DON'T OWN EMMERDALE OR IT'S CHARACTERS...ITV'S PROPERTY
A/N: Another chapter...
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Donna Windsor quickly brushed her hair and then went down stairs to take her medication and have her breakfast. It was still early, and April had managed as usual to get herself up and was watching early morning Cbeebies.
"Mummy are you going to watch midnight garden with me?"
"No sweetheart...Mummy needs to get ready for work", she lied.
Marlon was then standing in the doorway with a mug of tea, "Donna...what are you doing?", he grabbed her hand and led her into the kitchen.
"We all agreed last night...we tell her today"
Donna shook her head at him, "I do KNOW Marlon...how could I forget something like that"
"then WHERE are you off to? Work? April might not know that you don't work no more, but we do"
"They want to see me remember...they want to ask me questions about Gary North's death"
"Why? Who cares! Gary North was a right scumbag by what I've heard...the world's better off without him, what is there left to say?"
Donna sighed, "Ohh Marlon you know what the paperwork is like...I may have been discharged from the force, but I still have to...tie things up", she said thinking on her feet.
"Lunchtime...be BACK by then"
Donna nodded and was off out the back door.
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Donna was on her phone as she walked up the path towards the gate, "It's me...when and where? I can't do 2...then you best get yourself out of bed then...see you up at the cricket pavilion in 10"
She pocketed the mobile and stood taking in some breaths. She then went along her way.
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Up at Butlers farm, Finn watched as Ross was rolling up the sleeping bag and was frantically pulling on his jeans.
"So she whistles and you jump?"
Ross shot his brother a frown, "it's not like that"
Finn laid on his side in his bed, "sounds like it to me...what happened to all the OMG she lied to me and the OMG she used me...last night you were all for clearing off and not coming back, 'till I saw you there on the floor this morning when I woke up"
Ross pushed his hair back with his hands and turned, "I look like shit have you any gel?"
Finn rolled his eyes and nodded his head to the sideboard, Ross took it and looked into the mirror.
Finn shook his head bewildered, it must be love if Ross was caring about what he looked like.
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Donna got herself a bottle of water from the shop. Alicia was praising her up with the newspaper. Donna could see her face on the front page and the death of Gary North.
"It says you brought him down...by all accounts what I have read, you were right Brave you!"
Donna tried to wave it off, "Noooo, just doing my job"
"Well...he looks like a right nasty piece of work him...good on you"
Donna thanked her and was hurrying out the shop and up the road towards the cricket Pavillion. Ross was already there. He was sitting down on the steps and stood up when he saw her approaching.
"You came then", he said.
Donna smiled at him as she came to a halt, "didn't you think I would?"
Ross shrugged as he stared back at her, "I was starting to think that, yeah"
Donna looked down to see the holdal dumped on the grass nearby, "So it's true then, you're leaving"
Ross pulled a face and looked about them, "What is there left for me around here, eh?"
Donna felt bad and stepped forward, "Ross I'm sorry..."
"So you've said..."
Donna thought she was getting through to him, "I MEAN it"
Ross pulled a frown as he was thinking, "Oh right...like YOU meant it when you said you'd run away with me...you me and April, that's what you said"
Donna put her hands into her jacket pocket and tilted her head, "Is that what you want to talk about?"
Ross looked like he did...but he shook it off, "Ohhhh what's the point"
Donna watched him as he went to pick up his holdal, "Then WHY did you call me?"
Ross paused and looked back at her, "I...", he paused and then came out with it, "...I just wanted to say have a nice life"
Donna raised her eyebrows at him, "What's LEFT of it"
Ross was only just realising what he just said, he stepped forward then held back, "Donna I didn't mean that"
Donna turned around and went to sit down on the steps with a shake of the head.
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At Tall trees, Laurel was frowning at Marlon who was on the phone.
"But she said she had an appointment with you this morning...tying stuff up?...I see...no...there must be some mistake on my part...thanks...bye", Laurel could see that Marlon wasn't happy, "What's up? Who was that"
Marlon shook his head in disbelief, "She's done it again...lying to me..."
"But she DID have an appointment with her inspector didn't she...?"
"Not till this afternoon...so WHERE is she now? WHY say she's got her appointment now? Laurel I'm so sick of the lies!"
Laurel watched as Marlon put his jacket on, "keep an eye on April"
Laurel followed him to the door, "Where are you going?"
Marlon opened the door and looked back at her, "What do you think? I'm going to LOOK for her..."
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Ross and Donna sat beside each other on the steps of the cricket pavilion. Ross was trying to understand.
"...this...Mes...mesothingy...you won't get better?"
Donna turned to face him, "Mesothelioma...and no I won't get better because it's terminal..."
Ross looked confused, "but you see it all the time...there must be somekind of treatment or a cure...Donna I don't understand...give me the insides of a motor engine anyday, but when it comes to stuff like this I'm clueless"
Donna took a deep breath and tried again, "...it's a form of lung cancer...and...it's GOING to kill me", she knew it was cruel, but she had to get it through to him.
Ross put his hand to his mouth and looked like he was going to sob his heart out, Donna was now gentle with him. She tried to put her hand into his.
"Ross..."
Ross swept her aside and jumped up in rage.
"I CAN'T HANDLE THIS! WHY DONNA? WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME!"
Donna remained completely calm and simply asked him, "would YOU have been up for all those jobs if you knew I was dying?"
Ross had his hands to his face and looked at her questioningly, "What?"
"THINK about it Ross...a partner in crime who is dying...not very dynamic, is it? Not very exciting"
Ross looked at her accusingly, "You SHOULD of told me!"
Donna stood up and pulled a face, "Why? Ross, it was ALL about the money at first...and it was for YOU too...I didn't think you'd fall for me..."
Ross pointed to his chest, "so it's just ME then?"
Donna shook her head, "No...me too"
Ross's face softened and the confusion came back, "how am I supposed to believe that Donna?"
Donna shrugged, "You just have to take my word for it I suppose..."
Ross laughed at her and shook his head in disbelief, "Your word? I have to take your word for it? Like when you said we'd have a future together, that kind of 'your word'?"
Donna was losing him, "Ross...I'm so sorry"
Ross was emotionally screwed up, "YOU my girl, have hurt me like nobody else ever has...I can't see a way out of this...never"
Donna had a tear running dow her cheek now, "you don't mean that"
Ross grabbed his holdall and shook his head defiantly at her, "you watch me"
Donna turned around and watched him go, "Ross...don't go please"
Ross paused in his tracks but didn't face her, "there's NOTHING to stay for"
Donna swallowed down the painful lump in her throat, "no...I suppose there's not"
Still not looking at her Ross carried on, "...and besides...like you said...you've only got a matter of weeks to live...you need to spent all that time with your little girl"
"I will"
"best be off then"
Donna was silently crying, "bye then"
Ross went to move but he too burst into tears. The holdal was hurtled to the ground in tears of anger.
Donna came to him and put her palm to his stubbled face to turn it round, the hot tears were falling.
"no"
"Shushhh" said Donna.
"please Donna don't"
"Shusshh"
They stood together head to head both crying and both looking into each others eyes Ross moved hos mouth towards hers, before they sensed someone watching them.
Both turned their heads to see an angry and shocked Marlon standing there...
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