We do not own Eastenders, Ashes to Ashes, Waterloo Road, Doctors, Emmerdale or River City

Chapter 8

Rowan woke early and unwound herself from Ray. She didn't think she'd cope if she lost him, and had slept tightly wrapped around him. She quietly crept from the room and took a quick shower before going into the kitchen. She pulled out eggs and bacon and began to quickly cook breakfast. She would need to get downstairs soon enough and get things going before James arrived.

She fixed up a cup of tea and took it in to Ray. He was going in early today so that he could leave early. She had wanted to take the twins shopping so he had altered his schedule. Now that Alyssa was here, going shopping might take her mind off Jack, and Ray could relax in the quiet flat.

"Ray, come on, time to get up," she said and nudged his shoulder. "Here's your tea," she said and put it on the table, "and your breakfast is ready."

She went back into the kitchen and got the food plated up and then went into the bathroom to dry her hair.

Ray sleepily looked at Rowan and took the mug as she left. He sat up better and took a sip from the mug as he tried to wake himself up. At least he was leaving early today, he'd get to spend some time with his family this afternoon. But it meant him taking the earliest shift that he could.

Ray put the mug on the side and made sure he had his dressing gown on before grabbing his mug up again and heading out to the kitchen. He smiled at his breakfast and sat down at the table. Rowan wanted to go shopping today, he didn't like shopping so much but he supposed it had to be done. He shrugged to himself and began to eat.

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Jack awoke on the couch, the bag of ice he'd been holding to ease the pain had melted. He sat up and grimaced. Still a bit sore, but he thought he could make it. He had forgotten how vicious Rowan could be. Of course, he'd never expected to be on the receiving end of her temper. He wondered if Ray hadn't made Rowan follow him so she could do what she'd done.

He stood up and hobbled to the kitchen. Maybe Ray had just forgotten what Rowan could be like.

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Whitney smiled as she opened her eyes and saw Bolton sleeping next to her. Last night had been something else, she thought to herself. She gazed at Bolton, a smile still hovering around the corners of her mouth and trailed a finger along his cheek.
Bolton frowned in his sleep and reached up a hand to bat away whatever was on his cheek. His frown deepened as he encountered something solid. He cracked open an eye and his frown disappeared as he saw Whitney. He smiled at her.

"Hey," he said as he sat up and stretched.

"Hey," Whitney said back. "So, I'm thinking of having a lazy day today, maybe not even getting out of bed," she told him as she slid close and leaned against him. "Care to join me?"

Bolton wrapped an arm around her and grinned "What would a lazy day entail?" he asked her with a yawn.

"Well," she said, drawing out the word and slowly slid her hand down his chest. "It means not leaving this bed for one thing," she added and slid her hand lower.

Bolton gave her a slow grin as his arm wormed around her waist and pulled her closer to his body. "Mmmm," he hummed. "Sounds like a plan," he agreed before rolling her onto her back.

Peter shuffled out of the bedroom and did a double-take when he saw Lauren sprawled across the bed in the spare room. He shook his head and continued on his way into the kitchen. He flipped on the kettle and pulled down three mugs. It was probably best Lauren didn't try to get all the way home; he'd heard them when they'd come in late last night. They'd been completely off their heads.

He dug out the bread and threw some in the toaster and leaned on the counter as he waited for things to get done.

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Alyssa woke to the sound of a hairdryer and hugged her pillow closer. She didn't want to get up. She didn't want to move. A flash of gold caught her attention and her gaze fell on her wedding ring as the sunlight caught it. She frowned at the sight of it and tugged it off. She placed the ring on the bedside table and stared at it. She could remember the last time she'd stayed in this room, her wedding day! She snorted, she knew that Jack had slept with other people while he was with Davina, but she hadn't thought that he'd do that to her! Especially after everything they had gone through with Davina and Declan.

She growled and brushed at her tears before they could fall, she wasn't going to cry over him! Alyssa sat up. She wasn't going to sit around all day and wallow. She caught sight of her clothes on the floor; she was going to have to go and get some clothes from home. She'd do that today and get it out of the way. She pulled the clothes back on and used the hair bobble on her wrist to tie her hair back before leaving the bedroom. She caught sight of Ray sitting by himself and at the sight of the food he was eating her stomach turned over.

"Morning," she murmured to him as she got herself a glass of water and sat down opposite him.

Ray looked at her studiously and nodded. He swallowed his mouthful. "Morning," he said. He wasn't sure what he was supposed to say to her. He wasn't any good in situations like this. He looked back at her and saw her staring off into space. He sighed, seemed that she didn't want to talk anyway. He was relieved.

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Alex sat at the kitchen table cradling her mug. She was in work today, she'd have to see about Shaz and Ginger and what Lucy had said. She wasn't looking forward to that at all. As far as Chris had known it was just the PC's that were victimising Lucy, she couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed that it was CID too. She also felt angry! She took a sip of her coffee and looked up as the kettle boiled again. She hadn't told Gene yet what Lucy had told her.

She fixed his tea and took it through to the bedroom, a fond smile crept across her face at the sight of her sleeping husband and she sat on the edge of the bed and put the mug on the side.

"Gene," she murmured as she shook his shoulder gently.

Gene yawned and opened his eyes as he looked up at Alex.

"M awake," he mumbled and grabbed at the cup of tea. He eyed her a moment and then sighed as he remembered she was working today. There wasn't enough time. He covered his disappointment with a drink of tea and then sighed.

"So, you're in today," he said, even though he knew the answer.

Alex nodded at him. "Yeah, and Ray's leaving early, too," she sighed and leant down to press a kiss to his cheek.

"Sammy's in the front watching cartoons," she told him. "He seems happier today," she added with a small smile as she drew her legs up onto the bed and leant back against him. She didn't have long until she had to leave for work she noted as she looked at the clock.

"That is the point of going in early," Gene told her and snorted. He took another sip of his tea and narrowed his eyes.

"What is it? You said Sammy is fine, so what's bothering you?" he wanted to know.

Alex shook her head. "Just something I've got to sort out," she told him, she didn't want to get Gene involved until she had heard what Ginger and Shaz had to say about Lucy's accusations. She really hoped they had a very good excuse.

"It's to do with Lucy," she added with a small sigh.

Alex smiled softly at him and nodded. She wasn't going to explain what was really going on, not yet. She kissed him softly and sighed as she climbed off the bed.

"I'll see you later," she told him as she slid her shoes on and left the bedroom.

"Sammy, be good for you Dad," she told her son who leapt off the sofa to give her a hug. Alex scooped him into her arms and kissed his nose, making him push her face away. She grinned at him. "I think you should go and get your lazy Daddy out of bed," she told him quietly and Sammy grinned back as she put him down.

She chuckled as Sammy dashed to the bedroom and then left the flat.

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Rowan finished drying her hair, quickly braided it back and went into the kitchen. She fixed herself a cup of coffee and then one for Alyssa and sat down.

"So, I have to take the twins shopping this afternoon for a few things, do you want to come along?" she asked Alyssa. She shot a quick glance at Ray, sure he wouldn't mind not going, even if it was for the twins.

Alyssa moulded her hands around the mug and looked up at Rowan. "Sure," she shrugged.

Ray nodded slightly at Rowan, he understood. He got a free afternoon to do whatever he pleased. That didn't bother him.

Alyssa looked up at Rowan. "I need to go and get some clothes from home," she said quietly as she took a large gulp from the mug. Ray frowned.

"Why do it today if you don't want to see him, do it tomorrow when he's at work," he suggested and Alyssa shook her head. "I'll do it today," she said back and Ray shrugged again before finishing up his breakfast and putting the plate in the sink. He placed a hand on Rowan's shoulder as he passed her and headed to the bathroom.

"I'll go with you, we can go before we head out shopping," Rowan told her as she put her coffee cup in the sink. She turned around to look at Alyssa again. "You know, we are going shopping, so if you change your mind you can always by a couple things while we're out."

She walked to the bathroom and followed Ray in and gave him a quick kiss.

"I have to get downstairs now. She should be fine with the twins if they wake up, okay?" she assured him. "I think they'll help actually."

She patted Ray on the cheek and then hurried down to the restaurant. She sighed as she saw James already waiting. At least he wasn't late. She quickly let him in and then headed into the kitchen to get the breakfast prep started.

