'Quick search and back, aye?' Gwilt snorted. 'You're a bloody liar, Boss.'

'Things got out of hand,' reasoned Neo.

Gwilt stared at him whilst they sat in the hospital waiting room.

'I'm sure they did,' he said and rolled his eyes. 'You're going to make me grey before my time.'

'DCI Denzel, DS Gwilt.' A trim doctor interrupted them, his long hair tied back in a tight ponytail. 'My name is Dr Chester.'

Neo and Gwilt each shook his offered hand.

'How are Emma and Danny?' Neo asked.

'They're doing well. Both are a little malnourished and dehydrated. We suspect the little boy, Danny, has pneumonia, so we've started a course of antibiotics that should clear it up. We're keeping both of them in for observation. One of our psychologists is with Emma right now.'

'Good,' Neo said. 'She'll need someone to help her get over this.'

'Mr Bennett is awake. I understand you wish to speak with him?' Dr Chester began walking down the hallway, Neo and Gwilt falling into step beside him.

'Only if he's able to speak with us,' Gwilt clarified.

'He's suffered lacerations to his face, hands, and stomach. There's also severe bruising over his torso and he has a cracked rip. But he's responding well to treatment. Keep your questioning short and concise. The drugs that Mrs Bennett gave him will take time to work through his system. He's been through a lot and is still quite shaken,' Dr Chester warned.

The doctor held the door open for them and Gwilt and Neo entered Harry Bennett's hospital room.

Neo had to admit, even only to himself, that Harry Bennett looked worse than he remembered. The poor lighting in the tunnel had hid most of his obvious injuries, but now in the unforgiving daylight, everything was on show.

Neo could see the knife wounds littering his face. Slashes of raised skin cast shadows over the rest of his face. Jane seemed to have taken great delight in making sure her husband would never forget her.

'Mr Bennett? I'm DCI Denzel. This is DS Gwilt. We're here to ask you a few questions.'

'I've been expecting you.' He turned his head so he could stare at them. 'But first, can you tell me where my wife is? I need to know you've locked her up after what she's done,' Harry Bennett spat.

Gwilt and Neo shared a look as they both took a seat.

'Mr Bennett, are you aware that your wife has suffered from the mental health condition schizophrenia since she was a teenager?'

Harry Bennett's mouth popped open. 'N-no,' he stuttered in shock.

'Your wife has been self medicating for several years but it appears eight months ago, she stopped,' Neo said, thinking about the information Charlie had shared with him as he'd helped her out of the tunnel.

'Then this is all my fault,' Harry announced, his head dropping to his chest. 'I thought she was using again, like when I met her. I had no idea that she needed the medication. If I'd known...' he trailed off, a few errant tears sliding down his face as he thought about everything he could have done if only she'd shared her struggle with him.

'We understand this must be hard for you,' Gwilt said.

'With all due respect, officer, I don't think you do. Jane is the love of my life and for an entire week I hoped she would die so that my torture would stop and that I could take the kids. For months I've been planning to leave her, thinking that she broke her promise to me, and now I find that after all these years she kept something like this from me. And why? Maybe because she thought I wouldn't understand, maybe because she didn't trust me. I let the only woman I ever loved down.'

'Mr Bennett, your wife has been taken into care where she'll get the help she deserves, but certain things have also come to light which may cause distress to you and your children.'

'As long as Jane is getting help, that's all that matters,' Harry responded rapidly.

'I'm sorry to have to tell you this, but whilst in the tunnel, Jane admitted to killing her sister and two friends twenty years ago. She will likely go to trial for their murder, though given her condition, they will probably be more lenient with her,' Neo explained.

Harry Bennett remained silent as the minutes ticked by.

Neo motioned for Gwilt, and the two men stood up.

'I understand that you'll need time-'

'No,' Harry interrupted Neo. 'I failed my wife once. I'm not letting it happen again. My parents are coming down to take care of the children whilst I'm recovering. That will give me plenty of time to make sure my wife has the best damn legal team.'

Neo and Gwilt left as Harry Bennett kept talking aloud, his words slurring as his medication took its toll.

'Keep an eye on that one. He must be loopy.' Gwilt shook his head. 'Even after all she put him through, he still loves her.'

'Sometimes the connection is that strong,' Neo said.

'Well, I suppose they deserve each other.' Gwilt shrugged.

'What about Charlotte Hoggins? The nurses told me she'd gone for a CT scan? Would that likely be finished by now?' Neo asked eagerly. He hadn't been able to visit with her since they'd arrived at the hospital, and he was desperate to make sure she was okay.

'They finished the scan 15 minutes ago. She was settling back into bed when I last checked on her. She's had to have some butterfly stitches across the back of her head and she has a concussion. We'll be keeping her in overnight just in case.'

Dr Chester led the way to another room.

