"John?" Jack Meadows called after the DS, as he was ready to leave, "I want you on this obbo, tonight."

"What?" John said turning around, "I can’t. Not tonight. I’ve got plans."

"Sorry, John. You’ll have to cancel them," Jack told him, "I don’t want no cock ups tonight."

"Come on, Guv…" John moaned, "can’t someone else do it?"

"No, John," Jack insisted, "I need you on it tonight."

"Guv…" John started.

"No, John. You’ll doing this tonight!" Was Meadows final words before he left.

John sighed and dropped into his chair. He and Claire were meant to be going out tonight and now he had to cancel.

"Don’t worry, Mate," Don said, "I’m on it to."

"And me," Mickey piped up.

"Is that meant to make me feel better?" John asked, "why does he want two sergeants on it anyway?"

"Four," Claire corrected him.

"What?"

"Four sergeants, me and Geoff are on it to," she told him.

"Oh right…." John said slowly, well if Claire was there, it couldn’t be that bad, "and that’s it?"

"Nope," Don grinned, "Kerry Holmes is on to and Nick and Dave from uniform."

"Wow, how many is he expecting to turn up?" John asked.

"He doesn’t know," Don told him, "he just wants to make sure everything goes right."

"What can go from with a DCI, four sergeants and four constables?" John mumbled.

*~*~*

"Right, our main target is Barry Adams, who you all know," Jack said as he started the briefing. The DCI had a huge grudge on the drug dealer for years but he always managed to get away with everything, "we’ve been told that he is meeting a Mark Dixon."

"Mark Dixon?" Geoff repeated, "when did he get out?"

"Last month," Jack told them, "apparently, Dixon wants to go into business with Adams and he wants to show him what kinda of stuff he can get."

"Who else is expected to be there, Guv?" John asked.

"Well Adams will probably bring his minder there’s a new guy called Ryan Martin. Dixon will have his men there too."

"Who are Dixon’s men?" Claire asked.

Jack passed a photo of him around, "and two blokes that’s always worked with Dixon…"

"Kenny Gilliam and Tommy Drake?" John asked.

"Got it in one," Meadows told him.

"You know them, Sarge?" Mickey asked.

"You could say that," John said, "they broke half my ribs when we tried to nick them 4 years ago."

"And that’s why I want, Mickey, Don and Geoff to take them," Jack said before anyone else could say anything, "and not you John!"

"Don’t worry, Guv," John reassured him, "they put me in enough pain last time."

"Right ok then," Jack said, slightly taken back by Boulton not being eager to get back at them, "ok, I want Mickey, Don and Geoff, in the pool car. Like I said I want you three to handle Kenny Gilliam and Tommy Drake."

"Guv," they all nodded.

"Claire, Kerry and Dave, you’re in the van with me. Dave I want you to get this Ryan Martin. He shouldn’t give you to much trouble; he’s only a kid. Claire, Kerry you both help me get Adams."

"Ok, Guv," Claire said.

"And John, Nick you two, to get Dixon."

"Be my pleasure, Sir," John grinned.

*~*~*

John found Claire at the coffee machine once the briefing was over.

"So…" John started, "what you up to after this obbo."

"I don’t know yet," she smiled at him.

"How do you fancy coming to my place?" He asked her.

"I don’t know… you see I don’t think my boyfriend would like that," Claire joked.

"I’m sure he’s a reasonable bloke."

"Yeah, whatever." Claire rolled her eyes at him.

"You seem happy," John commented sarcastically.

"It’s alright for you, you’re in a car with Nick Klein. I have to put up with Meadows, Kerry and Dave."

"Aww poor you," John laughed.

"Shut up." She slap his arm, "you wanna swap?"

"No chance!" John grinned at her, "why don’t you ask Nick."

"Like Meadows would go for that."

"Like Meadows would go for you swapping with me," John replied.

Before Claire could reply Nick came down the stairs, "you ready to go, Sarge?"

"Yeah, sure," John said then he turned back to Claire once the PC had walked off down the corridor, "have fun, babe."

