A/N: Sorry this took so long, I've been busy! Enjoy.
Sam slammed her hand on the desk, taking in a sharp breath and shaking her wrist as the effects kicked in, the blonde reaching to her knuckles with the other palm, rubbing them gently in an attempt to ease the pain. 'Hard case?' Neil questioned.
The blonde cursed quietly under her breath, having completely forgotten the male was in the office with her. 'Yeah, can't seem to figure it out.'
'You want a hand?' He offered, causing the blonde to look up sharply, not used to Neil offering anything.
'Erm, yeah, if you've got time that'd be great.'
'Sure.'
After briefly filling Neil in on the facts of the case and dumping the file on his desk in case he wanted any more detail, Sam decided another visit to the husband was in order.
'Mr Smith, are you aware that perverting the course of justice is a criminal offence and may result in a prison sentence?'
'No comment.'
'Is there anything you're not telling me about your wife's attack?' Sam asked pleadingly, her nerves about to snap as she clung to any hope of a result.
'No comment.'
'Mr Smith, you do realise that if you know anything about the assault that you fail to mention it could result in another attack on your wife?'
'No comment.'
'Mr Smith, do you want your wife to be assaulted again?'
'No of course I don't.' the male snapped, a flicker of pain entering his eyes before the mask going up again.
'So then help me to help her. Please, Mr Smith, I'll be honest with you, I have no idea who did this to your wife and if you don't help me, there is no way I can guarantee her safety.'
'I just want Karen to be safe.' He admitted quietly, no more than a whisper really.
'Tell me who did this and I promise I will do everything in my power to put whoever it is behind bars. It's the only way I can help your wife, Mr Smith, and you know it.'
'If I told you, you wouldn't believe me.'
'Try me.' On seeing his sceptical look she pushed him a little further. 'Trust me, I've seen and heard enough over my years to believe anything.'
'Even if it was something that put a bad name against one of your own?' Sam paused, thinking back to Gabriel Kent.
'Especially if it was something that put a bad name against one of my own.'
'It was a man called Paul McGuire that attacked Karen. They were having an affair.'
'Paul McGuire?' Sam asked incredulously, it seemed either Mr Smith was lying or Jo had seriously mis-judged her friend. 'When was the last time you saw Mr McGuire?' The blonde enquired, knowing this added suspicion to Jo's claims that Paul would never kill himself.
'I've never met the man.' He replied confidently.
'So if I were to show him a photo of you he'd confirm that he had no idea who you are?'
'Yes.'
'There's no chance he could have seen pictures of you around the house?'
'No chance at all.'
'How can you be so certain? Are you telling me there are no photo's of you in your house?'
'No, there are photos.'
'Then how can you guarantee that he hasn't seen them?'
'Because I know he hasn't.'
'Mr Smith, Paul McGuire was found dead in his house yesterday. Now the fact he assaulted your wife puts you in the frame for his murder, and you've been very confident that he'll be unable to identify you… Is there anything else I should know?'
'You're all the same, you lot, anything bad against one of your own and you turn the table and accuse innocent people.'
'Mr Smith, Paul McGuire wasn't a police officer.'
'No, but his friend… something or other Masters… reckoned she could get him out of anything, he did.'
'Mr Smith, I can assure you, I know DC Masters and she would never do such a thing. She's a good, honest police officer.'
'That's no the way Paul McGuire told it…'
'So you have been in contact with the man?'
'No… I… I didn't say that… I just meant…'
'Mr Smith, have you or have you not been in contact with Paul McGuire?'
Mr Smith gave a feeble nod.
'For the tape, please.'
'Yes.'
'Jo, a word?' Sam asked, turning the female around and pushing her back into her shared office, office wondering for a slight second why the brunette had just been in there, but deciding she had more important matters to deal with at present.
'Have as many as you like, Sam. What is it?'
''Mr Smith has just given me the name of his wife's attacker.'
'Eh?'
'Assault case.' Sam filled in; realising a little too late Jo was not involved in the case. 'Up until now the husband's been the only suspect but we can prove he was somewhere else at the time.'
