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Matt?

Ronnie pinched the bridge of his nose as he leant against the wall outside the ward where Matt was being nursed. He was glad Alesha and Natalie hadn't been there when he had spoken to Matt. He didn't know how things were going to work out but Matt was a strong boy. He sighed as he looked up to see Alesha walked along the corridor.

"Ron?" She watched as he looked up.

"'ello luv" He smiled at her.

"What's wrong?" Alesha instantly knew something was wrong.

"Nothing luv. Just been in to see Matty boy. You ok?" He realised he hadn't spoke to her since the night in the hospital when Matt had been rushed in.

"Fine. You're not though. Are you?"

Ronnie knew she was able to read people. It was part of what made her such a good prosecutor. It was also difficult to lie to her. She could tell if someone was lying. He sighed.

"I will be luv, I will be." He smiled as she folded her arms "Oh come on luv, it's not everyday you find out you got a teenage daughter you knew nothing about is it? Or everyday you arrest someone for shooting your best mate"

"No I suppose it isn't" She watched as Ronnie let out a sigh of relief.

"So, he told you then? Matt told you" She watched as he nodded.

"Good" She waited as Ronnie realised he had just landed himself in it "You better tell me then"

"Alesha luv, I dunno half of it I just worked out. He's not taking being stuck in this place well. The sooner we have a trial date the better. Just got to get him fit enough to get back to work and get in the stand" Ronnie sighed.

"He will get back to work. You know Matt" She smiled.

"Alesha, you really need to talk to him. You know him, probably better than anyone including me and Kate. If he can hide things from you then we really are in trouble. Because that boy isn't well. Physically he is on the mend but emotionally he's been kicked in the guts. Look after him"

Ronnie pushed his glasses further up his nose. Alesha grew quiet next to him. She hadn't thought about things like Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. She knew how much the original case with Morris had hit the team and especially Matt but she hadn't expected it to be so emotionally difficult for him now.

"I'll talk to him Ron" She glanced at the door to the ward.

"He's a good boy our Mattie. Look after him" Ronnie watched as she nodded before walking in to the room.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Natalie was staring in to space, deep in thought when Angie walked in to her office. She hadn't heard the young DC enter the room.

"Ma'am?" Angie looked a little wary.

"Yes Ange, oh sorry I was miles away then" She smiled.

"So I see. Anywhere nice?"

"No, Morris must have had 'elp. To get out I mean. And then to hide from us for so long. It was only by chance we found out about Donovan. Someone knew where he was and someone didn't tell us" Natalie tapped her pen against the desk.

"Just had Donovan's brief on the phone. He wants to talk to you and the CPS. Donovan wants to do a deal"

"Donovan can get stuffed" Natalie walked around the side of the desk. "Who is his brief anyway? Same as Morris?"

"Yeah I think so. Says it was circumstantial evidence that we found both his clients in the same pub at the same time." ANgie watched as Natalie got more and more angry.

"Has he spoke to James, George and Alesha about this? I aint going to agree to any such thing. No Donovan goes to court on charges of Aiding and Abetting a criminal and Perverting the Course of Justice. Morris tried to kill our Matt. He aint going to court on anything less than attempted murder. If they plea bargain it down to GBH I'll hand me resignation in. I will Angie, this is too much." She ran a hand over her face.

"No Ma'am"

"I didn't come in to this job to watch people like Morris walk all over the bloody law. No it's attempted murder. And if James Steel thinks otherwise, he'll have me to deal with" She sighed as Angie smiled.

"Yes Ma'am. James says he'll be here at one o clock" The blonde was back at her desk before Natalie could argue.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"So, James is going to put me in the witness box and have George as co council" Alesha rolled her eyes as she filled Matt in on the details. He smiled in all the right places. None of the smiles reached his eyes.

"Poor James" Matt muttered as Alesha smiled

"When are you getting out of here?"

"Tomorrow. The doctor said I could go today but that I'd need to sort out someone to look after me. I told him I'm 33 I can take care of myself but he wouldn't let up. So I lied and said Kate was staying at my flat" He watched as Alesha held his gaze.

"Kate went back to Manchester this morning. She wont be back down until the trial. You know that" She didn't want to get angry with him.

"I know" He looked away. He hated this, he didn't want anyone looking after him.

"If you had someone you could go home now?"

"Yeah"

"You got me. You are coming to my place" She stood as Matt put a hand on her arm.

"I can't. I'll be ok on my own"

"Matt" Alesha covered his hand with hers. "I love you, you will not be putting me out. Please, I'd feel happier knowing you were with me"

Matt met her deep brown eyes and smiled. She knows exactly how to make me do anything she wants. He smiled. When she looked at him like that she was very difficult to say no to.

"Say that again" He smiled.

"I'd feel happier knowing where you are"

"The first bit" He smiled cheekily. Alesha rolled her eyes and smiled.

"I love you, now don't push your luck Devlin" She reached over and kissed him as he held her to him with his good hand. Pulling away she smiled before going to talk to the nurse. She was glad that he was on his way home, at least at her flat, with her she could get him to talk. There was no way he'd open up to her in the hospital. She sighed, hoping that Ronnie was wrong. Matt was going to be ok. Given time and rest she was going to get her Matt back. She had to.

author's note. Is Matt going to be ok? Will James and George be able to build a case and will Natalie really resign? Please review. More soon xx