Don't Analyse That

Set after Neil's father in law dies, and Pippa attacks him 

Sam's POV

"Guv, are you ok?" I asked him sitting on his desk after I closed the door, I felt for him what I had never felt towards him before. I felt sorry for him, usually with people I think, they made their bed…but with Neil it's different. He brings a mix of emotions that I can't begin to describe, I respect him as a copper and as a person, I resent him for his job, the job that should have been mine, but I didn't resent him nearly as much as I should. I don't resent him nearly as much as I want him.

"Fine, nothing much wounded except my pride" he replied, his hand still held to his smarting cheek.

"Why did she fly off the handle?" I was curious I admit it, but I didn't want to pry, I hoped I hadn't over stepped the mark.

"She blames me for her father's death" he replied, I don't know what this means, he's being so open and honest with me and there's a look in his eyes that I can't place.

"Oh, right. Well if there's anything I can do" I murmur, hoping I'm reading him right.

"You don't know anyone with a spare room do you?" he joked wryly. I wonder if he is deliberately testing the waters, something tells me he is.

"I have, if you want" I offer, my heart speed picks up wondering if this is a good idea but it's too late to take it back now.

"Are you sure?" he asked, it's definitely a mixed message question, I've been a profiler long enough to know that, he's asking if I'm sure I want to do this, under the guise of asking me if I'm sure I want to let him use my spare room. Spare room –I don't think so.

"Yeah, Abi's staying with my mother so no wailing baby to keep you awake" I reply, I'm letting him know that there will be no one there but us, he smiles in satisfaction, I think this is what both of us have wanted but we haven't given into it before, because of Phillipa. I wonder if he'll regret this later, I wander if they will work it through. Somehow I doubt it.

"Mmmm, I keep forgetting you're a granny" he comments laughing, probably at the look on my face, I swipe my hand at his shoulder, hitting him lightly, I wonder if this was a mistake considering what just happened but nothing in his face changes so I decide to ignore it, my life has been spent analysing too much, now's a chance for me to let my hair down and I intend to take it.

"Thanks for the offer, if it's not too much trouble" he murmurs getting back to our original topic of conversation.

"No, no trouble" I reply excited. "I'll see you after the shift yeah?"

"Yeah" he nodded and I got up, leaving the office and closing the door. My mind is reeling with what he promised me with his eyes that for a moment I don't realise that Phil Hunter is standing beside me. "How is he?" he asks as I retuned to my desk.

"He's ok, bruised pride but other than that" I replied. He gets the message and leaves me alone, I try to concentrate on my paper work but it's not working so I decide it will be better use of my time to go and see Gina. I hope she doesn't realise that something's up, I know she's not Neil's biggest fan, frankly if anyone finds out I don't see how I can even predict their reaction, there's so much resentment towards him here, I know he earned a lot of it but it's just his mannerisms that have collected a lot too. In some ways there would be more prejudice towards us then there would be towards me and Phil. I knock gently on Gina's door, she calls for me to come in, she looks a bit frazzled for a moment but then she masks it, she's a bit like me in that respect. She smiles and gestures for to sit down, I close the door and take the offered seat.

"What's on your mind?" she asks fishing in her draw for the bottle of scotch I know is hidden in there and a couple of glasses. Pouring them both half full she waits for my answer, I'm unsure of how to reply as I know she will smell a lie a mile off. "A lot of things, don't really feel like talking about it" I murmur

"Good, cause I don't feel like listening to you" Gina muttered but I could tell her ears were twitching. She would never admit it but she loves to gossip.

"So, how's the cancer going?" I ask for a topic of conversation, I know most people would think I'm mad for asking and I'm just going to get my head bitten off –but hey, I am mad and frankly I don't care if I get my head bitten off –I want to know that she's ok. Gina stiffened for a minute then she sighed and relaxed. "I finished the chemo and radiation therapy last month and I just have to wait another two for the all clear" she answered.

"That's great" I replied, "Have you thought more about what I said at our last group session?"

Gina chuckled, "I have and my answer is still the same, he made it quite clear that we were over"

"Maybe that was because he didn't want to be hurt again, from what I hear he's single again" I smirk. So I love gossiping too, it that so wrong?

She stared at me amazed, "Have you been spying on him?" she accused

"No, not spying…" I trailed off grinning, "Maybe spreading rumours and giving a few hints"

"You haven't" she pleaded and I just smiled.

