Apologies for the delay in updating, but we had Covid in our house and it was impossible to do anything. This will likely be the last update before Christmas so thank you to everyone who is reading and enjoying this story and there will be more very soon!

29 May 1992

"Under PACE Code C, all persons in custody must be dealt with expeditiously and released as soon as the need for detention no longer arises."

"Within reason."

"No, not within reason, that's what it says."

"Yeah, but you know, and I know that sometimes needs must."

"Well, I don't think the person grading my exam would give me any marks for saying that," she replied, her eyes flickering down the page. "A custody officer must perform the functions in this Code as soon as practicable. A custody officer will not be in breach of this Code if delay is justifiable and reasonable steps are taken to prevent unnecessary delay. The custody record shall show when a delay has occurred and the reason."

"Blah, blah, blah…"

"You're really not helping you know."

"Sorry."

"And you're not a bit sorry, are you?"

"What do you think?" She shivered as his lips moved softly down the bare expanse of her back. "I can think of better ways to spend an afternoon than listening to you waffle on about the Codes of Practice."

"The exam is next week!"

"And I told you, you're going to smash it."

"Well, I'm glad you're so confident." She turned back to the pages in front of her, the text dancing around before her eyes. "I'm never going to remember all this."

"You've sat the exam before, so you know what to expect."

"Yeah, and I failed, remember?"

"It's not like you to have such a defeatist attitude," he observed, his hand grazing over the curve of her hip as his mouth moved northwards again, over her shoulder and into her neck. She tried hard to focus on what was in front of her, but it was proving impossible as her body reacted to his touch.

"You're not being fair," she said, dropping the document onto the floor beside the bed and rolling over onto her back to look at him. "Remember, it won't look good for you if I don't pass. Questions might be asked as to what I'm getting taught in CID."

"I reckon I've taught you a few things over the years," he grinned, his mouth dropping to find hers.

"You know what I mean," she pulled away. "Not to mention the fact that I'm already up against it because of our past history."

He sighed heavily, clearly irritated at her bringing it up yet again. "Well, I don't know what else you expect me to say or do. You're already getting your supporting report written by Meadows as opposed to by me so as to avoid any suggestion of partiality. Would you rather we enter a period of self-isolation in the run up to the exam as well?"

"No, of course not. I'm just…nervous, that's all."

It was no word of a lie. After officially putting her name in for the exam, the nerves had started to increase the closer it came to the actual day. She couldn't help but wonder if, somehow, her chances might have already been shot to pieces because of what had happened before. Perhaps they might think she had no business being promoted, even if Jack's report was good, as he had assured her it would be. After their initial, somewhat frosty, exchange, he had settled in well and she was enjoying working under him, even though his presence did still seem to rankle with Frank.

"Look at it this way; if Ted, Alistair and bloody Boyden can make sergeant, then you can."

"I'm not sure that makes me feel much better to be honest."

He paused. "Have you thought about what you'll do if you do pass?"

"How do you mean?"

"Well, will you ask to be moved to another station?"

She turned to look at him, somewhat surprised he had addressed the elephant in the room, but grateful that he had. "I don't know. Do you think I should?"

"Do you want to?"

"No, not really. I like working at Sun Hill, I always have. I like working with you and being around you…"

"But?"

"But I suppose if I did move station, it might make things easier for us. If you weren't my superior officer, there would be less repercussions for us being together." It was the old dilemma; career versus personal life. Did she really want to start all over again at a new station where she knew no-one, and no-one knew her except for what they might have heard about her? There was a certain safety at Sun Hill; there was a safety in him being her DI.

"There would probably always be repercussions of some sort, no matter where either of us went," he replied. "Until we're married at least. On that note, have you heard anything more from your solicitor?"

"No, not yet."

"Well, what's the hold-up? It's been almost six weeks since you got your decree nisi, hasn't it? You should be able to apply for your decree absolute soon."

"I expect so."

"Well, don't sound so excited about it."

The truth was, she wasn't sure how to feel about it. The thought that she was mere weeks away from being divorced held so many mixed emotions for her, most notably regret and relief. Regret that all those years spent with Stewart were almost over, and relief for the same reason. Not to mention trepidation. As long as she remained Mrs Church, she didn't need to give Frank a definitive answer about whether or not they should get married, something which he regularly spoke about as if it was a foregone conclusion.

