A/N: I promise major conflicts, honestly. I can't live without them. Means my life might be a bit bumpy but I can cope with that. Anyhow, I'm back. And the reason I'm struggling is because I'm trying to undo the knots of Gabriel Kent. I'm baffled.

Was it possible for a day to feel like several lifetimes? Sheelagh was certainly willing to testify it was.

Connor had been attentive, insistent, almost unbearable. It wasn't that she didn't appreciate what he was doing but he believed she was completely dependent on him, the word 'spinster was practically creeping into his vocabulary. And there was no way she could gently explain to him that being released from the house wouldn't mean she'd be roaming the streets alone. There wasn't a way she could tell him that she just wanted to see Samantha.

In fact, the thought of seeing Sam sometime in the future was probably the one thing keeping her sane. Well, that and the knowledge that Gabriel Kent was behind bars where he belonged. As long as she was sure of those two things she was fine.

There was a light rap on the door which made her inwardly groan at her son's persistence. 'What is it, Connor?'

He came in, looking a little nervous. 'I, er... need to talk to you.'

She was instantly awake. 'What's the matter?'

'Nothing, really. I mean, it's not a bad thing.'

Years of practice was telling her the opposite. 'What's going on?'

'Don't overreact, Mum, okay?' he pleaded as he perched on the end of the bed.

'I might in a minute,' she warned.

'Alright, alright. I was gonna tell you when I came home the other night but you weren't here. Me and a couple of mates, we want to move in together.'

Irrational nervousness hit Sam as she eyed the house. A part of her was worried whatever spell they'd both been under would've suddenly disappeared, Gabriel was in the past and so, therefore, was their connection. Over. Finished.

The second Sheelagh opened the door she realised the worry was unnecessary. The woman looked positively ecstatic. 'Hi.'

'What took you so long?'

'Oh, erm...' Sam hastily pulled up the paper bag. 'Stopped for lunch.'

Sheelagh stepped aside. 'You're forgiven then.'

'Yeah...' She didn't move. 'Is it safe?'

'And here was me thinking you weren't scared of anyone. It's okay, he's out looking at his new flat.'

'What?' Her worries forgotten, Sam followed Sheelagh into the kitchen. 'He's moving out?'

'Mmm-hmm.' Sheelagh took the bag, putting the contents on the counter. 'I'll take the cheese if you don't mind.'

'Er, go ahead. Sorry, hang on a minute. Connor's moving into his own place?'

'Yeah, apparently. That's why he's been so attentive, he didn't want to tell me.'

'He's still in college, how's he planning on supporting himself?'

'Well, that's not the only secret he's been keeping. He's had a job for almost a year and he's seeing someone as well. I must have been blind.'

'No,' Sam assured her. 'Some people are just good at hiding things.'

'You'd know.'

'Hmm, we were talking about Connor.'

'So we were.' Sheelagh spread the sandwiches out, putting them on the table. 'It isn't a problem, you know.'

'You being abandoned? I think it is.'

'Alright, firstly, I'm not a car. Secondly, Connor's an adult. It'd be wrong of me to hold him back.'

'I'm not sure I'd be so calm in your position.'

'It's different for you. Abi's eight months pregnant for one thing. Anyway, I'd rather he went with my blessing.'

'Yeah, okay. I can understand that,' Sam answered as her phone beeped in her pocket. 'Meant to turn it off.'

'Who is it?'

'Gina,' she said as she took the call. 'Hi.'

'Samantha, where are you?'

'At Sheelagh's, why?'

'No, that's good. I think I can only explain this once.'

'Sorry, Gina, you've lost me.'

'I'll be there soon.'

Slightly disturbed, Sam placed the phone on the table. 'She's coming round.'

Sheelagh looked equally as worried. 'Is it something to do with Gabriel, is he out?'

'He was refused bail. Look, it's probably nothing.' However confident she sounded, it was all a front. Gina had sounded fairly, for want of a better word, confused. It wasn't a reaction Sam expected from the Inspector at any time, she couldn't recall actually hearing the tone before. Trying not to show her concerns to Sheelagh, she smiled. 'Trust me, okay?'

'Why wouldn't I?'

After that, Sam sincerely hoped it would amount to nothing since trust was being placed and everything could easily be broken. 'Good.'

Sam was lying but Sheelagh appreciated it. The last thing she needed to hear was that the world was falling to pieces.

Having abandoned the lunch in favour of silent contemplation in the living room, Sheelagh found Sam refusing to meet her eye. That loosely translated as a sign that the detective sergeant was nervous about the impending visit from Gina, something which concerned Sheelagh, not on the basis of Gina's news being less than desirable but because Sam seemed miles away again. A couple of forceful barriers had broken down during the course of the Gabriel investigation- Samantha Nixon had become human. Right then it felt as if she'd pulled back again. Sheelagh felt like she was losing her before they'd even got started.

Finally, the doorbell rang. Sheelagh made to get up but Sam was too quick leaving her no option other than sitting down and being patient. She heard the low murmur of voices, recognising frustration in Sam's, then the pair entered the living room, both sitting down.

'So are you going to tell me what's going on?' Sheelagh asked when nobody ventured a break in the silence. 'Is it Gabriel?'

'In a manner of speaking, yes,' Gina said. 'Or rather who he really is.'

'What?'

The Inspector sat forward. 'This is going to be hard to get your head around. But just listen.'