LOVE IS FOR WOMEN

Author:     Eggbert
E-mail:     mbejane2000@y...
Disclaimer: They're not mine. If they were, this kind
            of thing would be canon and Tony Stamp would
            smile more often.

Rating:     R
Pairings:   Des/Reg, Luke/Kerry, Craig/Luke.

Summary:    Des's career is going nowhere and he can't
            see any way out of the doldrums. His one constant is
            Reg, but will he realise what he's got before it's too
            late? And why isn't Kerry Ashton blissfully happy with
            her new husband?

A/N:        Some of the dialogue is lifted verbatim from the
            above-mentioned episodes, sadly the body language is
            not.

Spoilers:   For eps 83 & 84 and for a future episode,
            possibly. Am I the only one who wishes they still had
            titles???

Dedicated to kel, Chris and Sioux.




" This is a wind up! " exclaimed Des, grinning at
Inspector Gina Gold. Her expression didn't change and
Des's grin disappeared.

" It's not, is it? "

" I'm sorry. I'm really sorry. " she said, sounding
as if she meant it.

" But I don't do domestics. "

" Well you do now! "

Des stormed out of her office and Gina sat down behind
her desk, ignored the No Smoking sign and lit up. Des
had been protecting her integrity and that was his
reward. Life with Reg was certainly having a
civilising effect on him. But the CSU? June and Jim
wouldn't know what had hit them.

When Des had simmered down slightly he pulled out his
mobile and called home. Reg was on nights but would be
up by now and Des could do with some comfort.

" Hello? " said a voice still thick with sleep.

" It's me, Reggie babe. "

" Des. Are you okay? " Reg sounded concerned as Des
rarely called from work.

" No, not really. You're never going to believe this.
I've been transferred. "

Now Reg sounded positively alarmed.

" Where to? You're not leaving Sun Hill? "

" The Community Safety Unit. "

Silence. Then Reg began to laugh.

" That's right, " grumbled Des. " Piss yourself. "

Reg recovered magnificently.

" Why on earth would they transfer you there? "

" Long story, mate. I'll tell you tomorrow night when
you're finished. " replied Des. He didn't want to
upset Reg with tales of bent judges and mouthy
builders.

" Okay, I might catch you before you come home. Take
care. "

" Bye. " said Des, pressing the End Call button.

Reg's reaction wouldn't be unusual; he realised with a
sinking heart. Des was a thief-taker not some bloody
ponce who mediated in domestics, community squabbles
and racist attacks. His highly-coloured opinions on
all of the above were well known at the nick. Jim
Carver and June Ackland would go spare.

Des cheered up slightly. Anything that got under the
skin of Mr
Caring-Sharing-My-Girlfriend-Keeps-My-Balls-In-Her-Handbag
could only be a god thing.

Des was off-duty and changed into civvies by the time
the night shift began to percolate in. He walked into
the PC's locker room and found Reg in the process of
buttoning his uniform shirt. Des looked round to
confirm they were alone and moved over to Reg, sliding
his arms around him. Reg returned the embrace, grazing
Des's jawline with his lips.

" I missed you, " whispered Des. Reg made a soft
murmur of appreciation.

" You're not too upset about the CSU thing, are you? "
asked Reg anxiously. Des shook his head.

" Nah, it'll probably do me good. Get me in touch with
me feelings. " He almost managed to keep a straight
face.

" It'll certainly be an experience. " said Reg dryly.
" There's a casserole in the oven for your supper and
I've ironed your stuff for tomorrow. "

" You've got me ruined, Reggie babe. " said Des. "
I'll show me appreciation tomorrow night. "

" Can't wait. " said Reg. " I've got to go or I'll be
late for the briefing. "

He gave Des what Des called a Reg Special, a warm
affectionate kiss with just a hint of tongue, enough
to send Des's pulse rate soaring. They both sounded
breathless as they parted.

Well content, Des drove home. He took the casserole
out of the oven and lifted the lid, inhaling the
fragrant aroma of chicken, his favourite. He was
starving and attacked the meal standing up, washing it
down with cold lager from the fridge.

