'Morning.'

'Good morning Beautiful' It was a month and a half later and Sam had been home from the hospital for 3 weeks. She was finally released after a couple of surgeries namely skin grafts and with the possibility of more to come later but other than that her recovery had gone quiet well. She was however scarred from the acid, especially on her left arm and leg. This had unfortunately caused a few problems within the first week of her being discharged.

She came out of the bathroom, dressed ready for bed in a long sleeve jumper and jogging bottoms, not her usual attire for sleeping in.

'What are you wearing those for? your bake tonight.'

'I'll be fine, anyway my other pyjamas are in the wash.' Now Phil knew this wasn't true as he had personally washed at least 3 pairs of her pyjamas that very day, but decided that she must have her reasons behind it, whatever they may be.

However it continued over the next couple of days, Sam always dressing in the bathroom, and locking the door while she was in there. She was wearing clothes that covered every inch of her body, many of them having never been seen before by Phil, but the thing that hurt Phil the most, well worried him the most as well was that she would let him touch her.

One day however, he walked into the bedroom whilst unknown to him Sam was changing. Stopping in his tracks he just stood at the door watching Sam, as she inspected herself in the mirror. All he could think of was how beautiful she was, but soon he was drawn out of his thought be the sight of silent tears rolling down Sam's cheeks. Without thinking he walked into the room, and gently gathered Sam into his arms where she just broke down. There they stayed for a good ten minutes with Sam sobbing her heart out and Phil doing his best to comfort her.

'Hey, hey what's wrong? Shh come on now, come on.'

'How can you even bear to touch me?'

'What! Where did that come from? What's this all about?'

'I'm scarred and ugly, I wouldn't blame you if you just left. I must disgust you, God knows I disgust myself!'

So thiswas what the past week had been all about, how could I have been so stupid and not noticed this. He thought to himself.

Gently pulling Sam over to the bed, he sat down and placed Sam on his lap, wrapping his arms tight around her, not giving her the chance to leave she had to hear this.

'Sam, I love you, and these scars are not going to change that. Nothing is going to change that. You could morph overnight into the love child of the hunchback of Notre Dame and Frankenstein's bride and I will still love you. OK, do you understand me. I was watching you a minute ago and do you know what the only thought that was going through my mind was.' At this Sam shock her head, but still carried on looking down at her lap. Phil gently brought his hand to her chin and turned he face so he could look into her eyes.

'All I thought was that there standing in front of me was the most beautiful women in the world and what on earth did I do to deserve you. I love you Sam. You have got to believe me.'

'I do, and I'm sorry for how I've been acting lately.'

'Don't. There is nothing to be sorry about, you have every right. Now are you going to give me a kiss'

'Well... I suppose so.' And with that they both moved forward until their lips met, the feeling of coming home flooded them both. Phil promised to never let her doubt herself again and remind her every day that she was beautiful, drop dead gorgeous actually. And Sam well she just felt happy. Phil still loved her, and that was all she needed.

'Do you have to go into work today?'

'I'm sorry but yes, we need to get everything ready for court next week, and I seem to be the only person free within the whole department, never mind the fact the DCI gave me 2 months off.'

Sam's reply was just to sigh, she didn't like the idea of Phil going, this past month or so they had never really left the others side unless absolutely necessary. And needless to say considering she wasn't back at work for another week or so she was undoubtedly going to be bored.

'Come on, I don't fancy showering on my own.' Well that was a offer that there was no way that she would refuse.

Half an hour later and they were both in the kitchen. Phil in his suit but Sam was still wrapped in her dressing gown. Well there was no need for her to get changed was there.

'So what are you doing today?'

'I don't know. I need to go shopping and get some food in. Abi's down at the weekend and you know what she and Jared are like. Anyone would think that they don't eat at home. Then not sure. I was thinking of maybe popping into work, just to say hi.'

'sounds good, no working though.'

'I was wondering how do you feel about asking Jack, Jo and Gina round for dinner, maybe tomorrow.'

'Fine by me, I was thinking that we should have them round soon.' In truth they had become really quiet good friends of late, and the five of them quiet often met up. Sam and Phil also loved it, because it was 3 people that they could actually act like a couple around. Amazingly even thought the whole police station was filled with police and detectives not a single person apart from those three had realised that Sam and Phil were a couple, it was incredible if you think about it, but also a bit scary considering it was meant to be their job.

