A/N: Thanks for the reviews and just remembered, Solostarr, I didn't answer your little question. Nope, Polly isn't there but I have to say you gave me an idea for something later on in the story. Glad everyone seems to be enjoying it and I'll be updating this often cos my other comp's own with my other stories on it.

That had been a complete waste of time, Sam inwardly complained as she walked back into the station. Manson had sent her on some stupid errand to badger and informant who knew nothing about Cooper, he hadn't even heard of the guy.

He'd probably want an update as soon as possible. Well, he could forget it, another strong cup of coffee was in order.

'That was a waste of time,' Jim muttered as he and June walked back up to CSU.

'I think you've got enough to charge him,' June argued. 'You've got a witness who saw him throw the brick.'

'Yeah, I suppose,' Jim relented. 'Thanks for helping me out in there.'

'It's no trouble, putting people like Cullum away's the only part of this job I like.'

'Don't you ever miss being in CSU?' Jim asked carefully, he didn't want to say anything that might affect their new-found closeness.

'Sometimes,' she admitted with a smile. 'But at least I don't have all that management paperwork to do.'

'If the job was only about catching criminals we'd be alright,' Jim agreed. 'But we spend more time writing reports than anything else.'

June shrugged. 'That's the job these days.'

'Pity,' he said.

'Yeah, ' she said. 'Well, I better get back to work.'

'Thanks for helping me out, June.'

'No problem.'

He watched her leave, thinking of all the times when he'd sat in the very same place and known that he'd be going home to her that night. It was painful to think back to those times.

Yet there was still hope. June finally seemed friendly towards him, she might still have feelings for him. But he couldn't carry on moping around like this, maybe if he stopped thinking about her she'd think about her feelings for him. There was absolutely no logic to that but it was the best he could come up with.

Sam sat finishing her coffee in the canteen, deliberately taking it slowly in order to avoid having to go upstairs and face Manson. Obviously he was going to make a snide comment about how she'd wasted the morning chasing a pointless lead, conveniently forgetting it had been his idea in the first place. To take her time only delayed the inevitable.

'DS Nixon?'

'Hmm?' She looked up to find Tony Stamp looking expectantly at her. 'Oh, hi.'

'Is Abigail alright now?' he asked.

'Abigail?' she repeated with confusion.

'Yeah, haven't you seen her?'

Panic was starting to creep into her. 'Why? What's wrong?'

'She's had her bag nicked,' Tony said. 'I left her in the DI's office.'

With Neil?! God knows what he was saying to her. 'Thanks, Tony.'

'No problem.' he smiled before moving off.

Sam immediately pulled herself to her feet and hurried up to CID. She rounded the corner to see Manson at his desk and Abi beside him pointing at something on the desk, at least it looked like she was alright.

Taking a breath, Sam stepped into the office. 'Abi, are you okay?'

The young girl looked up. 'Fine, he only wanted my bag.'

'I suppose you need some keys then,' Sam realised.

'Please.'

'Afternoon, Samantha,' Manson butted in. 'I was expecting you back ages ago.'

'Sorry, Guv, I got sidetracked by something.'

'Right,' he said in an unconvinced tone. 'Your mobile's off.'

'I know, I was meeting someone,' Sam countered with an irritated smile.

'Fine,' Manson stood. 'Well, I've had a tip-off, Cooper's making an exchange pretty soon.'

'Right,' she said. 'Well, I've just got to drop Abi off home first.'

He shook his head. 'There isn't time. Can't she walk?'

'She already been mugged once today, I'm not letting it happen again!' Sam said angrily trying to keep her voice to decent level because Abi was listening carefully.

'Alright, but we better be quick.'

Tony sat in the canteen pondering his future. The way Manson had treated him up there, it hurt. Not because he cared specifically what the DI thought but because he knew deep down that it was similar to what a lot of people thought about him.

So, what choices did he have? Maybe Sun Hill wasn't an option for him anymore but leaving was bound to be... difficult, unless people were going to be glad to see the back of him.

He had a lot to think about.

Sam looked across at Neil in the driving seat, he was keeping his eyes firmly on the road obviously trying to avoid having a conversation with either Sam or her daughter. Abi was in the back staring out of the window, Sam knew her daughter well enough to see the mornings events had shaken her up a bit.

'We're not gonna make it,' Manson broke the uneasy silence.

'Not my problem,' Sam replied as they came to a junction.

'Okay, she can come with us,' he said taking a left instead of going straight on.

'You must be joking, she's sixteen!'

'All I want is a few pictures,' he argued. 'We can keep out of sight.'

Sam looked at Abi who just shrugged. 'Fine.'

The trio remained silent for another five minutes until they reached a deserted car park. After another few minutes a red car arrived with two men inside, Sam recognised one of them as Sean Cooper, the other man was an unknown face. Then a green car appeared and one man got out, Sam didn't recognise him either.

It seemed Manson did though. 'We have to get out of here.'

'What? Why?'

Manson crunched the car into life. 'Jed Lewis, I nicked him last year for possession of a firearm.'

'Oh, great,' Sam said. He had to bring her daughter to a deal involving guns with a guy h knew, that was pure Manson really.

'Let's go,' Manson said quickly. However, Cooper and Lewis had heard the car and looked up.'

With a sinking feeling, Sam noted a glint of recognition on Lewis' face and saw him tell Cooper something angrily. The men started towards the car, Cooper pulling something from his waist as he walked.

'Abi, get down!' Sam shouted as Manson put his foot down and sped across the car park.

Cooper held up the gun and shot.