DISCLAIMER: 'The Bill' characters depicted in this story are copyrighted to Thames Television/Pearson Corp. All other characters depicted in this story are copyrighted to the relevant author or creator.

Recognition must go to Bubbles for kindly lending me Charlie, a brilliant character that I can only wish TB people would match!

He felt like crap, he'd barely slept at all, he'd waited and waited but she hadn't shown up, he had no idea where she's been and he'd fallen asleep on her lumpy couch. How could she forget?! he thought. She knew that she was the one person he counted on.

"Cutting it a bit fine aren't we?" Matt asked as Smiffy came into Sun Hill station much later than usual.

"What's it to you?" Smiffy snarled without thinking. Matt was surprised Smiffy wasn't one to hide his feelings but he was usually fairly polite unless he felt someone deserved telling off.

"I'll leave that chat for June and Inspector Monroe, the briefing's almost over I don't like your chances of slipping in unnoticed," Matt replied roughly.

Smiffy ignored him and charged through custody and stopping at the briefing room door and opening it just as everyone moved towards the door. "Damn," he cursed lowly.

"I see you've decided to grace us with your presence." June greeted him coldly with a disapproving gaze.

"I'm sorry Sarge. It won't happen again," Smiffy replied.

"It better not," Inspector Monroe replied sternly, he went to the door and called out to the departing team. "Nick!" June slipped into the background clearly Andrew was planning on dealing with this one himself.

"Yes Sir," Nick replied turning around.

"Wait for Smiffy he'll be with you in a minute," Monroe instructed and Nick nodded. "Polly you're back in CAD," Monroe added.

"Thanks Sir," Polly mumbled less than enthusiastically.

"Dale, in my office now," Monroe ordered sharply.

"Yes Sir," Smiffy agreed following him with a scowl.
 
 
 
 

"So why were you late?" Inspector Monroe asked when they were alone in his office. "I find it hard to believe you had a problem getting to work from the section house," he added before Smiffy had a chance to answer.

"I'm sorry Sir. It won't happen again," Smiffy answered stiffly.

"That's not an explanation," Monroe barked.

"I'm sorry Sir," Smiffy answered.

"Then would you please explain why you missed this mornings briefing," Monroe demanded.

"I overslept Sir," Smiffy explained. He wasn't going to tell him where he'd been or why no matter what he said.

"Really Dale, I expected more from you," Monroe exclaimed. "Well there's not use in us keeping Nick waiting any more, but I don't want to hear you've stepped one inch out of line again PC Smith, or I'll be making a formal note of your behaviour," Monroe warned.

"Yes Sir," Smiffy replied and stormed out of the station.

"Hard morning hey?" Nick greeted him with a smirk as he waited at the car.

"You could say that," Smiffy answered clearly unimpressed as get got into the car. "Get in," he barked.

"What was it then?" Nick asked as they drove out of the station.

"What?" Smiffy snapped.

"Well it's not like you to come it late. What was it?" Nick asked noting Smiffy's mood.

"Well it's none of your business is it?" Smiffy growled.

"Easy there, I suppose Monroe gave you a grilling," Nick replied more sympathetically noticing he had hit a raw nerve.

"Yeah and then some," Smiffy snarled and sighed deeply. "First time I'm late and he's threatening my permanent record, most people 'ave been in late plenty of times and he's barely had a word."

"He'll cool off just stay out of trouble," Nick assured him. Smiffy didn't feel any better.

"That's easy to say but I've got a job to do," Smiffy sneered.

"But you don't have to get into trouble to do it do you. Well not this shift anyway," Nick laughed. He really got on Dale's nerves when he talked like this, too many platitudes and easy answers. Smiffy was practical, he was a realist, he knew that Nick Klein mightn't be wrong every time but he though Nick didn't take things seriously enough to get them right often enough.

The shift continued with a Smiffy's bad temper and Nick either winding him up, trying to comfort him or telling him of for getting on his nerves. Smiffy felt about the same way, by refs Smiffy was ready to crucify either Klein or Monroe. He suspected the real reason he was out and about instead of stuck in CAD was that Monroe knew that getting stuck with Nick would be just as hard for him.
 

* * * *
 

On the way to lunch he stopped to try her on the phone. No joy, the answering machine kicked in and he sighed and slammed the phone down. Where is she!
 