"Okay," she said as she saw James tying on his apron and began to list off what she needed done. He nodded and then headed into the walk in to get things. She looked upset, he noticed. Worried. He wondered if she was having trouble with Ray. He allowed himself a small smile and got to work. He knew Ray was working today, so as soon as he was gone, James could make his move. Rowan would be his.

Alyssa nodded at Rowan silently and stared into her mug as she listened to Rowan's footsteps move away.

Ray nodded and watched as Rowan leave the bathroom before getting into the shower.

Alyssa glanced up as Ray emerged from his bedroom fully dressed and gave him a weak smile. He grabbed up his half finished tea and drained it. "You'll be alright with the twins when they wake up?" he asked her and Alyssa nodded. "Sure," she said.

Ray nodded and patted her shoulder comfortingly as he dumped his mug in the sink. "It'll be all right Lyss," he said and she nodded half-heartedly.

Ray grabbed his coat up and rushed out the flat, he was going to be late if he didn't hurry. He marched out of the Restaurant with a brief goodbye to Rowan as he went.

Lauren staggered out of the spare room and into the kitchen.

"Oi, Peter, keep it down, would you?"

"I'm not being that loud, Lauren, you're just oversensitive. You shouldn't have drank so much last night."

"Well, we were celebrating. First, that Whit's show went so well and then that Molly and I got Whit and Bolton together."

"Yes, I know, the pair of you were signing songs to your praises when you got in last night."

Lauren had the grace to blush. "Sorry."

"It's fine, tea?"

"Yeah, go on," she said and dropped into a chair.

He put a mug in front of her. "And I'm off to work now, Molly doesn't have to be at the club until 2, but if you're still here, try to make sure she's awake and can get there."

Lauren waved at him and nodded, wincing at the pain nodding brought on.

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Lucy lay in bed and stared at the ceiling. She'd finally asked for help, but only because of Ginger and Shaz. She was just glad she wasn't in today, she really didn't want to be there when Alex confronted them. She just hoped Alex believed her.

Lucy finally dragged herself from bed and pulled on her track suit to go for her jog. It wouldn't do to slack off and lose some criminal because she wasn't keeping herself in shape. One thing all these people harassing her hadn't realized, the more they tried to stop her doing something, the more she became determined to do it. Her father could have told them that. She allowed herself a small smile and set off down the street.

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James smirked as he watched Ray leave the restaurant. He glanced at the clock, plenty of time before she decided to open. He walked over to her.

"So, getting all the wedding plans done?" he asked nonchalantly.

Rowan looked up from the biscuit dough she was kneading and blew a stray hair back from her forehead.

"Yeah, Lyss already has a list; I had a wedding planner and didn't even know it. I just hope it's not too extravagant," she replied.

"Yeah, you like simple," he agreed and brushed away the stray hair that had fallen on her face again. He put a hand on the small of her back and moved slightly closer.

"You'll have orchids for your bouquet?" he continued and she furrowed her brow and looked at him.

"Yes, how did you…." she asked and suddenly his arms were around her. Rowan swallowed nervously. "Um, James, let me go."

"I love you, Rowan, you should be marrying me, not that idiotic Neanderthal," he told her and fixed his lips to hers. Rowan jerked her head away.

"James, stop," she pleaded and began to struggle.

"I know you feel the same, just admit it, Rowan," he told her as he pressed her against the wall. She tried to kick out, but he shifted so he was standing between her legs and pressed her tightly to the wall, her arms were trapped by his arms wrapped around her. She tried pinching him, but it went unnoticed. She felt fear welling up inside her as she felt his arousal through his trousers.

"No!" she began to scream and he quickly clapped a hand over her mouth to stifle it.

"You don't want to go frightening the twins do you?" he asked her, his tone menacing. Rowan swallowed hard and he carefully removed his hand from her mouth. While her arm was still free she lashed out and managed to rake her nails across his cheek. He quickly caught her hand and pinned them over her head, holding them tightly in place with one of his own. He grinned at her.

"Come on, tell me you love me, and then we can run away together," he urged. "You're so beautiful," he crooned and trailed his free hand over her breast. "I can't stand to think of him touching you. I don't know how you put up with such a disgusting creature," he said.

"I don't love you, James, please let me go," she begged quietly and he put his face up close to hers, his free hand leaving her breast and moving up to grab her chin.

"You do, just admit it," he snarled. "You can prove it to me," he added and grabbed her top and tore it open. Rowan winced as buttons flew, but he'd left her mouth uncovered, and she knew something he didn't…Alyssa was upstairs.

"No!" she shrieked at the top of her lungs. "Stop it!" she added and his hand slammed over her mouth again, stifling her cries.

"I told you to be quiet. I'm just trying to show you I love you, why can't you just appreciate that you stupid bitch," he growled at her.

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Lucy made it to the park and slowed to a walk as she opened her bottle of water and took a small drink. She walked slowly to a table and sat down with a small sigh. She glanced in the direction of the station. No doubt her accusers were there now. She wondered again what might be going on. Was it a prank? To get her into trouble and kicked out? Or were they just mistakenly accusing her of this possible blackmail? She couldn't be sure. Why would they think it was her anyway? Just because she delivered the files? That was hardly fair. She would have thought CID officers would be more thorough than that. There must be something else.

She closed her eyes and thought hard over everything she'd done that past week. The cameras, they had to have got hold of the CCTV footage, but what would that prove except that she delivered the files? She took a deep breath and cleared her mind. She never touched their desks, just dropped the files off, but there'd been that one day….yes, DS Granger's drawer had been open and Lucy had pushed it closed as she passed. So, they would have thought she was perhaps putting something in the drawer? Of course, that had to be it, not someone necessarily setting her up, but a mistake that DS Granger seemed determined to run with.

"You don't want to sleep out here," she heard a voice say and opened her eyes to see Chris smiling down at her.

"I wasn't sleeping, I was thinking," she retorted and sat up straight. She glanced down at his daughter in her stroller and then back at him as he sat down next to her.

"What were you thinking about?"

"Just…..stuff," she replied evasively.

"Are they still bothering you at the station?" he wanted to know.

She lowered her head and then nodded. She wouldn't tell him about the rest, not yet.

"I just don't know what I've done to deserve it. I'm trying so hard, showing people I'm not the same, but it's getting me nowhere," she said softly, her tone slightly defeated.

He put a hand on her shoulder. "I've told Alex, she'll sort it."

"So that was you, well, thank you, but it might just make things worse, you know. I'll tell you one thing, if they think it's going to make me give up and quit, they don't know me very well."

"That's the spirit," Chris encouraged. "It's bound to stop soon. You know, now that DI Hunt is involved, it's only a short time before the Guv does, too."

Lucy groaned. "I'm sure that will really make it bad for me."

Chris chuckled. "The Guv can be sly, trust us on that," he assured her.

"I promised this one an ice cream, will you watch her a moment so I can leave her here? I'll get you one, too."

"How can I resist an offer like that?" she replied.

Lucy quickly took the dripping cone he brought back and watched as he put a small cup on the stroller tray so Olivia could eat some ice cream.

"So, DI Hunt is definitely going to mentor you?" he asked curiously.

"It sounds pretty certain. I wanted to actually stay in uniform, but if all this crap is going to keep going on, I might have to either get transferred or see if maybe DSI Hunt won't help me get into CID faster," she said in a regretful tone.

"I'm sure she'll do whatever she can to help. She's good that way. She helped us loads, still does in fact," he told her. "I probably would never have been promoted without her help."

Lucy gave him a small smile and finished her ice cream.

"I better get home. I don't know how, but the flat is a mess," she admitted. She stood up and then leaned back down and kissed Chris on the cheek.

"Thank you for being so nice to me," she told him. Chris looked at her, startled by the kiss, but not displeased.

"You're welcome," he told her and watched as she walked away. She was a decent girl; he hoped Alex would be able to help her.

"Do you think Mummy will be free for lunch?" he asked Olivia. "I hope so."

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Alyssa looked up sharply at the sound of Rowan's screeching. What was going on? She had never heard Rowan sound like that before. A sense of panic filled her as Alyssa sprang up and hurried silently down the stairs. She poked her head around the door to the Kitchen and her eyes widened at the sight of James holding Rowan against the wall, her arms above her head and her shirt torn open.