He put the dishes in the sink to soak, promising
himself he'd wash them before he went to bed. There
was nothing guaranteed to wipe the smile off Reg's
face quicker than a sinkful of dirty dishes. Des took
a fresh can through to the living room and opened it,
stretching out on the sofa as he flicked through the
channels on the TV. Nothing was worth watching so he
turned it off. He wished Reg was there.

He hadn't given his domestic set-up a lot of thought.
He and Reg were lovers, the shock of almost losing
each other within the space of a few nightmare weeks
had made their friendship blossom into what it was now
and moving in together had seemed the most logical
step, even if Reg did drive him crackers most of the
time. Des had a fairly liberal attitude to using the
floor as a laundry basket, washing up only where there
were no clean plates and avoiding cleaning the toilet
like the plague. He realised he was a dinosaur but he
was learning and Reg's hissy fits had lessened
accordingly.

Their interests outside work were poles apart, he
considered Reg to be a complete anorak but there was
something that kept them together and stopped them
killing each other. Des felt safe when Reg was with
him. Reg kept the demons at bay, especially at night.
Reg kept him sane and secure and, in bed, Reg had no
equal in Des's experience. In bed, the whole thing
made sense and Des could not begin to contemplate a
life without him.

Des shied away from the word 'love'. Love was for
women, the kind of thing you said to get their
knickers off. Reg didn't need hearts and flowers; it
was different with him. Draining the last of his lager
Des got up and went through to wash the dishes.

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

On a scale of one to ten, Des's first day in the CSU
rated a minus. June Ackland had piled books and files
on his desk and told him to read and inwardly digest.
The thought of ploughing through tomes on domestic
violence made Des want to run away.

Then there had been the sarcastic comments from the
newly wed Mr and Mrs Ashton about his transfer. He
cast a brief glance over their photographs.

" Enjoy it. " Des had snarled. " Soon it'll be once a
week and only if she, " pointing to Kerry, " wants
something. "

" Has the shine worn off for you and Reg then? " Luke
had replied. It had taken every inch of Des's self
control to avoid punching the little shit's lights
out. He was in enough trouble without bringing
Gilmore's wrath down on him.

A blind man could see just how much the Sarge adored
Luke Ashton; every emotion was there to be read in his
warm eyes, eyes as soft and brown as demerara sugar.

It hadn't got much better, the domestic he and Jim
attended had resulted in a pint of beer being poured
down Des's shirt, the one Reg had so carefully ironed
the night before. Des had been forced to borrow one
from Ken Drummond and spent the rest of the shift
wearing an outsized salmon-pink monstrosity liberally
printed with black flowers.

His head ached as he drove home. If this was how he
was going to spend the rest of his time in the force
then he might consider something less humiliating as a
career. Lap dancing, for instance. He pulled up
outside the house, got out and locked the car. As he
opened the front door he felt his headache begin to
ease. He was home.

The sounds of what might have been Mozart drifted from
the living room and he could smell freshly chopped
onions and spices wafting from the kitchen. He smiled
as he hung up his jacket and went in to see Reg.

Reg was in his dressing gown standing at the kitchen
table slicing peppers while around him were bottles of
spices, olive oil and newly sliced beef. He turned to
smile at Des and his expression changed to one of
barely concealed mirth.

" What //are// you wearing? " he asked, his shoulders
shaking as he suppressed a fit of laughter. " What
happened to your other shirt? "

" Some twat spilled beer all over it. " growled Des. "
I had to borrow one. "

" Don't tell me, from Ken? "

" Yeah, I wish he'd stop letting his guide dog choose
his shirts. "

As Reg giggled, Des moved in, standing behind Reg and
nuzzling his neck. Reg tasted of warmth and sleep with
a faint hint of soap and Des's arms tightened round
him as Reg made small appreciative noises.

Due to their shifts he and Reg hadn't made love in a
week, the humiliation of the day, Reg's closeness and
warmth was turning Des on. Reg would make it better,
he always did.

Reg placed the knife well out of harms way as Des's
inquisitive hands unbelted his dressing gown. He
leaned back slightly and felt Des's trapped erection
pressing against him. He made no protest as his robe
slid to the floor and Des kicked it out of the way his
hands never still on Reg's body, his fingertips
stroking his ribs, moving down to caress the soft skin
of his thighs.

