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Facing the Enemy

Matt took a deep breath. He knew George would play the tape of the 999 call Chloe had made. He felt sorry for the young girl. She had been caught up in something she really had no business being caught with. She was only a kid and as it had turned out she was Ronnie's oldest. He smiled slightly as he remembered Ronnie telling him about Liz and then Chloe when he had been drugged up on Morphine in the ITU. For a moment he had thought it was the drugs in his system that had made him think half of what Ronnie had told him had been all in his mind. Shaking his head he waited for the Court Officer to call him to the Witness Box. He sighed, now it was inevitable, he would face the man that had almost killed him he decided to just get on with it. There was no point in worrying anymore. If Alesha and Ronnie could face Jimmy Morris, if his baby sister could sit in the public gallery and listen to everything that had happened he could go in the court with his head held high and tell the truth. He was doing his job, a job he is good at when the suspect tried to kill him. It was as horrible and as simple as that. He smiled slightly as the impossibly young Court Officer walked in to the room.

"Ah Matthew Devlin?"

"No one calls me that. It's Matt" He smiled. The young woman in front of him flushed slightly and he could practically feel Alesha and Angie rolling their eyes at him.

"Matt, they want you in Court now"

"Right, lets go then" He stood and followed the young woman. The next few minutes were going to be difficult. He knew Bea McCardle wouldn't be a pushover but he knew that James Steel and George Castle would also be pushing. He suddenly felt very weak and just hoped he could get through the cross examination that was to follow.

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Alesha felt sick with nerves as she thought of Matt stood in the witness box. She knew he had given evidence a million times. But this was different. He had been unusually quiet over the last couple of days and Alesha was worried. It wasn't that Matt was a very loud person to start with but so much had gone on in the last year that she had begun to see a change in her normally relaxed boyfriend. Well, she thought what do you expect? All that stuff with Morris last time, then Pete killing himself and now this. She sighed as Natalie looked over at her.

"Alesha, listen to me" Natalie stared at her. She was aware that Ronnie was now paying for the coffee he and Angie had gone to buy a few minutes earlier. It seemed the woman at the till was more stressed out than ever, Ronnie could be heard telling her to keep her hair on. The comment didn't go down well and Ronnie and Angie made a hasty retreat back to their friends as Angie shot him a death glare. Natalie merely raised an eyebrow as she spoke to Alesha.

"Matt is a strong boy. He can do this" Natalie sighed as Ronnie placed her tea in front of her while Alesha took the coffee mug gratefully.

"Dunno know whats the matter with frosty knickers on the til but she aint 'appy" Ronnie sat next to Natalie as Angie rolled her eyes.

"Might have helped if you had some change and didnt pay for four drinks with a £20 note"

"Legal tender, whats her problem?" Ronnie was definately miffed.

"Anyway" Natalie tried to bring them back on track. "James and George aren't going to let Bea rip Matt to shreads. They know what they are doing"

"I know" Alesha sipped her coffee.

"He'll be fine luv" Angie smiled slightly as Natalie and Ronnie exchanged glances.

"I feel sick" Alesha excused herself and left the room quickly. The three remaining police officers stared at each other as Ronnie got to his feet.

"Promised Matty boy I'd look after her" He walked out of the room determined to find the younger woman. Ronnie Brooks did not break his promises.

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Matt stood in the Witness Box. He felt sick but knew there was no way he was going to let the man in the dock realise what was going on. He stared directly at James. He had hoped that James would be the one to question him but it seemed like Bea was going to get in there first. He sighed as he quietly hoped Alesha and Kate were ok. He knew his sister was back in the public gallery and knew that she had no heard everything about the day he was shot and now his baby sister was going to hear what he had to say.

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Ronnie felt slightly awkward stood outside the women's toilets. It wasn't where he had expected to find himself late on a Friday afternoon. Two women had already left the toilets, shooting him dirty looks. Enough was enough. He pushed the door open slightly and called Alesha's name.

"Alesha?" He hoped he was right and she had gone to the toilets. "Lesha? Get out 'ere or I am coming in" When there was no answer Ronnie did the only thing he could. He took a deep breath and walked in to the toilets.

Alesha stood over the sink staring at the mirror. She was fighting not to cry but knew she was loosing the battle. Ronnie walked across to her and pulled her in to his arms.

"Hey, thats enough" He hugged her as she screwed her eyes shut. Suddenly Ronnie realised she was only a few years older than Chloe. He wanted to ask how old she was but knew it wasn't the time. What is she? 27? 28? Not much more than a kid and she gets all this put on her shoulders. It isn't right. I know Matt's only 30. Haven't these kids seen enough? He thought as he held her. He stepped back and held her by her shoulders.

"Ronnie I"

"None of this. That piece of scum is going to prison. You know it. I know it and that little scum himself knows it. He ain't getting out this time" Ronnie held her gaze as she nodded.

