Everything unconditional belongs in pathology

Jean Innocent and Robbie walked along the river, each carrying a coffee. She was not looking forward to the conversation she needed to have with him. As they stopped to watch the swans Jean stated the reason she asked him to meet her. "I have Chief Superintendent McKendrick's report about your wife's faked death."

Robbie merely raised his eyebrows.

"Fiona appointed a task force to find out what happened and who Lawrie manipulated. It wasn't just Pamela Carson and Simon Monkford. There had to be police involvement."

"Must have been some rogue coppers I suppose."

She sighed, "I'm afraid this will hurt Robbie. You were betrayed by a few of our own."

He squeezed his cup so hard some coffee spurted out of the top. "Tell me."

"The names you know are DCI Martin Johnson, DI Jack Cornish, Dr. Martin Cook, and DS Alison McLennan."

Robbie gripped the arm of a bench and lowered himself onto the seat. "Johnson, Cornish, and Cook, they don't surprise me but Ali, are you sure?"

"Yes, it's all in Dr. Lafferty's report. Fiona put him in charge. He found an unidentified homeless woman's body was substituted for Val's." Jean sat down next to him and put her hand on his arm. "Robbie, Lawrie paid McLennan to kill the woman."

Robbie's shoulders slumped. "That's not the Ali McLennan I knew."

"She wasn't though was she?"

Jean did not want to let Robbie wallow in grief over McLennan's betrayal.

"Fiona said heads would roll but it's too late for that, Johnson and McLennan are both dead, Cornish has vanished, and Cook is in jail for selling body parts extracted from his corpses."

Robbie's face did not look happy. "Cook is lucky to be in jail where he is safe from Laura when she finds out."

Jean stared at the water. "I went to see Laura earlier today. She knows about the report. Stuart Lafferty called her."

"How is she?"

Jean turned to face him. "Why don't you find out for yourself? Or don't you still quite like her."

"I more than 'quite liked her'. I never showed Laura or the rest of the world that I loved her. I assumed everyone knew." Robbie turned away from Jean. "Laura is better off without me."

"Oh?"

"Well, for starters I am apparently still married. Then there's the age difference. And she deserves someone who isn't a bad tempered old grouch."

"Honestly Robbie I could hit you sometimes. You just need a good lawyer to unravel the marriage. The age difference is only 13 years, not a century like you make it out to be." She saw his shocked expression. "Are you telling me you don't know her real age?"

Robbie did some calculations in his head. All those years ago he must have thought of and forgot the wrong number when she invited him to her party.

Jean pointed at him with her cup. "Furthermore you choose to be an old grouch. Why is that, to pay homage to your old mentor Morse?"

"James accused me of the same thing, carrying on Morse's legacy." He closed his eyes as a memory flooded his brain. "Morse claimed to be the cheeriest Chief Inspector in the Division."

"Ha!" She took a drink of her coffee, now cold, and grimaced. "That man has a lot to answer for. As do you."

He answered with the same old excuse. "Stuck in the past, me."

Robbie went to the flower shop and carefully selected a bouquet with no roses. The attendant gave him a card to go with them. He began writing, 'Val'...

Val was surprised and pleased to receive Robbie's flowers and note. He remembered her favorite purple Chrysanthemums.

Later in the day James found Robbie at his desk.

"Robbie, aren't you going to visit Laura while she recuperates from surgery? It's the least you can do after she donated a kidney to your son's partner."

"Moody has a cold case he wants me to look into."

"You are choosing a case over Laura? THAT is your decision?"

Robbie glared at him. "If you must know, there is trouble in Paradise."

"And throwing yourself into work is going to make things better?"

"It's what I do." He turned and stared at some data on his computer.

"Go, be with Laura, hold her hand."

"We don't do...holding hands."

"Now who does that remind me of?"

Robbie swiveled his chair towards James. "Tell me, what does Franco look like?"

"The dictator?"

"No clever clogs, Laura's old boyfriend, her onetime date."

James closed his eyes to recall the one and only time he saw Franco. "He is good looking, silver hair, a little older than her, foreign maybe."

"Yeah, German."

"Why are you asking about him?"

"I drove to her brother's house, sat outside trying to decide what to say to Laura. Just as I was getting out of the car I saw a man with a large bouquet of flowers at the door. Bradley Hobson let him in, looked very pleased to see him."

