Despite Sandra's endless attempts to get Robert Strickland to join them at the pub (she knew that would annoy Gerry no end) he tuned to offer down as he was going out with his children Hermione and Rufus. "I'm taking them bowling and then for a pizza, I haven't seen them in a while so I can't make it I'm afraid Sandra, have a good evening and I will be there next time" was what her boss had told her.
The UCOS team made their way to their local haunt and took up their usual table. To Sandra's relief Rose was yet to arrive. Before Rose came teetering in on her skyscraper heels, the team talked about the usual stuff, Gerry made her laugh, Jack moaned about the case and Brian gave them some interesting facts about his new obsession, bird watching. It was as if the likes of Rose had never existed to Sandra.
"Here she is" Gerry beamed as Rose came trotting through the door.
She was wearing a tiny black, strapless dress, with heels to match and not much more. "Oh this is a nice welcome" she said smiling coyly as Gerry kissed her before pulling out a chair for her, so she was sat opposite him and next to Sandra.
"Nice to see you all again" she said, her blue eyes narrowed as she turned to look at Sandra.
Sensing this could get awkward Brian replied; "likewise."
"So how was the Midlands?" She asked, directing her attention and her foot onto Gerry.
"Fine" said Jack.
"Interesting" was Brian's interpretation of the trip.
"Not too bad" Gerry smiled as Rose's foot ran up and down his inner thigh, reducing him to a jelly-like state.
"Well I thought it was pretty terrible" Sandra interjected.
"Ignore her" Gerry mouthed, Rose just rolled her eyes, she knew Sandra didn't like her and Rose had tried to get along with her the best she could but now she had enough.
"So how's your day been gorgeous?" He asked Rose who was subconsciously pulling at the ends of her tight curls so they rolled up even more tightly.
"Not too bad, I went into town had a look around, finished that bit of unfinished businesses I came here to do and that was about it. Oh that reminds me" she said fishing into her little black bag, she handed Gerry a packet of cigarettes still wrapped in their film. "I hope you don't mind I used your telephone before I came out to let our Dais know where I was, so I got you these to make up for the call." She smiled.
"Oh babe you shouldn't have done, there was no need" he said taking them from her and reaching across the table to kiss her hand as he did, revelling in how much this was clearly rubbing Sandra up the wrong way.
"Christ its only cigarettes" Sandra muttered under her breath, deliberately ensuring it was loud enough for Rose to hear. If truth be told Rose hadn't bothered as she never bought cigarettes herself, she always 'borrowed' them off her brother-in-law, Onslow as she found them so expensive. Still, it was the thought that counts and Gerry had no reason to know otherwise.
"Oh I see everyone is without a drink, let me get these" Rose smiled, ironing the creases out of her dress with her hands, as she stood up.
"Thank you" Sandra said without meaning.
"I'll give you a hand babe, seen as I know what this motley crew drink." Gerry said escorting her to the bar with both his hands wrapped tightly around Rose's tiny, delicate waist.
Sandra made a loud tutting noise in disapproval as she glanced around to see Gerry's hand was wandering further down Rose's behind than her hemline.
"Just what does he see in her, I have a good mind to let him know about-"
"Sandra" Jack warned.
"Let him know about what?"
"Oh nothing, Brain" Sandra said folding her arms in despair.
"No go on, I can keep a secret" he pleaded; he hated to be left out of anything.
"Just she has history of stringing along more than one man at a time."
"How do you know that?"
"An educated guess, Brian" she replied.
"Oh, well to be fair you don't know that and anyway how many times have we seen Gerry have more than one women on the go, maybe we should tell her that."
"The man has a point" Jack interjected.
"But Gerry is our friend; don't you think we ought to warn him?" She tried.
"Against what? Sandra, Gerry is big enough and ugly enough to look after himself, I know you aren't going to like this but you are going to have to stop acting like a jealous wife."
"I'm not acting like a jealous wife, Jack" she bit back.
"Maybe not the wife part but you are jealous."
"Alright so what if I am, how come it's always Gerry who seems to be getting a decent shag?" she asked sourly.
"I take it your third date with Paul from forensics didn't end well."
"It was a disaster Jack and now I have to sit here and watch Gerry play happy families with his little tart, whom he has only known a few days."
"The novelty will soon wear off, you'll see." Jack reasoned.
Gerry came back to the table clutching his phone, "It's Caitlin Guv, do you mind helping Rose with the drinks while I get this?"
"No, my pleasure" she said a little more upbeat than before but it still wasn't believable.
"Cheers Gov'nor" he said heading outside to chat to his daughter.
She headed over to the bar where Rose was chatting to the man tending the bar. "Gerry said I should come and help you" she interrupted.
"Thanks very much" Rose said aggressively.
"I wouldn't take that tone with me, love" Sandra quipped back.
"Um, I will take whatever tone I like with you, thank you very much, it seems to be perfectly fine for you to look at me like a piece of dirt and speak to me like I am lower than you." Rose spat.
"Oh that's because you are, why don't you do us all a favour and crawl back under the gutter you came from." Sandra wasn't in the mood for this.
"You don't know the first thing about me, lady but that's the trouble with you career bitches, you think you are so above everyone else and yet here you are making yourself feel better by attacking strangers and sniffing around other people's blokes."
"I don't think you can call someone you jumped into bed with, not knowing anything about them your bloke." Sandra said grinding her teeth in anger.
"All I am saying is that you shouldn't take it out on me just because you aren't getting any" Rose said keeping her cool a lot better than Sandra, she demonstrated this by sticking her nose in the air as she turned her face away.
"All I am saying is go back the Midlands, with grotty little house and your over bearing sister and leave Gerry alone, he's my friend and I won't have him being hurt by the likes of some middle aged slapper, who's way past it." Sandra shouted causing Brian and Jack to look their way.
"What did you say about me sister?" Rose fought back, Sandra was right but Rose wouldn't let someone like Sandra insult her eldest sister. She had heard even worse insults when it came to herself so that didn't bother her; it was jibes at her family that really angered Rose.
"You heard."
"Have you been checking up on me?"
Sandra shrugged "It wasn't planned but hopefully Gerry will see you for what you really are."
Rose's face turned to blood red in pure anger (not that it was visible through the endless layers of foundation she was wearing), she picked up Sandra's large glass of wine and threw it right in the face of the Detective Superintendant.
"You are going to regret that" Sandra yelled blinking as the dry white wine stung her eyes, she fumbled around and found a full pint glass which she threw over where Rose had been standing in defence.
"Sandra what the hell was that for?!" A cockney voice said in Rose's place.
"Gerry, I-I thought Rose was standing there." She quickly explained.
"So I see, Jesus Sandra! I asked you to help her with the drinks not throw them at her." He said wiping his beer stained brow.
"She started it" Sandra cried.
"Yeah and I don't blame her, the way you have been treating her isn't on. Come on Rose, let's go home" he said angrily, he had seen Sandra rage before, plenty of times but nothing like this. Jealously really didn't suit Sandra Pullman he thought.
Rose, who had seen Sandra's pint pouring actions coming a mile off (thanks to experience of the many showdowns she had with the wives of her gentleman friends), quickly returned to their table where Brian and Jack had been keeping her company.
"I'll see yer tomorrow" Gerry said sighing, leading Rose out of the establishment.
Sandra still stood at the bar, frozen and humiliated, it appeared Sandra Pullman had well and truly met her match when it came to Rose.