A/N: So, this update took a little longer to update than I planned, but I hope this okay! Still isn't quite Stevie/Smithy yet, but it's getting there, I promise.
"Early night, my arse," Stevie muttered under her breath, unable to sleep. Retrieving her phone from her bedside table, she knew who she had to call though he'd no doubt positively want to murder her in the morning. But she dialled his number regardless, not realising until much later that she knew his number off by heart.
The phone vibrated against his cheek after falling asleep during a quick check of the football score. Groggily answering the (damned) phone, Smithy's voice was barely forming words, but it offered instant comfort to Stevie.
"Smithy?" Stevie sounded almost anxious as she spoke into the receiver. Her fingers absently trailed across the bruising on her neck, the bruising which was showing no signs of fading any time soon. The bruises weren't all bad though; they got sympathy from most, particularly the male colleagues (not that Stevie needed it.) "Look, I'm sorry to call you at this hour but.." Stevie paused. Admitting she couldn't sleep sounded a poor reason to be calling someone who defiantly needed their sleep.
"Stevie?" Smithy's voice muffled down the phone, a yawn following shortly. "That you?"
"Yeah, sorry." Stevie, without meaning to, sounded a little sheepish. "It's just I-"
"Couldn't sleep? Yeah, know the feeling." Smithy's sincerity shone through and Stevie realised he wasn't taking a dig. "It'll get easier."
"Yeah?" Stevie's laugh came a little loud and elicited a drowsy mumble from the other end of the phone line
"Yeah," Smithy confirmed, "Eventually. It'll take time-"
"Time I haven't got, Smithy." Smithy knew just as well as Stevie that time was one thing neither of them had. "What if there's a drug raid tomorrow? Or a murder case? I can't keep hanging onto the past, letting it influence everything."
"Well now you know that, you can move on."
"We both know it's not that easy, Smithy." Stevie sighed, rearranging herself on her bed and she let her fingers brush against her neck once more.
"It's not meant to be easy, but you've got to at least try. You're a good cop Stevie, don't let this ruin it."
"Only good?" Stevie's laughter was matched by Smithy's this time. "Look, thanks Smithy - for everything."
"Oh Stevie don't, you'll make me blush." Smithy's voice donned that of your typical drag queen (far too well, Stevie mused.) Smithy then yawned down the phone and Stevie laughed again.
"But as much as this conversation is oh so riveting, I really think you should get some sleep."
"And so should you. You need more beauty sleep than me any day, Moss. Night."
Stevie chuckled as she heard Smithy's phone tone turn dead and she quickly deposited her phone in her beside table. Falling into a restless sleep, Stevie awoke the next morning not entirely refreshed. Simple things such as getting herself organised and ready became a bigger deal and more of an issue than before but, not one to be deterred, Stevie got a hold of herself and found the motivation she needed to get to work. But it was at work that Stevie realised that her problems were far from over.
*
"Now, we don't know who the next target is; so far, the three victims - all found riverside - have nothing else in common but Jo and Mickey are working on establishing links. The first victim: Chloe Waters-"
"Oh come off it. Waters?!" Terry's thoughts were felt amongst many. If it hadn't have been such a serious situation, it would almost have been funny. Neil shrugged, a sad smile etched on his face; this job never got any easier for any of them.
"Chloe Waters. 22 years old, found stabbed and strangled beside the River Conran at 8:20 this morning. No witnesses as yet but Marian Selby aged 43 reported the body. Her parents have been contacted and we're awaiting confirmation of who was last to see her alive. Victim number two," Neil's voice boomed as he distributed all the details, leaving Stevie on edge as she awaited her own instructions.
As she drove to the destination to complete her recce (alone, which Stevie was less than happy about) her mind went into overdrive. Lack of sleep, Stevie muttered to herself but of course that wasn't entirely true. That fear, that memory, it all still existed.
Exiting the car, Stevie clutched her phone tight in her hand. Being alone wasn't the problem (not really, not if she was being honest), it was the thought that she'd allow herself to be compromised and with no one there to save her, this time she knew she wouldn't be so lucky.
"What a comforting thought, Stevie. Really cheered yourself up with that one." With a hesitant sigh, Stevie made for the police tape and gradually lifted it up. Feeling faint with anxiety, Stevie's relief was immense when her phone began to ring.
"Hello?" Her voice was shaken, slightly, and fervent.
"Someone's eager," A laugh throttled down the phone line. "The DI just wanted to check you were okay."
"Yeah, 'course. Why wouldn't I be?" Stevie was trying her best to sound offhand and casual but as usual, she had little success.
"Oh, I don't know. Because you got attacked last week?"
"Attacked? Oh come on Smithy, it was hardly an attack."
"Well then what was it?" Smithy, who had remained at the station awaiting further instruction, was not one to shy from a confrontation, even if it was with Stevie.
"It was a-, a-"
"An attack." Smithy finished the sentence for her and sighed. "Look, d'you want me to come down with yo-"
"No, Smithy. No." Stevie needed to be certain. "Look, I've got to do this alone otherwise I'll be running to you every time things get just a little bit tough."
"Well, I'm not complaining." Smithy grinned as he smoothed an eyebrow in the bathroom mirror. He tried not to let his personal life affect his work life, but talking to Stevie was the once exception he couldn't avoid; the two refused to cease merging.
"Yeah, well you wouldn't." Stevie tongue poked out between her teeth as she smiled to herself. "Look, I've gotta go, but meet you for, I dunno, coffee later?"
"Coffee?! Stevie, you're ruining my street credibility here."
"Yeah, yeah!" Stevie laughed as she cut Smithy off, pocketed her phone and set about her work. Assessing the situation and surveying for any evidence lurking around, Stevie didn't hear any approach her from behind. She felt the fingers clasp around her neck. Wrists clenched to fists and her airwaves became more and more restricted. His weight totalled hers completely and try as hard as she did, no scream could emerge from her lungs. Her back hit the tree with a harsh momentum and his breath poisoned her as he spoke softly. Stevie, always the professional, struggled to reach her phone, wildly flicking buttons to try and find record.
"Yeah, I've got one." The words cut the stagnant air, expressed through little more than a rough growl. Her eyes shut tight as she listened to the poison her dripped down the phone to the receiver. She focused on everything, anything but what was happening. It couldn't happen again - they were going to think she couldn't hack it, and she could (more than most, if she was honest) but this wasn't looking good. His knee dug into Stevie's leg and as she felt something cold run along her skin between the tip of her jeans and the bottom of her shirt, Stevie was unprepared for the sharp jolt backwards where she promptly hit the back of her head on the tree.
Struggling to keep her eyes in focus, Stevie's phone slipped from her hand as the man's hand clasped tighter round her neck..