Disclaimer still not mine

Questions

Jake sat staring at his feet as he tried not to think about why Kate had been late for work that morning. They still knew very little about the attack on the newest member of the team.

"Jake." He looked up to see Alesha standing over him. "I spoke to Matt. Him and Ronnie are at Kate's flat."

"Ok." Jake nodded. "Have they found anything?"

"No." Alesha sat down. "Only a photograph smashed. It's of Kate when she was a teenager, with another girl. Do you know if she has a sister?"

"She never talks about her family."

"Neither do you." Alesha stated calmly. "None of us do, not really. There isn't time in work and neither you nor Kate are the most sociable of people."

"Thanks." Jake sighed as Alesha smiled slightly.

"Oh come on." Kate rested a hand on his arm. "Do you know of anyone Kate had trouble with? She works with you more closely than anyone."

"I thought it was your husband that did the detecting." Jake looked up as Alesha stared at him. "Sorry."

"It's ok." Alesha smiled. "Talk to her. She works with you more than anyone, there's a fair chance she'll talk to you. Ronnie is going to come to interview her as soon as he's finished at the flat."

Jake nodded before getting to his feet and walking to the door of the waiting room. He desperately wanted to speak to his friend but knew he would have to wait.

#################

"I dunno son." Ronnie took his glasses off and put them back on again. "I don't like this, not at all."

"Me neither." Matt agreed. "Angie and Sam are talking to the neighbours but nothing so far."

Ronnie looked at the photograph of the two teenage girls in the photo frame. It was obvious they were related and it bothered him that Kate had never mentioned a sister. "Why wouldn't she talk about this Beth? If she's important enough to have a photo of the girl in the flat, out on display then why not mention her?"

"She's the only one that can answer that." Matt stated calmly before walking across to where the forensic officer was taking photographs. "Anything?"

"The blood splatter is consistent with a high impact. She was definitely hit with something." The science officer watched as Matt winced.

"She's one of us, remember Chlo."

"Ok, ok but that doesn't stop the facts. Someone assaulted Kate Barker with a heavy object. Something blunt ended I wouldn't wonder."

"Blunt?" Sam asked as he walked into the flat.

"Well." Chloë stated. "If it was sharp ended this would be a murder investigation." Ronnie swore under his breath as he heard Chloë. He knew she was right, but hearing it said still made him feel sick.

"Ok, so who would want to kill her?" Sam asked.

"Neighbours come up with anything?" Matt asked. Sam shook his head.

"Bloke that lives next door, Simon Thomas is a teacher. He's already left for school. The neighbour the other side, Tracey Morgan heard a woman shouting but said it didn't sound like Kate. Angie is taking her full statement now. Its not much but it's something." Ronnie nodded as he heard what Sam had to say.

"Right, Sam. You wait for Angie. Matt, you and me are gonna visit our Kate. See what she has to say." Ronnie walked out of the flat leaving Chloë and the rest of the forensic team to do their work.

##############################

"Kate?" The nurse walked into the small A&E cubicle to find Kate staring at the wall opposite her. "You have some friends waiting outside."

"Can I go home?" Kate asked as she tried to ignore the throbbing in her head and the nausea she knew was due to concussion.

"You were brought in unconscious. The doctor wants you to have a CT scan and to stay in for neurological observations. Maybe just overnight."

"Right." Kate closed her eyes.

"Can I send your friends in?"

"Who knows I'm here?" Kate asked.

"The girl who brought you in. Alesha Devlin and Jacob? Does that ring any bells?"

"Yes." Kate smiled. "Yes, they can come in. Please." Kate hugged her knees to her chest, releaved that someone would be able to tell her what had happened. The nurse nodded before leaving the room to collect Alesha and Jake.

#################

"Friends of Kate Barker?" The nurse called from the waiting room door. Alesha and Jake got to their feet. Alesha rested a hand on Jake's arm.

"You go. Give Kate my love. Tell her we're all thinking of her."

"Aren't you coming in?" Jake looked panicked for a moment. Alesha smiled.

"No, I'll ring Matt, tell him she's awake. And I'll head back to work. James and Henry will want to know what's happened." Jake nodded as the nurse called again. "Go on." Alesha smiled before turning and leaving him to it. He nodded at the nurse and followed her into the small cubicle.

"Kate."

"Hi." She winced as she touched the dressing covering her head. "I'm fine. Thanks. For coming."

"Alesha has gone to ring the office." He stood in the doorway looking nervous. "Ronnie is going to want to talk to you."

"Right." Kate sighed as she rested her head on her knees.

"What happened?" He asked as she closed her eyes.

"I was getting ready for work." Kate stated calmly. "I wasn't expecting any visitors."

"Who did this?"

"It doesn't matter." Kate opened her eyes to see him watching her. "I'm sorry you were worried and I am sorry that I've put everyone out but I'm not going to press charges and I am not going to talk about what happened."

"Kate."

"Please, Jake." She met his gaze. "Please, just don't." Tears filled her eyes forcing Jake to freeze for a moment. Before he could think about what was happening he crossed the small room and pulled her into his arms.

"Don't cry. Ssh." He hugged her to him, silently promising he would find whoever hurt her and make them pay.

#######################

A/N Please review.