ATONEMENT

Author:     Eggbert

E-mail:     mbejane2000@yahoo.com

Disclaimer: They're not mine, I just like to play with
            them now and again.

Pairing:    Des/Reg, Reg/other.

Summary:    What goes around comes around and Des may
            just have to make the ultimate sacrifice.

Spoilers:   For the whole Sun Hill Fire scenario,
            otherwise none.

Rating:     R

Dedicated to kel and Sioux. Sorry about this...


Des climbed back up the stairs and opened the bedroom
door. Brilliant sunlight flooded the room but hadn't
quite disturbed the occupant of the bed. Des placed
the mug of tea on the bedside table and kissed Reg
awake.

" I've brought you some tea. " he explained. " I've
got to go, love. I'm supposed to meet Cathy Bradford
in ten minutes. "

Reg yawned. " Better get your skates on, then. " he
said, sitting up and sipping at his tea. " I'll see
you later. "

" See you. " said Des and clattered off down the
stairs.

As he drove to the rendezvous he realised he was
smiling.

//I'm happy//.

Cathy glowered at him as he slid into the passenger
seat of her car.

" You're late! " she hissed.

" Nothin's happened though, has it? " asked Des
trying, and failing, to smother a yawn.

" Luckily for you. "

Des slouched in his seat. Today looked like being
another wonderful day in CSU. He was so intent on
watching the suspect's house that he didn't realise
his companion was watching him.

Cathy wasn't much given to gossip but she couldn't
have avoided hearing the rumours. That Des and Reg
were more than best friends. She couldn't believe it,
why would a man like Des waste his time on a nobody
like Reg Hollis? She liked Des a great deal more than
she was willing to admit. His opinions tallied well
with hers and she also knew he was a bit of a
womaniser. She wasn't adverse to a casual fuck; it
might sweeten the pain of Brandon discarding her after
one night. And she would be calling the shots.

After three hours they gave up on the surveillance.

"Let's get back to the nick, " said Des. " I'm choking
for a cup of tea. "

" I'm buying, " she said with a flirtatious grin. " I
might even stretch to a cream cake for you, Des. "

Des felt uneasy. Why was she acting like this towards
him? It became abundantly clear when she slid her hand
over his thigh.

" Of course if you fancy something else..."

Gently he removed her hand.

" Look, I'm really flattered. " said Des. " But I'm
not interested. Really. "

" Why not? You've hit on anything vaguely female in
the station since the day you got here. " she
protested. Des felt himself getting annoyed.

" Listen, love. Even if you were the most beautiful
woman on earth, I still wouldn't want you, all right?
I've got someone and I love him. "

" That's disgusting! " she exclaimed. " You're nothing
but a hypocrite!"

" And don't forget revolting pervert, " added Des. " I
know what you think of gay and bisexual people, love."

" Who else knows? " she asked.

" Anyone at Sun Hill without blinkers. " said Des.

" And you let me make a fool of myself. "

" If I'd known you had the hots for me then I might
have warned you off. But I still can't believe you
didn't know."

" Let's just forget about it, yeah? " she said, trying
to pull herself together. " And I'd appreciate it if
you didn't mention it. "

" No problem. Now what about that tea? "

Cathy sat in the canteen where she could watch Des. He
sat at a table with Tony and Gary and unfolded a copy
of The Mirror. Minutes later, Reg came into the
canteen and made a beeline for the table. He stood
behind Des as if reading over his shoulder then leaned
forward to point something out on one of the pages,
resting comfortably on Des's shoulder. Des looked up
at him and smiled, his whole face illuminated by some
inner happiness. He grasped Reg's errant hand and
kissed the palm as Reg blushed. In that minute, no one
else existed but them.

" Pack it in, you two. " said Tony in a jocular voice.
" You'd think you didn't get enough of it at home. "

Des pulled a face, which made them all laugh and the
conversation, and mood, returned to normal.

Cathy put her cup down. She had seen enough, enough to
feel like a complete idiot. She wasn't keen on
humiliation; she liked to share it around.

" Sarge, can I have a word? " she asked.

" What's up, Cathy? " asked June Ackland.

" It's about Des."