"You’ll pay for that," Claire shouted after him as he began to walk down the corridor after Nick.

*~*~*

"DCI Meadows from DS Boulton…" John voice cracked over the radio.

"Go ahead, John," Jack spoke into the PR.

"Dixon has arrived," John said, "Gilliam and Drake are with him but Dixon little brother his here to."

"His brother?" Jack repeated, "Gary Dixon is here?"

"Yes, Guv."

"Ok, right," Jack said, thinking, "right change of plan. Mickey, I want you to help Kerry to keep hold of Gary. John, Nick if you’re alright getting Dixon then help them out, right?"

"Yes, Guv," John said.

"You think we’ll have a problem with them, Sarge?" Nick asked John a couple of minutes later once Adams had arrived.

"I dunno." John shrugged, "probably will have with Gilliam and Drake. Not sure about the others."

Nick nodded and watched the group of men making a deal. All of the officers got ready for the DCI’s call.

"Go, go, go," John heard Jack say into the radio. Both him and Nick leapt out of the car and sprinted towards them.

"Police! Stay where you are!" Jack ordered.

The six men made a run for it, ignoring the DCI. Nick and John exchanged glances and nods before they both pounced on Dixon. While John held the struggling prisoner down, Nick fought to snap the cuffs on him.

John looked around to his colleagues. Both Don and Geoff were having problems with their prisoners. Jack and Claire had nearly cuffed Adams. Dave was still rolling around on the floor with the Martin but had it all under control and Mickey had left Kerry to cuff the restrained Gary Dixon while he help Geoff with Gilliam.

John saw Gilliam hit out blindly, hoping his fist would make connect with one of the officers and was glad to see Mickey stumble backwards, holding his face.

John tightened his grip on Dixon as Nick still tried to cuff him. John looked towards Kerry when he saw the younger brother starting to struggle.

"Mickey!" John shouted over to the DC, nodding towards Kerry. Mickey continued to fight with Gilliam, trying to cuff him.

John was about to call the DC again when he heard the familiar sound of the cuffs being clicked into place.

"You got him?" John asked Nick.

"Yeah, Sarge," Nick grinned and looked down at the defeated prisoner.

John stood up and ran towards Kerry when he saw Gary get his right arm and swing it at Kerry. As the DC fell to the floor, Gary ran. John looked around quickly; Claire, Meadows and Dave were dragging their prisoners of the floor, cuffed and ready to go down the station. Nick was half to the van with Dixon. Don had Drake under control now and Mickey was just reading Gilliam his rights as Geoff snapped the cuffs on.

"Mickey, come on!" John order as he ran off, after Gary.

Geoff looked up to see what was happening, "Mickey, better go with him."

Mickey didn’t seem to hear the DS; he was more interested in winding Gilliam up. "…You wouldn’t have got away with it."

"Mickey! Go!" Geoff said.

"…. Now we got you for assaulting a police officer," Mickey grinned at him.

Dave rolled his eyes at the DC and turned to face Claire.

"Sarge, keep hold of him," he said, pushing Martin towards her, "I’ll go after Sgt Boulton."

Claire headed to the van with Martin, followed by Don and Jack with the other prisoners.

"Mickey! Get after John and Dave," Geoff ordered, as he helped Kerry up.

Mickey sighed and took off in the direction Dave had just gone. He ran for a few seconds, eyes darting around, searching for possibility where they could be. When he turned the corner, he saw Dave knelling on the floor.

"Dave?" Mickey said as he stopped running and walked towards the PC, "what’s up?"

"Mickey, get the DCI!"

"Why, what’s up…?" Mickey started but stopped in shock once he saw John lying on the floor, with blood pouring from his head, "oh no…"

"Mickey! Just go and get help!" Dave said desperately.

"Is he ok?" Mickey was frozen to the spot.

"I dunno, he got a pulse but… he’s unconscious." Dave looked at him, he never moved, "Mickey, where’s your radio?"

"I haven’t got it," Mickey said slowly, "have to use yours."

"What?" Dave glared at him, "I haven’t got mine, either."

"Why not?"