'So… what's this got to do with me?'
'He's claiming Paul McGuire was having an affair with her and killed her in a fit of rage.'
Jo's eyebrows rose, her shock evident on her face. 'No way, Paul would never… assault? No, that's just not his style. Wasn't his style.' The brunette corrected herself, still not used to talking about him in the past.
'The woman's in intensive care, we don't know if she'd going to make it. it's a serious accusation.'
'That still doesn't mean he'd do something like… wait, you said the husband claims it was Paul?'
'Yes… what does that matter?'
'Well… doesn't it put him in the frame for Paul's murder?'
'Jo, until we get the coroner's report we don't know whether Paul was murdered or…'
'He would never kill himself, Sam.' Jo cut in.
'A few moments ago you were saying he'd never attack anyone.'
'And I stand by that.'
'Why are you so quick to jump to his defence, Jo?'
'He's not exactly around to defend himself, is he? Someone has to protect his name.'
Sam flinched slightly. 'I'm sorry… I should have thought before I said that.'
'I shouldn't have snapped.'
'It's understandable… given the circumstances… Look, why don't you take the rest of the day off?'
'I don't need special treatment, Sam.'
'I'd treat any officer the same given the situation.'
'I'll be fine.'
Sam paused. 'Okay, but if you need anything…'
'I know, I can always ask you.'
'Well just make sure you don't forget it.'
'Thanks, Sam.'
'Anytime.'
'Jo, concentrate.' Phil ordered, watching the brunette as she ran the same name through the computer for the fourth time.
'I'm sorry, it's just…'
'I know, but right now you're at work and you need to be working.'
'I can't focus. She's constantly on my mind.'
'I know what you're feeling, Jo, but you went home early yesterday because you couldn't get your mind off her, you need to work or you won't have a job.'
'It's not like I'm not trying.'
'I know you're trying, but… well, you need to try a bit harder.'
'Yeah, yeah I guess you're right.'
'For once.'
'I should get this on video… it's not often Phil Hunter is right.' Jo teased.
'Oi!'
'You know it's true, Phil.'
'Is not.'
'It is.'
'It isn't.'
'Alright, it isn't.' Jo patronised, flashing him a smile before returning to her list of suspects she was meant to be running through the database.
Sam flopped onto her sofa, letting out a sigh as she flicked on the TV; her mind flashing back to the conversation she'd had with Jo in her office earlier, glancing at the teletext before deciding there was nothing on worth watching and turned the television set off again.
The blonde ran a hand through her hair, allowing her eyelids to briefly flutter shut as she prayed simply ignoring what had happened that day would make it go away. The allegation against Jo had been there, she couldn't even contemplate any truth in it for a second, but it had been there all the same, and the thought that someone would even think Jo would act so irresponsibly sickened her.
I can't control
Jo sunk back into her chair, eyes flicking to the now empty DI's office – Neil was out on a case – as she shut the file currently occupying her desk, knowing that she wouldn't be able to concentrate on it while the blonde's words were still playing on her mind. Hell, that was a lie, the blonde's every movement was on her mind. She glanced briefly to the clock on the wall, letting out a sigh of relief as she saw the time was five thirty. Okay so strictly speaking she owed an awful lot of overtime, but tonight wasn't really the night to be putting extra hours in.
Rising from her desk, the brunette took one last glimpse at Sam's office before heading towards the door, pursing her lips as she exited the CID office, still wondering whether or not to visit the blonde after she'd left work early that day. That fact, she'd had to find out through the grapevine, Sam had left early after an argument with Neil and if Jo knew Sam even half as well as she thought she did that argument would have been about Jo's competence.
My destiny
Sam fidgeted once again, finding herself unable to sleep, a certain brunette flying into her mind every second she remained still. Finally resolving that sleep was virtually impossible, she hauled herself up, blinking slightly as she stifled a yawn, her muscles screaming at her to never move again.
