Disclaimer I do not own New Tricks.

Night Terrors?

Sandra had been secretly relieved that Gerry had offered to let her stay in his spare room. She had been dreading going back to her house, knowing the mess the break in had made as well as the way SOCO would have been all over the living room and hallway. She closed her eyes as she tried to rationalise everything that had happened in the last few days. It still didn't seem real, that a case she had successfully prosecuted when she was a DC had come back to haunt her almost twenty years later. She pulled the duvet up under her chin and prayed she wouldn't wake Gerry with her nightmares.

"It's over Sandra. It's over" She muttered to herself as she stared at the window hoping sleep would claim her.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Brian sat on the sofa watching Question Time. Scampi was asleep in his lap as Esther curled up on the sofa next to him. She was worried about her husband, knowing how worried he had been about Sandra over the last few days.

"Brian?"

"Yes luv?" He turned to her.

"When you found her, she was alright? Wasn't she?"

"Oo? Sandra? Yeah she says she's fine. It's Gerry that nearly ended up with a broken nose" He shook his head as Scampi opened his eyes.

"Good" Esther tapped his knee. "You worry too much about those three. Sandra is more than capable, well she always has seemed to be to me."

"Oh I know luv. But it was too easy. Finding her, making the arrests. I dunno" He sighed as Esther picked up the remote control for the televison and turned the set off.

"But right now everyone is ok. Mark and Fran are ok. We're going to be Grandparents and for once all is well with the world. Come on." She held out a hand as he looked up at her. Scampi took the hint and jumped off the sofa.

"Bed!" Esther clarified as Brian looked a little puzzled. "You need to get some rest."

"Yes Luv." Brian sighed as he got to his feet.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Jack had intended to go to bed hours earlier. He was exhausted, even talking to Mary hadn't helped to clear his mind. Something was wrong but he just couldn't put a finger on what it was. He stood in his kitchen waiting for the kettle to boil as he thought about the case again. He was just glad he didn't have to tell Mrs Pullman Sandra had been murdered. Small mercies eh? He thought as he looked in the cupboard for his tea bags. He sighed as he realised why he thought rescuing Sandra had been too easy. He shook his head and began muttering under his breath. Grabbing his car keys he left the house wondering how they had managed to miss it when it now seemed so blindingly obvious.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Gerry ran a hand over his face. He was glad Sandra had agreed to stay at his house for the night. He had no idea what she was thinking but then he reasoned that was nothing new. He laid in bed and stared at the ceiling as he thought about the blonde woman in his spare bedroom, knowing that twenty years earlier he would have tried to take advantage of the situation. Now he knew there was no way he would take advantage of his friend. Sandra was his boss but she was also his mate and she needed a bit of support he reasoned as he closed his eyes and tried not to think of her. It was then his thoughts were disturbed by his mobile ringing.

"Yeah?" He didn't even check his caller display. "What? Jack are you 'aving a laugh?"

He closed his eyes aware that Sandra was now awake and moving around in the next room. He listened to Jack explain his theory as he got out of bed and began getting dressed.

"Ok ok, yes you may have a point. Call Brian, I'll find Emily and the others." He paused as he fought with a sock. "No no, don't call her. I'll ring Sandra" He hung up as he realised the rest of the night wasn't going to bring the peaceful sleep he had hoped. He stared at the offending sock as his bedroom door swung open.

"Gerry?" Sandra stood in the doorway staring at him.

"That was Jack. He thinks he might have found something. He thinks someone was helping Lincoln and McCarthy find you. He thinks there is someone on the inside that has a grudge against UCOS and they probably thought getting you out the way would mean UCOS would fall to pieces." Gerry stood and began pacing the small room as Sandra raised an eyebrow.

"Who?"

"I dunno"

"Does Jack?"

"He says he 'as an idea." Gerry huffed.

"Well where is he?"

"At the nick. He's called Brian and the others"

"Oh right" Sandra paused. "So he thinks someone really intended to kill me to end UCOS?"

"Sandra, don't talk about getting killed like that. As if it is no big deal" Gerry snapped. Sandra raised an eyebrow as Gerry came to stand in front of her. It was then she remembered she was only wearing a large t shirt Gerry had leant her hours earlier.

"Well"

"Because it is Sandra. It is a big deal!" He snapped. "Jack wants us all back at the station. Reckons he has a lead." Gerry turned away from her as she nodded.

"Wonder who the bleedin Guv is sometimes" She huffed as Gerry hung his head.

"Well when you weren't around it was Jack."

"I'm back now" Sandra smiled slightly.

"Yeah, so what do you think we should do?"

"Get dressed, go see what Jack has found" Sandra smiled as Gerry rolled his eyes.

"Yes Guv" Gerry returned the smile. Oh yes, she's back!

A/N Please review. More soon.