A/N: I wasn't really planning to write anything new for Life on Mars because it's been awhile since I watched the show, but I was scrounging through some of the odds and ends I'd written about this episode and liked the idea that forms these two chapters: unsolicited relationship advice. (It's like the mirror image to all the advice that Ray / Gene / Sam give Chris about his dating woes, ha.) Of course in the editing process, I rewrote just about everything, not necessarily to its improvement. Ah well, here it is, unbeta-ed (but hopefully fairly correct), for your amusement.

Unsolicited Advice
1. Gene

Phyllis collected Mrs. Williams from the lost property room and Gene and Sam sat in silence for a moment amidst the clutter of abandoned bicycles, spare buckets and crowded metal shelves.

"You and Annie ready for tonight?" Gene asked.

Sam leaned forward in his chair and nodded his head once. "We just have to get dressed, get our radios and drive over."

Gene was regarding him curiously. "Think it'll be dangerous?"

The real answer was yes; the thought of letting Annie out of his sight, especially with Twilling, flooded Sam with an unreasonable panic. But that was a feeling he didn't really want to admit even to himself so he shrugged, deliberately casual. "Only so much that can happen if there's other people there." He paused to meet Gene's eyes. "If you're concerned about Annie, nothing is going to happen to her, I'll make sure of it."

"I'm not worried about Cartwright, I'm more worried about you," Gene said, crossing his arms and tipping back in his chair.

Sam stared at his boss, disbelieving. "We are dealing with a potential murderer here, a cold-blooded killer who likes to torture people. Annie could be in real danger!"

"Tell me, Tyler, who's more likely to give away the cover, you or her?"

Sam was silent. Gene had a point there-Annie had been nothing but innocent sincerity in front of Twilling, whereas he had frozen at every turn, especially when it came to Twilling's advances on Annie.

"I just don't want her to be in danger," he began.

"She's a bloody police officer!" Gene roared. "I'll give you some advice Tyler. Cartwright doesn't need as much protectin' as you think she does. Take care of yourself before you drag her down with you!"

Gaping, Sam felt his mouth trying to form words and then settled for shutting his mouth and shaking his head slightly. Gene just looked annoyed, as he stood up and leveled one last glare at Sam.

"Although if anything does happen to our Annie, I will personally hunt you down and make your life a living hell." He clapped Sam on the shoulder. "Cheerio, Sammy boy! We'll be listening on the radio!"

-x-

Gene was right: Annie was a competent DC and who should know better than Sam? He had recommended her, for heaven's sakes. He was the one who had recognized her tenacity and spirit and skill before anyone else did. He had promoted her precisely because she was fully capable for the job.

So every time he saw the way Twilling looked at Annie or caressed one of the poor girls serving them dinner, he repeated Gene's words in his head like a mantra. Annie was a police officer. As was he. She would be fine. He would be fine. Everything would be fine.

And he managed to keep his worries at bay, even contributed to the dinner conversation, secretly amused by Twilling's remarks about politics and conspiracy. It reminded him of other nuts he'd run across in...well, the future. Obviously craziness and criminal nature weren't limited by decade.

Despite his dinnertime calm, Sam couldn't supress the sigh of relief when the couples paired up for a slow dance. It was a moment of safety, a moment of space and he was grateful for it. They swayed silently for a few moments, Sam's mind racing through possibilities of what could happen, where Denise was, and if she was alive, while also acutely aware of Annie's hand on his shoulder and how she was leaning back slightly into the arm he had placed securely around her waist.

Apparently Annie's thoughts mirrored his own, as she asked, "Do you think Denise is in the house?"

Sam shook his head slightly. "Dunno."

And then the words, the advice, came out before he could stop them.

"Don't do anything you don't want to do," he whispered, looking into her eyes and willing her to understand what he couldn't say out loud.

I care about you. Don't get hurt.