"Probably the same reason, as you!" Dave snapped.

"How hard is it, for you to remember to bring a bloody radio!" Mickey snapped back. They both were beginning to panic and they didn’t know what to do.

"Me bring one…." Dave started, "what about you? This wouldn’t have happened if you did as you were told and back him up."

"I was arresting Gilliam!"

"Sgt Daly had him fine!" Dave shouted, "why do you think he told you told come after John!"

"This isn’t my fault!"

"Oh just shut up…" Dave started.

"If you two are going to fight then I’m going back to sleep!" They both turned and looked down at the DS.

"Sarge? You ok?" Dave asked.

"Head hurts a bit."

"Yeah, well don’t worry. Mickey is going to get help," Dave told him.

"Am I?" Mickey asked.

"Mickey, just go will you. He needs an ambulance!"

"I’m fine," John said slowly, "just need to sit here for a minute."

"You just need an ambulance," Dave told him. "Mickey, get back there and tell them lot!"

"If he doesn’t want an ambulance…" Mickey started.

"Mickey!!" Dave yelled, ‘This is why he didn’t like working for CID.’

"Mick, just go, yeah?" John added softly.

The DC looked between his Sergeant and Dave. He knew that John hated hospitals and he never went unless it was really necessary. Maybe he was actually badly hurt.

He nodded and sprint back in the direction of the others.

"Ok, sarge," Dave said, "just try and stay still."

What was he on about, John thought to himself. He was staying still, anyway he couldn’t move, even if he wanted to. His leg was asleep. He frowned both his legs were asleep. It suddenly hit him he couldn’t feel anything from his waist down.

"Sarge? You ok?" Dave asked, when a worried look spread across the DS face.

"I can‘t… Its.." John said, trying to find the right words but he couldn’t, "it’s nothing."

"You sure?"

"Yeah, I’m fine."

*~*~*

"Come on!" Jack said impatiently. "What’s taking them so long?"

"Do you want me to go and see if they’re alright?" Nick asked.

"No, we’ll give them another 5 minute. I don’t want anyone else getting lost!"

"Who this?" Geoff queried when he saw a dark shadow running towards them, "it’s Mickey."

"Mickey?" Jack shouted slightly, "where John and Dave?"

"Sgt Boulton…" Mickey started, gasping for breath, "we need an ambulance."

"An ambulance?" Jack asked, possibility went through his mind. "What’s happened?"

"I dunno," Mickey said, still trying to catch is breath, "I found Dave knelling over Sgt Boulton."

"Knelling over John?" Jack repeated, slightly shocked, " is he ok?"

"I dunno, he’s conscious now, he said he’s ok but I dunno."

"What do you mean conscious now?" Claire interrupted Meadows before he could get a word in.

"Well when I arrived he was unconscious."

"Oh god," Claire said as she began to panic.

"I’ll call CAD," Geoff said.

"Mickey, where is he?" Claire asked.

"He’s back there with Dave," Mickey said pointing behind him.

Claire was sprinting in that direction before anyone could stop her.

"Kerry, Nick. Stay with the van!" Jack ordered and then followed Mickey, Don and Geoff.

Dave was relieved to see Claire and Mickey approaching at great speed but he could see Geoff, Don and Meadows not far behind.

"It’s alright now, Sarge," Dave said, "don’t worry."

"Who said I was worrying." John tried to force a smile at the PC but he was worried, he couldn’t feel his legs! What if it was serious? What if he couldn’t walk again? What if he couldn’t work again?

"How is he?" Claire asked, as soon as she reached them.

"I’m fine," John reassured her but she ignored him and looked at Dave.

"He was unconscious when I found him. He came round about 2 minutes after Mickey turned up," the PC explained.

Claire noticed John trying to sit up, she watched him. It was so obvious that he didn’t have the strength to.

"John, just lie back down, yeah?" Claire said softly, taking hold of his hand.

John looked at her, she didn’t care about what the other thought. All she card about was him. He smiled slightly at and lied back down.

"Who did this it John?" Meadows asked.

