What if Sam had met Alex, would he have still jumped? My take on Series 2 ending. This story will be serialized. i do not own any rights to the LOM/A2A characters. Feedback welcome. Opening chapter set in 2006.
What's the point? Sam asked himself as he gazed down at the motorway below. He leaned forward against the barrier, his eyes locking onto the bend of the road where he had his accident, Sam let out a deep sigh. Had it been worth all that effort for this? Sam wondered for the umpteenth time. He began to examine the cut on his left thumb and recalled the disapproving looks on his colleagues' faces as he beat a hasty retreat from the Conference Room. He couldn't remember one word of what had been discussed in the room and to be honest, he didn't really care. Sam felt tired and deeply troubled. The daily drudgery and tiresome bureaucracy was really beginning to irritate him but this wasn't what was bothering him. Sam flicked open his diary. He had another meeting scheduled for 2.00 pm, this time concerning new legislation and procedure being introduced. He looked further down the page and was reminded that he had an appointment with police psychologist Alex that evening at 7.00 pm. Sam sighed again and looked at the sky which was devoid of clouds. Nothing felt real anymore.
Two weeks previously, Sam had received a phone call at home from his old chief, Superintendent Jim Carstairs who had retired 4 years ago. It was Jim who had spotted Sam's potential when he had joined the police and he had been instrumental in getting support for Sam's promotion to DCI. Knowing what a tough background Sam had come from and aware of how meticulous and pig-headed he could be too, he had continued to keep a paternal eye out for him, even after retiring.
'Sam, I'm very concerned about you, son', he had growled over the phone to him. 'Why have you returned to work so early against medical recommendations? You haven't had time to convalesce, it's far too soon….. Bugger being needed at the helm, your health is more important, Sam. You need to take life easy for a while and take time out, it's not too late to request time off. Heck, you can even join me in a couple of rounds of golf!
Sam, touched that Jim was concerned about his welfare nevertheless dug his heels in,
'I can't ', he replied,' I fought so long to come back here, to do my job, I need to be here, the McGregor case is going to trial shortly, I nearly busted a gut getting this case watertight, I want to see him go down, big time'.
Sam's reply immediately inflamed Jim Carstairs as he knew it would.
'Blast big time Sam!', Jim Carstairs roared, 'You are going to burn yourself out in double-quick time if you are not careful, I've seen it before, remember DI Nolan and what happened to him? If you won't listen to me, I want you to promise me one thing, I want you to see a friend of mine, you may have heard of her, Alex Drake, she's coming up to here to assist with a case for a couple of weeks. I want you to talk to her. If you respect my advice, you will go and see her.
Sam felt himself backed into a corner. If he didn't agree to this, there was no way that Jim Carstairs would turn a blind eye to the situation. Sam relunctantly agreed to meet Alex.