Jim turned to June, 'our time alone is nearly up. How would you like to spend the next few hours? What about lunch in a nice little pub on the way back to Sunhill?'
'That sounds lovely, Jim' she replied.
The rest of the day went far too quickly for both of them. Soon they were approaching the outskirts of Sunhill. Suddenly, the atmosphere in the car changed. June became really quiet and Jim could sense her unease. He pulled off the main road and drove a little way out into the countryside. June turned and looked at him with a puzzled expression.
'June, I can't bear to see you like this. Things will be OK at home. Surely you have come to a decision about who you want to share your life with now?' His heart was racing as he spoke. His palms grew moist.
'Jim, you know it isn't that easy for me.' She turned to him and looked him straight in the eye. 'I love you but I still have some feelings for David.' The tears rolled down her cheeks.
Jim wiped them away gently with his fingers and then tilted her chin up so that he could kiss her. As their lips met, June pulled him to her, crushing his lips with hers. Their passion swept them away. Their faces damp with tears they clung to each other in desperation.
'June, oh June, what are we going to do?' Jim sighed.
'If I knew the answer, I would tell you' she replied.
Jim pulled up alongside the kerb outside her house and turned the engine off. He picked up her hand, gave it a brief squeeze and they exchanged a loving glance. A movement at the door caught June's eye she snatched her hand away. David came out to the car.
'Hello, love. Had a good time?' he asked as he opened the car door. June got out and David kissed her. Jim watched through the window and saw her flinch ever so slightly. Then he leapt out of the car, got June's bags out of the boot and handed them to Jim.
'OK? See you tomorrow' he called as he shut the door and drove off, his heart aching.
David ushered June into the house. She looked round in amazement. There was not a speck of dirt to be seen and everything had been tidied away neatly. June sank down onto the sofa in shock. She could even smell the dinner cooking.
'David, what's going on? This is a real surprise,' she managed to say.
'I wanted to surprise you, love. When you weren't here it gave me time to think about things and I realised how much I take you for granted. There's something else I need to tell you too.'
June looked up at him. 'What?'
'We're going to be grandparents' he said excitedly.
'Grandparents' repeated June, She was shocked. 'It's not your daughter?' she managed to whisper.
'Yep, it is. She popped in last night with Drew to tell us, but you weren't here.
The rest of the evening passed by June in a haze. She was in a state of shock. Eventually, she decided it was time for bed and she went to the bedroom hoping for a few minutes to herself to digest the turn of events. David, however, had other things on his mind as he slipped into bed next to her about 5 minutes later.
'Well, love, have you missed me? I've missed you like crazy.'
June groaned inwardly and looked hard at the ceiling. She couldn't bear the thought of David trying to be sexy tonight.
'June, June,' David looked over at her and placed his hand on her breast. Suddenly, he had got her attention.
'What are you thinking about?' he asked.
'Nothing, nothing' she muttered, 'I guess I'm tired and still a bit surprised by your news.'
'Let me relax you then' David replied, pulling her close and kissing her.
June fought her repulsion at his touch.
'David, not tonight please. I'm really tired and I'm on the early shift tomorrow.' She pushed him gently but firmly away and turned over. Little did her partner know that it was a different man's touch she longed for as she drifted off to sleep.
Jim sought June out at coffee time at work the next day. She had been carefully avoiding him all morning.
'June, we need to talk,' Jim said when he eventually managed to get her on her own in the office.
'What's happened?' Jim asked in his most concerned voice.
'How do you know something's happened?' she replied defensively.
'Come on, I know you better than that' he said and reached out to caress her cheek. June felt her resistance melting at his touch and she took a step closer to him.
'Oh, Jim things have got so complicated overnight' she whispered.
Jim gathered her into his arms.
'Tell me' he murmured.
The words tumbled out of June. She told him all about the spotless house, the dinner ready and waiting for her, the news that had delighted David being a grandparent and finally, David's fruitless attempts to make love to her.
'Jim, I just couldn't do it, I just couldn't and I should have been able to. He is my Partner after all. I wanted him to be you, there in my bed, holding me and making love to me. Ohh, what a damn mess I'm in,' June finished in anguish.
Jim was taken aback by the strength of her despair. He tried to soothe her by kissing her, but June was so upset that she pushed him away and ran out of the office. She walked straight through reception, collected her coat and bag and left the station. Robbie watched the drama unfold from the reception desk. After a minute, Jim rushed out of the office and bumped into Robbie.
