A/N: m.cuthbert gave me the idea for the conversation between Laura and Jean. This is the best I can offer on the subject. I suspect we are not the only two fans who wanted the show to give us more and better Robson moments. Thank goodness she and some of the other Lewis writers (not me!) are so good at making it up to us.
DI Hathaway left Brasenose College after a late evening meeting with Chemistry professor David Gregg, an expert on small bombs. Gregg took an interest in the case of the small bombs and analyzed the data from each explosion. He concluded the bomber was a chemist of average to above average ability, functional but not brilliant. Gregg created a map of the bomb sites and put a toothpick in each location. He tapped the first one with his finger and James watched as each one toppled the next on the way to the women's prison. "It's a chain reaction", he concluded.
In the spirit of liaison James shared this information with DI Peterson. The anti-explosives task force leader reciprocated by revealing evidence left at some of the bomb sites that again implicated Grace Orde.
Brad made a mental note of the frequently used keys on the laptops. Then he had Lizzie read over DI Hathaway's profile of the bomber. While he mulled over the combinations in his head Lizzie watched as Brad appeared to drift off into a trance and Lizzie became worried. "Are you all right sir?"
Finally Brad walked over to the white board against the wall and wrote out a series of letters, numbers, and symbols, 'monodies::' and '7791allets'. "Now they just need a bit of rearranging. He rewrote them and looked satisfied at the results. He walked over to the laptops. "Fingers crossed, Lizzie."
Brad confidently typed in the passwords and did not have to wait long before one, then the other, came to life. "That was the easy part."
"What is the hard part sir?"
"Preventing these laptops from detonating more bombs. This may take all night."
The next morning after seeing Robbie off to work, Laura, with Flavia in the pram, took Osborn for a long walk, stopping to spend time watching some swans. Then Laura and Flavia set off in the car on a two hour drive for their lunch date. This time Laura remembered to bring the bag with extra clothes and supplies for Flavia.
Jean was already seated at a table when Laura entered the restaurant carrying the occupied car seat. After being shown to their table, Laura undid the buckles and lifted Flavia out of the seat. Jean saw the child and made a surprised face as Flavia appeared to be wearing a miniature white crime scene suit with a hood, covering her from head to toe. As she removed the hood and lowered the zipper Laura explained, "I wanted to save the dress until the last minute. My old neighbor took one of my scene suits and made me several of these." Flavia and her blue party dress emerged in pristine condition.
After Jean answered Laura's questions about her new job and location, she insisted on hearing all about the circumstances of how an infant came to join Robbie and Laura's household. Over tea and cucumber sandwiches, Laura poured out all the details of Flavia's birth and Caroline's coma. Jean asked how Robbie was reacting to the situation.
"He has certainly shown me how much he loves me by helping out and putting my family first."
Flavia had fallen asleep and Jean offered to hold her to give Laura a break. She looked up from the little blond head and continued her interrogation. "He's still working though."
"I insisted, it means so much to him."
Jean shifted the sleeping child in her arms. "Laura, it's really none of my business but has he ever told you he loves you?" Jean knew Robbie loved his work, his kids, and his grandchildren, and the best he could offer about Laura back in the early days of their relationship was that he 'quite liked her'.
"He never actually said 'I love you' and I can accept that."
"Why do you accept that?"
"Because he never said it to Val."
"What?" Jean recalled the years of grief Robbie went through. He was a man obviously in love with his wife.
"It's a long story. Lyn told me."
"There's plenty of time." Jean ordered more tea. She would have preferred they discussed this over drinks but knew Laura would be driving home with an infant in the car.
"Robbie's father never told his mother he loved her. It was the old 'monkey see monkey do' as men from that era weren't inclined to say so, showing they loved their wives and families by being good providers and coming home every night."
Flavia opened her eyes and studied Jean's face. Approving of her new minder she went back to sleep. "Yes, my Uncle Vivian was the same way. He wouldn't want the other chaps to know he was soft hearted."
"Well Robbie's mother was bothered by it but finally stopped expecting it. Robbie was falling in love with Val and finding it hard to tell her. He asked his father why it was so difficult to do when it would mean so much to the women they loved. His father decided he was going to tell his mother he loved her. Their wedding anniversary was coming up. He would take her out to dinner and do it then."
Laura paused to drink her tea.
Jean was anxious to hear the rest. "And?"
"It never happened."
"The cad. He chickened out."
Laura stirred a spoon around in her cup.
"No. He died the night before, had a heart attack. Robbie told her what his Dad was planning. It helped a bit to know."
A waiter came with more cucumber sandwiches. Jean selected one to put on her plate.
"Let me guess. Robbie felt responsible for his father's death and couldn't bring himself say 'I love you' to Val".
"Robbie's Mum told Val about it." Laura picked up a sandwich and tore it in half. "Val understood and never made an issue of it. Lyn would hear Robbie tell people he loved his kids and wondered why he never said he loved her mother. Val told her the story about her grandparents."
Flavia started to fuss and Jean handed her back to Laura. "I think I can guess where this is going."
Laura suspected Flavia's gurgling tummy might erupt at any minute and quickly put her back in the white protective suit. "Lyn never bothered Robbie about it but Ken did. He was upset about it. Robbie decided Val deserved to hear him say 'I love you'. He planned to tell her on Christmas, it would be one of her presents."
Laura's eyes misted a bit.
Jean knew the rest. "And then his wife got killed, before Christmas, before he could tell her."
Although she had not taken a bite of her sandwich, Laura swallowed. "Lyn told me when Robbie and I became more than just friends. I told Robbie I knew and I understood."
"He's afraid to tell you. If I could bang your heads together perhaps he would realize he could just say it and not plan it as a big production."
"I don't need him to tell me. He proved it by choosing to go to New Zealand even though he was afraid it might mean the end of his career. He chose me over the job."
"And his reward was to get to keep both. Sounds like a soapy television ending."
"Not an ending, just a bit of a rewrite to his new chapter. A baby was not in the original script."
"Eureka!" After more than 12 grueling hours Brad had diffused the first bomb. "There, see it?" he pointed at the screen.
Lizzie peered at it not seeing anything but lots of zeroes and ones. "See what?"
"The pattern. No time to explain, I need to get started on the next one."
"What about a break sir, you must be tired." Lizzie stifled a yawn.
Brad had already turned his attention to the second laptop.
In the small bomb proof room, Lizzie and Brad did not hear the footsteps approaching.
