Truth

Sasha approached the address they had been given with Steve at her side. She knew that she wasn't really supposed to be there. Sandra's 'accident' technically didn't come under UCOS remit. But then if she squinted, wrangled it enough she could convince people it all led from a teenage love affair gone sour. Steve shoved his hands in his pockets as she rang the doorbell.

Xxxxxx

"Bloody Nora." Gerry paused as he reached the locked door of the ITU. Jack had been true to his word, leaving to call everyone. Stood alone at the entrance to the ITU he wished his old friend was with him. Swearing under his breath as the distinct hospital smells caught him he pressed the buzzer. A nurse appeared.

"Hello."

"Hiya. I've come to see Sandra Pullman." His voice broke slightly as the nurse nodded. She ushered him into the department.

"She's in the side room. There's lots of tubes and drains and machines but you let us worry about them. Ok?"

"Ok." Gerry smiled.

"Oh I'm Barbara. If you need anything I'm over by the nurses station."

She smiled as he nodded once. Barbara seemed to sense his total loss of control, she could see he was a man used to fixing things. This, he couldn't. She left him as he stepped into the side room. Sandra lay on pristine white sheets with what looked like the hub of the starship enterprise around her. A tube snaked into one arm - the end attached to what looked like a million syringes all in metal and plastic casing. A monitor flashed up any change in vital signs. A tube fed into her mouth- keeping her airways open as oxygen was pumped into her lungs.

"Sandra." His eyes filled with tears as he stepped towards her. He felt sick as he saw the feisty blonde woman looking so vulnerable. "Jack is ere - gone to ring the others. Everyone's been worried." He sat on the small plastic chair next to her. "You got through the op. That's a start." He took her hand, mindful of the wires and drips. "All you got to do now is get better. Jack reckons I should tell you something but I dunno if I should. I mean you might not be able to hear it." He sighed as he felt her fingers twitch in his hand. "Just wake up, hopefully I'll have the balls to tell you then." He kissed her forehead before sitting back down. He knew Jack would call him a coward.

"Just rest. Our Paula says sleep is the best cure for things like this. Let's the body heal."

He watched her as he prayed for some sign he had been heard. He brought her hands to his lips; kissing her palm.

"Ok, ere goes." He held her hand. "God elp me but I love you." He held her hand as he spoke. "Just come back to us; guns blazing and give me a rollocking for being a soft idiot. Please Sandra." He rested her hand back against the bed sheet, reluctant to let her go.

Xxxxxx

"No answer." Sasha glared. "Where's Ted and Dan?" She turned to face her friend. Steve shrugged as they both turned to leave. A dog barking caught her attention as Steve shrugged. His mobile rang just as they reached the car.

"Jack? Any news?"

"Gerry is with her now." Jack paced the small courtyard next to the hospital. "She had her liver repaired and spleen removed. Doc says she's critical. Still in ITU on a vent. It's up to her now."

"Oh God; poor Gerry." Sasha shook her head as Steve clicked the speakerphone button. Steve raised an eyebrow. It seemed the whole team knew how the Guv and the cockney ex copper felt about each other apart from them.

"I told him to stop pratting about and tell her."

"Do you think he will?" Steve asked.

"Nope." Both Sasha and Jack answered at the same time. Steve smiled before ending the call and getting back into the car. At lease she had made it through the operation. It was a start.

Cxxxxxx

Ted frowned. He did not like mysteries. For a copper it was unusual but he just wanted facts, plain and simple. Sat on the park bench he looked up as a dark haired woman approached.

"Ello luv."

"Hiya Dad."

"How's yer mum? Not seen Alison for ages."

The brunette smiled.

"Mum and Simon are still together. She still refers to you as my sperm donor."

"That's Ali." He shook his head. "You ok?"

"Yeah. Look. I heard about your boss. Bad business."

"Sandra's tough."

"So long as you are too."

"Kelly Anne Case, what did I do to get lucky with you eh? Are you coming over to mine tonight? Pat will be there. Love to see you. You know your old step dad misses you as much as I do."

Kelly smiled. She knew her family was unorthodox but she loved her three dads and mum completely. Knowing that she had been very much wanted by Alison and Ted so many years earlier - despite them not being together after a very drunken one night stand before Ted had found he was in love with another man. She smiled slightly; her mother had been in love with someone else too. She nodded as she thought of Pat.

"Yeah, sevenish ok?" She asked as Ted smiled. "I might have some news for you."

"Paris? You being sent back to the French office? Kel?"

"I'll talk to you later. When Pat is there." She kissed his cheek, standing up quickly. "Got to go." He shooed her away knowing that having a daughter who was a spook was his greatest worry. MI 6 had kept her safe so far. He prayed they continued to do so.

Once she was out of sight he pulled his phone out of his jacket pocket; dialling the number Brian had text him.

"Ello. I'd like to speak to someone about a car that you serviced two days ago." He narrowed his eyes as he listened to the garage owner. "It's alright; I know the bloke. I'll pop in." He ended the call, knowing he had the right garage and that he was in work. Getting to his feet he decided to call Sasha. If he was right; and he was sure he was then a serving copper would be needed.

Xxxxx

A/N thanks for all the reviews