Alex smiled all the way back along the motorway. "I bet you tried to talk him out of it Gene." With her knowledge of 1980's Gene, Alex could imagine the Guvs' own home life had been far from blissful.

Back in her flat Alex tried to sort the diaries into some kind of order. The temptation was to jump straight to the end, but somehow she felt she needed the whole story. What was life like for a woman in Genes' team in the 1970's? She could only imagine that Annie Tyler must have been one hell of a tough cookie. Flicking back from the story of the proposal Alex noticed a rather long entry, after reading the first few lines she was intrigued.

January 6th 1975

What a day! I know January is always depressing and quiet. Most of the drunks have run out of post Christmas cash and even the serious gangs seem to be laying low digesting their plum puddings. Coppers get bored if there isn't enough to do. I just wasn't expecting the hornets' nest that was stirred up today.

I walked into work with Sam as usual. These days he seems to stay at my flat most of the time. It had been a gradual thing. Looking at the rat hole he lives in it is hardly surprising he stays with me. That was what I told myself anyway. It was nothing to do with the fact that I couldn't sleep when he wasn't there, or that the very thought of the way he touched me could turn my knees to jelly. I'm blushing now just thinking about it. Of course I had been with other blokes and we'd talk about stuff, just us girls, but most of them seemed to think getting you in the mood was buying you a dubonnet and lemonade and telling you to get your knickers off. It wasn't like that with Sam. Sometimes I could swear he knew my body better than I knew it myself.

So back to this morning before my ears catch fire. With a quick 'Morning' to Phyllis Sam ran up the stairs to CID. For some reason Phyllis seemed a little more off than normal.

"You ok Phyllis?" I asked. She took a long draw from her fag, coughing slightly. She picked a bit of tobacco out of her teeth. "Nothing wrong with me." She said coolly before returning to her paperwork.

I didn't quite understand, but I thought I'd let her get on with it. I went to the canteen for a cup of tea and caught up with a couple of uniform girls.

As I was helping myself out of the urn I stifled a yawn.

"Perhaps you should try getting some sleep at night." Mary said winking at Jane.

"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked.

They just grinned at each other. "What's it like in CID then Annie? Is it ful-filling?"

There was something in the way she said it, but before I could say anything they'd both walked away whispering to each other.

Phyllis would know what was going on. I decided to take her a cup of tea and see if I could find out. Ever the detective eh Cartwright?

Putting the tea down by Phyllis' elbow, I thought I would ask her outright.

"What is the problem Phyllis?"

She squinted at me through exhaled smoke, her eyes darting to the tea then back to me.

"So you can stand a spoon up in it, just the way you like it." I said smiling at her.

She watched me for a moment. Taking a final drag she crushed the cigarette in the ashtray.

"You living over't brush with DI Tyler?"

I felt as though someone had struck me. The guilt must have been written all over my face.

"What? No!"

"You mark my works Annie luv. No bloke is going to want to buy the cow if he's getting the milk for free."

"So that's what you all think."

"Doesn't matter what I think luv. It's what you think. Bit convenient you got your promotion and then suddenly there's you leaving the pub with the DI and coming into work with him. Don't have to be a detective constable to work that one out."

I must have stood there like a goldfish for a good few minutes.

"We spend time together." I'd gasped. "I wasn't promoted because… because of that!"

"That's not the way it looks Annie luv. Look, I know what it's like…" She took an unfiltered cigarette out of the packet and lit it. "I was young once. He's a good looking lad. Bit frayed around the edges for my liking but a decent copper and a charmer, I can see how he'd turn a girls' head…"

I was trying not to let the tears well up in my eyes. Running into the ladies I looked in the mirror. Sam wouldn't have said anything to anyone, of course he wouldn't, it was all in their minds, they had filthy minds…

My reflection stared back at me. It isn't in their minds though is it? They're right. I am sleeping with Sam, and what makes it worse is that it should make me ashamed and it doesn't. Me mam would have a fit! Sam loves me and god help me I love him. If he had wanted us to live together I would have said yes like a shot. But Sam wouldn't ask me because he knows it would damage my reputation. 'Fat lot of good that's done." I told myself, nobody gossips like coppers.

Washing my face I prepared to go upstairs to face the music. If the talk was all over the station I dreaded to think what would happen when I finally got into the CID office. At the top of the stairs I could hear the Guv shouting.

"This a private punch up ladies or can anyone join in?"

