�Can I have a word Ma�am?�
�Certainly Eva, what can I do for you?�
Eva shut the door and sat down
�It�s about Jim�
�How is he doing, is he coping being back, I heard he was a great help in a domestic violence case?�
�Yeah, he said it was really helpful to him, made him see sense, he has even been seeing his counsellor, so he does not start to drink, that is what is worrying him, he knows that it would be easy for him to pick up a bottle, even though he says that he is stronger than that he does not want it to happen�
�I suppose that is understandable, he has been through so much over the past few months, he is going to face it all over again when it goes to court, has he adjusted ok?�
�He still keeps apologising for things and then backs away, he used to back away when he did something, I just kept telling him that things were ok, I used to hear him have nightmares about Marie and cry himself to sleep�
�Is he still having these dreams?�
�No, he only has one dream now, he still wakes crying some nights�
�Do you know what it is about?�
Eva sighed �I don�t know exactly, but I do know that it has something to do with June, I�ve heard him call out her name and say he loves her, I think in his dream he is trying to win her back�
�Has he said anything to you about June?�
�All he has said about June is that Marie had been harassing her for a while before that day and it was the reason that he and Marie had been arguing,
Marie had believed that Jim and June were having an affair, Jim wanted
Marie to leave June alone�
Gina looked shocked �So Jim had taken a beating to protect June� is there any chance that Jim is still in love with June or has some sort of feelings for her�
�He loves her, he told me he had begun to realise that he had made a mistake in not trying to resolve the issues that caused him and June to split up, that night Juliet died Jim realised that his feelings for June were getting stronger�
�Why was he in A&E that night?�
�Marie had hit him with a glass... June had asked him outright if there was something wrong at home, but Jim told her it was a one off, when he found out what Marie had been doing to June his instinct was to prevent
Marie from hurting June�
Gina sighed �I suppose he knew what Marie could do, if she believed that
June and Jim were having an affair...we saw what she did to Jim, what would have she done to June, she may have killed her if she had continued with her hate campaign�
�Well you always protect the one you love�
�That is very true�
�I can�t help but think that if Joanna had not gone missing, some of this would not have happened�
�In what way Eva, how can you think that?�
�If Jim had not been my FLO when Jo went missing, he would have not turned to drink, then the problems that went with it would not have arisen, if he had not been in the pub they could have rebuilt their relationship slowly, not completely blown it apart, who knows, I supposed that is why I want you help�
�My help, why? They wont even talk to each other, even about work issues, how can two people who have been through so much together suddenly act like total strangers�
�Exactly, we need to get then talking, Jim apparently said something to
June when he was in hospital, which he deeply regrets, it was something extremely hurtful, he said it completely ruined their friendship�
�How can we overcome that one?� asked Gina �They need to be on speaking terms before anything can happen�
�I�ve persuaded Jim to come to the post Xmas piss up tonight, he didn�t really want to come but I thought it maybe the perfect opportunity to perhaps get them talking to each other�
�Eva I hate to put a dampener on things but it is going to need more than that to get them talking�
�I know, that is why I need your help�
June sighed as she shut the draw of the filing cabinet
�That sounds like someone in need of a party�
She turned and smiled at the voice �Indeed, last year was one I was very glad to see the back of� June sat in the chair at the desk
�Quite a few people round here would say the same thing� Gina said as she sat opposite June
�I thought last year was going to brilliant, this time last year
I...�
�You and Jim were happy�
�Exactly, look at us now�
�You are still not talking then�
�No, and I doubt that we will ever be friends again now.... it�s true that you should never get involved with those you work with�
�It is true, it always ends in tears�
�It does Gina, round here relationships always go wrong, Luke and
Kerry, Des and Sheelagh, Jim and Me�
�Those are some bad examples, Luke was gay, Sheelagh was married and
Des was a murderer... where as you and Jim have a special bond�
�Oh yeah� June remarked sarcastically �Something so special that he got engaged to someone else when I was on holiday�
�Is that what upset you the most about Jim getting married?�
�What do you care, you only care about yourself...�June began to get angry �My best friend was being beaten by his wife for months and when she nearly kills him you accused her of acting in self defence against Jim�
She tried to fight back the tears �The man I loved was nearly killed� she sobbed as she dissolved in tears.
Gina went over to her and placed her hand on June �Come on June let it out, you cannot bottle it up�
Gina handed June a glass of whisky
�Thanks Gina, I�m sorry�
�Don�t be stupid. I do care about my officers you know, it was horrible sitting there listening to Jim tell us what has been happening to him, showing how vulnerable he was�
�I cannot forgive myself for not making Jim see sense, well for ignoring the fact that he was in trouble�
�Don�t punish yourself June, you would not have known what was going to happen�
�I should have known that something like this was going to happen... Marie had tried to attack me in the car park, only she was so drunk she could hardly stand up�
�When did this happen?� Gina asked rather alarmed that so much had happened to Jim and June without anyone realising what had been going on.
