Disclaimer: I don't own Sam Harker or The Bill. Or Des. Or stupid little Cass Rickman. Or N… I'll stop now.
It's my birthday and I'll update if I want to…
Chapter
Six;
More
Than A Game
"Sam?"
Sam turned and smiled at the figure standing before him. "Yeah?"
Cass didn't hide the frown on her face. "It's today."
"What's today?"
"The funeral."
Sam nodded slowly. "I know. I think I tried to forget."
Cass looked to the ground. "No one is expecting you to come you know?"
"I know." Sam sighed. Cass fiddled with a button. "I am coming though."
She looked up at him quickly. "You don't have to, I was just… no, I shouldn't have brought it up."
Sam shrugged. "I knew anyway. I've got to pay my respects. Talk to the families. I was the last to see some of them."
Cass frowned. "Well, Des is giving a talk so maybe you won't be..."
"Des Taviner is giving a talk?"
Cass nodded. "He was the one that... well, he was the hero figure for a while there. I think it's kinda died down now cause you lived."
Sam nodded slowly. "That should be interesting to watch," he muttered softly.
"Why?" Cass asked.
"Nothing nothing." Sam turned away.
Cass grabbed his arm. "I'm not stupid Sam, you think I haven't noticed how you've been acting towards him? Tell me truthfully, was he the one?" Sam glanced down the empty corridor then nodded quickly. "They've got someone in custody, that cleaner. He planted the gas cylinders..."
Sam shrugged. "Maybe it was some team effort or something," he said spitefully.
"I'm sure he wasn't trying to kill them." Cass said softly. She'd had an idea for a while now that Des had had something to do with it but now it was confirmed it was so much harder to understand.
"Probably not, but he did." Sam replied. He shook off Cass' arm and walked quickly down the corridor and out of sight.
*
"We're here today to remember PCs Ben Hayward and Diana Worrell, Inspector Andrew Monroe and DCs Kate Spears and Paul Riley who were all tragically killed in the explosion..."
Sam cast his eyes over the crowd and allowed them to stop on Des Taviner. He was standing beside the minister and was shuffling his feet uncomfortably. 'How dare he...' Sam thought.
"Sam, the DCI wants you." Polly said quietly beside him. Sam turned to look at the DCI.
"Sam, you should be up there." DCI Jack Meadows said, an unreadable look across his face.
Sam just shook his head. "I couldn't sir. Too many memories I'm trying to forget."
Jack nodded with a reassuring smile. "I can understand that." He leaned back and Sam returned his attention to the front where the minister was introducing Des. He received a round of applause. Only Sam and Cass weren't clapping.
"Well, I can't really say too much. I know you all think I'm some sort of hero but I'm not. I'm just a cop doing my job and I know if anyone else had been in my situation they would've done the same thing..." He was cut off as Cass stood up.
"I don't think so Des. You really are one of a kind."
Des saw the anger in her face and knew she knew the truth. No one else noticed except Sam. "Uhh, thanks Cass," Des stuttered. He looked over at Sam who raised his eyebrows.
"You really are a special kind of person Des, really. Does everyone know how fabulous Des is?" Nick Klein, who was seated beside her, pulled her down as he noticed tears beginning to form on her cheeks.
"What was that all about?" he asked.
"Nothing." Cass said too quickly. She stood up and left. Sam looked at Des, then at Cass then followed her from the church. He glanced around the church grounds and saw her leaning against a tree by the roadside. He headed over towards her.
"What was that all about?" he asked, unaware he was mirroring exactly what Nick had just asked and just what sort of reaction it would trigger in the worked-up WPC.
"I couldn't stand hearing him talk like he was some kind of god or something. In a church too!"
Sam nodded. "He'll get what he deserves..."
Cass turned to look at him, disgust written across her expression. "Why don't you just do something then? You've always been like this. Too bloody nice." She moved quickly to her car and drove away without a word, leaving Sam watching her go and feeling history repeat itself.
*
"Nice guys finish last Harker. They always do."
Sam turned and frowned at the figure. "Still lurking you viper?"
Des held up his hands in mock surrender. "Ow, that hurt."
"Not as much as the truth will when it gets out." Sam retorted.
"You wouldn't dare, neither would your little girlfriend. You know perfectly well what I'd do. I could squash you like a bug." He even imitated the threat, pressing his hands together in a warning.
Sam didn't care. "You don't scare me Des," he replied calmly.
"No, but Cass scares you doesn't she? That happens when you fall for someone doesn't it?"
Sam's cockiness was lost. He wouldn't, would he? Somehow he knew he would. "Don't you dare touch her..."
"Or what?" Des smirked.
Sam turned away from him. "I'm not playing your game Taviner." He started to walk back towards the church and the mass of people when Des' voice caught up after him.
"More than a game Sam my boy... more than a game."
