Disclaimer: Think if I could afford a cop show I'd buy this failed one? Yes, I would! I love you The Bill!

A/N: To my lovely anonymous reviewer: It's not that Millie wasn't concerned about Oscar and was just nonchalantly reading a magazine, it's just that (unlike Max) Millie understands she needs to let others help. She was being no use at the station and trusts Smithy enough to find Oscar for her. Also she knew Max was coming home and wanted to be there for him (because let's face it, Oscar is 50% Millie and therefore 50% sane, whereas Max is… well, Max has issues!) so he wouldn't feel so bad about being a pain in the ass all the time. That's my reasoning but, thanks for the review, feel free to leave a name next time so I don't feel so 'hey anonymous reviewer'. Let me tell you, it's weird to write!

Chapter Twenty;
On The Surface

Smithy didn't call that afternoon, and Max didn't emerge from the bedroom until well after 7pm, so Millie was left alone for most of the day with just her thoughts. They consumed her when she let them and made her eyes water. She could almost hear little Oscar, begging for his mummy, crying racking coughs that echoed so loudly in Millie's ears that she could actually feel them, as if Oscar were lying against her chest, his little body shuddering with dramas a two-year-old should never face.

It would be in his third birthday in a week. What happened on that day? What would become of the massive party Millie had planned for him?

Last week her only stress about the party had been 'would Max find time to come' but now… would the birthday boy be there? Would Millie be searching for her son that day instead? Would she find him hurt? Would she be burying his tiny body?

She managed to sniff back and hide a fresh wave of tears and fears as the top stair creaked and Millie looked up as Max started down towards her, clutching his left ribs, holding onto the banister tightly. He looked pale and sick, not just injured, but another level of pain. Something Millie wouldn't have recognised on Max's expression had she not seen it in her own eyes every day of the week.

"What did you see?"

Max looked up quickly, surprise evident in his expression, and then as he reached the bottom of the stairs he spoke. "He wanted to know why I could save everyone else but I couldn't save him."

Millie stood up and quickly came to Max's side, hesitating as she stopped beside him, suddenly unsure what to do that would work the best. Max wasn't a hugger, not even one for rather obvious attempts at comfort, so in previous times Millie had relied solely on the right words. But they'd never been in this situation before. She felt, in its simplest meaning, awkward. "Max, I…"

Then he shocked her. He pulled her to him and wound his arms around her, pressing his cheek to the side of her head, kissing her just above her ear. "You don't need to hear this Millie, I know you're going through enough, I'm sorry."

"Don't be. I want to know this stuff Max." She pulled away and gave him a brief smile. "If only to feel a little vindicated after years of convincing people my husband is not a soulless robot."

"Maybe just a little soulless?" He managed a smile. Millie shook her head just a bit. "Are you coming up soon?"

"Max, it's only early I have things to do before I…"

"Please."

Millie didn't bother trying to hide the surprise on her face. Max wasn't asking her when she was coming up; he was hoping she would so he didn't have to lie in bed alone letting his thoughts overtake him. For the first time in all the time Millie had known him, Max was asking for her help, her comfort. To deny him that would be beyond cruel. "Of course. I'll be right up." And as he shot her a brief smile and started back upstairs Millie hid her own smile. Then, flicking off all the downstairs lights, she followed him up.

Max was awoken the next morning by the sharp, stabbing pains in his chest and, even before opening his eyes, he rubbed at them vigorously. The pain subsided for just a second but the minute he stopped to catch a breath, it quickly returned, and he gave a low groan.

"Stop touching them, you'll only make the pain worse."

As Max's eyes flickered open at the voice, Millie walked from the ensuite, drying her hair with a towel, her slender frame covered by a bathrobe. Max made a point of voicing a disappointed groan and Millie shot him a smile then threw her damp towel at him. "Get up!" The towel landed on his legs and he kicked it off him, sitting up slowly, rubbing at his ribs one more time before pushing himself to his feet. As he stood he heard the doorbell and shot it a look, preparing to ignore it, but Millie was watching him and when it sounded again a minute later she waved him from the room.

Starting downstairs slowly, pulling on jeans as she did, Max glanced through the small window on the door and saw two figures on his doorstep. He pulled the front door open cautiously. "Yes?"

The two uniformed police officers nodded with a small frown. "Guv," Max glanced at their uniforms for names. Duncan and Emmanuel. He didn't know the names. "Is PC Brown in?"

Max motioned to them lazily. "What nick you from?"

"Barton Street." The taller, dark-haired one did all the speaking. The one named Emmanuel. His eastern European accent was quite thick but his English was good. "But we're working for Inspector Smith for the week, for the joint investigation."

Max nodded slowly. Something in him didn't trust the situation, it seemed off somehow, but their story worked. He turned back to the stairs. "Millie?" He glanced back at the officers. "She won't be long. What's this about?"

"We're not sure, Inspector Smith just sent us to get her, something important."

Max crossed his arms over his bandaged chest. "And it didn't concern me?"

"You're on sick leave Max, stop thinking Smithy's out to get you." Millie answered, coming down the stairs two at a time, her wet hair tied up in a ponytail, she passed Max to the doorway. "Yes?"

"You're wanted at the station." Max said, cutting over the PC about to speak, his tone gruff and serious. He couldn't shake that feeling…

Millie nodded and the officers stepped away from the doorway, expecting her to follow, as Millie glanced back at Max. "Stay out of trouble!"

Max took a hold of her hand. "Do you know these two? They give me the creeps." He motioned back to the officers. Millie frowned. "Duncan and Emmanuel, you heard of them?"

Millie's frown deepened and her brow furrowed. "Duncan, no, but I heard Emmanuel on the radio when you ran off to get Stamos. Thick accent, kind of gruff." Max nodded. That sounded like Emmanuel. "They're Barton Street, you're not supposed to know them, they're the enemy remember!" With a smile she gave him a quick kiss. "I'm just going to Sun Hill Max." Then, extracting her hand from his, Millie followed the uniformed policemen to the car. Max shut the door behind them intending to follow her to Sun Hill whether Smithy wanted him there or not.