"Gary Dixon," John muttered, he closed his eyes. Waiting for…hoping for some kind of feeling in his legs, even if it was pain.

"John what’s wrong?" Claire asked concerned.

"Nothing," John told her re-opening his eyes, "I’m fine."

"John, don’t lie to me," Claire said, "I know something’s wrong. What is it?"

"It’s probably nothing…" John started.

"John, just tell me."

John took a deep breath. How could he tell her? She was so worried about him. He was so worried about himself. He couldn’t imagine not being able to do the job he loved. He felt tears fill his eyes and for once he didn’t care that the other saw, he was too scared.

Geoff, Don, Mickey and Dave all exchanged glances. They’d never seen John Boulton cry before. He was always so strong, he never let anything effected him or if he did, he’d never let it show.

Jack watched the couple, there was obviously something going on between them. He noticed the other look at each other; they know that it was serious by the tears that appeared in John’s eyes. Jack had only seen his DS like that once before. That was when a needle struck him and there was a threat that he had caught something. He saw the same thing in John’s eyes, fear.

"John what is it?" Claire asked again, her own eyes felling with tears, "John, just tell me. You’re scaring me."

"I can’t…" John started but he had to stop as the words caught in his throat, "I can’t feel my legs."

"What…?" Claire shocked.

"I can’t feel my legs, Claire," John repeated, a few tears managed to fall down his face, "what if…."

"John, don’t worry," she interrupted him and wiped his tears off his face, "you’re going to be fine. It’s going to be nothing."

"But what if it isn’t…what if I can never walk again?"

"That’s not going to happen!" Claire told him, she hoped she was telling the truth.

"She right, John," Jack added, "you are going to be fine."

John nodded and closed his eyes, trying to prevent any other tears finding their way out.

Mickey stood and watched him. Dave was right earlier this was his entire fault. He should have gone with John. He should have been there to help his DS and now… and now he was paralysed.

Geoff heard the distant sirens of the ambulance, growing louder and louder as it came closer.

"I’ll go and make sure they know where to come," Geoff broke the awkward silence, glad of the escape.

*~*~*

Kerry, Mickey, Geoff, Don, Dave and Nick all walked into the Canley Arms. They knew that the rest of the station would be in there and that they didn’t know about John.

"Hey! Look who’s here!"? They heard Tony Stamp shout over.

The six officers wondered over to the table which uniform with the rest of CID that wasn’t on the obbo had claimed.

"Where are John, Claire and Meadows?" Chris Deakin asked when he noticed they weren’t there.

"You alright?" Cass interrupted, "you all don’t look to good."

"I’m going to gets some drinks," Mickey muttered and walk off to the bar.

"Yeah, I’ll help," Don offered and followed the DC.

"What’s happened?" Chris suddenly came concerned.

"The obbo went wrong," Kerry said as she dropped into a chair next to Duncan Lennox.

"Is that all?" Chris relaxed again, "I thought someone got hurt or something for a minute then."

"They did," Geoff said slowly.

"What?" Chris looked up, "who did?"

"John…" Geoff started, everyone’s attention was on him, "he chased a suspected and he got beaten up."

"Oh god," Chris said, "he’s alright though, right?"

"He was beaten unconscious but then regained conscious when Dave and Mickey were with him…."

"So he’s going to be ok, then?" Matt cut him off.

"We don’t know. When he came round he said… he said that he couldn’t feel his legs."

"He couldn’t feel his legs?" Duncan repeated, wide eyed, "he’s paralysed?"

"We don’t know," Geoff said, "Mr Meadows is going to call us and let us know who he is when he hears any news."

Dave looked over at Mickey who was stood at the bar. He felt guilty for what he had said to the DC. He had practically blamed him for the assault.

"Mickey?" Dave said, quietly once he reached the bar. "You ok?"

"I’m fine," Mickey mumbled, "I’m not the one who might end up in a wheel chair."

"That’s not going to happen." Dave told him.

"How do you know?"

"It just won’t," Dave reassured him, "we got be positive about this."

"But what if he ends up in a wheelchair or something?"

"He won’t."

