'I do swear that I'll always be there. I'd give anything and everything and I will always care. Through weakness and strength, happiness and sorrow, for better, or worse. I will love you with every beat of my heart.'
Thursday 10th August 2003
'JUNE!JUNE!NO NO NOT JUNE!' Jim cried as he tried to run towards the building but Des and Tony held him back. Glass was still falling from CSU window onto the ground. The three of them looked up to see SO19 abseiling down from the roof and heading in through the window. Jim couldn't believe it, this can't be it. Her last words were 'I love you. 'Those words where supposed to change their lives forever but for better not like this.
Meanwhile in CSU Jack, Adam and SO19 had burst through the door when they heard the gun go off.
'Armed police put down the gun, put down the gun now. On the floor, get down on the floor arms above your head.'
Jack could see June on the floor with Gabriel lying away from her. The other side of the room was Gina she was holding her shoulder as blood was pouring out. Adam saw her and ran over to her, 'Gina are you ok what happened?'
Gina smiled, 'Get me a fag and I'll tell you when I 've smoked it.' Adam touched her on the cheek as he smiled and laughed, 'You'll live.'
Gina smirked, 'Course I'll live I'm a tough cookie as well you know. June what about June is she ok.?'
Jack was at Junes side he bent down as SO19 were cuffing Gabriel they pulled him to his feet he had a glazed look on his face he made no attempt to look at June. On his way out he glanced over to Gina and hissed 'You bitch you got in the way that was meant for her not you.'
Adam ordered SO19 to get him out of the building.
'Gina what happened? How come the bullet hit you?'
'Ouch Adam I'm loosing blood.'
'It's ok Gina we'll get you to hospital but what happened?'
'The daft sod let me go to the loo. As I came out he had June at the window taunting Jim, he had his back to me. I grabbed the chair and moved towards him. I was just about to hit him over the head when he must have seen my reflection in the window he turned round with June in front of him. I stopped June stamped her heal on his foot I went for him and the bastard pulled the trigger. Not before I hit him though. 'She looked at Adam and laughed, 'Go on say it I'm a silly sod but I had to do something. He really was going to hurt June.'
Adam helped her to her feet, 'Gina you did what we all would have done.'
The paramedics arrived and attended to Gina. Jack was hugging June, 'Sssh sshh June it's over it's all over he can't touch you now. 'June was sobbing and just glad she was being held. She looked up at Jack her eyes wet, 'Jack what about Jim? Where is he?'
Outside Jim was pacing and saying to Tony, 'Tone what are they doing in there? The paramedics have gone in but no one has come out. Tony if she's dead I want to see her now. 'Tony touched his arm, 'I don't know what their doing mate we will just have to wait. At that they turned their heads to look up at CSU window as Kerry shouted, 'Jim look! Look up there!'
They all saw what Kerry was pointing to. Jack had got June to the window so that she could see Jim was waiting for her. Jack was holding her up as she put her hand to her mouth and cried. Jim reached out his hand wishing he could touch her. He cried as the tears rolled down his face he shouted up to her,
'June I'm here. I'm here I love you.'
Kerry, Des and Tony hugged him. Tony led Jim to the ambulance, 'Told you she'd make it mate.'
They waited at the ambulance first to arrive was Gina and Adam was with her. As she came out the relief cheered, 'Good to see you Ma'am. Well done. Hurry up back Ma'am.'
Just as Gina got in the ambulance she yelled back,' Oi you lot this is not an excuses for you to take a holiday while I'm out of action.'
Des muttered under his breath, 'God not even a bullet can soften her.'
'Oi Taviner I heard that.' The relief fell about laughing. Then they saw Jack and June emerge. As they got outside Jim ran forward and grabbed hold of June and hugged her. There was silence between them and the relief clapped. Jim held June for ages all he could hear was their two hearts beating and he heard June crying. He looked at her and wiped the tears away as he said, 'Hey you it's ok I'm here now.'
