NC17 (80% Romantic Comedy/20% Angst)
Alternative Universe � As a deep long-lasting friendship begins to blossom naturally and inevitably into love, it seems that nothing can go wrong. But then tragedy intervenes � will Jim and June�s new found happiness survive?
***
Shared the laughter, shared the tears, we both know we'll go on from here � �cos together we are strong, in my arms, that�s where you belong.
I've been touched by the hands of an angel - I've been blessed by the power of love
And whenever you smile�I can hardly believe that you're mine
*********
June Ackland pulled up in front of the block of flats where Polly Page lived and looked up to the second floor. The lights were on behind the thick curtains, a chink of light shone through, and as she watched a familiar silhouette flitted past. She smiled, gathered together her things; her handbag and a bottle of wine she'd just bought from Threshers, and got out of the car. She walked up the pathway to the door and pressed the buzzer labelled "Page". After a moment, Polly's unmistakable tones filtered through, asking who it was. "Pol, it's me, June, can I come up?"
"Hi June. Yeah sure, come on up." The buzzing that followed indicated that the front door was open. June entered the flats climbing the stairs to Polly's flat where she was waiting for her on the doorstep.
"Hi, Pol." June held up the bottle of wine. "I know you've been feeling a bit low lately, and well... I reckon we both need cheering up." She smiled as she stepped into the flat.
"Well you know me - I never say no to a bottle of wine. I'm sure I've got another one in the fridge... make yourself comfy. I'll get some glasses."
June shrugged off her coat and hung it on the hook in the hall. Then she stepped into the living room and sat on the sofa, looking round. "I like what you've done to the place." She called out.
"Thanks. It was so dreary when I moved in. I had to brighten it up. Fancy some nibbles or have you eaten?"
"I gorged myself on the buffet at the funeral, maybe later."
Polly wandered through and curled up on the sofa beside June, dropping another bottle, two glasses and a bottle opener onto the table. "You can do the honours Sarge." She grinned. "So how was the funeral?"
"Very moving... Sandra Conway was so brave... hardly shed a tear. I got this huge lump in my throat I couldn't shift... Jim's eyes looked a bit damp too." June leaned forward and opened the first bottle, glugging the liquid into the glasses. "All in all though, a fitting send off." She picked up a glass and passed it to Polly, then picked up her own. "To Derek Conway."
"I'll drink to that � Derek Conway." Polly chinked her glass against June's before taking a generous sip of the wine. "Mmmmm nice. Least you had some company with Jim there."
"Yeah..." June smiled. Then she chuckled under her breath.
"What? What's so funny?"
"Derek's mum was there... lovely old lady, must be at least eighty five, anyway, she thought Jim and I were married."
Polly giggled. "Bet that made you laugh! How did Jim react to that one?"
"Very well... although I did cringe when he called us the bachelor and spinster of the parish." June downed half her glass in a gulp.
"Charmin' that is." Polly laughed. "He's always had a way with words has our Jim."
"Yeah, he has. But he's always been that way, speak first, think later."
"Don't we all know that - it's got him into trouble often enough."
"Oh, the amount of times... you know what I think has got him out of...." She stopped to take another large sip from her glass. "...every one of the scrapes he's got into in the last eighteen years?"
"That's our Jim � he's just lucky." Polly knocked back most of the contents of her glass in one. "But we wouldn't swap him would we?"
"It's those eyes." June shook her head and emptied her glass, leaning forward to refill them both.
"Can't say I ever noticed. Dave's eyes though..." Polly's eyes glazed over.
"Oh, Pol... I don't know what else to say." She reached over and squeezed Polly's hand. "You're going to have to move on though, you know that."
"I do... I still think about him you know... but I've sworn myself off men - they're all bastards deep down."
"You know what an old Sergeant of mine told me... never get emotionally involved with anyone in the job. Should have listened. Look what happened with Gordon Wray." Another half glass of wine was consumed, June leaning back into the sofa.
"Those are wise words... men really aren't worth the effort are they? They just use us to get what they want then leave us in a heap. And all the best ones are married." Polly snorted.
"Yeah, all except..." June stopped and laughed lightly. "No, you're right."
"You're really knocking that wine back June..." Polly grinned. "You're meant to be a respectable sergeant not someone who gets drunk with her relief."
"I don't know, I..." June refilled her glass for the third time. "I've got these thoughts going round my head that I don't know what to do with."
"Need to talk about it or is it private?" Polly drained and refilled her glass. "Got to keep up with you haven't I?" She laughed.