Des was desperate not to break the mood. He scanned
the table for a substitute and picked up the bottle of
olive oil.

" I can't wait, Reg. " he murmured.

Reg groaned aloud as he pressed back hard against
Des's cold slick fingers, there was the sound of a zip
being unfastened, a rustle of cloth and Des was inside
him like a column of fire. Reg clutched the table and
gave himself over to pure pleasure, knowing something
this insanely passionate couldn't last long and then
he was there and taking Des with him.

Des held Reg tightly as they both recovered, Reg
trembling as if he had a fever as Des soothed him and
waited for his own heart rate to descend from the
stratosphere. When he was entirely sure Reg wouldn't
faint he released him long enough to pick up a tea
towel which he used to clean them both off. The
all-pervading aroma of a curry-in-waiting couldn't
quite mask the smell of sex and spent adrenaline and
Reg wrinkled his nose as he dropped the tea towel into
the washing machine and pulled his dressing gown back
on.

" I bet Delia Smith never had interruptions like that
when she was cooking. " said Reg as he washed his
hands and picked the knife up again.

" It would have made much better telly if she had. "
said Des, stuffing Ken's crumpled and stained shirt
into the machine and turning it on. " I'm going for a
quick bath. "

" Dinner will be half an hour, " warned Reg. He had
had experience of Des's 'quick baths' before.

" I don't suppose you fancy coming up to scrub me
back? " asked Des hopefully.

" Not if you want to eat tonight. " said Reg firmly
but grinning at the same time.

The beef Madras was perfect, just like everything Reg
cooked and Des stuffed himself, surreptitiously
loosening his belt a notch.

" So how was your first day, apart from the shirt. "

" Crap. " said Des firmly, putting down his glass of
lager. " I knew it would be. It's a waste of bloody
time. Domestics where the tart's been playing away and
we're supposed to intervene because the fella gives
her a slap. I ask you. "

Reg looked pained.

" Jim didn't like me theory much. "

" I bet he didn't. "

" Then this stupid cow who's had the crap knocked out
of her drops the charges against her boyfriend."

" Why? "

" Because she loves him. " said Des, raising his eyes
heavenwards. " I don't know how much of this crap I
can take, Reg. "

" It's just for a little while. " said Reg. " Keep
your nose clean and you'll soon be back in uniform. "

" Is that a prediction? "

Reg laughed.

" Funny thing, love. People will put up with almost
anything if they love the person that's doing it to
them. "

Des frowned.

" Love's for women and people who don't know any
better."

" If you love someone, you can forgive them anything.
Arson, dodgy gambling, being a bigot and a
misogynist..."

" Reg, are you, in your usual roundabout way trying to
tell me something? "

Reg looked hurt.

" You're supposed to be the brains in this outfit.
Work it out for yourself. //I// don't know any better,
remember? "

" Reg..."

" I'm going to bed. " said Reg abruptly.

He left Des at the table very deep in thought. Des was
under no illusions as to what he was but what was the
point of being a hypocrite as well? Love was for
women. You couldn't love another man, no matter what
Reg might think.

" It's wind. " said Des gloomily as he got undressed.
" He'll get over it when he realises what he said. "

But the next morning, Reg was gone. There was no note
and the house felt permanently empty. Repressing a
superstitious shiver, Des drove to work for another
jolly day in CSU.

When he got tot he station he found another bit of
domestic bliss had been shattered.

Kerry Ashton was sobbing uncontrollably in the front
office as Robbie tried desperately to comfort her.

" What's wrong with her? " Des enquired as he pushed
his way through the security door.

Robbie looked distraught.

" I probably shouldn't be telling you this but Luke
and her have split up. Last night he told her he was
gay. "

" Eh? " Des couldn't believe his ears.

" It's true. He's gay and she's absolutely
heartbroken. "

" She will be, poor cow. " agreed Des. " Why didn't he
say something before they got married? He must have
known. "

" He told her he didn't want to believe it, he thought
they could make it work. "

Des grimaced.

" She loves him. " said Robbie.

" It's a mug's game, that. " said Des.