" What's he done now? "

" Did you know he's having a relationship with Reg
Hollis? "

June laughed. " Of course I did. Dear God, Cathy
you're a bit behind with the times. They've been
together for ages. "

" Oh, "

June became stern.

" I know your opinions on homosexuals, Cathy but as
long as you and Des have to work together you will
keep them to yourself, is that clear? Because if I get
one whiff of harassment by you then I will put in a
disciplinary report. "

" Sarge, "

June frowned at Cathy's retreating back. This was just
another reason to petition the DCI into getting Des
back into uniform. Des would never make anything of
the CSU when he had Cathy Bradford gunning for him.
June didn't need that kind of atmosphere at work and
Des and Reg should be left alone. Making a mental note
to ring Jack Meadows as soon as time permitted she got
on with the case in hand.

Nothing short of a bomb could have removed the grin
from Des's face as he drove home that night. He
stopped at the off-license and emerged with two
carrier bags that clinked gently as he put them in the
boot.

Reg wouldn't be home for a while yet, so Des set about
arranging an intimate atmosphere. Soft lights, that romantic
classical stuff Reg liked so much on the stereo, champagne
chilling in the fridge and Des made sure he wasn't wearing
anything complicated.

Reg was startled to hear a loud pop as he opened the
front door. Swiftly he took in the romantic atmosphere
and the peerless sight of Des in easily removable
clothing with a champagne bottle in his hand.

" What's the occasion? " asked Reg as he moved in to
kiss his lover. " It's not your birthday and our
anniversary's not for two weeks. You haven't won the
lottery and not told me, have you? "

" As good as, Reggie babe" said Des with a grin. " I'm
back in uniform tomorrow. I thought we could
celebrate. "

" That's brilliant! " exclaimed Reg, accepting the
glass from Des. " How come? "

" I was hardly CSU material, now was I? I don't care
how, all I know is I'll be back in the area car
tomorrow. "

" Gemma will be pleased, " said Reg slyly, grinning at
Des's horrified expression.

" Anyway, " continued Reg, " I'm going up for a bath."

" How would you like your back scrubbed? " asked Des

" I can think of better things for you to do with your
hands. Give me five minutes. "

Reg slid into the warm, scented water and relaxed. He
closed his eyes, allowing the heat to soothe his tired
muscles. The bathroom door opened and Reg smiled as he
felt Des's hands on his shoulders, gently massaging
away all the tensions of the day. His eyes opened as
Des's hands moved further south to caress him.

" Get in here. " instructed Reg; " You're overdressed
for a bath attendant. "

Des complied and embraced his lover, their wet skins
sliding against each other as the embrace became more
and more passionate and Reg closed his eyes again,
unable to resist the warm pull of Des's mouth he
climaxed with a bone-deep cry.

" I love you, " whispered Des as they climbed out of
the rapidly cooling water and he towelled Reg dry.

" I love you too. " replied Reg.

Smiling, Des led him into the bedroom.

*~*~*~*~*~*~

The car screeched to a halt in the car park and Des
and Reg ran full-tilt into the station. They just made
it in time for parade though an icy glare from
Sergeant Boyden made it clear that their dishevelment
would not go unremarked.

" Oi, I want a word. " he said as they tried to sneak
past him. "My office. "

" Sorry, Sarge. " said Des; this gaze fixed
approximately two inches from Matt's left ear. " We
slept in. "

" Okay but it's no excuse to go out on patrol looking
like a couple of scarecrows!" thundered Boyden. Reg's
tie was crooked and his stab vest was AWOL, Des's
shirt was buttoned up so badly he looked like all his
ribs were dislocated, neither of them had shaved that
morning and Des looked like he was developing a
spectacular love bite on his neck

" Tidy yourselves up before you even //look// at the
area car. And if it happens again you'll both be for
it. "

" Sorry, Sarge. " said Reg, looking suitably
chastened.

" Yeah, it won't happen again. " promised Des.

Des waited till he entered the locker room before
allowing a huge grin to surface.

" That was a close one, Reggie babe. "

" It's all your fault, " said Reg, rummaging in his
locker for his electric razor. " You're a corrupting
influence. "

" Listen to who's talking. I didn't know what
unnatural practices were till I met you. I always
thought you should drink champagne, not lick it off
someone else's body. "

" I didn't hear you complain, " chuckled Reg, handing
him the razor.

