Daughter

"You have a daughter?" Sasha asked as Ted rolled his eyes. He knew the questions would come, about his sexuality and about his past.

"Yes. Kelly."

"Oh."

"Look, gay men still produce sperm. It is possible to be a father you know." Ted raised an eyebrow as Sasha blushed. "Look, Kelly is a good girl. Me and er mum were friends. Still are, my girl is the result of a very very drunken one night stand. I loved her mum. As a mate. My parents were convinced my being gay was a phase. They never quite got to grips with me only liking men. Being gay was illegal back then you know? I didn't come out officially until the 80s when I knew everyone who mattered knew anyway."

"I."

"It's ok. You'll like Kelly." He walked alongside her. "She's up to something. I know that much."

"This garage?"

"Sandra had the car serviced and MOTd ere last Tuesday."

"And this is where he works?" The venom in her voice catching her old friend by surprise.

"Jim Stevens, worked here for the past three months." Ted explained. "I phoned them this morning before I saw Kelly." He carried on walking next to her. "Seems Jimmy boy was doing all the booked MOTs."

"Including Sandra's." Sasha pulled her ID badge out of her coat pocket.

"Including Sandra's." Ted repeated as they approached the garage. A bald middle aged man looked up from under the bonnet of a blue 11 plate fiesta.

"Can I help you?" The gruff voice caught Sasha's attention. She nodded once.

"Yeah, we're looking for the bloke that was doing the car MOTs on Monday and Tuesday. Jim Stevens."

Ted kept quiet as the man opposite them glared.

"Well, you found him." He looked from one to the other. "Who might you be?"

"DCI Sasha Miller, this is my colleague Ted Case. A car you mot'd was involved in a fatal car accident."

"That's awful." The man shook his head. "Don't see what it as to do with me."

"You worked on the car."

"And?" He looked away. "Fatal you say?"

"A man died and a woman is on Life Support." Ted spoke calmly. Jim shook his head.

"Bad business but still don't see what it has to do with me."

"Breaks part of an MOT? Yeah?"

"Always." Jim nodded. "Breaks, the break fluid and pads. What you getting at?"

"The breaks, you'd fail the car if there was an issue?"

"Of course. Automatic fail if the car has faulty breaks." Jim narrowed his eyes.

"Ok." Sasha smiled sweetly. "James Stevens, I would like you to accompany us to the station."

"What? Why?"

"You worked on a car with no breaks. You should have noticed it and fail the car. You didn't which means either the breaks were fine when you saw them and you or someone else cut them. I'm not a betting man but my money is on you."

The younger man glared; shaking his head.

"Bitch got what she deserved."

"Ok, making it easy for us. James Stevens - I am placing you under arrest for murder and attempted murder." Sasha stated as Ted placed the cuffs around the man's wrists. Jim Stevens remained quiet; knowing he wasn't going to talk his way out of bother.

Xxxxxxxxxx

Gerry sat, watching the monitor attached to Sandra. He had no idea what the various numbers meant. Part of him was afraid to ask.

"Cuppa?"

He looked up to see Paula holding out a coffee mug.

"Thanks Luv. How?"

"Jack called and when I got here Barbara mentioned you might need a bit of company."

"She's a good un."

"Yeah, she is." Paula agreed. "Retired last year. Works on the Bank when they're short staffed. Proper old school RGN."

"Not like you modern ones." He winked.

"Oh Project 2000 wasn't the best training but I worked bloody hard for it! Times change."

"I know Luv." He hugged her. "You on a break?"

"No, finished arf hour ago. I'm all yours. Mum had Gerry Junior until five."

He nodded, knowing how much his first ex-wife loved their grandson. Gerry Andrew Standing was the one thing they still agreed on.

"What d those numbers mean?" He nodded to the monitor.

"Pulse, blood pressure, mean arterial pressure, respiration rate, oxygen saturation, arterial BP." Paula recited. "Her pulse is ok. BP is a bit low. Not major though." Gerry sipped his coffee. Sandra lay still as the grave. Paula watched her. "You do know people can hear you? I've heard reports of people in comas saying they heard medical staff and family talking around them."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. None of it has been proved but I like to believe it."

"Yeah." He sighed, looking at Sandra's face.

"So? Have you told her? That you love her?"

"Bloody Hell! Don't you start!"

"Dad." Paula looked him in the eye. "You've been in love with Sandra for years. I know it, Emily and Caitlyn know it. All the UCOs guys know it. Even Brian! How the pair of you don't know it when you're both supposed to be intelligent adults I dunno."

"I told her. Earlier. Before you came in."

"So? Keep talking to her. Tell her again and again!"

"Might put her off waking up!"

"I doubt it." Paula smiled. "It's pretty obvious she's soft on you too. Just don't be like you were with mum and the others. Prove yourself - be the grown up." She kissed his temple. "Love you, Dad,"

"I know Sweetheart. I know."

Xxxxxx