"I'll chase her up after the exam," she replied. "I can't really concentrate on much else right now." To her relief, he smiled, seemingly not intent on carrying on the line of conversation.

"I'm sure I can find something for you to concentrate on."

For the next few moments, she lost herself in his caress, in the sensations that flowed through her body as they made love. In one sense it all seemed so simple, so straightforward. They were compatible on so many levels and, yet there was still something holding her back, something inside of her that couldn't let go of the notion that being tied to no-one was what she truly needed.

"I'd better get back before Meadows sends out a search party," he said later, lifting his clothes from the floor and re-dressing. "We're not on all on a day off you know."

"I didn't ask you to come," she reminded him. "In fact, I distinctly told you that I was going to be revising today." Lifting the discarded copy of PACE from the floor she waved it at him. "And now I'm behind."

"Like I said, you'll smash it," he bent over and kissed her again. "I have every faith in you."

"Thanks." It was nice, feeling so supported in her quest for promotion, so different from the last time. "If I fail, I'm definitely going to blame you though."

"I wouldn't expect anything less," he replied. "I'll see you later."

"Bye." She listened as his footsteps disappeared down the hallway and the front door slammed behind him. It felt brazen, the way they conducted themselves sometimes. Careful in work but less careful out of it. Anyone who knew them and happened to be passing her flat could be left in no doubt why he was there at that time of the day. Part of her didn't care and another part, a small part, couldn't help but think that, if they were caught, it would solve one problem at least.

2 June

"No Christina?"

"No, she's beavering away for the sergeant's exam on Tuesday," he replied, closing his sister's front door. "I'm afraid you'll have to make do with just me."

"Well, I'm sure we'll survive," Pat replied, kissing him on the cheek. "How are you anyway?"

"Fine. More to the point, how are you?"

"I'm good," she made her way down the corridor to the kitchen. "Lunch won't be long. Danny and Jake are out the back. I've no idea where Phil is."

"Gerry?"

"On his way back from the shops, hopefully. We've run out of milk."

He hovered in the kitchen behind her, unsure of what to say next. Dental records had eventually proved that the suspect who had thrown himself off the bridge had been one Michael Donnelly, thirty-seven and with a record for sexual offences dating back to his teenage years. He had only been released from prison a month prior to the first attack. The DNA evidence was still being analysed but, so far, he had been conclusively linked to the first two attacks. Pat had taken the news quietly and had offered little in the way of showing how she really felt, something that hadn't changed in the weeks that had followed. "You contacted Victim Support?"

"The lady rang again the other week, but I was up to my eyes in it, so I didn't really have time to talk to her."

"You should."

"I'm fine, Frank, really I am."

"Come on Pat, this is me you're talking to. You don't have to put on a front for me like you might Gerry or the kids or Mum."

She paused and turned to look at him. "What do you expect me to do? Cry?"

He shifted uncomfortably. "Well, if you want to…"

"I don't, all right? I don't want to think about him or what happened. I'd rather just forget the whole sorry episode. I mean, it's not as if anything's going to come of it, is it? He's dead."

"No, but talking to someone might help you to open up about what happened, come to terms with it, be able to get clear in your own mind…"

"Get what clear in my own mind?"

"Well, what actually happened. Whether he…well…"

"Whether he used his hand or his cock you mean?" she looked at him squarely. "Does it really matter? I've had all the examinations and tests. I'm a nurse, remember?"

"Yeah, all right."

"Like I said, I'd rather just forget it." She turned back to the cooker, and he found himself at a complete loss as to what to say. They had always been close, but now there was this gulf between them that he wasn't sure how to cross. Perhaps he couldn't. Perhaps he just needed to wait until enough time had passed for her to cross back over to his side.

"How's Phil?"

"Well, like I said, I've no idea where he is," she sighed heavily. "He worries me, that one. He's still hanging around with that crowd on the estate. Him getting nicked is the last thing I need right now."

"Do you want me to talk to him again?"

"No, just leave it Frank. He's a teenager. Hopefully he'll sort himself out eventually." She paused as the front door banged and Gerry joined them in the kitchen. "Oh, I thought you might be Phil."

"Isn't he here?"

"No, not since he went out this morning."

"Little bugger. How are you, Frank?"

"Fine, thanks."

"Christina not with you?"

"She's studying," Pat said, before he could reply. "She's sitting her exam for sergeant next week."