After the blonde allowed her eyes to adjust to the fact they were in fact required to see, she found herself instinctively looking to the phone, wondering aimlessly whether or not she was justified to call Jo again. As much as the brunette was disturbing her thought pattern every conscious moment, she wasn't entirely sure if she could take rejection from the northern beauty two nights in a row.
I trust my soul
Jo let out a sigh, putting the phone down once again only to pick it up again, absentmindedly fiddling with the gadget as she thought of the blonde, speculating whether or not to call Sam. The brunette knew only two things were certain: she couldn't stop thinking about the blonde; and she also couldn't stand the rejection once again. Sighing again, she relented, putting the phone back down on the side, positive calling the blonde could wait until tomorrow but her heart may not survive if it didn't wait until the next day.
My only goal
Abi lay back onto her pillow, shutting her eyes only to find images of her mother and another – at present faceless – woman kissing. The thought, however happy her mother appeared, was disturbing her slightly, the young Nixon trying unsuccessfully to rid the images from her mind. It wasn't necessarily the fact that it was a woman her mother was with… Okay, so that was a lie, but the other thing bothering her was that this woman was someone her mother had instantly been completely unable to get along with. Sexuality aside, Abi feared her mother would end up with her heart broken if she embarked on a relationship with someone she struggled to spend twenty minutes with before breaking out into a blazing row. And the fact Phil knew was worrying her, since when did her mother confide in him?
Is just to be
Twitching every few seconds, Sam stood silently on the doorstep, wondering whether the delay was a sign the occupant was out. It was for that reason that, when the door sprung open, Sam jumped slightly, smiling cautiously out of embarrassment and sheer nerves.
'Sam?'
'Hi Jo.'
Jo paused, looking from side to side, wondering whether this was actually happening. She had thought she would be the one that would have to visit the blonde, not the other way around. Deciding the blonde was definitely standing nervously on her doorstep, she took in a deep breath. 'What do you want?'
Sam was thrown, not having expected quite such a hostile approach from the brunette. 'Erm… Can I come in?'
'It's late.'
'I couldn't sleep.'
'I could.' The brunette commented. It was only now that Sam took in Jo's appearance, and realised why it had taken such a length of time for the door to be opened. The brunette was standing just inside her house, wearing a pair of tatty pyjamas and a dressing gown thrown hastily over them, a pair of slippers on her feet.
'You were in bed?'
'Well done, Sherlock.' Jo responded sarcastically, her irritable demeanour caused by her annoyance for the blonde and her tiredness in equal measures.
'Sorry. I, er, didn't mean to wake you. I should go.' She suggested, turning away from the door.
'No, wait.' Jo called automatically, kicking herself as she realised she'd let her guard slip for a split second and would now be forced to come up with a reason for preventing the blonde's departure. 'I mean, you've woken me up now, haven't you? You might as well tell me why, I don't want to be awake at this hour without good reason.'
Sam smiled slightly, seeing straight through Jo's casual invitation, though careful to not show the brunette she could see that. 'I guess you're right, I shouldn't wake you in vain.'
Jo paused, wondering whether she was supposed to invite the blonde in for a coffee… or something less likely to keep herself awake until breakfast… or pick her up and carry her straight to bed. Deciding the former was the safer bet, knowing Sam she was probably only here to borrow a case file or something anyway, the brunette led her into the lounge and offered her a drink.
'Oh, no thanks, I don't want to put you out anymore.'
'It's no trouble.' Jo responded sincerely.
'Oh, er, okay, I'll, er, have a… cup of tea if that's okay.'
'No problem.' Jo replied as she made her way into the kitchen, leaving the blonde siting fidgeting on her sofa.
When Jo ventured back into the living room – the tea had been ready for a good minutes but she needed time to prepare herself to speak to the blonde – she found Sam sitting pulling a loose thread out of the sofa, instantly stilling her hands when she saw Jo remerge. 'Thanks.' She murmured, taking the mug from the brunette's outstretched hand.
Cautiously, Jo sat next the blonde, still unsure of the reason for Sam's presence in her living room at three o'clock in the morning. 'You, er, wanted to talk.' She prompted, blowing slightly on her tea, though she doubted it was necessary after the time it had spent cooling on the kitchen worktop.
