After about two hours of traffic jams and silence, Phil pulled up outside a rather small semi-detached house. He turned off the ignition and sat there wondering how the hell he was gonna tell Steve. Sam undid her seat belt and tried to open the door forgetting the central locking Phil had place on her. As much as it despised her she looked at Phil and for the first time since there arguement she spoke.

'Am I allowed out now?'

'Sam, How can I tell him..?' Phil spoke calmly and looked directly into Sam's green eyes pleading with her to help him in some way.

Sam paused briefly and took hold of Phil's hand '.. hey I will be their right behind you all the way, if it was Maddy you would want to know right?' Sam had decided to put their disagrement behind them at least till they had sorted this out.

'Steve doesn't know that he even has a daughter yet alone her being attacked and her mum being dead.'

'What do you mean he doesn't know? how can he not but you do?' Sam let go of Phil's hand and he turned to look forwards.

'When he was 18, me and a group of his mates.. we kinda arranged him a "SPECIAL" present. Marie.'

'You mean you hired a prostitute.' Sam replied. '..Very classy of you Phil.'

'Yes I know Sam but please not right now. Any way she wasn't exactly a hooker she was a mate who needed the money and she liked Steve any way, we just nudged them together with the help of a naughty nurse outfit.'

'All this is very intriging Phil...'

Phil cut her off before she could finish. '...Marie is Carlie's mother. When she found out she was pregnant she told me, she had decided it would be best to go back to Manchester to live with her sister. I gave her my number if she was ever in any trouble, or needed anything she should call me. and she left.'

Sam could see the vunerable side to Phil and she liked it, he wasn't putting up a arogant womanising front he was just being himself, Sam spoke softly 'I am sorry... you know for what I said to you..'

Phil knew that Sam was stubborn she didn't often back down from a fight and it wasn't often she was first to apologise. '.. Sam its ok you don't have to..'

'No I do, I think you have changed and I am glad you have.' Phil looked across at Sam and gave her that heart warming smile of his, time froze for a breif second, before Sam turned away her cheeks tinged with pink. 'Lets get this over with.'

Phil slowly dawdled up the path towards the front of a rather large semi detached house, closely followed by Sam. 'I see Steve's done alright for himself..' Sam spoke quietly unsure of whether she should have spoken at all. Phil just grunted and knocked twice on the door before turning around and facing his colleague. Sam could see Phil was scared, scareder then he had been with a gun to his head, she gentle touched his arm for reassurance and he gave a small smile to show his thanks. They were interrupted by the sound of the door being openned, Sam removed her arm from Phil and he turned around to face his naive younger brother.

'Phil.. Sam..?'

Phil stood speechless so Sam dealt with the pleasantries. 'Steve, good to see you.' Steve nodded looking confused at Phil's reaction to him. 'Do you think we could come in?'

'Of course yes sorry.' Steve stepped aside '..Do you mind if I ask whether this is business or pleasure?' Steve said with a wavering smile.

'Erm... its both I'm afraid.' Sam looked at Phil hoping for some back up. Again Phil remained silent and followed her into the living room.

'Can I get you a drink tea, coffee?'

'I'll have a coffee please.' Sam took a seat on the settee next to Phil.

'Phil..'

'No.. nothing for me.. thanks.' Steve turned on his heel and exicted the room leaving Phil and Sam alone.

'Phil I know this is hard for you, but imagine how hard it is going to be for Steve, your his older brother he is gonna need you now, and I know you never used to get on when you were younger but like I said to you I believe you've changed you just gotta prove it to me.' Sam said.

Phil looked up directly in to Sam's glistening green eyes, he looked like a lost little boy. Sam leaned forward and engulfed him in her arms for the second time today, for a breif second Phil felt all the pain and worry escape from him. After a few minutes Sam stood up 'I'll go see if Steve needs a hand.' As Sam left the room Phil immediatly missed the contact, and if Sam was honest with herself she missed it too.

As Sam walked into the kitchen she could see that Steve was wearing the exact same facial expression as Phil, concern and fear etched into his brow. She knew it wasn't her place to say anything about Carlie, so instead 'Here let make make the drinks you go through speak to Phil.' Sam gentle touched Steve on the shoulder, as he walked past her out of the room. Sam breathed a sigh of relief and began looking for the coffee jar.

Steve quietly entered the living room and saw his brother sat with his head in his hands he headed to the other side of the room and took a seat directly opposite, he sat waiting for Phil to give him an explanation to his untimely visit.