"Oh yeah, I'd forgotten about that," Gerry put the milk into the fridge. "You reckon she's going to pass then?"

"No reason why she shouldn't. She's a bright girl and she'd make a good sergeant."

"Does that mean she'd get moved on to another station then?"

"Not necessarily," he replied, thinking back on their earlier conversation. "She could elect to stay at Sun Hill if she wanted to."

"Any chance of them knocking her back because of you and her?"

"They shouldn't, not because of that, but you never know I suppose."

"That would be a shame."

"Yeah, it would."

"How's her dad?"

"The same as far as I know," he replied, turning back to his sister. "What about Mum?"

"I don't know…" Pat shook her head. "Her memory's getting worse. I'm starting to think we might need to consider getting her some more help."

"What sort of help?"

"I think she needs to be properly assessed. It almost seems to me as though she's starting with dementia or Alzheimer's."

"Isn't she a bit young for that?"

"She's seventy-three, Frank," Pat reminded him. "It's not completely out with the bounds of possibility. Anyway, lunch is ready. Gerry, can you call the boys in? I'll keep some back in case Phil decides to join us later."

Danny and Jake came tumbling into the house and the conversation was lost amongst a flurry of getting settled at the table and eating, but he couldn't help but think that with his sister's attack, his mother's health problems and his wayward nephew, it was one of the more depressing Sunday lunches he had been to. Which was why he found himself, out of need more than anything else, at her front door a few hours later.

"It's really not a good time," she said, holding the door against herself, clearly unwilling to let him in. "I'm right in the middle of things."

"What, still? You've been revising all weekend and most of last week."

"I know, but I'm on shift tomorrow so I won't have any time to do anything and then the exam's first thing on Tuesday. I really don't need any distractions right now." She paused. "If this was you preparing for the DCI boards, I would give you some space."

"Well fortunately, I don't have to sit an exam to become DCI. All I have to do is charm three people on a panel, which I happen to be very good at."

"I'm sure, and when I'm going for my inspector boards, no doubt I'll take the same view but if I mess up this exam…"

"All right, fine," he stepped back, defeated. "But when we're married, you won't be able to get rid of me so easily." She let out a long sigh and shook her head. "What?"

"Nothing. Look, I'll see you tomorrow, ok?"

"Ok." As though for good measure, she stepped forwards and kissed him briefly on the lips, before turning back into the flat and closing the door. He stood staring at it for a long moment, wondering if he had misread the seeming exasperation at his mention of marriage. In a few weeks' time, if she chased her solicitor, she would be free and then there would be nothing stopping them. Perhaps it was because he hadn't got her a ring or officially asked her. Perhaps that was why every time he mentioned it, she seemed less than thrilled. Perhaps he had assumed too much.

Well, there was an easy way to fix that.

4 June

"You may begin."

With trembling fingers, she turned over the exam paper, the text in front of her immediately blurring before her eyes as a mild panic set in. What if she couldn't answer any of the questions? What if none of it made sense? What if she made a complete fool of herself? Nothing would be more humiliating than having to stand in front of Frank, Jack and Brownlow aware they all knew she had failed so badly…again. In light of all that had happened, it was the last thing that she wanted. Even though Frank appeared to have unshakable faith in her, she wasn't so sure herself.

After a moment, however, her vision cleared and the voice in her head told her to stop being silly, to look at the questions and concentrate. Taking a deep breath, she did just that and found, to her surprise, that she could answer them and that she appeared to know more than she thought she did. By the time the examiner called an end to the exam, she was pleased with what she had written. If she didn't pass, then it wouldn't be for lack of effort.

Outside the air was warm and the sun dappled her face as she made her way back to the car and headed back in the direction of the station, feeling as though a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders. It would be a couple of weeks before she knew the result, and she had been overconfident the last time, but she couldn't help feeling quietly pleased. Being persistent with Frank about letting her study might just pay off.

"How did it go?" Viv asked, when she entered the CID office.

"Ok," she replied cautiously. "Reckon I did my best."

"I'm sure you've passed."

"Well, pride cometh before a fall and all that."

"It'll be weird calling you 'Sarge,'" Viv laughed, "if you stay here that is."

Piqued as to her friend's view, she casually lifted some papers from her try and spread them over her desk. "Do you think I should? Stay that is, if I pass?"

"Do you want to stay?"