'It's just… what happened… between us… when we…' Sam paused, taking a deep breath as she finally managed to string a sentence together. 'I shouldn't have turned you down.' She blurted out, blushing instantly as she looked away from the brunette who almost dropped her cup of tea.
'I was expecting another round of you telling me you were straight.' Jo admitted.
'So was I.' Confessed Sam, never having truly believed she would actually pluck up the courage to say those words to the brunette.
There's only now
'So, er, you want to…' Sam mumbled slightly, having hoped the brunette would have taken over by now.
'No.' The brunette responded, her tone possibly a little harsher than she had intended it. 'I mean… I don't think… It's just… I can't.'
'Why?' the blonde asked innocently, not understanding Jo's heart enough to realise why she'd previously hurt the brunette – possibly beyond repair – so much that she was unable to risk another let-down.
'It's just… what you've said… It can't be taken back.'
'I know that.' Sam commented remorsefully.
'And I can't let go of it, either.'
There's only here
'Oh.'
'I'm sorry, I never should have let you in.'
'What?'
'It would've been easier… for both of us… had I just left it how it was.'
'It's me that came around, Jo.'
'And it's me that let you come in.'
'I didn't mean it, you know?'
'No, I know you didn't.'
'So couldn't we just…'
'Forget it?'
'Yes.'
Give in to love
'No.'
'Oh.'
'I'm sorry.'
'No, it's fi…'
'I should at least explain.'
'You don't have to.'
'I owe you that at least, I'm the one that's pushed you so much.'
'I needed the push.'
'Yeah, well, I still shouldn't have.'
Sam let the silence drag out, wondering whether Jo would break it and explain or whether she'd have to prompt her. Deciding it would have to be the latter, Sam opened her mouth. 'Go on.'
'What you said to me, it hurt me more than words can explain.'
'I'll make it up. I didn't mean it. I'll never do it again.'
'It's not as easy as that. I can't risk that happening again. My heart's been broken enough in my time, what I need now is someone that won't hurt me.'
'I won't.' Sam pleaded.
'You already have.'
'Are you scared of loving me, is that it?'
Or live in fear
'I'm scared of losing you.'
'Then let me walk out now and you've already lost me.'
'No, I can't lose what was never mine.'
'I am yours, Jo, I'm no one else's and I don't want to be.'
'You're not mine, Sam. You've hurt me too much as it is. If I let you get closer… Well you'll only hurt me even more.'
'I'd never do that again, Jo.'
'You wouldn't be able to stop yourself.'
No other path
'I wouldn't do it again, Jo.'
'I'm sorry.'
'Please…'
'I'm sorry.' Jo concluded, rising from the sofa, giving Sam little choice but to do the same. 'I'll see you at work.' She added, leading the blonde back towards the front door.
'Yeah, see you at work.' Sam replied, blinking tears out of her eyes as the door was closed in front of her.
No other way
Sam stood impatiently, looking around to either side she was forced to realise how strangely similar – yet totally different – this scene actually was. Looking to her watch, she found, as expected, it was eight am. She'd decided to catch the occupant of the house before they left for work. Thinking back, she knew it was only five hours ago that she'd been on the doorstep of a different house, on a different street, in – what felt like – a different lifetime.
She felt the same nerves now as she felt then, but this time they were for different reasons. Her nerves earlier had been caused by the possibility that if she didn't go into the house, she may lose her one chance at happiness. Her nerves now, though, were because if she didn't go into this house, she could possibly lose Jo's reputation for her. Sam knew if she couldn't convince Mr Smith that Jo had been in no way prepared to lie for Paul, the brunette's career would be in tatters. After what she'd put Jo through, this was the least she could do for her.
As the door crept open, Sam let out a breath she wasn't even aware she'd been holding in. When she saw Mr Smith standing in the doorway, she smiled, hoping he'd be as co-operative today as he was in the interview after he'd finally let go of 'no comment'. It was then, a shock, when he attempted to shut the door, his efforts only thwarted as Sam instinctively stuck her foot in the door, having made enough difficult arrests in her time to know how to stop a door being slammed in her face.
