A/N: Ok, hi, I'm a new writer and this is my first fanfic so please be nice. It's a Sam/Phil thing and it's written from just after Abi was found. She is now living with Hugh Wallace and Sam is driving herself crazy. I hope you don't mind but I'm gonna kinda ignore the fact that Abi is pregnant in the show because that's just mean. So in this version- she doesn't have a baby. And- as an after thought- Ken Marylin and Andrea are still alive and Debbie didn't quit.

Hope you enjoy, Chelsea

Prologue:

Phil was worried about Sam, true she was kinda a pain -but she was still a colleague, and now a friend. A while ago they had hated each other's guts, but since then Sam had saved Phil's life and his job - and Phil had helped Sam through the abduction of her daughter. They had found Abi just in the nick of time and since then Sam and Phil had been ok with each other. Well, at least they weren't continually fighting. This was more to do with Phil than Sam, she had changed him so much, he had used to be such a womanising jerk- even Phil admitted it. Now he was nice, even sincere sometimes and it was all because of Sam.

When they had been stuck in the tunnels with Weaver after them Sam had let loose a few home truths that made Phil realise how other people saw him. Not as the suave copper/ladies man as he had thought, but a womanising git who couldn't face up to his own mistakes.

Sam realised he had changed, when he helped her through the loss of her daughter, Phil hadn't wanted to admit it to himself but he was in love with Sam. And it wasn't just a passing thing either, this was the real deal. He tried so hard to put it in the back of his mind, forget about it. But he couldn't.

Ever since Abi had gone to live with Hugh Sam had been unreachable. Sure she talked to you, answered questions and the like. But it was like she was still on a completely different planet. She never smiled anymore and she didn't get the buzz that came from putting away a criminal, she was just - empty. Anyone could see that but she kept on maintaining that she was fine. Phil didn't know for sure, but he had the distinct impression that Sam had been skipping meals, working way too late and occasionally even sleeping at the office. She was in earlier than him and was still there when he left. That and the fact that she had pinched one of the spare lockers in the WPC locker room to keep a change of clothes in. Phil had been so worried about Abi that when he had bumped into her at the shops he had given her his card with his home number, mobile number and address written on the back.

Chapter 1

Phil had just put Maddie to bed on Sunday night when he heard a loud banging noise at his front door. Wondering who the hell it could be at a time like this Phil hurried down the stairs pulling his dressing gown tight around him.

"Oh God, I'm sorry, did I wake you? It's just…I had no where else to go" a drenched, tearful Abi sobbed when he opened his front door.

"Hey, It's ok, I said any time and I meant it, come on in" Phil said. Ushering the sobbing girl into the warmth, then going outside in the rain to pay the taxi. The driver gave him half price because of the state Abi had been in.

When Phil came inside he went upstairs and got Abi some dry clothes to put on.

"These are Mum's," she said confused.

"Yeah she err…left them here after Christmas" Phil admitted slightly embarrassed. He hadn't returned them to Sam yet because he wanted something to remind him of her. He knew that she wouldn't want anything to do with him, not in the way he did. To her he was only a work colleague, but he could still dream.

"Oh, are you two seeing each other then?" Abi asked disappointed. She had come to Phil after Hugh's betrayal because she thought he cared about her, but he was obviously just like Hugh, only interested in her Mum.

"No, it's nothing like that. She was just miserable when she found out you were staying with Hugh for Christmas…I wanted to cheer her up a bit, you know" Phil told her.

Abi grimaced "But you want it to be something like that don't you?" she said wryly.

"No…no-I erm…yes" Phil admitted staring at the floor. There was an awkward silence, then Abi got up, "I shouldn't have come here," she said heading for the door.

"Abi, wait. You're here now, you may as well tell me what's wrong…I don't mind you staying here. To tell you the truth I could probably use the company"

"No I –you just offered to let me come here because you thought it'd earn you bonus points with Mum" Abi accused. Not that you need bloody bonus points, she thought savagely.

"No, I –is that what you think?" Phil asked hurt, "Abi, I offered to let you stay here because I wanted to. I was concerned about you!" Phil said indignantly. He continued in a quieted voice "And let's be honest, I don't really have a shot with her anyway, no matter what I do."

Abi was amazed, Phil had no idea how her Mum felt about him. He wasn't doing this for Sam, he was doing this for her.

"Now come on, go and get those on and I'll make you a hot chocolate" Phil said with a smile seeing she was coming around.

"Ok" Abi agreed and headed down the hall to the bathroom.

When she came back Phil was listening to the radio with two hot chocolates on the coffee table in front of him. The radio was playing a new song she had heard a couple of times but she didn't know who it was by.

I can't explain the way I feel

Your lips those eyes

You got me running

Around and round and round and round you go.

Ain't nobody like you in the whole wide world

Round and round and round you go

Guess that I'm a sucker for a run around girl.