'Seen Sgt Ackland?' he asked urgently.
'I think she just left Jim. What's going on?' Robbie replied.
'Damn. Oh, nothing' he muttered, turned swiftly on his heel and went off to seek some fresh air.
June meanwhile had gone for a walk in the park. She sat on the bench going over and over the last few days. The weekend was the best days of her life. Her head was full of guilt and regret. I should have made a move on Jim all those years ago and now I wouldn't be in this mess, she thought to herself.
Meanwhile, Jim found himself back in CSU where he found Brandon alone. It had been a long and difficult day made worse by June's early exit from the station.
'Jim, you look like you could use a drink' Brandon said as Jim's head appeared around the door. 'Would you care to join me for a drink?'
Jim gratefully accepted the offer and they were soon sitting in a pub drinking orange juice.
'What's troubling you? I take it that Sgt Ackland comes into the equation somewhere.' Brandon probed.
Jim was amazed. 'Just how did you know that?' he asked.
'I use my eyes, Jim,' came the reply.
'I hadn't thought it was that obvious' Jim said.
'Come, come Jim. I've been watching you two for a long time. It was inevitable. I suppose your problem is that Sgt Ackland is a long lasting relationship, there was even talk of marriage wasn't there and now she cannot decide who is the man for her? You have difficult battle on your hands with that one.'
As usual, Brandon had hit the nail on the head. Jim drank deeply, mulling over Brandon's words.
Jim arrived at work the next day feeling a little tired. June was working away at her desk making up for yesterday's early exit. The rest of the day was extremely busy and neither June nor Jim had the time to seek each other out. At the end of the day, June walked round to the locker rooms. Jim was alone so she entered. Jim looked up and smiled as she entered the room.
'June.'
'Jim, I need to talk to you,' June said hesitantly. 'This isn't easy for me to say and I have anguished for hours over how to tell you.'
Jim's expression changed, he knew he didn't want to hear what June was about to say.
'I... I have made a decision' June faltered, 'I will be faithful to David and try to make it work. Jim, you know how I feel about you, but I just can't throw away my relationship without at least trying to save it. I mean we have even talked about getting married, that's how serious it has been.' June burst into angry tears of frustration.
Jim was devastated. 'June, don't be stupid. Your relationship is dead. You don't love David, any fool can see that. There is no need for you to have this ridiculous sense of commitment to him you are not married.' He grabbed her by the arms. 'June, please, I love you and you love me. Don't do this to us.'
June sobbed, shook herself free of Jim's grasp and rushed out of the locker room, her eyes blurred by tears. She pushed roughly past Robbie in the corridor without even acknowledging her. Robbie saw the locker room door ajar and cautiously approached. She was amazed to see Jim slamming his fist into the wall. Robbie knocked gently and walked in shutting the door behind her. Jim turned to Robbie and she saw the tears in his eyes.
'What's going on Jim?' Robbie asked.
'Nothing, nothing ' he muttered.
'I'm afraid that I don't believe you' said Robbie. 'It's Sgt Ackland isn't it?' she continued, 'you're in love with her aren't you?'
'Is it that obvious?' sighed Jim.
Robbie nodded sympathetically. Robbie knew she wouldn't betray his trust, so he opened his heart to her and told her the whole story.
The weeks passed uneasily at the station as Jim and June strove to maintain a professional relationship whilst fighting their desire for each other. Both were desperately unhappy but Jim respected June's decision like the gentleman he was. June's home life had taken another turn for the worst. David had slipped back into his old ways again and June was in despair. She was beginning to think that she had made a dreadful and irreversible decision. Jim was unaware of this turn of events but he knew June was in turmoil. Life was unbearable for him and so he decided that the only way out was to take a new job. It wouldn't be difficult for him to get a transfer very quickly. Jim picked up the phone and started proceedings for a transfer immediately.
A week later, Jim was reading the letter confirming a place in another station was available if he wanted it when he was called away to see a prisoner asking to see him. June wandered over to his desk with some folders. As she placed them on Jim's desk, she could not fail to notice the letter on the table. Her legs gave way beneath her and she sank into Jim's chair. Jim was leaving Sunhill! June was shocked. She knew she was the reason for June's departure. Tears welled in her eyes. She had lost him now for good and it was her own stupid, stupid fault. The door to CSU suddenly crashed open and Jim walked in. In one glance he realised what June had seen and that she knew why he was leaving Sunhill.