'Mr Smith?'
'I don't want to speak to you.'
'Why not?'
'I just don't.'
'What's changed since yesterday?'
'Nothing's changed. I didn't want to speak to you then and I don't now.'
'But you did speak to me yesterday, Mr Smith, please, I'm not asking for much of your time.'
He paused. 'Ten minutes.'
'Thank you.'
'So… you wanted to talk?' He asked, handing Sam a cup of coffee.
'It's about DC Masters.'
'I said all I needed to about that yesterday.'
'Yes, but I didn't, Mr Smith, trust me, DC Masters is a professional, she would never act in the way you were told she would.'
'And how can I trust you? You're on her side.'
'I'm on the side of what's right, Mr Smith, sometimes that's the system, sometimes it isn't. This time it is.'
'Why are you so desperate to prove she's a good person?'
Sam stuttered, momentarily losing composure as she struggled to formulate a response. 'She's a very valuable officer, it'd be a shame to lose her from the police force, she does a lot of good for a lot of people.'
'Was she friends with Paul McGuire?'
'Yes. They went back years. She hadn't seen him in a while, he may have been a different person from the last time she met up with him.'
'A leopard never changes it's spots.'
'It's possible that Jo made a bad judgement with Paul McGuire on account of their long friendship, but I can assure you, I've never seen her make such a mistake before, I doubt I ever will do. I'm certain she would never cover up for anyone on the wrong side of the law, friend or otherwise. Mr Smith, a long time ago, Jo Masters had Paul arrested for a minor offence, she couldn't let that go unnoticed and she wouldn't with something on the scale you're talking about.'
Jo's vision drifted over to the DI's office for the fourth time in as many minutes. The blinds were closed but she was still aware of the fact Sam still hadn't arrived for work yet.
Running her hand through her hair, she picked up her mobile once more, flicking through the contact list once again before she got to Sam's number, looking at it for a few seconds and shutting her phone again. The brunette knew if she looked at that number many more times she'd know it off by heart, but she couldn't help constantly flicking back to it.
'Work, Jo.' Phil whispered from behind her. She gave a small smile.
'I know… It's just…'
'She'll be here soon, Jo, and when she does arrive she won't be impressed if she finds you haven't been working.'
'I know, I know, I just can't…'
'Stop thinking about her?' Phil finished. 'Yeah, I know that feeling but… you're at work… lust after her out of office hours!'
'It's not lust, it's…'
'I know. But don't drag it into the office, she won't thank you for it.'
'Yeah… yeah you're right.'
'That's twice in as many days that you've said that, Jo, I'd be careful if I were you, you might start believing I'm right more often!'
'Mmm, wouldn't want that!'
'Oi!'
'Did you kill Paul, Mr Smith?' Sam asked bluntly, sensing the male was getting restless and hoping that would push him into a confession.
'It's all the same with you bloody people, isn't it? If in doubt make accusations.'
'You haven't denied it.'
'I shouldn't have to.'
'You're a bad liar, Mr Smith.'
'What does that mean?' He snapped.
'You're virtually incapable of it. If someone asks you a question you don't want to answer truthfully you avoid it; you don't deny it, though. Did you kill Paul McGuire?'
'I didn't mean to.' He admitted after a pause.
'Tell me what happened.' Sam coaxed.
'I went around there after I found out about Karen. It was before the police arrested me. I wanted to know why he did it and when he told me it was self defence, I… I don't know, I freaked out I guess. He told me Karen attacked him and he just defended himself but… Karen would never hurt anyone, I know that.'
'What do you mean you freaked out? What did you do to him?'
'Nothing. I didn't do anything.'
'Don't lie, Mr Smith, that's not you.'
