Sorry for such a long gap between updates. When this chapter was half finished my laptop broke down, then shortly after I had my baby boy so writing hasn't been practical in a long time! But now I'm back! I finally got this chapter off my old laptop and the next chapter will be up later too -x-

Chapter 15

As Simon and Robin stepped out of the examination room together the dynamic had changed beyond belief. Suddenly Robin was the one apologising and Simon was the one who couldn't shake the hurt of Robin's assumptions, as convincing as Keats's set-up had been.

"How are you feeling?" Robin asked quietly.

Simon took a deep breath and stared straight ahead.

"Relieved," he said as he exhaled, "vindicated." He turned to Robin. "hurt."

Robin closed his eyes for a moment.

"Put yourself in my position," he began, "what would you have thought?"

Simon shook his head slowly.

"I don't know," he replied honestly.

"I walked into our bedroom and saw you in bed with another man," Robin said quietly, "I was upset, angry and just wanted to get out of there." he paused and tried to make Simon look into his eyes. "But I will make this up to you," he promised, "whatever it takes, I'll make you see how much you mean to me."

Simon swallowed.

"You can start by getting my coffee to the lab," be said, "I don't suppose my blood samples are ever going to make it that far."

"I could take some blood for you," Robin offered.

"Ugh, are you a vampire now?" Simon frowned.

"I had a … very short-lived ambition to become a doctor," Robin confessed, "only thing I learned was how to draw blood." He looked at Simon proudly. "I practiced on an orange!"

Simon blanched.

"It's… very kind of you," he began, "but I think we'll stick with the coffee for now."

They began to walk down the corridor, two sets of eyes peering nervously around.

"So what happens now?" asked Robin.

Simon wished he knew.

"I guess I have no job," he said quietly, "the Super's gone crazy because I missed a meeting, and that's to say nothing about the CCTV tape and whatever Keats is doing with my good name."

"When we get the lab results we'll be able to charge this guy though," Robin tried to assure him but Simon gave a bitter laugh.

"You don't know this man," he began,. "he's slippery. He can turn anything around. He gets his own way no matter what. Nothing sticks to him. If we try to hold him accountable for what he's done either we both lose our jobs or…"

Robin looked at him nervously.

"Or what?"

Simon swallowed.

"We lose our lives," he said.

As they turned a corner the sight of what at first seemed to be an abandoned pile of clothes greeted them down the far end of the corridor, but as they looked more closely and continued to walk it became clear that there was a person wearing them, in a heap on the floor.

"My god, Kelly!" Robin cried, picking up his pace and running towards her motionless body.

"Oh shit," Simon cursed, hot on his heels.

They stopped beside her and Robin felt for a pulse.

"She's not dead," he said, "just unconscious."

Simon glanced at him.

"Did you practice that on an orange as well?" he asked. He could feel his heart rate increasing, panic rising through his body. "Shit, we've got to get her to hospital. What the hell's happened to her?"

"No sign of any blood…" said Robin. He turned her over gently and saw a little seeping from a wound hidden beneath her hair. "…I spoke too soon." He swallowed. "Who'd do this?"

Simon closed his eyes for a moment.

"One guess," he said.

Robin looked at him with fear in his eyes.

"Shit, Si," he whispered, "where's he going to stop? He already had the samples. Why'd he have to do this to her as well?"

"He's taking out anyone and anything in his way from destroying me," Simon whispered.

Robin froze.

"Who's next?" he asked.

Simon felt a lump rising in his throat. They both strongly suspected they knew the answer to that. Despite the anger and hurt he still felt towards Robin for doubting his fidelity he couldn't stand the thought of anything happening to the man he loved. Glancing around, he caught sight of the CCTV camera trained on them.

"Fight with me," he hissed.

"What?"

"Just do it," Simon insisted, "and make it look good. Get Kelly to hospital and the coffee to the lab. Meet me back at the flat in an hour." Barely pausing for breath, he got to his feet and gestured angrily at Robin. "This is all your fault!"

Robin didn't follow what Simon was talking about. He wasn't even sure this allegation was part of his request for an argument, but had no choice but to go along with it.

"Me?" he threw his palms open innocently, "I'm not the one who…. Got into bed with… someone."

Simon flinched. His request for a fake argument was backfiring on him.

"You never bloody trust me!" he moved his arms dramatically and began to back away, pointing a finger repeatedly at Robin. "We're over, Robin!"

"Well… good riddance!" Robin realised he would never make a good improvisational comedian, "Get….lost!"

"OK, I will!" yelled Simon, and he turned his back to the scene. He swallowed and found his feet taking him faster and faster away from Robin and the motionless Kelly. He hoped that she would be OK and hoped that Robin would get that coffee to the lab before anyone attempted to intercept him, but most of all he hoped that he would make it home in one piece. Life held more fear now for Simon than it ever had before - even in 1985.