* * * *
 

"What's up wiv you?" Smiffy snapped as Polly gazed absent absentmindedly into space back at the station for lunch. "What? Just bored I guess, I've been in CAD all week and just when I was about to get a break from it this morning you turned up," Polly answered casually despite the tense frown on her brow.

"Thanks," Smiffy asked slightly cut.

"You know what I mean," Polly explained.

"Well I got stuck with Nick," Smiffy replied scornfully.

"I don't mind Nick, he's all right," Polly answered defensively.

"Yeah when he's not being a right pratt which isn't often," Smiffy sniggered.

"So what was the story with you this morning?" Polly asked brushing the comment away.

"Yeah I didn't see you at the section house," Sam commented. "You didn't sleep in did you?"

"Somethin' like that. I was staying at a friends place and I didn't hear the alarm clock," Smiffy explained lowly.

"Late night hey?" Sam chuckled.

"I slept on the couch," Smiffy snapped and abruptly finished up and headed out of the canteen.

"Nick! We're going," Smiffy barked. Nick looked startled and said his good-byes and rushed after him.
 

* * * *
 

"A call to the Askil Arms reported disturbance." Polly's voice crackled over the radio.

"Sierra Oscar from 833 show us dealing," Smiffy responded. Nick urged the car forward and around the corner to the Askil Arms.

"Oi! Police, drop it," Smiffy called to the pub as when he entered finding three men in the midst of destroying each other. A chair lay discarded and crumpled, another was being heaved towards one of the other men.

Smiffy approached them and grabbed the man about to be clobbered and pulled him out of the way, the other man who was obviously drunk dropped his chair and ran forward. Smiffy put his hands out to stop him as Nick tried to keep the other two apart. The man Smiffy stopped forgot the man he was trying to attack and took a swing at Smiffy, he fended on the first blow and grabbed his arm ready cuff him but he got one lucky punch in before Smiffy had the chance to pull both of this arms behind his back and snap the handcuffs on.

"You're under arrest for drunk and disorderly behaviour and assaulting a police officer." He continued with some satisfaction despite his throbbing eye. "You have the right to remain silent, anything you say can and.."

Nick held the other two at bay and they seemed to have calmed down.

"What do you want me to do with these two?" Nick asked seeing as Smiffy was the one that had taken the worst of their actions.

"We'll sort them out at the station they might have be responsible for some of the damage here. If they've got a problem with coming in to make a statement we'll arrest them," Smiffy warned sharply. The men didn't look like they wanted to argue.
Smiffy asked the barman to come in to make a statement and Nick stayed behind to take statements from the other witnesses before be got a lift back to the nick with Dave and Tony who were interested to here about Smiffy's eye.

"I reckon it'll be a real bruiser," Nick laughed.
 

* * * *
 

There wasn't much protest in interview it became pretty clear who'd done what and they were charged accordingly.

Unfortunately all was not sorted, Nathan Birch, the man who'd thumped Smiffy was one of Boulton's snouts and he hit the roof when he heard he'd been charged.

"What they hell did you think you were doing?" John screamed at Dale when he found out Birch was being bailed.

"My job," Smiffy bit back.

"He's a registered snout!" John exclaimed.

"He's a pratt," Smiffy argued.

"Don't you think CID investigations are a bit more important that your good looks?" John fumed.

"I didn't ask him to hit me, he was destroying the Askil Arms, do you want to go and tell the owner that he's allowed to because he's you're bloody snout?" Smiffy roared.

"But it's down you whether or not he goes down for assaulting a police officer. Can't you let it go?" John argued.

"No Sarge. I don't think I will," Smiffy retorted coolly.

"Typical uniform." John mumbled. "I'll speak to Inspector Monroe about this."

"Go ahead," Smiffy taunted knowing it was the last thing he wanted but refusing to back down just because Boulton said jump.
 

* * * *
 

"He's got every right to have him charged John, he was assaulted and I know you've been in the same position yourself," Inspector Monroe calmly replied to DS Boulton's complaints.

"But this is an informant, he's not going to talk to me if he walks out of here with a charge of assaulting a police officer hanging over his head," John whined.

"I'm sure you can talk to him John, make him see the positives. His mates will hardly think he's a grass if he is charged."