'No, I honestly didn't do anything. We were talking…' on seeing Sam's dubious expression he added 'Okay, screaming at each other, but… I didn't lay a finger on him. He was eating something… I don't know… pumpkin seeds I think they were… he just… I don't know… choked or something. He was clutching his throat, I don't think he could breath… I tried to help; honest I did, but… I couldn't do anything. I panicked and I ran… I knew if I stayed… after what had happened I'd be accused. I thought if I just left no one would even know I was there when he died.'
Sam let the silence created by his admission drag out, unsure how quickly she'd be able to approach the idea of him giving a statement – voluntary or otherwise – without him caging up again. After what seemed like about ten minutes, she spoke. 'Mr Smith, I'm going to need you to make a statement.'
'No… n… no I… I can't…. No.'
'I'm afraid you have no choice, Mr Smith, you witnessed a death, we need to take a statement.'
'No, no I'm not giving any statement.'
'Mr Smith, you have to.'
'NO!' He screamed, grabbing an empty beer bottle that had been left on the small table next to his chair - probably from the night before - and smashing it on the table edge. 'Don't you understand?' He asked, waving the bottle dangerously close to Sam's face. 'I can't make any statement, I won't.'
'Okay… okay we can talk about that but… please, Mr Smith, put the bottle down, this isn't you.'
'And what do you know about me? We do things my way, now. I'm in control.'
'Okay, okay, I understand how you're feeling, but… Mr Smith there are people that know I'm here, they'll come looking for me soon and when they see this they'll bring CO19… now Mr Smith they're trained in firearms and they're ordered to use them if an officer is in danger. You put the bottle down now and it'll be much easier.'
'No. No it's too late for that. I need to escape all this.'
'Mr Smith, from what you told me, I don't think you had anything to do with Paul McGuire's death, it sounds like he had an allergic reaction… possibly to nuts. You have no reason for holding me here because you've got nothing to escape from; the only thing you're guilty of is fleeing a scene where someone died because you were scared. Put the bottle down now and I'll put in a good word for you, I know you're not a bad person.'
No day but today
'She should be here by now.' Jo commented, looking to the clock to see that Sam was precisely twenty-seven minutes late for her shift.
'Maybe she just slept in.' Phil suggested.
'Sam? Come on Phil, she's probably awake by five every morning, there's no way she'd be late without a good reason and you know it.'
'Yeah? Well maybe she has got a good reason, ever thought of that?'
'Yeah, and what if that reason means she needs her help and we're just sitting her making excuses for her being late?'
'If she needed help, she'd tell us.'
'Oh come on, Phil, you're meant to be intelligent. If she needs help, she might not be able to tell us that.'
No day but today
Sam shut her eyes, her mind – however involuntarily – flicking to Jo. She knew full well that now really wasn't the time to be thinking of her, things would, hopefully, sort themselves out in time with Jo. The situation she was in now wouldn't just sort itself out – it needed her full attention, and Sam found herself getting frustrated at her inability to keep her thoughts from drifting to the brunette at such an inappropriate time. Deciding that her efforts to rid her mind of Jo were fruitless, Sam conceded that her only chance of using the distraction for the good was to be… economical… with the truth.
'Mr Smith, you'd do anything for Karen, am I right?'
'I'd do everything for her.'
'And the thought of being parted from her… however temporarily…'
'I couldn't that stand that.'
'Well, Mr Smith, I have a girlfriend, that I love very much, and the idea that, if you do what you're talking about here, I may never see her again, never hold her, it's… torturous. It's that idea that's scaring me, not the thought of dying.' Sam paused, watching a flicker of hurt entering his eyes. 'You know that feeling, don't you?'
Shaking his head slightly, he paused. 'No. No I don't know that feeling. And I don't care how you feel.' He replied aggressively, pressing the smashed bottle against the blonde's neck.
No day but today
'What's the case she's working on?' Jo questioned, pulling out a file from Sam's desk as she did so, opening it before Phil had got a chance to answer. 'Murder.' Jo commented, answering her own question. 'No suspects.' She added, letting out a sigh as she flopped into Sam's chair, setting the file on the table, making it easier for her to flick through it. 'Any luck?' she quizzed, looking over to Phil.
'Nope. Switched off now.' He informed, placing his mobile on the desk.
