Disclaimer not mine

Family Ties

Ronnie put his mobile phone back in his pocket, glad that Natalie had been in contact. It seemed Henry and George had both contacted her asking when arrests were likely to be made following Kate's assault. He smiled as he pictured her giving them both short shrift. An arrest would be made when there was someone to arrest, not before. It was Natalie's way of saying go away and let us do our job. He shook his head as he reached Kate's hospital room, only to see Jake step out into the corridor.

"Ronnie."

"Hello Jake." Ronnie smiled, glad that Kate hadn't been left on her own. "'ow is she?"

"Shaken." Jake frowned. "Very shaken. They are keeping her in tonight, because of the head injury."

"Understandable." Ronnie nodded. "She had quite a bad knock on the head."

"Yeah."

"Alright, what are you not telling me?"

"Nothing." Jake looked at him in all innocence. "Why would you say that?"

"Dunno." Ronnie sighed. "What is it?"

"She's quiet." Jake sighed. "And you know Kate. She doesn't do being quiet."

"That's true." Ronnie smiled as he thought of the new girl at the CPS. "Look, I am not going to interview her properly. I wont take a full statement. If she prefers I can get Angie or Sam to talk to her. She gets along with them, yeah?"

"She does." Jake paused. "Look, I'll leave you to it. She hasn't told me anything. She may speak to you if I'm not there." Ronnie nodded as Jake ran a hand through his dark hair. "I'll call James and the others." He walked towards the pay phone at the end of the corridor leaving Ronnie to think about what he had said.

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"Right." Natalie looked at her junior officers. "What have we got?"

"Ron's gone to talk to Kate." Sam stated. Natalie nodded.

"No signs of forced entry." Matt spoke quietly. "Blood on the photo frame in the living room. Looks like it was the weapon used to knock her out."

"Forensics have it now." Angie stated. "Maybe they can find some DNA that isn't Kate's."

"Maybe. Does her flat have any CCTV cameras outside? What did the neighbours say?"

"No." Sam frowned. "It's supposed to but the camera was broken last week. Vandalised."

"Oh that's convenient." Matt frowned. "The neighbours who hadn't left for work hadn't heard much. Tracey Morgan says she heard shouting but says she didn't see anyone arriving or leaving. States she is certain the voice was female and not Kate's."

"And the girl in the photo?"

"Elizabeth Barker." Sam looked at her floor. "Kate's older sister. Bit of a hell raiser in her younger days. That's all I could find out. Known as Beth to everyone. From what I can gather that photo was the last time they were together."

"Families." Matt shook his head. "Strange things."

"Right, so why is Beth Barker estranged from her sister? What would keep them apart? Looking at that photo they seemed like any other teenage girls."

"My sister and me argued all the time when we were that age." Angie smiled as she thought of her little sister. "Would have to be something big to stop us talking now."

"Exactly." Natalie paused. "Find out where this Beth is. Sam, can you see if you can get forensics to get a move on? Wes? You ok to trace the family?"

"Yes Ma'am." Wes looked at the newly appointed DCI and nodded. "What about boyfriends?"

"A woman's voice was heard." Sam stated.

"Ok." Wes paused. "How much do we know about Kate? Would she date a married man? Is she gay?"

"Kate's." Sam paused. "No she wouldn't date someone elses husband."

"Remember, Kate is not a suspect." Natalie turned before heading to her office. "Angie, find Beth Barker. Wes, look into the rest of Kate's family. Sam, forensics. Matt get to the hospital, see what Ronnie has come up with." She slid the office door closed as the team set to work.

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Kate looked up as Ronnie walked into the hospital room. He paused for a moment, realising how young she looked. Her blonde hair fell forward, hiding her eyes and the bandage that covered her wounds.

"Alright luv." He sat down on the chair next to her bed. "Jake's gone to ring the others."

"He's been so good to me." Kate hugged her knees.

"He's not as bad as he would have us all believe." Ronnie smiled. "We've got forensics at your flat."

"No." Kate closed her eyes. "I don't want anyone going through my things."

"They're not." Ronnie watched as she avoided his eyes. "Who did this to you?"

"Ron."

"Kate."

"I don't want to make a statement." Kate turned, looking him directly in the eye. "I mean it, Ron. I can't press charges."

"Kate?" Ronnie frowned. "It's too soon. You've not had a chance to think about it."

"I have." She looked at the worn hospital blanket. "I have thought about it and I can't press charges. It was my fault anyway."

"Now listen 'ere." Ronnie watched as she shook her head and instantly regretted it. "This is not your fault. It doesn't matter what you did, you didn't cause this."

"You don't understand." Kate sighed. "You can't."

"I can try." He watched as she sniffed. "What happened to Beth? It was her that did this? Wasn't it? That's why you don't want to press charges. It's why you don't want to talk to me." Ronnie watched as tears filled her eyes. He squeezed her hand. "You know? The CPS can take a prosecution forward if they believe it in the public interest whatever the victim says."

"I know." Kate looked up as the door to the room opened. Jake stood there holding two coffees.

"Right, I'll leave you to think about what I said." He smiled kindly at her before getting to his feet. "Look after her." He whispered to Jake as he passed. Jake nodded before crossing the room to Kate. Ronnie looked back to see both had forgotten he was there. Kate rested her head against Jake's shoulder as he held her. Smiling slightly Ronnie closed the door knowing Kate would be alright, eventually.

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A/N More soon x