THE PATH YOU CHOOSE

APRIL 9TH 2001
SUN HILL POLICE STATION - 12:05 AM

D.C. Liz Rawton watched the man crying in the corner. Shaking her head miserably between the crowd in Deakin�s office and the hunched figure, she motioned for Debbie to join her.

"You�d better get downstairs. Inform everyone that it's all over." she muttered, acknowledging the weapon in her hand. P.C. Keane nodded slowly in response, and proceeded towards the stairs.

It seemed like only a few seconds later that Alan Rogers was being escorted out and the ambulance officers filled the tiny office.

Glancing around, Liz noticed varying looks on her colleagues� faces.

Bob Cryer and Matt Boyden were discussing the bizarre events, Dave was showing off his new daughter to George, June Ackland was clearing blood stained towels and cushions off the table, and P.C. Polly Quinnan, her face pale, and wet with perspiration was being assisted onto a stretcher by ambulance officers. The expression on her face was not one commonly associated with new found motherhood, more one of depressive repetition, coupled with vulnerability.

Liz quietly slipped passed the people, taking Polly�s hand comfortingly.

Everyone gradually focused their attention back on her, as the officers impatiently made their way past.

Liz�s expression unconsciously became that of a scowl as she turned back to look at the group, receiving confused expressions.

"Careful Elizabeth, wind might change." George teased, nobody getting the message.

"Glad to see you�re all enjoying yourselves." She spoke sarcastically.

Dave, upon noticing the paramedics leave, rushed after them, having handed his child over minutes earlier.

"Liz, come on, enjoy the moment here." He smiled enthusiastically.

"Dave, Polly�s not. This isn�t that simple." She spoke softly, her words falling on deaf eyes, as he hurried eagerly after his wife and child.

She was left with four pair of eyes staring curiously back at her. George being the first to respond.

"Liz, the man�s proud as punch, what�s up with you?" He asked accusingly.

"Well, good for him. Have any of you consider what this has done to Poll?" She asked, trying to sound less confrontational.

"It�s just made her a mum?" Sergeant Cryer asked somewhat facetiously.

"That�s one answer. It�s also just scared the hell out of her, caused her extreme agony and put her back in hospital. Sound familiar?" Liz concluded, pleased that she had finally gotten through to them. June was the first to respond.

"Liz, I didn�t think. None of us did." She supplied softly, looking around the room. The bright expressions on people�s faces gradually reduced.

"It may seem like she�s dealt with the attack, but in truth, she�s had the luxury of hiding behind more pressing issues. Emotions are powerful weapons. Inside of the last four hours, she�s been dragged around with a gun pointed at her head, gone into a difficult labour, while locked in a cell, mind you, and just endured the most intense pain in existence. June, do you think she was prepared for any of those?" Liz asked the weary looking officer.

Not managing an audible reply, the older woman shook her head sadly.

"It is very easy to think you�ve dealt with something, until placed under the same emotional circumstances." Liz summarised, before turning and swiftly leaving the office, and some very shocked police officers.

OUTSIDE SUN HILL POLICE STATION - 12:20 AM

"Sir, will you be accompanying us?" The young paramedic asked the confused man as they prepared to close the doors.

"Certainly." Dave replied, climbing aboard. He took the seat next to the stretcher, reaching for his wife�s hand.

"She�s adorable, Poll." He whispered, trying to cheer her up. Polly nodded slowly, trying to fight back tears.

Dave didn�t get a chance to elaborate on the conversation, as the officers needed to get to work. He sat there quietly for the remainder of the journey, looking thoughtfully from his wife, to newborn child.

SUN HILL POLICE STATION - 12:25 AM

After the crowd had died down, Liz and June made their way back through the station, accompanied by Sergeant Cryer, Debbie, George and Matt.

"I�ll get the mop, Sarge." Deb smiled as they entered the custody suite.

"Thanks Debbie." June replied, and proceeded to check on Rogers.

Opening the cell flap, she looked in on the now sleeping man. Shaking her head, June returned to the group in reception.

"He�s asleep." June reported, her voice flat and tired.

"He can�t do much harm there, at least. He�ll go to court in the morning. Let�s just get this place back to normal as quick as we can, so that the next relief can move in." Sergeant Boyden wrapped up, and everyone sighed and proceeded to the briefing room for the de-brief.

Within five minutes the room had filled and Sergeant Cryer got to work.