" You're only saying that because you've been so lucky
with Reg. " said Robbie with a grin. Des's uneasiness
cranked up a notch.

" Yeah. See yer, Robbie. Look after her, will yer? "

Robbie nodded and returned to a still-sobbing Kerry.

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

Craig Gilmore sighed and shifted slightly in his
chair. His pile of paperwork just didn't seem to be
getting any smaller despite his best efforts and Gina
Gold poking her head round his office door didn't
help.

" Yes, ma'am? "

" Craig, are you aware you've got a hysterical PC in
the front office? "

" What? " He looked genuinely surprised.

" Kerry Ashton appears to be having a nervous
breakdown. "

" Kerry? What's wrong with her? She should be
ecstatic. " he grumbled. I know I would be if I'd just
come back off my honeymoon with Luke he added
silently.

Gina shrugged. " Sort it out, will you? Gives the
public a very bad first impression. "

" Yeah, okay, I'll do it now. " muttered Craig getting
up and stalking towards the front desk. Halfway down
the corridor her came face to face with Kerry. Her
eyes were red and swollen and her face was streaked
with an unlovely mixture of tears and mascara.

" I've been looking for you. " said Craig in his most
soothing voice.

Crack.

Craig was sent reeling into the wall as Kerry
backhanded him across the face. A metallic taste in
his mouth made him aware his lip was split.

" You bastard! " hissed Kerry. " This is all your
fault! "

" What is? Why did you..."

" Luke told me everything last night. All about him
kissing you, how he tried to protect you from Carl
because he didn't want to see you hurt, how you two
made love on his stag night and how you begged him not
to go through with the wedding. "

Craig was stunned and horrified. He'd never expected
this.

" Kerry, I..."

" You told him you loved him. " she snarled. Craig
knew nothing less than the truth would suffice now.

" Luke's confused. What you just said is all true. I
worked my hardest to get you two together because I
thought I was doing the right thing, that it would be
an end to it. You're the innocent one here, Kerry. "

" But how could you? Sleep with him when you knew..."

" He made all the moves, Kerry. And I'm only human.
I've wanted Luke since the moment I laid eyes on him."

She nodded as if that confirmed something she already
knew.

" Right now, I never want to set eyes on either of you
again. I'm going home. Tomorrow you can expect my
transfer application to land on Inspector Gold's desk
and until it's confirmed I will be on sick leave. "

Craig made no reply as she turned and walked away from
him. There was nothing to say.

In the toilets he inspected the damage, His lower lip
was going to swell to the size of an inner tube. He
winced as he rinsed his mouth out and dabbed
ineffectually at the drying blood on his chin.

" Very nice, " said Gina sarcastically when he went to
her office to make a verbal report of what had
happened. He frowned as he concluded his story.

" Selfish little bastard! " she fumed, meaning Luke.

" I think he's been very brave, " objected Craig.

" No, Craig. He would have been brave if he'd called
the wedding off after I found you two in bed together.
This way he's hurt you and humiliated Kerry. He's just
a stupid, selfish little boy who doesn't know what he
wants. "

" You're right, " agreed Craig. Luke's timing had been
terrible.

" What does he have to say about all this? " asked
Gina.

" He's not on shift till tomorrow. "

" I suggest you find out. He's completely disrupted my
relief and that's no way for a skinny runt like him to
behave. "

" I'll sort it. " said Craig confidently.

As it turned out he didn't have long to wait. Buried
in his paperwork he felt a prickling sensation on the
back of his neck. He looked up to see Luke Ashton
framed in the doorway of his office.

" Luke, "

" Can I talk to you? " asked Luke. His brown eyes were
stormy and he was gnawing on his bottom lip. All
Craig's hurt and resentment disappeared. His darling
was in pain and he had come to him for comfort.

" Close the door, " said Craig.

Luke did, coming round to Craig' s side of the desk
and perching on a spot that wasn't littered with
paperwork. Craig realised he was fiddling with his pen
and put it down.

" What did you want to talk about? " he asked, his
voice sounding higher than normal. Luke's proximity
had always unsettled him, it was even worse today. He
cleared his throat.

