Important : This fanfic contains graphic descriptions of sexual assault and could offend/upset readers, it is recommended that those under the age of fifteen do not read it. You have been warned!!!!!!!!

*21st February 2001, Sun Hill Police Station Briefing Room, 1.59 pm*

Sergeant June Ackland was waiting to brief the relief. There was a lack of people in the room and she could hear the majority of them down the corridor hooting with derision. Once more she glanced at the reports, sighing to herself as she read the main item over again. It brought back memories: Memories that have shaped her to be the person she is, but memories that she cannot yet forget.

The relief entered.

"You are not trying to tell me, Tony, that it’s coincidence that there are twenty four hours in a day and twenty-four beers in a case?" PC Vicky Hagen laughed questioningly. Before PC Tony Stamp could reply, PC Reg Hollis interrupted.

"Well by matters of principle, Vicky...." Whatever Reg had been going to say was left unsaid as June silenced them.

"All right you lot, shut it please, I want this over with," she snapped. The murmuring fell to a silence as June got the quiet she wanted. She got on with the minor matters on the briefing, finally coming to the point that she had sighed over earlier.

"And finally, we have a serial rapist on the loose, description IC1 male, height has varied from 5'10" to 6'1" and brown hair. He carries a knife. So far the attacks have been in random but derelict areas. The only trend is that his five victims are brunettes, they’re all IC1 females, aged between twenty-five and thirty-nine." As she finished, nobody noticed the slight tremble on her lips that was quickly gone. The gravity in her voice affected the relief, and they were silent. She finished by handing out the mobile units.

"So, 595 and 469 in the Panda leaving 361 and 518 on beat six, that’s all."

"And bloody well enough too! The monsters that do that kind of thing, they don’t deserve to live." Vicky added her own comment as she left the room.

"You can say that again Vicky, you can say that again," June murmured under her breath as Vicky walked out, not hearing her Sergeant. On her way to catch up with Cass, Vicky bumped into Sergeant Matt Boyden, on his way to custody. He pulled her into interview room four.

"Everything ok for tonight?" he queried, Vicky leant forward and kissed him.

"That answer your question?"

"Yeah." Matt’s eyes lit up and seemed to change colour as his face broke into a grin.

"Well, see you later..." Vicky walked out and he followed. As they were coming out, June walked into the Sergeants office. She saw the happy pair and rolled her eyes. Matt looked a tad embarrassed.

"Don’t worry Matt, I’ve been there," June laughingly said as he searched for something to say. Annoyed by her complacency, Matt replied snidely

"Yeah, difference is, I’m no longer married." June realised he was referring to her affair with Wray and glared at him, before storming into the office.

*Whitegate Arcade, 3.00 pm*

Vicky and Cass were on beat six together, so far it had been very peaceful, but on nearing the Whitegate arcade, there were cries of

"STOP THIEF!"

Cass and Vicky span around. A youth was disappearing fast, chased by a man in a shop assistant’s uniform. Vicky sprinted after the boy while Cass asked the shop assistant, a Mr Hudson what was going on.

"I work in that CD shop over there, this boy, he came in and he looked suspicious, so I watched him and sure enough he pinched three CDs, but I didn’t catch him fast enough." Meanwhile, Vicky had caught up with the lad and arrested him after a slight struggle.

"I’m arresting you on suspicion of theft, you do not have to say anything," She handcuffed him. "But anything you do say maybe taken down and used against you in court."

"I didn’t do nuffin!" the boy snarled and struggled. Cass and the assistant caught up with the pair.

"That’s him, that’s the one!" cried the assistant, somewhat out of breath. Cass searched the boy, who did indeed prove to have three CDs on him.

"They’re mine, I tell ya, I ain’t done nuffin’," he claimed

"Sierra Five from 518, over?" Cass radioed Tony.

"Go ahead, Cass."

"Tone, can you come round to Whitegate Arcade, we’ve got a body for you?"

"Be right with you, ETA two minutes."

Sure enough he pulled up a couple of minutes later, grasped the facts of the case and returned to the station to hand the thief in.

"Here you go Sarge, for petty theft in Whitegate Arcade," Tony told Matt, who was at the custody desk. June appeared and recognised the lad to be Gary Rogers.

"You!" she hissed. He scowled. Tony left her to explain who Gary was.

*The Bronte Estate, 7.00pm*

"No sign of our rapist yet," remarked Cass, trying to make conversation.

"Rapists should be tortured for what they do!" Vicky swore after her reply. She was not in the best of moods. In the distance, a woman’s cries for help were heard. Cass and Vicky broke into a run. The cries were coming from as alley at the far side of the Bronte, a little used area. As they approached, a man darted out of the alley. Cass entered it, to find a brunette lying unconscious, newly assaulted.

"It’s him Vicky! I’ll radio!" She cried after the disappearing form of Vicky, who was chasing the rapist. Vicky heard her, but kept on running.

"Sierra Oscar from 518, over?"

"Go ahead Cass," June replied

"Ambulance needed for Bronte estate, far end, a woman’s been raped and assaulted, urgent back up needed for Vicky as well, Sarge, over."

"Ambulance and back up on way Cass. Out."

Meanwhile, Vicky was tiring rapidly. She chased her quarry up some fire stairs and was about to follow blindly up the second flight when she was shoved from behind. When she peeled herself off the ground, there was no sight or sound of anyone, just the noise of the ambulance siren nearing.

"Damn!" Vicky cursed and trudged ruefully back to the alley. Tony appeared.