" I had me gob full at the time, " said Des, grinning
at the scarlet blush rising on Reg's face.

" We'd better get cracking before Boyden finds another
excuse to yell at us. "

*~*~*~*~*~*~

" Des, Reg, this gentleman wants to speak to you. "
said Robbie Cryer as they returned to the station for
refs.

" What about? " asked Des suspiciously. The man looked
vaguely familiar.

" An incident this morning? " Robbie shrugged.

Des rolled his eyes at Reg and gestured to the man to
follow them both through to one of the interview
rooms.

" Take a seat, " offered Des, sitting behind the desk.
Reg followed suit.

The man, tall and fair-haired with piercing blue eyes
remained standing.

" They've done a marvellous job of rebuilding the
station, haven't they? " he said conversationally.

Des and Reg looked at each other quizzically.

" The FDO said you had some information for us? "
asked Des.

" Not, perhaps, the information you want, PC Taviner.
Jeff Simpson sends his regards. "

Des felt as though a huge hand had seized his heart.

" I'm sorry? "

" Don't piss me around, Taviner. He wants you to know
that he's sick of being a political prisoner. He wants
to see the real arsonist pay for his crimes. "

" I think you'd better go, " said Reg. The man sneered
at him.

" Tell your catamite to sit down, Taviner. This is
between you and Simpson. Tell the truth and shame the
devil. "

" No way. He pleaded guilty. " said Des flatly.

" But we know the truth, don't we? He said if you
didn't co-operate I was to remind you of the time your
//friend// was kidnapped. He said to tell you next time, you'd
be scooping your friend up with a spoon. "

The man smiled without a trace of warmth or mirth.

" Wait till he finds out the great, hard Des Taviner
is as queer as a clockwork orange. He hates queers
even more than he hates niggers. "

Des stood up, fury radiating from his every pore.

" Get out before I arrest you for being a cunt in a
built-up area. Jeff Simpson firebombed Sun Hill. End
of story. Now piss off. "

" You've been warned, Taviner. " said the man as he
moved gracefully towards the door. " Next time, no
warning. He wants to see you suffer as much as he is.
"


Reg laid a concerned hand on Des's arm. He shook it
off.

" Later, Reggie babe. Alright? "

*~*~*~*~*~*~

It was three in the morning and Des couldn't find a
comfortable spot in the bed. Reg sighed and sat up.

" Talk to me, Des. Or I might just have to smother you
with that pillow. "

Des clicked on the bedside light and Reg gasped at the
plain anguish and fear written all over his lover's
face.

" He's got me coming and going, Reg. " he said
quietly. " If I confess, I go to prison. For a very
long time. And you know how they love ex-coppers in
jail. If I do nothing, he'll kill you. "

" How can you be so sure? "

" You're the most precious thing in the world to me,
Reg. I love you and anyone with a pair of eyes could
see it. If I lost you there wouldn't be a lot of point
in my carrying on. I've got to confess. "

" What about Danny? "

" Danny's in the clear. All he has to do is say he
didn't hear a confession and he would have said so at
the trial. "

" But what if they don't try to get me? "

" They will. Reg, if I do go to prison, will you wait
for me? "

" Of course I will. " said Reg without hesitation. " I
love you. There have never been any secrets between
us. Whatever happens, I don't think I can imagine
being without you again. "

By the time the alarm clock sounded, they had reached
a decision.

" I'll do it tonight, " said Des in a firm tone. "
She'll get it the next day and all I have to do is
wait to be arrested."

Reg bit his lip. He couldn't bear this, but he knew
Des was right. They were between a rock and a hard
place.

The shift passed in a blur and it seemed like no time
before Des was seated at the kitchen table writing out
his confession to the Sun Hill fire and perverting the
course of justice, lying under oath and anything else
he could think of.

" Let's go for a drink, eh? " he said as he sealed the
envelope. " We can post this on the way. "

The Cabbage and Ferret was crowded that night and Des
and Reg didn't spot the two men watching them from
across the room. One pointed, spoke softly and left.
The other remained, watching intently.

Des drained the last of his whisky.