" What happened to your face? " asked Luke, leaning in
and lightly drawing the ball of his thumb over Craig's
swollen lip.

Craig closed his eyes. He had felt that light touch
with every fibre of his being. He had tried to kid
himself that he was over Luke, that Luke had just been
a crush but deep down he knew it was a farce. Luke was
the one and always would be. He loved him still. God
help him.

" It's nothing" breathed Craig.

" Did Kerry do it? " asked Luke. Craig's eyes flew
open in surprise.

" She's upset. " he hedged.

" She's got every right to be, " sighed Luke. " I'm an
idiot, you know? I should have listened to you. How
come you know me better than I know myself? Yesterday
there was this bloke. He was attracted to me, asked me
out, even though I told him I was married. Pulled me
up a bit because if there was ever going to be a man
in my life it wouldn't be him. "

Another bloke? In his mind, Craig Gilmore committed
murder.

" And Kerry deserves better. It would never work while
I still had such strong feelings for another man. "

" It could be the shortest marriage in history, "
agreed Craig. " This other man, does he know how you
feel? "

" I'm telling him now, " said Luke gently, a faint
smile tugging at the corner of his mouth at the
expression breaking on Craig's face. It was like
watching the sun come out at the end of winter.

" Me? You're in love with...me? " asked Craig
incredulously.

" After everything I put you through I can understand
if you don't want me but I had to tell you..."

His words were cut off as Craig pulled him from the
desk onto his lap and kissed him hungrily. Luke
responded with equal passion, his tongue entering
Craig's mouth, probing, exploring. He had missed this
so desperately, had lain awake at night craving the
feeling of Craig's body so close to his own. He had
another chance at happiness; nothing would take it
away from him now...

" Oi!"

The last thing Gina Gold had expected was to find
Craig with an armful of Luke Ashton in the middle of
the shift and entirely careless of who might walk in.

" This is hardly the time or the place, you two. " she
exclaimed though a tiny part of her was cheering like
hell.

" Sorry, ma'am. " they chorused, disentangling
themselves.

" PC Ashton, if groping sergeants is all you've got to
do with your time then I suggest you get in uniform
and get out on patrol. We're already short-handed
thanks to you. "

" Yes, ma'am. " said Luke and scuttled off. For a cold
shower, Gina hoped.

" Craig..."

She was helpless in the face of such utter happiness.
She threw her hands up in despair.

" Keep it for after work, eh? There's a prisoner needs
guarding at St Hugh's. Possible retaliation. "

" But ma'am. " he gestured to the mountain of forms.

" It'll keep. You are my most experienced officer at
this sort of thing. Just make sure you're well
protected."

" Ma'am. "

Smiling to himself Craig did as he was told.

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

" Sierra Oscar to all units. Violent assault at St
Hugh's. Officer down. Any unit deal? "

" Sierra Oscar from Sierra One. Show us dealing. "

Gemma Osborne sped off in the direction of the
hospital with the siren blaring and the lights
flashing.

" Sounds nasty. " said Luke.

Gemma ignored him and Luke sighed. He couldn't blame
her either. She and Kerry had become very close since
Cass died. He had no doubt who the bastard was here.

Luke was running....had to get away...the prisoner was
dead but the officer was Craig...Craig had been beaten
to a pulp...just to protect some low-life...he was in
theatre...it didn't look good...he'd die if anything
happened to him....

Everyone in CSU was in varying degrees of shock.

" Poor Craig, " said June clutching at Jim's arm. "
What did the doctor say? "

" He's stable. " said Gina Gold who looked as if she'd
aged twenty years in as many minutes as she turned to
leave.

Outside she bumped into Gemma and asked her if she'd
seen Luke.

" Not since I brought him back from St Hugh's. He was
in quite a bad way. "

" Not surprising. " said Gina. She watched Gemma put
two and two together.

" You mean him and the Sarge..."

Gina nodded.

" Now Luke's decided to edge his way out of the closet
he came to the one person who really loves him. In
spite of everything. I caught them kissing in Craig's
office not two hours ago. It's the first time I've
seen Craig smile in ages. The pair of them they
looked...complete. It's the only way I can describe
it. "

And Craig had been so protective of the younger
man...not knowing it was him who needed to be
protected...her eyes were stinging with tears again...