"I don't think he'll see it that way," John argued discontentedly. "Please talk to him for me?" He asked hopefully. "He might listen to you," John added playing the respect card.

"All right I'll have a word to him, I had him in this morning so I should talk to him anyway," Andrew agreed grudgingly. "Why was that?" Boulton asked without thinking that Andrew might not want to discuss it.

"He was late for this morning's shift," Andrew answered unimpressed by Boulton's continued interruption.

"That's not like him?" John asked puzzled, he didn't know Smiffy that well but he didn't seem the type to be one for tardiness. Too much of an ex-army man, John thought.

"Well if you don't mind John I've got work to do so I'd better have that word with Dale now," Monroe answered with emphasis on the last word.

"Yes," John agreed leaving him to it.
 

* * * *
 

"I'm disappointed to have you in here twice in one day Dale," Monroe greeted him.

"Well as I said I'm sorry about this morning but this has nothing to do with me," Smiffy answered.

"I think we both realise it's a bit more complicated than that," Andrew answered evenly.

"Only because Sergeant Boulton says so. It's not my fault his snouts decided to smash up the Askil Arms and me in the process," Smiffy remarked.

Inspector Monroe sighed and looked at the developing shiner.

"Yes I understand that but sometimes it's just easier to get Sergeant Boulton what he wants, you know what he's like, he'll hold this over uniform for months, we'll be blamed for ever case he can't get a lead on."

"That's his fault Sir. I don't like being asked to reconsider a decision I made based on the law. A crime took place and I can make it stick, the criminal is a toe rag and he's got previous so why don't I just get on with my job and leave Sergeant Boulton to his tantrums," Smiffy explained with his attitude thick in his voice even though he kept calm.

"Very well then, but don't expect any favours in return," Andrew replied with only the slightest hint if disapproval.
 

* * * *
 

"What did Monroe have to say?" Nick asked when Smiffy came out of his office.

"That Sergeant Boulton's a cry baby and uniform should bend to his every whim to keep the peace," Smiffy sneered.

"It can't have been that bad," Nick objected.

"No it was worse, he tried to make me feel like a pratt for trying to do my job."
 

* * * *
 

There barely seemed to be a point in going back out with the shift almost finished but after a quick stop at the FME's for the sake of the charge that Smiffy was now determined to stick they went out again. They were called to a shop on Canley Street but the shoplifters were long gone and it was just a tedious job of talking to the distraught shop assistant who was pretty sure she'd be paying for the loss out of her wages.

Smiffy was relieved when they came to a stop in the Sun Hill Police station car park. The shift was over and he could settle down in the pub and relax over a drink.

He'd only just come into the station when he received more good news from John Boulton. His assistance had been requested on a CID obbo, he'd get at least an hour of overtime maybe two but he wasn't thrilled. He noticed that the others, Nick and Dave had the privilege of volunteering. He wanted nothing more than to tell John Boulton and CID to stuff it but with Inspector Monroe and DI Deakin breathing down his neck he could only scowl and bare it.

He borrowed Dave's mobile before they were briefed on the obbo. He dialed the number and it range but all he got was the answering machine.

"Damn," he cursed under his breath. Where the hell is she?

"Charlie?" Dave asked with a smile.

"Yeah. She's not answering," Smiffy admitted despite himself.

"Don't worry about it, she'll hear about the obbo from one of the others," Dave assured him, Smiffy shrugged it off, and kept to his bad mood. "She got a good result last night hey?"

"What?" Smiffy asked in surprise.

"She was in on that CID case wasn't she?" Dave suggested vaguely, feeling like he'd put his foot in it. He knew Smiffy has missed the briefing but he thought Charlie would have mentioned it. "I heard about it in the briefing this morning." Dave added nervously trying to excuse his knowledge.

Smiffy tried to ignore it.

Hours earlier he probably would have taken it as good news, he would have relaxed and reminded himself to buy her a drink later on to congratulate her, but in his bad temper he could only see red. As far as he saw it she'd volunteered for overtime and not given a stuff about him.
 

* * * *
 

After two hours in a cramped cold position awaiting the a dockside drugs delivery he was ready to throw Boulton into the Thames At last the relative silence of the night was disturbed by the low purr of a car motor which drove towards the docks and then stopped. Two men got out to wait for something, a speed boat meet them minutes latter, suggesting there was a boat somewhere on the water but CID already had the water police waiting.

