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Under Pressure

Natalie was glad to get out of the witness stand. She had forgotten how many times she had appeared in Court to give evidence but rarely had she taken a case so much to heart. She loved her team as if they were family and the thought that a young officer like Matt Devlin could be shot in cold blood made her feel sick. It also made her feel unbelievably angry. He was a good officer and had been trying to protect Chloe Franklin, yet Bea McCardle had tried to suggest otherwise. Bea McCardle of all people moralising to me! After what happened with her and James! Natalie shook her head as she leant against the wooden door of the court house, she knew there was no way she would be allowed to speak to any of her team until after they had given evidence. All she could to was head off to the cafe on the third floor in the hope they had some decent coffee.

"Ma'am?" The young court officer that had collected her from the police waiting room smiled as Natalie looked at her. The shorter woman now looking so much younger.

"Yes?"

"You can't see any of your team now I am afraid. They just called your DS onto the stand" She smiled slightly.

"Thankyou, I am aware of what's allowed. Which DS?"

"The female one"

"Angie. Please ask her to meet me in the canteen when she's done. Same goes for my other officers. Thanks" Natalie walked away, hoping that Angie didn't let the emotions of the case overwhelm her. Morris had personally attacked each of them. She knew they were all feeling the pressure of the case and a good defence counsel would exploit it. An exeptional one like Bea McCardle would destroy them.

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Matt sat next to Alesha in the police waiting room. He really wanted to get out of there, to take Alesha and leave. Anywhere was better than facing the scum that had terrified them all. He closed his eyes as he remembered the feeling of the bullet hit his body as he hit the floor, he remembered Ronnie stood over him ordering him to open his eyes. He shook his head, bossy git he smiled to himself as Alesha sighed.

"Lesh?"

"Mmm?"

"You ok?"

"I hate waiting thats all. Hate all this waiting around. I really want to be in there with James doing my job not waiting round out here" She huffed as Matt smiled.

"You are doing your job luv" Ronnie spoke up as she narrowed her eyes.

"Eh?"

"Looking after our Matty boy there" He smiled as Matt's eyes widened "Cause Alesha luv, if you weren't sat there he'd be pacing up and down doing my nerves in so by looking after 'im you are saving my sanity at least" Ronnie returned to reading the paper he had picked up as Alesha shook her head. Matt squeezed her hand as she caught his eye. It was then the court officer walked back in to the room.

"DS Ronald Brooks?" Ronnie closed his eyes, only his dear old mum had called him Ronald "DS Brooks?"

He sighed as he dumped the tattered copy of the Sun on the desk and stood up to face the young woman.

"Come on then, lead the way" He followed the younger woman out of the room as Alesha watched them go. It would soon be her turn to step on the stand. Part of her was pleased that James and George were the ones that would be questioning her for the Prosecution but part of her was wary that Bea would be on the opposing counsel. She'd been up against the woman before and it still amazed her that James had ever seen anything in the woman. Will me and Matt end up like that? Hating the very sight of each other but having to see each other through work. Alesha closed her eyes as Matt watched, wondering what was going through his girlfriend's mind.

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Ronnie stared at Morris as he took the oath. He was glad the man had the guts to look him in the eye. So much had happened since they had found the drugs in his car during the original case. Donovan stared at the floor in the dock next to him. Ronnie watched as Morris finally looked away as Bea walked towards the witness box.

"So, Sargaent Brooks" Bea started as Ronnie turned to face him. "You were the officer that arrested Jimmy Morris on both occasions"

"Thats right, yes" Ronnie answered.

"You were there when he shot DS Matthew Devlin. It was you that called for an ambulance and administered first aid?"

"No, I er. We were there to speak to the Morris' son's girlfriend. We knew she as in danger and when we got there we found him holding the girl at gunpoint. Matt was shot trying to get him to put the gun down. Chloe called the ambulance while I tried to give first aid" Ronnie felt sick at the memory. The fear that Matt would die in front of him and that Morris was still somewhere out there with a gun.

"And how did that make you feel?" Her soft Irish accent clear in the courtroom.

"Well, I weren't too 'appy about it as you can imagine" Ronnie answered as he saw the Judge smirk slightly.

"No. However, you claim the gunman was my client. If that is the case why did you not arrest him while you had the chance?" Bea knew she was goading him.

