Disclaimer nope still not mine

Love?

Alesha had been silent during the drive from the offices of the Crown Prosecution Service to the hospital. James was worried about her. They had left the office less than five minutes after he had spoken to Natalie. He'd called George and left a message with his secretary. He knew George would want to know what had happened. The car stopped at the traffic lights just a few streets away from the hospital, giving James a chance to look at Alesha. She knew she was being watched but didn't know what to say. She knew Matt was dead. She could feel it in her bones. They were so close and had been through so much she knew something would rip them apart. She just hadn't thought it would be this.

"Alesha" James spoke quietly as he turned the engine off. The car was now in the corner of the car park. She continued to stare out of the windscreen. He sighed; he hadn't seen her like this since she had been attacked. It broke his heart to see her almost catatonic. He repeated her name as he saw Natalie approach the car.

"Now then" Natalie opened the car door as Alesha and James looked up.

"Hello Natalie" James frowned as she folded her arms.

"James" She nodded "Are you tow going to sit out here all night or is there the slightest chance you are going to get in there and find out what is going on with our Matthew? Because I won't be telling you what's what out here" She hated talking to them like this, but sometimes she really did despair of them. James smiled slightly as he got out of the car. Alesha closed her eyes for a moment, as if summoning the strength to walk in to the hospital.

"I" She started as James walked round to the passenger side of the car. "I dunno if I can do this" She waited as Natalie nodded. James looked as if he was on the verge of tears. Natalie sighed.

"James" She touched his shoulder "You go inside. Ronnie and Angela are in there. Tell them I will be there in a couple of minutes." He watched as she turned to Alesha. "Well, go on James" She sighed as he nodded and wordlessly walked across to the main entrance of the Accident and Emergency department.

"Now, young lady" Natalie crouched down so she was the same height as the still seated Alesha. "I am only going to ask you this once ok? I have to get back to the station because I intend to make Morris pay for hurting that boy" Alesha met her gaze. She had never seen her so determined. "Do you want to see Matt? I thought you two were the real deal over the last few months. Was I right? Do you think anything of him? Because if you do you should know before he passed out he was thinking of you. He asked for you" She raised her eyebrows as Alesha sighed. "Well, young lady?"

"Of course I do. But what if, Natalie what if" She bit her bottom lip, holding in a sob as Natalie smiled sympathetically.

"What if nothing Do you love him?" She watched as Alesha nodded. "Well, there you are then. That's your answer, now get your bony little arse in that hospital" Alesha smiled a watery smile as she stepped out the car and slammed the door.

"Thanks"

"Don't mention it, we all need a kick up the wotsit now and again" Natalie smiled as Alesha nodded.

"I never told him you know. That I love him." She glanced at the floor. Natalie sighed slightly.

"Well, now's your chance" She smiled slightly as Alesha nodded.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Morris drove the car he had stolen towards the outskirts of the city. He was desperate to get out of the city. He floored the accelerator as he drove through the speed cameras. He didn't care anymore. He knew he had just shot a policeman. There was no going back from that, if they caught him he was going back to prison for a very long time.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Ronnie looked up as the two women walked in to the waiting room. He stood up for Alesha to take a seat. James was feeding change in to a coffee machine that had seen better days while Angie paced up and down deep in thought.

"Ma'am" She turned to Natalie. "I'm going back to work. The longer we are here waiting the more chance this scum has of getting away. And I aint having that" She picked her handbag up off the floor. "I can't sit here, I feel useless" She watched as Ronnie ran a hand over his face.

"I know what you mean luv" He watched as a doctor walked towards them.

"Are you with Mr Devlin?" She asked as Alesha nodded.

"Yes" Ronnie stated. "This is his girlfriend Alesha, we work with him. His sister Kate is on the way. She's abroad. I couldn't get hold of his Mum" The doctor nodded.

"Alesha and Ronnie? Angie, James and Natalie" The doctor smiled as Ronnie smirked.

"Bit talkative is he?" Ronnie laughed.

"A little, he was worried about you. Look I can only let two of you in at a time. He's waiting to go to theatre." She watched as James gently pushed Alesha forward.

"You and Ronnie go in and see him. I'll wait here" He smiled. The two female detectives glanced at each other.

