Here is the latest chapter of Pretence.
Thanks to Gemz, Sassy, Beccy, Sam, Tee and Laura for reviewing the last chapter.
Before you read I have some author's notes, this is a rather long chapter.
It was two separate ones but I decided to add them together.
And this will be the last update on this one for a little while, there will be a Mercy update next week, but I have to move out of my house cause of renovations on the 17
th of June.
The builders say that it is for a month, but I think it may be for a little longer.
I will however try to find a computer so I can update and review as much as I can. But I promise I'll be back!

Pretence.
Chapter Four.
Loneliness and Fluttering.

Sam pulled her car up outside her house a little while later, it had just gone midday, and she had three hours before she had to be back at the station. She had watched from her window as Phil had headed out to his car, and disappeared away, she wondered what he thought of this 'arrangement'. He had seemed to be happy, but then with Phil anything that pulled him away from paperwork was likely to make him happy. Sam climbed out of the car, and headed up the small path towards the front door, turning the lock and entering her home, quiet as usual, where nothing moved unless she moved it, and no sound was made, other than her occasional mutterings and the noise of the television, whenever she could be bothered to watch it. It had been over a year since Stuart had moved out, and Abi and Jared had only visited rarely since, Abi seemed to be getting her life back together, at least as much as she was able. She had a job, and was studying part time, and Sam's grandson bore no physical resemblance to his father, and for that Sam was truly grateful. She dropped her bag onto the ground and headed upstairs, walking into her room. One thing this undercover operation would bring would be some company, Sam was hesitant to admit it, but deep down she was lonely, just like she had been before Stuart had entered her life, and for a time it wasn't her work life creating havoc, it was her personal life. It had been a long time since Sam had, had a personal life, ever since Glen had revealed himself she'd let her personal relationships take a back seat to her work relationships. Even her relationship with Phil had fallen apart, they were friends still, at least she considered him a friend, just as she had told Jack earlier, but there was no doubt that they weren't the same type of friends who had once bet each other over the number of cases they could solve and he was no longer the one person she went to when she was in need of support, or had secrets to tell. Sam knew that he and Stuart had settled into some strange relationship, or game, as Sam would call it, she knew that the two of them wanted to stay at Sun Hill, and they had somehow found a way to co-exist peacefully, at least for the moment. It was Sam's opinion that Jo had much to do with this, she was the peacemaker between the two of them, she managed to have a friendship with the two of them, and somehow even though she was their DC, she managed to control them. Sam was in awe of this characteristic, and wondered if it was something that she could learn. Sam stopped at her bedroom door, and headed inside slowly, perching on the end of her bed. The facts were she was going to have to pretend to be Phil's wife, any old feelings that were or weren't there, were going to be helpful, because as usual this wasn't going to be an easy task, and if in doing this she got her friend back then this time she wouldn't be ruining it.


Sam groaned as she pulled a large suitcase from the boot of her car, dropping it to the ground with a thud. She then reached in further and pulled out the box that Jack suggested she should fill. She placed it carefully on top of the suitcase, and locked the boot behind her. She glanced at her reflection in the windows of her car, whilst at home she had, had the time to read up on Michelle Parsons, and Sam decided that if she wanted to go toe to toe with this woman then she was going to have to up her game. She flattened a piece of stray blonde hair, managing to tuck it behind her ear, before smoothing down her outfit, she smiled to herself, this wasn't exactly what she normally wore to the office, her usual outfit bordered on the standard power career woman's suit, or at least that was what Abi had recited to her, on her last visit. But at this moment Sam was wearing a black Chanel dress, with a deep neckline, and a slash along the bottom. The dress had been her grandmothers, and it had all the hallmarks of the vintage era, Sam had also teamed it with some sky high heels, something to make her short stature seem less of a disadvantage, and some dramatic eye shadow. Secretly she was wondering what the reaction of her colleagues would be to this new look. However as she glared at the suitcase and the box, she realised that whilst the heels said 'glamorous', they didn't say 'able to carry a box and a suitcase'. She looked around the yard, hoping to find someone to bribe to help her, either by reward or usage of her Inspectors rank.