"For those of us who�ve spent the last two hours or so locked in a cell, I�ll make this short. Unfortunately situations like this are difficult to prevent, but the key is communication and procedure. There will be a full investigation into the situation leading to tonight�s incidents, meanwhile it�s important this doesn�t get out until we�ve decided how we�re going to handle it. We don�t want any Tom, Dick or Harry thinking they can wave a revolver around and dictate to the Metropolitan Police. That�s it from me. If there are any pressing issues, please approach me after briefing. Have a good night, and I�ll see you all tomorrow afternoon." Bob finished, calling June over to him.

"You ok? That was pretty rough on you from what I gather." he asked, concerned.

"I�ll be fine. I�m almost getting rehearsed at this." She smiled briefly.

"Obviously, we�ll be two officers down tomorrow, so it�ll be busy." Bob continued.

"I�ll look at the postings before parade." June finished, before making her way tiredly to the W.P.C.�s locker room.

Changing quickly, she looked over at Deb.

"You look as exhausted as I feel." June spoke lightly.

"Well, I can�t say I ever thought we�d do what we just did. Talk about bad timing." Deb replied.

"I know. It would�ve probably been as a result of the stress though." June responded, slipping her shoes on slowly.

"Rod�ll be happy, nobody would have guessed the date. Two weeks early at that!" Debbie smiled, remembering his little enterprise.

"That�d be right. Although I wasn�t too far off, had it down for April 12th." June ended, as they grabbed their bags and made for the front foyer.

ST HUGH'S - 12:40 AM

Dave had spent the last few minutes excitedly ringing family and friends, spreading the news. He waited until the nurse had informed him that he could go back in, and proceeded into the small room. Peering into the tiny cradle, Samantha was sound asleep. Taking a seat next to Polly�s bed, Dave was beaming.

"I just can�t get over it! She�s so tiny, yet so perfect." He spoke smiling. Looking across at Polly, she appeared to be distracted, focusing on the bedspread.

"Poll? Are you alright? Everything�s alright, isn�t it?" He asked, his face taking on an immediate look of concern.

She nodded her head slowly, still not looking at him.

Dave smiled again and stood, carefully lifting the infant from her bed, so as not to wake her.

"She�s got your nose, Poll." He giggled, smoothing his daughter�s head of thick dark brown hair.

"My hair though�well, when it was there." He continued chuckling, trying to brighten Polly up.

Looking back up at her, his face fell upon noticing that she had begun crying into her hands.

Returning the child to the cradle, Dave wrapped Polly in his arms.

"Polly, what�s wrong?" He asked amazed. She continued crying louder.

"I�m sorry." She managed to whisper, not letting go of him, or reducing the tears.

"For what?" Dave asked, completely thrown.

"It�s all my fault." Polly responded, making no sense to him.

"It�s ok, Poll, it is." Dave comforted, still confused. He couldn�t understand it, this had been one of the happiest moments of his life.

"I�m so sorry, Dave. I shouldn�t be putting you through this." She clung to him, tears quickly moistening his shirt.

"Polly, I don�t understand. You haven�t been putting me through anything. This is the best night of my life. What�s the matter?" He soothed, rubbing her back comfortingly.

She didn�t respond this time, for there was no simple answer to his question.

Dave always preferred talking about things, so he continued trying other angles.

"Polly, there isn�t anything for you to feel sorry for. We�ve got a beautiful baby girl, thanks to you." He just wished she would say something, anything was better than not knowing.

"You�re exhausted, how about trying to get some sleep? I�ll take Sammy back to the nursery. You rest." Dave finally spoke, realising he wasn�t going to get anywhere tonight.

Polly didn�t answer, but merely detached herself from him and snuggled down against the pillows, letting her eyes fall closed.

Bending down and placing a kiss delicately on her forehead, Dave gave a helpless look as he wheeled the cradle outside.

DEBBIE'S APARTMENT - 12:55 AM

"Thanks June, see ya tomorrow." Deb smiled as she got out of the car and headed up the stairs towards the apartment she now shared with Richard.

She�d accepted the lift at the last minute, loathing the idea of having to catch a bus home at this hour. She�d been seeing Richard Newman for about four months, only moving in with him six weeks ago. Few people at Sun Hill, with the exception of June and Polly, even knew she was seeing anyone.

It had been a pretty typical situation actually. She�d been introduced to him while out with friends, and he was one of the first guys she�d ever really liked, who didn�t run a mile when told of her profession.

