What are friends for 2/?
Disclaimer:- Don't own them just borrowing!
Episode:- Season 2 Episode 4 (Kitty Campbell)
Pairing:- Sandra/Gerry
Rating:-M
Achieve:- . /group/new_tricksff/
Summary:- :- Kitty Campbell gives the whole team something to think about and night celebrating with Esther gives Sandra something to think about.
Author's Note:- This is my absolute favourite episode ever and I could write a dozen stories based around different scenes in it but I'll start with this one. It's sort of an ensemble piece with lots of all four of our fav characters and Esther too but ultimately it's a Sandra Gerry relationship fic so I hope you all enjoy and review if that's your thing!
"Sandra you're here great thanks for this." Brian stammered as he opened his front door and guided Sandra quickly inside, "couldn't let Jack down couldn't leave her on her own and well..."
"Relax Brian its fine." Sandra laughed holding up a paper takeaway bag "I even brought dinner you just go tell Jack I said good luck and I'll try not to be offended that he didn't invite me."
"He would have it's just ...well it's a golf club and you don't...well you know."
"I was joking Brian now will you go before our dinner gets cold is Esther still upstairs?"
"No on the sofa, she got me to put some wine in the fridge I'll not be late you have Gerry's mobile number if..."
"She not a new born Brian I think I can manage to keep her company for a couple of hours while you're out without calling for assistance now go!"
Staring for a second at the door that Brian had just closed Sandra laughed before heading into the living room where Esther was propped up on the sofa flicking through a magazine.
"I'm so glad you're here." She smiled "Brian has been driving me mad I swear you'd think I had full body paralysis instead of a torn tendon."
"Well he doesn't do anything by halves our Brian we all know that." Sandra laughed " but I brought a curry and he said there was wine in the fridge so let's forget about them and their boys only golf club do for a few hours shall we?"
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"So then he tells me that he isn't exactly married, technically he is but she doesn't care what he does because at that very moment she's out with his best friend at an S&M club." Sandra said animatedly causing Esther to splutter the mouthful of wine she'd just taken.
"And what did you do?"
"I stood up, poured what was left of the bottle of wine into his lap and left him sitting there in the restaurant, went home and counted my blessings that I'd found out before he suggested we go join them!" Sandra replied leaning back in the arm chair with a contented sigh. They had started talking about how Esther and Brian met and how they had managed to stay together so long in spite of Brian's eccentricities and somehow got on to the disastrous relationships they had each had in the past. She rarely had time these days to sit around having 'girly' conversations and if truth be told she didn't really miss them but tonight she was finding herself more relaxed and at home than she could remember being in a long time.
"Men!" Esther laughed glancing at the younger woman as she shook her head sadly. Since the night they'd celebrated their victory over Kitty Campbell she'd wondered if Sandra had given any thought to what she had said about Gerry, now with their curry finished and the wine going down nicely she thought it might be time to bring it up again. "Speaking of men; have you thought at all about what I said? About you and Gerry?"
"No of course I haven't" Sandra smiled hoping that her words sounded genuine since in truth she'd been able to think of little else since they'd last spoke.
"Rubbish I've lived with Brian long enough to know when someone is lying Sandra what's going on if I'm completely on the wrong lines then just tell me but I don't think I am I think you have feelings for him and I know he has feelings for you so what a you so afraid of?"
"Even if...and it's a big if...you're right and we do have feelings for each other it could never work Esther, I'm his boss and he's...well he's Gerry I don't need to set myself up for that sort of ..."
"That sort of pain?" Esther asked sighing as Sandra nodded quietly, "what makes you think it would be painful, I really believe he loves you why couldn't everything else just work itself out?"
"I'm sure his 3 ex-wives all thought he loved them too it didn't stop him cheating on them and eventually leaving did it?" Sandra sighed realising for the first time as she heard herself say it that that was the real reason she wasn't prepared to admit to anything where Gerry was concerned. She could talk about work and how awkward it would be or whether he actually wanted her or not until the cows came home but at the root of it all she knew she didn't think she was prepared to take a chance on getting hurt, not by him.
"Ah now I see." Esther smiled shaking her head at the conflict she could see dancing in Sandra's eyes. "You asked me earlier about me and Brian and how we've stayed together through everything, through his drinking, his obsessions the whole lot well I'm going to tell you something now that you'd do well to remember. We stayed together because I love him I know that at any given moment he could take one more drink or stop taking is pills and go crazy, I live with that every day but I do that because he's worth it. A life's not lived if it's lived in the shadows Sandra sometimes you have to get out there and put yourself on the line I mean it couldn't be worse than the thought of wife swapping in an S&M club could it?"
"Of course it could if it all went bad how could we even continue working together? How would that affect Brian and Jack? Besides I still think you're wrong!" Sandra sighed wishing they could change the subject but knowing that it was highly unlikely Esther would.
"Ok let's forget about how he feels for a minute, although I am right, I notice you haven't denied that you have feelings for him why won't you take a chance? Is it an age thing because you know just because a man's a bit older doesn't mean he isn't just as good in bed, I mean even Brian can still ..."
"Argh Esther seriously!" Sandra shouted " I have to work with Brian I don't need that picture in my head and no of course it's not an age thing I don't think anyone could have spent more than half an hour in Gerry's company and be in any doubt that his libido is just fine but yeah ok if it'll shut you up I do have feelings for him but that doesn't mean I should risk the dynamic of our whole office when I seriously don't think he feels the same."
"He's told me he does." Esther smiled winking at Sandra as she shook her head in disbelief, "I asked him the other night when he was here and Brian went to get takeaway and he was just as stubborn about admitting it as you a but he did and just like you he's not saying anything because he doesn't think you could ever feel anything for him. If I remember correctly his exact works were 'get a grip Esther she just about tolerates me most of the time and even when I think I might be growing on her never lasts I'd have no hope.' So don't try to tell me that he feels nothing because I know he does. Please Sandra take a chance, talk to him I'm not saying run off and get married or anything but talk to him promise me you will?"
"When you get better do you wanna come work with us?" Sandra laughed butterflies kicking up a storm in her stomach at the revelation " You're quite the detective! I'll think about it ok? I'm not promising anything but I will think about it."
"That's all I'm asking you to do."
"So Brian ? Seriously still...well you know I'd have thought with all his meds and everything..."
"Oh no when he's in the mood he can be an animal." Esther replied laughing at the slightly unconvinced expression on Sandra's face and about to continue before they were interrupted by the sound of the front door.
"I'm home!" Brian called from the hall poking his head round the door with a puzzled expression as both women burst out laughing. "Sandra; Jack and Gerry are in a cab outside they said if you want to share it Gerry will pick you up in the morning and bring you here to pick up your car on the way to the office."
"Great sounds good," Sandra smiled suddenly needing to get out of there before Esther said something in front of Brian that would make things even more awkward. "Esther I'll give you a call tomorrow."
"Ok and thanks Sandra I really enjoyed tonight." Esther replied lowering her voice as Brian went to let the others know Sandra was coming. "Don't just think Sandra do, life's short enjoy it."
"We'll see." Sandra smiled leaving the house and joining the boys in the taxi slipping into the back seat beside Jack and staring at the back of Gerry's head as the car started moving. Could she really take a chance and if she did would it ever be worth the risk? She didn't know but twice now she'd left the Lane's home questioning her life and she didn't think she could keep doing that without making some sort of move to change things.