Soon after and Phil had to leave, and suddenly Sam felt an emptiness and instantly missed him. God when did I become so clingy. I have got to work on that.

So that afternoon Sam entered CID with no small amount of trepidation. She hadn't really been there in about a month or so, and so didn't really know what to expect. She had of course kept in touch with most people, and didn't really expect a huge change. Come on, in the 7 or so years she worked there the only major changes that had occurred were as a direct result of the station being blown up, the countless number of times that it has.

'Pull yourself together. You've got doughnuts they are hardly goanna turn you away are they?' At this she just had to chuckle at herself. Checking that her sleeves were fully pulled down and that she had in fact got trousers on and not a skirt, admittedly at home Sam had got better about not covering up so much, but in public well that was a different matter entirely ,she pushed the double doors open.

To Sam's surprise most of CID was empty with only a few people at their desks. Must be something big going on, maybe it would be better if I left, don't want to interrupt when there're busy. That thought was soon pushed out of her head as Jo looked up from the paperwork on her desk spotting Sam.

'Hey, what are you doing here? I thought you were off for another week.'

'Yeah I am I just wanted to see if you had time for lunch or a coffee.'

'You were bored now that Phil's had to go back to work, aren't you.'

'Now I really wanted to come and see you.' At this Jo just gave a snort of disbelief. 'Ok alright I might have been a bit bored but I still wanted to come and say hi. So are you free?'

'God yeah, I will scream if I have to type up one more report. Come on, well have to go to the canteen though I'm afraid I'm waiting for a call back from the Inland Revenue.'

'How long?'

'About 4 hours so far.'

'Not bad, so it be about another 2 or 3 till you hear back from them yet. Where is everyone by the way. It's dead round her today?' Questioned Sam as they made their way into the canteen, and sat at a table.

' Umm I'm not actually sure, I think that there might be an obbo on. For some reason it has been manic round here the last couple of weeks.'

'Well, it better quieten down if only a little bit by next week.'

'What you too used to laying around all day? Anyway how on earth did you manage to get Jack to let you back a week early he was adamant that weren't to come back early.'

'While laying around does have it advantages, especially if Phil just happens to be laying there with you, I want to come back to work. Neil booked a couple of weeks off to spend with Jake ages ago and it isn't fair on him to reschedule and Jack knew it, so I'm back a week early.'

By now they both were seated with their lunch and a cup of coffee. The canteen was also dead, although it was a bit early for lunch.

'So how's everything going with Phil.'

'I wondered how long that will take you. It great, it's better than great.'

'Any problems since well the other week.' Jo of course knew all about Sam's insecurities with her scars, and hoped that she was alright now, or at least getting there.

'Yeah, I'm still a bit careful about covering up in public, not so much though.' At this Jo looked over a what Sam was wearing, to be honest it was better than when Jo had last seen Sam, but still not back to her usual state of dress. 'Oh talking about Phil we were wondering if your free, do you want to come round for dinner tomorrow?'

'Will you be making lasagne?'

'If you want.'

'well then I'm defiantly coming, you asking Jack and Gina as well.'

'Yeah we were going to. Well that's if I can find them.'

At that point they were interrupted by a cup being placed on the table and the familiar gravely voice of Gina asking, 'Did I hear my name? Hey Sam how are you?'

'Hi yeah I'm fine Gina, I was just wondering if you want to come round for dinner tomorrow?'

'Are you making lasagne? Because you know how much I love that lasagne.'

Sam just laughed and nodded her head. They three of them spent the rest of their lunch break, and longer just talking and laughing. At one point a few weird looks were being sent at them, as for no apparent reason it seemed they just burst into laughter, and loud raucous laughter at that. All I can say is that Phil's ears must have been burning. A lot.

Eventually they realised that it was time to get going as Sam had shopping to do and the other two ladies needed to get back to the huge mounds of paperwork that were sat waiting for them on their desks. After agreeing a time of the next night, they departed, and Sam made her way to Jack's office. Knocking on the door she entered.

'Hi Sam what are you doing here? I told you you're not coming back to work early.'

'Don't worry I wasn't going to ask that, I just popped in to see Jo and I wanted to see if your free for dinner tomorrow.'

'yeah of course what time?'

'About 7.'

'Ok see you then.'

The dinner the next night was a success not that anyone would have thought any different. The five of them had spent so much time in each other's company outside the walls of Sun Hill, that they were sufficiently comfortable as a group.