'Yes' she replied
Tony smiled and gave her a quick kiss 'Tony, I...' June said
'I know I shouldn't but I couldn't help it, you are so beautiful'
'Tony please, I��'
'Look I came up here to ask you if you are coming to this' Tony asked giving her the wedding invitation
June felt tears in her eyes 'Um�� well I haven't been invited so no I guess not'
'Right well I won't either then'
'No Tony you should go, please I want you to' June said trying to hold back the tears
'Ok, for you' Tony smiled before he left the room.
Once June was alone, she let the tears flow she couldn't control them anymore, everyone had had an invite apart from her, she felt so hurt. She was hurting anyway because she was losing the man she loved to another woman but for him not to invite her to the wedding after her trying to be happy for him, it was too much.
June quickly wiped her eyes as Polly entered CSU 'Polly' June said
'Hi Sarge, are you alright?' she asked
'Yes, yes fine'
'No your not, I have known you too long remember, what's wrong?'
'It's silly really, Jim hasn't invited me to the wedding, and I know I shouldn��t care but I do. Most people probably think I would be mad to go but I have tried for weeks now to be happy for him, I went to the engagement party, I gave him a card and this is how he repays me' she cried
Polly put her arm around June to comfort her 'Oh June, I didn't realise how much you loved him'
'I just want him to be happy, but I want him so much. This is all my fault'
'How do you work that one out?' Polly asked
'Well before I went away Jim told me he didn't want to work on the Sonia Graham case anymore but I insisted he did. I pushed them together, I should never have gone away'
'June you don't know what would have happened, there is no point in thinking what if, you have to concentrate on what's happening now '
'I know but it's hard and now I have made things ten times worse'
'How?' Polly asked
'The night of the engagement party I got drunk and I slept with Tony
'No, June you said...'
'I know what I said but I did and not only that but I told him there was a possibility of us seeing each other'
'But there isn't'
'No, at the time when I said it I did honestly want him but I was just trying to make myself feel better I was using him, I felt alone, upset and I needed to prove to myself I could have someone if I wanted, I know it was wrong and I am not proud of myself but I love Jim Polly and it doesn't matter who loves me, my love is only with one person. I have never felt this way about anyone Pol, I need him' she sobbed
'Oh June, it will be alright. You will have to tell Tony'
'I know but I don't want to hurt him''I think he will understand June, I think he knows himself how much you love Jim he just tries to block it out'
'Oh what a mess' June said as she wiped her eyes 'Thanks Polly'
'It will be alright you know, you will get through this, I did remember'
'Yeah'
As Polly walked over to her desk Jim walked in 'Morning Sarge, Polly'
'Morning' Polly smiled
'Morning' June replied
'Sarge' Jim said
'Yeah'
'I wanted to give you this, I wasn't sure if you would want it but I want you to be there, although I would understand if you didn't' Jim said handing June an invite
'Um thank you' June replied trying to fight back the tears, it was all too much, she placed the invite on the table and rushed out of CSU crying
'June!' Jim shouted
'Nice one Jim' Polly snapped
As June ran down the corridor to the toilets she passed Tony 'Sarge, June' Tony said looking concerned
June ran into the toilets ignoring Tony. Tony rushed into CSU 'what's going on? Why is June crying?' Tony asked
'I gave her an invite and��'
'Oh how did I know it would have something to do with you' Tony shouted as he pinned Jim against the wall 'Haven't you hurt her enough'
'I...'
'Don't say anything, just leave her alone' Tony ordered
'Tony let him go' Polly shouted 'Now! Do you think this is what June needs right now, you two fighting, no, grow up the pair of you. I will go and check on her'
'No Pol I'll go' Tony said as he let Jim go
Tony walked out of CSU and went straight into the ladies toilets not caring that he shouldn't be there. 'June?' Tony said
'I'm alright Tony'
'Look June I want you to come with me to the wedding'
'No I don't think so Tone'
'Why not, we are friends and we are sort of seeing each other'
'No, Tony I need to talk to you about us'
'Go on'
'I am sorry Tony, I can't do this, you are a lovely man and I wish I could love you I really do but I can't'
'What are you saying that you used me?' Tony asked
'I am not proud of what I have done but I was in denial. I love Jim and I can't do anything about it I am sorry. I wish things were different but they are not'
'But he has hurt you more than once, he is not good enough for you, you deserve better'
'You can't help who you fall in love with''But he is marrying someone else June, he doesn't love you, so what are you saying because you can't have him you would rather be alone'
'No of course not but I have never felt like this before, I love him more than anything and I know I have lost him but it wouldn't be fair on you or me if I lied to myself and tried to pretend that we could have something special together because it would never be possible'
'In time it might'
'No it wouldn't, I am sorry'
'Ok, I suppose I always knew I was second best'
'Tony I wouldn't blame you if you never wanted to speak to me again but I want you to know you are a special friend and I am sorry for hurting you'
'I could never be angry with you June, I love you, and if all I can have is your friendship then that will have to do, I couldn't bare it I we stopped talking'
'Oh Tony'
'Come here' Tony smiled as he hugged her
'I am sorry Tony'
'I know'
Later that afternoon
Tony arrived back at the station with Polly, they had just arrested Marie Graham for GBH. 'What shall we do?' Polly asked
'I'll phone June, she'll know'
Tony phoned June and explained what had happened, she told him to put her in an interview room out of site and that she would be down to talk to her.
