Fear

Steve drove in silence as Gerry stared straight ahead. He knew Sandra would have been sober driving, that she was a good driver and would have been paying attention to the road. Narrowing his eyes he tried not to think what injuries could be so bad that the London Air Ambulance had to take her to hospital. The fact that the other driver was dead at the scene told him it had been a horrific.

"Gerry, someone should call her mother."

"No." Gerry stated firmly. "Well, not until we know what's append. Her and Grace don't exactly get on. Never really av."

"Why is that?"

"I dunno. Sandra was a real Daddy's girl. I always got the impression Grace was jealous of her. She as got a half brother - Tom."

"Aye, she told me once. When I was fretting about my boy and the new baby." Steve paused; thinking of his heavily pregnant and younger fiancé. Charlie had given him a second chance at life. He was determined not to mess this one up. Gerry fell silent once more.

Xxxxxx

Jack felt sick. He hated the idea that Sandra was injured. He knew how sick she had been - breast cancer and then Sepsis had nearly killed her. Now she was well, back at work and he had noticed her and Gerry getting closer. For the first time in a very long time he had thought she seemed happy.

"Jack." Sasha rested a hand on his arm. "Are you alright?"

"Yes." He nodded, numb from the news that Sandra was badly hurt.

"Maybe you should go home?"

"No." He glanced at Ted, aware the new recruit was just as shaken as he was. "No, I'm ok. Gerry said he'd call? When there was news?"

"He promised." Brian said. "He's a pompous prat at times but he's always kept his promise."

"Yeah." Dan nodded. "Yeah, he'll call."

"Until then." Jack walked across to his desk. Ted shook his head slightly. He was still the new boy. Still getting to know the dynamic but he had to admit that no team he had been on before had felt like family the way UCOS did. He sent up a silent prayer that somehow Sandra would be ok. He didn't know what would become of the team if she wasn't.

Xxxxxxx

"Sandra Pullman?" Steve asked the A&E receptionist as the middle aged woman looked up. The waiting area was crammed full of people. Gerry ran a hand over his face wondering just how many of the patients needed to be there. He had a feeling a few could have been elsewhere; a walk in centre, GP or in one case prison. He looked back to see Steve talking and lying fluently to the nurse.

"Aye, I'm Sandra's brother. Steve; this is her partner Gerry."

"I'll take you to the family room. Dr Bashir can tell you the details." Gerry nodded, following Steve in a daze. He shrugged his shoulders realising between wives, daughters, his sisters and mum and now Sandra and Sasha he had spent most of his sixty years waiting for women and being totally bewildered by them.

"Thankyou."

"Is Sandra Scottish?" The nurse asked. Steve shrugged.

"No, neither am I. Not really. Our parents divorced. She lived with our mother down here and my dad, who was Glaswegian took me with him. I picked up the accent." Steve lied as Gerry sat down.

"Ow is she?"

"Dr Bashir will explain everything. She won't be long." The nurse left the room as Gerry hung his head.

"She's dead."

"Gerry; you don't know that."

"I can feel it. You bloody liar! What appens if Tom turned up? Her actual brother?"

Steve shrugged.

"You know she has Jack and you down as her emergency contacts."

"so?"

"Then who is going to tell Tom? Everyone's waiting to hear from us. Behave Gerry." He smiled slightly as the door opened to reveal a young Indian woman with a bright pink stethoscope and a large badge stating she was 'Doctor Roya."

"Sandra's family?"

"Yes." Gerry shook the doctor's hand. "Yes we are."

Xxx