" I'll keep looking for him, " said Gemma
reassuringly. Gina inclined her head, not trusting
herself to speak.

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

It was Des who found him, curled up in Craig's office,
wide-eyed and paper white with shock.

" The inspector's looking for you, " said Des, trying
to hide his dismay at the devastation of Luke Ashton.

" They wouldn't let me see him. " said Luke in a voice
that was barely more than a whisper. " I love him more
than anything in the world and still I couldn't see
him, Des. "

Des put a parental arm round the young man's shoulders
to find him trembling with shock.

" I tell you what, let's go and see the dragon then
I'll take you to the hospital. You're in no state to
drive. "

" But..."

" They'll let us in. There's no one on Earth that'll
stop me being where I want to be. "

Gina Gold looked up at the interruption to see Des
supporting an ashen-faced Luke.

" Go home, Luke. " she said dismissively.

" Er, with your permission I'd like to take him back
to the hospital. He won't settle till he's seen the
Sarge for himself. " said Des.

" Yes, okay. Use your wonderful powers of persuasion,
Desmond. "

" Ma'am. " said Des, poker-faced.

He gently ushered Luke into the locker room.

" Get changed and I'll ring Reg and let him know I'll
be late."

Bu there was no reply from the house and Reg's mobile
was switched off. Des's uneasiness was becoming more
acute. Luke emerged from the locker room and they left
Sun Hill and sped off to St Hugh's.

" I'm sorry, " said the young house officer. " It's
completely out of the question.

Luke covered his eyes with his hands. He had known it
was hopeless but he had reckoned without Des.

They were outside the ward where Craig was and this
was their attempt to gain entry.

The doctor gasped in fright as a double handful of his
shirt was seized and he was pinned to the wall by a
large, wild-eyed Liverpudlian.

" Listen to me, pal. You'd better let my mate see his
fella or I'll shove that stethoscope right up your..."

" Put that man down immediately or I'll call the
police!"

The speaker was a youngish woman in the uniform of a
hospital sister.

" We are the police, love " sighed Des releasing the
doctor and flashing his warrant card under her nose.
Luke followed suit.

" And what's the problem? "

" You know the policeman who was attacked here today?
"

" I should do, he's one of my patients. "

" Well the lad here is his fella. His boyfriend. He
wants to see him but Dr Kildare here, " and he
gestured to the medic who was straightening his tie
and eyeing Des warily, " won't let him in. "

She looked at the pale young man who, although he
didn't know it, was crying softly and her controlled
face softened.

" He's still having tests. The minute they're done you
can see him. "

" Sister.."

" Go away, Dr Hall. " she barked. " You're not helping
matters any. "

Luke dried his face with his forearm.

"Are you Luke? " she asked.

" Yeah, why? "

" Craig's been asking for you. Now if you wait here
I'll go and see what's happening. "

She returned within minutes and the two men followed
her down the ward to a side room. She beckoned Luke
forward.

" He's very heavily sedated, it was quite a big
operation, " she warned him. " I can't let you stay
too long. "

Luke wasn't really listening. He only had eyes for the
man in the bed.

Craig was a mess, he had been thoroughly beaten, and
his face was black and swollen with bruising. Various
tubes snaked into the cannula in the back of his hand
and his eyes were closed.

" Craig? " ventured Luke.

Craig's eyes fluttered open. Miraculously they were
undamaged and twin pools of brown gazed out at Luke.
It was like finding jewels in a ruin.

" Luke...you're here..." he said thickly.

Luke clutched at his hand.

" I had slightly different plans for our first date,
dunno about you, "

Luke laughed.

" Doesn't matter, as long as I'm with you. I love you.
I'll take care of you. "

Outside, Des and the sister watched. Des was very
uncomfortable. He hated hospitals.

" Thanks for this. " said Des sincerely. " Luke's been
a basket case since he heard. "

" Craig's had a tough time. " she said, smiling at
Luke who was gently stroking Craig's hair." And he's
not out of the woods yet. "

" He will be okay though, won't he? " asked Des.