Tony did what June had told her and then June arrived 'Hi, right thanks Tony'
Tony left Polly, June and Marie.
'Hi Marie'
'Hi'
'So do you want to tell me what's going on?' June asked
'I just lost it'
'Lost it'
'Julie was asking for it, she was really pushing her luck'
'What do you mean?' Polly asked
'Julie is the mother of one of the boys who Sonia used to teach and she was being bitchy'
'So you punished her?' June said
'Yes, I am sorry it will never happen again, please does Jim have to know about this?'
'Look Marie for Jim's sake I am going to let you go but if anything like this happens again I will arrest you, do you understand
'Yes, thank you June, Jim has always said that you were a nice person'
'Right well go on get out of here before Jim sees you'
Marie left the room
'What do you think?' Polly asked
'I think I shouldn't have done that''But you didn't want to hurt Jim'
'Spot on'
'Well I am sure it was a one off, I mean we can all lose it now and again'
'Yes maybe. Polly I would like you to do a PNC on Marie'
'Ok, do you think she has done this before'?
'I hope not for Jim's sake'
Polly went and did a PNC check on Marie and then returned to CSU where she found June 'Sarge can I have a word' Polly asked
'Yeah sure' June replied leading Polly into the interview room 'Well'
'You are not going to like this'
'What?'
'Marie has done time 10 years ago for GBH and she has been arrested twice for GBH in the last 3 years'
'Oh no' June said 'I shouldn't have let her go Polly, I should have charged her'
'Well it was three years ago'
'Yes but she has done it again today'
'Are you going to tell Jim?'
'Do you think he would believe me?' June asked
'Probably not'
'Nor me'
'So what you going to do?'
'I don't know, all I do know is Jim can't marry her'
'June, it's up to him' Polly said 'I know you love him but he has to make his own decisions'
'Yeah your right'
'So'
'I am going to go and see Marie and ask her about the past. I'll try and get her to tell Jim and then he can decide for himself' June replied
'Do you want me to come?'
'No it's alright, I'll do it'
There was a knock on the door and Jim entered 'Sorry, there has been a sighting of than young lad, Tony has gone down there now'
'Ok, you and Polly go too' June ordered
'Ok' Jim replied
Polly and Jim grabbed their coats and left. June returned to her desk, found her bag and left CSU.
Polly and Jim met up with Tony down at an old house. They searched the house but couldn't find anything. As they checked in the garage, the little boy ran out from behind a car and closed the garage door on them and locked it.
'Oi' Tony shouted as he banged on the door 'Open up'
'It's no good he has jammed the door, we are stuck' Jim replied
'Great stuck in a garage with you'
'Well I am not to pleased about it either you know' Jim snapped
'Oh for god sake, just listen to yourselves, June is better off without the pair of you' Polly said angrily'It's him she is better off without' Tony said
'Look I know you are angry with me for hurting June but I didn't mean too. I never wanted to hurt her; I loved her'
'Funny way of showing it' Tony snapped
'Well if you care so much why don't you go for it'?
