All Summer Long
Chapter 8: Two Truths and a Lie
Two updates in two days, aren't you lucky? Lol!
Not so pleased with this chapter, I ran out of ideas part way through but hopefully you like the character/pairing developments.
More soon. And please review! Your comments and suggestions are always appreciated!
Lots of you have asked me what's happening with your favourite pairings, I can tell you that, even if they go through rough patches, hopefully you'll all be pleased with how this fics ends.
Xxx
The following day the officers all met up eight am in one of the hotel's many function rooms. Gina was stood at the front of the room, waiting for everyone to arrive. Part of the purpose of this holiday was for the team to bond and the teambuilding part of the fortnight began today. Gina handed Neil a pile of paper and a box of pencils, which he then passed around the room. The group looked at each other, feeling as if they were being treated like officers rather than hard-working, qualified police officers and detectives.
"What are these for?" Phil asked loudly. The idea of a free holiday and a fortnight with Sam had tempted him so much he had forgotten all about the teambuilding aspect of the trip. There were a few mutters from people who were in a similar boat to Phil. They were a few minutes' walk from the beach and the hotel offered them many more enjoyable ways to spend their fortnight. None of them wanted to be trapped inside being treated like children.
Neil, who would much rather have spent every waking, and sleeping, moment with Andrea over these two weeks, spoke up saving Gina from the rant she was close to beginning.
"This is the first part of your teambuilding course," He welcomed the groans he received and waited for silence to settle again before speaking once more. "You won't be doing these exercises every day, and there will be plenty of time for you to get up to whatever you like." His gaze, subconsciously, slipped to Andrea who smiled briefly. "We've tried to make these exercises as fun for you as possible, and I think you might actually enjoy some of them." He smiled ruefully at their faces. He waited until everyone had a piece of paper and a pencil in their hands before speaking again. "This game is called 'two truths and a lie'. On the paper you have to write down two truths about yourself and one lie, and then one by one you'll read them out and everyone else must guess which are the truths and which is the lie." Neil explained.
There was faint muttering coming from the group but they seemed less resistant than before. He looked at Andrea again and they shared a smile.
"This is stupid," Honey moaned, chewing on the end of her pencil as she wracked her brain for what to write. "I thought the teambuilding things would be a bit more active and exciting than being stuck inside writing crap on a piece of paper."
"Don't hold back, Honey!" Kerry laughed, she was actually pleased that the first teambuilding exercise wasn't a physical one.
"I don't know what to write." She continued to moan, scribbling out something she had already written.
Kerry ignored her as she continued to moan, glancing across the room to where Smithy was scribbling earnestly on his piece of paper. She'd love to know what he was thinking as he was writing. She tore her eyes away and concentrated on her own paper.
The teambuilding activities were for the Sun Hill officers only, so Libby and Kayla spent the day together at the resort. They had already established a common ground by being the only two people in group who didn't work at Sun Hill, but found other things they shared an interest in. Of course they both knew firsthand what it was like to have a boyfriend who worked for the police and how difficult it could be sometimes.
They were sitting in the hotel spa, sipping herbal tea and relaxing when Kayla suddenly gasped and her cup and saucer went flying to the floor.
"Are you alright?" Libby asked, getting up and rushing to kneel by Kayla's side.
"Think so," Kayla said, breathing heavily and clutching at her stomach. "God, it hurts."
"Do you need a doctor?" Panic showed in Libby's hazel eyes. "Is something wrong?"
"Baby." Kayla whispered before passing out.
Gina and Neil stood at the head of the room, watching as the officers filled out their pieces of paper and making sure no one was cheating.
"You know, you could fill one out as well if you like, Neil." Gina said, turning to him and smirking ever so slightly.
"It's alright thanks." Neil replied, wondering if Gina had some suspicions about his and Andrea's relationship. He wouldn't put it passed her to assume that most of Andrea's visits to his office had nothing to do with the cases they were working on.
"I thought you might have something interesting to share with everyone." Gina's grin had widened as she watched Neil come close to squirming.
"If everyone has finished," Gina said a few minutes later. "I want you to put your name on the top of your piece of paper, fold it over and put it in this box." She pointed to a cardboard box at the front of the room. "I will pick them out and one by one you'll come up everyone else will decide which of the three facts you've written down is a lie."