" I think I've had enough, " he said. " Let's go home
to bed, eh? Who knows when we might get another
chance? "

Reg concurred and they left. It was dark outside and
Reg shivered. Des put his arm around him.

" It'll be all right, Reggie babe, " he said
confidently.

The sound of a gunshot split the night air apart,
swiftly followed by another.

The crowd that emerged from the pub only heard a man's
despairing cries.

It took two burly paramedics to prise Reg away from
the body of his friend so they could attend to the
gunshot wound in Reg's chest and to ascertain that the
other man was dead at the scene. In the ambulance they
had to sedate him in case he hurt himself further, but
no amount of tranquilliser could stop him from
whispering his lover's name over and over again....

When the news broke at Sun Hill, no one could believe
it.

" Why? " was the question on everyone's lips. Gina
Gold knew, but she wasn't saying anything.
Tight-lipped, she drove to St Hugh's to see Reg.

" Five minutes, " warned the nurse in charge of
intensive care. " He's still critical. "

" Ma'am? " said Reg weakly as he saw whom his visitor
was.

" I got Des's letter this morning. " she said
abruptly. " Why now? "

" They threatened me. Des...he was trying to protect
me from all this. "

" He did, " she said softly. " He saved your life,
Reg. That second bullet was meant for you after the
first one missed. "

Reg closed his eyes as he digested this information.

" What will you do now? " he asked. " About the
letter. "

" I received no letter. Jeff Simpson firebombed Sun
Hill and, thanks to him, a bloody good officer is in
hospital and Des Taviner is a dead hero. The books are
balanced, Reg. Just you concentrate on getting better. "

" Ma'am. " Reg closed his eyes again.

The books were balanced. An eye for an eye. Des killed
six people; therefore his own death could be seen as
some form of atonement. If you looked at it that way.
In every other way it was utter bollocks. Des was
dead. Nothing else mattered.

Hot tears trickled out from behind Reg's closed
eyelids. Gina turned away, visibly distressed. Those
two had loved each other so much it wouldn't take Reg
much to be persuaded to join him.

She wanted to scream at the unfairness of it all.


*~*~*~*~*~*~

ONE YEAR LATER

Reg felt like a compete fish out of water. Gemma
Osborne had persuaded him to come to the LAGPA meeting
that night, against his better judgement. He had quite
enjoyed the discussion and the beer was well kept in
the function room but he didn't know anyone there and
he didn't want to monopolise Gemma.

" Look, Reg, " she had said kindly. " You've become a
proper hermit since Des died. This will do you good. "

Unable to think of a plausible excuse, he sighed and
helped himself to sausage rolls from the buffet."

" Could you pass the egg mayonnaise? " asked a voice.

Reg turned to find himself looking into a pair of the
bluest eyes he had ever seen, warm and kind with a
twinkle of amusement, they were the exact colour of
the forget-me-nots in his neglected garden.

The eyes belonged to a tall, broad shouldered man in
his fifties who smiled warmly at Reg as he passed him
the dish.

" Oh good, " said Gemma. " You two have met. "

" Not properly, " said Reg, wondering what she was up
to. He extended a hand to the stranger. " Reg Hollis.
"

His hand was firmly shaken.

" Dave Wilson. "

" Pleased to meet you, Dave. Do you know Gemma from
Traffic? "

Dave grinned at her.

" No, from here. I'm actually in the Transport Police.
I was always a bit of a trainspotter when I was young.
When I got the chance to combine work with my hobby, I
jumped at it."

Reg beamed at him.

" What about train sets? " he asked.

" Love 'em. " said Dave. " What about you? "

" You should see his bedroom, " said Gemma grinning. "
Wall to wall track, isn't it, Reg? "

Dave eyed Reg with renewed interest.

" Why don't I buy you a drink and you can tell me, eh?"

Gemma grinned as the two men walked off in the general
direction of the bar.

There had been a time when she didn't think Reg would
make it after Des's brutal, and still unsolved, murder
but he had surprised everyone at Sun Hill. But he was
still incredibly lonely.

She had known Dave Wilson for years, the group had
supported him as he nursed his beloved partner through
the hell of Alzheimer's and Dave had been unable to
even consider someone else in his life.

This could be a new beginning for them both

The End.