An uncontrollable sense of rage filled Alyssa: she had been trying to dissipate her anger at Jack and Annie for most of the night and morning but it wouldn't go. Now her sister was being threatened and it was as though a volcano had erupted inside her. Her expression went dark and she grabbed the nearest heavy object she could see: a frying pan.

She took silent steps forward and raised the heavy pan "Get your filthy hands off my sister!" she snarled at James before crashing the pan into his head as hard as she could.

Rowan eyes widened at the sight of Alyssa behind James and she stayed pressed to the wall as he fell to the ground unconscious.

The frying pan dropped from Alyssa's hand as James collapsed to the floor. She winced at the noise that it made and closed her eyes until the noise stopped.

"Sonofabitch!" she wailed and wrapped her arms around herself. She flung herself at Alyssa and leaned against her before looking down at James.

"I hope he's not dead," she muttered. "Call the police, call Alex, not Ray, I don't want him here, he would kill James for sure," she said and then slid to the floor in a faint.

Alyssa looked at Rowan as she slumped against her and laid her down, taking off her cardigan and using it to cushion Rowan's head. She carefully folded Rowan's shirt back over her body so she wasn't so exposed and whipped out her phone.

She glanced at James on the floor as she called Alex.

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Alex pulled up outside the station and sighed heavily as she got out of the car, she walked past Adam and then doubled back and rested against his counter. "Are Shaz and Ginger in yet?" she asked him and he nodded. "Yeah Ma'am, they got here about 10 minutes ago," he explained and Alex nodded. "Thanks," she muttered.

Alex marched to the office and glanced around, only Shaz and Ginger were in today. She glared at them as she stood against her desk with her hands on her hips

"I got a call from Lucy Beale yesterday," she told them. Shaz looked up with a frown and Alex continued.

"I hope you've got a very good excuse for why you're victimising her!" she snapped at them.

Shaz frowned. "We are not victimising her!" she retorted and added a quick. "Ma'am," at the sight of Alex's furious expression.

"Then why is she calling me to tell me that you are?" Alex asked.

"Look, ma'am," Ginger said and held out one of the letters he had received. "She's been putting these in our desk drawers," he told her. "We aren't victimizing her, she's trying to blackmail us, not sure what for so there seems little point in it, but still," he told her. "It's an attempt. We've even got her on the CCTV footage closing one of Shaz' desk drawers."

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Alex looked at the letter curiously and then glanced back up at Ginger. "So you do have evidence that this is actually Lucy?" she asked.

Shaz nodded. "We have a CCTV tape with Lucy closing my drawer, the same drawer where these letters keep appearing."

Alex frowned. "Closing the drawer?" she questioned. "So you didn't see her put anything in there?" she asked.

"Well...not exactly..no.." Shaz faltered.

"So you are merely speculating that it's Lucy because you see her closing a draw?" Alex clarified, she sighed and held up a hand as her phone went off, she frowned at Alyssa's name on her screen, but answered.

"Lyss? I'm working," she said.

"I know Alex, but um, you should get over to the Restaurant now."

"Why? What's happened?"

"It's Ro, she's...and James, I think.." Alyssa babbled.

"Take a deep breath Alyssa and try again," Alex advised.

"James was trying to rape Ro and I've knocked him out with a frying pan."

"WHAT!" Alex gasped. "I'll get Ray and..."

"No! Not Ray!" Alyssa blurted. "Ro doesn't want Ray," she said.

Alex let out a breath. "Okay," she replied. "Okay, just stay calm and I'm on my way," she said.

Alex snapped her phone shut and looked at Shaz and Ginger. "I'll deal with you two later," she glared at them before dashing out and heading to the Restaurant.

Rowan moaned as her eyes fluttered open. She carefully sat up and watched Alyssa as finished talking on her phone. She picked up the cardigan and wrapped it around her.

"Was that Alex you were calling?" she asked and looked at James. It looked like he was still breathing. She huddled on the floor. She was not going to open the restaurant, not today. "It looks like he's still alive."

"Can you make a sign, Lyss, something that just says 'closed for personal reasons' and put it on the door, there's no way I'm going to open up today."

Alyssa looked down at Rowan and nodded. "Yeah, she's on her way," she said as she glanced at James and resisted the urge to kick him.

She nodded again and went to find some paper and a marker pen. She quickly made a sign and grabbed some sellotape and stuck it to the door. She sighed and went back to Rowan and sat down on the floor with Rowan. "I've done the sign," she said quietly as she wrapped her arms around Rowan and pulled her into a hug.

"Are you okay Ro?" she whispered.

"I'm fine, just really pissed off," she told Alyssa. "Thank you," she said and leaned against Alyssa again.

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Ginger looked at Shaz. "I don't think we've got it wrong. But, it could get out now, because of this," Ginger told her. "Maybe we should have waited, tried to catch her at it, then she wouldn't have had a chance to go complaining. Not that I thought she would, she's not complained about anything else so far."

"But they're pulling pranks and stuff; we're accusing her of attempting to blackmail us, that's a little different."

He glanced up at the cameras and thought a moment.

"Maybe we should still try to catch her red-handed," he said. "We're both here today, no letters yet. What if we pretend to leave and wait for her to sneak in?" he suggested. "It will be easy enough to do at lunchtime."

Shaz nodded. "Works for me," she agreed and turned back to her paperwork. Lucy had gone running to Alex over this, not over any of the other horrible things that had been happening. Pranks! They were getting more vindictive to be labelled as pranks.

Ginger picked up his phone. "Yeah, hi Simon, no I can't do lunch today, no Shaz and I have some meeting we have to be in, they're having lunch brought in. Yeah, I know it stinks," he said in a pathetic tone. "Okay, see you later," he said and closed his phone and looked at Shaz. "That was easy. I think that storage closet just down the hall should work for a hiding place."

"Good plan," Shaz said as she twirled a pen.

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Lucy got home and took a quick shower. That had been nice, spending a bit of time with Chris like that. He was even funnier and nicer than she'd thought. She wasn't the one doing these letters, but she could do something else. She narrowed her eyes and smiled a half-smile and then went to ransack her wardrobe.

She finished going through her clothes until she finally put together an outfit. Now, to doll herself up and see about running into Chris "accidentally".

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Alex drove as fast as she could to the Restaurant and barely glanced at the sign before trying the door. Locked. She tapped insistently on the window.

Alyssa looked up and then stood. "That'll be Alex," she said quietly as she went to open the door. Alex rushed in as soon as Alyssa opened the door.

Rowan watched as Alyssa went to get the door and nodded at Alex as she came into the kitchen.

"What happened?"

Alyssa just pointed at the kitchen and Alex looked at her once before rushing to the kitchen and seeing James splayed out on the floor and Rowan huddled on the floor. She went over to Rowan and fell to her knees before her.

"What happened Ro?" she asked softly.

"We were doing breakfast prep, then right after Ray left, he starts talking to me. Starts telling me he was in love with me, wanted me to run away with him," she shuddered. "He must have been the one who's been sending me little presents. It's just so…..twisted," Rowan blurted and then pushed herself up and staggered to the sink where she was sick. She leaned against the sink, putting her forehead on her arm.

Alyssa got up and quickly got Rowan a glass of water. She handed it to her once she'd finished vomiting and rubbed her back soothingly.

Rowan mumbled a thank you to Alyssa and watched Alex.

"I never, ever thought….I mean…." she trailed off and sighed. "It was like my past come back to haunt me," she muttered to herself. She shuddered again and lifted her head to vomit into the sink again. She rinsed her mouth and turned back to Alex. "He pinned me up against the wall, I couldn't get any leverage to get him off me, he tore my shirt," she said and opened the cardigan so Alex could see. "He took his hand off my mouth when he thought I wouldn't scream, he threatened the twins….but I knew Alyssa was upstairs. And when I thought he wouldn't expect it, I screamed. Then, Alyssa came in and hit him with the frying pan," she finished and wrapped her arms around herself.

Alex nodded and swallowed. "Okay...okay," she murmured and looked down at James on the floor. She grabbed up his wrist and checked his pulse. She nodded and grabbed out her phone.

"Yeah, ambulance, please," she said and reeled off the address.

