So this is proabably the final chapter. And yes, I know I got the baby's name wrong. Should I write anymore Blue Murder the youngest child will be called Charlotte. Until then I will keep Lucy as I can't go back and change it now.

Drive.

Richard pushed his foot on the accelerator, knowing Shapps would be reluctant to wait for him to get there. He had been the arresting officer years earlier when Mason had been picked up. He glared as he corrected himself, it had been him and Janine. They were always together. Both equally responsible for arresting the man that had tortured and murdered four women in the north of the city. He gripped the stearing wheel harder, knowing that the attack on Janine had to be Mason, there was no one else they had arrested that had been through their books.

"Come on." He swore profusely as a small Ford Fiesta pulled out in front of him. Slamming his hand against the wheel he gunned the engine until he was able to get around the pathetically slow driver.

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"When can I go home?" Janine pushed herself up into a sitting position. The nurse smiled kindly before turning back to the blood pressure machine she was packing away.

"Anyone would think you wanted to go back to the chaos." She saw the look of utter frustration pass over Janine's face. She had the feeling the DCI was not going to be the easiest patient she had ever had. "We're going to move you from ITU to HDU tomorrow, all being well. What you went through is going to take time to heel from. You really want to go home?"

"I do." Janine tilted her head on one side. "Chaos?"

"I've met your sister, and the kids. Your eldest girl is "

"Great. My Eleanor is bloody brilliant." Janine huffed. The nurse nodded.

"Yes, she is. And there is no need to be so defensive. I was about to say her and the young lad she was with, your Michael are great kids. Your partner and you should be proud."

"My partner?" Janine frowned slightly. She ached in places she never knew she had.

"Tall? Dark hair? Good looking lad."

"Oh you mean Richard." She couldn't help but smile.

"Yes, that's his name. I am useless with names."The nurse returned the smile. "He was here from the moment the ambulance arrive. Him and the older kids. Wouldn't leave you."

"All the time?" Janine had a feeling he had been but to hear it confirmed was still shocking. "But."

"Everyone just assumed he was your partner. The kids seemed so at ease with him. I had noticed they called him by his name and not Dad."

"My kids are from my first marriage." Janine didn't know why she was explaining herself to this stranger. It was almost as if speaking helped put her thoughts in order. She knew Richard was important to her and all four kids were her world. But her and Richard? Was it just work? Had she been right when she said there was something there? Closing her eyes she could guess the nurse was nodding.

"Same with mine. Yours seem to adore their step dad though." The nurse smiled as Janine's eyes flew open. Before she could correct the nurse the younger woman was out of the room and on to her next patient. Janine huffed in frustration, knowing the only person she could really ask was Richard. And he wasn't there.

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"Shapps." Richard barked as he walked from his car to where Shapps was leaning against his grey Clio.

"Boss."

"You alright?"

"Yeah. Just spoke to Kat. They charged the bouncer with murder. He confessed. Said he had tried it on with young Kezia and when she told him to bugger off he saw red."

"Bastard." Richard sneered. If it was one thing he could never understand it was a man that layed his hands on a woman in anger. Shaking his head he looked towards the little garden opposite the parked cars.

"Yeah, well. Our Mason makes him look like a sodding saint."

"Yeah, I know." Richard looked over Shapps shoulder and nodded slightly. Shapps took the hint before turning to watch the wiry man Richard had spotted run.

"Why do they always bloody run?" Shapps almost spat as he broke into a sprint Hussein Bolt would be proud of. Richard swore again and began chasing the pair. He made a mental note to get back on the treadmill as soon as possible. There was no way he was going to let himself be outrun by Shapps.

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"Pint?" Butchers walked alongside Kat as the younger woman raised an eyebrow.

"Thought I might give the hospital a ring, see if the Guv is up to visitors." She shoved her hands in her jean pocket. Butchers nodded.

"Yeah, should get her a get well card or something."

"Ok." Kat smiled. "When did you go soft?"

"Me? Soft? Never." He laughed. "Look, that confession. Back there."

"Yeah."

"You think he was only telling us what we wanted to hear, like, do you think he was protecting someone else?"

"I dunno." She looked back towards the custody suite. "He's scared but unless he drops the crap and the attitude then I suppose we'll never find out."

Butchers nodded, checked his watch and walked off in the direction of the office, letting Kat trying to work out what on Earth was going through his head this time.

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A/N Prob one more chapter to go. Please review.