Author's Note: I have made some progress with this story. There will be two more chapters after this one. Thank you to everyone who has reviewed this so far and thanks for your patience!

Chapter 4

Julie woke early, turning over in bed as she came to. She realised she was in Gill's spare bedroom, and given the amount of gin she had consumed last night, she didn't feel too bad. Looking at her phone she saw it was 7am and wondered if it were too early to call Annie in Sheffield. She had yet to inform her about yesterday's events as she didn't want her to worry when she was so far away, and unable to do anything about it. She desperately wanted to talk to her now, as she was missing her so much. Picking up the phone she rang her spouse.

"Hiya, love." a half-awake voice greeted her.

"Mmm, morning. Sorry it's so early, but I needed to hear your voice." Julie confided. "Apologies if I woke you."

"Not a problem; anyone else...well that would have been a different matter!"

Julie knew that although Annie's job called for many an early morning, she was not really a morning person.

"How are you getting on, and when do you think you'll be finished?" Julie enquired.

"Is that your way of asking me when I will be home?" Annie teased.

"Might be. I miss you, you mad cow!"

"Miss you too. Nearly done. I should be back this evening if I get a move on. Once I have all I need I can compose my report at home and e-mail it when it's done." Annie said. Julie could hear the tiredness in her voice, and regretted phoning her so early.

"What time did you get to bed?" Julie asked, concern clear in her voice.

"Not really sure, late or early depending on your perspective. What about you how was the party? You don't sound like you have a hangover!"

"Bit of a headache, that's all. It was fairly eventful." Julie wondered how much to divulge to Annie. Oh, sod it! We have no secrets from each other, and besides I need her advice!

"It was interesting!" Julie said, not giving much away, as she decided how much to tell Annie, over the phone. Interesting doesn't begin to cover it! "I didn't get there til late. Work kept me longer than I would have liked."

"Oh, love!" Annie said. "You work too hard,"

"Listen who's talking; you're a workaholic!" Julie countered.

"I think we both are. Let's just leave it at that!" Annie said. "Anyway, what was so interesting?"

"Well, Gill and Rachel had a moment..."

"A moment? What are you on ab...?" Annie stopped as the penny dropped.

"What? You mean Gill actually...?"

"It was before I was there. Rachel had left with Janet as I arrived. Gill told me about it. She wants to take it further, but she's worried, and I think she's pushed Rachel away."

Julie explained to Annie, what Gill had told her.

"Oh for the love of God! Can't you knock their heads together and get them to see sense. They are so made for each other!"

Julie chuckled, causing Annie to frown, and say;

"What? You know I'm right!"

"It's just funny hearing Annie the matchmaker. What would all your colleagues say!"

"Oh, piss off! Forensic pathologists can be romantics too, you know!"

"If you say so..." Julie laughed. "Hurry home, I miss you!"

"Now who's getting all soppy?"

"Senior policewoman can be romantic too, you know..."

"What are you planning?"

"Oh, nothing special." Julie said. "Just don't expect me to keep my hands off you!"

"Mmm, I miss you so much. What I wouldn't give to hold you right now..."

Julie groaned as she her the passion in her wife's voice, closing her eyes, remembering the last time they had made love.

"I'd better let you get back to work. The sooner you finish the sooner you'll be here!"

"Hmm, what are you going to do about Gill and Rachel?"

"Well, try to get Gill to talk to her, I suppose. She's trying to run away from it, and I'll not going to let her!"

"That's my girl!" Annie said. "Sort them out!"

"Easier said than done!"

"Look, why don't you ring Janet, and get her on board?"

"That's actually not a bad idea..."

"I have been known to have a few..." Annie said, laughing.

"That's why I love you so..." Julie said sincerely. "Well that, and your gorgeous tits!"

"Oh, spoil it, why don't you!" Annie said, mock indignantly

"What? You do have gorgeous tits!" Julie said sincerely. "and I miss them, and the rest of you!"