Alex snapped her phone shut and put it back in her pocket, she looked back at Rowan. "Do you want me to charge him for attempted rape when he wakes up?" she asked.

"Of course I do!" Rowan yelped.

"Do you need to take pictures? I'd really like to change my shirt before the twins see me," Rowan told her and took off the cardigan just in case the answer was yes. She was just glad she kept a spare shirt in the kitchen so she could change before going up to check on the twins.

On the floor behind Alex, James breathed his last.

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Chris noticed it was near lunchtime and quickly grabbed up the phone to call Shaz and see if she wanted to meet up.

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"Good!" said Alex firmly, too many women refused to report rapes and too many men got off.

Alex nodded with a sigh and grabbed the camera from her bag. She took pictures of Rowan as quickly as she could and then nodded as she put the camera away again.

Alex looked up as she heard the sirens and watched the paramedics come pouring into the kitchen. Alyssa sat silently as they examined James and one looked up.

"Who called the ambulance?" he asked. Alex cleared her throat. "I did," she answered and held her badge tightly in her hand.

"You do know that this man is dead?" he asked and Alyssa froze.

Alex glanced quickly at Alyssa then looked back at the paramedic "Can you take him to the morgue?" she asked and showed him her badge. He nodded and helped his colleagues to put James' body onto a stretcher and carried it out.

Alyssa stared after them. "I...I killed him?" she asked quietly and Alex nodded, it was taking a lot for her to try to remain professional, these were her friends!

"It was self-defence, Alyssa," she reassured her.

"But I wasn't defending myself!" Alyssa said back and Alex nodded. "No, you were defending your sister who had no means to stop what was happening," she replied. "It still counts as self-defence," she said.

Alyssa nodded and looked over at Rowan. "Do you think this weekend can get any worse?" she asked quietly.

Alex frowned slightly at Alyssa but didn't comment, she looked back at Rowan. "You'll have to come down to the station to give a formal statement Rowan, Lyss, you're going to have to come, too," she added.

Alex as an afterthought pulled out her phone and quickly called Lucy to tell her to get down to the station. Once she'd finished with Rowan and Alyssa she still had to sort out Ginger and Shaz and Lucy.

Rowan quickly shucked off the shirt and left it on the counter as she grabbed a clean one out of a nearby drawer. She quickly pulled it on as the paramedics came in. She walked over to Alyssa and gasped when they said James was dead. Rowan slipped her arms around Alyssa's waist.

"Alex is right, Lyss, if you hadn't, there's no telling what he would have done," Rowan told her. She looked at Alex and nodded.

"I have to get the twins. I can't leave them here," she told Alex and turned and bolted up the stairs. She climbed up to their room and was thankful to see they were both still sleeping. She quickly pulled clothes out for them and proceeded to wake her sleeping children to dress them. She was grateful to have it to do. James was dead! She could hardly believe it. She noticed one of her hands start to shake and she quickly grabbed up the clothes and dressed the twins before dragging them, protesting the whole way, downstairs. They cheered up when they saw Alyssa, but Rowan kept hold of them so they didn't go running into the kitchen. They didn't need to see the body. They also brightened when they found out they would get to ride in a police car to the station to see Daddy.

/\\/\\\/\/\\\/\\\/\\\/\\\/\\\/\\\/\/\\/\\/\

"Sorry, Chris, I can't," Shaz said when she picked up the phone. "I've got a stack of work that I need to get finished and I'll probably just skip lunch anyway," she said sadly. "Give Olivia a hug from me," she added.

Chris sighed. "Okay, Shaz, see you when you're done then," he said and hung up. He looked at Olivia. "Looks like Mummy is busy today," he told her and went into the kitchen to sort lunch.

/\\/\\\/\/\\\/\\\/\\\/\\\/\\\/\\\/\/\\/\\/\

Ginger cracked the door, just enough for him to see out. He looked at Shaz and put a finger over his lips as he heard someone coming. DC Hale. He rolled his eyes and bit back a noise of irritation. He mouthed "Hale" at Shaz and then turned back to watch Hale leave the office with his jacket now on, obviously going to lunch. He waited and saw some young PC, his hands full of files go in and leave a few minutes later. More work to do. He quickly imparted the information to Shaz. He hoped this wouldn't take too much longer, he was getting hungry.

Finally he heard more footsteps approaching and watched as Lucy approached the doors of the main room and went inside. He turned to Shaz and grinned as he opened the storage room door. "It's her, she's in there," he said and bolted for the door and shoved it open.

Shaz stood uncomfortably in the cupboard and nodded at Ginger as he dictated everything that was going on in the office. She was slightly startled when he leapt out of the cupboard and she slid out after him.

Lucy jumped, startled and turned to see who had slammed through the door. She gazed at Ginger wide-eyed in surprise, her heart pounding in her chest. "You scared me half to death," she snapped. He could only stare at her, where she was stood leaning against the wall with her arms folded, near the doors. There hadn't been enough time for her to do anything and he cursed himself inwardly. It also didn't look like she was planning to do anything.

"What are you doing here?" he wanted to know as he walked over towards her.

"DI Hunt called me and asked me to meet her here," Lucy replied. Ginger narrowed his eyes at her and went to his desk and opened his drawer.

"You bitch, how did you do it?" he snarled as he held up a letter. He slammed the drawer shut and looked at Shaz and showed her the envelope.

"I'm sure you have one, too," he told her and turned his glare back on Lucy.

"I didn't put that there. I only just walked in like a minute ago," Lucy cried defensively.

Shaz went to her drawer and looked through it, she frowned as she pulled out another letter, identical to Ginger's.

She glared at Lucy.

"I didn't do it!" Lucy insisted again. "I was standing right here, how could I have possibly put letters in both your desks and be standing here like nothing was happening before he came bursting in. I don't have super-speed you know!" she snorted. She returned their glare and found herself hoping Alex would get here soon.

Shaz narrowed her eyes. "I wouldn't put anything past you!" she snapped back.

"Besides, if you didn't do anything, why are the letters so upsetting?" Lucy shot back. "Or do you have something to hide?"

She saw Ginger's expression change slightly and fought back a smile. She raised an eyebrow and looked at them.

"Is this because you two had sex?" she finally asked.

Alex did a double take as she came through the doors and took in the situation. She frowned.

"What?" she asked.

Shaz whipped around, horrified. "DI Hunt," she said respectively and then turned her angry glare on Lucy.

Alex looked between Shaz and Ginger and then back to Lucy. "What do you mean is this because they had sex?" she asked.

"Nothing Alex, she doesn't mean anything," Shaz said quickly.

Alex raised an eyebrow at Shaz' hasty answer. "I asked Lucy, Shaz," she said dismissively and looked back at Lucy.

Ginger's jaw dropped as Alex walked in just as Lucy spoke.

Lucy looked at Alex and gulped. But at least she heard them accusing her.

"I overheard them talking about it last week when I was going to bring some files in, I think that's what the notes might be about. But I didn't do them," she told Alex quickly, her tone going desperate at the end. She looked at Shaz and Ginger.

"You know there's no way I could have put those in your desks!"

Alex nodded at Lucy and looked at Ginger and Shaz. "That's what all this is about?" she asked icily.

"Have you thought about just admitting it to Simon and Chris?" she asked.

Shaz shook her head. "They don't need to know, it was an accident, we were drunk and there's no way it would happen again!" she said.

"And that's exactly the reason why you should tell them!" Alex insisted and pulled back her growing need to groan. All of this trouble because Shaz and Ginger had got drunk and slept together! It was insane!

She turned back to Lucy then looked at Ginger and Shaz. "You've told me yourselves that you only saw Lucy shut a draw on that CCTV, there's no evidence that she put anything in the drawers," she said.

Hale walked into the workroom, right into the middle of...he didn't know what.

"What in the world is going on in here, ma'am?" he asked Alex. He looked at Shaz and Ginger who were holding letters and looking at Lucy with accusation on their faces. Wasn't that hard to figure out what was going on.

He shook his head and quickly headed back out the door.

Lucy studied Hale as he stood there and her mouth gaped as he left. She quickly pointed at the door.

"It was him, can't you see that?" she asked incredulously. She quickly turned out her jacket pockets and upended her handbag. "No gloves…see. He had a glove in his jacket pocket, just barely sticking out, I bet if you check those there won't be any fingerprints, then you'll know it's not me!" she persisted.