Phil hummed to himself as he drove into the yard, he was back at the station on time, still determined to make the best impression possible. His box was next to him on the passenger seat, inside was the Playstation, and as promised the games that Sam had requested, as well as some other essentials that he would need. He had managed to get in touch with both mothers of his children, and had made sure that Alfie wouldn't be appearing out of no-where and giving away his and Sam's true identities. He looked around the yard, and noticed Sam standing by her car, at least he thought it was Sam, it wasn't until she turned around that he was absolutely certain. He'd seen that dress before, Sam had showed it to him when they had been together, but he'd never seen it on her. He couldn't believe that he was going to be able to pretend that she was his wife, he was realistic though, he knew that it didn't mean that anything would actually change, after all this was a case, and if he knew one thing about Samantha Nixon it was that the job came first.


Sam smiled as she saw Phil's car enter the yard, finally someone to carry one of her things for her. She watched as he got out of the car, he had obviously read his papers too, for he had changed into a dark pinstripe suit, with a brilliant white shirt underneath, with the top button undone. Sam wondered where it had all gone wrong with the two of them, where their friendship had been won and then lost so dramatically. The same thoughts as earlier still floated around in her head, they refused to leave. She knew where it had been won, those tunnels, when she had finally seen that underneath all of his macho-bravado Phil was actually a person, and one that could and did become a valid and needed friend. She also knew where their friendship had been lost, that one moment, when she'd been so scared she thought she would hyperventilate, that one decision, when she had leant towards him and kissed him. The weeks that followed had been fantastic, but this was a different relationship between the two of them, it was not the 'just friends' that they had been, it was new, and before it became anything more, she'd put the brakes on it, and ran. Perhaps this time together would re-create their friendship, after all they couldn't go on in this manner forever.

"Hey" Sam said, as Phil came over towards her, carrying his lone box.

"Hello Mrs Hunter" Phil said with a smile, if they were going to make this work then the sooner that the two of them got this new dynamic sorted, the better.

"Hello Mr Hunter" Sam replied, "Did you bring my game?"

"Of course" Phil replied, "It's buried in here somewhere, did you bring enough, by the way" he added, and motioning to the possessions lumped on the floor at Sam's feet.

"Just the essentials" Sam replied with a smile, "You couldn't help me, could you?"

'Sure" Phil replied, and he reached over for Sam's cardboard box, balancing it on his.

Sam smiled, and reached for the handle of her suitcase, kicking the bottom so it landed on the wheels, she pulled it forward and headed up in front of Phil, her heels clipping on the concrete below her.

"You look great, by the way" Phil called after her.

Sam smiled, but did not respond, but she knew that when he had said that her heart had a little flutter.


"Hello there married ones" Jo called from her desk, as he watched Sam and Phil enter CID, Phil carrying two boxes, and Sam teetering on the highest pair of heels Jo had seen for a long time.

"Good afternoon DC Masters" Sam answered with a smile, she could just see what Jo was thinking.

"Jo" Phil said almost laughing, it still seemed so funny that he and Sam were going to have to do this, almost ridiculous actually.

"Phil you can just leave that there" Sam said as she pointed at her box.

Phil smiled and put it down on the floor, "Nice suit" Jo replied, whistling towards him.

"Why thank you" he answered with a small bow, "Now have you and Wanted found out anything about the Parsons?" Phil asked with a snicker.

Sam rolled her eyes, "Phil" Jo warned, "Be nice"

"Yes Mum" Phil answered, laughing.

"Good to see that we are all in a good mood" Jack said, as he surprised the three of them, as he entered the office.

"Guv" the three of them answered as if on cue.

"Sam you look lovely" Jack said, "You will give Michelle a run for her money on the glamour stakes, you obviously read the briefing notes carefully"

Sam blushed, "Thank you Guv, I did"

Phil coughed in the background, and Jack just looked at him, Jo smiled, and whispered "Guv, I think Phil is looking for a compliment too"

Jack shook his head, "The removals van will be here in twenty minutes, and we have hired the two of you a car, best if you make your way back down to the yard and get organised"

"You mean I could have left this stuff down there?" Phil asked.

Sam smiled, "Oops" she said quietly.

Jo laughed, and watched as Phil albeit with a pained expression picked up the boxes once more, and Sam kicked at the bottom of her suitcase, "Good luck" she called with a sing song in her voice, "Try not to kill one another"

"Thanks Jo" Sam replied with a smile, and left the room, taking one last look around CID as she left, who knew when she would be back.

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