A/N: I never intended to make this bit so long, it kind of ran away from me which I think is alright, creative process and all that. Gem6, I really hated it when they got rid of Eva cos she did have a brilliant way of talking to people so I couldn't resist that little burst.
'You must have a death wish, Samantha,' Manson snarled as he clicked the door shut.
'Pardon?'
'Spreading rumours around the station about my involvement in the shooting,' he clarified.
'It's been reduced to 'the shooting' now has it?' Sam observed. 'The fact that it was my daughter has no meaning, I suppose.'
'Your opinions have no meaning to me, Samantha.'
'That's nice to know.'
'I've heard a rumour myself,' he quietened his tone slightly.
Sam stiffened. 'Really?'
'You've become Tony Stamp's chief protector. Why?'
'He had that awful article printed about him,' she replied. 'Surely you heard about it?'
'I did as a matter of fact,' he said with a small smile. 'Terrible business. Still, it did alert the public to the possible threat.'
'There isn't any threat.'
'As you keep telling me. Sorry if I don't believe you but I do have more valid thoughts than you given that I'm of more seniority than you.'
That little comment made her fume. 'That doesn't mean anything.'
'Maybe the DCI disagrees.'
'Only if you blackmail him into saying so.'
Manson blanched. 'I see you and Sharpe have been talking.'
'Yeah, just like the women we are,' Sam smiled grimly.
'You're putting words into my mouth, Nixon.'
'Just saying what you're thinking... Guv.'
'I think in another lifetime we'd have got on,' he said as he regained his composure and leaned against the door.
'I don't think so,' Sam replied.
'No, we're very alike,' he continued. 'Strong-mind, intelligent, we both know what we want.'
'Don't pretend to know what's in my head,' she warned.
'I think I can read you fairly well, Samantha.'
'Oh, really?'
'Well, I know you want me out of Sun Hill.'
'I'd say that's a given, wouldn't you?'
'Why, though?' he asked. 'Surely it isn't just bitterness.'
'You're a threat to the station.'
He scoffed. 'Me a threat?'
'What was the first thing you did when you arrived here?' she queried.
'Sorted out the mess you'd left me.'
Sam wasn't fooled. 'I had CID running perfectly as you well know. The first thing you did was barge into CSU and take over.'
'It's my second department,' he shrugged. 'Don't blame me if you never took much of an interest.'
'It wasn't about an interest! You just palmed off all the cases you didn't want.'
'I just did what you should have.'
'CSU was supposed to be a unit for the ordinary people,' Sam replied heatedly. 'For domestics, racism, homophobia.'
'They take up too much police time.'
'How did I know that was your view? I suppose you think breaking up gangs is all there is to being a copper?'
'It does more good than breaking up a fight between some guy and his wife.'
'I'll admit it, on some level I agree, but that's why they established a department to work with that area. You just took advantage of that fact.'
'If you ask me, Samantha,' he said with a smirk. 'You played CID and CSU like the temp boss you were.'
'As far as I was concerned, I was gonna be DI here for very long time.'
'I think it's lucky for Sun Hill that didn't happen.'
'You sexist pig!'
'Call me what you want, Samantha, but the plain fact is that men perform better in the job.'
'What, like Phil Hunter you mean? Being on the books of three major criminals that we know about?'
'At least Phil makes arrests,' he answered quickly. 'Unlike Debbie McAllister, she's only here because Jack fancies her.'
'And you're only here because no one can work out how to get rid of you. Be warned, Neil, unpopular people don't last long around here.'
He snorted. 'Is that some kind of soppy threat?'
'Don't you think Jack would jump at the chance to get you out of here? Don't you think I would?'
'Oh, I don't doubt it, Samantha, but you'll find I'm squeaky clean.'
'You mean you know how to cover your tracks.'
'You'll never pin anything on me, maybe you should stop trying.'
'Who says I am trying?'
'Your behaviour lately,' he replied. 'Hushed meetings with Stamp, Gina, even Jim Carver.'
'I was only trying to sort out the messes you caused,' she argued.
'I never actually accused Stamp of being a nonce.'
'No, you wouldn't be that stupid,' Sam agreed. 'Instead it was those little looks, the insinuations.'
'That's rubbish.'
'Is it?'
'I don't trust Stamp, I never will, but as for insinuations? You're looking for something that isn't there.'
'I don't think I am. Neither do the rest of Tony's friends in the station. You picked on the wrong man, perhaps you should have gone for someone who hasn't been here for fifteen years.'
'I'll get him, Sam, and then I'll get you.'
