Disclaimer not mine
Heartbreak
Jack looked around the hospital room and sighed heavily. He felt old. That was the worst thing about being stuck in hospital. He felt like an old man, stuck in a hospital bed. He smiled slightly as the nurse he had become friendly with walked in.
"Morning." Mary smiled. "More blood tests in a bit."
"Oh thanks." He rolled his eyes.
"You're welcome."
"How long have you worked here?"
"Why? Don't you trust me Jack?" She glanced at him as she picked up his chart.
"No, no it isn't that." Jack raised his hand. "I work for UCOS. You know that, and before all this we were working on a new case. A young nurse that was murdered here."
"Oh yeah." Mary put the clip board back on the end of the bed. "I heard about that. You should be concentrating on getting better."
"Mary." Jack sighed. "I need to keep my brain working."
"No point in that if the rest of you gives up because you've stressed yourself out. Look your friend Brian?"
"What did he want?" Jack sighed.
"Brian said you've had a very stressful few years. The man that murdered your wife went to prison. That had to be stressful. Then there was all that business with your boss being attacked. He didn't go into details but it must have been a very stressful time."
"It was," Jack sighed heavily. "But Hansen is behind bars and Sandra is fine. Or at least she tells us she is. Now, the woman who died was called Debbie Lloyd. I suppose you were still in school in 99."
"No I was a second year student nurse." Mary knew there was no way Jack was going to let things go. It seemed that her patient was determined to carry on working even when he was attached to a heart monitor.
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"Dad." Paula yawned as she let her father into her house. "Little Gerry is with Mum."
"Good." He nodded as he looked at his daughter. "You have to stop working all the hours God sends."
"Dad."
"I know you need the money but you are making yourself ill. When are you back in work anyway?"
"Tomorrow night." She stepped aside to let Gerry into the house. "What is it?"
"You know the hospital you trained at?"
"Yeah. Well I had placements in a few." She headed towards the kitchen as she spoke. The kettle was already boiling by the time Gerry joined her.
"The one where the nurse was murdered."
"Oh."
"Yes, oh."
"Look I was only in the first year of my training. We really didn't bother with the qualified staff much. Alot of older nurses and auxiliaries didn't like the new Project 2000 nurses. We kept to ourselves in the first year." She took the milk from her father as they talked. "Have you seen Emily?"
"No."
"She's got the flu." Paula sighed. "She text me. Oh and Caitlyn has a date for her police entry interview."
"Right." Gerry knew his daughter was hiding something. "I'll make Em some soup and please keep trying to talk your little sister out of joining the force."
"No. Have you tried talking Caitlyn out of anything?" Paula raised an eyebrow. "How's Jack?"
"Still in CCU."
"Dad."
"Look, someone killed that girl. I want to find out who did this. She deserves that."
"I never knew her."
"Good." Gerry watched. "But something is bothering you. If it isn't your sisters and little Gerry is ok. What is it?"
"I'm fine."
"Paula Standing."
"It's women's things." She watched the blush creep up her father's cheeks. In that moment she knew she had effectively ended that conversation.
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"Debbie Lloyd didn't have a boyfriend for two years until she started dating that porter." Brian took his glasses off as Sandra stared at the board.
"What's unusual about that?"
"Nothing, apart from the fact she was a young woman in the late 1990s with a very good job and a close circle of friends. You'd think she'd have someone setting their cap at her."
"Brian, it was 1999 not 1929. It was ok to be single."
"I know."
"I was."
"Yeah." Brian had a feeling he was on dangerous ground. "I found an aunt of hers that is still alive. Joyce Lloyd is her father's sister. Lives in a nursing home on the outskirts of London. Thought I might go over, see if she can tell us anything."
"Good idea. Take Ja." Sandra closed her eyes. "Good idea."
"He is going to be alright." Sandra nodded, knowing that Brian needed to believe that as much as she did.
"Yeah. Of course he is. Strickland is sending someone to cover for him. Steve Mc Andrew. Take him with you."
"To replace Jack?"
"No." Sandra smiled. "As if anyone can replace Jack! No he's just going to cover. Emy is sick and Pushkar is away on a course until Tuesday. Then he can help out. Clarky is assigned to Murder Squad for a month."
"So it's just this Steve."
"Oh so you've heard of me." A distinctly Scottish accent took Brian by surprise.
"Brian Lane meet former DI Steve McAndrew. Go and see Debbie's auntie."
Both men regarded each other warily as Sandra tried to suppress a smile. She had a funny feeling Steve was going to fit in well and it was a good job as she knew even when Jack came back he was going to be a permanent fixture in their strange little family.
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"Debbie Lloyd." Sandra repeated to herself, aware that the rest of the team were all away. "What were you doing? Why were you so alone?" She had no idea she was being watched from the doorway of the office. The lights were dimmed as she stared at the young blonde woman's photograph.
"A casual boyfriend, a good job and nice place to live. Who wanted to hurt you? Was it personal or was it a random nutter lurking in the hospital grounds?"
"You are nothing like her." She closed her eyes as she heard Gerry talk.
"Gerry."
"Only similarity that I can see is the hair colour."
"Gerry."
"No Sandra. That poor cow was murdered by some nutter."
"I nearly was. Twice, at least."
"Nearly being the operative word." Gerry stood behind her. "You know none of us would let nothing happen to you."
"I know." Sandra sighed as she felt his hands on her shoulders. "I know."
"Good. Right." Gerry paused and looked away for a moment. "Well." Sandra smiled slightly. She still had no idea what was going on with her and Gerry but she knew there was something there. No other man she had ever known quite affected her in the same way. There were times when she wanted to scream at him but times like this, when he knew no one else would be around he was probably her best friend and more.
"How was Paula?"
"Tired. She was on night duty yesterday. Her Mum had little Gerry so I had chance to talk to her properly."
"And?"
"And she's scared of something. Of someone."
"What?" Sandra genuinely liked the younger woman and knew how much Gerry adored all his daughters.
"I dunno. She didn't say anything really but I know my little girl and she is scared of someone. I mentioned the murder and I know she wasn't working there at the time but she clamed up. Changed the subject. Told me some stuff about students being ostracised by older more qualified staff. Said they were resented because of the change in training. Like that's their fault?"
"I dunno Gerry. People can be very scared of change. Look at Brian."
"Do I 'ave to?"
"My point is, he isn't the only person who doesn't like change."
"True." He walked over to his desk as the phone started ringing. "Jack?" He looked over at Sandra as her eyebrows raised. "Slow down mate. Ok, ok. Sit tight, we're on our way."
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A/N Is Paula really in danger? Is Gerry right to be worried. Had to get Steve in there somewhere! Please review.
