April 2018
Stevie had been struggling the last few weeks, over three months had passed since she had left Declan, yet she still felt like a prisoner. She jumped at every loud noise, she cried most evenings, she was failing at work, in fact if it wasn't for Smithy she was sure she would of been fired by now. She should of moved out of Smithy's long ago but she couldn't find it in herself to leave. He was reluctantly letting her contribute to bills and food but she still felt like she was intruding on his life, although he assured her he loved having her there. Today, she was working on a low level assault case, it was pretty open and shut and she was just overseeing the interviews with the uniform team. She pushed a few coins into the coffee machine and took her small tea, taking a long needed sip. "DS Moss, long time no see" his strong accent sent shivers down her spine and her tea crashed to the floor. She turned to face him, he was stood so close, he moved in closing the gap between them, his hands trapping her against the machine. "You have spilt your tea" Dec smirked
"I'm sorry" she whispered
"No problem, I'm sure we can find a mop, shall we check the store cupboard?"
"Everything okay?" Callum's voice startled her but she was relieved for his presence
"Fine Stone" Dec replied "Just having a chat with DS Moss"
"I'm on my way to the canteen, you want to come and get another tea Stevie?"
"We are kind of in the middle of something Stone, she can catch you up" Dec almost shouted.
"I'd like to come now please Callum" she whispered
"You heard her" Callum spoke
"Stevie" Dec's voice had a warning tone to it and she gulped back the fear rising in her throat
"Please can I get past Gov, I'm going to the canteen with Callum"
"We need to talk DS Moss, I have dropped the internal investigation against you"
"Okay" she attempted to move past him "I want to go now please"
"Aren't you even going to say thank you?"
"No she ain't, she has nothing to thank you for. Now I think she has made herself pretty clear Declan, let her through" Callum moved closer. Declan stepped aside and Stevie moved over the spilt drink and practically ran past Declan.
She had sat in the canteen, Callum had replaced her tea and got himself one in the process. He sat down opposite her and took a sip before asking "Are you okay Stevie?"
"Not really" she replied "But I don't think I ever will be again"
"I'm sorry Stevie"
"For what?"
"Having doubts, you know, in the beginning, he is just very convincing"
"I know he is. Thank you Callum"
"He has never doubted you" Callum nodded towards where Smithy was getting himself a drink, chatting away with Jo
"No, he hasn't. What happened with Dec earlier, can we keep it between us?"
"Stevie, I don't think we should keep it from Smithy"
"Please Callum, I don't need Smithy and Declan going at it again"
"Okay, but anything else happens Stevie and I'll be telling him"
"Okay"
"Alright" Smithy rested down next to her and pushed a chocolate bar towards her on the table "You skipped breakfast"
"It's not my fault we leave at stupid o'clock"
"Joy's of living with Inspector Punctual" Jo giggled as she rested down next to Callum "Won't be an issue at the weekend though eh? You pleased to be getting rid of him?"
"What?" Stevie asked confused, Smithy looked uncomfortable
"It's nothing, I'm not going" he responded, shooting a glare at Jo
"You aren't going?" Jo replied
"Going where?" Stevie asked
"Just a night out in Liverpool, it's nothing" Smithy confirmed
"Thanks Smithy" Callum frowned "It's my birthday Stevie, a few of us are heading to Liverpool to a bar my mate owns"
"So, why aren't you going?" Stevie asked as she turned to face Smithy
"I have a lot going on"
"No you don't" she responded "Your social life is as exciting as watching paint dry"
"Thanks Stevie"
"Smithy, you are going" she smiled
"What about you?" he asked
"I'll be fine"
"I can come and keep you company for the evening if you like" Jo smiled
"Perfect, that's sorted then" she grinned
"Sounds like I don't have much of a choice then" Smithy sighed.
The weekend had come round all to quickly, Smithy had left early on the Saturday morning and wasn't due home until late on Sunday. It had been an enjoyable evening with Jo, they had drunk wine, watched a movie and chatted about old times. Jo had left at just gone midnight and Stevie had curled up in Smithy's bed with Houdini. Her phone rang just before one and she glanced at Smithy's name, he had text to say goodnight at eleven and she knew he had Mickey on standby if she had a problem. "Hello" she answered
"Hey beautiful" his words were slurred and she could hear the noise of the men he had travelled with in the background "You are so damn fine Stevie Moss, I have never met a woman as beautiful and as God damn sexy as you"
"Smithy you are drunk and it's nearly one"
"I miss you Stevie, I want to be at home with you"
"I miss you too Smithy but I do still need my sleep"
"No, I really miss you Stevie, I can't imagine my life without you" she heard Callum mumbling about embarrassing himself "Piss off Callum. Stevie Moss, you are the love of my life and I want to be with you as a couple, in a relationship. I want you to stay living with me, I want to marry you and have kids with you. I will spend my life showing you just what an amazing woman you are".
"I really think you need to hang up Smithy" Callum spoke once again in the background. Stevie sat up in the bed a little dumbstruck.
"Stone, I'm talking to Stevie"
"Smithy you are as drunk as a skunk, you will regret this in the morning" Callum sounded agitated
"No, I won't, Stevie, marry me?" his voice rang round her head.
There was mumblings between Callum and Smithy and the line went quiet before the voice of Callum spoke "Stevie, he is so pissed, go back to sleep"
"Is he okay?"
"Course, we are taking him to his room in a minute. He is just on one, you know what he is like"
"Yeah, I do" she responded, thinking of the gorgeous, cheeky, amazing man
"Hang on Stevie" Callum's voice went into the distance "He just wants to say goodnight"
"Stevie" Smithy came on the phone "Goodnight darling, I do love you". She felt a flutter in her stomach as she said her good night's to the men the other end of the phone before she let her mind drift away to thoughts of Smithy.
Thanks for reading
