Disclaimer: I don't own, nor claim to own anything to do with Life on Mars. That honour goes to the people at The BBC and Kudos. I'm just borrowing their characters and having a little play around with them. I promise they'll be all clean and shiny when I hand them back.
Other bits and bobs: This is my first Life On Mars fic, so I apologise if I've not got either character entirely right. I've deliberately made Gene a little bit more 'sensitive' then he sometimes appears on the show though. It's also a slash fic, meaning a m/m pairing - so if you don't like that kind of lovin', don't read - you've been warned and if I get flamed for it, I so won't be a happy bunny. It's mainly dialogue based though, so nothing extraordinarilly racy lol. Language in parts isn't the sweetest - but it's nothing you wouldn't hear on the show as the fighting in the second chapter. Please do R&R, I'd love to know what you think - reviews make me happy lol.
Chapter 1: "Jealous a. afraid, suspicious, resentful, of rivalry in love or affectionl envious (of person or his advantages)"
He watched as her confidence grew gradually over time. Little glances had turned into little touches and they'd turned into blushes as he'd returned the smile. It made him sick. He held the glass tumbler steady in his hands, staring into nothing whilst thinking about everything. He could only remember feeling like this once, a very long time ago. The fact that he could relate how he was feeling now to how he was feeling them scared him. And that in turn annoyed him.
"Damn you to hell!" he suddenly jumped up as though someone had put a match the puddle of petrol in him stomach. The glass tumbler didn't survive the collision with the wall and spread shattered glass over his floor and left a thin dribble of amber liquid making its way hurriedly down his wall. He stood, breathing hard in the middle of his office and looked around him. Gene Hunt was not a man to over complicate anything - if they looked dodgy, they most probably were dodgy. This situation he'd somehow found himself in, this was most definitely dodgy. And for once in his life, he didn't actually have a clue what to do about it.
Sam looked up at the sound of smashing glass and looked across to where Annie was standing with a pile of folders in her arms.
"I'll go" he nodded to her, rising from his seat and running a hand over the back of his head. This was the third time this week the Gov had lost it. And it was only Tuesday. He made his way to the double doors of Gene's office and gingerly pushed one open, walking through when he was sure that he wasn't about to get another glass thrown at his head.
"Gov?" he asked wearily, taking in the glass and the new stain on the wall.
"Don't bother Tyler, it wont help matters" Gene answered without looking at him, in fact he turned his back on his DI and made to pick up his coat. Sam watched as he put first his right arm into the sleeve and slung the camel hair coat over his left shoulder. Before he could really think about what he was saying, and who he was saying it to, he found his mouth open and words creeping off his tongue.
"Why wont you talk to me, Gov?" Sam asked softly, and Gene stopped midway though adjusting his cuffs. He turned around slowly and stared at the younger man. He snorted.
"Gene Hunt doesn't do talking Sammy-boy" he started, advancing on the smart-arsed know it all from Hyde "he does chasing criminals, catching bad guys, driving fast and having a pint or four down the pub" he continued, now standing in front of Sam, close enough to smell his aftershave and close enough to make out the look of concern in his eyes. "But he doesn't do talking" Gene spat out the last word and with one last look at Sam, side stepped round him and pushed his way through the doors into the corridor. Sam listened to him walk away whilst rolling his eyes.
"Glad to have sorted that out, then" he muttered, deciding against cleaning up the latest destruction caused by Gene's foul mood and making his way back to where Annie was now sat on his desk.
Later in the pub, Gene sat at the bar alone. Chris had only stayed for one, before skipping happily out the door to meet his 'girlfriend'. Gene wondered how any girl could stick around with a bloke that had once puked up all over her, but still. He watched as Chris had left, all beaming smiles and polished shoes, and he found himself hating him for his simple little life and his simple little uncomplicated girlfriend. He drained the rest of the glass and nodded towards Nelson to give him another which he dutifully did. Nelson carefully eyed his best customer and acknowledged that he'd never seen him in such a strange mood before. Normally, Gene Hunt could easily polish off five or six pints over two hours - tonight he was only on his third and he'd been here for an hour and a half all ready.
"Everytin' all right man?" he asked, picking up the next clean glass closest to his hand and slowly started drying it with the cloth over his shoulder.
"Eh?" Gene looked up from a ring of dried beer on the woodwork and realised he hadn't heard a word.
"I said, everytin' all right?" Nelson repeated again patiently. He was used to talking to customers. It was part of what made running a pub enjoyable for him.
"Fine" Gene replied automatically. Nelson looked at him sceptically.
"Don't believe you" he replied as Gene shot him a look that plainly said he didn't want to know. "What is it, Ale not tasting right tonight?" he nodded at Gene's untouched pint in front of him. Gene took a deep breath.
"Trust me Nelson, if the beer hadn't been tasting right, you'd be the first one to know about it" he replied and Nelson had to grudgingly admit he had a point. Gene was about to say something else, when the door opened and in walked DC Cartwright followed by DI Tyler. Gene looked round at them and the grip he had on his pint tightened slightly. Nelson nodded at Annie's greeting and smiled at Sam as he approached the bar.
"Gin and tonic and a pint please Nelson" Sam requested, then on seeing the man sat on the stool a few feet down the bar, added "and another of whatever he's having" whilst nodding in Gene's direction.
"Not for me Tyler, I'm off" Gene had heard Sam and drained half his drink in one gulp.
"But…" Sam had started before he was cut off again.
"Missus will have me dinner ready, don't want it to get cold now do I?" Gene drained his glass and stood up, bustling his way though the door to the street before Sam could protest any further.
"Right…" Sam said, half to himself, half to Gene's retreating back. He couldn't help the sting he'd felt from being dismissed so easily. Something wasn't right and he had to find out what. On seeing the confused looks on both Nelson and Annie's faces, he made up his mind to find out what he'd done wrong and sort it out once and for all.
"I'll be back in a minute" he said apologetically before following his Gov out onto the street.