This is the last chapter in my first fanfic. I hope you have enjoyed it. I have very much enjoyed writing it and sharing it with you fantastic story tellers! If you like this I have plenty ideas for future stories please feel free to leave a comment.

Chapter 6 the Recovery

A few Weeks had past. Jackie was still recovering in hospital. Her road to recovery had been a rocky one but over the past week, she had been feeling more like herself over the past week. Every time Michael visited, he saw she had more colour in her face. He looked into her eyes he could see her sparkle returning.

Michael had been visiting every day, sometimes two or three times a day. He wasn't above flashing his warrant card to sneak a visit out with visiting times.

Michael had arrived bright and early. He opened the door to her room; he smiled as he saw her reading a book. He sat next to her bed and took her hand and kissed it gently. This had become his little ritual, which melted her heart. How such a small gesture could make her feel so much better she thought. "Morning Jackie" he smiled. "No Brian today?" She blushed as though she was a little embarrassed. Michael kicked himself mentally, realising that Brains visits weren't as often as his own. "Em, no he's away to London" she said averting Michael gaze.

"What!" Michael exclaimed. He couldn't believe that Brian would put his career before his wife. He couldn't imagine putting work before Jackie. "Your due for release soon though, when is he due back?"

"I don't know Michael, I can take care of myself!" she said a little angry, but Michael could see through that. He knew that Jackie never admits that she needs help from time to time. In fact she hates talking about her troubles. Michael remembered that when Brian was investigating Robbie Ross for corruption, he had known that it had taken a toll on her. every time Michael tried to be there for her. She shut down, she hated being vulrenbel.

"I know you can" he smiled. "I just mean it would be great for you to have a servant to get you cups of tea, rub your feet, massage your shoulders and bring you ice cream." She smiled, he had that childish grin on his face that she found so hard to be angry at. She shook it off knowing that she had no such person to be there for her. She tried to tell herself she didn't need that but she knew that she was only lying to herself. "Yeah well that's not Brian, well not anymore! So where do u suppose I find myself one of these so called servants" she snapped. Michael reached into his pocket. "Well Miss Reid" he grinned "I happen to know a DCI! who is due some leave and has one of these...!" He rang a little gold bell that he had pulled from the inside of his jacket. She giggled something that had been few and far between since she had been shot. "And you would do that for me?" She smirked. She realised he must already known or guessed that Brian had let her down. She had married Brian because he had treated like the centre of his world, but that was never really the case. "Jackie, I would do anything for you!" he said and leaned in and kissed her forehead. His warmth consumed her, a warm feeling that she felt all over her body. "Thanks Michael" she looked deep into his eyes and realised that it had always been Michael, she thought it had been Robbie that had out doubt into her mind about her marrying of Brian. At this very moment, she knew it hadn't been Robbie at all. It was Michael. She was drawing a line under her potential relationship with Michael and that had cut her deep, yet at the time she couldn't place the feelings she was having. She finally released that Michael was who would always be there for her, and that made her feel safe.

"So ... you got a uniform to go with this bell then?" she winked, teasing him. He loved her wicked sense of humour. "You like a man in uniform?"

"Of course, there's nothing sexier than a man in uniform!"

"I'll bear that in mind" He couldn't help but smile. He had his Jackie back, and there relationship had become more flirtatious, like the old times.

He knew that he almost had lost Jackie and that had been too much to bear. He also had been surprised that Brian hadn't been more supportive of her. Although, selfishly Michael was glad that Brian hadn't taken over and left him out.

Michael's feelings for Jackie had changed, it was like his old feelings had been reborn and he could see her more clearly than he had done in years. This was the first time in so long he hadn't known what to do. The only thing he did know was that he was going to help his best friend get back on her feet.

As for the future, he didn't know.

The End