�It happened a few days before Jim was attacked, he was confronting
Marie, that was what caused the argument, it was my fault... that is why I wanted to go when we had the shout, I wanted to... oh I don�t know... Marie believed that Jim and I were seeing each other�
�Were you?�
�Of course not, I love him but I would have never done anything to ruin their marriage� maybe given some time we may be able to become friends again, who knows, at least he is not being used as a punch bag any more.�
�Indeed, he is defiantly got some of his sparkle back in those eyes�
�Yeah� June smiled �He does not look so tired any more�
�He�s getting there slowly� don�t beat yourself up about this
June, you have to move on from this� Gina noticed a change in June�s expression
�Or has something else happened recently?�
�I have been seeing someone and it has made me realise a few things, things that I cannot do anything about�
�I take it that these things are all related to Jim� June nodded as
Gina smiled �Just remember this, where there is life there is hope June�
Eva and Jim walked into the canteen
�I don�t know about this� said Jim as he noticed June stood chatting with
Honey and Debbie �It was a bad idea�
�Don�t be stupid, you cannot keep avoiding June�
�I have no choice, too much has happened for us to go back to being friends�
�For god sake Jim, you love June, she loves you, both of you went through hell last year, you need each other, you need friends�
�I�ve got you�
�Yes but I am not June... come on you have battled against the hard things and have come out the other side the winner, don�t let the simple fights beat you, don�t lose the things that you know you need to make you happy�
�Eva you would not understand...� Jim was about to say something when he realised what song was playing, his eyes fixed on June, he could feel goose pimples pricking his neck as memories of happier times entered his thoughts, the last time he heard this song at a party he and June were dancing to it together and so happy, but this time he and June were so far apart it was killing him. This pain was hurting him more than anything, hurting him more than admitting to his friends that his wife was abusing him, that was not his fault; this situation was, if only he hadn�t been so stubborn.
June�s eyes met Jim�s as she felt tears pricking her eyes, she was trying to fight them, not give him the satisfaction of seeing her upset and that he could still affect her emotions in this way. She tried so hard but her emotions overrode her brain, she could feel the tears stream down her face and despite what her brain was telling her she ran from the room.
�Go after her Jim� said Eva
�It�s my fault she is crying, she won�t want to see me�
�Jim, you are the only person who can do anything�
Jim opened the door to the sergeant�s office
�Leave me alone� said June as he shut the door �This is none of your business, why can�t you just...�
�June please we need to talk. We can�t carry on like this...I can�t bear you not talking to me, I need you, I lost you once and it nearly killed me in more ways than one�
�You were the one who left me, you were the one who married someone else... you were the one who told me... you said some evil thing�s Jim�
�I know I did, I never meant a single word I said that day, I know that
I hurt you and it hurt me that I upset you, I�m so sorry, you are my best friend� I love you June�
�I love you too... but it is too late Jim, it�s all too late�
�It�s not, we can put things right... June I� Jim began to cry �I have spent the past few months crying myself to sleep over you, what I lost, how stupid I had been... I got scared June, our relationship was so brilliant that it scared me that you wanted to spend the rest of your life with me even though you knew all my faults and knew how unstable I could be... I spent god knows how many years wishing you would tell me you loved me and wanted to be my wife... now I wish I could turn the clock back and said yes when you asked me to marry you... my life without you has been a nightmare�
June came over to Jim and ran her hand down his cheek, wiping his tears
�Oh Jim, you have to stop punishing yourself, you have been through some rough times and you needed a friend and I let you down, I�m sorry... I let my
jealousy get in the way of our friendship, stop me helping you walk away from your marriage, I�m sorry�
She lent forward and kissed his lips softly, he pulled her closer and held her tightly as they both let their tears flow, washing away their pain, hurt and frustration.
