she needed to reassure her verbally again.