"This is all my fault," Mickey said quietly.

"No....it isn’t."

"Yes it is. I should have gone with him," Mickey looked at Dave, "you were right."

"No I wasn’t," Dave paused, "I just panicked when I saw him. I wasn’t thinking straight."

"I still should have gone with him."

"No, Mickey. You can’t blame yourself. Sgt Boulton wouldn’t want you to."

"But it is my fault!"

"No. It isn’t."

"Everything alright, here?" Matt Boyden came over when he realised something was going on.

"Yes, sarge," Dave nodded, "we’re just talking."

"What about?"

"Nothing much…" Dave started.

"Doesn’t sound like nothing," Matt interrupted him, "Mickey?"

"He said it was nothing, didn’t he?" The DC snapped and walked off.

"What’s wrong with him?" Matt tuned to Dave.

"He thinks it’s his fault," Dave explained.

"And is it?"

"I dunno.. No not really.."

"Dave, it is or it isn’t. Which one is it?"

"I dunno," Dave stuttered, "Sgt Boulton asked him to go with him to chase Dixon but he never."

"What was he doing?"

"He was helping Geoff Dale with one of the others."

"Well if he was helping Geoff then he can’t help it…." Matt started before Dave interrupted.

"The thing is, Sgt Daly had him under control, all Mickey was doing was winding the suspect up."

"Oh right…" Matt said quietly.

"You’re not going to give him a hard time, are you?"

"I think he’s giving himself a hard enough time."

*~*~*

Meadows sat next to Claire in silence as they waited for new about John. He watched her for a minute, he could tell from the look in her eyes, how much she loved John and it was clear how much he loved her.

Jack looked back to the far wall, he wished more then anything that John would be ok. He couldn’t help feeling guilty about making him go on the obbo but then again it would have been someone else lying there instead of John, someone who might not be as strong as the DS. Although the others weren’t a fast runner like John, they might not been able to keep up with Dixon or they probably wouldn’t have the chance to go after him in the first place.

He closed his and said a silent prayer for his sergeant.

"He will be ok, won’t he, Guv?" Claire asked, breaking the silence.

Jack opened his eyes and looked at her. "Yeah, course he will. This is John, remember."

"Yeah, I guess.." Claire said, quietly, "it would kill him if he couldn’t be a police officer any more."

"I know it will," Jack looked down at his hands, he had to stay positive not just for himself but for Claire and John too, "but that’s not going to happen."

Claire nodded slightly, she didn’t feel so sure. She was so scared for John, she didn’t know how he would cope not being able to walk. It wouldn’t matter to her; she would love him no matter what. She smiled slightly when she thought about the looks on Meadows’ and the other’s faces when they worked out they were together. It made her feel better that they knew now and that they’d be there to try and understand how she feels.

"Mr Meadows?" Jack heard a familiar call his name, he shoot to his feet at the same time as Claire when he noticed Jenny Quinnan stood behind him.

"How is he?" Claire asked.

"Well, he’s got slight concussion and two broken ribs…" Jenny started before being cut off.

"What about his legs?" Meadows asked eagerly.

"He’s been taken into surgery, some nervous in his spaniel cord have been damaged…" Jenny said softly.

"Surgery?" Claire repeated, "so that means it can be fix, he’ll be able to walk again?"

Jenny watched her for a moment; she understood what she was going through. She felt terrible for being glad that it John and not Dave. At first, all she was told was that a police officer from Sun Hill had been beaten badly on an obbo. She knew Dave was on the obbo and she feared the worst.

"He will be ok, won’t he?" Claire asked, once Jenny had been silent for over a minute.

"We won’t know until he’s recovered from the surgery and then we’ll have to wait and see if the damaged nervous start to heal."

"So there is a possibility that he might be paralysed?" Jack asked, he wasn’t sure if really wanted to know the answer.

"Yes there is but it might only be temporary," she told them, she looked at Claire, "I’m so sorry, I know how you must feel."

"Yeah, thanks," Claire mumbled, tearfully.

"I’ll let you know when he’s out of theatre and when you can see him."