'I can't believe you jut said that' Polly shouted 'June isn't something that can played with until you get bored and then passed on to your friend, she is a woman that has fallen in love with a man she thought loved her too'
'I didn't mean it like that, June is a wonderful woman... I just'
'You just don't love her, well why did you let her think you did, that was cruel' Tony said
'No it wasn't like that, I have loved June for years now and when we got together I was the happiest man alive but the relationship got complicated, working together it was hard'
'So you took the easy way out' Polly added
'I suppose I did, I still love June but I love Marie too and it's easier with Marie'
'Your pathetic'
'June will find someone else' Jim said 'She is a lovely woman'
'We all know that Jim' Polly said 'But I don't think you realise how much she loves you'
'She will get over it, I am sure Tony would only be to happy to stand into my shoes'
'Yeah I would' Tony snapped 'I would love her and treat her a lot better than you ever could and I wouldn't hurt her'
'So why don't you go for it then'
'Oh believe me I have tried' Tony replied
'What?' Jim said looking shocked
'Oh yes I have tried to get together with June, I have even slept with her'
'You have what?' Jim shouted
'Why are you getting so worked up?' Polly asked
'But June told me it was a mistake and that she couldn't have a relationship with me'
'Did she?'
'Yes and don't you want to know why?' Tony asked
'I suppose'
'I think you already know the answer' Poly chipped in
'Because she loves you and she said she couldn't love me because you were the only one she wanted'
'I didn't realise how much she...'
'Loved you?' Polly interrupted 'No you didn't, you have been horrible to her, rubbing this wedding in her face. I think she has coped rather well with the situation, it someone I loved was doing what you are doing to June I would have slapped him one. Don't you realise how hard this is for June, watching the man she loves marrying someone else, someone he has known for two minutes, it is breaking her heart'
'I... it will get easier for her'
'I hope so' Tony said
'I don't think she will, se did something this morning that she has never done before'
'What?'
'I can't tell you but take it from me she loves you''Tell me Polly'
'I can't'
'She released Marie without charge' Tony blurted out
'Tony!' Polly said
'What I don't understand' Jim said looking confused
'This morning Tony and I were called out and we arrested Marie for GBH'
'What?'
'Marie assaulted Julie Matthews'
'No there must have been a mistake'
'I saw it' Tony said 'The poor woman has got a broken nose'
'You're lying' Jim said
'He's not I was there too. Anyway we brought Marie to the station and spoke to June, she spoke to Marie and let her go without charge'
'Did she, how, why?'
'Why?' Tony laughed
'She spoke to Mrs Matthews and she agreed to drop the charge.' Polly said 'She shouldn't have done it Jim but she did because she didn't want you to get hurt or humiliated'
'Oh'
'It gets worse'
'What do you mean?' Jim asked
'When Marie left June asked me to do a PNC check on her'
'And?' Tony said eagerly
'You're not going to like this Jim'
'She has done it before, right?' Tony said
'Yes, she did time ten years ago for GBH and has been arrested twice for GBH in the last three years, each time she was released.'
'I can't believe it, there must be some mistake'
'I am sorry Jim'
'So what did June say?' Tony asked
'She felt guilty because had released her but she was also confused about what to do'
'Was she going to tell me?' Jim asked
'No she didn't think you would believe her'
'How could she think that, she is the most honest person I know'?
'Oh come on Jim, you wouldn't have believed her, you would have thought she was trying to split you up' Tony added
'Maybe, so what was she going to do?'
'She said she was going to go and speak to Marie and ask her to tell you the truth so that you could make up your own mind about her'
'She said that' Jim asked
'Yes, she loves you Jim, she doesn't want anyone to hurt you, she has put her career on the line to protect you. If Gina Gold finds out about what she did she will make life difficult for June, you know that as well as she does'
'You are one lucky man you know that, I wish she would love me' Tony said 'She is one hell of a woman, you need your head read for letting her go'
'Marie is lovely too'
'Oh yeah, so it's alright for her to beat people up then is it' Tony snapped
'Of course not but there must have been a good reason for her actions'
'Jim listen to yourself, Marie is trouble and her and June don't compare I would always pick June over Marie'
'But it's easier with Marie'
'Oh Jim your pathetic' Polly said
'Well don't say we didn't warn you' Tony added
There was a noise outside 'Help' Polly shouted 'We are police officers please open up'
A man opened the garage door. Polly explained what happened and they had a giggle about it, then all of a sudden Tony said 'Polly you know you said June was going to speak to Marie, did she mean now'
'I think so why?'
'Oh no what if she does something to June'
'Oh don't be ridiculous Tony, Marie would never hurt June' Jim said
'And why not, you should have seen her this morning Jim' Polly replied 'Do you think we should take a look'
'This is ridiculous' Jim laughed
'Well you don't have to come but I would feel better if I went to make sure June was alright'
'Ok, ok but this will be a waste of time'
Meanwhile June was talking to Marie at Marie's house. They had discussed the past assaults and Marie said she regretted them but she found her temper hard to handle.
