Gordon looked sidelong at his wife sat beside him. He could see the tension through her body, though not due the usual composure she held. Instead, he knew, this tension was due to the emotions she had been put through in the previous few days.

He stayed silent, allowing her time to compose herself. He reach out a hand and took hers, squeezing it gently, hoping to convey his support and patience. Her lips drew up into a small smile, which she threw in his direction before she inhaled deeply and spoke.

"I suppose we ought to go in."

"There's no rush." He replied gently, squeezing her hand again.

She shook her head and slid her hand from his. "No I'm ready. Come on." She climbed out the car, and after a moment, he did the same, locking it before following her towards the building in of them.

"Ah Doctor Weatherill... And Dr Ormerod." Alf Ventress greeted them as they entered. "Come through. Sergeant Miller and PC Bellamy are waiting for you."

They followed him through a short corridor, past the staff area to a white door. He knocked, and after receiving a reply, opened the door for them, allowing them through before closing it after them.

"Mr and Mrs Ormerod I presume. Hello." The man behind the wide oak desk rose, extending his hand for them each to shake. "Please take a seat." At which all four occupants of the room did so. Sergeant Miller was seated in a broad leather chair behind the desk. Jill and Gordon sat side by side in front of the desk, their orange plastic chairs not unlike the visitors' chairs in the offices at The Royal. PC Bellamy was the remaining occupant, seated to the side of the desk.


"Now, this is just an informal chat. Just to brief you on how we're progressing with the investigation and to see if you remember any more about the evening. I'm also lead to believe you have something further of which to inform me."

"That's correct." Jill said nodding. Sergeant Miller's silence urged her to continue. "Yesterday's local paper, there was an article." She handed it across the desk. "It, well, I'll let you read it for yourself."

Miller read the section in question and wordlessly passed it to PC Bellamy. Only when Bellamy looked up did Miller speak. "Thank you for bringing this to our attention Mrs Ormerod. I imagine this must have been another shock for you." He spoke with sympathy, though his next words were grave. "We'll contact the paper, but I'm not hopeful. Any name left would likely have been false. As would the name that he told you. Have you remembered that yet?"

"No." She replied, feeling a familiar rush of frustration as she failed to once again recall details of that day.

"Can you remember anything new?"

"No." She said again. "Everything else just seemed insignificant, unimportant to what he told me."

"I understand. I'd still like you to take us through the events of that night again, in case you missed something out the first time around."

A feeling of dread filled her. She tried so hard not to think of that night but now the devastating words he told her echoed round her head once again. Nevertheless, she nodded and began. She told them every little detail she could remember, however small, in the hope it would lead the police closer to a conclusion. To her right, PC Bellamy scribbled onto his pad of paper, seemingly recording every word she uttered. When she came to the point in her account where the man told her of Gordon's accident, she paused, hearing her voice crack with a surge of emotions. She inhaled deeply, releasing it slowly, steadying her breathing. In her peripheral vision, her saw Gordon turn to look at her. She took another long breath then continued. Her gaze was fixed on the patterns in the dark wood of Miller's desk. Only when she finished did she look up.

Miller nodded at her, his expression set in grim sympathy. "Thank you Mrs Ormerod. Now I want you both to think." He glanced at Gordon. "Is there anyone who might want to hurt you like this. Anyone at all, even if you think there is only the smallest possibility."

"No one." Gordon immediately answered, his tone tense, gradually building with anger as he spoke. "Neither of us have done anything to make someone want to do this. What he did to Jill, what he's still doing, it's awful, completely cruel!"

"It's alright Gordon." She said softly.

"It's not!" He shot back.

She flinched.

"How can it be alright? Someone out there is continuing to torment us. And we can't do anything about it!"

"I assure you we are doing our very best for you. But Mr Ormerod please calm down!" Miller's sharp tone silenced Gordon, but a glance to him showed Jill he was still aggravated.

"Please Gordon." She said quietly, gazing at him imploringly.

It took a few moments, but eventually, some of the tension visibly left his body, and his expression turned to one of contrition. "I'm sorry." He said, taking her hand. "I'm sorry." He repeated glancing between Sergeant Miller and PC Bellamy.

"It's alright." Miller replied whilst Bellamy nodded, his expression showing his understanding. "Unfortunately, we have very little to go on. But we are taking this very seriously."

"I know that." Gordon replied, his tone still holding a note of regret at his outburst. "I didn't mean to suggest you weren't."

Jill glanced at him. She knew the situation was difficult for him, but she hadn't realised how hard he had taken it all. She squeezed his hand firmly, attempting to provide a little comfort. She realised it had worked as they glanced at each other, sharing an understanding. Both turned back to the sergeant as he spoke.

"Thank you both for coming in. We'll let you know as soon as we know anything. Again, please don't hesitate to contact us if you have any suspicions."

They all rose and shook hands before Jill and Gordon exited the room. She still had a tight hold of his hand and led him out the station, bidding PC Ventress farewell as they passed. Once outside, she pulled him aside into a hug.

"I'm sorry." He murmured, placing a kiss into her hair.

She tightened her arms around him, hoping to sooth him. "It's alright. I do understand."

"It's just..." He sighed and pulled away from her, sliding his hands from her back to rest on her waist. "Someone's hurt you so much. I just got angry that I can't do anything to stop it."

"Oh Gordon." She sighed, tears clouding her vision for a reason she couldn't quite pinpoint. "You are doing something. You've been so patient with me. You just being here is more than I could ask for. If something had actually happened to you, I wouldn't have been able to bear it."

This time it would Gordon who pulled her into a hug. They clung tightly, seeking comfort in the other. As long as they were together, Jill knew, whatever was thrown at them could be overcome eventually. She just hoped whatever was thrown at them wouldn't take him away from her.


They spent the journey back to The Royal in silence. The meeting with the police had put a considerable dampener on their mood. They didn't partake in any of their usual light-hearted banter, nor did they feel able to embark on a discussion of inconsequential topics.

Jill had glanced at Gordon many times whilst in the car. His expression remained the same; grimly set lips, and a tension in his jaw that told her his emotions were still running high.

"Gordon." She said quietly as the dome-topped hospital roof came into view.

"Mmm?"

She tore her gaze away from the roof, memories of the previous day still fresh in her mind. She gripped the seat as if to reassure herself she was on solid ground. "If you want, I could see your patients, let you go home."

"Why would I want to do that?" He glanced at her, his expression hard.

"It's just..." She began tentatively; she hadn't expected him to react so defensively. "I thought you might like a break, you know. This has been hard on you, and, well, you look a little tired."

"I'm fine Jill, really." Came his immediate response. "Besides, I'm anaesthetising this afternoon."

"Oh really? I though Jeff was scheduled."

"We swapped."

"Right..." She turned her attention to the passing scenery, the atmosphere in the car suddenly uncomfortable.