Chapter 3

The following day, Dennis and Jenny were enjoying a late lunch, on the shores of South Bay, having slept in late that morning.

"These fish and chips are good." Jenny said before she popped another chip into her mouth.

"Aye," he replied as seagulls squawked around them, demanding their own share of the bounty and he complied, throwing a couple of chips to the birds.

She chuckled, "I thought you hated seagulls." she teased as she watched him toss a few more chips away, causing a loud ruckus as the birds fought over the scraps.

He smiled, "I do but it's a tradition, isn't it? You go to the seaside, have fish and chips and you feed the seagulls," he replied, "And the bloody birds know it too." He added with a chuckle. He was in a good mood, contented and pleased to be away from the stress of his job, "You know, we should do this more often."

She was startled by this, "Aye, we should," she paused and then grinned as she realised the reason for his happiness, "I wonder why you're in good mood today."

He turned to face her, saw the smirk tugging on her lips; those rather kissable lips, he might add, "Hmm, I wonder why, too." he replied as he grinned in memory of their lovemaking the night before and again that morning.

She chuckled as she popped a chip into his mouth, "It was almost like our honeymoon, except we stayed in for lunch then."

"And for dinner too, if I recall." He replied before he swallowed the hot potato chip.

"We did, didn't we?" she grinned.

"Aye, we did."

For a moment they sat in companionable silence as they finished their lunch, while the seagulls squawked in protest as their food supply ran out.

Dennis watched Jenny with some concern, as she gazed out over the water. She seemed quieter than usual as though she was troubled by something, "What's wrong, Jen?" he asked quietly as he reached out and took her hand in his. "Are you still having some concerns over my job?"

Jenny sighed and shook her head, "I think I'll always have some concerns about it," she replied, "But it's not that."

"Then what is it? If I don't know, then I can't help." He sorted to reassure her.

She looked down at their combined hands, "I don't know how to say it," she paused for a moment to gather her thoughts, "You don't want children, do you Dennis?"

He frowned, whatever he was expecting, it wasn't that question, "What makes you say that?"

"Because every time someone asks when we're going to have children, you shy away from the subject," she replied, "I noticed it when Gina and Phil had their baby and I teased, saying it might be our turn next, you looked away. That wasn't the only time either. And you did it again last night, at dinner, when Vera asked if we have any. You always looked away, not wanting to discuss it," she raised her head and looked at him, "I'm not stupid, I know what it means. I know we've never really talked about having children, I just assumed we would at some point."

He let out a long breath, so the time had come for this discussion, he mused to himself. A discussion he had put off as long he could, "It's not that I don't want children, it's just that I don't think I would make a good father." He admitted.

She frowned in confusion, "What do you mean? I think you would make a wonderful father."

He let out another breath as he was overcome by a nervous energy, "Come, I can't sit here and talk about it." he replied as he rose from the bench, causing Jenny to stand up as well. He took her hand in his and together they walked slowly along the promenade, in the direction of the shops.

Jenny didn't know what to make of his silence; he was obviously trying to bring himself to tell her about not wanting children, something that was obviously painful for him. She squeezed his hand, letting him know of her support.

He sighed as he came to a stop, some twenty yards from where they had eaten their lunch, "You were lucky never to have met my father before he died. He was a hard man, Jen. He believed in tough love for his only son," he began as he looked out at the sea, "That tough love involved slaps to the back of the head and verbal abuse."

"Oh dear god, I'm sorry." Jenny whispered in shock, "Did he...did he ever hit..." she stopped. She never imagined that Dennis had come from a violent home. Even though people were slowly becoming aware of the important issue of domestic violence, many still considered it a taboo subject, one not easily discussed.

"Did he ever hit my mother or sister, you mean," He shook his head, "No, he never did. He just felt it was the way to raise a son, the way to make me a man, can you believe it." he said with bitterness, "That was until I stood up to him when I was fourteen. He hit me one too many times and I hit him back. After that he left me alone."

"I'm so sorry, I never knew." She said compassionately.

He nodded, "It's not something we talk about, even with my mother and sister. Not even when he died about eight years ago, did we talk about it. It's just something I rather forget," he paused as he gazed at her, "Don't you see, Jen, it would be better for me not to have children, in case I turn out like him, especially if we have any sons"

She squeezed his arm, "But Dennis, you're not your father."

He sighed, "Maybe not but his blood runs in my veins. I have a temper, as you well know and I'm...I'm..." He stopped, unwilling to continue.

"You're afraid you would hit our children," she finished for him, "I can understand that but surely since you are aware of it, you could actively choose not to do so. You could just walk away whenever your temper rises."