"Glad to hear it!" Annie said. "I would hate to think you were trying to objectify me!"

"Heaven forbid! Moi? Never!"

"And here was I, thinking you loved me for my mind!" Annie continued.

"Just love all of you, from the top of your head to the end of your toes! So, hurry on home so I can show you just how much!"

"Well, I'll make a start and ring you before I set off. I'll try to time it so I don't hit the traffic. What are you up to today?"

"Well. I'm going to help tidy up after the party and then take Gill out to lunch and chat. At some point I will need to nip into work, and finish a report I was supposed to do yesterday, but wasn't able to, as I was called to a major incident."

"I heard something about an incident, A police officer abducted and taken hostage in her car? Was that the one?"

"Yes." Julie replied, not elaborating. She really didn't want to tell Annie this over the phone.

Annie detected Julie's reluctance to go into details.

"Is everything OK?" she asked.

"Yes. You know how these things are,"

Annie could tell something was not quite right. "What is it, love?"

"It was Gill..."

"What was Gill?" Annie said, puzzled for a moment, and then, "The Officer that was taken hostage! Oh, why on Earth didn't you ring me?!"

"Because you were so far away, and I knew you'd only worry. Besides, it was late by the time I'd finished at HQ, and I knew you had enough on your plate."

"I'm getting up now, and should be finished in a couple of hours. Is Gill really all right?"

"You know Gill...Indestructible!"

"Yes, a regular Captain Scarlet! Are you OK?" Annie asked, concern evident down the phone line.

"I am now, and I'll be even better when you're home! I'm going to make a start on the tidying up. If I keep busy, it won't seem too long before you're here!"

"I'm going down to breakfast and then I'll head in." Annie said, thoughtfully. I'll ring you when I'm done."

After reassuring Annie again, that all was well, the pair said their goodbyes, and Julie got out of bed, pulling on a robe, and made her way downstairs.

As she approached the kitchen, she heard whispered voices and opened the door to find Sammy, Orla and a couple of Sammy's mates tidying up.

"Oh!" Julie said. "I was coming to make a start on the mess, but it looks like you beat me to it!"

"Sorry if we woke you, Julie." Orla said. We tried to be quiet!"

"That's OK I was getting up anyway." Julie replied. "Do you need me to do anything?"

"We've got it covered, thanks." Sammy said. "I wanted to show mum that I can be responsible, and that she can trust me!"

"Oh Sammy! She does trust you, you know. She's very proud of you!"

"Sometimes she still treats me like a little kid!" Sammy said indignantly.

"That's just because she's your mother and she loves you. You'll always be her baby!"

"It just gets annoying sometimes. I can't wait til we get our own place, Orla and me. It'll be great."

Julie smiled, the enthusiasm of youth! She thought,

"It will be wonderful." Julie acknowledged, "You'd better invite your old Auntie Jules round!"

"Course I will! You'll be welcome any time, won't she Orla?"

"Absolutely!" Orla concurred. "You and Annie can come round whenever you want!"

"I'll hold you to that. Now, what can I do to help?"

"Nothing!" Orla said. "It's all under control!"

"You sure?" Julie said.

When Orla nodded, Julie decided to go and shower and then prepare breakfast for Gill. Even though she had won the silly bet they had had last night, she had always intended to make Gill breakfast this morning. Gill needed looking after and all her friends round her, making her feel loved and safe, after her terrible ordeal, and Julie was going to do all in her power to facilitate that.

After showering and dressing, Julie set about making coffee and toast to take up to Gill. Balancing the tray, Julie ascended the stairs and knocked on Gill's bedroom door.

"Hello?" Gill called a little croakily.

Julie entered and set the tray down. Looking at a sleepy Gill affectionately.

"Hi sleepy-head. How are you feeling this morning?" Julie enquired.

"A little hoarse." Gill replied, her voice cracking as she rubbed her neck. The bruising was now very visible. Gill sat up in bed and Julie reached down to give her friend a reassuring hug.