I opened the door to see Ray being held back by Chris and Sam, my Sam held by his collar in the Guv's firm grip. Rays' nose was bleeding and Sam had a cut to his eye.

"Disagreement over procedures Guv." Sam said as the DCI let him go.

"Yeah, promotional procedures." Ray said, taking a handkerchief out of his pocket to wipe his nose.

"I see, well its good to have a healthy debate, clears the air." The Guv said clapping his hands. He turned to me. "Ah Cartwright, good of you to join us. Right you lot." He turned to the assembled officers thankfully ignoring me. "We have to go and have a little word with Jimmy the fence. Seems he has been moving some shooters into the hands of a nasty little gang without my express permission. Tyler, Cartwright, you're with me. Rest of you try and get some bloody work done!"

Sam didn't say anything at all in the car, he just stared straight ahead. Mind you we were both holding on for grim death. The Guv nearly took out two old ladies and a crocodile of schoolchildren.

"Shouldn't have been in the bleedin road, should've heard me coming."

Sam didn't even comment. I saw the Guv give him a strange sideways look.

When the Cortina finally came to a juddering stop Gene Hunt jumped out of the car. I touched Sams' sleeve before he could leave.

"Are you all right Sam?" I asked him quietly as the DCI bounded up the steps.

"Come on Dorothy! Cartwright you stay with the car make sure the little scrote doesn't nip out the back way, if he does 'it him with your 'andbag."

Sam smiled at me but it didn't quite reach all the way to his eyes. "Yeah I'm ok Annie. You know how me and Ray love to 'debate'." He kissed me briefly on the cheek and followed the Guv into the club. I couldn't help get the feeling that the fight had been something to do with me.

Jimmy the fence didn't get as far as meeting my handbag. I sat in the car chewing my bottom lip wondering what on earth I was going to do. Did this mean Sam wouldn't want to be with me any more? I didn't think I could bear that, they could talk all they liked but what if... what if that was why I had been promoted?

"You're doubting yourself Annie." Alex said out loud. "You were a good copper, a pioneer for women in the force and this is how they made you feel." At that moment DI Drake could have quite happily slapped the lot of them, including Sam.

The Guv returned cracking his knuckles, Sam followed behind shaking his head. I could imagine how the 'interview' had gone.

Back at the station Sam squeezed my hand before returning to CID.

"Cartwright… assemble the troops." DCI Hunt snapped before striding into his office and slamming the door.

We all squeezed in CID. Some leaning on desks or filing cabinets waiting for whatever bollocking was about to come. There was nothing going on so none of us had a clue.

The Guv strode out of his office and took a position behind the first desk he came to.

"Right then you lot. There appears to be some confusion as to who is actually running this department. Some of you seem to be under the impression it is actually DI Tyler. I noticed Sam standing with his arms folded, defiant, he didn't break the Guvs' gaze.

Hunt paused to see the reaction on the assembled faces. He thumped the desk in front of him with both hands and leaned forward. His tone was lower but somehow far more ominous.

"Let me remind you who is the head honcho around here, the sheriff, the big cheese, the one who makes the bleeding decisions. If there is anyone to be promoted to CID then it would be me doing the promoting. I gave Detective Constable Cartwright her position because there has been more than one occasion when she has shown more bollocks than the bloody fairy lot of you put together, not because anyone had any desire to get into her Sunday frillies. If she and Tyler want to play hide the sausage in their own free time then that is up to them, but I will not…" He thumped the desk again making several WPCs jump. "I will not have it affecting my team. It's the quiet season, before long there are going to be lots of 'orrible villains who think they can take over my city. I think we ought to spend our time being one step ahead of 'em not whispering like a bunch of old women. Do I make myself absolutely clear?"

There were several embarrassed yes Guvs. To be honest I could have quite happily had a hole open up and swallow me there and then.

Alex laughed out loud; she could just imagine Gene in full flow, protecting his team even from its own internal politics. She looked down at the entry. There was an addendum squeezed into the bottom of the page.

Sam is fast asleep in our bed. He looks so peaceful, so at home. In the pub there was the normal amount of ribbing you'd expect but at least it's all out in the open. In that office I could have killed the Guv but kissed him at the same time, I needed a drink after that! As usual Sam walked me home. I could see he hesitated when I asked him in, but I had to say what was on my mind – it may have been something to do with the two port and lemons Phyllis bought me – but I said it anyway. 'Please don't abandon me.'

He'd held my face in his hands, his concerned green eyes staring into mine. "Annie, I will never abandon you."

And I believe him.