"Oh....."

"It’s no good Tone. I lost him." And Vicky explained what had just happened.

*Sun Hill Police Station, 7.45pm*

Vicky was on her way to interview Gary Rogers and stopped in CAD to inform June of the results of the rape.

"Ah, Vicky..." Vicky looked at her with troubled eyes.

"Would you see me in the office when you’ve interviewed Rogers please?"

"Yeah, Sarge."

After an arduous interview with the petty thief, who denied everything he was accused of, Vicky knocked on the door of the office and when June answered

"Yes, come in," she trudged in.

"Vicky, sit down." She looked at the PC kindly, anybody could see that Vicky was not her usual self.

"I’m sorry Sarge." June looked at her questioningly.

"About this evening...the rape...everything." She sounded close to tears.

"Vicky, what happened, happened, you can’t turn back time..." She looked at her quizzically "It’s the first time you’ve been that close to a rape case isn’t it?"

"Yeah."

"Well then, I’ll be thinking it shocked you." June’s tone was much more gentle than normal "Take my advice Vicky, after the shift, have a drink, relax, go home and try to forget about it."

"Try?"

"It’s hard, but you need to, especially if you come up against the same tomorrow. Also, I want you and Cass to interview the victim tomorrow, she’s in St. Hugh’s, isn’t she?"

"Yes Sarge." Vicky did not look or feel overly joyed at the prospect of the next day.

"Ok Vicky. That’s all now."

"Sarge." Vicky got up to leave.

"Oh and Vicky?"

"Yeah Sarge?"

"If you need to talk...."

"Yeah Sarge, thanks." She slipped out and went to find Cass to continue their beat.

Vicky was nervy on the beat, kept looking over her shoulder, although Cass was fine. The chat was little and they finished the beat with nothing out of the normal happening.

*Canley Arms, 11.30pm*

June walked in to see Vicky and Matt chatting over a couple of beers and she smiled to herself. ‘Glad Vicky’s taking my advice’ She thought and ordered a half pint and joined Tony, PC Polly Page and PC Dave Quinnan. After her drink and some chat, she left. Outside, while searching for her car keys, June was passed by Vicky and Matt, obviously going home together. As they set off towards Vicky’s place, a figure seemed to follow them, June started, alerted by the shadows, but the figure turned into an alleyway.

"Getting jumpy in my old age," she murmured as she climbed into her car.

Meanwhile, the figure came back out of the alleyway and unbeknown to Matt and a slightly tipsy Vicky, he followed them back to Vicky’s house.

"Where’s your key, Vicky?" asked Matt. ‘Ah’ thought the stranger and he slipped away into the darkness.

*22nd February 2001. Sun Hill Police Station, Briefing room, 2.00pm*

"Ok, can we have a bit of silence, I want this done today, not tomorrow!" June shouted at the relief. Silence. June was obviously not in a good mood.

"Ok, same deal as yesterday with the exception that 595 and 469 are on beat five and 361 and 518 are in the Panda, and I want you to interview the victim from yesterday, she’s called Emma Gable, so interview her and report back to me. Ok everyone? Right, go!" The relief moved quickly. June was not in a mood to be argued with. Matt passed Vicky once again, she grabbed him and whispered:

"Watch out for the ‘Saint’, Matt, she’s in a really bad mood..."

"So am I!" replied Matt, "I’ve got to work tonight." Vicky checked the coast was clear and kissed him ‘to make up for his disappointment’.

She ran on to find Cass waiting impatiently.

"Where the hell have you been?"

"I’m here now - quit complaining." The Panda roared out of the station yard.

"So what’s going on with you and Sgt Boyden?" Cass asked

"Me and Sgt Boyden? Nothing," replied Vicky innocently.

"Liar!"

"Oh well, just a bit." They reached difficult traffic and Vicky shut up to concentrate on her driving.

*St. Hugh’s, 6.45pm*

Cass stopped a ward sister and said

"We’re here to see Emma Gable, how is she?"

"She has a sprained wrist and a cracked rib and is understandably in shock. Please don’t upset her any more than possible." The ward sister then showed them to Emma’s bed. Vicky pulled the curtains.

"Emma? Do you remember me from yesterday? PC Rickman? This is PC Hagen. I’m afraid we’ve got to ask you some questions..." Emma looked at them with scared eyes. "Now I know this is difficult for you, but did you recognise your attacker?"

Emma sobbed. "No, no I didn’t."

"Could you give a description of him?"

"He was tall...about six feet, with black hair, he...he had a knife..."

"Ok, so he was about six feet tall, black hair and he carried a knife. You didn’t recognise him. Would you recognise him if you saw him again?"

"No...Yes... I don’t know..." Emma broke down completely, sobbing uncontrollably as images came up before her eyes. The ward sister came in and signed to Vicky and Cass to go.

"We’ve got to go now, but if you remember anything else...."

A still sobbing Emma nodded and the two constables left.

"Did you have to upset her?" the ward sister asked sharply.

"We tried our best, we had to interview her though."

"Aye, and what good will it do, you’ll never catch him you know."

"We’re trying our best," Cass replied somewhat sharply as the two made to leave.

"You can try," the ward sister said, almost to herself as she watched the disappearing figures of Cass and Vicky.

*Sun Hill Police Station, 8.00pm*

June saw Vicky and Cass in the corridor.

"Ah, Vicky and Cass, have you interviewed Emma Gable yet?"

"Just come from St. Hugh’s Sarge," Vicky replied.

"And?"

