"When did it happen?"
"About an hour ago." A deep sigh. A shrug.
"But I don't get it - he was doing so well." A touch of a hand on an arm, a look of distress.
"They think he may have had an undetected heart complaint. The hypothermia, the stress�" A tear rolled down a lined cheek, followed by more of it's like. "I can't believe he's gone."
United by grief, the two shared a hug. In the last two days these two people had bonded, shared memories and fears, had shared worries and scares. It seemed now as if they had known each other forever.
"So what are you going to do?"
"Go home, I suppose - there's nothing keeping me here."
"Will you be alright?"
"Yes - I'm sure�after a while." A sad smile. "I have lots of friends, but�he was�" A sad shake of the head. "I suppose you'll be heading back too?"
"Mmmm." A smile then, the first for a while. "He just needs checking over one last time, then we'll be heading on back. You�take care of yourself, alright? And if you need anyone�"
"Thank you."
June watched as Dave walked away. She felt a tear roll down her own cheek and wiped it away. Then she turned as she felt a presence behind her.
"Ready?"
"If you are. I was just talking to Dave - you heard about Ray�"
"Yeah. I didn't know him that well, but�" Jim sighed. "It just goes to show, doesn't it."
"I think after all we've been through this year�we should know by now that life shouldn't be wasted." June kissed him softly on the lips. "Which is why I can't understand�"
"Why I haven't given you an answer?"
"Yes�Jim�you must know what it took for me to do that, to say those words�I'm not trying to force you into it, but I thought�"
"I just need some time. What we argued about, June, I know you've told everyone at work about us - but there are still some things that we need to sort out. You understand that, don't you?"
"Yes. Yes, I do." June smiled. "Come on, let's get you home."
***
4:23 pm
June pulled up outside her - their - she quickly corrected herself - house. She looked over to Jim and smiled. His head was leaning against the car window, his eyes were closed and he was fast asleep. His right arm hung heavily in a sling underneath his waterproof jacket which they had fought with and eventually had left slung loosely over his shoulders.
It would be a few weeks before Jim could return to work - being right handed he would be rendered next to useless in the CSU - but June was relieved. Although it would mean the loss of her most valued and most experienced constable, she was still a little concerned for Jim's welfare. He was ever so pale still, his skin barely contrasting with the white of the bandage that covered the gash to his forehead. He had done little more than sleep for the last two days, since he had recovered consciousness, and his lack of appetite was of major concern, especially as he was one who had always loved his food.
He hadn't admitted it to her but she knew he was weak; she had surreptitiously supported him to the car when he had wobbled slightly. The doctors had tried to reassure her, had told her to call in Jim's GP as soon as she could when they returned to London, but they told her that what he needed was bed rest and minimal stress.
And that was just what he was going to get, she decided. She shook him gently awake. "Sweetheart? We're home�"
He looked up at her through tired eyes, a smile flickering on the corner of his mouth. "Already?"
"You fell asleep about three hours ago."
"Sorry I wasn't better company."
"It's alright. How are you feeling?"
"Sore. Tired."
"You think you can make it into the house?"
"'Course." Jim opened the door and made to get out. As he stood he wobbled violently and crashed with a thump back into the safety of the passenger seat.
"Jim�" June got out of the car quickly, moved around to his side. "Come on, you've got to take it easy. I don't want you passing out on me."
"Why - don't you think you can carry me in?" Jim laughed, but his laughter dissolved into a hacking cough which he had developed in the last twenty-four hours.
"No. As a matter of fact I don't." June looked down at him for a moment. "I think you should be admitted into a hospital, Jim, I really�"
"June�stop fussing!" Jim snapped.
"Jim - I'm just trying to help!" June snapped back. She sobbed suddenly. "Let me worry about you, please?"
"June�I'll be fine�I'm sorry, I've never made a good patient."
"Now he tells me." June rolled her eyes.
"June - you need some help?" June jumped at a voice close behind her.
"Tony!" June sagged with relief. "Help me get this big stubborn oaf into the house, would you?" She backed away, allowing Tony to hunker down in front of Jim.
He placed a hand on Jim's knee. "It's good to see you, mate. And I mean that." Jim looked warily into Tony's eyes. And finally, after so many months of bitter acrimony, he saw genuine concern and friendship within them. "Come on�" Tony helped Jim out of the car and then supported him on the way up to the front door. "You alright from here?" He asked of June.
"Well, I'm putting him straight to bed and I don�t think I can get him up those stairs."
Tony chuckled. "Well, if I get a hernia�" Without warning he picked Jim up in a fireman's lift, over his shoulder. Jim countered with a half-hearted "Oi!" June laughed and followed the pair upstairs.
***
They found a pair of Jim's pyjama's which he had left behind in his rush to leave, and had left him to get changed in private. June busied herself making three steaming hot mugs of coffee.
"June - I have to say this - Jim looks like crap."