Jack nodded slowly when he realised Claire wasn’t listening to the nurse and was just staring ahead with a mixture of fear, shock and concern, "thanks Jenny."

*~*~*

As Chris Deakin got closer to the CID office, he could hear the soft mumbles of his officers, he looked down at his watch. It was only 7:00 and they weren’t meant to be on duty until 9:00. He guessed they all had the same idea as him, come in early to find out any news.

"Guv, any news?" Kerry said as soon as he opened the door.

"No, I haven’t been able to get hold of the DCI," he sighed, "what about you lot? You heard anything?"

"No, Guv," Duncan said, "I tried ringing the hospital but all they could tell me was that he took into surgery last night and survived it."

"That’s all they said?"

"Yes, Guv. Cos I’m not family."

"Ok, I’ll try and get hold of Meadows again," Chris said pulling out his phone as the rest of them waited, silently. He hung and turned to look at them, "it’s turned off."

"You think he’s still at the hospital?" Geoff asked.

"Probably…" Chris stared; for once he didn’t know what to say to his officers.

No one spoke, no one moved, they just sat thinking. Danny wished he hadn’t refused to be on the obbo last night. He knew that John was asked at the last minute and wouldn’t probably have been there if he was on the obbo.

Kerry kept re playing the scene of Dixon’s escape over and over in her mind. She should have cuffed him faster or she should have been aware of the first coming at her. She didn’t even make a move to go after him when he ran off, she just assumed John would alright with him or that one of the others would have gone with him but they never.

Don and Geoff had already talked about the events that had taken place the night before. They both arrived before the DCs and for the first time in years they sat in the office talking, normally not trying to wind each other up or score points. They both admitted to each the other that they felt reasonable for the incident. Geoff said that he should have made Mickey go or should have gone himself and Don told him that maybe if he had better hold of his prisoner he could have helped Geoff out with his and it would have left Mickey free to go after John.

Mickey himself sat staring into his cold coffee. He hadn’t sleep at all last night. He thought about going to the hospital to see how his sergeant was but he couldn’t face him. He had let him down, everything he closed his eyes to try and get some sleep, he could hear John shouting his name over and over again, first telling him to Kerry and then asking him to go with him. He should have gone, he should have been there to help is sergeant out but he wasn’t and this was his entire fault.

All of the detective felt guilty about something, even Duncan and he weren’t asked to be on the obbo. He wasn’t even told about until he joined the others down the pub.

Chris’ head snapped up from the spot on the floor that he was staring when he heard the sound of feet approaching and was glad to see Meadows stood at the door.

"How is he?" Chris asked before anyone else.

"He had surgery last night to repair some damaged nervous in his spinal cord but now we got to wait and see if they began to heal."

"But he will be ok," Mickey asked, wide eyed, "he’ll be able to walk. He’s not paralysed, is he?"

"They can’t say, we just got to wait and pray…" Jack told him, he felt sorry for the DC. He knew that most people on the obbo would be blaming themselves just like he was but he knew Mickey would feel the guilt more and some of the officers may even make things worse for him.

*~*~*

"This is all Mickey’s fault…" Tony started, once Dave had given the whole of uniform the update on John after he got it from Jenny.

"No, it isn’t," Dave said.

"He should have gone with him, like he was told," Tony protested.

"Yeah, he disobey an order from both Boulton and Daly," Smiffy added.

"Yeah and how do you think he’s feeling about it now?" Dave asked them.

"I hope he’s suffering!" Was Vicky input.

"You can’t blame, Mickey for this," Matt defended the DC.

"Why not?" Cass asked, "it was his fault."

"And what do you lot care!?" Matt suddenly snapped, "you lot are normally slagging John off about something or other what he had done which you didn’t like."

"Alright, Sarge, calm down…" Smiffy him, surprised by his sudden out burst.

"I will not calm down! You’ll all acting as if he was your best mate when really you never took the chance to talk to him!"

"And you have?!" Tony started on his defence.

"I have actually and not that you lot would know it but he’s a decent bloke!" Matt shot back.