'Ahh doctor, I just have a few queries on the drugs found in the tunnel. The ones that Mrs Bennett used to subdue her husband, specifically the ones that allowed her to convince him to get into the tunnel in the first place. Could I pick your brain?' Gwilt asked, effectively giving Neo and Charlie some privacy.

Neo smiled at his sergeant before pushing the door open and leaving the two men to their conversation.

Neo could only see the back of Charlie's head and winced when he took in the gash, clear even through her hairline.

Charlie had tucked herself into a ball, lying on her side. Given her wound, Neo wondered if it was the comfiest position she could manage.

He walked around and placed a kiss on her waiting lips before taking a seat.

'How are you feeling?'

'A little groggy,' she slurred. 'But feeling much better now you're here.'

Neo and took her hand. 'I was worried that I was going to be too late,' he admitted.

'But you weren't.'

'But what if I had been? What if I never got a chance to tell you...'

'Tell me what?' Charlie frowned.

Neo fiddled with his fingers, feeling like a schoolboy and not the forty something he really was.

'I was worried that I would never be able to tell you how much you've changed my life. And how much I want you to stay in it because I-' he choked on his words, wondering why he was finding it so difficult to say.

'You love me?' Charlie guessed, giggling.

'I do and you find it funny.' Neo groaned, wondering if he should have kept his mouth shut.

Charlie suppressed her giggles at Neo's downtrodden expression, though it was hard.

'I don't want to leave,' she smiled at him.

'Really?' Neo asked in amazement.

'This might be hard to understand, but I love you back,' she admitted. 'If you'll have me?'

'Of course,' Neo exploded. 'But how will this work with you in London and me here? And I have Dante and Willow to explain this too, though they like you, so that's one problem solved.' Neo continued to ramble until Charlie reached her hand across and placed a finger against his lips.

'Don't think. Just enjoy,' she demanded.

He smiled against her finger before kissing it. 'I suppose you're right.'

'Always am,' she cheeked, wincing a little as she pulled at her stitches.

'Here you two are,' Trap cried from the doorway, though Neo couldn't see him behind the gigantic teddy bear he was carrying.

'Oh fuck.' Charlie had turned around to see what Neo was staring at and was now also staring at the teddy bear that took up the entire door frame.

Trap chuckled. 'I win,' he declared.

Neo frowned when Charlie sniggered.

'I'll explain later,' she promised to a bemused-looking Neo.

'You found them Trap? Jolly good.' A portly man marched into the room and Neo sat up straighter.

'Commissioner?' The man was the last person Neo thought he'd see.

'DCI, good to see that you're well. Fantastic job today. And this must be Trap's prodigy.' The Commissioner smiled at a chagrined Charlie. 'He speaks highly of you and it's no wonder, given the help you've provided to Marton in bringing this case, or cases as it is, to an end. Absolutely delightful.'

'And how do you two know each other?' Charlie queried, looking between the jovial man and her smug looking mentor.

'Oh, our wives used to run a lingerie shop together in London,' the Commissioner answered offhandedly, as if it was the most normal thing in the world.

'Oh right. Nice,' Charlie said, not willing to think too hard on it since she could already feel a dull headache spreading over her eyes. Which was only made worse when Palmer stormed through the door.

She went to open her mouth when the Commissioner spoke.

'Palmer? It really has been too long. I suppose you're here to congratulate your officer on a job well done? Simply textbook. Family safe, a murderer behind bars and justice for three families after twenty years. I would say this deserves a drink.' He ushered a flabbergasted Palmer out the door before she had time to say anything.

Before the door closed, he turned and winked at a shocked Neo and Charlie. 'When you're both up to it, we'll have that drink.' And with that, he was gone.

'What did you do?' Charlie rounded on a relaxed looking Trap.

'Just pulled a few strings, your job is safe DCI, a thank you for looking after Charlie.' His eyes softened as he took in the obvious love between them. 'I'll let you two relax, besides I want to see that Palmer woman try not blow her lid at a superior officer.'

He was almost at the door when he turned and noted their joint hands. He had a good feeling about the DCI; at least he was someone that could keep up with the whirlwind that was Charlie Hoggins.

'By the way, both your parents are in reception and I think either Willow and Dante may have let slip that you're dating.'

'What?' Neo and Charlie exclaimed together.

'You were in jail and you thought I wouldn't let your parents know?' He said to a disgruntled Charlie before turning to Neo. 'And your mother mentioned something about keeping a no-good bitch away from you.' Trap laughed at their agonised expressions. 'Enjoy yourself,' he said and left.

'Willow must have called my parents about Samira,' Neo muttered.

'I can't believe Trap told my parents I was in jail.' Charlie curled back up in a ball. 'Nope, I'm not dealing with this right now. Can't we just ignore them?'

Neo could already hear a commotion coming towards them. It appeared their hiding spot had been exposed.

'I'm here for you, we'll survive it together.'

'I'll hold you to that Chief.'

'Anytime Hoggins.'