"And what did you do?"

"I waited two hours until he came out, then I left."

James threw up his hands. "Robbie!"

"How can I be jealous? If he can make her happy and I can't..."

"Well if that's your reaction there is only one thing to do."

"What's that?"

"Go back to Val."

A few days ago Laura had a pleasant visit with Franco. She watched him from the window as he left for his car and spotted Robbie outside sitting in his. Laura saw Robbie drive off and realized he must have seen Franco. Her good mood faded. Why did Robbie always give up so easily? Wasn't she worth fighting for? She returned to her room and completed the daily crossword puzzle in the newspaper, then read her horoscope.

'You deserve optimism, positivity, someone who knows the sun will not always be out, but is not afraid to dance in the middle of the street with you through the rain, snow, and hail. Don't dwell on those who make you feel unfulfilled; leave them without feeling bad. Love is supposed to be extraordinary. Don't settle for anything less.'

When Laura's two week recovery period was over she prepared to go home. Brad and Carole took good care of her but now she was ready to be on her own again. It wasn't always easy for her to live with other people. She hugged Carole and thanked her sister-in-law for her hospitality then went out the front door where she expected Brad would be loading her bag into his car.

Instead she walked out into the brilliant sunshine and thought she must have still been under the influence of last week's pain medication. A man was leaning against a 1960 Mark II Jaguar. Laura blinked her eyes a few times before she was sure it was Robbie, dressed in his best suit, with polished shoes, a clean white hankie in his top pocket, and sporting the blue tie that matched her eyes. Robbie was holding up a sign with 'DR. HOBSON' in large letters.

Laura's heart skipped a beat and she willed it back into order while looking around for her brother. He was nowhere to be found. Laura stood and stared warily at Robbie. He straightened up and walked towards her, slipped his arm under hers to escort her down the driveway. When they reached the passenger side door he opened it and stated, "I'll give you a lift home."

Laura hesitated. "I don't know." Where was Brad when she needed him?

Robbie gave her his most earnest expression and spoke in his deep quiet voice, the one that always melted her frosty mood. "I'm not arguing."

Aware that for once in his life Robbie was not giving up easily, Laura was still a bit leery of him letting her down and briefly trying to make things up to her. She politely told him, "Yes, I would like a ride home please."

They did not talk during the thirty minute drive. Robbie played a recording of Wagner's The Flying Dutchman conducted by Knappertsbusch. When they arrived home Robbie asked Laura to wait while he unlocked the house then opened her car door and helped her out. Laura turned towards the door and as she prepared to step forward Robbie swooped down and lifted her up.

Feet dangling Laura started to protest but Robbie was deaf to her insistence he put her down and carried her into the house to the front room and gingerly set her down on the sofa.

There was an overwhelming bouquet in the air. Laura gazed around the room to find flowers, dozens of white lilies, blue orchids, and red roses in vases on every surface in the room. With a perplexed expression on her face she asked, "Who died?"

Robbie sat down next to her. "No one, they are for you. I wanted it to smell nice in here and Carole said lilies and orchids were your favorites. I should have known that. The red roses are because I love you."

Without hesitation she responded sharply, "You should love me." Before she could soften her tone Robbie took her hands in his.

"I know. After all you have done for me. First as my best friend you helped me heal after I lost Morse and Val. Then you were by my side as I started a new chapter of my life."

"I did it because I loved you."

"You must have loved me, you let me break your heart over and over."

Laura nodded.

"I'm not the same man who was married to Val. The grief changed me. You changed me. The man I am today can love only you."

"Robbie, even if you and Val legally divorce, you won't really be mine. You have a history."

"You're wrong Laura."

"Oh?"

"I finally figured it out. Val, dead or alive, wasn't the problem. You helped me put her ghost to rest. She is my past, you are my present and I hope my future."

"I don't see me in your future."

Robbie took some papers out of his jacket pocket. "Let me show you my future. This is the new police consulting contract Moody offered me."

Tears welled up her eyes and she fought them off. "You will be brilliant Robbie as always. Only you won't find me home at the end of your long work day."

