CHANGES
Chapter 1
Sam woke up with a jolt, then sat on the edge of his bed, trying to come to terms with everything that had happened, feeling slightly groggy. He was content to be back, where he felt he belonged, with Annie, the Guv, with the rest of the team, who had now put Sam's betrayal behind them, but the nightmares still visited. Who had shot DCI Morgan, just kept rattling round his head, awake, and asleep. Did it really matter? Sam on that day had been tempted to do the same. Everything was a blur, returning to the tunnel, Morgan pulling a gun on him. Sam just kept thinking it through, and through.
"You cannot come back Sam, this is not the plan, you were to destroy Hunt, you now know too much" As Morgan aimed the Colt at Sam's head, a shotgun blast hit Morgan in the back, but Sam couldn't tell if it was Johns, or Hunt who'd fired, he was just damn grateful. As Morgan went down Sam then saw Johns standing over his Guv, and Annie, aiming his shotgun at the Guv.
"I'm going to enjoy this Hunt, no one betrays me, especially a bastard Copper" were Johns last words. Sam fired twice, first shot taking Johns down, the second finishing him off.
"Where have you been, taking a Jimmy Riddle" Hunt barked at Sam, struggling to get up.
"I said I wouldn't leave you" Sam looked at the distressed Annie
"Oh lucky us" Hunt retorted.
"You betrayed us Tyler" Carling spluttered angrily, trying to get up.
"Leave it Carling, geroff, I'm not a fairy" Hunt shoved Sam's helping hand away.
Sam could see all this clearly in his nightmares, over and over again, but none of it had been talked about since. Morgan had survived the shooting, but would be in hospital for some time, how ironic was that Sam thought. Had the others seen Morgan pull a gun on him, Morgan's back was to them, and it was dark in the tunnel. Sam just had the feeling it wasn't over. The shooting was put down to John's, trying to kill another Copper, but Sam, being picky pain Sam, needed to know the truth.
The Guv had been asked to set up new CID unit in the Met. They all knew it was because of the train blag, which had gone dramatically wrong. The new Super coming in didn't want the likes of DCI Gene Hunt, and his sidekicks in the force, especially with the shooting of Morgan not being entirely black and white. Hunt had several covering his back, several mavericks in the force who would not see him demoted, or dismissed, so a transfer of the whole team to the Met was the best answer. The Guv got results, and to most that was all that mattered. They all thought it would be good to get away from the likes of DCI Litton, and DI Bevan too. Sam had to convince the Guv that Annie had to come, and the Guv just had to persuade the Mrs.
The Guv was sat in his office nursing a serious hangover. He'd not been home, there was no point, the Mrs would just go on, and on, and on... The offer of setting up new CID unit in the Met with Ray, Chris, Sam was exciting, Gene couldn't deny that. Scum was scum where ever you were. The train blag had gone wrong, off course it wasn't Hunt's fault, it never was, but others didn't see it that way! The shooting of Morgan was unfortunate too. Of course the transfer needed to be discussed over few pints, which turned into several, and they all knew it maybe have been their last night at the Railway Arms, until they returned for that one last visit. Hunt sunk large Scotch, hair of the dog, now was good time to ask, well tell the Mrs, down the phone, where she couldn't throw anything at him.
"Morning love, I've been asked to go to the Met in London, set up new CID unit, fancy a move?" Gene asked cautiously. That was it, the floodgates opened. His Mrs started the one sided conversation, with several expletives, and not many compliments. Gene just held the receiver away from him, he could still hear her going on. Gene then laid the receiver on the desk, poured himself another hair of the dog. All Gene could hear was his Mrs dulcet tones coming through the earpiece, it then went quiet. Gene picked up the phone.
"So is that a yes?" Gene asked, knowing he was wasting his breath. The one sided conversation started all over again, Gene laid the phone on the desk. Gene's Mrs was still rabbiting on when Carling walked in the office.
"Mrs?" Carling asked laughing
"How did you guess" Hunt said shaking his head, offering Carling a Scotch.
"Are you bloody listening Hunt you ...?" came down the phone.
"Yes of course love, is that ok then?" The phone went dead.
"Think that's a no then Guv" Carling chuckled, as Chris, and Sam walked into the office.
"Well she always said I was married to the job, and to be bloody honest, I know which one I'd rather divorce. So that's it then we're all heading London, Chris you in?"
"Pub, yeah" Chris replied feeling slightly green, from the previous night.
"No London, you bloody idiot" Gene barked
"Oh yeah, definitely, I'm in"
"You in Raymondo?"
"Yes Guv, where you go I'm a step behind" Ray said, knowing he would follow the Guv off a cliff if he asked.
"What about you Sam?" Gene asked hoping Sam would join them. They'd not always seen eye to eye, Sam had betrayed him too, but that was now forgotten, he'd had his reasons. Sam had in the end saved their lives. Also he liked having Sam around, although Gene would never let on.
"Annie has to come too, continue being part of the team" Sam stated, he hadn't actually asked her yet, she'd left the pub early, but he was sure she would want to come, he really hoped.