Jo paused, biting her bottom lip as she looked to the male, fear evident in her eyes. 'Someone's got her, haven't they?'
'We don't know that.' Phil pointed out hopefully, he himself feeling deflated at the fact her phone had been turned off since he tried ringing two minutes ago.
'She would have answered the phone if she was okay.' Jo responded bluntly, picking up the landline on Sam's desk as she did so.
'Who you calling?' Phil asked as Jo punched a number in.
'Getting her phone traced. Whoever's turned it off might not have known to take the battery out.' She informed. 'Oh, yes, hello, can I get a phone trace on a mobile number? Yes, it's 07739221675. How long?' She questioned, eyebrows raised. 'Yes, it's important, I wouldn't be calling if it wasn't.'
'How long?' Phil mouthed.
'Twenty minutes.' She mouthed back, letting out a sigh. 'No, I need it in ten at the most.' She spoke back down the phone, starting to sound irritant. 'Right, thank you. Yes, call me back when you get it, and if I haven't had a call in ten I'll be calling you back, and doing whatever possible to lose you your job while I'm at it.' She threatened, hanging up the phone as she did so.
'Jo, you can't get so angry with them.' Phil commented warily.
'Angry? Sam is out there, anything could be happening to her, and you expect me to happily wait twenty minutes for the tracers to find her?'
'You need to let them do their jobs.'
'And I need to do my job and find her. I can't do that if I don't get a phone trace quickly.' She snapped, closing the case file, signalling the conversation was over.
No day but today
Sam breathed heavily, her sheer terror being conveyed clearly in the shakiness of her pattern. 'Please, Mr Smith, think reasonably. You're in no trouble right now. But do this, and… You're gonna be in a lot of trouble. But if you let me go…'
'SHUT UP.' Came a scream from the male, Sam feeling the bottle being pressed harder against her neck, feeling, if she wasn't very much mistaken, a small amount of blood drip seep out.
'Ok, ok, I'm quiet.' She replied, letting out a breath she hadn't even been aware she was holding when she felt some of the pressure released.
'Okay, they've narrowed the phone signal down to a 5 metre radius.' Jo informed Phil, drawing a square on the map of Sun Hill pinned to the wall as she did so. 'It's somewhere in this area, so now all we have to do is search the file and see if any of the suspects or witnesses live in the area.' Jo picked up the file as she instructed the male, already having divided the sheets into half and begun flicking through one pile when Phil reached forwards and picked up the other pile from the desk.
It wasn't long before Jo, carrying a slightly confused expression, slammed the top sheet of the file onto the desk. '42 Cahlden Street.' She read, turning to the map and pointing at a road on the outskirts of the square she'd drawn.
'I haven't found anywhere in that area so it's the most likely house, whose is it?' He questioned.
'It's where the murder took place. It's Karen and Steve's house.'
Phil paused, wondering for a second how to react, but as Jo rushed out the door it soon became apparent that she wasn't battling with the same worries. 'Let's get down there.' She called as she exited the room.
'Mr Smith.' Jo yelled, her persistent banging on the front door even starting to irritate Phil. 'Open this door immediately. The house is surrounded.' She informed, shaking off a member of CO19 that had taken hold of her arm in an attempt to remove her from the door she seemed attached to.
'The Met prefers not to kill, Mr Smith, but that is what these officers are trained to do and they will if needs be.' Jo called, turning with a raised hand as the young male attempted to pull her back once again. Stepping in, Phil took hold of her wrist, his firm expression telling Jo that hitting an armed officer was not a good idea.
Sam's heart skipped a beat at the sound of Jo's voice outside the house. However much she was infuriating Mr Smith, the blonde was still relieved to hear the familiar voice.
'Keep quiet.' He instructed, unlocking the door to the living room and stepping into the hall, venturing towards the door.
'You're not coming in.' He called through it, standing up against it as if hoping that his weight would prevent them from entering if they tried. 'I won't open the door.'
