A/N: I like writing nice chapters, what can I say?

'Heard about yesterday. Well done, Sarge.'

'Thanks, Terry,' Sam smiled awkwardly as she finally managed to take a seat at her desk. From the moment she'd set foot in the station she'd been congratulated and cheered, the word had been spread and she was practically a hero. Gabriel was the big bad wolf- a perfect analogy, she thought- and Sheelagh the helpless victim. That picture she wasn't too happy about. Anyone who'd sat through Sheelagh's ordeal over the past few weeks would be able to see she'd been anything but helpless yet it ruined the fairy tale if the woman put up a fight, didn't it?

Sam found herself in the white knight role. Since it was usually reserved for spindly men she felt as though she had busted through another boundary. It wasn't as if she wanted the attention or status really though, all she cared about was sleeping a few miles away, hopefully peacefully.

Sheelagh had wanted to come in but Connor had rejected that idea, insisting he took his mother back home. While the idea was good in theory, Sam was having trouble believing Sheelagh wanted to be at 'home'. Not just because that's where the assault happened but Sam liked to think she would be missed- the comfortable happiness they'd managed to fall into would have to be suspended now they were back in their separate worlds.

'Sam, a word.' DI Manson left her no choice but to follow him as he retreated into his office.

The look on his face was anything but congratulatory. 'Yes, Guv?'

'Your little escapade yesterday might have made you a celebrity around here and, yes, you did get a good result but I don't appreciate being kept out of the loop. My officers report to me, not Inspector Gold, or themselves for that matter.

A pat on the back hadn't been expected anyway, yet she wasn't about to relinquish her defence. 'With respect, Guv, I didn't go behind anyone's back.'

'You happened to be in the area when Kent appeared then?'

'I stopped by,' she replied in part-honesty. 'I was supporting Sheelagh as a friend. Perhaps I shouldn't have gone on your time but I won't apologise for being there to arrest Gabriel.'

It didn't seem as though he'd expected her to argue back. 'Right, well, I don't expect this to happen again. We work as a team here.'

'Yes, Guv.'

Back at her desk, she inwardly smiled at her diplomacy. It wasn't an enhanced statement to say that, in the past, she'd been quick to lose her temper in such a situation but she'd talked her way out of it, out-maneuvered Manson. Maybe it was Sheelagh's influence. Perhaps shedding the label of 'emotional incompetent', as Gina had put it, was part of the reason she could now be relaxed. It was a nice thought anyway.

The good mood obviously wasn't set to last. 'Samantha?'

Trying not to visibly cringe, she attempted a smile. 'Phil. Everything alright?'

'Yeah, actually.' He sat across at his own desk. 'How's our hero?'

'Find one and ask them.'

'Modesty's not like you, Sam.'

'I just did my job.'

'Bit beyond the call of duty, wasn't it? Letting her stop with you?'

'That's what people do, Phil. Help others out.'

'Suppose you're proving you're human anyway.'

Despite herself, she smiled. 'Thanks for that.'

'You're welcome,' he answered then scratched his head. 'Listen, how about that drink we've been promising ourselves?'

'Oh, Phil! It's not...'

'Okay,' he interrupted. 'Not a good time, I get it. But I did mean as mates, you know. No strings attached. Friendly drink.'

'Alright, you can stop selling it now! Another time.'

Phil grinned. 'I'm holding you to that.'

She was wondering whether reaching across the bed for the phone was going to cause Connor to bound up the stairs in a panic. Settling on the fact that there was a significant chance it would she chose to ignore it, instead picking up the handset and dialling DS Nixon's direct line. It was answered almost instantly. 'Hi.'

'Hello!' Sam sounded delighted. 'How are you?'

'I'm being held prisoner by my son, I've had better days.'

'Oh, right. I suppose he means well.'

'That's not the point! I'm going crazy!'

'Sheelagh,' said Sam quietly. 'Why are we whispering?'

'If he hears me I'll just get a lecture.'

There was laughter on the other end of the phone. 'He's a kid!'

'You're telling me Abigail never scares you?' Sheelagh argued.

'Of course not!'

'Oh, no? You can't hide anything from me, Sam, I've lived with you now. I've seen everything.'

'So much for me being a closed book. How transparent am I these days?'

'Don't worry,' Sheelagh answered. 'I'm sure your reputation's safe. Who's going to believe you're anything but an ogre?'

'Now you really know how to charm a woman.'

Changing the subject, she asked, 'How's work?'

'It's just the usual. I'm being serenaded, cheered, nothing of the ordinary.'

'And, naturally, you hate the attention.'

'Well, you know me, Sheelagh. I'm the shy type.'

'Oh, of course.' Hearing a murmur on the other end of the line, she listened carefully till it faded. 'Was that Phil?'

'Mmm-hmm. That's probably not a good topic of conversation right now.'

'That translates as 'he's standing right behind you' then?'

'That's a fair assessment actually,' Sam replied. 'I'm erm...'

Sensing where that was going, Sheelagh finished for her, 'I'm missing you too.'

'It's nice to hear. Listen, the DI's heading my way and he's not a happy bunny.'

'You go, it's fine. Just... don't leave me here all alone, okay?'

'How's tomorrow for you? Since Connor won't let me through the door tonight.'

'I think I can cope with that.'