"Someone has to give on of you two a kick in the right direction, I just happen to be kicking both of you, albeit through someone else.

"Who" she demanded and I smirked, she would also never admit that she wanted Jonathan to come back. She was lonely without him. His daughter Chloe and I had met while she was waiting for him at the courthouse, we talked.

"Someone who can see how miserable Jonathan is without you"

"He is not…is he?" she sounded hopeful and I decided that my mission had been completed for today. I finished my whiskey and set the cup down. Gina held up the bottle but I shook my head, "I'm driving" I murmured wondering if I really would be driving.

I knocked on Neil's door, wondering if he was ready to go, it was after the end of the shift anyway. I opened the door and he smiled at me, that look in his eyes again, "I wondered where you got to, I checked the office when the shift finished"

"I was talking to Gina" I answered truthfully

"Ah, one of your notorious 'group sessions'" he winked at me as my mouth almost dropped open, but I did maintain my dignity –just. ­­­­"You're' not the only one who likes to gossip" he whispered in my ear, leaning forwards and making my heart rate pick up speed again. God, how could he know me this well already? I reminded myself not to analyse this, that was my resolve, not to analyse our relationship no matter how short it is. –Or long.

I ignored his comments and asked, "You coming now or shall I write the address down?" I asked raising my eyebrows, smiling.

"I'm coming" he answered turning to pick up a couple of bags that I assumed Phillipa had dropped off for him. We headed down and he put them in his boot, I got into my car after we agreed that he would follow me home, I guess he wanted his car with him just in case he had to leave for some reason, I can't blame him for taking precautions.

"I'm just going to get changed and call Abi, make yourself at home" I told him heading upstairs and grabbing the phone.

I had a long conversation with Abi while I changed, she seemed to be having a lot of fun at her grandma's and she said she might be staying up there for a bit longer, I said she should stay up there for as long as she wanted, or as long as Mum would put up with her. Abi laughed and told me that Gran –Mum had invited her to stay another two months. I felt a pang of regret for telling her to stay up there that long, I missed her and Pip terribly but she assured me that she was only going to stay another week or two. About half an hour later I was lying on my bed still talking to Abi when there was a knock on my door. "Listen Abi I've got to go, I'll talk to you soon, love you"

"Is there someone there mum?" Abi asked confused

"Yeah, I'll explain later" I answered and hung up I didn't want to have to explain this to Abi yet, wait till she got home then she could talk to her face. I scrambled off the bed and opened the door to find Neil standing there awkwardly.

"Umm –I figured I might as well earn my keep, I made dinner" he muttered smiling. I smiled back, "Really? You didn't have to do that, what are we having?" I moved out and headed down the stairs, taking in the delicious smell, swaying my hips from side to side as I descended the stairs. He was looking I know he was.

As he served up the pasta I retrieved a bottle of wine and a couple of glasses, we moved into the lounge room and sat down on the sofa in front of the telly I switched it on and I think it was tuned to a inane sitcom, I'm not sure because I was too busy pretending not to be fighting Neil's feet with my own. Eventually I had finished my pasta and my glass of wine, I rocked forwards on my feet, reaching for the wine bottle on the table. Shakily I poured myself another glass and I set it down on the table as I replaced the bottle, I felt Neil's arm snake around my waist and pull me up onto his lap so that my feet were laying along the length of the sofa, my heart was thudding in my chest and my breath was coming in short gasps.

"Come on Sam" he whispered his lips millimetres from mine, "We've waited too long" he continued and I nodded, speechless, a rare occurrence. Then his lips were on mine, kissing me, his hands were under my top, tracing swirly patterns on my back. I kissed him back as my fingers tried to undo his buttons hastily. I have to admit that I have had quite a bit of practice so his shirt was undone in a matter of seconds. My hands started repeating the swirly patterns he had traced on my back, on his chest. His hands moved upwards, my shirt with them, lifted my arms so that he could get it off and after it was on the floor he started kissing my neck, his lips soft and warm. He leant forwards so I could push his shirt off his shoulders and then his hands moved to my jeans, hastily undoing the button then pushing them down my legs. I kicked them off the rest of the way, my hands had already undone his belt and the fastenings on his pants. I moved my right leg over him so that I was straddling his lap. He stood up and his pants fell away. Gently he carried me upstairs to my room, my arms around his neck, my legs around his waist.