...beginning to get disheartened...is it really that bad that I get two reviews for a chapter?

Trailing along side by side Will and Emma kept up their comfortable silence, punctuated only by the occasional crackle on their radio or a suggestion to turn down another street.

Suddenly out of nowhere a little boy toddled out into the middle of the road, sending a car screeching to a halt and catching the attention of both officers. “Oh my god.” Emma yelped as she dove out into the road, grabbing the little boy around the waist and pulling him into her arms as Will did the same to her, more concerned about her safety than she was.

“God watch yourself Emma.” Will breathed as he set them down on the pavement, his heart rate slowly thumping back to normal.

But she wasn’t listening. Holding the little boy’s hand in her own she looked into his sad brown eyes. “What’s up little man eh?” She asked soothingly as he puckered his lips and buried his face in the side of her neck. Shifting her hold on him she unfurled her hand, a sticky liquid seeping between her fingers. “Holy shit…he’s bleeding!” Emma exclaimed, squatting down and laying the little boy onto the pavement.

Quickly checking him over for signs of injuries Emma pulled her head back mystified. Running her hand across his stomach where most of the blood was she felt him giggle under her, her hand clearly tickling him. “…well he’s got blood on him but he sure ain’t bleeding.” She murmured as she picked him up again, looking at him curiously.

“Then we’re looking for someone who is…someone close because a wee man like that can’t walk far.” Will frowned as he spun on the spot, looking for signs of a struggle or disturbance. “Still…we better get him to hospital…we can’t rule out that he has unseen injuries.”

Nodding Emma perched the boy on her hip, trying unsuccessfully to detach her radio. Eventually shaking her head she passed him off onto Will and expertly began to radio back to the station while he placed the little boy down on his feet and crouched beside him, talking softly to him.

“Kay…Gina says Tony’s in the area he’ll be here in a minute or two. What’s the little guy sayin’?” Emma asked as she joined them on the curb.

“Nothin’.” Will sighed as he rested his chin on his fist. “Not said a single word.”

Rolling her eyes Emma reached out to swipe the little boy off his feet. Sitting him on her knees so he was facing her she began to talk to him, oblivious of Will next to her, off Tony’s car pulling up, of anything but the bond between her and the kid in front of her who was looking at her with such sincerity it was unnerving.

“Yeah…yeah she’s talking to him. He ain’t said a word back yet though.” Will spoke into his radio, shocking Emma from her own little world. “Yeah Guv I’ll get her to stay with him when we get there. Well I dunno bout before but she looks like a natural.” He laughed as Sam quizzed him down the channel.

Leaning back in her chair Sam grinned, biting back a reply that was just dying to edge out after seeing them together earlier that day…well combining that and the posters it was no wonder the rumour mill was working on overtime, lining them up as Sun Hill’s new hottest couple.

“I’ll see you down at the hospital Will…we’ll have to get social services involved as well.” Sam sighed before she clattered the phone back into the cradle, reaching behind her for her jacket.

Emma smiled as he held the door open for her. Ducking into the back of the police car with the little boy still wrapped tightly around her she attempted to strap him into the middle seat. He wriggled, he squirmed, launching himself back at her with tears running down his pale face. “Okay…okay.” She murmured softly as she strapped in her own seatbelt, wrapping her arms around the toddler.

Will smirked from the other side of the car as Emma reluctantly gave in to the maternal side within. Pulling up outside the hospital Tony caught Will’s eye in the mirror. Emma was fussing with the boy’s hair, brushing it back off his forehead as he looked up at her with big brown eyes. “What happened to you ey?” She asked softly as she cuddled him closer, stepping silently from the car.

Grabbing her by the waist Will steered her over to the entrance, directing her up to paediatrics. Standing at the desk a nurse smiled at them. “How can I help you Mr and Mrs…?” She asked.

“Oh…right we’re not married. This is ummm…actually we don’t know what his name is. My name is PC Fletcher and this is PC Keane. The little lad is covered in blood which we don’t think is his but we really need him checked over just to be on the safe side…and we need to get him to talk somehow as well. It’s likely there’s a blood scene waiting for us wherever he came from.” Will took charge of the situation as Emma visibly floundered, biting her lip nervously as the little boy wriggled in her grip.

The nurse smiled, giggling at her mistake before she took in their police uniforms and slapped her forehead. “Come over here and we’ll get ‘im seen to.” She laughed as she pulled Emma across to a bed where she sat down the boy and held on tightly to his hand in reassurance while the nurse prodded at him expertly. “Naw…he seems just fine. Maybe a little shocked but there’s no sign of trauma.”

Lifting his arms up Emma grinned, sweeping him into her grasp. “Now all we gotta do…is get ‘im to talk.” She murmured as she wandered across to a low table where there was a selection of toys. Patiently playing with him she pressed down on several buttons on a game, a tinkly tune filling the air. The toddler grinned toothily his gurgle filling Emma with a warm feeling. There were letters on the pad of the game. “E-M-M-A.” She spelt out, her finger tapping each letter as she went.

Sam stood in the doorway with Will as she watched Emma play with the child, a small smile lining her face.

“Can you spell your name?” She asked the little boy as she jiggled him up and down on her knee.

Giggling he shook his head. Emma rolled her eyes. “How old are you? Are you…ummm…three…four?” She asked holding up her fingers. A look of recognition flickered across his face and he held up three fingers.

Tickling him she looked into his eyes. “If you’re three…then you’re a big boy. Are you sure you can’t tell me what your name is?”

Pouting he turned from her his fingers stabbing at the pad. “A-L-E-X.” Emma murmured as he turned back to her. “Alex…and where do you live Alex?” She smiled at him.

“I…” Alex stammered. “I lives at four four Parkside Lane.” He replied, his childish words endearing.

“Well then let’s get you home to Mummy and Daddy.” Emma smiled as she picked him up.

“NO. NO. NO.” He screamed, scratching at he wildly. “Mummy NO. Daddy NO. Angry. Shout. Scared. Cry.” He hiccupped as she shushed him, rocking him gently into her. “No go home.” He wept into her neck as she kissed the crown of his head.

“We’ll sort it out then. We’ll make all of the bad stuff go away. There won’t be any more shouting or crying. I promise…” Emma whispered as she walked across to where Sam and Will were standing bewildered. “Hold him a sec.” She murmured as she passed Alex over to Will, sharing a soft smile as the toddler clung tightly to Will.

Turning to Sam Emma blushed as she watched her raised eyebrows. “Ma’am…he’s called Alex and I think he said he lives at 44 Parkside Lane. It could be 4 Parkside Lane though because he said ‘four four’ he could just be repeating but it might just be the way he sees the number. He’s three years old. He got very agitated when I mentioned taking him home. He was shouting all things about crying and people being angry. We gotta get round there.” Emma filled her in, her eyes nervously following Alex and Will.

Sam nodded, gesturing to Will and Alex. Emma ducked her head, running back over to them and letting Will enclose her in a hug with the two of them. They separated with Alex in Emma’s arms again, Will’s proprietary hand on her waist. A smile tugging at her lips, Sam turned away from them – they looked so right together it almost hurt.

“I never thought I’d want children…” Emma murmured as she leant against Will.

“Well if it makes any difference.” Will began grinning as she turned to face him. “…I think you’d make a very yummy mummy.”