Disclaimer not mine,

Friends?

"Hi." Natalie looked up as Ronnie walked into the hospital room she had been in since the doctors had decided she was well enough to be moved from the Resus Room.

"Hiya." Ronnie smiled sheepishly.

"Matt and the others?" Natalie glanced towards the door as Ronnie clicked it shut behind him. He nodded once before sitting down on the plastic chair next to her bed.

"Apart from Sam and Angie the others are all out there. Gill's reading some poor doctor the riot act."

"She doesn't change." Natalie shifted uncomfortably as the IV drip she was connected to got in her way. Ronnie swallowed hard before finally meeting her gaze. "Ron."

"Yeah?"

"My kids."

"Are with your sister. Hit them had, this has. You should be proud of them both. They've been good as gold. Don't think my girls would have been half as good if it had been the other way around. Especially my Sarah. I reckon she'd have lost the plot."

"Daddy's girls." Natalie smiled slightly.

"No chance." Ronnie shook his head. "A few too many drunken nights put pay to that. No, your boys have kept it together all through this. More than some so called adults around here."

"Gill said." Natalie sighed. "Matt and you."

"We took it badly, yeah I admit. You ok? I mean I know you're not ok."

"Ron." Natalie looked at the hospital blue bed sheet and frowned. "No, but I will be. I've gotta be ain't I? Those boys need their mother and the poor buggers drew the short straw and ended up with me. God, what state is the house in?"

"It's still a crime scene." Ronnie stated honestly. "SOCO been over it with a fine tooth comb."

"Right." Natalie rested her head back against the pillow and closed her eyes. She hated the thought of science officers and forensics going over her private space. Her family home had always been the place she could try to forget about work for a few hours and try to focus on what was important. "How long?"

"I spoke to Donna from the SOCO team. You know Donna Evans? DS now. I knew 'er when she was fresh outta Hendon."

"Ron."

"Sorry. Tonight. They should be finished by tonight."

"Good." She opened her eyes again to see Ronnie staring at the floor. She couldn't help but smile at the sight of her friend looking completely lost. It was rare that Ronnie Brooks was lost for words. For a moment she didn't know whether to tell him to pull himself together or hug him. "I'll give Angie my statement tomorrow. Before you start I know you are the most senior officer after me but."

"We're mates." Ronnie nodded. "I get it. But,"

"Angie is a good girl."

"No, it's not that. We weren't running the investigation into your disappearance. Regular CID got that." He looked away. "It wont be Angie taking your statement or me. Or any of MIT."

"Ok." Natalie nodded. Ronnie looked up as Natalie touched his hand. "Probably for the best." She tried not to wince as she moved, everything ached and even a slight movement made her feel sick. "What happened to Palmer?"

#############

"Can you believe Palmer just confessed?" Jake asked as he walked with James through the corridors towards George's office.

"Yes." James smiled slightly. "I can. Men like him. They believe they are doing the right thing. I think the psychologists are going to have a field day with him."

"Yeah." Jake rolled his eyes. "Mind you, how anyone could believe him sane would be a mystery to me."

"You'd be surprised." James started as he rested a hand on George's office door. "I wouldn't be surprised if the defence try to go with the insanity plea."

"That would make things interesting." George interrupted them as he opened the door and appraised the two younger men. "Where's Alesha?"

"Paperwork." James stated as George rolled his eyes.

"You work that girl too hard. Come on then. What have we got?" He closed the door behind them and walked to his desk. All he could do was hope that Alesha was able to find the missing pieces of the puzzle.

"Not much." James sat down. "It seems that Palmer confessed all to Sam and Angie. He really seems to believe that by killing the people he did he was continuing Pope's work. Mickey Fingers was being blackmailed and Pope's murder was the result of Pope arguing with a former cell mate."

"So? Trial date?" George looked over at the two men.

"Not yet, awaiting the report from the mental health experts." James answered. "Look, George we know this is going to go to trial probably later rather than sooner."

"Indeed." George nodded. "But I can't see there being a problem with building a case. Let me know as soon as there is a date for the actual trial." He watched as both men got to their feet and headed towards the doorway. "Oh and James?"

"Yes George?" James turned as Jake left the room.

"How is Natalie? Is there any news from the hospital?"

"I don't know." James looked away for a moment. "I really don't know."

###############################

Matt looked behind him as the familiar click of heels made him jump for a moment. He smiled when he realised who it was that was following him.

"You should be in work." He smiled as his wife raised an eyebrow.

"I am."

"Looks like it." Matt kissed her gently. "You ok?"

"How's Natalie?" She deflected the question as Matt fell into step beside her.

"Ron's with her. Has barely left her since we brought her in. God, Lesh I was convinced. You know when I found her in Palmer's van." Matt shook his head. "She was so pale. I don't think I've ever seen a person so pale who was still alive."

"Matt." Alesha slipped her hand into his as they neared the ward where Natalie was being nursed.

"Yeah." Matt turned to face her. "What is it?"

Alesha bit her lip before nodding towards the entrance to the ward. Natalie was stood facing Ronnie who looked slightly lost. Before Matt could call out Natalie rested a hand on Ronnie's arm and turned to walk back to her room. Matt smiled slightly as he watched the couple.

"Now tell me they are just friends." Alesha smiled as Matt rolled his eyes. It seemed that for once he was going to just have to accept his wife was right.

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A/N That's the end. I know it's a funny ending and this is probably my least favourite of my L&O UK stories. I will have a sequel up soon. Question is do I write the trial? Have an idea for a story around Ronnie's daughter and a case.