Robbie got up and left the room for a minute. He returned carrying something. "Our life together wasn't just a footnote in my new chapter." Robbie held up the contract for her to take a last look before he inserted each page into the document shredder. "Whether you take me back or not, I am done being a copper. I don't want to be like Morse and drive away everyone I love before they carry me out." He wedged himself onto the sofa next to her. "You won't mind being with a pensioner again?"

"That depends."

"I can't promise I won't burn your dinner but I will have it on the table for you when you get home."

"And what will you do all day, build another canoe?"

"Nope. I've enrolled in a massage therapy class, ends at 3:30 so I won't be late home. I'll be paying special attention to the lesson on back rubs." He slid his arm around her shoulders and let her head rest on his. "Those are my plans."

"Thank-you for sharing them with me." Suddenly overcome by fatigue she closed her eyes and allowed herself to get comfortable on his familiar form and soon fell asleep. Robbie was able to get up without waking her. He went to get Laura's favorite pillow and slid it under her head, removed her shoes and covered her with a quilt.

Laura awoke a couple of hours later to find Robbie reading a newspaper in a chair next to the sofa. She rubbed her eyes. "Have you been watching me sleep?"

"Yeah. I wanted to lie down next to you but I was afraid you might wake up and punch me."

"It's possible." She yawned.

"How are you feeling Laura?"

"I'm not sure. I had the strangest dream. You were giving up police work for good." She gave him the once over.

"Well it must be true. It says so right here." He showed her a full page ad opposite the crossword puzzle.

'Robbie Lewis announces his permanent retirement from the Oxford Police Department.'

"Let me see that!"

He handed her the paper. "You didn't notice it when you did the crossword puzzle today?"

"No, Brad said he forgot to save it for me and completed it himself and then Carole used the paper to wrap some rubbish for the bin." She squinted at him over the top of the paper. "Brad and Carole were in on this?"

"Yep."

"I can see Carole going along with your plan but Brad? He hasn't always been your biggest fan."

"I know. He prefers dictators to cops."

"Franco is just a friend now." Laura wanted to change the subject and she had been curious about something since earlier in the day. "Morse's car."

"What about it?"

"You've had it in storage for years. Why bring it out now, or have you been using it all along?"

"I couldn't, even though years ago Ken and Val wanted me to; it reminded me of the past. Morse left instructions for the car. At the bottom of the list was 'I hope the Jaguar brings you an excess of joy'."

"Morse wrote that?"

"Yeah. Maybe that is his legacy and I've been wrong all these years."

"You wanted to save the world, or at least part of it."

"I let my own world crumble around me." Robbie took the newspaper out of her hands. "Do you fancy a bite to eat?"

"I could murder a curry." She turned her head and said pointedly, "Is there room for us to eat out on the patio?"

"Yes, plenty of room out there, no unauthorized vehicles." He clasped her hand and helped her up. "I have a better idea than the patio, if you don't think we are too old."

"Too old for what?"

"You'll see." He tucked her hand under his arm as they went to the stairs and climbed up, continuing all the way to the end of the hall. There Robbie reached up and pulled down the folding attic stairs. "C'mon." He started up the narrow steps with Laura right behind him. Robbie had to bend down to avoid bumping his head.

"Careful Robbie."

When they reached the top Laura saw a picnic hamper. "We're eating in the attic?"

"No, one floor up." Still hunched over Robbie pointed upward and opened the skylight. Before she could protest he picked Laura up, careful to mind her surgical incision, (he had asked Lyn where it would be) until her head peaked out into the open air.

"The roof?"

"Yeah."

With Robbie's help Laura was able to get herself out onto the roof. "What about the food?"

"It's a moveable feast." Robbie handed up the picnic hamper to Laura then easily lifted himself up to join her.

"It's lovely up here."

"There is a blanket in case you get cold."

Robbie spread a tablecloth down for them to sit on and got out their favorite chicken curry sandwiches and potato salad. He fixed Laura a drink with a lemon wedge resting on the rim and a little umbrella on top.

She took a sip. "Robbie, this is sparkling water."

"We have to take care of your one remaining kidney."

"I have no intention of living like a nun."

He grinned at her. "I am very pleased to hear it."

They ate in silence for a few minutes. Laura enjoyed the view, especially the sight of her large and unencumbered patio below.

Robbie finished his sandwich quickly while Laura nibbled at hers. "I have something for you." He pulled something out from under the tablecloth.