June fell into his arms as she sobbed, 'Jim I was so scared.'
They both got into the ambulance as it took them all to the hospital. Jim sat with Jack in the waiting room. They saw Adam emerge from a side room. Jack stood up, 'Sir how's Gina?'
'She is going to be fine she's had an operation to remove the bullet. Her arm is in a sling and she will be out of action for a while. Other than that she can still have a fag and she's going to be fine. June is in there with her now.'
'Gina thank you.'
'Be quiet will you June you would have done the same for me I hope.' Gina smirked at June as she nodded. June sat on the bed, 'I just can't believe all this has happened!'
'I knew there was something fishy about Gabriel when he first came to Sun Hill. Never in my wildest dreams did I think it would turn out to be anything like this though. Anyway enough it's over and out there is a man who is very glad that it's not you lying in here. 'Gina touched June on the arm as she spoke to her, 'I told you this morning we all think you two are made for each other. Don't screw it up again. He loves you June we can all see that and I think now you've finally admitted to yourself just how much you have always loved him. Go on go to him.'
'Thanks Gina see you soon.'
'Hey I've told Adam while I'm away you're acting Inspector don't let me down girl.'
June left the room and walked to the waiting room. Adam and Jack had left and there sitting in the chair was the man she loved. The man who was at the forefront of her mind while all this was going on. She walked into the room and saw Jim was dozing. She brushed his hair dent down and kissed him on the cheek.
'What June!' Jim looked startled as he saw Junes face close to his.
'Sssh Jim take me home please.'
They arrived at Junes house Jim opened the door and the two of them walked up the stairs and lay on the bed. Jim held June as she cried and cried. 'Do you want to talk about it?' He asked. June shook her head as she said softly, 'No not yet Jim please just hold me. 'They fell asleep in each others arms.
Friday 11th August.
June woke to find no sign of Jim but she could smell bacon. As she put on her dressing gown and went downstairs she saw him in the kitchen. She stood in the door way watching him. This is what she wanted, him, her, here, now and forever. How could she have been so foolish not telling him sooner. So much sooner. Thoughts of Gabriel entered her head as Jim turned to her, 'Good morning you ok?' She nodded as he walked over to her and kissed her.
'Jim yesterday was one of the most frightening experiences of my life. And do you know what was going through my head all the time?'
'What?'
June held him close as she spoke 'All I could think was suppose I never see him again? What was the last thing I said to him? So when Gabriel took me to the window to see you I had to say those three words. If it was to be the last time I saw you I wanted I love you to be the last three words you heard from me.'
'June that is over now and I am so glad that I will get to hear those three words time and time again from you.'
As they arrived at work both looked up at the window of CSU they couldn't believe it that less than 24 hours ago their lives could have changed for the worse. Jim looked at her, 'You sure you want to go in?'
'Yes I have to face it. Bob always said to me after a tough incident you can either go down the pub or get on with the job. Get on with the job is what I am going to do.' He kissed her as they went in. They both went into the canteen and where greeted with a huge cheer and round of applause. June was touched to see just how many people cared for her and to have Jim standing by her side.
Tony walked over and gave her a big kiss as he looked at Jim and said 'Sorry mate just glad to see her. 'Jim smiled 'It's ok mate.'
Adam and Jack where there as Adam spoke Jack handed him an envelope and smiled at Jim and June.
'Er can I have your attention please. As you know while Gina is recovering Sergeant Ackland will be your acting Inspector.'
'Hooray about time.' cried all the lads.
Adam continued, 'However she will not be starting that role until she gets back from her mini weekend away.'
Jim looked at June and she looked at him both looked bemused.
'I'm sorry sir I don't understand.'
'Jim June for all you have been through I hope you will accept this from the Met. It's a 4 day trip to Venice to recover and forget all that's happened if you can.'
Kerry then walked forward and handed June an envelope as she said' Sarge I mean Ma'am we had a whip round for spends for you also. This is from all of us.'