"I know." June shivered suddenly, hugged herself close. "He signed himself out of the hospital�but they say he'll be alright. I just hate seeing him like this. I hate seeing him ill, or hurt, I always have done." June turned away as the kettle hissed to the boil.
"You protect your puppies, don't you?"
June laughed. "Yes. Little did I know, when I first met Jim, that�" She turned back to Tony. "I proposed to him." The words came out in a rush.
"You�" Tony was stunned into silence for a moment. "What did�are you�?"
Away again, from his gaze. "He didn't say no. But he didn't say yes, either."
"Really? I would have thought�"
"Yes. So would I. He says there are still things that we need to talk over, maybe he's right, but�I want to marry him, Tony. I want him with me for the rest of my life. I've never felt more certain of anything."
"It'll happen." Tony took her arm, made her turn around. "He loves you. He always has. Best mates tell each other everything."
"Then why didn't he tell me?" June looked up at Tony, her brown eyes wide, questioning.
"I don't know. But that's a what if, June. What you and Jim need to do now is to live for the moment. I'm sure you know that."
"I do." June finally managed to pour the coffee.
"I'll take Jim's up. I'll see if he's awake. I need to�say sorry properly."
"Thank you, Tony. I�." She stopped. Sagged with relief. "I'm so glad that you didn't make me choose."
"I could have done. But I knew�if you had to choose between me and Jim - I'd come out the loser every time."
***
"Jim?" Tony called softly as he pushed open the door of the bedroom. Jim wasn't asleep; he was propped up on the pillows and appeared to be deep in thought. "Got your coffee." Tony help up the mug.
"Thanks."
Tony moved closer and dropped the mug onto the bedside cabinet. "You need anything else?"
"Yeah�my stuff�it's still at the B&B, you know the one on Oak Street?"
"I know it. I'll sort it out." Tony reassured Jim with a smile. "We�we were all really worried about you, you know."
Jim simply shrugged.
"June was in a right state. Jim - you're one lucky fella."
Another shrug.
"Jim, you alright?" Tony perched himself on the edge of the bed.
"No�I just�Tony, I was so scared�" Jim looked up to him wild eyed. "I thought I was going to die and I�all I could think about was June�my damn short temper, it almost�"
"Mate - it's over. It's over and June's with you. And she wants to be with you - mate, she told me she asked you to marry her."
"But I can't put her through this, Tone, I'm a mess, I'm a screw up�I never know how I'm going to be from one day to the next, I�June is the most wonderful woman I have ever known and she doesn�t deserve to be stuck with someone like me."
"If she really felt that - do you think she would have even considered asking you?"
"She was scared. Emotional, she didn't mean it�"
"Dammit, Jim, why have you got to keep putting yourself down?" Tony suddenly exploded. "You've got everything mate, everything you've always wanted, you've always wanted June�ever since�god, for longer than I can even remember� and now she wants you. Grab it, Jim. Just grab it before you end up bitter and old and alone."
Jim regarded him for a moment. "Like you, you mean?"
Tony rolled his eyes and nodded. "Like me."
Jim laughed, then coughed again. When his coughs had subsided, a pronounced wheeze remained and he had paled significantly. He was losing a fight against eyes that wanted to slam shut, and as Tony looked on, his head rolled a little to the side and he lapsed into a deep sleep.
Carefully, Tony placed the back of his hand against Jim's forehead, which was damp. "Shit..." He muttered under his breath, then turned and headed downstairs at a pace.
***
Saturday 19th October 2002 - 8:12 am
Aware of a noise, June cracked one eye open, and spent almost a minute trying to remember why the room she was sleeping in seemed unfamiliar. She was in her spare room, she told herself again, in here alone while Jim slept in the master bedroom, undisturbed while his body fought against the illness that had overtaken him - pneumonia.
He'd been once again rushed into hospital on the Monday night, where the diagnosis had been made, and had been released into June's care the day before with truck loads of antibiotics and an absolute order from the doctors that he should get complete bed rest. Jim, for once, didn't argue, he had simply been too ill. He had had a raging fever which had peaked late on the Tuesday night, which had affected his heartbeat and breathing for a while and had scared June once again, to death.
But he was recovering steadily, and a constant stream of visitors from Sun Hill helped to buoy her spirits a little. She must have only slept for three or so hours, leaving Jim's side only when his breathing had finally become a little easier, until she had felt his temperature decrease a little once more. He was past the worst, she knew. Finally they seemed to have come out of the other side, and Jim was slowly returning to her.
She slid out of bed, dressed quickly, then walked to the master bedroom. She could hear nothing, not even Jim's characteristic snore. Pushing the door open, she peeked into the dark room, and on seeing nothing in the darkness, she flicked on the main light.
Her eyes widened and she gasped. Fear overtook her. "Jim?" She called. "JIM?"
****
To be continued�(muhaahaahaa!!!!)