The deal was made and they rushed forward as the one of the men tried to get away in the car, another legged it and the third jumped back into his speedboat. Smiffy took after the one who was running on foot. He yelled but the man kept going so he pushed himself harder and caught him in a flying tackle.

"Not bad for a soccer player!" Gary laughed as Smiffy picked himself up and cuffed the man.
 

* * * *
 

"How about a drink?" Dave offered as they changed into civvies.

"I don't know, an hour ago I would have killed for a drink. Now I feel like pushing of home," Smiffy replied glumly.

"Come on you've had a hard day from what I hear, come for a drink, I'll shout you one," Dave offered. Smiffy looked at Nick but had to admit it would have been hard for people not to notice the luck he'd been having by now.

"All right," he agreed, warming. "Let's go."

"How about you?" Dave asked Nick.

"Yeah I'm up for it," Nick agreed, giving Dave a curious wink.
 

* * * *
 

Dale was surprised to see how many people were still in the pub. Blimey half of them have usually gone home by now, it's only Thursday he thought.

"Hiya!" Cass greeted them when they came it.

"Hi!" Polly joined her.

"How'd the obbo go?" Sam asked from Cass' other side.

"All right," Smiffy answered slightly puzzled by their enthusiasm.

Despite all the greetings and invitations to join them for a drink Smiffy shrugged them off and wondered over to the bar.

"Something strong," he groaned when the bar tender asked him what he wanted.

"How about a scotch?" The man offered.

"That'll do," Smiffy agreed and downed it quickly. "Another thanks," he asked and drank just as quickly. He paused before ordering another drink.

Well there's no reason to keep going at this rate, he thought. It won't change a thing, Boulton'll still be a pratt, I'll still have a black eye, and she'll still be somewhere else.

"A point of lager thanks," he ordered next and taking a sip of his drink he turned to survey the room.

The door swung open and someone came in. She stood in the doorway grinning at him.

She winked at the bar tender and he put produced a cake from under the bar, and placed it on the counter. Smiffy looked from the cake to Charlie and his face melted into a smile.

"Happy Birthday Smiffy," Cass called raising her glass and the others joined her.

Charlie walked slowly towards the bar, he stood up and faced her.

"I'm sorry about last night," she greeted him when she was within arms reach. "I should have been there. I got called in for some undercover work at the last minute, CID were desperate, they wouldn't have let me forget it if I'd turned them down. It wasn't supposed to take long but it was important so they were willing to fork out for the overtime, I couldn't call you, and I couldn't pull out. I didn't get back until you'd already gone to work."

As she spoke he cursed his reaction, for doubting his trust of her, for questioning her commitment, for letting it get to him. Of course there was a good reason for it, he'd just been too much of a pratt to see it.
She continued, "I was hoping I'd hear from you today but..?" She let it hang.

"You'd were probably asleep when I called earlier and you'd probably left when I called later on." He nodded understandingly feeling a bit guilty. "I suppose one of them told you about the obbo?" She smiled and nodded.

"Guess I'll leave a note next time?" she added, smiled and eyed him tenderly. "Can you forgive me?"

"I'll think about it," he agreed with a grin and slipped his arms around her. She kissed him and he kissed her. Their colleagues cheered.

"Happy Birthday," she whispered, kissed him once more and then turned to the cake on the bar. "So are you going to have some of this or what?" They both grinned.
 

* * * *
The End

DISCLAIMER: 'The Bill' characters depicted in this story are copyrighted to Thames Television/Pearson Corp. All other characters depicted in this story are copyrighted to the relevant author or creator.

NB: This is not a sequel to No Love Lost!

* * * *
Smiffy came into the station grinning and talking with Sam.

Matt smiled broadly with slight sarcasm and pointed at the single red rose lying on the desk "For you," he announced as Smiffy walked by.

"Really Sarge you shouldn't have," he laughed.

"I didn't have anything to do with it, a nice looking young lady delivered it." Matt's grin broadened. "She seemed to know who you were."

"You've got to be joking," Smiffy replied and sighed, picking up the rose and reading the card with a scornful smile. "Regretting something are you?" Matt asked.

"Nothing that won't happen again."