"Exactly the same as the other five, Sarge, IC1 male, six foot - ish, black hair, knife and she’s brunette."

"Ok, well, I’ll add that to the files, keep an eye on her and the others please. Now would you take the area car and patrol the estates please, they seem to be attracting the most attention." She glanced quickly up at them.

"Sarge," Cass and Vicky murmured, as June returned to CAD and they turned to go out to the car.

"Who are the other five victims anyway Cass?" Vicky asked, somewhat curiously.

"Sophie Reynolds, Sara Allett, Connie Scott, Lisa Beattie and Linda Peters."

"Hasn’t Connie Scott form for being a tom?"

"Yeah, not recently though."

"Thought I knew the name."

"Sierra Oscar to Sierra One, over?"

"Go ahead Sarge."

"Another report of rape, in the Jasmine Allen, at the far end, victim a Joan Myers, reported by a Mrs Elliott, a passer by. Over."

"Show us dealing Sarge. ETA three minutes. Out." Cass had done the talking while Vicky did a shrewd bit of turning and within a few minutes they arrived at the Jasmine Allen to find an ambulance already there. Cass went to speak to the victim while Vicky tackled the lady who reported it.

"I heard her screamin’ I did, when I was walkin’ my wee dog and I comes round and finds her lyin’ there like that. "He raped me!" she was cryin’, so I phones the police. No sign of anyone though."

"Did you see anyone looking suspicious earlier, Mrs Elliott?"

"Now let me think...there was them lads about, that Peter Rogers and his lot, then Rogers on his own, but no strangers, no," Mrs Elliott finished almost mournfully, as if she wished to have more of a part in the investigation. Vicky realised this and said

"Well thank you Mrs Elliott, you’ve been very valuable to us and we might need to come and see you again...."

"Any time dear, any time."

Cass finished and the ambulance pulled out. She and Vicky conferred.

"Same as before really, but for when I asked her if she knew ‘im, she stammered a bit there, said ‘no’ in the end, but I think he does know him and is too scared to say."

"That would be the case, wouldn’t it? Well Mrs Elliott claims that the Rogers boys and gang were hanging around earlier and then Rogers on his own, but that’s it."

*Sun Hill Police Station, 9.30pm*

Cass and Vicky reported to June, who sighed.

"Vicky, I want you to come with me to St. Hugh’s to interview Joan again and also Connie Scott, because we haven’t interviewed her yet. Cass, will you go into CAD?"

"Sarge," Cass mumbled and walked off.

"Right, Vicky?"

"Coming Sarge."

*The area car, 10.00pm*

"How are you feeling from yesterday, Vicky?"

"Fine, Sarge, fine."

"Well, I saw you in the pub relaxing last night, and you’ve the day off tomorrow, haven’t you?"

"Yeah." Vicky blushed at the mention of the night before. June spotted this and said

"Don’t worry. I’ve been there."

"Oh?"

"Yeah, years back and it’s most certainly not the best subject, but I do understand."

"Thanks Sarge."

*St. Hugh’s, after the interviews, 10.50pm*

"Not much to be learnt there then." June stated the obvious, Connie didn’t know much and had berated the pair on the Met’s lack of discovering her attacker, June had just clammed up and wouldn’t say anything.

"No, that Connie’s a tart, isn’t she?"

"Ummm, I know her from a case a few years back, her fellow toms were nicking credit cards, never could be proven tough."

"Sierra Oscar to Sierra One?"

"Go ahead Cass."

"Report of attempted rape in an alleyway off Camber Road, victim a Hayley Sharpe, she reported it. Ambulance on way, Sarge, over."

June groaned "Right, show us dealing Cass. Out."

They headed for the alleyway, where paramedics were seeing to Ms Sharpe. They took her address and told her that they’d be in contact with her. There were no people near by.

*Sun Hill Police Station, 11.00pm*

"Coming for a drink, Vicky?" her superior asked.

"Yeah, sure Sarge."

*Canley Arms, 11.30pm*

"So, anything planned for tomorrow then, Vicky?"

"Might go shopping. You know Sarge, nothing like a shopping spree to lighten the heart."

"I’m off tomorrow as well."

"Want to join me?" Vicky was slightly tipsy and would probably never have considered asking June along had she been sober. June thought for a moment. "Ah go on Sarge!"

"Ok then, yeah."

"Where will I meet you then?"

"Well, I’ve a car, I’ll collect you, shall we say ten?."

"Sure thing Sarge, give us a ring at nine though, please, to see that I’m up, otherwise you might have a bit of a job..." June suppressed a grin about the subject of Vicky’s sleeping hours and said she would.

"Well, I’m calling it a night, folks, see you all later, see you tomorrow, Sarge." There was a chorus of ‘bye Vicky’ from all the relief.

"She’s turning in early," remarked Tony

"She’s tired Tone..." June replied

"She’s seemed nervy all day." Cass added her little bit.

"I think this rape case is really taking it out of her." Polly Page made an astute remark, which June heartily agreed with, although she said nothing.

"Might well be, Poll, I know my first one took it out of me," Cass replied, unaware of June’s thoughts. There was more banter in which June said nothing, she finished her drink and left with cheerful murmurs of ‘See ya Sarge!’ from the relief.

Meanwhile, Vicky was walking the five minutes to her house, not realising that she was once more being followed. As she reached the front door and went to unlock it, a hand was put over her mouth and a sharp point into her back.

"Get in - now!" a harsh voice commanded. Vicky mutely did as she was told for fear of being stabbed - the grip on her was one of iron. Once in she span on her attacker and realised...

