Old friends

Gill Murray marched into the hospital just as Matt and Alesha were preparing to leave. The older woman was a force of nature and Matt completely understood why Janet and Rachel referred to their boss as Godzilla. He glanced at Alesha before standing up.

"Alright son? Ronnie called me. Mind you it should have been Natalie. Stubborn mare as she is. Who thinks they can lock emselves away and have major surgery." She shook her head. Matt shrugged.

"She didn't want to worry anyone." Alesha defended her friend. The older woman nodded.

"Yeah, well. That worked. Not!" She appraised the couple. "I hear congratulations are in order. Rachel told me; saw you at the course last month."

"Oh yeah." Matt nodded. "Thanks."

"Now what ward is she on?"

"ITU. Next to ward 5 upstairs." Alesha held hands with her husband. "It's family only so you might have to be a bit creative."

"Lie through my sodding teeth? I can do that." Gill winked. "Off you go. Leave the ageing Love birds to me."

Matt nodded before saying his goodbyes. Alesha smiled; wondering just what had made Natalie and Gill as close as any sisters she had ever known.

Xxxxxxxxx

Sam parked the car outside the block of flats where the man they wanted to talk to lived. Spencer wasn't the easiest man to talk to and Sam knew there was a good chance he had learned that they were going to pay him a visit. He was well aware that the suspect was always one step ahead of them.

"Are you sure?" Joe asked as Sam took the keys out of the ignition. Sam nodded.

"I think your theory is right."

"Man kills his son who killed his girlfriend." Joe glared. "Makes me glad I'm single."

"Thought there was something with you and Angie." Sam smirked. Joe's eyes widened.

"Nothing more than friends. Honestly. I love her to bits but she's only my friend. She's too good to get involved with the likes of us."

Sam shook his head. "Coppers? Have you not noticed what she does for a living?" Joe nodded.

"Yeah, which is why I reckon she deserves a bloke with a nice, normal, safe job. She's got Justine to think about too. An anyway; she's like a sister to me. Don't be so disgusting." Joe pulled a face as he opened the car door. "It'll be good to have this case sorted."

"That we can agree on." Sam laughed as he followed him towards the entrance to the flats. Joe shoved his hands in his pockets hoping that the DI would stop fishing for information about his love life.

Xxxxxx

Ronnie got to his feet, aware that visiting time was over. As much as he wanted to stay he knew Natalie's boys needed to see her too. He smiled slightly as he looked back to see her already sleeping. It was then he heard Gill march into the ward.

"Ow is she?"

"Sleeping." Ronnie nodded to the nurse who was beginning to look a little irate. "Cmon, let er rest and you can buy me a coffee."

"Ron!"

"Promised I'd go ome, have a shower and bring the boys back later." He explained as Gill fell into step beside him.

"Right."

"Aren't you supposed to be in Manchester?"

"Janet is covering for me. My leave is long overdue. And Nat is my best friend. Don't you worry about MIT." She waved her fingers in the air as she walked beside him. "Why didn't you or Natalie tell me?" She sounded hurt at the implication her friends had kept Natalie's cancer a secret from her. Ronnie sighed.

"She didn't want anyone to know. Not even me. Not to start with." He paused. "She was going to leave me. Didn't want me seeing her like this. Wasn't going to tell the kids either. Reckoned she could do this on her own." He looked away.

"Well." Gill paused. "In that case she's a dozy cow. Why aven't you proposed to her yet? She probably thought you'd run a mile. No sodding commitment."

"She said no. Twice." Ronnie stopped in his tracks, hurt by the suggestion that he wouldn't want to be with Natalie because she had been ill. Gill turned; staring at him open mouthed. "Twice I've asked and twice she said no. Says we are ok as we are. And she's right an all. Neither of us are teenagers. We've both got kids, divorces and everything. Bloody ell, I'm a grandfather! She probably doesn't want an old fart like me hanging around." He walked away as Gill cursed herself for not seeing Ronnie as he really was - terrified of losing his partner. Swearing she followed him.

Xxxxxx

"Spencer Jones." Sam flashed his identification card as the scrawny, heavily tattooed man looked him up and down. "You are under arrest for the murder of Liam Jones." He stated calmly as Joe placed the furious man in handcuffs before leading him towards the police car. Spencer swore but let Joe lead him away. Sam sighed, hoping this was finally the beginning of the end.