'You think that'll stop us?' Jo yelled, grabbing the heavy metal object off a nearby PC. 'I'll kick the door in if I have to.' She called. Phil couldn't quite work out why she'd need to when she was clutching all she'd need to break the door down without lifting a foot, but when she was in such a furious mood he didn't have the death wish to point it out.
'Do that and your friend in here will be leaving in a wooden box.' Mr Smith called; waving the knife around, hoping the officers would see the shadow through the frosted glass window.
'Okay, so what do we need to do to make sure she's walking out?' Phil questioned, stepping in and pushing Jo out the way slightly, hoping a less threatening approach would calm the man down slightly.
Mr Smith paused. 'I don't want to do to prison.' He called.
Phil wasn't quite sure if that was his terms, or merely his feelings, but either way he felt lying might be the best option. 'And you won't, I promise. As long as you let her go now.'
Jo, having calmed down a little, moved Phil out the way, taking the lead with the negotiation again. 'We just want Sam out safely. No one wants you locked up in a cell, all we're interested in is getting our colleague and friend out in one piece.' She called, taking in deep breaths in attempts to prevent herself from screaming death threats at the male.
The male on the other side of the door paused, considering what he'd just been told carefully. 'No repercussions?' He checked.
'None at all.' Jo lied through gritted teeth, wanting nothing more to tell the male she'd ensure he went down for as long as possible for doing this to Sam.
Sucking in a deep breath, Jo waited for a reply, her heart rate increasing every second that she couldn't hear any movement on the other side of the door. When it finally opened a fraction, the brunette took no hesitance in pushing the door right open, her unexpected force slamming Mr Smith against the wall. Charging in the house, she headed straight for the closed door, allowing Phil the satisfaction of disarming the male, her only goal seeing Sam again.
No day but today
Breaking into a run, Jo headed towards the blonde who had by now stood up. wrapping her arms around her friend, she pulled Sam into a hug, not caring about how things had been between them before now, concerned only with holding the blonde, wanting to feel for herself that she was okay and this wasn't all just a hopeful dream.
After what seemed like hours, Jo pulled back, running her hands through Sam's hair. 'Are you okay.'
Sam nodded mutely, not quite sure what to say to the brunette.
'Did he hurt you?' Jo questioned, scanning the blonde with her eyes to see if she could find any obvious cuts and bruises. Her eyes resting on the blonde's neck, she gasped, gulping before hesitantly reaching out and running her finger over the fresh cut.
'It's nothing. I'm fine.' Sam informed in a hushed whisper, her mind reeling, her most prominent thoughts being that the woman who had previously told her it was too late was currently tentatively running one hand over her wound and the other over her body.
Jo pursed her lips, nodding slightly. 'Good.' She commented awkwardly, unsure herself of what else to say to the blonde. Looking into her blue orbs, Jo pressed her lips up against the blonde's, deciding that actions speak much louder than words.
The pair pulled back to the sound of Phil clearing his throat. 'Smith's been put in a car and is about to be taken into Sun Hill.' He informed, looking awkwardly from one woman to the other. 'I take it you two are…'
Jo and Sam looked to each other with a grin, searching into the other's eyes to check their answers would both be the same. 'Yes.' They replied simultaneously, not even turning to Phil to offer their answer, instead continuing to look into the other's eyes.
Phil paused, feeling very out of place in the room. 'Um… Good.' After a pause he added, 'Well, I should be getting back to… Yeah.' he concluded awkwardly before making a sharp exit, Jo and Sam's inability to take their eyes off each other long enough to look at him increasing his likeness to a gooseberry.
Jo grinned when he left the room, leaning back to place a quick peck on Sam's lips. 'Don't ever change, Sam.' she whispered.
Sam smiled. 'I thought you would have told me not to do that again.' She commented with raised eyebrows.
'I'm not stupid enough to think you won't.' Jo replied, running a hand down the blonde's cheek. 'Just tell me where you're gong next time, eh? Don't think the mobile tracers appreciate threats.' She remarked, grinning again at the blonde before hugging her again, leading her out the room by her hand. Determined to get her back to the station, make statements and into bed before lunch.
No day but today