"Don’t you say a word darlin’, or else!"

"What are you doing?" Vicky attempted to kick her attacker. He responded by grabbing her wrist in a grip of iron once more.

"I like the feisty ones, more of a challenge." He grabbed even tighter on her wrist until a bone shattered. Vicky screamed in agony.

"Shut it!" he snarled and pulled the knife on her. Pulling her into the kitchen, he searched for something. Eventually he found it. Tape. Having taped her mouth, he pushed Vicky upstairs to the bedroom, took some rope from his combats and tied her arms up so tightly that a muffled yell of pain came from Vicky, who realised his intent. He threw her down on the floor and aimed a kick at her stomach, leaving her doubled up in pain.

"Off to make myself at home, sweetheart, oh, by the way, where’s your mobile?"

Vicky neither attempted to move nor speak.

"Where is it, bitch?" He pulled the knife again. She nodded to her bag and he went over, ripped it apart and removed the phone. Then he walked out.

Vicky, struggle as she might, could not get free, her attacker had done his job well. He re-entered and confronted Vicky.

"Thought you were mighty clever, didn’t you, following me like you did yesterday, didn’t you, bitch?"

He slapped her hard across the face. "Catching me in the act, well, I’ll pay you back for that!" He punched her this time. Then he pulled out his knife, his eyes glinting like a madman’s. Vicky’s body tensed as she thought he was going to stab her, instead he made for her clothes and slashed off her top. It was a maniac’s slashing and here and there Vicky’s skin was nicked. The top was left in tatters. He then moved down to her trousers. After unzipping them, he slashed them also. Vicky closed her eyes for a minute, trying to remember what Polly had told her about rape. Suddenly she felt him diving in to her. The pain was excruciating. Trying to scream, Vicky realised that the sound was coming out muffled due to the tape. She looked up in to his eyes and saw them glare with a hatred that she’d never witnessed before. Vicky shut her eyes again, as if she was not there, as if this was not happening to her. Finally he pulled away from her and paraded round the room like a prized cockerel.

"Open your eyes, slut!" he shouted at her. Vicky obeyed. She could see no better option. He lowered his face to hers.

"You enjoyed that, didn’t you? You enjoyed me having complete control over you?" Vicky shook her head violently. He hit her one for her silent reply.

"You’ll just have to learn to like it then, won’t you, bitch?" Having said that he took her again. Vicky could feel his skin against hers, his breath upon her face as she tried desperately to distance herself from what he was doing to her. She looked up at the monster on top of her, almost mesmerised by the cold, vicious eyes that burned so frighteningly. She was in too much pain to put up any kind of a fight. When Rogers finished, he got up and calmly walked out.

Vicky stared for a moment at the departing figure. As he thudded downstairs, the tears that had welled up inside her finally began to fall. She sobbed uncontrollably for a few minutes, then fell unconscious.

*Vicky’s house, 4.00am*

The rapist came back upstairs and found Vicky unconscious, her cheeks stained and her eyes were red and puffy. He slapped her face. The stinging sensation brought Vicky to. She stared in disbelief as she comprehended that he was still there. He saw the look and interpreted it correctly.

"I ain’t going anywhere for a while yet darlin’ no fear. I’m having too much fun here!" He walked about her room, picking things up and looking at them. One was a teddy bear that Matt gave her as a joke. Just seeing it made Vicky think of Matt and she pushed back the tears that want to fall at the thought of him.

"Like teddies do we? Do we? Answer me, bitch!" He ripped the tape off Vicky’s mouth, causing her to gasp in shock. "Well, are you going to answer me?"

"Yes," Vicky said in a small voice, not trusting herself to say any more.

"Have you decided that you like me in control yet then? Well?"

Vicky made no answer.

"Answer me!"

"Sort of." Vicky realised that the only way to reply to this creature was to suck up to him, or so she thought.

"Then I’ll just have to give you more, won’t I then?" Stripping, he took her for a third time. Due to the pain he was causing and the agony in her wrist, Vicky fainted.

The next thing she knew, the sun had risen. She looked at the clock on her mantelpiece: nine twenty. ‘Shit!’ she thought, then stiffened as she heard voices...

To go back in time. At nine o’clock, June Ackland was in her kitchen, fixing a cup of coffee. She looked at her watch and picked up her phone. Quickly dialling Vicky’s number, June frowned, as there was no answer, even after twenty rings. Her brow creased and she gulped down the contents of her mug, grabbed her coat and car keys and ran down to her car. For some reason she was very worried.

Having arrived at Vicky’s house, June got out and locked her car and, striding up to the house, she rang the bell sharply. A few minutes and nobody came to the door. June got even more worried and reached for the spare door key that she knew lived under a plant pot. Having let herself in, she carefully shut the door and walked into the kitchen. No sign of anyone. Hearing a noise, June went to turn round but was stopped by a point being shoved into her back.

"Don’t say anything!" A voice ordered her, an arm reached for the tape and June felt her arms being taped behind her back. She did not struggle as she could feel a knife point still in her back. He pushed her upstairs toward the bedroom, flinging her in. June and Vicky gasped at the sight of each other. June turned on her attacker, finally and immediately recognised him to be Peter Rogers, Gary Rogers’ older brother.

"You!" she snarled.

"Shut it bitch!" Rogers advanced on Vicky.

"Why didn’t you tell me you were expecting company?" Before Vicky could answer him, June replied for her.

"Because I wasn’t expected!"

