When Sam woke up that morning he would have been afraid that it was all a dream but for the two scotch glasses on the coffee table and the memory of Gene's soft kisses on his lips.

He found it hard to keep the spring from his step as he made the way towards CID. Pushing open the main doors he turned, out of habit, towards Gene's office door. He was surprised to see it open.

Smiling to himself, Sam poked his head in the door and saw Gene at his desk with his head down over some paperwork.

He coughed slightly and Gene looked up, his face transforming instantly into a smile.

'Morning,' Sam greeted him as he moved towards his desk.

Gene pushed his chair back and stood up to meet Sam.

'God you're a sight for sore eyes.'

Sam laughed.

'You only saw me a few hours ago.'

'Yeah, but I've been wanting to do something.'

Gene placed his hands on Sam's hips and kissed him soundly.

'Mm,' Sam moaned as Gene pulled away. 'What are you doing here so early?'

'Catching up on paperwork,' Gene said as he returned to his seat.

'Is that all?'

'Well, I might have been hoping that you'd get here ridiculously early like you normally do and I'd be able to feel you up a bit before everyone else gets here.'

Sam grinned and moved to straddle Gene's lap.

'Feel away,' he whispered kissing Gene again.

Ten minutes later they were lying on Gene's small settee, kissing passionately. Gene was on top and he was working on un-tucking Sam's shirt so that he could touch his skin.

Sam broke off the kiss.

'We should stop this now,' he said as he began to kiss Gene's neck.

'Yeah we really should,' finally inside his damn shirt.

'Don't start something we haven't got time to finish,' God yeah, just keep doing that.

'God Sammy...'

The outer doors banged suddenly, announcing an arrival in CID.

'Chris, will you stop being such a div.'

'I was only saying.'

Gene was on his feet in an instant. Smoothing the crumples out of his shirt and brushing his fingers through his hair.

Sam straightened out his shirt with a speed that amazed Gene, who after all had been spending the last five minutes trying to free it from those ridiculously tight trousers.

Sam tried to school his features into a neutral expression rather than one resembling a rabbit caught in headlights.

Gene took a deep breath and stepped out of his office, closely followed by Sam.

'Morning Guv, morning Boss,' Chris and Ray greeted them both.

'Morning,' Sam replied sheepishly avoiding eye contact with both men. 'Er, Guv – I'm just going to go and sort out that thing that you wanted me to sort out ok?'

'Um – yeah, yeah that's fine Sam. You go and take care of it. I'll see you later about that other thing.'

Sam bolted for the door and made his escape.

Gene lingered in the doorway of his office for a moment; Ray and Chris were regarding him with mildly curious looks before retreating back into his office.

'What's up with those two?' Ray asked.

'Dunno,' Chris replied.

When Sam left the office he quickly found himself in the men's toilets.

He was in a state of panic. That had been close, too close. All it would have taken was for Chris or Ray to stick their head in the Guv's office and it would have been all over.

Sam splashed some water on his face and tried to calm down. They were going to have to be more careful. They couldn't risk being caught in a compromising position, particularly at work.

Gene was right; they'd be kicked off the force if they were discovered. What would he do if that happened? He couldn't worry about that. They wouldn't get caught as long as they were careful.

Sam gazed at his reflection in the mirror and tried to focus on his breathing. He remembered the feeling of Gene's weight on top of him, pressing him into the settee and he smiled, only a few more hours and they'd be able to slip back to Sam's flat and finish what they'd started.

'Sam, Sam can you hear me? It's Mum.'

Sam closed his eyes and listened to the comforting voice.

'Mum?'

'Sam, the Doctor says your brain is showing signs of increased activity. You're fighting in there aren't you love. I know you are. You're going to come back to us. I'm not giving up on you, Sam. Don't you give up on us either. I love you.'

Sam sighed. He was fighting to get back to them. He wanted that more than anything. He wanted to wake up, didn't he? Did he? If he woke up now and all this turned out to have been a dream, a coma fantasy... no, this was a coma fantasy. He was in a coma and none of this was real. Was it?

By 6pm the office was empty, with the exception of Sam and Gene. They had both been careful to keep their distance, since the incident that morning. Gene had been holed up in his office while Sam mostly stayed at his desk.

Sam grinned as the last DC left for the night. Once the door closed firmly behind him, Sam jumped to his feet and made his way to Gene's office. He was about to open the door when he heard Gene's voice talking softly,

'Yes love... no I might be a bit late tonight... just work to catch up on... no... love I haven't forgotten.'

Sam felt his chest tighten; Gene was talking to his wife. From the sounds of it, making excuses as to why he'd be late home.

'I'll get it all sorted tomorrow love, I promise... Ok... yeah, I'll see you later... love you too.'

Sam heard Gene replace the handset but the words still rung loud in Sam's ears.

'Love you too.'

He shook himself. He had no right to feel upset about this, he was the one Gene was having an affair with after all. He had no rights to the moral high ground. He opened the door and walked in.

Gene seemed to be staring off into space for a moment but then he saw Sam and a smile lit up his face.

'Everyone's gone,' Sam said softly.

'Have they?' Gene grinned. 'Then I suppose we'd better go too.'

They drove to Sam's flat in comfortable silence. Gene let his hand rest on Sam's thigh as he made his way through the Manchester streets. Sam smiled and placed his own hand on top of Gene's.