Laura couldn't believe it. "Robbie, why are you giving me a picture of your bloody canoe. I won't have it anywhere in my house."

"After I tell you what it's for, I hope it will still be our house."

She eyed him suspiciously. "Well, go on."

"I want you to use this to remind me whenever I am being a fool. You shouldn't have to wait for me to figure it out and make it up to you. You can just put this on my pillow or my place at the table." He saw her mulling it over. "Sometimes we don't communicate well and this way you won't have to try and find the words. "

"How many copies of this can I have?"

"As many as you need."

"I suppose we can have some in our house if they serve a useful purpose."

"Good." Robbie packed up the remains of their meal. He punched a button on a small CD player and held out his hand to Laura. "Do you fancy a dance?"

James Hathaway and Jean Innocent met for a drink at The White Horse.

Jean took a sip of her wine. "You say he finally figured it out? You didn't bring him around?"

James stared at his pint. "Laura asked me not to, said it wouldn't stick unless he made the decision himself."

"To get a divorce?"

"Yes, but not from Val."

Jean understood. "From the job."

James nodded. "Val never was the real problem. He had already buried her. Laura believed he was married to his work and it would always come first. She accepted it because she loved him."

"Now he realizes he loves her more." She sighed. "Finally, Laura can look forward to going home to Robbie every night. If only Mr. Innocent wasn't always indisposed..."

Val appreciated Robbie's note. It said he was glad she had a friend to help her start her new chapter, no longer living a lie. He advised her to take it slow, but not too slow. After nearly losing Ryan, Ken Lewis mellowed a bit and he and Robbie would begin rebuilding their father and son relationship. While Ken took on the role of nurturer in the partnership Ryan became more adventurous and started taking risks. Perhaps it was his near death experience or having Jonathan back in his life. Or maybe he was influenced by the body part he received from Laura Hobson.

Not every relationship got a happy ending. Lyn was unable to forgive her mother for the faked death and all the years of grief. She understood why her father did not tell her as soon as he found out, to protect the health of her newborn, Susan. She allowed Tim to take the children to visit Val after first explaining the situation to Jack in terms he might understand. Val was delighted to hold her granddaughter Susan. Jack was polite to her but distant, fiercely loyal to Laura. He told Val that his grandfather was wrong, pathology was not overrated and he hoped to be taking care of corpses himself when he grew up. Val, Jonathan, Ken, and Ryan would return to Australia. Tim would keep in touch and send pictures and news of the children. Lyn continued to mourn for the mother she once loved.

Laura had her arms around Robbie's neck while his twined lightly around her waist. Her kept her warm without the blanket. "What's this song Robbie?" She recognized the voice and the guitar.

"James wrote it for us. It's called Two Moody People.

As they swayed in unison on the roof, careful not to get too close to the edge, each found meaningful lyrics in the song.

'Two colleagues who work together for years."

'You're on a pull tonight.'

'If you find out do let me know.'

'I had my suspicions.'

'It's strange after all these years, really good strange.'

'Have a good time, you deserve it.'

'Fancy a ride?'

'Still innocent after all these years.'

Robbie stopped dancing and leaned in to kiss Laura. Spines tingling, knees shaking, and hearts fluttering it felt as good as their first kiss. After several moments he pulled back and said breathlessly, "I've been thinking about doing that all day." He kissed her again.

Laura let a contented murmur escape from her lips then responded in a sultry voice, "Same here."

Robbie reached over to turn up the volume for the next line of the song.

'Marry the person you cannot live without.'

He whispered in her ear, "What do you say Laura?"

They stopped dancing briefly as Laura reached inside Robbie's jacket pocket for the pen she knew would be there, then bent down and picked up the picture of the canoe. She turned it over, wrote 'MRS LAURA LEWIS' on the back, and held it up for him to see.

The song ended with 'Today I have an excess of joy.'

Soft, delicate snowflakes began falling on them and they went on dancing. It was extraordinary.

What is done out of love always takes place beyond good and evil. Frederich Nietzsche

A/N: Thanks for reading through the final chapter. I had the idea about Val still being alive over a year ago. I really did not want to write this story but I couldn't get it out of my head so I tried to be fair to everyone (except poor Lyn). I always liked Val and wanted her to have a good outcome. In my mind though Robbie has to be with Laura in the end. Happy Trails! -H