Disclaimer: I own your soul… but not 'The Bill'…

Chapter Seven;
One Man Band

They were quiet the entire trip out of the city centre, Max's eyes focused on the road and Millie's on their son who was sitting in the backseat with an oversized lollipop and not a care in the world. As Millie turned to look at him again, he caught her eye. "What's wrong?" He looked worried for a second, like he'd been caught doing something wrong.

"Nothing sweetheart." As she turned back to face the front, she saw Max watching them. She lowered her voice to address her husband. "What happens now? If he's following you to the shops, leaving notes on your car, then he knows where we live."

"He does. He knows where we live, work, probably even knows where Oscar goes to preschool." His knuckles clenched the steering wheel as he glared at the road ahead. "We're going to your mum's."

Millie's eyes widened. "And you think Jankowski won't know where she lives? Max, if he's been fo…"

Max cut her off. "It's the only option we've got. My parents are out of town so it won't be safe there. My sister lives too far away. Your sister lives too far away."

"Then Sun Hill, we'll go to Sun Hill. We'll be safe there."

Max slowed the car down at a set of traffic lights and looked at her. "No contact with police, no contact with anyone else or he gets you and Oscar. I just need to face him, just once, and then we can sort this out."

"That will sort it out? Max, he'll kill you. How is that sorting it out?"

"Just trust me." He turned his attention back to the road.

Closing her eyes and biting her bottom lip with her two front teeth, Millie leant her head back against the headrest and prayed this was all some horrible dream.

*

By the time they reached her mum's place however, Millie was quickly realising it wasn't and the fight started to creep back. She'd been able to forgive and let go of many things when it came to Max, but this wasn't one of them. She could forgive his late nights, obsession with work, neglected promises and lack of emotion, but walking himself into serious danger just to prove he could – that was unforgivable. Sometimes she wondered if he still remembered he had a family to think about when he decided one of his old renegade moments were appropriate.

"Millie, Oscar, what are you doing here?" Elizabeth smiled at them from the doorstep, purposely 'forgetting' Max was there. She had a habit of not registering him.

"Mum, can you take Oscar please? Max and I need to talk." Elizabeth nodded and, taking Oscar's hand, led the boy inside. Closing the door, Millie turned to Max who was watching Oscar leave with a completely blank expression. "You already know where Jankowski wants to meet, don't you?" Max nodded. "How?"

Max fished out his mobile phone and pulled up a text from an unknown number. It simply said 'the Weighbridge Dockyards'. "It came while we were in the car."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Max just took the phone back and re-pocketed it, avoiding the question. "You're impossible!"

He caught her eye. "Let me handle this."

"I'm coming with you."

"No, no you're not. You need to look after Oscar."

Millie glared. "I'm still a police officer Max, or do you forget that? Don't treat me like some hapless damsel in distress." Max frowned and looked away. "I'm serious."

"And I'm serious, you're not coming." She crossed her arms but he didn't give in. "Your job now is to look after Oscar, I'll look after everything else."

"And who's going to look after you?"

He still didn't meet her eye. "I can look after myself."

"Max, look at me." Her voice became a growl and he was forced to look at her. Anger and the earliest onset of tears brimmed in her eyes. "Let me help you." The statement was lathered with more. Let me help you. Let me know you. Let me in.

But he stayed rational. "I'll be back soon." Then, ignoring her calls after him, he turned and started back towards the car. As he started up the old blue Ford, Millie appeared at the front gate, watching him pull away. Her glare followed him down the street.

*

"Amelia?"

Millie looked back towards the house at the sound of her name and saw her mother watching her, a frown etched on her face. She gave a small sniff and Elizabeth's frown deepened. "What's happened dear? What has he done?"

Millie shook her head. "Nothing."

Elizabeth joined her daughter on the front path as Millie, head hung and deep in thought, started back towards the house. "If he's intentionally hurt you…"

"It wasn't intentional. Sometimes I think he doesn't even know he's doing it."

Elizabeth sighed. "I'm sorry sweetheart. If there's anything I can do."

Millie looked up. "Yeah, actually, there's something we can both do." She pulled out her phone and brought up a previously dialled number. "I need you to watch Oscar for an hour, and I need your car."

"What are you doing?"

"I'm saving my husband from himself." Then, with a smile, Millie put the phone to her ear and made the call.