"Did you manage to sleep?" Julie asked, concern evident in her voice.

"Some, not a great deal." Gill admitted. "I've been awake for a while, just thinking."

"Don't think too much. You'll just make your head hurt more!"

"I know." Gill replied, as Julie handed her the coffee.

"I hope you enjoy it. The toast should help too."

"You are good to me you know. I thought I was supposed to be making you breakfast?"

"Nah, that was just a silly bet. I always intended to spoil you. What are your plans for today?"

"Well I need to tidy up for a start!"

"No you don't. The kids are on with it; Sammy and Orla and a couple of their friends that stayed over. It's looking good."

"Ah, he's not a bad kid really." Gill said, thoughtfully, as she nibbled on the toast.

"No, he's great...Thanks to his Godmothers!"

"What? You and Janet? You think you're a good influence?" Gill said.

"Of course!" Julie responded. "Only the best!"

Gill didn't reply as she finished the coffee and toast, and stretched out in bed.

"Mmm, I suppose I should get up." Gill mused.

"You don't have to. Go back to sleep if you want. I'm going to nip into work, just to see what's what. I didn't get much of work done yesterday, what with..." Julie tailed off.

"Yes, sorry about that!" Gill quipped, smiling.

Julie let out the breath she had been holding. She didn't want to make Gill uncomfortable, but she didn't want to avoid the subject either.

"I'll come back later and we can go out for lunch." Julie said as she got up and smoothed her trousers. Gill turned over and snuggled down again, as Julie left the room, closing the door behind her, quietly.

Arriving in her office at HQ, Julie groaned at the disarray. She had dropped everything when the call came yesterday. She set her coffee machine going as she tidied up her files, and fired up her computer. It seemed to take an age to load up these days, and Julie would be very glad, when the promised new one finally materialised. Julie looked at her e-mails, answering the ones that seemed most urgent and leaving the others for Monday. Once she had finished, she played her phone messages, and noted them down. There was one from Karen, telling her not to overdo it, and asking her to make sure Gill did not show up for work on Monday. How well she knows her officers, Julie thought. She ought to take her own advice though. Julie would bet her pension that Karen was in her office now, even though she knew it was not her weekend on.

Julie sat back in her chair, and wondered about calling Janet. Oh sod it, she thought as she dialled Janet's mobile.

"Hello, Julie?" Janet's voice sounded a little distant. "I'm in the car, don't worry, I'm hands free!"

Janet had forgotten what the Trafford Centre was like on a Saturday and was driving round to find a parking space, having dropped Rachel off at the entrance, and arranging a rendezvous in Starbucks, once she had found that elusive space.

"You alone?" Julie asked, not wanting to have this conversation with Janet if Rachel were listening in. If she were honest, she really didn't want to have this conversation anyway, but she had to, for Gill's sake.

"Yeah, I'm trying to park at the Trafford Centre. I dropped Rachel off. It was getting ridiculous driving round. God, I hate this! Why on Earth did I suggest the Trafford Centre on a Saturday!"

Julie laughed. "Distraction, maybe?"

"I guess Gill's told you what happened last night then?"

"Pretty much." Julie responded.

The two compared notes. Julie was surprised to learn the depths of Rachel's feelings, and the two of them conspired to see what they could do to bring the pair together.

"We should bang their heads together, and leave them in a locked room til they sort it out!" Janet suggested.

"Hmm, much as the idea appeals, I think we'd be better being around but not in the way."

"How about we all meet up for a late lunch, and then you and I can think of some reason, we have to leave?" Janet suggested. "They can't get into too much trouble in a public place!"

"Maybe, but we'd better not tell them we're going to meet; make it look like we just bumped into each other?"

"That might work." Julie said thoughtfully, and the two worked out where to meet, and when.

Having agreed on a venue, and a time, they finished their conversation and Julie shut down her computer, picked up her bag and exited her office with a smile. This matchmaking could be quite fun! She thought.