" They had to remove his spleen and a fair bit of his
liver. They got ruptured in the attack. " Des winced.
" He's got a very strong constitution though. And
there's Luke. He's got something to live for. "

" Yeah. "

" Whoever did this to him knew what they were doing. "

" It was a warning, " agreed Des. " Kiddie fiddlers
aren't worth protecting. "

She grimaced.

" I've got three sons. Mind you they're grown-up now.
Anyone tried anything they'd be taking their
essentials home in a paper bag. "

Des chuckled. She looked at her fob watch and sighed.

" I hate this part of the job. "

Squaring her shoulders she went into the room. Both
patient and visitor seemed to protest but she stood
firm. Luke would have to go.

" Where can I kiss you where it won't hurt? " asked
Luke.

" Anywhere, " said Craig. " It'll be worth it.

Luke leaned over and gently brushed Craig's bruised
and battered mouth with his own lips, a butterfly kiss
but enough to push up the heart rate on Craig's
monitor.

Outside the room Luke found Des reading a leaflet on
stress incontinence. When he saw Luke he replaced it
in the rack and they left the ward.

" You look worn out, " said Des. " Why don't you come
home with me? You can kip in the spare room. Reg won't
mind."

" I dunno...."

" You've had a hell of a day and you shouldn't be on
your own. Now do as your told for once. "

The house was cold and empty and both men shivered as
they waited for the gas to warm the room up.

" Reg should be here, " said Des fretfully. There was
no message on the answering machine, nothing on his
mobile and no note. Des was frantic. What if something
had happened to him? What if it was too late for him
to tell Reg what he'd realised that awful day?


" Are you worried? " asked Luke from the depths of the
sofa.

" Nah, " said Des unconvincingly. " He's a big lad; he
can look after himself. "

Des was just about to slip his jacket on and head for
the chip shop when he heard Reg's key turn in the
lock. He bounded to his feet and swept a very
surprised Reg up into his arms and covered his face
with unashamed kisses.

" Where have you been? " demanded Des. " I've been
worried sick. "

" Moira's. "

" Your sister's. "

Reg nodded and the penny dropped.

" Oh Bombay Shitehawks, I forgot. It's your nephew's
eighteenth, isn't it? "

" Yes, " chuckled Reg. " I've told him we'll both be
at his party on Saturday night."

" Show him how to get drunk and fall over
professionally, eh? " Relief was making Des garrulous.

" We've got company, " said Des.

" Hello, Luke. This is a nice surprise, " said Reg,
smiling.

" I'll explain everything but I want a word in private
first. "

He steered Reg into the kitchen and closed the door
behind him.

Reg's eyes were full of curiosity as Des wondered
where to start. It had all been so clear to him in the
hospital; it had seemed essential that he say it to
Reg before it was too late. Today had shown him what
could happen when people hid their feelings. It just
led to heartache and misery. It had almost been too
late for Craig and Luke; the same thing wasn't going
to happen to them.

" I love you, Reg. "

" Reg looked startled.

" What brought this on? "

" It's a long story. I hope you didn't think I was
just here until something better came along. "

He took Reg's unresisting left hand in his and pointed
to the signet ring on the wedding finger, Des's ring
which Reg had worn since they began living together.

" I meant what I said the day I gave you that ring.
You'll always be mine and I'll always be yours.
Because I love you. "

" That's quite a rush of blood to the heart, " said
Reg, holding Des's hand tightly.

" Are you pleased? "

" What do you think? I'll show you how pleased later.
Now, what's happening with Luke? Won't Kerry be
worried? "

Des sighed. This was going to take some explaining.

*~*~*~*~*~*~
The night nurse completed her last set of observations
before getting ready to hand over to the day shift. In
the side room Mr Gilmore was more than satisfactory.
The orange hospital blanket had slid off the other
sleeping occupant of the room who had arrived in the
middle of the night, pleading for admittance. She
tucked the blanket securely round the young dark
haired man. He would wake up with a terribly sore neck
but she hadn't been able to persuade him to move, or
to let go of his companion's hand.

" I nearly lost him twice, " he had told her. " I'm
not letting go again. "

Quietly she left the room and closed the door behind
her.

== end