Jim wiped her tears �Come on, lets go back to the party...turn the clock back, start afresh�
�Why not, we have nothing to prove to each other anymore, we know we need each other to survive, we have all the time in the world to talk about things, decide where we are going... I need to tell you something, I�ve been sleeping with Gabriel Kent�
�Gabriel Kent? Why?�
�I don�t know, he had been trying it on for a while and after what you said to me in the hospital, I had to prove to myself that what you said was not true...�
He put his finger to her lips �June you do not have to explain anything to me, we have both been mixed up, if I had not said those things�
�I have been so stupid�
�Don�t beat yourself up June, we have both done things we have regretted�
She smiled �I�m glad we are friends again�
�Me too� he said as he pulled her to him and they kissed passionately
�Where�s Jim?� asked Gina as Eva poured another drink
�Talking with June hopefully, she got upset when a song was played and she ran out, Jim went after her to talk to her�
�I do hope his efforts are not in vain, June has been seeing someone else�
�Oh no, he�s hoping that they can sort things out and start again, what have we done?�
Gina looked over at the door, just as June and Jim came in holding hands �We have done the right thing by the look of things�
�Fancy a dance Ms Ackland?� Jim asked as he kissed her cheek
�Why not�
�I think� Jim continued as they walked on to the dance floor �that this year is going to be the best� no more doing stupid things, I�m never leaving you again�
�You had better not� June smiled
�This song has been requested by Gina and Eva� said the DJ �They say it is for two special people, don�t go ruining things this time�
Jim laughed, as She�s the One played for the second time that evening
�I think that we have been set up don�t you�
June nodded �I think we have too�
�I�m glad that they did�
�Me too�
Gary sat down in the canteen �You lot missed something last night�
�What? A bunch of pissed coppers, hardly a major social event, eh Tony� smirked Gabriel
�I didn�t mean that� said Gary �Jim and the Sarge are back together�
�What?� asked Gabriel
�Oh great, how long for this time?� Tony exclaimed
�Don�t be like that I think it�s lovely� said Kerry
�I don�t� said Gabriel as he walked away
�What�s wrong with him?� Gary asked, rather puzzled why he would be so annoyed by this revelation
�When were you going to tell me?� June jumped and turned to Gabriel �Or were you going to let me just find out from the gossips?� he grabbed hold of
June
�Please... you�re hurting me� his grip tightened around June�s arm, the anger evident in his eyes �I�m sorry, I love Jim, always have, I should never have got involved...�
�You bitch... how many times are you going to ruin my life, you did it when I was born�
�What do you mean?�
Before she could finish what she was saying he had begun to punch her, he slapped her around the face quite hard once and was about to do it again until someone grabbed hold of him, causing June to fall to the floor
�Gabriel Kent I am arresting you for assault� Gina began, she had been in her office with Nick and had become alerted to the situation by the raised voices
�Nick can you do the honours�
�No problem Ma�am� Nick hand cuffed Gabriel and led him from the office reading him his rights
Gina shut the door as June picked herself up from the floor �You ok?�
�I�m fine, thanks�
�What was all that about?�
�He found out that me and Jim were back together... I had been sleeping with him, but then he said something about ruining his life, that I ruined it the day he was born... I don�t understand�
�I do... there is no easy way to tell you this...�
�Tell me what ... Gina you are scaring me�
�After the incident with Jim and Marie I did some digging into
Gabriel�s past� Gabriel Kent is his adopted name, his real name is Robert� Robert Ackland, he is your son�
�What? Oh my god, this can�t be happening... who knows?
�Only me� Gina lied �well, apart from you and him...�she noticed the horror in June�s face.
�He knew� we slept together and he knew... I thought his father was sick enough by raping a schoolgirl, but this... I can�t handle this, everyone is going to find out that I slept with my own son aren�t they�
�Don�t worry, I will sort things, I will speak to Mr Okaro and get him out of the station as quick as possible, what about Jim?�
As soon as the words left Gina�s mouth Jim came in through the door
�What did he do to you?�
�Calm down Jim, things are not that simple� said Gina
�He is my son� June said, still amazed by Gina�s revelation
�What? How?�
�I was raped when I was 15'
�Oh June� he pulled her closer to him as she clung to him �Is this what you meant about not having the right to be happy, why have you never said�
�It is hardly a conversation opener... I slept with my own son, if it could not get any worse, it turns out that Gabriel knew this when we...�
�The sick bastard, I�ll kill him...�
�Jim don�t� interrupted Gina �I will sort things, leave it to me�
�Thanks Ma�am� Jim nodded
�No problem, you take June home and I will come and see you later�
Gina stopped the tape �I thought you would want to hear it�
�Thanks... I can�t believe he did all that...well at least Marie is partly off the hook� said June
�Don�t be stupid she was still guilty that revelation makes not difference... at least we know why he did it all�
�What is going to happen to him?�
�He has been charged with the assault of Jim and perverting the course of
Justice, he shows no remorse for any of it� the relief have been told that he assaulted both of you and what he did to Ruby but does not know about any of the personal details�
�Thanks Gina, thank you for everything�
�No problem... how are you?�
�Still in shock... I can�t believe what has happened... I�ve tried to make sense of it but I can�t... but all I know is that I have put this behind me before and I can do it again� she smiled 'you have been great� she looked at Jim �both of you�
�You are not alone this time, you have me and we can do this together,
I am here for you... I love you�
�I love you too, thank you for understanding�
They held each other and Gina slipped quietly out of the house, she smiled as she walked away knowing that despite the revelations of the day Jim and
June could get through this together, as two individuals they had been dealt some hard blows but as a couple they could wipe away each other�s pain and hurt.
Despite the professional grievances between Gina and June, Gina knew that what Jim and June had was something deep and indefinable, they had a powerful bond that when it was broken their life was a series of disasters and painful experiences, but when together nothing was impossible to overcome, the past few months when they were not together proved that.
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