"I know. It's just. Matt." She gulped her sentances out as she tried not to cry.

"Matt Devlin" He smiled as he said his mate's name. "You know how rare it is for a British police officer to be shot in the line of duty? This ain't the bleedin Bronx luv" She raised an eyebrow as she listened to him. "Well it's even more rare for a police officer shot in the line of duty to survive. I ain't never known it before. He's a strong boy. He's been through worse than this, you know that. Him and Kate are made of strong stuff."

"Bea McCardle is brilliant" Alesha narrowed her eyes as she thought of her friend's ex wife.

"Yeah she is. I know she's bloody good but George and James are better" Ronnie smiled as Alesha smiled back. She knew he was right. The three of them could be unstoppable when they wanted to be. There wasnt a team of prosecutors that had a better record. She was proud of her team and all the hard work they put in to get justice for the victims. Ronnie led her out of the toilets. He muttered something about getting himself arrested if he stayed in there much longer.

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Natalie and Angie walked towards the court room. The young court officer had warned them the Jury would be deliberating soon. It wouldn't be long til Matt was dismissed from the court. They took a seat back in the police waiting room as Alesha decided to wait in the main atrium. She wanted to see Matt the moment he left the court room.

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Matt stared at Morris. He was relieved that Bea seemed to be going easier on him than he had expected. He answered Bea's question as the Judge watched him.

"So" Bea walked towards him "Sargeant Devlin" He turned his attention back to the petite Irish woman in front of him. "You made no attempt to get the gun from my client?"

"No"

"Why was that?"

"He was pointing the gun at the girl. At Chloe. I thought I could talk him in to putting the gun down. I just wanted him to get the gun away from the girl. She was terrified" Matt desperately wanted to get out of the witness box. He knew Kate was staring at him. He knew she would be in tears but there was no way he could look at his little sister. He had told her to stay away, he had always tried to protect her but she had insisted on being there. In a way he was proud of her for doing it but in another way he wished she had gone back to Newcastle where he knew she was safe.

"So, you tried to talk him down as you are trained to do so" Bea stated.

"Yes thats right"

"You made no attempt to physically take the gun?"

"No"

"Thank you. No more questions" Everyone was surprised when Bea walked straight back to her bench and sat down, shooting James a slight smile as he wondered what his ex wife was playing at this time.

Ronnie glanced out the door at Alesha. She was stood with her arms folded as she stared at the closed door of the court. She was waiting for the tell tale signs that the Jury had been sent to consider their verdict. What was to decide? Alesha thought Morris is a convicted criminal. He escaped from prison and shot my Matt. They have to find him guilty. Its attempted murder. Wounding with intent? Yeah right. She stepped forwards as the court officer she met earlier appeared.

"You with the Morris v the Crown trial?"

"Yes"

"The Judge is just saying her piece. They'll be out in five minutes" The blonde smiled.

"Thank you."

"No worries" The girl smiled broadly as she walked across to the police witness room to tell the others. It was then that Matt appeared from the court looking a little pale and very tired.

"Matt?" Alesha called his name as he turned and walked towards him.

"Hiya" He smiled as he buried his face in her shoulder as his arms found their way around her waist.

"It's over. It's over" She whispered in his ear. The court officer looked on and shook her head. See, Cath. All the good ones are married or gay She thought to herself as she walked across to the next courtroom. Another trial would start in the next few minutes.

"Is it? Is it ever going to be over?" He pulled back from Alesha as he spoke. Her arms still loosely around his neck.

"He wont be able to hurt anyone ever again" Alesha sounded more determined than she had in a long time. It was then that Kate and the others joined them.

"That Irish bird is a bit of a spiky witch" Kate stated as she folded her arms. "Felt like smaking her in her mouth, talking to you like that!"

"That never fixed anything did it? She's ok. Just doing her job" Matt sighed.

"Yeah" James laughed slightly as he joined the couple. "The verdict should be in in the next few hours. I suggest we all get something to eat before we get called back in"

"Good idea James old son. Look I'm just gonna talk to Liz and my Chloe. I'll see you in a bit yeah?" Ronnie nodded as Matt smiled. He walked off in the direction of the young woman and her mother as the others began to walk back to the canteen.

"Lesh?"

"Mmm?" Alesha looked at Matt.

"Let's go for a walk. I need to get out of here" Matt looked shy for a moment. He knew Kate was ok with Angie. She had made friends with the DC when he was in hospital. Now he just wanted to get out of the building. Alesha took his hand and nodded.

"Right, where do you want to go?" She smiled as they walked towards the door. The snow that greated them was a surprise after being in a windowless court room and for the first time in days Matt smiled properly.

"The park? C'mon"

Alesha nodded and gripped his hand. Maybe Ronnie was right. Maybe everything was going to be ok.

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A/N Last chaper The Verdict very soon. Thank you for the reviews. Sorry it has taken me so long to update. More very soon I promise!