Thanks to my reviewers:D

Chapter 25

Sam awoke in St Hugh's hospital with Phil and Abi sitting on either side of her bed, avoiding looking at each other.

"What happened?" she asked.

"We arrested Hugh. He's going back to prison." Phil was looking troubled.

"What's wrong?" she asked worriedly

"It's nothing"

"Abi, could you give Phil and I a minute please" Abi silently got up and left the room. "So what's wrong?"

"You're not going to like it."

"What is it Phil?"

"I think that there's something going on between Abi and Zain."

"WHAT!"

Abi sat in the canteen trying hard not to cry. The last few hours had been very upsetting for her. She knew that she should be glad that her mum was OK, but she couldn't believe that her mum was going out with Zain. He was like half her age! Just like she was like half Zain's age. She ducked her head as she saw Zain enter the canteen, and as soon as she saw him, the tears began to fall.
"What's wrong?" Zain asked, coming over to stand next to her.

"Your mum's ok, right?" Abi gulped and muttered

"She's fine"

"Then what's wrong?" Abi shook her head, unable to speak. Zain sat down next to her, not knowing exactly what to do. Abi threw herself into his arms and Zain awkwardly patted her on the back, knowing what Sam was going to do to him if she heard about this.

"So" Abi said, finally wiping away her last tear "Did you come to give me the whole 'I'm sorry, but nothing could ever happen between us' speech?"

"No." replied Zain "Why would I do that?"

"Aren't you going out with my mum?"

"No. It was just a cover story Abi. It wasn't real."

"Oh." Abi said in shock "so is Phil really gay?"

"No"

"So him and my mum...?"

"If they're not together now, they will be soon. Does that bother you?"

"A bit" Abi said truthfully. She rested her head on his shoulder, and they sat together for a few seconds before Abi said

"You know that my mum's going to kill you when she hears about this"

"Hey, you're the one that threw yourself at me, not the other way 'round" Zain laughed. Then he added" Look I know you don't really like Phil right now, you think this was all his fault, but you really don't know him. He was really hurting. It wasn't his fault!"

"Well maybe I'll talk to him too!" Abi said cautiously

Zain knew he had better get back to work soon, but that would involve going past Sam's room and if she saw him, he knew what would happen. Still, he knew he had to get to work, before the DCI got annoyed. He took a deep breath and began to stride past her room

"DC NADIR!" Sam shouted after him "Get back here!" Zain sighed and ran a hand threw his hair. He was going to be late for work.

"Yes Serge?" he said, hoping she didn't go totally over the top.

"What the hell do you think you're playing at? She's 17! And you're... You're not!"

"Yes I know but before you kill me, just let me explain! There's nothing going on between me and Abi, She just needed someone to comfort her." Sam raised an eyebrow, watching him

"And?"

" Look I'll be honest with you, whenever I see her I see you and it reminds me of how you would kill me if I were to ever go near her." he admitted. Sam looked at the floor. She didn't want to be seen as a monster, she didn't want to scare off her daughter's boyfriends

"Alright, well I suppose you're not that bad, she's brought home worse, not doubt I did too!"

"Does that mean that I'm forgiven? And if anything were to ever happen, not that it will of course, but if something did happen, you wouldn't completely kill me?" he said hopefully, choosing his words carefully

"I suppose!" she admitted, smiling "You better be good though, you hurt her and I'll let Phil beat you up again!" she teased
"You heard about that then?"

"I thought it was quite impressive to break your nose with one punch!"

"Yeah alright! ...So ...er... What's going on with you and Phil?"

"What do you mean? Why would there be anything going on?" she asked defensively

"Well there evidently is, don't worry I'll get the round up from Abi!" he smirked, leaving the room.

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