"You bloody nancy Sam. Well we're gonna need a female plonk, some eye candy. I can sort that" Gene nodded with a cheeky grin.
Annie had left the pub early the night before, mainly because the others were all chatting about the Met, and getting pissed. Sam seemed keen to join the Guv in London, but he hadn't asked her, nor had the Guv. Whenever Annie felt she was getting close to Sam, he went further away. Sam had kept his promise, and come back, he had told her he was staying, but this move worried her, she knew how much Sam wanted to work with the Guv, although most of the time the Guv drove Sam nuts. As Annie walked into the main office she could see everyone in the Guv's office. Before Annie had chance to knock on the Guv's door, it opened.
"Come in Cartwright, we need something nice to look at in London, glad you're joining us" Sam couldn't believe Guv just came out with it, in his usual tactful way, and the look he shot the Guv said it all.
"Guv..." Sam started, interrupted by Annie..
"It would of been nice to have been asked" Annie scowled at Sam, who looked away trying to not to make eye contact.
"Don't go all plonk on me Cartwright, are you coming or not?" Guv asked standing up, pouring another Scotch. Annie knew she had no choice, and if was honest with herself, it's where she wanted to be with Sam, working under the Guv.
"Ok then" Annie smiled coyly, taking the Scotch off Hunt.
"My team, un bloody breakable" Hunt raised his glass, the others joined in the toast.
"The team" rattled round the office. Sam grinned cheekily Annie's way. They all knew this was the start of a new chapter, new adventures alongside their Guv, battling the scum of London. Happy days.
"Right listen up, let's all go pick up what's needed for London, and be back here 1pm pronto, tonto" They all cleared their belongings from the office, Hunt making sure the filing cabinet was empty of Scotch.
The Triumph, and trusty Cortina arrived back at the station, near enough the same time. Sam and Annie were taking the battered Triumph. Ray, Chris sharing the Cortina with the Guv. Sam was packed in minutes, then picked up Annie. He wouldn't miss that flat, and especially wouldn't miss that awful bed. Gene didn't need to pack, most of his stuff was already chucked in the front garden, including couple of Roger Whittaker albums.
"Don't come back" was shouted at Gene as he put what he wanted in the boot of the Cortina.
"Don't worry love, I have no intention of bloody coming back, you can keep Roger Whittaker too, hope you'll be very happy together" Gene ducked to miss couple of his treasured western books that were hurled from bedroom window. Now that wasn't really on. That was divorce grounds right there.
Phyllis came down the steps to the cars, carrying bottle of single malt. Annie, and Sam were first to give her a fond hug. Sam was going to miss the little treats, the steamed pud, and custard.
"You look after her boss" Phyllis looked at Sam.
"I will, don't worry. We'll miss you" Sam smiled with sadness.
"You'll soon forget me, new chapter starting, new scum to catch"
Ray, and Chris were next with more refined hugs. Hunt stood back, realising he was actually going to miss the grumpy old bat, and her dry classy sense of humour.
"This is for you Guv" Phyllis handed him the bottle of malt.
"Thank you, you're not such an old battleaxe after all" the Guv giving her peck on the cheek, taking Phyllis completely by surprise. They were both surprised Phyllis could still blush. Phyllis had always had huge respect for the Guv, and if she was honest a soft spot for him too, but she'd never let on before now. Hunt winked, and grinned as he walked away. They all got back into the cars, looking back to Phyllis, and few others who had arrived outside, to see them off. London the next destination.
Sam decided not to try keep up with the Guv's driving. The Cortina tyres squealing as they headed off. Going down the motorway watching the Cortina in the distance was quite an experience. The Guv was already parked outside the address they'd been given to meet at. Luigi's Wine Bar, looked slightly different from the Railway Arms, but apparently it did have a flat above that could be used until they were all sorted. Gene was leaning on the roof of the Cortina when Sam and Annie arrived.
"Not exactly the Railway from outside is it?" Gene looked Sam's way.
"Come on then, pub" Hunt added. They all nodded. Gene lead the way down the stairs, it felt different from the Railway, but also had the feeling it would be ok as a watering hole. They were greeted by the owner Luigi nervously.
"Please come in, sit down, welcome Mr Hunt" Luigi said keenly, maybe too keen, but he was harmless Gene thought. They all introduced themselves, ordered drinks which Luigi offered to bring over to the table.
"Blimey Guv, not the Railway is it?" Carling looking around at others dining. Feeling out of place.
"It'll be fine Raymondo, we'll soon make the place ours" Gene smiled knowingly, cheekily.
"I think it's ok" grinned Sam
"You're a bloody poof though Tyler" Carling laughed
"Drinks chaps, lady" Luigi smiled at Annie, who seemed quite at home.
"Grassy arse" Chris chuckled. The rest laughed except Luigi who now realised what his new clientele were going to be like.
"That's a Spanish joke, I'm Italian" Luigi sighed. More drinks were ordered, the conversation started to get loud, and raucous. Luigi stood behind the bar watching the faces of the other diners. The new MET CID had now taken over Luigi's, let's hope they spend well, Luigi thought, although Hunt already had a tab. What had Luigi let himself in for.