Over the next few days, he noticed her looking peaky and pale. He didn't push the issue.
He was back to the hospital for a check up on his leg. Healing nice, he still needed crutches, he was given a boot instead of a cast.
He dropped over to jean's a few days later for dinner as arranged.
He brought a bottle of wine. She had everything ready when he arrived.
They sat to eat dinner, spaghetti bolognaise, she did not eat much, she was pushing half the food around her plate, and he noticed this.
He cleared the table when they were finished. They went to sit in the living room where they would be more comfortable.
"Jean, you are quieter than normal, anything you want to tell me?"
She stood up.
"James, I can't hurt you, I can't do this", he stood beside her, holding her hands.
"What jean, what can you not do?"
"This, James, this", looking at their entwined hands. He let go moving away.
"Ok then", moving towards the door.
She saw him moving, unsure why, what message he was getting from this, and what message was she trying to send.
"James, I said I would marry you, but not sure you want to marry me now?"
"Jean, I don't understand, what I get is you don't want this, but why? I'm just going to go".
She turned her back to him, hearing him go towards the door, she so wanted him to come back. She had to say what it was she didn't want or was unsure of.
"James, don't go".
"What do you want me to do? Stand here and listen to you telling me you don't want this, cause I can't take it, the heartbreak".
"James, when I say what I have to say, you might want to keep going".
"What could make me want to keep walking?"
"I'm pregnant".
He stood there rooted to the spot facing her.
She turned around to face him.
"Say that again?" asking walking toward her.
"I said, you", pointing towards him, "me", pointing towards herself, "baby", pointing to her stomach, she was crying as he came towards her to embrace her in a hug.
"Really, when?"
"Before the end of the year, we are going to be mammy and daddy, found out when we were in Paris, that's why I was in shock about your proposal, and when you found out you might not want to marry me or want any of this".
"Jean, how could anyone want to walk away from this, I am glad you told me, I did not know what to think was wrong with you. I want you, I want a baby, and I still want to marry you and be with you until we are old and grey".
They stood together, arms around one another.
"Sit there, I will be back in a minute", putting her sitting on the sofa, he went to the kitchen and came back with two glasses or orange juice.
"Here, safe option", handing her a glass, "to us going to be proud parents", they held their glasses up giggling as the celebrated.
While James was on light duties he had been replaced by DC Gray in the field. They had a call out to a remote farmhouse, where the man of the house was shot by a lone poacher during game season. It was a messy case which led Robbie and DC Gray roaming through farmland and checking with the local hunt for people that may have been through the land.
After a lot of searching it led them to a major bank in Oxford. A Mr Miles Stone, who by colleagues he was a model employee.
The case ran for at least a week going forward and backward to the crime scene and witnesses.
There were early morning and late nights, he and Laura were like passing ships, he might be getting in the bed, she wold get out shortly after.
When matters went like this, they would send text messages to each other.
He could feel these hours taking their toll on him, he wanted to give in, pack up the job, retire, how would Laura react to him retiring?
Mr Miles Stone was denying any involvement in the victim Alan Harte's death.
Robbie had wrote a rough report as did DC Gray, they were given to James to type up to keep him occupied.
Jean appeared to see how Robbie was getting on but he had gone back out.
"Is Robbie around?"
"No, gone back to the farmhouse".
"Ok", as she turned to walk away.
"Hay, hold on", she turned back.
"Yes".
"What about me, do you not want to see me?"
"I see you now, I see enough of you", laughing at him, she came back into the office and sat at Robbie's desk.
"I am bored sitting here, is there anything else I can do?" sitting back in his chair.
"You were bored at home, I let you come back, now you are still bored, well I could give you a list but I don't think it would be appropriate".
"Try me?"
"Ok, cut my grass, wash my windows, want me to go on?" she could not contain the laughter.
"Ok ok, I get the picture".
"I missed you last night", he said to her.
"Same here, do you want me to come over later? There are viewings on the house later".
"Yeah, I will cook, have there been many offers on the house?"
"A few, hopefully it is all over soon, I can move on", she was looking down at the desk.
"Andrew signed the divorce papers", she looked at him again, he was smiling, he wanted to get up and hug her, but Robbie came back in.
"Excuse me, do you mind not distracting my sergeant, he has work to do", as he looked at James smiling, he faced jean who now blushed.
"I did come looking for you, how is the case going? Any arrests yet?"
"Yes, all is going good, we should be out of here early enough, make an arrest tomorrow, if not tonight".
"Good news, keep the MET off my back for now", as she left the office.
His phone beeped, 'have you said anything to ANYONE about the baby?' knowing he would probably tell Robbie.
He replied, 'no, not even Robbie, not until you show and people ask questions' she replied, 'thanks, I felt the baby move while I was sitting in your office, if only you could have felt it', he felt a little crest fallen by her text, 'would have loved to feel that but I have later, love you xx'.
'Love you too xx'
She was happy reading his text going back to her office.
She did not spot Laura coming towards her.
"Hi there, something or someone has you in a happy mood?"
"Yes, that would be correct, I am not saying anymore".
"Did I see Robbie come back in?" looking towards Robbie's office.
"Yes, a few minutes ago, he is inside", pointing towards the office.
"Thanks", heading towards Robbie.
"Hi pet", leaning in to kiss her.
"Robbie, I hear you are near the end of your case?"
"We are indeed, which means I get to see more of you", pulling her in for a hug.
"Someone looks happy", looking over at James.
"Yes, it's the weekend", smiling, a cheeky grin on his face.
"Yeah and I'm sure someone else is happy to see the weekend", giggling towards James and looking at Robbie, "jean seems happy also".