"He's a CID officer, we always carry them," Ginger snapped.

"But I'm not and he is!" Lucy argued and put her face in her hands with a growl of frustration.

/\\/\\\/\/\\\/\\\/\\\/\\\/\\\/\\\/\/\\/\\/\

Rowan sighed with relief when Alex was finally done interviewing her. She knew Alyssa was in the next room being interviewed by that DC…Hale…that was it. She didn't want Ray in either of the interviews; she had ordered him to watch the twins instead. She had to get this over with, then she could feel safe in Ray's arms. Right now, she couldn't deal with it. As bad as she felt, she was sure Alyssa felt worse. She thought it was odd that it wasn't Ginger or Shaz interviewing Alyssa, but the way Alex had acted towards them, it seemed there was something else going on there. She didn't ask, she really didn't care to know. She was more worried about Alyssa.

She looked at the clock, glad to see it was lunchtime. She wasn't hungry, but she was sure the twins were. She thanked Alex and gave her a quick hug as she left the interview room and went towards Ray's office when she didn't see Alyssa. She must not be finished yet.

She walked over to him, brushing the heads of each twin as she passed them and sat in his lap and leaned against him. Now, she could be held. She quickly blinked back tears. Those would have to wait for later.

Ray closed his arms around her without a word. He had heard all that had happened from Alex and was privately angry that Alyssa had killed James. He wanted that pleasure himself. His arms tightened around her and he pressed a kiss to her forehead. He was so angry! But he understood that what Rowan needed right now was for him to stay calm and be there for her. He was glad the twins hadn't got up early, he supposed they'd stayed up late with Abi while she was babysitting, but he was glad that they hadn't been around while it was happening.

A shaky breath left him and he shifted her position so she was straddling his lap and he pulled her right against him, holding her tightly and burying his face in her hair. He couldn't speak to her, he couldn't find the words to say to her. All he could do was hold her and reassure himself that she was safe and unharmed.

Rowan buried her face in Ray's neck. She didn't like sitting this way after what had just happened, but the smell of Ray's cologne and the feel of "him" enfolding her, kept her from being afraid.

"Can we go home?" she finally murmured. "The twins need to eat and if Alyssa's done I need to get her out of here."

Ray nodded silently as he held her against him.

"Course," he croaked out.

/\\/\\\/\/\\\/\\\/\\\/\\\/\\\/\\\/\/\\/\\/\

Alyssa left the interview room followed by DC Hale. She was grateful that it had been a police officer that she didn't know very well, it made it easier. She felt drained now, and still shaky. She spotted the twins in Ray's office and headed towards it, smiling as much as she could at Claire and Denis before looking at Rowan and Ray as they sat cuddled together. Her heart jerked slightly as a small part of her wished that Jack was here, but she pushed that away, she was still too mad at him.

"I'm done," she said quietly as she went and sat down on the floor near the twins to see what they were doing. If Rowan and Ray needed some time together then they could have it. She was in no hurry to go anywhere.

Rowan sat up as she heard Alyssa's voice and she looked at Ray before standing up.

"Come on, we should get these two fed," she said, trying to sound cheerful for the children. She helped Alyssa to her feet and then grabbed up Denis so that Alyssa could pick up Claire. Claire was crazy about Auntie Alyssa.

She walked slowly from the station, ignoring the commotion down the hall. She just wanted to be in the flat.

Alyssa opened her arms to Claire and picked the little girl up. She gave her the best smile she could manage before following Rowan out, Ray bringing up the rear. He smiled at Claire over Alyssa's shoulder and began to pull faces at her to make her laugh. It wouldn't do to have Claire and Denis know what was going on, it would only upset everyone.

Ray led them all to the car and took Claire from Alyssa to strap her into the car seat whilst Rowan sorted out Denis. Ray was going to drive; Rowan was in no state to be behind the wheel. Alyssa clambered into the back and sat between the twins in the middle seat as Ray started up the car and drove them all home.

The first thing he noticed was the "Closed" sign on the door and he nodded. Good. Rowan was in no state to be dealing with customers today. He was going to take them all upstairs, put on the TV or something and hold her some more.

Alyssa unstrapped the twins the moment that Ray stopped the car and let Claire clamber over her to join Denis on the pavement outside before getting out the car herself.

Ray looked at the twins with a broad grin. "Right! Now, I think that the pair of you could do with a biscuit?" he suggested as he pushed open the back door for them to go inside.

"I think they need a proper lunch," Rowan said as she followed them inside. She immediately went to the kitchen when they got upstairs and began pulling things out of the fridge. She had to keep herself distracted so the twins wouldn't know something was wrong.

Alyssa watched Rowan start getting ready to cook and watched Ray collapse on the sofa, his eyes never leaving Rowan. She curled up on one of the armchairs and slid off her shoes as she hugged a cushion.

Ray glanced at the twins before turning his concerned gaze back on Rowan. She was putting on a brave face for the children but that didn't stop him worrying about her. He looked at the twins with a smile. "Go and annoy your auntie," he told them before going over to Rowan and placing a gentle hand on her shoulder.

"Talk to me, Ro," he told her quietly as he stood next to the counter and watched her.

Rowan finished cutting the last potato and dumped it in the oil as Ray walked up. She looked at him and then looked back down at the pan and began to flip the burgers.

She closed her eyes at his words.

"Not now, Ray, please, I just...I can't...I have to keep it together for the twins okay? Please," she begged and looked at him.

"It's over and it could have been a lot worse for me," she pressed her lips closed and let out a long breath through her nose. "Just...please...Ray...not now."

"Okay," he said quietly as he continued to watch her cook.

She quickly put the burgers on buns and began to put the twins' favorite toppings on them. She scooped out chips and put them on the plates and then put the plates on the table. She went back to the counter and dumped the last of the chips on Ray's plate. She looked up at him and put a hand on his cheek and then handed him the plate.

"Just eat, with the twins. We have to get Alyssa's stuff. I'll call Charlie," she said quickly when she saw his face. "I'm not going to drive."

Ray nodded at her and sighed as he took his plate from her gratefully and went to join the twins at the table. He didn't really want her to go out anywhere; he didn't want to let her out of his sight. Not today, not after the morning she had had. He smiled at the twins as they ate and kept half of his attention.

She went into the front room.

"Go eat," she told the twins and they both shrieked happily and ran for their chairs. Rowan watched them go then looked at Alyssa.

"We should go get your things while the kids are busy. I'll call Charlie, I don't think I can drive, Ray surely doesn't think I can right now," she said.

Alyssa watched Claire and Denis rush off and looked up at Rowan. "Let's go now then," she said. The sooner she got her stuff the better, then she didn't have to worry about running into Jack. She really was in no mood to argue with him.

/\\/\\\/\/\\\/\\\/\\\/\\\/\\\/\\\/\/\\/\\/\

Alex studied Lucy for a moment and then nodded. What she was saying made sense.

She turned to Ginger and Shaz. "He shares an office with you, he's here all the time, he knows when you're working and when you're not," she said to them. "And you choose to blame Lucy. because...what?" she asked them rhetorically.

Shaz opened her mouth and then shook her head. "Because we know it's her!" she said in exasperation.

Alex held up her hand and shook her head. "No Shaz, it's completely unjustified."

"We have evidence!"

"Circumstantial."

"Hale working with us, and owning gloves is circumstantial, why does it have to be him," Shaz argued back.

Lucy stood and gaped at the three of them talking. Why wasn't one of them going after Hale? She clenched her hands into fists and then bolted out the doors and down the hall. She stopped at the T-junction and looked at Adam.

"Hale?" she panted and he pointed. She nodded and set off at a fast run in that direction. She caught sight of him approaching the room where the CCTV was and leapt at him, tackling him just outside the door.

"What are you doing...get off me!" Hale bellowed.

"No, I know you're the one who's been doing the letters."

Ginger opened his mouth to say something and then Lucy bolted from the room.

"Uh..." he began.

Alex looked after Lucy as she dashed off and glared at Shaz and Ginger.

"I agree, the evidence against Hale is as circumstantial as the evidence against Lucy," she said. "So do not go apportioning blame until you have something concrete!" she told them. "That poor girl is having a hard enough time of it with her own department without CID ganging up on her, too," she told them.