'June, June I was going to tell you first. Please believe me. It's driving me crazy working here with you and knowing that you are going home to David when I want you to be coming home with me. We're meant for each other, can't you see that? This situation isn't doing any of us any good, so the best thing I can do is leave.' Jim stepped towards June. As she got up, he could see she was devastated. He opened his arms and she fell gratefully into them. Jim did not try to kiss her but just held her close for a while. How he had missed her.
'I've got to go Jim' June eventually managed to whisper. He let her go.
Soon Jim's last day at Sunhill arrived. Against all her beliefs, June phoned in sick. She could not face seeing Jim today and watching her one chance at happiness disappear. Instead she walked round all her favourite haunts in the city turning events over and over in her mind. Jim was extremely surprised to learn that June was not in work on his last day. He couldn't leave without seeing her one last time. After the obligatory farewell drinks in the bar, he made a hasty exit and drove round and round desperately searching for her but to no avail. Eventually he decided to return home, alone.
Just as he was falling into a fitful sleep, Jim heard a persistent knocking at the door. How odd, he thought, as he stumbled out of bed to answer it.
'Jim?' June whispered as she stepped into his embrace.
'June, oh June' he muttered as his lips searched for and joined with hers. They kissed with increasing need and desire, locked together by their love for each other.
Breaking free, Jim said' I thought I'd never see you again. Where have you been? I searched everywhere for you.'
'I walked round and round all day trying to sort myself out. Now I have and that's why I'm here.'
Jim swept her into his arms and kissed her again, feeling his desire increasing he let his hands caress June's body. Suddenly, they were frantically tearing at each other's clothes. Jim carried her into the bedroom and laid her down on his bed. As they moved together in perfect rhythm, June knew that she could never live without him. All the pain and frustration of the last few months was released as they clung to each other, tears moistening their faces. Eventually, they slept in each other's arms.
June awoke to Jim's gentle kisses and smiled sleepily at him.
'You are beautiful, June' he murmured. Then she watched as he reached down to the floor on his side of the bed. 'I want you to have this June. I know you can't come with me today, but it's only a 6-month contract. I'm coming back for you then. I'm never going to let you go, I have waited to long for you to just through it all away' With that, he placed a thin silver band on the fourth finger of her right hand.
June was overcome. 'Jim, I don't know what to say, except that I love you, I always have and I always will, no matter where you are in this world. She kissed him tenderly and, slowly this time, they made love.
'The taxi is coming at 9am,' said Jim, 'I guess we'd better get some clothes on.'
June bit her lip. This was the moment she had been dreading. Her emotion spilled over in huge, racking sobs. Jim held her tight and comforted her. He persuaded her to share his taxi so that he could see her safely home. As they approached her house, Jim drew her into his arms for the last time and they shared deep, lingering kisses.
'Come and see me June' he whispered.
'I'll try' she promised, knowing in her heart that nothing would stop her.
The taxi stopped outside the house. Neither of them saw David by the door as they separated their hands for the last time. June stood and watched as the cab drove off, and then with a heavy heart she turned around.
'David!' she said in surprise. 'I thought you were in a meeting this morning.'
'I was worried about you June so I didn't go. I can see that I needn't have bothered now though, Jim Carver made sure that you had a nice, warm bed to sleep in last night.'
'David, I am not in the mood for this' snapped June and she pushed past him and went upstairs.
David stood there, amazed at his partner's outburst. All his suspicions had been confirmed. He had won this particular battle, after all June had got out of that taxi when she could have stayed in it, but he knew deep in his heart that he had already lost the war. June's heart lay with Jim, not him and there was absolutely nothing that he could do about it.
6 months later
Jim returned to Sunhill and found that June and David had got engaged but had now split up. June couldn't continue with the pretence any longer so she left him. She had asked David to leave her house so she was now living alone again. June was so pleased to see Jim again; she had waited so long to be with him again. He had been transferred back to Sunhill and bought a small house. He asked June to move in with him, which she did. June had another surprise for him; she was pregnant, by him. He was delighted so delighted that he proposed to her in front of the whole nick so that everyone knew about them, she of course said yes and they lived happily together in their house, awaiting for the birth of their son or daughter and their forthcoming wedding.
The End