"Like that is it," Matt laughed.

"You read the card didn't you?" Smiffy accused.

"I didn't need too," Matt smiled. "It's written all over you face."

Smiffy just smiled and, holding his rose, followed Sam to the PC's locker room.
 
 

* * * *
 
 

"You want to tell us about it?" Tony asked when Smiffy walked in and dumped the rose on top of his locker.

"Nah, cause it's none of your business," Smiffy replied with a smile.

"A red rose, isn't that a bit much. You serious about this girl or what?" Tony replied ignoring him.

"He's probably just feeling guilty, that's what they usually mean isn't it?" Nick remarked.

"I thought you were more of a romantic," Sam laughed. "No it's not for a girl, it's from a girl. Sgt. Boyden said she was good looking too."

"Well she better be, leaving a rose at work for him, it's a bit strange isn't it," Tony answered.

Smiffy just smiled at their chatter. "Not for her it's not, I should have know she'd do something like this, it's her sense of humour."

"Humour? What's so funny?" Tony objected.

"You lot talking like a bunch of school girls," Smiffy laughed. "I suppose you want to read the card?"

"There's a card?" Tony asked feigning surprise. "Well come on give it here."

Sam grabbed it with a daring smile at Smiffy.

"Thank-you for a wonderful night! I really hope we can do it again. Love always, your Jeannie," Sam recited and passed it to Dave who passed it to Tony.

"That's a bit thick," Tony remarked.

"You've made an impression," Dave smiled. "I guess Tony hasn't had that problem."

"Oi! Watch it," Tony warned him.

"Well it's not like we've seen many deliveries of red roses to work for you Tony," Nick remarked.

"Like you're any better," Tony shot back. "No my birds have taste, I mean who sends flowers to a guy at work?"

"This Jeannie girl obviously," Dave remarked. "So what's she like Smiffy?"

"You know the type, young, beautiful, fun to be with and completely crazy," He answered with a grin that told them he was enjoying sending them up over this, even if they laughed at him in return. He was clearly in a good mood.

"She'd have to be to spend time with you," Tony remarked.

"Well I don't know how long she's going to be in London," Smiffy replied. "So I better make the most of it, flowers and all."

"So we won't be seeing you at the pub after work?" Tony asked with a smile.

"Maybe you will, she might drop by for a drink, she'd get a right laugh out of you lot."

"I don't think I like this girl's sense of humour," Tony replied trying to sound offended.

"Come on you lot, hurry up," Matt called in as he opened the door on the way to the briefing room. "We can't spend all day discussing Smiffy's love life."

"Yes Sarge," they replied and, packing up the last of their things, filed out of the room.
 
 

* * * *
 
 

"What's this I hear about Smiffy getting a red rose at the front desk?" Cass asked coming up to Sam. "No wonder you guys were late, you've been giving him slack or what?"

"Yeah, some girl dropped it off for him this morning," Sam replied.

"What did he tell you about it?"

"Well from the card I'd say they had a pretty good night together."

"He let you read it?" she asked in surprise.

"Well we didn't really give him a choice but he didn't seem too upset."

"All right," Cass agreed. "Cheers." She went to pass the news on to Di and Polly but they'd already heard from the others and June interrupted them to begin the briefing.
 
 

* * * *
 
 

"As you know CID are on the lookout for Paul Chandler, they want to nick him for suspicion of selling drugs, they've got one of his people in the nick and they want to bring him in before his friend is back on the street. You've got copies of his picture please keep a look out for him."

They nodded and looked at their photographs.

"All right Smiffy you're with Sam…," she said as she read out their postings.
 
 

* * * *
 
 

"Were to then?" Sam asked as they drove away from the station.

"Well it's a bit early for this guy Chandler to be out and about but we could drive through the High street, if things stay quiet we can check out the pubs," Smiffy suggested.

"You seem eager to help CID out," Sam remarked.

"What can I say I'm in a sharing and caring mood," Smiffy replied sarcastically.

"In other words you're still in a good mood after this morning, or last night and you'd like to nick someone so that we can get one over CID?" Sam asked.

"Sounds good to me," Smiffy replied with a smile.
 
 

* * * *
 
 

They visited one of the pubs before they got a call to a domestic and after they'd sorted it out- no charges laid and only a few garden gnomes broken in the process, they got a call to a disturbance at the Askil Arms.