"Yeah, I reckon so. I mean, I know they say that moving up the ranks and staying in the same place isn't always ideal but, well, I'm happy here."

"You think you'd get the proper respect from some of them in here?" Viv raised her eyebrows. "Jim, Mike…Ted?"

"I reckon I can handle Ted. As for the others…. I don't know. I'd like to think it would be ok."

"Well, you'd have my support at any rate."

"Thanks Viv."

"Oh, back among us, are you?" Frank's voice caused her to look up and she saw him standing in the doorway. "Back from your jaunt to Area then?"

"As you see," she replied.

"And how did it go?"

"All right, I think."

"You think?"

"Well, I answered all the questions and I'm pretty sure what I wrote was right so…" she shrugged. "All I can do is wait; I suppose."

"Yeah, and work," he replied. "No more slacking on the basis of needing to study. You've got plenty to be getting on with."

"Yes Guv," she replied, trying to hide a smile as he winked conspicuously at her before going into his own office. "Anyone would think I'd been skiving. Do you know, the last time I went for the exam, he mumped and moaned about giving me any time to revise."

"How did he react when you failed?"

She thought back to that bleak morning in January 1989 when he had called her into his office, asked her how she felt and how Stewart had reacted to the news. She remembered the feeling of her husband almost seeming to be pleased at her failure and how the only real words of encouragement had come from Frank. "He told me not to let it dampen my enthusiasm for the job. And that I should go home, get all dolled up, go out for dinner with Stewart and then 'bang his brains out.'"

Viv's eyebrows shot up again and she glanced towards Frank's office. "Methinks the gentleman doth protest too much. Either that or he was projecting."

"No, not as far back as that," she replied, before thinking back to when she had asked him when he had started to have feelings for her and he had told her it was around the time of Tracy's funeral, a mere month after the exam.

"Do you still…you know?"

"Still what?"

"Well…think about him?"

To her relief, the ringing of the phone on her desk meant she wasn't able to provide an answer, and she lifted it hurriedly. "CID, WDC Lewis speaking."

"Hello Christina, it's Jane here, Jane Carruthers."

"Oh, hi Jane," she replied, recognising her solicitor's voice. "How are you?"

"I'm fine thanks and you?"

"Fine, thank you."

"Good. Well, I just wanted to let you know that I've applied for your decree absolute, and we should have it within the next ten days."

"Oh," she said, without thinking. "That's…I mean…"

"It's really good news. I'm glad that we were able to work everything out so smoothly so, by your birthday, you'll be a free woman."

"No, that's…that's good news, really it is. Thank you for everything that you've done." She tried to focus her mind, but the magnitude of what the other woman was saying threatened to overwhelm her and, to her amazement, tears pricked at the corners of her eyes. "I really do appreciate it."

"Not at all, it's been a pleasure," Jane replied. "As soon as I receive it, I'll send you out a copy. If you've got any questions in the meantime, just give me a call."

"I will, thank you." Slowly she replaced the receiver and sat staring at it for a long moment.

"Everything ok?" Viv asked quietly.

"Yes, that was…that was my solicitor. She's applied for my decree absolute, and, in the next ten days, I'll be divorced." Her gaze misted with emotion, and she blinked rapidly.

"Well, that's good, isn't it?"

"Yes, yes it's good." She coughed and got to her feet. "I'm just going to nip to the loo. Do you want me to bring you back a coffee?" Barely waiting to hear the other woman's reply, she made her way out of the office and into the toilets, where she locked the cubicle door and sat down, her head in her hands. It was good news, of course it was but…by the time of her thirty-second birthday, she would be divorced. To some it might have seemed like an extra special reason to celebrate and part of her wanted to, but the other part just wanted to grieve for what had been lost.

She took her time fixing her face and then buying two coffees from the machine before heading back upstairs, deliberately avoiding looking in Frank's direction as she placed a steaming cup down in front of Viv.

"Are you sure you're all right?"

"Yeah, it's just a lot to take in, that's all." She sipped the hot liquid. "Makes it all seem so final."

"I suppose in a way it is. He's in jail, you'll be divorced…" Viv left the statement hanging and she knew the implication. Footloose and fancy free. Or perhaps not.

16 June

He'd kept his reaction muted when she'd told him, though he had been surprised that she had tossed it in at the end of a conversation that had started with him asking how the exam had gone. "Fine," she had replied. "Oh, and my solicitor called to tell me I'll be divorced in ten days."