"Not that we would know it?" Smiffy repeated, "you don’t know what you’re talking about, Sarge!"

"Oh yes I do…"

"No you don’t!" Smiffy interrupted him, "fair enough over the years he hasn’t be the most popular bloke in this station but over the last few months he has changed and we’ve got to know the really John Boulton!"

"Yeah whatever!" Matt sulked, he know the PC was right. Over the last couple of months, John had become more popular with everyone, including uniform.

"Yeah, so don’t say we don’t know what he’s like!"

"I didn’t say that you didn’t know what he was like," Matt countered, "I said that you never know what a decent bloke he is!"

"We do know what a decent bloke he is…" Smiffy raised his voice to the sergeant.

"Alright everyone shut up!!" Nick Klein yelled, interrupting the other PC as he jumped up from the chair in the corner where he had been sitting silently listening to them all. "You lot don’t know what happened, you weren’t there."

"Yeah but we know that Mickey disobeyed an order and plus he never got help when Dave told him to," Tony challenged Nick.

"So what you saying, Tone? That this was all Mickey’s fault?" Nick watched as the other PC nodded like the rest of his colleagues in the room, "while it isn’t. Sure he never went with John but nor did I or Kerry Holmes or Sgt Stanton and come to think about DCI Meadows could have gone to but he never…."

"They weren’t asked to…."

"No but we still should have or maybe I should have cuffed our suspect fast then Kerry wouldn’t have lost control of Dixon. Daly shouldn’t have been having a problem with Gilliam, Beech should help. Dave should have ran faster or should’ve gone sooner. Meadows should have put more people on the obbo…."

"So what you saying? That its all your faults?" Cass interrupted him.

"No, I’m saying that it’s not Mickey’s. It’s no ones, except Gary Dixon. Who still hasn‘t been caught," Nick said.

"Nick’s right," Dave added.

"Right, lets get out there and find the bloke who beat up our mate!" Nick grinned then looked from Smiffy and Boyden, "all of our mate."

*~*~*

Mickey walked down the corridor of the hospital; heading for the room that the nurse on the desk had just told him belonged to John. He looked down at the bag of stuff he had just brought from the hospital shop, it contained, Grapes, some magazines, a book and some chocolate.

He didn’t know why he had brought them, he didn’t even know if John liked grapes. He knew he would like the magazines though, they were about rugby and Mickey knew how much John loved rugby. They would spend hours teasing each other about the differences between rugby and football.

He paused at the door and looked through the small window. John was lied, dead still flat on his back as he spoke to Claire who was sat at his bedside, holding his hand. There were some stitches on his forward where he had been knocked out but Meadows had told Mickey that he only had slight concussion and there was no damage.

He felt like turning around and running away as fast as he could. He couldn’t face John, he had let him down and what about Claire, she would hate him too.

He closed his eyes as he gripped onto the door handle, willing himself to push the door open, but he couldn’t. He’s eyes snapped open again when he heard his two DSs laughing slightly at something. Before he could think about Mickey pushed the open, both John and Claire looked at him.

"Alright, Mickey?" Claire asked giving him a warm smile.

"You thanks," he mumbled, then turned to John, "how you feeling?"

"I’m ok," John said, "just gotta wait."

"Yeah," Mickey started to mumble again.

"Don’t look at me like that!" John told him.

"Like what?" Mickey frowned.

"It wasn’t your fault." John said. He recognised the look in the DC eyes, he recognised from when Dave was stabbed. He saw the fear of the thought of his colleagues and friends blaming and hating him. He saw the way he was silently praying that he would be ok. He saw the guilt, thinking he could have prevented it.

John knew what he was going through, he knew who he felt.

"It was.." Mickey said, "I should have went with you."

"Yeah and got beaten up yourself."

"No, he wouldn’t stood a chase with two of us," Mickey insisted.

"Mickey, mate I’ve seen you run. You wouldn’t have been able to catch up with us until I was out of it then he would have done the same to you. I’m glad you never came," John told him.

"But…."

"No buts Mickey. It wasn’t your fault. It wasn’t no ones fault," John told him, "it just something that happened."