Shaz snorted. "So we're supposed to give her special treatment just because some of the PC's are playing practical jokes?"

"No Shaz, you're supposed to give her a fair chance and not condemn her, what happened to innocent until proven guilty?" she snapped back before marching off to find Lucy.

/\\/\\\/\/\\\/\\\/\\\/\\\/\\\/\\\/\/\\/\\/\

Lucy snagged his cuffs from his back pocket and snapped them on him then hauled him to his feet.

"Come on, you're going to tell them it's you," she told him.

"No, I won't," he told her. "I won't admit to anything."

"What I don't get is how you knew that there was anything to know. You weren't there when I heard what they were talking about."

He snorted a laugh. "I saw it on the CCTV," he told her. She flipped him around and pushed him up against the wall.

"What do you mean?"

He shook his head at her and laughed. "I saw them...with their heads all together and worried and then I saw you, standing outside the doors and listening...your face!" he said and laughed. "I knew it had to be something good."

"Fine, you can go and tell everyone it's not me," she said and grabbed his arm and began to drag him down the hall.

"I'm not saying a word," he told her.

"You have to, I'm not taking this anymore. I haven't done anything to deserve it."

Hale clamped his lips shut and smirked at her.

Alex came around the corner at the sound of raised voices and her eyes widened at the sight of Lucy and Hale. She frowned at the handcuffs around Hale's wrists and gave Lucy a reproachful look.

"I didn't arrest him, ma'am, I just cuffed him so he couldn't get away," she explained and let Alex take Hale from her.

"You can't go around arresting people with no proof, Lucy," she sighed as she separated the pair of them. She narrowed her eyes at Hale as she took the handcuffs off him.

"Interview room 2, please," she told him. "Wait for me there."

She was going to get to the bottom of this.

"He saw them on the CCTV, he told me, he saw them talking and saw my face when I was listening, so that's how he knew they'd done anything, he just didn't know what. He told me," she added. She watched Hale smirk at her again as he went into the interview room.

She folded her arms and sighed.

"He'll never admit it."

Alex sighed at Lucy and nodded

"Well surely if it is him then he's going to be on the CCTV isn't he?" she said and pointed at the room "I want you to go and check the CCTV for the CID office from about 20 minutes ago," she instructed. Alex turned on her heel and marched to the interview room. She looked at Hale with raised eyebrows and sat down on the other side of the table.

"Tell me what's going on," she told him.

Lucy nodded. "You could ask the pair of them. They were in the office so quick ready to accuse me, it wouldn't surprise me if they were hiding in that storage cupboard," Lucy told her and went to get the disc.

Hale looked at Alex.

"There's nothing going on," he told her. "That girl is just trying to pin the blame on someone else."

He folded him arms and shrugged.

/\\/\\\/\/\\\/\\\/\\\/\\\/\\\/\\\/\/\\/\\/\

Ginger looked at Shaz. "So, you think she'll tell everyone, DI Hunt, I mean, if we don't do it ourselves."

"I'm going to go tell Simon, right now. She's right, we were drunk. It's no excuse, but maybe..." he trailed off and sighed. "I don't know. Besides, I don't want to take the chance of her telling him for me. He should hear it from me," he finished and looked over at Shaz.

"Chris should hear it from you."

He turned on his heel and left the station.

Shaz watched him go. If he did tell Simon and they had an argument then Chris would get wind of it and ask what was going on. Then he would find out and not from her and be more angry and upset than if she told him herself.

Shaz sighed heavily; at least if Chris did know then there was no reason to blackmail them anymore. She toyed with her phone as she weighed up the pros and cons of telling Chris.

Charlie looked at Annie as she sat, curled up in the overstuffed armchair.

"So, it's all out now," he said to her and Annie looked over at him.

"I know," she said simply.

"I guess you'll go now," she wondered.

"I don't see why I should stay. You betrayed me, Annie. You got me to come all this way and then you betrayed me right after we get here."

Annie hung her head again. "I know. I can't say I'm sorry anymore."

"I know," he said, echoing her earlier statement. He picked up his bag and moved towards the door.

"Take care of yourself and watch out for that man's wife," he cautioned her and she barely nodded.

/\\/\\\/\/\\\/\\\/\\\/\\\/\\\/\\\/\/\\/\\/\

Lauren left Molly and Peter's, still slightly hungover, but slightly improved. She wondered if Bolton was still at the flat with Whitney and reckoned he might be. She scuffed slowly down the street and noticed someone walking in her direction. She squinted and shaded her eyes as the shape got closer and she realized it was Charlie. He was obviously heading for the station.

She hurried over to him.

"You're not leaving," she said as she stopped in front of him.

"Aye, I am," he told her. "It's out now, and anyway, I can't forgive her and I can't think of any good reason to stay."

"But you've got some mates here now," she said, her voice almost a whine. She caught herself and modulated her tone as he smiled at her.

"You're all very nice, and it's nothing against you. It's just not home."

"But..." she began and trailed off. He saw something in her face and looked at her curiously.

"But what?"

She reached up and grabbed the lapels of his jacket and pulled him to her and kissed him.

She pulled away slowly and met his surprised gaze. "Stay for me."

"Lauren, we hardly..." he began and she fastened her lips to his again. She half smiled as this time, she felt him kiss her back.

She studied his face again as she broke off the kiss.

"Stay," she whispered.

"I don't have a place to live," he said.

"You can borrow our couch, until you find something. Whitney won't mind. Or wait...Molly and Peter have a spare room, maybe they could let you have that until you find something. You've got your job at the pub, but we could surely find you something else."

Charlie huffed out a breath and finally nodded. "Okay, let's see about this spare room, then," he finally said and Lauren let out a little squeal of happiness as she grabbed Charlie's hand and dragged him to Molly and Peter's flat.

/\\/\\\/\/\\\/\\\/\\\/\\\/\\\/\\\/\/\\/\\/\

Molly looked up as she heard the door open and frowned at Lauren and Charlie as they came in.

"Shhhhh!" she told them irritably and looked at Lauren. "I'm blaming you for this," she added moodily as she pointed at her head and took a huge gulp of coffee.

Lauren snorted. "I don't think so. I think you were the one suggested we get more drinks when the shots were gone."

"Charlie here needs a place to stay. Can he rent your spare room?"

"You didn't have to encourage me!" she glared back at Lauren then sighed.

Molly nodded. "Sure, you'll need to talk to Peter about rent though," she said to him. "But we'd be glad to have you," she smiled.

"Well, you weren't saying no too hard," Lauren reminded her.

"Thank you," Charlie said. "I'm not sure I'll be able to keep working at the pub, so I'll have to find another job. But I can pay out of what I've made so far. Haven't really spent much money here," he told Molly.

"I cave into peer pressure," Molly retorted with a smile.

Molly nodded at him. "If you're interested in more bar work then I can see if there's a job going down the club for you. I mean, I'll have to run it past Roxy first," she said.

"That would be nice, thanks. I've got experience. And Lauren was saying that restaurant over near the High Street might be hiring," Charlie shrugged.

Lauren smiled. Charlie was staying.

/\\/\\\/\/\\\/\\\/\\\/\\\/\\\/\\\/\/\\/\\/\

Ginger walked towards the B&B with his small suitcase. At least Simon had been somewhat calm, even if he had chucked Ginger out. Ginger thought there was a chance he would be forgiven, but then, he'd never seen Simon really angry. It might be that he got overly calm.

At any rate, he would be doing a lot of groveling over the next few days to try and get Simon to forgive him. He got checked in, left his case in his room and then headed back to the station, picking up a sandwich for himself on the way. He still needed to eat; though he had lost his appetite a little he had to admit.

/\\/\\\/\/\\\/\\\/\\\/\\\/\\\/\\\/\/\\/\\/\

Lucy stood outside the interview room and sighed. She looked down at the CCTV disc in her hand and peered into the other interview room. She smiled at the sight of the TV and DVD player and went inside. She quickly inserted the disc and skipped it forward until she got to the part where Shaz and Ginger were leaving. She watched as Hale approached the main room and went inside, the camera switched and she watched as he pulled on a pair of gloves and put the letters in their desks.