June took the envelope as Jim spoke, 'I...We don't know what to say apart from cheers you lot.'
Tuesday 15th August
Jim and June had been in Venice since Saturday and had been so engrossed in each other. They had talked about all they had been through. Jim had told her how he felt even when he was married to Marie. How much he dreamed of being with her. How even when he was making love to Marie he only saw Junes face. She was his first thought in the morning and his last thought at night. June told him how she felt when he did marry Marie and how guilty she felt when she heard they were having a bad time. She felt guilty because even then she hoped in a distant part of her mind that maybe just maybe her and Jim would get back all they had had. She spoke about her ordeal with Gabriel what was going through her mind when he held the gun to her head. When he pushed her up against the window to see Jim for what could have been the last time. Jim told her what went through his mind at the time. If that was to have been the last time he saw her, he had no idea how he would have continued on with life. The thought that they had just committed themselves to each other the night before. The thought that they had spent the night before rekindling their love for each other, making passionate love recapturing all the time they had lost. The thought that all that could so easily be taken away again scared him.
'Can't believe this is our last night.' June said as they walked through St Marks square. They had just had a beautiful meal in a very plush restaurant and taken their last gondola ride and Jim had bought June a rose and handed it to her 'From me to you with all my love.' He had said as he gave it to her.
'Can't believe the Met have paid for all this.' Laughed Jim as June squeezed his hand.
'Jim.'
'Mmmm.'
'Jim look around we are the only ones out here. It's so peaceful here. Can't believe the day after tomorrow we will be back in busy Sun Hill.'
They heard the clock strike midnight. Jim stopped and pulled June back into his arms and kissed her as he whispered against her cheek,
'You do know what date it is don't you.'
June looked up at him and smiled. Just by the twinkle in her eye he knew she knew what he was thinking.
'Let me see it's just turned midnight so it's the beginning of a new day.' she said.
'Yes a new day.' said Jim,' that makes it Wednesday 16th August 2003.1 week ago we made love for the first time in a long while.' He bent down brushed his lips against hers and kissed her as her lips touched his she opened her mouth and let her tongue search for his and kissed him passionately holding him she looked into his eyes and said 'Yes and 20 years ago when you first walked into Sun Hill I thought, mmm nice looking guy. So I suppose you could say happy anniversary even though we're not married.'
Jim took June by the hand into the centre of the square and went down on one knee and took her hand. June looked around in disbelief as she turned to him and said, 'What are you doing you fool?'
'June Ackland would you do me the honour of being my wife?'
Junes mouth fell open as Jim reached inside his jacket pocket and pulled out a small ring box. 'From me to you.' He opened the box and there staring at her was a sapphire engagement ring. Jim took her hand as he placed the ring on her finger he said, 'From this moment life has begun. From this moment you are the one. Right beside you is where I belong. I live only for your happiness. For your love I'd give my last breath. From this moment as long as I live I will love you I promise you this.'
Jim stood up as June took his face in her hands and said, 'You're the reason I believe in love. You're the answer to my prayers. All we need is just the two of us. My dreams came true because of you. From this moment I will love you for as long as I live.'
Jim smiled as he took her hands from his face kissed them and said 'Is that a yes then?'
June nodded and smiled 'Yes! Yes! Yes! And a thousand times yes.'
Jim picked her up and spun her round as he placed her feet back on the floor they spun round and round kissing each other. He led her back to the hotel they were staying. As they reached the door to their room June pushed Jim up against the door and whispered 'It's all coming back to me why I love you so much.'
Jim opened the door and pushed June up against the door as it closed he began to slowly undress her. He was kissing her neck as she brushed her fingers down his back easing the shirt off his back. To think this was it now she had agreed to be his wife this would continue for a long time to come nothing or no one would come between then now or ever again. As she led him to the bed as pushed him down gently Jim looked up at her as June smiled as said, 'From this moment and .........'she bent forward and kissed him softly as Jim said, 'For always just me and you.'
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