"I still should’ve came…" Mickey started.

"No you shouldn’t have," John said, "now shut up and sit down!"

Mickey stared at him, when he decided to visit John he prepared himself for shouting, insults and hate thrown at him. He wasn’t expecting this. He couldn’t help but grin.

"I brought you some stuff," Mickey told him and threw the bag on the bed.

"Oi, watch it…." John started when it hit him but he suddenly stopped.

"John?" Claire asked concerned.

"Sarge you alright?" Mickey asked, he hoped he hadn’t hurt him, not after everything.

"I felt it…" John stuttered.

"Felt what?" Claire asked.

"I felt the bag hitting my leg…" John told them, looking up. Tear of pure joy appeared in his eyes.

*~*~*

Nick, Dave and Smiffy dragged Gary Dixon into custody where the rest of the relief waited, watching the man that may have ended John’s career.

Bob Cryer looked around that them, he knew that they wasn’t going to move on easily and decided not to say anything. He looked at Dixon who stood in front of him.

"Name?"

Silence.

"Name?" Bob repeated.

Silence.

"Oi!" Matt said, grabbing hold of Dixon’s arm, "he asked for your name!"

"Get off me!" Dixon struggled.

"Matt, give him," Bob ordered, "Matt!"

"How’s your mate?" Dixon smirked, causing Matt’s grip to tighten.

"Right, everyone out!" Bob shouted, once the other officer started to move towards the prisoner, "all of you get out now! That includes you Matt!"

"If he’s paralysed then you’re dead!" Matt said to Dixon, ignoring Cryer.

"Is that a threat?" Dixon asked.

"No, it’s a promise!"

"Right, Matt out!" Bob said again as he tried to free Dixon arm from the other sergeants grip.

Before anyone could move or say anything the radio cracked into life.

"Sierra Oscar from DC Webb."

"Go ahead DC Webb," June Ackland voice replied.

"I’ve just left the hospital, I think you’d all like to know that John Boulton has…" There was paused, as everyone waited to hear the news, "John Boulton has regained feeling in his legs. Doctors said he should make a full recovery."

The custody area exploded with cheers.

"Aww what a shame," Dixon said, looking at Matt who stepped back towards him.

Bob shoved the prisoner towards Dave, "chuck him, cell 4, I’ll deal with him later!"

*~*~*

3 months later, the whole of Sun Hill, including the senior officers were celebrating John’s first day back a work, although he should really have another 3 weeks left but Meadows and Deakin had agreed to let him start earlier but only on light duties.

"You know what?" Don shouted, "I think John should make a speech!"

"No chance." John grinned at him as he put his arm around Claire.

"Speech! Speech! Speech!" The rest of the officers chanted.

"Alright, alright…" John stood up, "just shut up before we get kicked out."

They all feel silent and grinned at him.

"Right, I guess I better thank some people," John paused as they all cheered, "Thanks to all of the senior officers for supporting me and helping me through this. Thanks to Dave, who looked after me when he found me. Thanks to Mickey for hanging around the hospital and visiting me at home…"

"You can’t really wanna thank him for that," Don shouted out.

"Nah, he’s been great, well that was after I managed to convince him it wasn’t his fault. Thanks to Nick, who I am told shouted at everyone to make them stop arguing and nick Dixon."

"Any time, sarge.." Nick laughed along with the others.

"Thanks to you all for just being there. There’s only one person left to thank. The most important person in the world." John looked at Claire, "Thanks to Claire. Through all this she’s been there for me, she’s supported me and she looked after me. She was what has made me fight so hard to get back on my feet again. I love her, so much."

"Aww bless him," Don interrupted again, teasing his mate.

John grinned and took Claire hand, "I think all should know something as well."

"Oh yeah? What’s that?" Meadows asked.

"Well…" John started, "me and Claire are getting married."

Cheers and claps erupted around the pub causing other drinkers to look at them but the officers took no notice.

Jack stood up and held his glass in the air, "to John and Claire!"

"John and Claire!" everyone shouted.

*~*~*