Turning the key in the lock, Debbie received the shock of her life when Richard opened the door and demanded to know where she�d been.

"If you�ll give me a minute to get inside, I�ll explain!" She fired back, upon being bombarded with questions. She�d put Richard down to being the insecure type.

"I was worried out of my mind. You know I don�t approve of you busing it to and from at this time of night. How was I to know something hadn�t happened!" He was fuming, his face turning red.

"The station was held up, ok! I spent the last four hours locked in a cell helping to deliver Polly and Dave�s baby, ok!" she yelled back, making her way to their bedroom.

"You what? Was anyone hurt? What was she doing at work, if she was that close to having a baby?" He retorted, his face gradually returning to its previous colour.

"She wasn�t due for another two weeks. Tomorrow was going to be her last shift anyway. Nobody was hurt, thank goodness, and the man�s safely locked away." Deb spoke as she prepared for bed, just wanting to sleep for the next two weeks or so.

"Pleased to hear it." Richard finished, having calmed down.

Too tired to continue the conversation, Debbie slipped under the covers and was soon sound asleep.

ST HUGH'S -1:05 AM

"I thought you looked familiar. P.C. Quinnan a father, well, I never." The young nurse chuckled as Dave returned his daughter to the nursery.

"Well, we all get caught in the net eventually, I guess." Dave smiled back, his heart not really in it.

"It�s pretty late, you sure you don�t wanna go home, get some rest?" The brown haired nurse whose name tag identified her as Maggie asked concerned.

"No, I�ll be fine. I�d prefer to hang around for a bit. Make sure everything�s ok." He answered nervously, trying to spot a doctor to talk with.

"Well, your daughter�s fine. A little underweight, but that�s a result of the slight prematurity. How�s her mother?" Having only just begun her shift, she hadn�t had a chance to get round to the rooms yet.

"My wife�s sleeping." Dave muttered absent-mindedly. Maggie was brushing over his vagueness.

"God, you even tied the knot too. I am impressed. Tell me, Tony Stamp, anyone roped him in yet?" She beamed, having met most of the Sun Hill mob at one point in time or another.

"Ah no, not yet. Tony�s not the marrying type. Well, didn�t think I was meself until a few months ago." Dave perked up a little.

"He�ll be in at some stage, I take it?" She continued, continuing when receiving a nod:

"I�ll have to put in an appearance. Always was a sucker for uniforms." Maggie straightened her face, as Doctor Lloyd approached them. Maggie smiled briefly at Dave as she busied herself with the babies.

"Dave, fancy finding you here." Katie teased as she joined him and proceeded back up the hallway.

"I was hoping to have a chance to speak with you." He spoke seriously, his eyes focusing on hers.

"Now, if it�s about the early arrival, your daughter�s fine. A tad on the small side, but nothing to be concerned about. She was only about two weeks early, so it�s not a problem." Katie paused, noticing Dave�s pressing expression. She raised her eyebrows curiously.

"Is anything wrong, Dave?" She questioned, her voice returning to a lower, more professional tone.

"It�s Polly. Now, I know they�re both medically fine, but well, she�s been acting really strange ever since, well, ever since Sam was born, and she just went to pieces twenty minutes ago. I managed to get her calmed down, but she won�t talk to me." He rushed over each sentence, helplessly. Katie Lloyd�s face took on a look of deep thoughtfulness, as she replied.

"When you say acting really strange, like sad, scared, how?" She knew the history of this pregnancy very well, as well as the people involved.

"I suppose miserable is the best way to describe it. Maybe I was just over the top, but she didn�t seem that excited by it all." He supplied, unsure of how to express what he felt.

"I did pick that up during admission, but put it down to shock. Word got back about the circumstance leading up to the birth. You said she went to pieces, you mean started crying?" Dr Lloyd ventured, trying to come to a conclusion.

"She was hysterical. Kept saying that it was all her fault and that she was sorry. After that, she wouldn�t speak. Doctor, you know the last eight months or so have been pretty rough to say the least. I just don�t know how to act. Or what to do." Dave finished.

"I think this needs looking into, but not from a medical point of view. I�ll call in to see her tomorrow morning and take it from there." Katie concluded, as they stood.

"Thanks. I really appreciate all you�ve done to help us through this. I just want what�s best for Poll." He smiled, as they shook hands, parting company.

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