He let out a long breath before he shook his head, "That's easier said than done," he replied, "I punched a senior officer without realising what I was doing until it was too late."

"Well, you've never hit me."

"I would never hit you," He replied as he placed his hand over hers, "I could never hit you."

"Then what makes you so sure that you would hit our children."

He shook his head, "That's the point, I can't be sure at all and I'm not sure I want to take that risk," he paused as he gazed at her, "You want children."

She nodded, knowing the likelihood of actually having them was slowly disappearing, "Yes, I do," she replied, "I wouldn't mind one of each. A son for you, to carry on your name and a little blonde girl for me."

He looked down at the ground, not wanting to see the disappointment in her eyes, "I don't know, Jen. I just don't know." He remembered the angry shouts and sharp clips to the back of his head from his father, the humiliation, the anger building up inside him and being unable to do anything about it, all in the name of making him a man. Well a man he became, a man who feared to have his own children because of the same blood, the same temper that ran through his veins.

"Hey, it doesn't have to be right now," she sort to reassure him, "Perhaps sometime in the future, we can think about it some more, okay." she squeezed his arm in comfort.

He sighed and held onto her hand, "I...need time...just give me time."

"As much time as you need, Dennis." she replied, thankfully she was still young, with many years to have children, "So, shall we go and do some shopping before we leave tomorrow."

He gave her a small smile, grateful for the change in subject, "As long as you don't bankrupt me, with your purchases."

She chuckled as they began walking hand in hand towards the shops, "I'll try not to."

Several hours later they arrived back at their hotel room, with their arms full with packages, or rather Dennis's arms were filled. He felt like a mule, laden down with all his wife's purchases, while she went from one shop to the next, spending his hard earned money.

He shook his head as he dumped the various parcels onto the bed, "I thought you weren't going to bankrupt me." he said, half in jest, half serious.

She giggled, "I'm sorry, I didn't realise how much I was buying," she replied, "Besides you bought some things too."

"True but I will be wearing the shirts and ties and listening to the jazz records," he replied, "But why on earth do we need yet another vase. We got enough as wedding presents as it is."

"Oh, nonsense, it'll come in handy, you'll see." she replied, refusing to feel bad about buying the blue vase that would go well in their living room.

They were interrupted by the phone ringing, "Oh, no don't tell you had some more parcels delivered to reception." He teased as he walked around to the other side of the bed.

"Don't be daft, of course I didn't," she replied with a small chuckle, "Although it would've been a good idea."

He grinned and shook his head before he picked up the phone, "Hello."

Jenny only half listened to the one sided conversation, while she tried to sort out the parcels on the bed and wondered if Dennis had been correct; that she had bought too much. It didn't seem like it at the time but now as she stared down at the bed, she began to question her shopping spree.

But when she heard Dennis swear quietly, she turned around and almost immediately, she felt a cold shiver run through her body, at how pale he had become and the way his shoulders slumped in sorrow. It could only be bad news.

"Oh god no, when...I understand...of course, sir, I'll return today. Thank you for telling me, yourself, sir." Dennis added before he said goodbye and hung up the phone. He took a moment or two to gather his thoughts before he faced Jenny, "That was DI Shiner," he said, his voice rough with his emotions, "He said...he said -"

She stepped over to him and placed her hand on his arm, stunned to feel him trembling slightly, "What is it?"

He took a deep breath, "It's Steve Crane. He has...died."

"What! No, he can't be," she said even as she knew it to be true, "But...how."

He closed his eyes for a moment against the hot tears welling in his eyes, fighting the pain of losing yet another officer under his command, "Shiner didn't give me the full details but it happened yesterday afternoon. Apparently a child...had been kidnapped in Ashfordly and Crane found out where the child was and...there was a struggle on a bridge and he...fell but somehow he managed saved the child."

"Oh god," Jenny gasped as she sank down on the edge of the bed in shock, "I can't believe it. I just can't." she whispered.

Dennis sat beside her and pulled her into his arms, "I know," he replied as he gently rocked her and together they grieved over the loss of one so young. A young man who had so much life ahead of him.

The End

I hope you enjoyed this first short story, the next one will be posted soon, I just have to do some editing first. :)

The reason why I started my AU stories from this episode, was it really showed the first signs of Jenny's mental breakdown, when she interfered in the police investigations of the little girl, something that seemed so out of character for her. (I understand one or both of the actors were moving on from the show and the writers then had to write them out. I suppose we should be grateful they didn't kill them off. LOL)

And since I didn't want Jenny to have that breakdown, I took both her and Dennis out of that situation all together but that doesn't mean they won't have ups and downs in the future.