"That's lucky," Sam remarked.

"Except if Chandler was there he would have legged it by now, once the knew the police were called."

"Park around the back then?" Sam asked.

"May as well try."

They almost collided with a car driving out of the car park. Smiffy cursed. "What's the bet that was him."

"Run a check just in case," Sam replied turning around to follow the car. The driver barely slowed down when he moved into traffic.

"Sierra Oscar from 833."

"833 from Sierra Oscar, go ahead Smiffy," Polly returned.

"I'd like a VRN check on a red Escort, number plate Alpha, Delta, Foxtrot, Eight, Nine, Three."

"Received," Polly answered. "The car is registered to a Mr Paul Chandler, a disqualified driver."

"Oh great," said Sam. "CID didn't bother to mention his car because he's a disqualified driver."

"We're at the Askil Arms dealing with a disturbance, if anyone's interested Mr Chandler just drove out of the car park, he's heading down Asquith Road. We can purse if someone else takes over here."

June was listening. "You better follow him," June's reply came over the radio. Sam shrugged and followed; the traffic was just thick enough to keep Chandler from getting away.

"Sierra One from Sierra Oscar, Smiffy and Sam are in pursuit of a red escort number plate Alpha, Delta, Foxtrot, Eight, Nine, Three, registered to Mr Paul Chandler a disqualified driver, can you assist?"

"Sierra Oscar from Sierra One, show us assisting," Vicky replied.

"Call to a disturbance at the Askil Arms," Polly repeated and was relieved to hear that Dave and Tony were on their way. "How about the blues and twos then?" Smiffy asked Sam.

"Give him a minute, if he tries to get away in this traffic he could get someone killed."

The car turned into the next street and they followed.

"Sierra Oscar from 833, we are now following the red escort down Malpit Road."

"Sierra Oscar from Sierra One, we're in position to assist," Vicky reported.

Sam over took another car and moved in behind the red escort and flicked on the sirens and lights.

The car sped up and Sam followed. The vision of the area car coming from the opposite direction was enough to slow it down though. It reluctantly pulled over and the police cars followed it.

"You need any help with him?" Vicky offered as Sam and Smiffy approached the car.

"I think we'll manage," Sam answered.

Smiffy was staring in shock at the girl in the passenger seat of the car. All traces of his good mood were gone. He looked coldly horrified.

"Mr Chandler?" Sam asked the driver.

"What's it to you?" the man shot, he obviously realised he was going to get nicked, he just wasn't sure what for.

"May I see your license?" Sam asked.

"You can't I forgot it," he sneered.

"Can you please step out of the car?" Sam asked seeing that he looked like he was about to bolt. Mr Chandler seemed to consider his options but gave in and got out of the car.

"Mr Chandler I'm placing you under arrest for driving while disqualified, for speeding, and on suspicion of supplying drugs. You do not have to say anything but...." Sam informed him as he handcuffed him and led him into the back of the panda. "Excuse me, Miss...?" Sam addressed the passenger. She just started at Smiffy. "We've arrested Mr Chandler and we'd like you to come down to the station to make a statement."

"I'm afraid I can't," she apologised. "I have to be somewhere." She looked pleadingly at Smiffy.

"No, you're coming," Smiffy answered flatly.

"Call Vicky to give her a lift down to the station."

"All right," Sam agreed giving Smiffy a strange look and radioing for the area car.

"You give your name, you answer their questions, and then you talk to me," Smiffy instructed.

"I'm sorry," she answered sadly.

"So am I," he admitted.
 
 

* * * *
 
 

On the way to the station Sam wanted to ask Smiffy about the girl but with Chandler in the back he didn't have the opportunity.

"Paul Chandler, we nicked him for driving while disqualified, speeding, and on suspicion of supplying drugs," Smiffy told Matt when they presented their catch.

"I guess we'd better get CID down here then," Matt replied putting the call through. "John Boulton and Tom Proctor are on their way down," he reported when he'd put the phone down. "They said you needn't bother interviewing them over the disqual or the speeding, they can mention it in their interview."

"How very gracious of them," Smiffy sneered.

Vicky was waiting with the girl.

"Delivering more flowers are we?" Matt asked in amusement, obviously recognising her. Sam looked surprised but Smiffy pretended he didn't notice.