Blow hot

Blow cold

You sell

I'm sold

Silly games

You play

Your rules

Your way

Your lips

Those eyes you got me running

Around and round and round and round you go

Ain't nobody like you in the whole wide world

Abi smiled, the song described Phil to a tee. "Are you?' she asked cheekily.

Phil smiled and quoted the next line of the song, "You know that I'm a sucker for a run around girl."

Abi laughed, "That's for sure".

Phil smiled and indicated the seat next to him. It was nice to see Abi was laughing now instead of crying, but he still didn't know what was wrong.

"So you gonna tell me why you were crying? Or do I have to guess?" he asked.

"You have to guess" Abi said grimacing. She was remembering why she was here. "No- I found this videotape in Hugh's study. It proves that he was the one who kidnapped me in the first place and not that other guy," Abi said tearfully.

Phil pulled her close and whispered nonsense into her ear until she fell asleep. Then he carried her upstairs and put her in the bottom bunk of Maddie's bunk bed and he returned to bed. They could talk in the morning.

Then next morning Abi was woken up by Maddie, she wanted to know who she was. They went downstairs for breakfast and Phil asked Abi "What are you going to do?"

"I don't know, I don't want to go back to Mum, but I don't want him to get away with it either."

"Well, if you come down the station today then you can make a statement and we can arrest him, and you can stay here while you work things out with your mum." Phil offered.

"Thanks" Abi smiled "But if it's all the same to you, can I make my statement tomorrow? I don't think I'm up to it today. Hugh's at a conference in Cambridge, so he won't notice I'm missing"

"Sure, I think I can keep a secret for that long."

"Thanks."

Phil left for work twenty minutes later after telling Abi she was earning her keep by looking after Maddie for the day. It was Sam's day off that day, so he didn't have to worry about her knowing that something was up.

The next morning Abi and Phil drove down to the station in silence after dropping Maddie off at Kindy. Abi was worried about making the statement, but she was looking forward to seeing her Mum. The night before she and Phil had had a long talk about why Abi didn't want to go back to her Mum. He had made her realise that the reason she and her Mum didn't get on was because Abi wasn't putting any effort in to the relationship, they don't work if only one person is making an effort. She had agreed that she would go back and live with her mum for a while and see what happened, Phil's offer was always there if she needed it.

Phil was dreading the talk he had to have with the Super before the interview. He had withheld evidence for two days and they had been banned from looking into the Baxter case because of the fuss Sam had caused. They pulled into the car park and Phil took Abi around through the front area, there was less chance of running into Sam that way. Ken looked puzzled as Phil steered Abi towards the soft interview room, one arm around her shoulders. He caught up to Phil after he had sat Abi down in there and told her to wait a little while.

"Hey, wasn't that DS Nixon's daughter?" he asked.

"Yes, but keep it down ok" Phil said in a hushed voice. "Look, I'll explain everything later, just-don't say anything to Sam yet. Please" Phil said pleadingly.

"Ok, but you'd better tell me what's up afterwards," Ken warned. Since when did Phil ever say please?

"I will mate, thanks" Phil said slapping Ken on the back and then running off in the direction of the Super's office.

When he got there he could hear voices from inside, one's was Jack's and the other was Neil's. Cautiously he knocked on the door. "Come in" Adam called. Phil entered and shut the door behind him to prevent Jack and Neil leaving, they should probably hear this too.

"Sir, it's about the Baxter case," Phil said in answer to Adam's questioning look.

"How many times do I have to tell you DS Hunter, the Baxter case is not our problem anymore and you are forbidden to investigate it." Adam said severely.

"I know Sir, but to be fair I wasn't actually investigating it Sir, but I have come up with new evidence that proves that Peter Baxter is innocent Sir. Not only that, but it proves what Sam has been saying all along, it was Hugh Wallace that did it, not Peter Baxter." Phil informed him.

"What evidence?" Adam asked sighing.

"Well for starters, this video tape- it shows Sam and Hugh arguing over where Abi is, just like she said. Also, Abi is prepared to give a statement saying that she found this in Hugh Wallace's study" Phil told them.

"Neil, I think Sam deserves a week off to sort things out with her daughter don't you?" Adam asked.

"Yes sir" Neil said begrudgingly.

"And can you please send Suzie Sim here?" Adam added as Neil left. "Jack, can you get onto the CPS and tell them that there may be some developments in the Baxter case." He instructed. Jack nodded and left. Suzie arrived a few minutes later and Adam explained what was happening. She and Phil went to the soft interview room to take Abi's statement.

"I have to admit, I'm impressed" Suzie said on their way.

"Why?" Phil asked.

"I didn't think you had a compassionate side" she replied.

"Thanks, I think" Phil answered.

After the interview, Phil was just about to take Abi down to CID to see Sam when Jack poked his head in the door, "Phil can I have a word please?" he asked. Phil came outside and shut the door behind him, "What is it Jack?" he asked concerned.

"Sam hasn't come into work today, she hasn't called in sick either and Terry rang up the conference Hugh was supposed to be at and apparently he left early." Jack told him gravely.