"Shut it, you!" he continued, "Two to choose from, aren’t I lucky? Well, which of you will I have first then?" June opened her mouth to speak but was silenced by a look from Vicky.

"Sit!" Rogers snarled at June and she sat. In tears, she was forced to watch as Rogers raped Vicky in front of her very eyes. There was nothing she could do about it. She was completely powerless.

"Now, let’s look at you." Rogers stood in front of June, who cowered. He grabbed her trousers, unzipped them and was about to attack her when his phone rang. He pulled it out and answered it.

"Yeah, sure, right. Oh bugger it, just as I was having fun. Yeah. Good game. Right, see ya, fifteen minutes, ok? Bye." He flipped the mobile shut.

"Gotta go girls!" He put his knife first to June’s neck, then to Vicky’s.

"You have not seen me. I repeat. I HAVE NOT STEPPED FOOT IN THIS HOUSE. RIGHT?"

June, about to disagree, caught a glance from Vicky and murmured ‘yes’ as did Vicky.

"Right, glad to meet you both." With such stunning simplicity, Rogers walked out. Two minutes later, the front door slammed.

"Oh God! Vicky!" June crawled over to Vicky, who burst into tears. Fiddling with her wrists, June freed herself from the tape and put an arm round Vicky. Tears were rolling down her face. The past ten minutes had brought so much back into her memory. About to get a flashback, she mentally shook herself, telling her brain that she must be there for Vicky.

"He...he raped me June, before you came, three times!"

"Oh Vicky..."

"I have never been so scared in my whole life...ever!"

"I know Vicky, I do know." The tone in which June said this made Vicky look at her for a moment, but June busied herself in untying Vicky’s bonds. She winced as June touched the broken wrist. June felt the tremor and looked at the tear stained face through her own puffy eyes questioningly.

"He broke it," Vicky stated, her voice strained. She shivered again, this time from the cold. June went to Vicky’s cupboard and got out a pair of trousers and the warmest button up top she could find. She helped Vicky pull the trousers on and puts the top round her shoulders. Then she sat down by Vicky, who lay her head on her shoulder and June put her arm round her - it was very comforting to Vicky as she tried to distance herself from the past ten hours.

"Vicky? I’m, going to call an ambulance, ok?"

"Yeah."

June pulled out her mobile and dialled 999. "Yes, I’d like an ambulance for 3 Larkfield street, yes, a rape victim." As June said the word ‘rape’ both she and Vicky shivered simultaneously.

Then June called the station. She was nearing the end of her tether when Sergeant Bob Cryer answered the phone.

"Sun Hill Police, how can I help?"

"Oh Bob!" June dissolved, she just couldn’t help it. "Vicky’s been raped, I’m at hers, I witnessed some of it. It was Peter Rogers, older brother of the lad who’s in custody for petty theft at the moment."

"What happened June?" asked Bob, almost distraught.

"I can’t talk about it. Bob. Listen, the ambulance is on it’s way and we’re going to St. Hugh’s."

"Right." A stunned Cryer put down the phone and went to explain the matter to Insp. Monroe.

As the two women heard the ambulance, June’s phone rang. The call was from Monroe.

"June?"

"Yeah?"

"Listen, I know you’ve been through something yourself in the past hour, but could you be the interviewing officer?"

"Yes." June put the phone down before she lost it at Monroe, and thought to herself ‘that man has the feelings of a bloody rusted Dalek’.

Vicky lay sobbing as June let the paramedics in. The two were removed to the ambulance and from there to St. Hugh’s.

In the confines of the hospital, June was left alone for a while as the doctors examined Vicky. The time gave her a space to reflect. She was in a room on her own and suddenly memories came flooding back. She tried to stop them but couldn’t. A fifteen-year-old entered a well-loved house, a man she thought to be kind, a family that bore grudges and a happening that had shaped her life. Now it had nearly happened again and had happened to someone else. June shuddered, remembering the look in his eye and how it compared to Rogers. Suddenly a nurse walked in to see if June was okay, she found that lady in a trance, reliving something in her minds eye.

"Sgt Ackland?" The nurse placed a hand on June’s arm. The trance was broken. For a moment, June was still the fifteen year old and she hit out at the invader, then she realised that it was the nurse and murmured

"Sorry Nurse."

"That’s ok dear, is there anything you’d like to tell us?" June shuddered

"No. Is PC Hagen alright?"

"Her wrist has been shattered and there is bruising to her stomach. If all goes well, we can discharge her tomorrow, has she anywhere she can go?"

"She can stay with me." June spoke absent-mindedly. "Can I see her?"

"Yes, she was asking for you." June was led into a room and left to speak to the occupant of the bed.

"Vicky?" She asked softly, "Can you hear me?" Vicky’s head turned and she looked at June.

"Sarge. Thanks."

"That’s ok Vicky, I’m here for you."

"Oh Sarge?"

"I can’t go home after this, I can’t!" Vicky’s voice rose hysterically.

"No Vicky, you’re coming to stay with me." June’s voice was clear and calming.

"Really?"

"Yes." This time her voice was crisp and certain. "There is no way you’re staying in your house."

"Thank you Sarge."

"Vicky? The name’s June."

"Sorry...June." Vicky and June looked at each other for a few minutes, each uncertain of what they wanted to say next.

"Vicky..."

"June..." They said at the same moment.

"Go ahead Vicky." June half smiled.

"When you were saying ‘I know’ earlier..." Vicky broke off, she was unsure how to continue her sentence. She almost wished she hadn’t started it. June keyed on to what she was about to ask and took a deep breath.

