April 2018

Smithy was due to arrive home late on the Sunday evening, although Stevie had decided to wait up for him. She had text and asked to have a shower, which he of course responded yes too. She was sat on the sofa with a hot chocolate watching How I Met Your Mother waiting for him to arrive home. A text came just after ten thirty to say he was at the door, she practically ran to let him in and she pulled him into a hug instantly, he dropped his bag to the floor and wrapped his arms around her. "I missed you Smithy" she spoke. His arms squeezed her tight and he pecked the top of her head.

"I missed you too sweetheart" he responded. He pulled back from her and picked up his bag "I don't remember much about last night but I know it would of been better spent with you". She followed him into the living room, he dropped his bag by the door and rested onto the sofa. "You and Jo have a good night?" he asked

"Yes it was a good night, we had some drinks and a good chat"

"Sounds fun" he glanced to her stood in the door way and smiled at her gently "You alright?"

"Yeah, you don't remember ringing me last night, do you?"

"Oh, Christ, what did I say?"

"That you love me"

"Could be worse, you already know that anyway" he turned to his phone and typed away. She moved to the sofa and sat next to him.

"You proposed Smithy"

"What?" his eyebrows knitted together and the confused look that made him look like an adorable puppy crossed his features

"You rang me in the night and asked me to marry you"

"Oh fuck" he placed his phone to the arm of the sofa and turned to her "I don't suppose you said yes" he laughed, before holding her hand "Stevie, I was so drunk last night, I don't remember anything, I'm so sorry"

"Don't be Smithy, it's fine, I knew you were drunk, it actually gave me a bit of a laugh"

"Good, I'm glad. I am so glad we are okay"

"Of course we are Smithy and I'll er, I'll think about the proposal" she laughed as she stood up "I'll stick the kettle on".

A few days had passed and Stevie and Smithy had settled back into their flirty friendship. Stevie had agreed to go to the pub with Mickey and Jo after work, Smithy had a meeting and he was going to swing by and get her after. She had been sat at the small table with them drinking her glass of wine, generally she was more of a beer drinker but tonight she was feeling a red wine. "Stevie" Jo looked slightly concerned, a million miles away from their current conversation about Mickey's latest date. "Declan has just walked in"

"Has he seen us?" Stevie asked, ignoring every natural urge to look over her shoulder

"Yeah he has" Jo replied "He is heading over"

"Hello all" his voice thundered in her ears "Everyone okay?". No one answered and he continued "Anyone need a drink?" he asked

"We are having a quiet drink Gov" Mickey responded "And I think it would be better if you go"

"I don't" Declan replied "I have a date with my girlfriend and she is due any minute"

"Girlfriend?" Stevie questioned, finally allowing herself to look up at him

"Yes Stevie, no one believes your bullshit lies and I deserve to be happy"

"Well I wish her the world of luck, she is going to need it" Stevie spoke quietly

"You know" Declan leant down to her ear and her whole body froze, his voice was so quiet, Jo and Mickey definitely would not hear "The first time I rape her, I'll make sure I'm thinking of you". Stevie dropped her drink and the glass shattered on the floor, everyone in the pub looked over but returned to their own conversation

"Move away from her" Mickey spoke, rising to his feet. Stevie quickly moved to the floor with some napkins

"Oh what's this?" Declan laughed "Smithy not around so you are training your new guard dog"

"Hi Dec" the familiar voice caught Stevie's attention and she looked up to see PC Mel Ryder arriving at his side and taking hold it his hand

"Mel, what are you doing?" Jo asked

"I would rather not discuss it right now"

"Mel, you are making a huge mistake" Stevie spoke "Why don't you forget this date and sit with us?"

"Stevie you sound jealous" Dec laughed

"I'm fine, thanks serge"

"Mel, you know what he has done" Jo interjected

"I know what he has been accused of yes but I have decided to trust him"

"Mel, he just told me he is going to rape you, please trust me" Stevie all but shouted

"Stevie please" Dec interrupted her "Please stop with your sick lies, you are embarrassing yourself" he turned to Mel "Let's go back to mine for a take away". Mel nodded and the two left, hand in hand.

Stevie had arrived home with Smithy about forty minutes later. She had rambled the whole way but she was concerned, Mel was a bright, confident young woman but then so had Stevie been before meeting Declan. Smithy sat at the kitchen table after getting a beer from the fridge. "Are you going to do anything?" she shouted "About Mel?"

"What do you want me to do Stevie?"

"Go and get her out of there"

"I can't do that and you know it"

"So we leave her with him. If this was the other way round and it was her he had abused and me in there now, can you honestly say you wouldn't do anything?"

"I don't know Stevie, I'd like to think you weren't that stupid to be with him in the first place"

"Stupid, to get involved with him?"

"I meant, knowing what he had done and still being with him"

"So if he beats her, or rapes her, it's on her because she is stupid?"

"I didn't say that, did I?" they both had their voices raised and clearly their anger was bubbling "Stevie she is a grown woman, I can't tell her what to do"

"No, so we are just going to leave them together instead"

"Are you worried or jealous Stevie?"

"You are unbelievable Smithy" She said as she walked from the kitchen to leave him with his thoughts and went into her bedroom and slammed the door.

Stevie attempted to recompose herself as the knock sounded her bedroom. She pushed herself up from where she had slumped and placed Houdini to the floor. After wiping her eyes a second time, she cleared her throat and said "Come in" her voice was low and shaky but he had clearly heard as he entered the room. He moved over and sat on the far end of her bed "What do you want Smithy?" she asked, her voice wobbly as she said his name

"To apologise Stevie, I know you aren't acting out of jealousy and this is concern"

"Okay" she responded quietly

"But I can't go round there Stevie, if he says something about you and I lose it and end up in a cell, I can't protect you"

"What about Mel? Don't you care about protecting her?"

"Of course I do Stevie but you are my sole priority, nothing and no one will ever come close because I have never felt in my life the way I feel about you right now"

"Smithy" she sighed noticing the tears in his eyes, she had never seen him so vulnerable

"I will never be able to forgive myself for not protecting you and if I go round there, it won't be to protect Mel, it'll be because all I want to do every time I think about what you have been through is kill him" he wiped his eyes and turned to face her "I know that I can't trust myself Stevie, I will hurt him and then you will never forgive me"

"Smithy, if we are ever going to be together, you do need to get past what he has done to me"

"I know" he whispered "Wait, you want us to be together one day?"

"Smithy, I am crazy about you, of course I do"

"I'm really sorry for what I have said Stevie" he smiled gently "I'm going to give Stone a call, when I left a murder had just been called in, I'll get him to call Declan in on it, that should put an end to their date" he stood from the bed and left the room.

Hope you enjoyed