The following day at work was very pleasant for the whole Major Investigation Team. Gill and Rachel exchanged glances and smiles throughout the day, which was beginning to attract the attention of fellow colleagues.
Rachel bought Gill a cup of tea into her office. "Boss; just how you like it"
"Thanks kid" Gill replied, taking a sip.
Back in the office Rachel received an interrogation from Janet. The men of the team were taking bets that Gill was shagging Rachel, and she didn't spoil their fun.
"What is going on with you two; did you put poison in that tea?" Janet questioned, knowing Rachel would never willingly make Gill a drink and bring it to her unless she was up to something or was trying to make it up to her and messing up.
"Wouldn't you like to know" Rachel tapped her nose. "You know what they're saying, don't you?" Rachel looked towards Kevin and Pete, who were trying to listen.
"You're not are you?"
"Janet Scott of Scotland Yard; how can you even ask that? That's like…I don't know…wrong!" Rachel replied in horror.
"So go on then…tell me" Janet urged. Rachel stood and began to walk. Janet didn't follow. Rachel turned back towards her.
"Not here" she mouthed.
_X_
The two women found themselves in the downstairs toilets of Oldham Police station. It was the only place they could talk away from prying eyes. Since Rachel began working in MIT she and Janet spent a lot of time in the cold white room.
"So go on Rach, what's going on with you and her majesty?"
"Well you know I was meant to meet my mum yesterday…" Rachel began.
"Yeah" Janet answered, not working it out yet.
"Well, she was there, Gill"
"Why?" Janet asked.
"She's my mum" Rachel spelled out for her friend.
"No!" Janet gasped.
"Yes" Rachel replied. "She was fourteen when she had me, her mum took me away, had me adopted, there was nothing she could do. She has a picture of me, a couple of hours old in a locket in her bag. She never forgot about me, she never stopped loving me Janet" Rachel told her sincerely.
"She never said a word to me, all these years. And she never told you either?"
"No, she wanted me to get to know her first; her to get to know me, without scaring me off" Rachel repeated what her mother had told her.
At that moment Gill walked into the toilets. "Oh, hello" she said to the pair.
"It's alright" Rachel said "She knows"
"Oh, right" Gill said, unsure of what to say or do next.
"It's ok" Janet began. "Rachel's happy, that's all that matters. Are you?"
"Of course I am, I'm on cloud nine. I've got my little girl back, and I never thought I'd see the day" Gill answered, smiling from ear to ear.
"Do you think we should tell them upstairs?" Rachel asked. "You know what they're saying"
"Yeah, I heard something ridiculous, quite funny really" Gill laughed. "Yeah, come on then kid, we'll tell them together" Gill said, making for the door with hold of Rachel's hand.
_X_
"Listen up everyone" Gill shouted to the team. They all turned round to see her, the room falling silence at once. Kevin was the first to notice their hands locked in each other's. He giggled to himself.
"Something funny Kevin? Gill asked sternly.
"No ma'am".
"I've heard the rumours circulating the office, and I would like to inform you all that none of it is true. Rachel is my daughter, not my partner" Gill told them.
"Sorry boss, that's great news, congratulations, both of you" Mitch piped up first; the others following him.
Gill turned to Rachel. "Are you ok?"
"I am now"