"Thanks Vicky," said Smiffy. "I'll take her from here." Smiffy ignored her questioning expression. "She's here to make a statement, she was in the car when we arrested Mr Chandler, her name's Jean Smith."

Matt stared questioningly at Smiffy who ignored it.
 
 

* * * *
 
 

"She's the one, isn't she?" Sam asked when he and Smiffy got back into the car. Smiffy looked like he was going to protest but he just sighed.

"Yeah," Smiffy agreed. "Can we just give it a rest, I don't want to talk about it."

"All right," Sam agreed. "She's nice looking though." He added flashing a weak smile. Smiffy tried to ignore it despite the sinking feeling in his stomach and the anger it couldn't hide.
 
 

* * * *
 
 

"What happened to Smiffy?" Tony asked over a drink at pub. "He was on cloud nine this morning."

"Woman troubles I think," Sam reported.

"Already?"

"When we arrested Paul Chandler there was a woman in the car with him. She knew Smiffy, Boyden recognised her when she came in to make her statement, she was the one that left him the rose," Sam explained softly, leaning forward.

"What's this the Sun Hill gossip columnists at work again?" Nick asked sliding into the seat beside Sam.

"Very funny," Tony laughed and they looked at Nick in shared smiling silence.

"Come on then, what is it?" Nick asked eagerly.

"And you said we were bad?" Sam laughed.

"I merely complimented you on your reliable up to date information," Nick argued.

"Pull the other one," Tony laughed.

"Seriously, what's up?"

"Smiffy's girlfriend was with Paul Chandler when we nicked him."

"Ouch," Nick laughed. "Smiffy's the last one to want to get his hands dirty. Maybe it'll do him some good."

"Smiffy?" Sam asked incredulously. "You've got to be joking, it's going to be like walking on egg shells around him till this is sorted."

"Can you blame him?" Tony remarked.

"You'd think he would have known," Sam objected.

"Maybe he did," Nick suggested raising his eyebrows.

"Smiffy?" Sam asked doubtfully. "Nah, he was shocked to see her. He couldn't have had a clue." He paused. "But CID haven't actually got anything on her have they, I mean she was just a passenger."

"With a drug dealer," Tony reminded him.

"Maybe it's not what it seems," Nick remarked.

"What's your theory then?" Tony asked.

"I don't have one mate, with Smiffy who knows, but it sounds like he's up to his neck in it," Nick answered with a crocodile smile.
 
 

* * * *
 
 

"Hello Smiffy," Matt greeted him when he came into the pub. "Do you mind if we have a word?"

"If it's about today I'm not in the mood," Smiffy replied.

"Oh you'll want to hear this," Matt answered dryly.

"All right what is it?"

"How about we step outside before half the nick hears this," Matt warned and Smiffy got up and followed him outside. "It's that friend of yours- Jean, she's been nicked, CID think she's involved with Paul Chandler." Matt watched Smiffy's reaction, he clearly wasn't pleased. "Well what do you think?"

"I don't know Sarge. I honestly don't know. I mean Jean might do something like this, if the money was right."

"So she's into drugs?"

"She's not a user, but she likes having money, and breaking the rules."

"Doesn't sound like someone I could see you spending much time with," Matt remarked.

"I don't, but she's my sister," he admitted looking at his Sarge with respect. Matt was the sort who could understand. Smiffy tried to think of anything she's said or done that should have warned him that something like this would happen. The worst of it was that it was everything, this was just the sort of trouble Jeannie had always been able to get herself into. Matt did a mental double take. Smiffy continued, he could see Matt wanted more of an explanation.

"Last night was the first time I'd seen her in six months. We stayed up half the night together, watching movies, eating popcorn. Stuff we didn't get enough of a chance at when we were kids, that's what the rose was about. Jeannie's idea of a joke." He fell silent and waited for Matt to respond.

"A sister, and you've got a pet name for her, you never cease to surprise me Smiffy," Matt remarked. "Look I'll try and keep the lads quiet, but word will probably get around the nick, you've got to talk to her and CID, work something out and put it behind you."

"Thanks Sarge," Smiffy replied sadly but glad of his support. He'd sort it, and if he were lucky he'd still have a sister when it was over.

*********
The End