"When I was fifteen I went through a similar experience, so I do know. I’ve been there, already. I don’t want to talk about it right now, it’ll upset both of us." Vicky was clearly shocked and her unbroken arm reached out to June.

"We’ll talk about it all later. You need to sleep now," June continued. She knew Vicky would want to hear about her experiences at some point and mentally braced herself for that time.

"When can I be discharged, June?" Vicky asked.

"Tomorrow, all being well." A nurse came in and told June that there was a phone call for her. She went to take the call.

"June?" It was Insp. Monroe’s voice

"Yes sir?"

"Have you interviewed Vicky yet?"

"Sir!" June was outraged! "Vicky has just been through the ordeal of being raped four times, once in front of her Sergeant. I’ve been assaulted in front of her, she’s had all the bones in one wrist shattered and bruising to her stomach, and you have the insensitivity to ask if I’ve interviewed her yet! The girl can hardly put two words together at the moment." The tirade ended and too late Andrew realised that he had put his foot in his mouth.

"Sorry June."

"I should think so! On a different note, I would like that weeks leave I’m due."

"Do you have to June? We’ll already be short staffed as it stands."

"Apart from the fact that Vicky is staying at my place, don’t you realise that I’ve been through quite a bit in the past few hours too?" Andrew cottoned on to what June is getting at, as her superior, he knew her case history.

"Sorry June." His voice softened

"Yes, you can have the week off."

"Thanks Sir." June put the phone down, she’d had enough of Monroe for one day. Going back to Vicky’s room, she found the occupant fast asleep. Sighing, she left the room and went for a coffee. Immediately a nurse came up and told her that there was another phone call for her. June went to the phone and picked up the receiver.

"June?" It was a distraught Matt Boyden on the other end.

"Yeah?"

"What happened?....Is Vicky okay?" June mentally sighed, she foresaw being asked this question a lot in the next few hours.

"She’s asleep, Matt. They’ll let her out tomorrow if all is well and she’s coming to stay with me."

"Thank God she’s ok...what actually happened though, do you know?"

"She...she was multi-raped, once in front of me..."

"What bastard did that?" Matt roared down the phone, his fragile temper lost.

"Peter Rogers."

"I’ll kill him..."

"Matt..." June spoke with a warning tone, she didn’t want him done for assault, or worse than that, Murder.

"Can I see her?"

"I’m sure you can, she’s in a room off ward eight, her wrist has been shattered and she has bruising to the stomach, luckily that’s all."

"It’s too bloody much..."

"It could have been a lot worse."

"Yeah, well, listen I’ve got to go. I’m coming up later when I’m off this shift."

"Ok, bye." June hung up the phone and went back to her coffee.

Sitting in a chair some fifteen minutes later, June was surprised to see PC Jim Carver at her side.

"Jim!" She exclaimed

.

"Sarge..." he said awkwardly, "...June, I heard something had happened and, well, I slipped in." Jim was blushing somewhat, June sensed that he was not his normal self at all.

"Was it really bad?"

"It was awful, yeah."

"June, I’m here for you, thought I’d let you know, just like you were there for me."

"Thank you Jim."

"No problem, Sarge." He looked at her fondly for a moment, stooped, kissed her head gently and turned to go.

"Jim!" June exclaimed, somewhat startled. He turned back, half embarrassed.

"I’ll phone you." She smiled, stood up, approached him and kissed him lightly on the lips. Jim looked stunned for a second but then he grinned and kissed her back.

"I’ve got to get back on the beat, June."

"Take care, Jim."

"I will." With that, they parted.

June sat once more, somewhat astonished at what a trauma could bring out of the woodwork. She’d always liked Jim, since day one when she had shown him the ropes. She’d cared enough for him to be there when he’d had a drink problem and had felt deeply for him when his tenure came up in CID, but she had no idea that he had harboured feelings for her.

Meanwhile, Jim was back on his beat, having been joined by Cass. Monroe radioed them from CAD to say that Rogers has been sighted on Jamaica Lane, which was two minutes from where they were at that point.

"Received Sir, on way." Jim broke into a run, followed by Cass. Pausing before they entered the lane, Jim peered around the corner. He could see a brunette walking down the pavement and a figure lurking in the shadows. As Cass drew her breath in, in a sharp hiss, the lurking figure jumped on the girl and her scream was muffled. Jim tackled the male, realising that it was Rogers.

"You bastard!" he snarled, before ramming the struggling figure hard up against the wall. He read him his rights in a strained voice as he snapped the handcuffs on with a pleasurable force. Meanwhile, Cass was helping the girl up.

"Are you ok?"

"Yeah, fine. Look, drop it ok, I don’t want to press charges."

"Do you know him?"

"No. No I don’t know him, I’ve told ya - I don’t want to press charges!" The girl broke free and ran off. Cass could not catch her and returned to find Rogers arguing with Jim.

"So, what are you arresting me for? The girl said she doesn’t want to press charges, so you’ve nothing on me."

"Oh haven’t we just? What about Rape of a police officer and sexual assault to another officer?" Jim snarled, a picture of June came up in his minds eye.

"Where do you get that cock and bull story from then?"

"Where do you think?" Jim turned to Cass. "Radio Tony, would you to come and collect this scumbag!"

Cass picked up her radio. "595 from 518, over?"

"Yeah Cass?"

"We’ve got Rogers, can you come and get him? We’re in Jamaica Lane."