"Ah she was checking up on boy wonder here", nodding towards James, "she is probably happy he is in one piece".
"Hello, I am here".
"Oh, we know you are, now let's get you home", as James got up to follow Robbie.
"See you in a bit pet, won't be long dropping this one off".
"Ok, I will be a bit longer, just to check one or two tests for another matter".
They set off home, James was quiet not giving anything away about the pregnancy. He was dropped at his flat, he was going to make dinner for jean.
"Thanks Robbie", as he got out of the car.
Robbie went on home. He felt the last few days catch up on him, he got as far as the sofa, lay down and fell asleep. He did not even hear his phone ring, Laura saying she would be delayed, another call out.
When he woke it was bright, he had slept right through the night, it was now 8am, his back was hurting him sleeping on the sofa all night. He got up to look for Laura, she was not in the house, she was not in the garden. He picked up his phone to find a few missed calls from her and 2 voice messages.
He listened to the first, 'it's just me, don't wait up, got a call out to RTA, not sure how long I will be, I love you, night' he liked to hear her voice, that message was left hours ago.
He listened to the second message, 'a message for Robert Lewis, this is Dr Hunt from the Radcliffe, your wife was brought in last night, a serious blow to the head, cuts and bruises, if you can give me a call please'.
He put the phone down, no he can't go through this again, and what if it is the worst thing that could happen.
He sat on the chair for what felt like hours. How was he going to deal with this?
He got in his car and headed for the hospital, he did not want the news over the phone.
He went into the hospital in search of Dr Hunt, who informed him his wife was indeed alive, he let out a sigh of relief to this news.
"There was a serious concussion, which was getting better. There were bruises up and down her leg and arm where she was pushed to the ground. There were cuts and grazes on her leg. We are keeping her in for a few days for observation. She will be fine, no lasting damage, also the baby is healthy".
"Sorry, repeat the last part?"
"Apologies, you did not know your wife was pregnant, sorry about that".
"No we didn't", looking confused, "can I see her now?"
"Yes, you can, she may still be drowsy, this way".
When he went into Laura's room, she looked so small curled up in the bed, bruised, bandage around her head and a drip in her arm.
He walked to her slowly, afraid she was not alive.
He sat beside the bed, he took her hand in his, his thumb circling her hand, his hand went to her cheek, tracing her face, how bruised she was and hurt looking. He could see tears rolling down her cheek.
He kissed her cheek, she opened her eyes to see tears in his eyes.
"Robbie, you came", the flood gates opened.
"I did not hear the phone ring, I was so tired last night, I only got the message this morning, oh Laura, I feared the worst listening to the message from the hospital".
Through the tears, "I never thought of how you felt hearing about Val, but I do now".
"It's ok pet, I'm here and I'm not going anywhere, you are stuck with me", smiling at her.
He passed her a tissue to wipe the tears away.
She calmed down because he was there.
"How did it happen?"
"got called to an RTA, got most of the people out alive, there was a female driver, dead on impact, as I was working away, husband had been taken to an ambulance, as he was being treated he overheard officers talking about the fatalities, he refused to accept she was dead, kept telling me to leave her and let the paramedics help her. I stood to explain, my team nearby but it happened so fast that I was side swiped, thrown to the ground where I hit a pole, then he proceeded to kick me as my team jumped in to assist".
He just held her hand.
"It's ok pet".
"I recall getting pushed, then waking up here".
"You're here now, you are going to be alright", leaning in to kiss her.
She averted her eyes from him.
"Laura, what is it?"
"It's not just me", he was still holding her hand to his lips smiling.
"I know, the Doctor told me, is everything alright there?" nodding towards her stomach.
"I'm scared Robbie, they say everything is alright, they are going to do a scan later".
She started to cough, feeling her head pounding, he sat her forward, patting her back lightly to help clear her chest, then rubbing her back. He then sat her back down on the bed.
The Doctor came in to check her over again, including her head.
Another Doctor came in to do a scan, she felt nervous, not letting go of Robbie's hand.
As they done the scan Robbie and Laura could see a little figure on the screen, but did not look active, they looked worried, as the scan continued they heard a heartbeat and Laura started crying.
"Laura, everything is looking good here, we will do another scan tomorrow to check again when baby is more rested. Have you felt any flutters or stomach cramps recently?"
"No, nothing that felt any different, to make me worry".
"Just to inform you that you are at least 6 months pregnant".
They looked at the Doctor and at each other in shock.
"Oh my god, how could I not know anything?"
"There are people that go through a pregnancy and not know they are pregnant, you may be one of them, if you did not end up here last night, you may not have found out until you went into labour".
"I am just afraid I could have done damage in my line of work", the Doctor looked at her, "I'm a pathologist for the ME's office".
"Oh, I see, but you may have to ease off on the heavy lifting for now, I will check on you later".
They thanked the Doctor as he left the room.
He sat on the bed beside her, putting his arms around her.
"Robbie, what if something is wrong? What if I have hurt the baby? I'm scared Robbie".
She buried her head into his chest.
"Hay pet, don't worry, it will be alright, we will get through this, and I'm here".
She settled into his arms and fell asleep, he must have drifted off to sleep, the next he knew was his phone ringing, it was jean.
"Robbie, where are you?"
"Sorry, ma'am, Laura was taken into hospital after and RTA last night".
"I hope she is alright, I heard word about and officer hurt, did not realise it was Laura. Keep me informed how she is. I hate to be a stickler, DS Hathaway and DC Gray have made your arrest, could you make yourself available for the interview at about 4?"
"Yeah, sure I can be there".
"Ok, see you then".
They hung up.