"We'll go and find this scum bag. Jimmy Morris is not getting away with this. Alesha, give him our love yeah? Good girl. C'mon Angie lets put an end to this" She walked away as Ronnie ushered Alesha in to the treatment room.

Natalie read the witness statement from Chloe, hoping to find any clue as to where Morris was headed. She felt sorry for the poor girl. She had been terrified when Angie had gently taken her statement. Now she was sat in the interview room waiting for her mother, DI Elizabeth Franklin to collect her. Idly she wondered if Elizabeth was the same Liz Ronnie had talked about. She smiled to herself, Chloe was a nice girl. The more she thought of it the more she could see a resemblance between her and Ronnie. She sighed as she picked up the phone; it was a thought that had to be pushed to the back of her mind.

"Angie" She replaced the handset, deciding against the call she was about to make. Instead she called the DC in to her office. "Any news on our missing gunman?"

"Not yet" Angie sighed. She was worried about Matt and missing having him and Ronnie in the office. "I have contacted all the ports so if he tries to get out of the country the customs and immigration people will be on the look out. I also asked uniform to go round the other family members."

"Good idea. I'm going to talk to Chloe and Liz again" She grabbed her jacket as Angie returned to her desk.

"You bloody idiot" Ronnie started as he walked in to the hospital room. Matt raised his eyebrows at his friend. "Getting shot, what the 'ell were you thinking of son?" Alesha smiled slightly at Ronnie's outburst.

"Ron" He started as he tried to push himself up in to a sitting position.

"This poor girl been in bits out there" Ronnie gestured to Alesha.

"I'm sorry. I thought I cold get the gun" He grimaced as he spoke. Alesha took in the oxygen mask on his face and the bandages that covered half his chest. She noticed how every work he spoke seemed to be an effort.

"How are you?" Alesha tried not to cry.

"I'm ok" He smiled slightly.

"Look, I'll leave you two to it yeah. I got to speak to James" He cuffed Matt's unbandaged arm as Alesha finally took a seat next to Matt.

"Thanks for coming mate" Matt smiled as Ronnie shook his head and left the room. Matt looked at Alesha as she wiped her eyes.

"Hey"

"You scared me Matt" She felt his good hand catch hold of hers.

"I'm sorry" He wheezed "I will be fine. They will get this bullet out of me and then things will be back to normal" The nurse walked in to the room as Alesha nodded slightly.

"The porters are here, so we'll get you up to theatre in a minute" She smiled before leaving the room again.

"Ok, look I better go. The nurses will want to get you ready" She squeezed his hand before standing.

"'Lesh" He spoke quietly. "It will ok you know?" He smiled what she and Angie had termed the 'charm' smile. It usually got him out of all manner of trouble. She nodded before leaning down to kiss his cheek.

"It better be Matt Devlin, because I didn't fall in love with you for it to go all pear shaped now" She smiled as he grinned back at her.

"Bloody hell, this morphine is good. I could swear I just heard you say you're in love with me" He laughed as she shook her head.

"I did"

"Good" He grinned "Good job I love you too then innit" She rolled her eyes at him as the nurse returned accompanied by two porters.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Ronnie and James stood outside the main entrance to A&E. Ronnie was not happy. His friend had been shot; he had been thrown back in to his Liz's life again when he was pretty sure she didn't want him there. To top it all off he couldn't help but think how Chloe looked so similar to his oldest girl. James also seemed lost in thought.

"You know he called Alesha's mobile." James stated. Ronnie narrowed his eyes.

"Did he? Right well in that case we're going to speak to the mobile company, see what they come up with." He turned to see Alesha walk towards them. He shook his head as she stood just inches in front of him, obviously on the verge of tears.

"Come here you daft bat" He hugged her "Matty boy will be fine. He will" He soothed as James nodded. "Jimmy Morris isn't getting away with this, not while there is breath in my body. I am 'aving him" Ronnie released her and held her at arms length.

"You pair ready for this? Because I am going after him, Jimmy Morris is going to be spending a very long time in prison and I need you to help me put him there" Ronnie was determined to put the man back behind bars.

"Yes" James agreed "Only one problem Ron, we have to find him first"

authors note. More soon x