"Received Cass, on way."

Ten minutes later and Jim and Cass were bringing Rogers into custody. Matt was on the desk and had to be held back from attacking him.

"You complete and utter bastard!" he cried, outraged at the smug look on the face of his girlfriend’s rapist. PC Sam Harker restrained him and Polly searched Rogers pockets.

At the hospital, June was not pleased to hear that there was another call from Sun Hill for her.

"What?" she snapped as she picked up the phone.

"We’ve got Rogers," Matt announced in a strange voice.

"What?" June was elated, she could hardly believe that he had been found so quickly.

"Yeah, Jim was arresting officer." Matt sounded regretful that it wasn’t him...

"That’s brilliant Matt, good on Jim!" June was overjoyed.

"Yeah, well, they had to restrain me, I was on custody when they brought him in."

"Oh poor you Matt." June realised how awful it must have been for him.

"Well, yeah, listen, I’ll be up later, ok?"

"Right bye, and thanks for letting me know." June went to break the news to Vicky.

*St Hugh’s Hospital, 3.00pm, 23^rd February 2001*

Matt arrived in with a large bunch of red roses for Vicky, he said to June that he would stay with Vicky for the night and that she could go home. June complied, gladly, she had had enough of the hospital.

*June’s house, 6.30pm*

June was talking out loud to herself.

"It was only this morning that everything was fine...so much can happen..." She made up a bed for Vicky in her spare room and sat down to have a coffee. Switching on the TV, all she could find was football, football and more football...sighing, she turned it off. The softness and depth of her sofa was strangely comforting to the sergeant, and she sat there for a few minutes, in complete silence. Then she reached for the phone, thought for a minute, then dialled Jim’s number. The answer machine came on.

"Jim? It’s June here, I’m at home, will be till tomorrow morning, when Vicky is coming to stay. Thought I’d let you know. Bye..."

An hour later, June’s doorbell rang...it was Jim, with a bottle of Chianti!

"Jim!" June didn’t actually expect him to call round.

"I, er, got your message and I, umm, thought I’d come over," Jim stated, not sure if he had done the right thing.

"Thank you," June said simply, she was glad to see him.

They spent the evening talking, eventually, June fell asleep - her head on Jim’s shoulder. Jim was content to stay there, and lay still, listening to the even breathing of the lady beside him. Suddenly, the breathing became more rapid, and June started to scream out loud.

"No! Don’t touch me! Please, go away, leave me alone!..." She woke up.

"June, what was it?" Jim was distraught, the tone in which June had cried had ripped through his heart.

"A bad dream, that’s all, Jim, a bad dream." In truth, it was a flashback, but June didn’t think she could face going back over all that again.

"Will you stay the night?" she asked, not sure if it was the right question, but knowing that she needed somebody.

"If you want me to." Jim understood what June wanted.

"I just need someone to be here, I need to feel safe..." June didn’t know how to describe what she was feeling, nor what she wanted.

"It’s ok, June, I’m here, I’ll stay."

"But do you want to stay?" June knew the answer to this, but she needed reassuring.

"I do." Jim said this firmly, to strengthen the woman at his side. For once, she felt so weak, so tender and insecure. He had never known June Ackland in this kind of state and it came as some of a shock to him. He stayed the night, and in the morning, June saw him off to his shift.

"Bye..." she called softly after his disappearing figure.

Mid day came all to soon, and June and Vicky left the hospital together. An hour later and June was unlocking her door and letting them both into her flat. Sitting Vicky down on a comfortable settee, she made two coffees and brought them in, giving one to Vicky, who used her good arm to lift it.

"That tastes great after the dishwater that the hospital called coffee, June."

"Tell me about it!" The two sat in what could be called a companionable silence for a while, then June stated

"You know Inspector Monroe wants me to interview you?"

"Yeah?"

"Well, let me know when you’re ready..."

"You might as well now," Vicky paused, "better to get it over with..."

"Yeah, well..." June reached for a pen and paper.

"Can you tell me exactly what happened when you left ‘the arms’?"

"I headed home and as I got to the front door, he grabbed me and, and made me get into the house. He told me not to say anything and when I struggled, he...he broke my wrist. Going into the kitchen, he found the tape and taped my mouth..." Vicky reached up to her still tender chin.

"Ok, are you able to go on?"

"Yeah." Vicky trembled for a moment at the memories this was giving her and then continued. "In my bed room, he tied me up with his own rope and flung me down. Then he left the room. He came back and said...said that it was for revenge because I followed him. He said ‘thought you were mighty clever, didn’t you, following me like you did yesterday, didn’t you bitch?’" Vicky broke down and sobbed for a minute, inside, June was crying with her, remembering how hard the ordeal of talking about it all had been for her...

"Then he got his knife out. He...he slashed through my clothing and then he raped me...for the first time...it was the hardest to bear..." This time Vicky sobbed uncontrollably. June hugged her and pressed back the tears that came to her eyes.

"I can’t go on sa...June, I can’t, it’s...it’s too much..." Vicky gave a desperate little sob.

"That’s ok Vicky, it’s ok." June kept her arm round Vicky, whose shoulders continued to heave.

"I was so powerless June, I felt humiliated and helpless. He raped me and there was nothin’ I could do about it..." Vicky broke off in hysterical sobbing. June foresaw a tough job ahead of her.

"I do understand Vicky, I can’t make it better, but I do understand." Vicky’s shoulders stopped heaving, she seemed to shake herself and looked gratefully up at June. With a deep breath, she continued her harrowing story. June noted it all down, revelling anew at how Vicky survived, whilst keeping an eye on the teller’s emotions.