Lucy felt her jaw drop and she quickly ejected the disc and began knocking on the door to the interview room where Alex had taken Hale. She was sure Hale had probably been going to alter the footage, she was glad she'd caught him before he managed it.

/\\/\\\/\/\\\/\\\/\\\/\\\/\\\/\\\/\/\\/\\/\

Ginger walked in. "Well, that's done. Simon's chucked me out, but he'll possibly forgive me. Am staying at the B&B for now. So, what's going on with Hale, do you know?" he asked Shaz.

Shaz looked at him in commiseration. "I'm sorry," she told him.

She shook her head. "No, I'm trying to stay out of the way for the time being, at least until Alex calms down."

/\\/\\\/\/\\\/\\\/\\\/\\\/\\\/\\\/\/\\/\\/\

"There's no evidence that Lucy Beale has done anything," she told him. "It's all just speculation," she told him. "And there must be some reason she's accusing you, Hale," she told him as she looked him over.

"In fact, you're a more likely suspect than Lucy," she shrugged. "You have access to all of DC Skelton and DC White's shifts, you work in the same office, you have CID gloves to keep you from leaving fingerprints," she listed.

"Why would I want to bother, though and I've got nothing against Shaz and Ginger."

He leaned back in the chair and shrugged.

"And everyone knows Lucy Beale would just as soon blackmail someone as look at them."

"Blackmail is traditionally reported to the police and if Lucy Beale had a criminal record then she would not have been admitted into the force!" Alex told him as calmly as she could. "I am not going to stand for this discrimination against her," she told him. "So unless you stop it then I'm going to have to start thinking about enforcing a disciplinary," she told him.

"Nothing she did was ever reported, but everyone knows about her and what she's like," he said. "Now are we done here?"

He could hear Lucy banging on the door, calling for Alex. He didn't like that.

Alex raised her eyebrows. "As a police officer you should know better than to adhere to speculation and rumours," she said in a controlled tone.

"With respect, ma'am, I've lived here a lot longer than you and I know what that little piece of baggage is like."

Alex looked up at the sound of a knock on the door and frowned slightly at Hale before standing and going to open the door. She looked at Lucy curiously and nodded.

"Anything?" she asked, intrigued by the look of triumph on Lucy's face.

Lucy was relieved when Alex finally opened the door.

"You need to see this," she said and held up the disc. "I think then you'll see exactly who the guilty party is. I'm going now to get some food, I'm starving and it's my day off," she said, making sure to sound respectful to Alex and kept any trace of annoyance from her voice.

He watched her get up and get the door and swallowed hard when he saw her take a disc from Lucy. He hadn't thought she would check it today.

Alex took the tape from Lucy and watched her go without saying anything. She turned back to Hale for a moment and gave him a studying look before going through to the office and grabbing the TV. She pushed the disc into the slot and watched from where it started.

She gave Alex a small smile and headed out.

She grabbed herself from food from the cafe and ate while she walked home. She passed Chris and Shaz' house and saw Chris in front of it getting a bag from the car. She gave him a wave and he smiled and waved her over.

"How are things?" he asked her as she approached.

"Okay, I think things are going to be sorted now," Lucy told him.

"Good to hear," he said.

"I really owe you, I do. You've been so nice to me and you went to DI Hunt and told her what was going on. You know I couldn't, not without it making things worse."

"I know," he said. "I thought it was wrong to see it going on, it's the worse I've seen."

"I just want you to know how much I appreciate it and if there is anything I can ever do for you, don't hesitate to ask, I mean it," she swore.

"Well, I can't think of anything, but I'll let you know."

Lucy smiled at him. "Deal."

She leaned up to give him a quick kiss on the cheek as Chris turned his head and she ended up pressing her lips to his. She quickly pulled back.

"Sorry, meant to kiss your cheek," she apologized. Chris looked at her a moment.

"I know," he said and then took her face in his hands and kissed her soundly. Lucy blinked at him when he let her go. She opened her mouth to say something, but no words would come. She took a deep breath.

"I have to go," she finally choked out and ran off, Chris watching as she went.

/\\/\\\/\/\\\/\\\/\\\/\\\/\\\/\\\/\/\\/\\/\

Shaz looked up at Alex curiously and craned her neck to see what was happening on the computer screen.

Alex paused the disc and looked over her shoulder at Shaz.

"You owe Lucy an apology," she said shortly as she stood up and went to get Hale. Shaz moved over to the TV and gulped. She looked back over her shoulder at Ginger's desk and pointed at the screen. "It was Hale!" she told him.

Ginger sighed and nodded. He wasn't so bothered now. Simon knew everything now so anyone who tried to blackmail would be wasting their time.

"I'll do that tomorrow, I think she's working then," he said and bent his head to his work. He just wanted to get done and out of here. He didn't think he'd ever had such a shit day.

/\\/\\\/\/\\\/\\\/\\\/\\\/\\\/\\\/\/\\/\\/\

Alex found Hale in the interview room where she had left him and stood and folded her arms at him.

"So, care to tell me why you've been blackmailing Shaz and Ginger?" she asked him. "I think you know as well as I do that you've been caught on CCTV."

Hale shrugged. "Wasn't really, just knew they must have done something and I knew that Beale had overheard it. She's not the right sort of material for this job, ma'am. I figured I could get her kicked out by Shaz and Ginger thinking she was blackmailing them. Like I said, I don't have anything against them," he finally told her and sniffed and looked at her haughtily.

"Guess it didn't work, close though," he flashed her a grin and then went back to his arrogant expression.

Alex raised her eyebrows at him. "I wasn't aware that it was up to you who is or isn't the right sort of material for this job," she told him disdainfully.

"I'll be informing the Super about this Hale, and I want you to apologise to Lucy and get rid of your attitude," she told him. "It is not up to you who does or doesn't become a police officer," she said to him. "Just give the girl a chance."

"Do what you like. Nobody wants that girl working here. I'm the only one seems willing to voice it," he sneered and stood up. He shook his head and then stalked out the door.

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Rowan nodded and led Alyssa downstairs. It looked like forensics was still going over stuff in the kitchen. She turned her head away and went outside to wait for Charlie. She took Alyssa's hand and held it while they waited and then held it all the way to Alyssa's house.

She followed Alyssa inside and up to her room to help her pack. She saw no sign of Jack.

"Are you going to stay at ours or are you going to leave?" she asked.

Alyssa began digging her wardrobe for clothes and piling them into her purple suitcase. She dashed to the bathroom and grabbed up her toothbrush, shampoo, and everything else she thought she would need. She went back into the bedroom and stuff it all into the suitcase and then looked at Rowan.

"I don't know," she sighed. "For the moment I don't want to leave," she said as she looked around the bedroom and then sat down on the edge of the bed. "This time yesterday everything was perfect," she said mournfully. "Everyone was happy," she said as she looked at Rowan. "Now look, you're shaken up and trying to hold it together, Ray's worried and angry, I'm angry and upset and worried and..." she trailed off. "And I hope Jack is still in pain," she muttered darkly.

She turned to her bedside drawer and dug her passport out and then grabbed her purple folder too. She shoved them into her bag with her purse, laptop and all of her work stuff. She glanced around the room and then looked at Rowan.

"What have I missed?" she asked.

Rowan listened as she helped Alyssa pack.

She looked around the room and shook her head.

"I think that's everything, but if you did forget anything, I can come back and get it for you. Did you want to leave a note or shall we just go?"

Alyssa looked around and her gaze fell on Jack's pillow. She sighed and shook her head.

"I don't have anything to say to him," she said to Rowan as she pulled her gaze from Jack's side of the bed and zipped up her case. She pushed it onto the floor and nodded at Rowan.

"Come on, lets go," she said as she made to leave the bedroom.

Rowan nodded and followed her out of the house. She smiled at Charlie as she got back into the cab. She stared out the window blindly as they rode back to the restaurant. She and Alyssa were a right pair. She actually couldn't wait until bedtime now, so she wouldn't have to be strong for Alyssa and the twins, she could break down and she could tell Ray. She needed to be telling him more.

When they got back to the restaurant, she paid Charlie and led Alyssa up to the flat.

"So, did Alex say if they were going to charge you?" Rowan asked Alyssa softly.

Alyssa sighed as she went to dump her case in the bedroom and looked at Rowan.

