�Shhh�June, it�s alright�� Gina Gold was being uncustomary kind to June. She had her arm around the Sergeant�s shoulder, was comforting her with a low voice.
�It�s not�he�� June�s face crumbled again. �Oh�god�why does he have to keep scaring me? If I didn�t love him so much I�d�I�d throttle him!�
Gina laughed and hugged her closer. �He can�t have gone far. I know it�s hard to remain rational at a time like this, but he�s not well�unless he got a cab, or a bus or�� Gina realised what she was saying and stopped.
�If you�re trying to cheer me up it�s not working.� Despite herself, June smiled, righted herself and wiped some tears from her cheek. �He was in no fit state to go anywhere, Ma�am��
�We�ll find him...�
Just at that moment, the doorbell chimed. June immediately leapt to her feet, but Gina pulled her back down. �Let Luke get it.�
There was a moment of silence, then voices, first that of PC Luke Ashton, then of PC Tony Stamp.
Luke�s face appeared in the doorway of June�s living room. �Sarge�Tone�s found Jim.�
�He�s found him, where is he, is he here?�
�No�he left him where he found him. Apparently Jim refused to shift until Tone came here, picked you up and took you to meet him.�
June looked utterly confused, stood, and walked into the hallway. �What�s going on, Tony?�
Tony shrugged. �I don�t know. But Jim�s OK�he�s a bit wiped out but he�s fine. He just needs you to come and join him.�
June looked back at Gina who looked as confused as she did. Then she walked to the coat rack in the hall and took down a warm coat. �Best not disappoint him, then.�
A wave of relief overtook June as she saw Jim standing outside a shop in Wiskin Road. He did, as Tony had told her, look utterly wiped out and he appeared to be using the wall as support, but he looked up, around, and walked towards her as she leapt from the area car and ran towards him.
�I should kill you for this, Jim Carver.� She glared at him, then her heart and expression melted. �Look at you��
�I�m sorry, June�I didn�t think you�d wake up for a while�you stayed up with me so late.�
�You could have left a note��
�I�m sorry, I didn�t think�all I could think about was�this.� He pulled back a little; gestured to the shop behind him, which June could now see was a small jewellers.
�This?�
Jim looked at her, laughed. �You don�t remember, do you?�
�Remember what?�
�This�is where we had our first kiss.� Jim watched June�s expression, waiting for some flicker of recognition.
�It was 1985.� Jim smiled. �Galloway had us following these two old codgers, who had a house full of nicked gear. We waited for them in a room full of naked mannequins.�
Slowly, light began to dawn. June looked up at him, the corner of her mouth twitching.
�We followed them down the high street, and down here. We had to keep stopping because they were walking so slowly.� He took her hand, walked over to the window of the shop. �I stopped here, and you��
�I joined you, slid my arm through yours�and kissed you on the cheek.� June laughed out loud. �You looked so embarrassed.�
�Embarrassed. Flattered.� Jim shrugged. �Hopeful.�
�Hopeful?�
�June, I had the biggest crush on you. But you were with Dave, and then there was your father dying, then Wray��
�Jim�� June looked down and shook her head. �If you�d just said something��
�I know. I waited too long.�
�You got there in the end.� June turned to face him, placed her hands to his cheeks. �My sweet, shy boy.� She kissed him gently on the lips.
�Anyway�� Jim said, pulling away. �This is the same shop. The same owner. He remembers me from when I used to walk the beat round here, all those many years ago.�
�Really?� June looked stunned. Here, before her, was a little piece of London which seemed to have remained immune to the ravages of progress and change.
�Yeah�so�he�gave me a discount.�
�On what?� June glanced up to him, her eyes wide and questioning.
�On this.� Jim reached into his pocket and drew out a small box, blue, covered in velvet. He cracked it open to reveal a gold ring, with a large sapphire surrounded by diamonds which glistened in the early morning sun.
�Oh�Jim�I��
�Shhh�� Jim slowly got down onto one knee in front of her. �June�I�ll admit for a while I had my doubts. About whether you were ready to commit, or whether we both were ready to make this step. But this last week or so, you�ve stood by me, you�ve been with me for every horrid moment, even though, after the way I treated you, god knows I didn�t deserve it.�
�Jim�I love you�I�ll be with you whatever.�
Jim looked down, and when he looked up his eyes were full of tears, dark against his pale face.
�I never thought I would ever have the chance to say this to you. I never thought I�d ever have the guts to ask you out, or kiss you, but�I�m so glad I did�and�� He shook his head. �June Ackland, I want you to marry me.�
�Oh, my god�� June clasped a hand to her mouth. �Yes! Of course�yes!� A grin spread across her face. She held out her hand to Jim, helping him up from the floor. He took her left hand, and slowly slid the ring onto her wedding finger. �Thank you�� She sighed, hugged him close to her. �Just promise me, that you�ll never scare me again, Jim Carver. Please.�
�I promise.�
�I love you so much�I know I�ve been stubborn, and I�ve been wrong, but�I know now I can�t live without you.�
Jim pulled back, regarded her for the longest time, with utter adoration.
�Come on.� June pulled on his hand. �Let�s get back. Let�s go home.�
�OK�� Now the adrenalin had left him, Jim looked wearied, and ill, and June had to support him back to the car. They climbed into the back seat, and Tony turned around to regard them.
�So?� He asked.
June nodded, and Tony�s face broke into a grin. He reached for the radio. �595 to all units � she said yes!!�
June and Jim looked on and laughed. Not only did they have each other, forever, but they also had the acceptance and blessing of their friends and colleagues. June leant her head against Jim�s shoulder. The stresses of the past week seeped from her. There was no point looking back, no point in regrets.
It was time now to look forward, to the time that she and Jim would have together. A lover and a best friend � soon to be a husband. She felt blessed. She intertwined her fingers with his and felt him squeeze them tight.
�I love you�� She whispered.
�I know�� The corner of Jim�s mouth twitched as his eyes slowly fell closed.
�Just remember, Jim�don�t ever leave me. Don�t ever die��
THE END
i can see you all smiling ya know :-)