They filed up and slipped their paper into the box, feeling strangely anxious even though many people in the room knew them better than their own families did.
Phil's was the first to be chosen from the box, he was certain Gina had picked his on purpose, and he went up to the front of the room to face his colleagues.
"I'll read these out for you," Gina said. "And when someone guesses which is the lie, you can tell them if they're right or not." Phil nodded and braced himself. "Firstly, I have two children. Secondly, I've been married twice. And thirdly, I only came on this trip because of a certain someone."
Phil looked at the floor, suddenly wishing he was back in the stuffy CID squad room working his way through a three foot stack of witness statements.
"Personally, they all sound true to me." Gina smiled, placing her hand on Phil's shoulder. "Who wants to start us off?" She asked, looking around the room. "Yes, Sam." Gina finally said and, despite the heat, the pit of Phil's stomach felt like twice.
"He's only been married once." She said quietly, trying to make eye contact but Phil was still looking at the floor.
"Is that right, Phil?" Gina asked.
"Yeah, it is." He went to sit down, still unable to look Sam's way. He was just glad that Gina had the decency not to ask him who the 'certain someone' was.
Despite their initial reservation, the group found themselves enjoying the first challenge, especially when lunchtime arrived and Gina told them that they had the afternoon off. Maybe the teambuilding aspect of this fortnight wouldn't be so bad after all. On their way out of the room, Callum made his way towards Diane's retreating form.
"Hey," He called, but not so loudly that everyone would hear. She turned back and smiled briefly at him, but said nothing. Once they were outside and the group went their separate ways, it was easier for Callum to catch up with her. "Di," He was close enough now to reach out and place his hand on her shoulder. She stopped now, turning to look at him with a questioning expression in her eyes. "Some of us are going into town, to the local shops to get some surfing gear. Do you want to tag along too?"
Diane considered his offer and was close to accepting when Kerry and Honey appearing, calling out to Diane to hurry up and join them on the beach.
"Sorry Callum, maybe another time." Diane said, partly relieved that she had been let off the hook but feeling a little guilty when she saw the look in his eye.
"Yeah, maybe." He said a little sadly, turning away to catch up with Smithy and Nate.
"Andrea!" Neil called, for the moment not caring who heard him. He had picked up the hidden meaning when she had been called up to read her two truths and the lie. He knew that what she had said was meant for him, and it was only then that he realised how much he had really hurt her by wanting to keep their affair secret. But to Neil it wasn't an affair anymore, he loved her and he wanted to be with her; only her, not Philippa. He knew what his wife was like though, and how if he asked for a divorce, she would make sure she got sole custody of Jake. His son was the only reason Neil hadn't left Philippa already.
"I don't want to talk to you right now, Neil." She said, her cold tone a sharp contrast with the bright sunshine they both had to shield their eyes from. "I'll see you later."
She walked away, leaving Neil staring after her, wondering how he would be able to win her back whilst still keeping his son in his life. For the first time he was beginning to regret agreeing to come on this holiday.
Millie went back to her hotel room and got ready to go the beach. She put her shorts and t-shirt back on over her bikini and put an extra bottle of suncream into her beach bag. She sat on the bed to put her sandals back on, feeling a peace with her decision to come out to her friends and colleagues. The way Sam and Nikki had smiled supportively at her told her that it hadn't come as a surprise to many people. She wished she could have read the expression on Jo's face but it was as if the older woman was wearing a mask. Yesterday Millie had thought that things were improving between the two of them, but today things seemed to be back to square one.
"Millie?" Jo was waiting outside the redhead's room when she stepped out into the corridor. Millie was certainly surprised to see her.
"Hi, Jo." She smiled a little uncertainly. "Is everything okay?"
Jo smiled a little. "I was going to ask you the same question." She paused. "If there's anything you want to talk about..."
Millie smiled. "Thanks, but I feel like a weight's been lifted off me...I actually feel better than I've done in ages."
Jo smiled, realising she was doing exactly what she had told herself she'd avoid; falling for Millie Brown. "Are you heading to the beach?" She asked. Millie nodded and they left the hotel. Together.
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