WARNING. This chapter deals with miscarriage. Please avoid if this is triggering for you


"Alright everyone," the senior shift Sergeant shouted to the gathered crowd of officers at the start of their shift in the canteen. "It's derby day and we're expecting trouble," he announced.

A groan went up around the room. The city's two football teams were up against each other and that usually meant some sort of disturbance after full time.

"It's gonna be a busy one I'm afraid," the Sergeant advised before going into detail about what he expected from his officers.

To add to Kare's misery, it was pouring rain as she stood in the wet, guarding one particular area that was heavily barriered. The odd derogatory remark being shouted from a passing fan didn't help either. At least you haven't got to put up with much more of this crap, she thought to herself as she huddled in to her fluorescent yellow waterproof jacket to keep dry. She had recently heard that she been accepted for undercover training and was counting down the shifts until then.

It was quiet during the match but that all changed at full time. Fuelled by alcohol that they had consumed all day, the winning fans started taunting the losing ones leading to several episodes of unrest throughout the city.

The barriers in front of Kate couldn't hold the number of fans that were crowded in to a small area and the inevitable happened. The barriers toppled over and the fans spilled out on to the road, toppling Kate over in the stampede that ensued. She was briefly trampled on before a colleague managed to pull her to safety.

"You ok?" he asked as reinforcements arrived to help calm the crowd.

"Yeah," said Kate. "Thanks,".

"Do you need to see a first aider?".

"I'm fine," Kate insisted. She briefly wondered if she should see someone because of her pregnancy but she had gone against regulations and not informed anyone as the problem would be resolved next week. She wasn't about to risk her secret getting out and having people gossiping about her behind her back.

"Stick close then," her colleague said. "Thank fuck this is nearly over and we can go home. I hate derby day," he complained.

"Me too," Kate agreed.

The rest of the shift went ok as the fans headed home or had been dealt with by the police. Kate gratefully took a seat on the police van that would take her back to the station.

They were nearing the end of the trip when Kate began to experience a few stomach cramps. Instantly, she knew something was wrong and started counting the metres until she reached her destination. She headed straight to the toilet and found some blood in her underwear.

Fearing the worst, Kate purchased a sanitary pad from the dispenser in the ladies toilet and put it in her pants before Kate dialled Jayne's number.

"Hey," her flat mate answered. "Have you been caught up in the disturbances in town?" She asked. "Just seen the news,".

"Yes," replied Kate.

"Shit!" replied Jayne. "It looked bad. Are you ok?".

"Not really," Kate replied. "Can you come pick me up?" she asked. "I'm bleeding,".

"I'm on my way," Jayne replied quickly. "Give me ten minutes,".

She was true to her word and soon was pulling go to the police station car park. Kate was waiting and got in quickly.

"Are you ok?" Jayne asked.

"I don't know," Kate replied.

"We better get you checked over," Jayne instructed and Kate agreed.

Despite booking herself in for a termination the GP had told her where to seek help if she had any problems before her procedure date.

They headed to the local hospital which had an Early Pregnancy Unit on the premises. It was fairly busy when they arrived and after checking in at reception the two friends took a seat in the waiting area.

After thirty minutes, Kate still hadn't been called and Jayne could see that her friend was in a bit of discomfort. "This is ridiculous," she said as she got to her feet.

"Please Jayne," Kate begged. "Don't make a scene,".

"I'm not," Jayne retorted. "I'm just gonna find out how much longer we have to wait," she continued before heading back to the reception. She was back fairly quickly. "She wasn't much help," Jayne informed Kate In an annoyed tone

"Just sit down," Kate muttered, not wanting to make a fuss.

"Fine," replied Jayne and retook her seat on a plastic chair.

They continued to wait with Kate's pain getting worse although she refused to tell Jayne in case she played up again.

"Just going to the loo," Kate said as she got up. "Come get me if they call my name," she instructed before hurrying off to the ladies.

"Kate Fleming?" a midwife called ten minutes later.

Jayne got up and looked around for Kate before heading over to the nurse.

"Kate's my friend," Jayne said.

"Where is she?".

"She went to the toilet about ten minutes ago," Jayne informed the nurse. "I'm worried about her. I could tell she was in pain although she didn't say,".

Jayne and the nurse headed to the ladies' toilets. One young woman passed them on their way in as she headed out leaving just one engaged cubicle.

"Kate?" called out Jayne. "You in here?".

"Yeah," Kate's reply came back quietly.

"You ok?" Jayne asked. "I've got the nurse here,".

"I'm bleeding lots," Kate said, "and…. umm ….. I think I've passed something,".

"Kate can you let me in?" the nurse asked as she knocked on the cubicle door, a little concerned.

The sound of the lock being undone was heard before Kate pulled the door back. She was sat on the toilet and looked quite pale. Jayne and the midwife saw a heavily soiled sanitary pad in her pants around her ankles.

"I'm just going to fetch you another pad," the midwife said before briefly disappearing. "Do you think you can stand?" she asked once she had returned and Kate had changed her pad, "or do I need to get a wheelchair,".

"I'll try standing," Kate said. There was no way she was being put in a wheelchair.

With help from Jayne and the midwife, Kate slowly got to her feet. The midwife looked in the toilet bowl and Kate and Jayne glanced too. There was a lot of blood and some clots.

"I've lost the baby haven't I?".

"I think so," the nurse said. "I'm really sorry," she consoled. "I need to check you over. Make sure you're ok. Can you walk to my room?".

"Yeah, I think so," Kate said as she pulled her underwear up. Leaning on Jayne they all headed in to the nurse's exam room and sat down.

The nurse disappeared and got Kate some painkillers before examining Kate. It didn't take long to confirm what Kate suspected.

"Would you like me to leave you for a little while?" The nurse asked after informing Kate that she had indeed had a miscarriage.

"No, it's ok," Kate replied stoically. "What happened now?".

"Well it looks as if your uterus has completely emptied. The bleeding and cramps should clear up in the next two days," the nurse explained. "Obviously if it doesn't then come back and see us immediately,".

"Ok,".

"Pads only. No tampons," the nurse instructed. "And no sex for about two weeks,".

"That won't be a problem," Kate replied.

"You'll probably get your next period in about 4 to 6 weeks. I'd recommend you don't try getting pregnant again until after that," the midwife continued to advise.

Kate glanced at Jayne at the mention of getting pregnant again. That would definitely not be happening! "I'll be waiting a lot longer than that," she replied as she sat up.

"That's up to you," the midwife replied. "And when you do try again, there's absolutely nothing to say you wouldn't have a successful pregnancy,".

"Thanks," Kate said.

Using Jayne for support, the two friends headed slowly back to Jayne's car. There was silence for a little while after they had settled themselves in the front seats. "Are you ok?" Jayne asked.

Kate burst in to tears and Jayne reached over to hug her as best she could.

"I don't know why I'm crying," Kate sniffed. "I was going to have a termination next week,".

"Well it's still a shock isn't it?" Jayne soothed as Kate continued crying. "Maybe it's better this way?" Jayne postulated.

"What do you mean?" Kate sniffed.

"Well it means you don't have to go through a termination now," Jayne explained.

"Maybe," Kate agreed as a start she dried her eyes.

Jayne released her hold on her friend and started the car to head for home. The journey was a quiet one.

"I need to tell Steve that he doesn't need to come up here next week," Kate announced as she realised she hadn't told him what had happened.

"Do you want me to do it?" Jayne volunteered.

"No," Kate insisted. "I'll do it," she continued. "Phone call is probably best for that type of news isn't it?" she asked Jayne who nodded in agreement. "I'll do it when I get home," Kate said, not looking forward to that conversation.