A/N: So we're not liking Gabriel then? Job done. Hope you don'tmind me switching back to my several chapters per day format. I prefer it like that.

Both Abigail and Sheelagh had been sound asleep when Sam had got back in the early hours of the morning. Admittedly, it was understandable considering she'd spent an age in the Murphy household, most of the time being violently sick. When she'd returned to find Sheelagh safe and asleep it had been a major relief.

Up early the next morning (she'd never quite managed the art of a lie in), Sam tidied her sofa bed and, after checking on Abi, took a steaming cup of coffee in to Sheelagh. She was just stirring. Tentatively, Sam sat next to her, all too aware of the effect any kind of human contact could have on her friend.

Thankfully, though, Sheelagh didn't flinch when she opened her eyes. 'Oh, morning.'

'Hey, how you feeling?'

'Better. Worse. I don't know.'

'Alright.' Sam put the cup on the bedside table. 'I brought you coffee.'

'Thanks.' She sat up slowly. 'Abigail said you went to my house last night.'

The memory of her sickness brought embarrassment to her face. 'Yeah. Thought I'd better.'

'Well, I appreciate it. Me turning up on your doorstep like that...'

'Doesn't need an apology,' Sam interrupted. 'I'm not going to argue with you feeling you could come to me.'

'I haven't changed my mind, you know.'

'I wasn't expecting you to.'

'Really?'

'Sheelagh, I'll respect any decision you make. As long as you're alright.'

'Thanks.'

'You sound surprised,' Sam observed.

'I wasn't expecting you to be so... understanding. I thought you'd be pushing me to report it.'

'You know what I'd prefer. But I understand why you don't feel you can.'

'I take it you bagged the clothes up.' Sheelagh looked to the floor where she'd left them.

'I'm not quite a reformed character then. No, I just thought you might change your mind somewhere along the line.'

'To be honest, I almost did last night. Abigail certainly takes after you, she's very persuasive.'

'Thanks, don't tell her that. Sheelagh, for what it's worth, I would support you completely if you reported it, I hope you know that.'

'I do. But can you imagine the gossips? They'll say it wasn't rape or that I was asking for...'

'You weren't.'

'That's not what Honey Harman would say. As for Gabriel...'

'We could take it to Barton Street...'

'Sam!' Sheelagh interrupted. 'We talked about this last night.'

'I know, I know. I can't help it.' She smiled apologetically.

'It's fine. Right, I suppose I better get ready for work.'

'No, you don't. You've got the day off and I'm not going in till later.'

'You really don't have to...'

'I want to. I'm not leaving you on your own with this.'

When Sam finally did head into the station just after lunchtime she was feeling events catching up with her. In total, she'd had about three hours sleep and those hadn't exactly been plagued with happy dreams. Her mind had flicked back countless times to a scene she hadn't witnessed but felt inexplicably part of. All she knew for certain was that Gabriel Kent had a lot to answer for.

The one thing she was worried about was seeing him, she had a feeling the urge to either arrest him or kill him on the spot might prove too much. It was lucky then that when she did see him as she walked into the front office he was surrounded by other officers. A crowd meant she kept her cool. At least until she heard what he was saying to JT, Steve Hunter and Dan Casper.

'She was a bit desperate if I'm honest. Right old slapper.'

'Who was she then?' Steve asked. 'Anyone we know?'

Glancing up, Gabriel saw her eyes on him. He knew she knew. 'No. Some bird I met down the pub.'

Leaving him to the sordid tale, Sam carried on up to CID only to find a message telling her Inspector Gold wanted to see her.

'Gina?' She knocked on the open office door. 'You wanted to see me?'

The Inspector waited until she'd shut the door and taken a seat. 'You called in Sheelagh Murphy's absence today.'

'That's right.'

'Why you?'

'She stayed on my sofa last night.'

'So this illness, it's alcohol induced?'

'No, of course not. Sheelagh's not like that.'

'What about you? Not looking your best today.'

'Gina, what do you think I am?'

Ignoring that, she asked, 'What exactly is wrong with Sheelagh?'

'It's not my place to explain.'

'You're here, she's not. You're the only one to explain.'

'I'm sorry. No.'

'Samantha!'

'She was raped, okay? Last night. She was raped.'