"That’s all I can remember until I heard voices and he brought you in."

"Yeah. Thanks Vicky, I know how hard that was for you." Once more Vicky looked at her with grateful eyes.

"I felt powerless too, Vicky, when he took you in front of me..." June broke off, she did not trust herself any further. Vicky placed an arm gingerly round her and June sobbed. It is the first time she had cried since the morning before’s incidents.

"You feel so contaminated, so, so invaded..." June gave a desperate cry. Vicky realised that June was pulling from past experiences here.

"Tell me?" She said encouragingly, bracing herself for what must have indeed been an upsetting story, going by the storm of tears that was coming from her sergeant. June looked at her with puffy eyes and tear-blurred vision. Even now she was wary of telling her experiences, especially to Vicky, the gossip of Sun Hill nick.

"You must never tell a soul, Vicky..."

"June, we’ve been through so much together..." Vicky trailed off, she is being sensible. June took a deep, heaving breath and started to let out the distressing tale that had her feeling so pent up over the past few days.

"My mother was a timid woman who died when I was fifteen. She was always in the shadow of my father, who was a loud, over bearing man, difficult and stubborn. Before mum died, when I was fourteen, there had been problems. It was no wonder, really, she’d had an affair. When I turned fifteen, she broke it up, though, they had argued, because she refused to leave dad. There were more problems though, because he and my dad were twins. Dad knew nothing but then I found out. I was outraged, and threatened Uncle Tom that I would tell Dad. One day I came home from school and let myself in, as normal. There was absolute silence. Going into the sitting room, I found Uncle Tom, he was just sitting there and there was such a strange look in his eyes. He told me to go to my room and O did, he didn’t look like he was in a mood to argue with. As I was going up the stairs, I heard him behind me...he was carrying a knife. I ran and he...he followed me, right to my room."

June broke off, almost in a trance and took a new breath.

"He raped me, Vicky...on my own bed, in the house I had grown up in. He stabbed me too, because I struggled." Her hand went to a long scar running up her arm. Both women were crying now, but June continued, she had to finish, she had to let the pent up feelings within her out. "When he’d...he’d finished, he just got up and left. That was it. Later my parents returned. I told mum, but she didn’t believe me, said I was making it up, that Tom wouldn’t do that and that I’d cut myself for attention. I’d never had those kind of thoughts, you know, self harming ones, but I got very close to it then. My own mother didn’t believe me, that hurt almost more than the fact that my Uncle had raped me. After a lot of thought and tears, I told a WPC I was by way of being friendly with. She built up a rapport and it went further. Mum couldn’t forgive me for going to the police, but I was glad, glad that someone believed me. Well, they caught him and put him in custody. He confessed. That was the first great shock for mum, she couldn’t, wouldn’t believe it. The second shock came the next morning. Uncle Tom had committed suicide. He’d hanged himself in his cell, nobody had thought to put him on suicide watch. It was too much for mum, she had a heart attack. The doctor said it was caused by shock, her heart had always been weak. She didn’t survive. The rest of the family never forgave me. Not dad, because he said I taken his wife and his brother from him. He didn’t believe that they’d had an affair, that Tom had raped me...just that it was my fault that they’d both died. That was the attitude of the rest of the family as well. Funny though, I ended up looking after dad until he died, I was a copper by then, here, in Sun Hill nick. He never forgave me though."

June finished. Vicky looked at her and the two women hugged.

"You do understand," Vicky stated in a choked voice.

"Thank you." June had now regained her composure. "Vicky...I shouldn’t have burdened you with that, but thank you."

"June, I know you’re there for me and I’m here for you." A thought struck June...how much Vicky had changed in a few days.

The two sat talking well into the night, indeed, for the next few days they talked consistently.

At the end of their leave, Vicky commented: "That was the best counselling I could have got anywhere June, thank you."

"I think you and I understand each other at last, Vicky," June replied sombrely.

It had been arranged that Vicky would be a lodger at June’s house until she could get a new place of her own. Needless to say, she would probably stay the odd night at Matt’s...

*Sun Hill Police Station, 1^st March 2001, 2.01pm.*

Vicky and Polly had been paired together for once and were just heading out when June passed them.

"Ah, Vicky, can I have a word?" Polly walked on for a few metres. "Do you know if you’re staying at Matt’s tonight?"

"Well, he’s invited me for a late meal after the shift..."

"Ok, just wanted to know if I’d be expecting you, have fun!"

"I will June, thanks."

"How are you bearing up?"

"Ok, so far."

"Well, let me know if you need to chat."

"Thanks, and you." June said nothing, just smiled and went on her way. Vicky rejoined Polly, who remarked

"You’re getting on a lot better with Sergeant Ackland since...since..."

"Yeah well Poll, it’s all down to a mutual understanding, ya know?" Vicky replied.

By coincidence, June and Jim were talking that evening (THAT was why June wanted to know Vicky’s whereabouts!) round at June’s place.

"How are you?"

"Well, it’s getting easier..." June had outlined her teenage experiences to Jim, so he understood more fully. Jim took her hand and they exchanged glances for a minute or two, then kissed...

"Ah, Jim, isn’t it amazing what good can come from such bad?" June remarked. Jim put his arm round her and she lay her head on his shoulder. "You, a friendship with Vicky..."

"I’d noticed you two were getting on well now."

"Well Jim, I think it’s all down to a mutual understanding..."