Tangled Up In Blue (Part Two)
Phil walks into the office to find Jo slumped across the desk, asleep. He moves beside her and eyes the empty bottle of wine in the paper basket next to her desk and observes that she's wearing the same clothes as yesterday.
He nudges her gently. "Rough night?" he asks, when she pries her eyes open.
"You could say that," Jo mumbles.
She hadn't attempted to return home, especially after sharing that kiss with Sam. Her head is all over the place - the passionate clinche with Sam had made her realise that any spark between her and Tess died a long time ago. She wants that sunburst feeling back, that surge of happiness; of longing… those are the feelings Sam brings out in her… while Tess stultifies them.
Without even realising it, she has fallen under the spell of Samantha Nixon's off-hand charm. Jo knows what she has to do; she must end it officially with Tess, but then what? Should she pursue Sam? She hadn't imagined last night – Sam's lips were pressed against hers, but did Nixon regret the kiss? She'd certainly scarpered fast enough, 'because she's straight', Jo tells herself. Jo has already been through the painful experience of falling for a straight girl, at University, and she's not prepared to revisit that wound. Realising that she's getting ahead of herself, Jo decides to talk to Sam first - see where they stood and then take it from there.
Phil plonks a cup of coffee in front of her. "Get that down your neck," he says kindly.
"Thanks boss," she replies gratefully. She sips the steaming liquid and straightens herself out; her back is stiff from sleeping in an uncomfortable position.
Nixon walks into CID.
"Morning," Phil greets.
"Morning," Sam acknowledges and then smiles reservedly at Phil and Jo. She takes her customary seat and immerses herself in paperwork.
Phil continues to tease Jo about her sleeping arrangements but Jo's attention is fixed on Sam. Nixon doesn't look up once – fascinated by whatever she's reading. Anxiety kicks-in – this is exactly what Jo was afraid of – a hostile 'atmosphere' and she instinctively knows that she'll have to make the first move if she wants to clear the air between them - she can't be doing with awkward looks and uncomfortable silences from now on.
The words in front of Sam's eyes are swimming, she can't focus, all she can think of is the warmth of Jo's embrace and how readily her body had responded. When she got home last night Sam had convinced herself that she hadn't really felt all those things… but now, with Jo so close, she can't be sure… the only way to find out is to kiss Jo again, but she's terrified at the prospect – Jo is formidable at the best of times and she already has a girlfriend. Alright, so Jo and Tess were having problems, what couple didn't? What if she puts herself on the line and Jo rebuffs her because she wants to work things out with Tess? She'd look a prize prat then and they'd still have to work together… it would be unbearable.
Out of the corner of her eye, Nixon watches Phil and Jo chatting and joking and she feels a pang of envy, and something else… inadequacy. Why can't she be that relaxed and easy-going with Jo? Why does she always say the wrong thing? Why does she always become defensive? Then she thinks of last night… how well they had got along, how enjoyable and effortless it all had been… until she'd ruined it by kissing Jo.
Masters finishes her coffee, excuses herself from Phil and on her way to the ladies, to freshen-up; she stops at Sam's desk.
The blonde looks up, her bright eyes alert.
Jo's mouth feels dry as she gazes down into those piercing blue eyes. "I think we need to talk," she says in a low voice.
Sam's gaze never falters. "I think that's a good idea," she agrees.
Unsure whether to be relieved that her suggestion wasn't dismissed out-of-hand or concerned that she now feels giddy, Jo responds with. "How about meeting for lunch? In the office at one?"
Sam nods, her stomach muscles tighten and her pulse quickens at the prospect.
Jo walks out of the office; she has until lunch time to figure out what it is she wants to say, because right now, she doesn't have a clue.
Phil sits at his desk opposite Sam. "What was that covert little natter all about?" he quizzes his friend.
"Just girl talk," Sam answers and returns her attention to the file in front of her.
Nixon rushes up the stairs, it isn't one o'clock yet but she desperately wants to see Jo. She pushes through the swing doors and her heart sinks when she sees Jo's empty chair.
Sam sits at her desk and looks at the clock; 12:47. She'd just have to wait.