As soon as they were behind closed doors, Gene grabbed hold of Sam and pushed him up against the wall, he kissed him hard.

'God Sammy,' Gene said when he surfaced for air, pressing their bodies together; feeling Sam's erection and letting Sam feel his. 'You have no idea what you do to me.'

Sam moaned as Gene began to suck gently at his neck.

'All bloody day long you've been teasing me... sucking on that pen lid.'

Sam chucked.

'You noticed then?' He had been sucking on his pen lid, it was a habit he'd developed since he'd given up smoking, but he hadn't been aware of the effect it was having on Gene. Hmm this was interesting. He'd have to remember that.

'Damn right, you have no idea how much time I could spend watching you Sammy.'

'Stalking me, are you?' he teased.

'I gave you the desk by my window for a reason you know.'

Sam growled and flipped them so that he was the one pressing Gene into the wall.

'Dominant today,' Gene groaned.

'What were you thinking about, then, when you were watching me suck the pen lid?'

'Sammy...'

'What were you thinking, Gene?' Sam's voice was playful, mischievous. 'Were you imagining it was your cock?'

'Yes,' Gene breathed.

'I want you to say it,' Sam teased. 'Tell me Gene, do you want me to suck your cock again?'

'God, yes.'

'Then ask nicely.'

Gene Hunt was a man who did not beg. He was used to taking what he wanted and he never let himself be controlled or manipulated. But he looked into Sam's eyes and saw such a depth of emotion there. He realised that Sam wasn't asking because he wanted to control Gene, he didn't want to manipulate him.

Sam wanted to be his equal.

Gene found that sexy as hell.

'Please Sam,' he found himself saying. 'Please will you...?'

'Yes,' Sam groaned and immediately dropped to his knees.

Gene thought he had never seen anything more erotic than that sight; Sam on his knees, cheeks hollowed, totally engrossed in bringing Gene pleasure.

'Fuck Sammy,' he moaned as Sam took him all the way down his throat, 'oh Jesus. Sam, I'm going to come.'

Sam began to do that humming thing again and that was it. He was shooting down Sam's throat.

'Oh my God,' he gasped after Sam released his cock and stood up, taking Gene in his arms and guiding him towards the bed.

They both lay down on their sides, the only way they could both fit, facing each other. Gene wrapped his arms around Sam.

'I don't know where you learned to do that, Sammy, but I'm glad you did.'

Sam grinned.

'What does it – you know. What does it taste like?'

'Strange at first,' Sam replied. 'I suppose it's an acquired taste, not everybody likes it.'

'But you do?'

'I do, it's not compulsory to swallow though, Gene.'

'You know a lot about this don't you?'

'There's nothing wrong with enjoying a healthy and varied sex life,' Sam grinned.

'Can I – I mean, I could... do you want...'

'Do you want to suck me off, Gene?'

Gene bit his lip; he wasn't used to feeling this nervous, this uncertain.

He nodded.

Sam unfastened his trousers and pulled them down, exposing his erection. Gene looked at it for a moment.

'It's ok,' Sam whispered.

'Just, I've never done this before, ok.' Gene replied.

'It's easy,' Sam reassured him.

Gene positioned himself over Sam and experimentally licked the underside of his cock.

Sam let out an appreciative moan.

Gene took it in his mouth, just the tip at first and tried sucking it.

'God yeah,' Sam sighed.

Encouraged by Sam's reaction, Gene tried taking in a bit more and then pulling back, like Sam had done for him.

Sam's moans continued.

He swirled his tongue around.

'Ah, just like that Gene, like that.'

'Mmhm,' Gene acknowledged him. As soon as the noise left his throat he felt Sam's cock twitch and become even harder, if that was possible.

'Oh shit.'

Gene smiled to himself. He was the one making Sam moan like that and damn he sounded so sexy. It was such a turn on to hear him moaning like that.

He tried to take Sam further into his mouth but then found himself gagging and having to pull back. How did Sam do that without choking? He'd have to ask him.

He continued sucking and listening to Sam's gorgeous moans building. He knew Sam had to be close to coming.

He was right.

'Gene, I'm going to come... Shit... pull back if you don't want...'

The rest of what Sam said was lost as he was reduced to whimpering moans. Gene pulled back and began to work Sam with his hand until he came.

'Oh God, oh God,' Sam was groaning and then he fell back against the bed.

'Wow, fucking hell Gene that was amazing.'

Gene leaned down and kissed Sam hard, then his eyes fell on the cum that was cooling on Sam's stomach.

'Try it,' Sam whispered, guessing what Gene was thinking.

Gene blushed slightly embarrassed but he leaned forwards and licked at a patch of skin.

It didn't actually taste bad, salty, but not horrible... maybe next time he'd try swallowing.

They lay on Sam's bed, Gene on his back with Sam's head on his chest and his legs wrapped around Gene's. The moment was pretty much perfect for Sam, but the ticking of the clock on the wall kept reminding him that this couldn't last.

'How long can you stay?' Sam whispered, knowing that it had to be approaching nine.

'I need to go soon,' Gene replied.

Sam nodded. He wanted Gene to stay but that was impossible so he didn't ask. He knew Gene was feeling guilty enough without Sam making him feel worse.

It was enough that Gene was here with him now, that he chose to be with him when he could have gone straight home to his wife. Sam couldn't feel bad because the alternative was not having Gene at all and he couldn't bear thinking about that.