To his mind, it had been perfect timing, what with her birthday coming up. The previous year, they had barely been speaking and he had spent the night with Fiona. The year before that, Stewart had been lying in hospital. This year, things were so very different. Legally, she was now free to do as she pleased, and he knew exactly what he wanted her first decision to be.

It was a Sunday, neither of them was working and he had wanted to spend the entire day with her, but she had quickly put paid to that by saying that she was going to drive down to Brighton the night before, see her dad and then drive back up in the afternoon. He had been disappointed, but understood that she wanted to see him, especially as he was painfully aware it would probably be the last birthday her dad would be around for, so he had settled for seeing her that evening instead. He had booked the restaurant, the special one, and had asked Charlie for the best table. Not that he was going to ask her there. It was a bit too public after all and something told him she might not react well. No, it would have to be somewhere a bit more secluded and private, perhaps a walk by the river or in the park, somewhere that she might feel more inclined to accept.

He'd bought the ring a few weeks earlier, a sparkly number, but nothing too ostentatious. It was flashier than the one she'd had from Stewart, and he didn't want her to think that he was trying to outdo the other man, but he had liked it the moment he'd seen it and thought it would sit well on her. He had rehearsed the words in his head so many times, wanting to make it different from when he had proposed to Julie, if you could call saying, 'fancy getting married' as a proposal.

As morning turned into afternoon and he was gearing himself up for the moment, the phone suddenly rang and when he answered it, was surprised to hear her voice.

"I can't come back today," she said, and he felt his stomach drop.

"What? Why?"

"It's my dad. He's really not looking good, Frank. I'm going to take him to hospital."

"Oh, ok…" he fought to keep the disappointment from his tone.

"I'm sorry, it's just…I think he needs looking at. He's in quite a bit of pain."

"Ok…" his mind raced. "I'll be there in a couple of hours."

"No, you don't have to come…"

"I'm coming," he said, recognising the mismatch between her words and the implication of her tone. "Is it Brighton General?"

"No, Royal Sussex, but…"

"I'll see you soon." Before she could argue further, he hung up before taking the time to throw some overnight items into a bag, along with the ring, and setting off on his journey. As he made the drive, he tried hard not to curse her father for, of course, it was hardly the man's fault that he was terminally ill, but he did seem to be setting her up for, yet another, crap birthday. The road was fairly quiet, and he made good time, arriving at the hospital just before four, though it took three attempts circling the car park to find a space. Making his way into A&E, he saw her sitting alone in a corner and threaded his way through the chairs towards her. "Hey."

"Oh," she started slightly at the sound of his voice and then got to her feet as he put his arms around her. "Thanks for coming."

"No problem. How is he?"

"They're checking him over now. Honestly, when I got here yesterday, I knew there was something not quite right. He looked terrible and he was trying to hide the pain."

"Isn't he on any medication?"

"Yes, but I don't think it's strong enough and he's too stubborn to speak to his consultant about it." At that moment, a voice came over the tannoy asking for family of William Lewis to go to area five, and she got to her feet.

"I'll wait here for you," he said, squeezing her hand, and she smiled tightly in response before walking towards the swing doors into the treatment area. Alone, he sat back and let out a long breath. It certainly wasn't turning out to be the day he had imagined. Twenty minutes later, she re-emerged, and he got to his feet to greet her. "Well?"

"They're going to keep him in tonight and try to get the pain under control," she replied. "If it's properly managed, he'll be able to go home tomorrow. I think I managed to convince him to accept some care at home. He's still adamant he doesn't want me down here."

"Well, I suppose you need to respect that, even if you don't like it."

"Yeah, I suppose. I'm sorry you came all this way."

"I'm not." He paused. "Can I stay?"

She smiled and he could see the relief in her expression. "Yes, please, if you can?"

"I'll square it with Meadows, don't worry." He wasn't entirely sure at that moment what excuse he was going to give, but he knew he would be able to come up with something. "Have you eaten anything?"

"No, not since breakfast."

"Right, come on then. If I can't take you out for dinner in London for your birthday, Brighton surely has to be the next best place."

"Well, I can't say as I'm well acquainted with all the top restaurants…"

"Don't worry," he slid his arm around her waist and squeezed her gently. "We'll find somewhere."

London…Brighton…surely where he proposed to her wouldn't really matter at the end of the day, so long as she said yes.