Lunchtime comes and goes and there's still no sign of Jo. Sam checks her mobile phone for the hundredth time - no calls. She checks her watch and then the clock on the wall. She munches discontentedly on her cheese and pickle sandwich. Obviously, their need to talk wasn't as important to Jo as it was to her. Clearly Jo has more pressing things to worry about and the longer Sam waits, the more ridiculous she feels… after all, she has Abbey and the baby to think about, does she really need to add an office love affair to the mix of her already complicated life?
She washes down her sandwich with a cup of luke-warm coffee and then Suzie approaches her.
"Ready?" Sim asks.
Nixon nods – she decides to focus on the task at hand – recommencing an interview with a suspected drugs dealer. Time to crack the whip.
As she and Suzie descend the stairs, Jo rushes through the main entrance to Sun Hill station, looking flushed and harassed. She moves as if to speak to Sam but Nixon shoots her a warning glare that stops her in her tracks.
Suzie and Sam disappear through the interview doors and Jo takes a deep breath, completely aware that she's royally screwed things up.
Exhausted, Jo trails upstairs to CID and sits at her desk. It's all too much. She's had the worst morning – first an informant had mislead her, making her look a right prat in front of uniform, then she'd been knocked down by a suspect trying to escape – she could feel the bruises forming on her skin already and then - to top it off, she'd had Tess on the phone saying she had packed Jo's things and was going to put them out on the street if she didn't collect them immediately. So Jo had taken a detour to rescue her belongings… she would've just about made it back to the station in time to meet Sam but she'd got stuck in traffic and her mobile had died when she'd tried to call Sam to explain.
All in all, this was turning into the day from hell; and it wasn't over yet.
Phil, on the phone to a witness, studies her with concern. He covers the receiver. "You alright?"
Jo glances at him. "This could very well be the worst day of my life."
"Anything I can do?"
She smiles appreciatively at him. "Unfortunately not, but thanks for the offer."
He nods and returns to the phone conversation he was having before she walked in.
Jo closes her eyes. She'll have to call round her mates to see who can spare a sofa until she sorts something more permanent for herself. She picks up the phone and starts dialling.
Jo paces the corridor, waiting for Sam to immerge. A few more minutes pass and the door to Interview Room 3 opens. Suzie exits first, closely followed by Nixon who's surprised to see Jo waiting.
"Can I have a word, Serg?" requests Jo in a formal tone.
"I'll get onto forensics," Suzie informs Nixon and then leaves them alone.
"Sorry I missed lunch," Jo apologises. "Just let me explain - "
"That's alright," Sam interrupts; she folds her arms across her chest, her expression stern. "There wasn't much for us to discuss, was there? We kissed, obviously it was a mistake, and I think it's best that we don't dwell on it."
Thrown by Sam's aloofness, Master's finds herself at a loss. "Uh… I thought that, uh…"
"Lets consider the matter resolved, shall we? Now, if you'll excuse me, I have work to do," Sam says curtly and heads off down the corridor before Jo can get another word out.
It's the end of her shift and Nixon returns to CID's office and slumps down in her chair. For some reason her mind keeps wondering back to Jo and the look of hurt on her face when Sam had been unnecessarily brusque with her… why can't she reign her temper in where Jo is concerned? She knew why - she'd felt humiliated when Jo hadn't shown-up for lunch, like she'd been stood-up and she'd wanted to inflict an equal wound on Jo, but now she deeply regrets it.
"Shame about Jo, isn't it? Still, at least she won't get a hard time about working unsociable hours anymore," Phil says.
Sam peers at him over her computer screen. "What are you talking about?"
"Jo and Tess – they broke up," he informs her, then ponders this and feels momentarily guilty about dragging Jo out on Christmas day. Maybe he'd inadvertently contributed to their break-up…
Sam's eyes widen in surprise. "What?! When was this?"
Phil is taken back by Sam's response. "This morning," he answers.
A wave of nausea washes over Nixon and she curses herself - why hadn't she let Jo explain? Why had she bulldozed in and ruined everything?
Sam stands and grabs her coat. She needs some air, needs to think...
"Where are you going?" Phil asks as she heads for the door. "I thought we were having a drink?"
"Another time, yeah? There's something I have to do," Sam calls over her shoulder as she rushes out into the corridor.