London's Burning - A visit by night

Written by: Gemma
Spoilers: None - based before Series 13
Archive: Just ask me
Characters: Sally Fields / Joe Walker / Rob 'Hyper' Sharpe.
Disclaimer: None of the characters featured in this story are owned by the author but are owned by London's Burning and LWT.
Authors notes: I decided to do a short stand alone fic while I'm writing the other fic.
Summary: A figure in the night, can he make Sally live again?

Silence... well almost.

It was dark, the time, well past midnight and the Blue Watch were asleep, all but one... Sally.

Restlessness had taken hold, it had prized her eyes open and refused to let go, making her aware of any sudden movement, any sudden noise...

She rolled from her side onto her back and stared up at the blank ceiling above. Gentle snoring and loud breathing was apparent in the room. It used to annoy her, but after the countless sleepless nights she'd laid awake through, it seemed like part of the furniture now.

She sat up, pushing the navy blue bed sheet until it was crumbled up at the end of the bed, threatening to fall. She pulled her legs into a crossed position and glanced around the room. Her eyes had got used to the fact of the darkness and she could make certain little details out. Chairs, lockers, the other Watch members who were all still fast asleep.

Sally sighed almost inaudibly and run her hands through her short hair with frustration, before laying her head back down on her pillow. The insomnia was immensely annoying and she had considering maybe visiting a doctor to get something prescribed, but she knew her lack of sleeping was due to her thoughts.

The Brigade councillor had been brilliant, she listened, talked, didn't pry too much when she felt uncomfortable. Talking was good, it was like a comfort, but it still didn't change the past.

The past couldn't be changed, the Chinese Warehouse couldn't have extinguished itself and D.O. Griggs couldn't have been stopped giving out the orders. Joe... Sicknote, they couldn't miraculously be brought back to life.

A sudden sweep of cold air blew through the window and the window in the dorm rattled slightly as the pearly - white net curtains fluttered around for a couple of seconds, before calming and going still again. Sally shivered and sat up again and attempted to find the ends of her sheets, which was a scuffed up mess at the end of her bed.

"Sally," a voice whispered.

Sally glanced up, her hands holding the sheets. No - one was there. She glanced around at the beds, all of the Watch were still asleep.

"Sally..."

Sally moved her head quickly, glancing at ever single corner in the room. A slight shadow appeared in the doorway of the dorm, which lead out to the mess. "Rob, if this is one of your wind - up's..." Sally murmured.

A whitened figure appeared out of the shadows, he moved slowly and the coldness seemed to follow him.

With horror, Sally's face turned white, "Joe?" she whispered questioningly, not knowing whether her eyes were deceiving her.

A saddened smile covered his face as he sensed the pain she was suffering inside. He held out her left hand, "Come with me," he said softly.

Sally rubbed her eyes, no he was still there. He even looked somewhat clearer now. "Where?" she asked.

"Just out of here," Joe replied simply.

Sally wearily slipped off of the bed and her feet tapped the wooden floor lightly. She slowly made her way across the room, making sure that she didn't wake anyone, before she reached Joe. Sally took hold of his hand, as he lead her out of the dorm.

"You're cold," she commented matter - of - factly.

"I know..."

The door to the mess was opened and Joe entered, leading Sally through behind him. Joe pulled out a seat at the table for her, before sitting down on the chair next to her.

Silence filled the room for a matter of minutes, before Joe spoke up, "I'm sorry for leaving you like I did," he apologised, his eyes searching for forgiveness within her heart.

Sally felt tears brewing up in her eyes already, he was apologising when he really didn't need to. "It wasn't your fault," she told him, "It wasn't, you weren't to blame."

Joe's head bowed as his face was hid from her, "If I could change the past then I would have. I would've argued with Griggs, none of us would have gone in."

Sally bit her lip, "You can't change the past," she stated truthfully, "If the past could be changed, we'd be married now. We'd be living happy, just you and..." Sally paused, holding her hand over her mouth, trying to hide her emotions.

Joe gently touched her cheek as Sally pulled her hand away and he gently wiped away her tears. "I'll always be here for you," he told her softly.

"Really?" she murmured, getting her hopes up slightly.

"Not like..." Joe paused, "I won't be able to talk to you again, it's not procedure, but I'll be watching you, looking out for you... like a guardian angel."

"How will I know you're here?"

"You'll know," Joe assured her, "A sign, you'll notice something."

Sally smiled a half smile, causing one to creep onto Joe's lips.

"What's it like?" Sally asked curiously.

"What's what like?"

"Heaven... the after life?" Sally added.

"I... I can't really tell you... it's nice..."

Sally was slightly disappointed, but at least his wording wasn't negative. "How's Sicknote doing?"

"He's alright," Joe informed her, "Still his usual self, has been putting on Shakespeare productions on Cloud 12."

Sally smiled, remembering hearing stories from George about the days when Sicknote appeared on stage at regular intervals. "I miss you," she spoke up, after remaining silent for a while again.

Joe's smile faded and he nodded, "I miss you too. But Sally you've got to move on. I've seen you haven't been sleeping, you've not been talking properly to the others and you have to. One day you'll forget about me, meet someone else, maybe marry. I want you to move on, I want you to Sal. I hate seeing you unhappy."

A low sun appeared across the London skyline, "I've got to go," Joe murmured in a rushed tone, "I'm only allowed to appear by night."

"But... but... Joe..." Sally murmured, "We haven't finished..."

Joe held a finger to her lips, "We have," he whispered softly, "I want you to promise me that you'll move on, don't reel on the past," he looked into Sally's eyes, "Promise me..."

"I promise," she whispered as a single tear trickled down her face.

A gentle kiss was planted on Sally's left cheek and she closed her eyes as a tear reached the end of her right cheek.

Sally's eyes fluttered open and Joe was gone. She was alone yet again, the powerful morning sun was blazing through the windows of the dorm and everything was still quiet.

"Sally?"

Sally jumped at the sudden distinctive Irish - accent, then glanced around at the doorway.

"Are you ok?" Hyper asked, noticing her tear stained face.

Sally nodded, "I'm fine," she murmured, "I've uh... just been thinking... I couldn't sleep so I decided to come in here..."

Hyper smiled unsurely as he approached her and sat down on the chair that Joe had been sitting on. "Sure you're ok?" he asked again softly.

Sally nodded, "I'm sure, I just had a sign, from Joe," she smiled, "... and I think he feels the same way as all of you. I should start to begin to get on with my life."

Hyper placed a sympathetic hand on Sally's shoulder. He hadn't the faintest idea what Sally had seen that night, but he was happy with her decision and would support her in the best way he could. "Coming back to the dorm?" Hyper asked, "We've got an hour until we're officially supposed to be up, so you could try and catch a little sleep," he suggested and standed to his feet.

"Yeah..." Sally murmured at a whisper, as she stood up after Hyper.

They then walked back to the dorm where Sally slept her first hour of sleep in days. Life seemed to be better after that, although Joe was still in her mind on a number of occasions. But she saw his signs and knew that her own guardian angel was looking down on her.