"It was self defense so..." she sighed. "If there is a murder trial then they can't lock me up for it," she explained. "Unless the think that I meant to kill him," she added shakily.

Ray looked up from where he was busy playing with the twins as Alyssa and Rowan came back in and sighed as he turned back to them and smiled at them again.

"Good, I don't want you getting locked up for helping me. Surely, Mr. Hunt wouldn't allow you to get locked up."

Alyssa nodded and half smiled. "I don't want to get locked up either," she whispered.

Rowan looked at Ray and gnawed at her lip a moment.

"So, I've made a decision, I'm thinking August, maybe the 13th...that's a Saturday. I know it only gives us a few weeks to plan, but you know I don't want a big fuss," she said. "And have you called your mother and told her yet?"

Ray looked up at Rowan and stood up off the floor, Alyssa watched him move towards them before going over to sit with the twins. She found that whenever she started playing with them she could distract herself from her thoughts for a while.

Ray grinned at her and nodded. "Yeah I have, and she nearly deafened me," he told her. "Next time I'm holding the phone about a foot away," he said to her as he pulled her into a hug. "13th of August? You sure?" he asked her. "You plan whatever you want" he told her. "I don't mind how big or small or whatever," he said agreeably.

He pulled away from the hug a little suddenly, he knew she was trying to keep it together for the time being and wasn't sure whether a hug would set her off or not, best to play it safe and not touch her until the twins were in bed.

"I thought you would have remembered that from when we told her I was pregnant," she teased. She felt him pull back from the hug and was grateful. She wasn't sure she could keep herself from bursting into tears if he'd kept holding her. She sat down with Alyssa to distract herself by playing with the twins.

She got up some time later and got the twins some ice cream and then read them two stories before they went to sleep. She made sure they were well tucked in and then climbed down and went into the bedroom. She knew she should say goodnight to Alyssa, but once she'd sat down, she found she couldn't stand up again.

She stared at the wall and took an uncertain, hitching breath before she felt the tears began to spill over.

Ray looked up from the TV which he had switched on just after Rowan had taken the twins up to bed and watched her go into the bedroom. He waited for a moment and when she didn't come out he stood up. He glanced at Alyssa who was staring at the TV screen and went and put the remote her knee.

He left Alyssa on her own and went to the bedroom, shutting the door behind him and pulled Rowan into his arms the second he saw her tears. He set her on his lap and ran his hands through her hair as he gently rocked her. For a while he sat like that with her in silence before pressing a kiss to her forehead and pulling away a little to wipe at her tears.

"He was the one sending me all those little presents, like those flowers I thought were from you," Rowan said softly, her voice still choked by her sobs. "He said he loved me and wanted me to run away with him and then he pinned me against the wall and I couldn't get any leverage to get him off me and…..and…..it was like Brian all over again, I was so scared. If Alyssa hadn't come….." she finally managed and trailed off as she pressed her face to his chest again as the tears overflowed again.

Ray closed his arms around her tightly and held her against him. He was glad that Alyssa had killed James, though now more than ever he wanted to kill the bastard himself.

"It's okay, Ro," he said gently as he stroked her hair. "Brian can't get you and neither can James, I'm never going to let anything like that happen to you again," he said firmly, failing to keep his tone calm as his anger leaked into his voice. He began rocking again, slowly and gently as he cradled her in his arms.

He made reassuring noises and held her tightly; he didn't think he'd ever be able to let her out of his arms.

"Right," he finally said once she seemed to have calmed down a bit more. "Let's get you into bed," he said softly as he stroked her hair behind her ear and brushed at the tear stains on her face.

Rowan nodded and stood up to change into the oversized shirt she wore for sleeping and crawled under the covers.

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Alyssa sat silently and just stared at the TV. She wasn't watching it but the sound was comforting. She pushed the remote off her knee so that it landed on the seat next to her. She had contemplated going to her bedroom and trying to sleep, but she wasn't relishing that idea. It was too quiet in her room; at least here she had background noise in the form of the TV.

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Shaz nodded at him as she grabbed her bag. She was going to tell Chris. Simon knew and that meant that it might get round to Chris before she told him. It was best coming from her. She picked up her jacket and strode outside.

Shaz smiled at the sight of Olivia when she got inside and went to pick the little girl up. "Did you have fun today with Daddy?" she asked her daughter as she looked around for Chris.

"We went for a walk and had ice cream in the park, didn't we?" Chris said as he came out of the kitchen. He popped open the beer he was carrying, now that Shaz was home he could have one. "I got the stuff out for tea," he told her and dropped onto the couch.

"How was your day? Did that lunch meeting go all right?"

Shaz looked up from hugging Olivia and swallowed back her nerves as Chris came in. He looked so happy.

"Wha..." she trailed off then remembered the excuse she'd given him earlier. "Oh yeah, that, it was fine," she said to him. She looked into the kitchen briefly then put Olivia down. She'd tell him after Olivia had gone to bed, that way if he kicked off then Olivia wouldn't be around to witness them arguing.

Shaz smiled at him weakly and went into the kitchen to start making dinner.

Chris divided his attention between Olivia and the TV before getting up and going into the kitchen.

"Smells good," he said and peered over her shoulder at the pans on the stove.

Shaz turned her head and realised how close he was. She smiled at him and nodded before turning back to what she was doing.

She sighed when it was ready and served up the food for him.

Chris put Olivia in her high chair and happily sat down to eat. He could see something was wrong with Shaz, but he wouldn't mention it until Olivia was in bed.

He helped her clean up after dinner and then watched as she carried Olivia into her room to go to bed. He cracked open another can and settled on the couch to wait for her.

Shaz came back out of Olivia's room and shut the door behind her. She looked at Chris on the sofa and swallowed anxiously before making her way towards him. She stood a little away from him and took a deep breath.

"Okay, I'm not going to beat about the bush, I'm going to come right out and say it," she told him. "The night that Denis got sick and Rowan left early while you and Ray were in the pub?" she said. "You remember," she added, "Well, Ginger and I got ridiculously drunk and ended up sleeping together," she told him and waited, watching his face anxiously.

Chris looked at her, his mouth agape and then cursed as he felt the beer can fall from his hand. He quickly snatched it up.

"If you were ridiculously drunk, how do you know? And...Ginger? You're joking right?"

He couldn't quite get his head around it. And Ginger was gay. Why in the world would he have sex with Shaz? He shook his head and looked at her again.

"I just...I can't...that makes no sense to me."

Shaz shrugged. "We have our suspicions and hazy memories that we pieced together," she told him. "We had a hard time believing it, too," she added.

"How am I supposed to deal with this?" he wondered aloud. He stood up and took the can into the kitchen. He leaned against the kitchen counter and stared at the wall. He could not figure this out.

"I know you were drunk, Shaz, but what the bloody hell were you thinking? Why would you go treating us like that? I just don't get it."

Shaz shook her head. "I don't know Chris, I don't know why it happened. I don't even know exactly what happened!" she told him earnestly. "I do know that it's not going to happen again. When we managed to piece it together both Ginger and I were absolutely horrified!" she explained.

"I need to...I don't know. This is just..." he trailed off. He opened one of the kitchen drawers and fished out his cigarettes and stuck them in his pocket. He glanced at Shaz and then stuck a lighter in his pocket and walked out of the flat.

Chris walked around for awhile, smoking contemplatively. He couldn't judge Shaz for this, not now. It stung yes...and with Ginger of all people. But here he was, wanting someone else when he was stone cold sober. He should avoid Lucy Beale, he knew he should. He might not be considered that bright, but even he could see she was different now. There was still that hardness underneath, but she seemed to have outgrown the vicious streak. He ran his hands through his hair with a sigh. He should go back.

He walked into the flat and looked at Shaz. "I can't pretend to really understand it, but we're going to put it in the past and leave it there," he told her. "I'm going to bed," he stated and headed into the bedroom. He couldn't bring himself to hug her or anything just now. He just couldn't.

Shaz watched him go into the bedroom with a small sigh. She'd got off easier than Ginger, Chris hadn't chucked her out. She tided up the kitchen and looked at the bedroom door apprehensively. She sighed, she'd have to sleep and he said they were putting it behind them. If he kicked her out of the bed then she'd sleep on the couch.

She crept quietly into the room, changed into her pyjamas and crawled into bed next to him, keeping some distance between them.