"OBJECTION!" James was on his feet "Counsel is leading the witness. How could DS Brooks be expected to carry out the arrest as planned with his partner apparently dying at his feet?" James glared at his ex wife as she smirked.

"Withdrawn" Bea turned and walked back to her seat "No further questions"

The Judge sighed. She knew the history between James and Bea and had no desire to see the former married couple take their petty disagreements out on each other in her court. The trial was supposed to last for three days and she knew it was going to be a long day. She watched as James stood and walked towards the bench.

"DS Brooks" James started "Would you say that Jimmy Morris and Karl Donovan are dangerous men? Men capable of not only escaping from prison but of tracking down those people that they believe were responsible for putting them in prison?"

"Yes"

"You watched Jimmy Morris terrify a young girl, Chloe Franklin. You watched him shoot your partner at point blank range. You were witness to an attempted murder and a potential kidnapping, in your statement you said it was your belief that twenty year old Chloe Franklin was so terrified by Morris that she was unable to get away from him when he broke in to her mother's house and pointed a gun at her. You arrested both men, found Karl Donovan to have a large quantity of Class A drugs on him? You also found him to be in breach of his conditions for being released on licence" James watched as Ronnie nodded.

"Yes"

"No further questions" James smiled as Ronnie relaxed. James couldn't help but smile. Sometimes it was nice to know that even though Bea McCardle was exellent at her job, he was better. George rolled his eyes as he saw the younger man take a seat. It seemed that it was going to be a long case. There were still a number of people due to go on the stand and it was still only lunchtime on day one. He stared straight ahead as the Judge stood and adjourned the case until lunch. It was a going to be a long day.

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Bea McCardle followed James towards the robe room as he left George and headed in to the male changing room. She smiled as she saw him take off his top robe and wig.

"Bea" He sighed as he turned towards her.

"James" She smiled back.

"I'll pick Andy up from school on Friday as planned. I'll have him back by 4 on Sunday" He started going through his briefcase as she nodded.

"Ok, he's looking forward to it. If I hear one more thing about that bloody football match you promised to take him to I'll scream" She shook her head. James couldn't help but smile.

"I told you he'd be an Arsenal fan"

"James, look this case" She rested her head on the wooden doorframe as she stared at him.

"What about it?"

"It's awful, I know you know the officers involved but I have to do my job" Bea smiled slightly as James became serious once more "I know Alesha was involved. I know what you feel for that girl"

"No Beatrice, don't you start playing these games. Yes I know the people involved. So do you. Yes Alesha was involved. She is my friend, that is all. A friend"

"If you say so James" Bea held his gaze as he walked towards her.

"A friend. Not sure you know the concept Bea." He watched as she glared at him "And before you start even trying to fathom out the fact that Alesha Phillips and I are friends as well as colleagues I suggest you remember it was you sleeping with a so called friend of mine that ended our marriage. Now, if you don't mind I would like you to leave."

"Hit a nerve James"

"Committed adultery recently Bea?"

"Touche" She stepped back as James closed the door.

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Ronnie sat in the court cafeteria as Natalie placed a coffee in front of him. The lunchtime rush was beginning to stress out the middle aged woman on the tills as people began lining up to pay for their lunch.

"Ma'am" He looked up as Natalie sat down.

"Have you talked to your Chloe yet?"

"No, she's on the stand after me. Hope they don't keep her on there long. Poor kid, been through enough" He sighed as Natalie nodded. He really wanted to talk to Liz. His daughter Sarah had been asking alot of questions since he had told her about Chloe. He hoped the girls would get along.

"Yeah" Natalie watched as Angie took a seat next to her.

"He's not going to get away with it this time" Angie opened her can of diet coke as Natalie nodded.

"No, luv 'e ain't getting away wiv nothing" Ronnie glared as Bea McCardle walked in to the room. "Morris and his croanies have taken the mick long enough. He's not getting away with this one"

He watched as the Defense Counsel smirked before walking past him. He knew Alesha and Matt had to go on the stand in the next few hours. He just hoped his younger friend could cope with seeing the man that had tried to kill him and terrify his girlfriend. Only time wouold tell.

A/N Can Matt and Alesha cope with going on the stand? What will happen between Bea and James and what will the verdict be? More soon. Please review xx