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Breathe

Jake walked into the small side room on the edge of the ITU, aware that Kate was not going to be recognisable. The bandages around her head and the tube in her mouth only served to disturb him more than he had thought possible.

"Kate." He started as he stepped forward. The nurse rested a had on his back. "I."

"Talk to her. Let her know you're here."

"I." He nodded before stepping forward and sitting next to her. Gingerly he took her hand in his and stared at her face, partially obscured with bandages. "You are going to be back in Chambers bossing me around before you know it. Ronnie and Matt are looking for Beth. James and Alesha have offered to cover our workload. Hopefully he wont put his size 10s in it and wreck the progress we made on the Morgan case." Jake knew he was babbling but he didn't care. "Wake up, Kate. Please. Don't let whoever did this win." He kissed her hand, unaware that Henry was watching from the doorway. He smiled sadly before turning and walking away, George would be waiting for an update.

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"You ok?" James looked across at his friend. Alesha looked exhausted. "You look done in."

"I'm fine." She sighed heavily. "How does Jake make any sense of his notes?"

"Don't ask me." James smiled. "What I do know is, staying here is not helping. We both need a good night sleep and if we don't go home soon Bea and Matt will forget what we look like." Alesha nodded before closing the file. She knew he was right but she desperately wanted to take a load off Jake's shoulders, she remembered how she had felt when Matt had been shot. She wouldn't wish that feeling on her worst enemy.

"Ok, ok." She ran a hand over her face before shutting down the computer and grabbing her coat.

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"Ok, well good work Wes. Let me know when you've spoke to Kate's parents." Natalie listened to the new DI as Ronnie and Matt walked back into the MIU offices. Ronnie nodded to his Guv as she put the phone down.

"Anything?" Natalie asked as she appeared in the doorway.

"We have a provisional location for Beth but we can't move until the morning." Matt sighed as he leant against his desk. "We're the others?"

"Wes is in Manchester looking for Kate's parents. Apparently they are no longer living in the last known address for them. Angie and Sam have gone home for the night. You two should do the same."

"Yeah." Ronnie yawned.

"Hold on." Natalie paused. "Why can't you talk to Beth until the morning?"

"Because." Ronnie paused. "She was arrested by Drugs Squad three hours ago in the West End. They're talking to her tonight and their DCI isn't too keen on us muscling in. Only found out she had been arrested by chance."

"Oh isn't he. You leave Roger Morgan to me. Right, you pair get off home." Natalie tried to stiffle a yawn as Matt smiled slightly.

"What about you Guv?" Ronnie asked. "No point in battling our corner with Morgan tonight. You know how precious Drug Squad are over thrier arrests."

"True." Natalie sighed. "Go on, before I change my mind." She smiled as Matt almost ran from the room. Ronnie rolled his eyes.

"He's missing Alesha."

"Yeah, well." Natalie shook her head. "Young love, eh? Go on, you've got a home to go to?"

"Despite my ex wife's best attempts." Ronnie watched as Natalie raised an eyebrow. "I'll walk you to your car. No arguments."

"Ok, ok." Natalie picked up her jacket and car keys. "Come on." Ronnie smiled, turning off the office lights as they left.

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Alesha stared at the kettle, wishing it to boil faster. Cameron slept soundly in the next room. She smiled as she heard Matt's keys in the door before he wrapped his arms around her waist.

"Hi." She rested her head back against his chest as he kissed her neck.

"Hi." He breathed against her skin. "I missed you today."

"It's been hectic, James and I have taken over Kate and Jake's workload as well as our own cases." She closed her eyes as he kissed her neck again. "Did you get anywhere?"

"We have a number of lines of enquiry, Counsel." He breathed as she turned in his arms. "Cameron?"

"Sleeping like the baby he is. I just checked on him. Even the cat is asleep." She smiled as her arms wrapped around his neck.

"Well, if we're the only ones still awake." He kissed her gently. "Shouldn't we get to bed too?"

"Why is it I get the feeling you aren't planning on getting any rest?" Alesha raised an eyebrow as Matt blushed.

"Because." He took a breath. "If nothing else, all this with Kate and Jake and looking for her sister has told me life is too short. I love you." He closed his eyes as she kissed him.

"I know." Alesha smiled. "I."

"Come to bed." He took her hand and lead her out of the kitchen. Suddenly Alesha wasn't tired at all as her thoughts drifted away from the girl in the hospital to her husband and the way he made her feel.

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A/N Filler chapter - more soon x