"I don't know... I..." June watched as Polly opened the second bottle. "It's stupid, shouldn't even be considering it, especially after what I've just said."
"You've lost me mate." Polly shook her head. "Oooh, this wine has gone straight to my head - guess I should have had some nibbles after all."
"You remember... when you lot were held hostage..." June rolled her eyes. "Course you remember... well... I heard it all over the radio... and..."
"And?" Polly tipped the contents of her glass down her throat and looked at June through unfocused eyes. "What?"
"I was really worried about... all of you...." June waved her glass in the air and Polly picked up the bottle and topped it up. "But I was really, really REALLY worried about..." She paused, hiccuped and placed a hand to her mouth. "Jim."
"Well he is your best mate. That's natural." Polly leaned forward filling her own glass.
"I just... think I was a bit too worried. Not just then but all night afterwards, I couldn't stop thinking about him."
"That's sweet that is." Polly slurred. "Have you told him?"
"Told him what?" June tried to straighten but slid a little further down the sofa. "But today... did you see him, in his suit?"
"Nah... I was out of the station most of the day."
"He looked so..." June glugged back the remnants of her fourth glass of wine. "I... he looked..." She sat straight up. "I think I fancy him Pol."
"You what?!" Polly stared at June for a split second before draining her glass and refilling both of them. "Did I just hear you right? You fancy Jim?!"
"Well... you have to admit..." June shrugged. "I've kind of always fancied him."
Polly giggled, spilling some wine in her lap and bringing her glass up to her mouth. "Can't waste it can we?" She grinned. "You've always fancied him? You're a dark horse aren't you?"
"Viv used to tease me about him. She was always right as well, she could tell how I felt about him... but today, I just... it all just fell into place. He was so kind, and sweet and gentle and..." She sagged back into the sofa. "Boy he looked good."
"June Ackland! God, I never thought I'd hear you talking like this. But Jim? After all these years?"
"Why not Jim? You have to admit he's a great guy... most of the time." June rolled her eyes and hiccuped.
"And when he's not a being a great guy." Polly topped up both glasses again. "How'd we manage to empty two bottles?"
"We've run out?" June pouted.
"What do you say to vodka? I think I've got some somewhere." Polly swayed gently.
"Oooh, please." June waited until Polly returned with an unopened bottle of vodka, which she cracked open. "I invited him in, you know." She said suddenly.
"You did what? Doh, I forgot the mixer. Be right back." Polly staggered off again in the direction of the kitchen.
Again June waited until Polly returned and poured out two glasses. "I invited Jim in to my place, after the funeral."
"Oh aye?" Polly winked. "And you were sober at the time?"
"I'd had one glass of wine. Which Jim insisted I have." June sighed. "He was so strong... but he didn't come in... kind of glad he didn't."
"Why glad?" Polly smirked. "Invite him in for coffee did you?"
"As a matter of fact I did. Ever say something then want to take it right back?" June took a generous sip of vodka. "I'm glad because, I'm not sure that I would have been able to..."
"Well we all know what 'coffee' is a eupha... eupha-whatsit for. And what wouldn't you have been able to do?" Polly slid down the sofa slightly, struggling to right herself again.
"You know... stop myself." June slid further down the sofa. "And that would have been the end of it, I mean, I'd scare him off, wouldn't I?"
Polly choked on the large mouthful of vodka she was sipping. "You wouldn't be able to control yourself?! June what has got into you?" She spluttered and coughed. "He might have lapped it up though, you never know... he is a man after all."
"Not Jim... he's so sweet..." June closed her eyes for a moment. Opening them, she said "Listen to me, I must be going barmy in my old age."
"You said it June... you're going all soppy on me - is it the booze talking?"
"I... no. But... if anything was going to happen between me and Jim it would have happened years ago, wouldn't it?"
"I dunno - how long did me and Dave work together before... you know? God, you and Jim who'd have thought it?"
"I didn't, not until now... I liked him, but... the more I think about me and him... the more I think I want it. Really want it."
"You've got it bad haven't you?" Polly knocked back the contents of her glass. "More?"
"Please..." June nodded. "I need the loo first. Be right back." She stood, wobbling dangerously.
"You OK?" Polly looked up, slopping more vodka onto the table than into the glasses. "Oops I've got the wobbles." She laughed.
"You and me both." June laughed as she staggered from the room.
Polly contented herself with the contents of her glass as she waited for June to return. "Come on June..." She slurred as June wobbled back into the room. "There's good vodka getting warm here."
"Can't have that, can we..." June slumped back down into the sofa, slipping halfway off it and almost falling to the floor. "Did you move the sofa?" She asked, trying to straighten herself.