'Marie, as a friend of Jim's I think you owe it to him to tell him about your past' June said
'No, no I can't he must never find out' Marie shouted
'Ok, calm down, Jim is a good man Marie, if he loves you he will support you'
'No, I said no' Marie said as she grabbed Junes arms 'Promise you won't say anything June, promise'
'Marie you're hurting me'
'Sorry, I didn't mean too I...' Marie replied as she let Junes arm go
June stood up and walked towards the door 'I think I have said too much I had better go but Marie think about it, it will be better for Jim to find out off you rather than someone else at work' June said as she opened the door
Marie saw red, she ran over to June slammed the door and then pinned June against the door. June hit her head 'Argh!' June cried 'Marie please just let me go'
'Your going to tell him aren't you'
'No' June managed to say as Marie was practically choking her
'Yes you are, what's your problem June, fancy him do you'
'No, I promise I won't say anything' June blushed and gasped for air
'You do fancy him?' Marie laughed 'Oh it makes sense now''No, it's not like that'
'No one is going to tell Jim anything is that clear'
'I already know' Jim said as he entered the room.
Marie let June go immediately 'Oh hi love, didn't know you were back'
'I noticed'
June was rubbing her neck and went to open the door as Marie walked over to Jim and went to kiss him before he pushed her to one side. 'June, where are you going?' Jim asked
'Oh me and June have being having a chat, she was just leaving when you came in' Marie smiled
'That's right I was just leaving, nice talking to you' June said
Tony and Polly rushed in 'June?' Tony shouted
'Tony, Polly what are you doing here?' June asked
'Your alright?' Polly said
'Of course'
'June' Jim said 'You don't have to lie anymore'
'What?'
'I heard everything and Polly has told me what happened this morning. You were going to pretend that never happened weren't you'
Nothing happened' Marie interrupted
'Marie I heard everything you were choking and threatening her'
'Jim I can...'
'What explain? No I don't think so'
'She was what? June are you alright?' Tony asked
'I am fine honestly'
'Why pretend nothing happened June?' Jim asked
'Because I didn't want to hurt you'
'June you could never hurt me'
'You would have hated me if I had told you' June said holding back the tears
'Jim' Marie said 'Jim listen to me, she provoked me' Marie continued as she placed her hands on his face.
'Oh shut up' Tony snapped as he followed Polly over to June 'Come on June I'll take you home' Tony said
June, Polly and Tony walked out of the door. Jim removed Marie's hands from his face 'Marie we are finished'
'No Jim please' Marie protested
'You have just made me realise how much I love June'
'What?' Marie said looking shocked
'I love June'
'But you said you loved me'
'I do love you but not in the same way as I love June, I am in love with June, I was just to frightened to admit it.' Jim said as he ran towards the door
'June wait' Jim shouted
'Not now Jim' Polly said
'June I love you'June stopped and turned around 'Marie has just made me realise how much I love you. I was scared and I know it is probably too late now as I have hurt you too much but I just had to say it. '
June started to cry 'Jim I am sorry, I didn't want this to happen, I didn't want to split you two up'
Jim walked towards June and put his hands on her face 'June you haven't split us up, you have just helped me realise I made a big mistake. When I saw her hurting you I just wanted to pull her off but part of me wanted to see if you would tell me what had happened, and you didn't you were trying to protect me again'
'Because I love you and I want you to be happy, and if Marie makes you happy then fine I will have to live with that'
'Shush, don't say anymore I thought I was happy but I was in denial, I have never been as happy as I was when we were together, I just took the easier option by getting engaged to Marie but we are finished, I don't want to be with her, I want you June. I don't expect you to take me back but...'
June surprised him by kissing him; her cheeks were damp with tears. 'I want you Jim' June smiled before kissing him again 'June I am sorry I hurt you'
June kissed him more passionately
'Oh sweet' Polly smiled
'I can't stand this' Tony said
'Tony she is happy and that is all that matters'
'Until he hurts her again'
'He won't' Polly said
'Yeah right'
'He won't I know he won't, he loves her'
'Jim' June said 'I love you but I don't think I could go through this again so if you have any doubts about us then tell me now' she cried
'I have no doubts June, I love you and I want you, if you'll have me'
'Of course I will' she smiled and then kissed him 'I am never going to let you go again' she said
'I am not going anywhere and I know it is too soon but one day I hope you will be my wife'
'I would like that'
They hugged each other and then Tony drove them to June's were they did a lot of catching up.
1 year later
Jim and June were married and Marie had been given 6 months for GBH. Tony and Jim made up and he was his best man.