"Not that I know of." Polly laughed. "So you were telling me about Jim... I think, or did I imagine that?" She scratched her head.
"Jim... oh... yeah..." She smiled to herself, swaying slightly and clutching her glass of vodka. "Sweet, sweet JimJim..."
"So go on then..." Polly laughed. "If you could describe him in five words which would you pick?"
"Mmmm... sweet, sensitive... funny... tetchy sometimes I'd admit... and absolutely gorgeous." She glugged back another mouthful.
Polly cackled on the sofa. "Tetchy yes, gorgeous I'm not so sure about... so you gonna tell him then?"
"Tell him?!" June shot up. "Course not... and he is gorgeous...you didn't see him when he was... 20..." She stopped and hiccuped. "21... ish..."
"So why didn't you make a move back then?" Polly raised her glass to her mouth. "If he was as gorgeous as you say?"
"He was too young... I mean, I've almost always gone for younger men, but he was TOO young." She refilled her glass.
"There's still the same age difference now." Polly shrugged.
"He just... seemed younger then... naive... innocent..."
"Innocent? Well he certainly isn't now. I think you should tell him. You've been single for far too long."
"He wouldn't be interested." June's face fell, suddenly downhearted.
"You won't know until you try... he's been single a long time too." Polly tipped the contents of her glass down her throat. "I dare you!" She grinned.
"Nooooo. No, I couldn't..." June giggled into her glass.
"Didn't think you were the type of person to turn down a dare. We've got a bit more Dutch courage left." Polly pointed at the almost empty vodka bottle.
"I don't need Dutch courage..." June pouted. "I'll do it."
"Yay... but we might as well finish the bottle first."
"I didn't say I was doing it tonight..."
"You're not chickening out now..." Polly emptied the bottle into the two glasses.
"I... can't get there, I can't drive, I'm... pissed." She laughed.
"I'll phone you a taxi."
"I don't know... probably best I just go home..."
"Wimp..." Polly reached for her mobile and squinted at it. "The numbers are jumping around all over the place..."
"Well, that's not surprising since there are two of you..." June snorted.
"Two of me?!" Polly looked blank. "Bear with me..." She prodded at the phone. "It's ringing... oops wrong number sorry."
"Polly..." June laughed. "I mean it though, I should go home... glad I managed to make you smile at least."
"One more attempt... without you badgering me this time..." She stood up quickly and fell back down onto the sofa. "Try again..." She stood gingerly and wobbled out of the room. "Be right back..."
June sank back into the sofa, letting her eyes fall shut. Before them she saw Jim's face, the way he had smiled at her in the car when she had asked him in for coffee, and she felt warm, relaxed. Though she knew alcohol was affecting her senses, something about all this felt right, and she felt a way she hadn't felt in a long time - not since Steve. "Jim...." She sighed to herself.
"All done..." Polly fell back through the doorway. "It'll be about ten minutes..."
"Mmmmhmmm." June nodded, her eyes still closed, a slight smile on her face.
"What's that smile about?" Polly sank back down onto the sofa.
"Just thinking... did you know Jim can sew?"
"You what?"
"I was trying to sew a button on my blouse and he did it for me... that was so sweet of him... he stood at the door and he smiled and said "Come here" in that deep voice of his..."
"Sure he wasn't just trying to cop a look... or a feel?" Polly giggled. "I think he fancies you."
"No he wasn't, he was so close... I..." She stopped, closed her eyes again and shook her head.
"Go on..."
"Felt... something... entirely inappropriate for someone who was about to go to a funeral." She straightened. "I don't know what's happening to me." She shrugged.
"You're in love."
"What?" June blinked at her.
"Like you didn't know... you fancy the pants off him."
"In love... I'm in love with Jim Carver..." She looked startled, almost disbelieving her own words.
"Ah June catches up... I've had to listen you to going on about him since you got here. Now you just need to tell him... unless you chicken out of course... that's up to you."
"I don't think I can... not when I'm sober at least... I... nineteen years..." She mumbled.
"In English please June... my head aches enough already."
"I can't put this off any more..." June dropped her glass to the table decisively.
"Go tidy yourself up..." She paused as the intercom buzzed. "Use my stuff in the bathroom... I'll tell the taxi driver you're on your way."
"OK... I'm gonna do it Pol. I'm gonna do something I should have done years ago..." She staggered to her feet.
"Go knock him dead June..."
"Yeah... I will." June beamed, wobbling towards the bathroom. "He's not going to know what's hit him..."
................. on to Part Two
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