A/N: I'd say you know Abi pretty well then, Strange1! A lot like her mother really. And Claire, kiss and make up? Did I make some promises I wasn't aware of?

'Okay, Abi, what's wrong?' Sam queried, giving up on unpacking various baby clothes to look at her daughter on the other side of the living room. 'You've hardly said a word since I picked you up.'

'Nothing, I'm fine,' Abi muttered unconvincingly.

'Maybe it's just events catching up with you. It can all be a bit of a shock afterwards.'

'It's not shock, Mum, okay?'

Sam frowned. 'Then what?'

'Sheelagh came to see me yesterday.'

Resuming her unpacking she quietly considered just what Sheelagh might have told her daughter. Surely an edited version of events? 'Really?'

'You're not even going to ask how she is?'

'What did she tell you?'

'Only what I didn't know.'

'Which was..?' Sam prompted nervously.

'I knew about you and her, okay? I'm not an idiot.'

'We were going to tell you at some point.'

'It doesn't matter now though, does it?' Abi questioned, confirming her mother's suspicions that she had indeed got the full story. 'How could you just leave her like that?'

She didn't need this from her own daughter, she really didn't. 'It's not your concern, Abi. What happened between me and Sheelagh stays between the two of us.'

'Even if you're being a complete prat?'

'Hey! I'm still your mother, you know.'

'Can hardly forget it can I?' Abi replied bitterly. 'I'm actually amazed you let Belinda in the house, considering who her father is.'

'Alright!' Sam slammed down the pair of booties she'd been trying to force out of their container and looked at her daughter. 'I've had enough of this. I don't know what Sheelagh told you but I'm doing what's best for everyone.'

'You're falling on your own sword. It's ridiculous.'

'I'm sorry you feel that way.'

Abi frowned. 'You don't care do you? She loves you and you couldn't give a damn!'

'You don't know what you're talking about.'

'Be honest, Mum!'

From upstairs a wail echoed. Eager to escape, Sam stood. 'I'll go.'

'No,' Abi said immediately. 'Don't want you resenting her now do we?'

Left in the living room, Sam collapsed back onto the sofa, barely resisting beating it to a pulp. Briefly, she wondered where Sheelagh was, if she was alright. She quickly pushed the thought away, it was too painful. Closing her eyes against the world, she tried to blank it all out but all that was swimming at the back of her eyelids was a picture of Sheelagh. Somehow she thought nothing was going to change that.

'Everything alright?'

Sheelagh glanced up momentarily from the small television screen as Gina came into the office. 'Yes, Ma'am.'

'I heard CID had got you sifting through CCTV.'

'Mmm, this is what I can look forward to for the next six months.'

'As long as the two of you are healthy,' Gina answered. 'So, how are you?'

'No, I haven't spoken to Sam and I don't think it's on the cards.'

'Sheelagh,' the Inspector said slowly. 'If you gave her a chance she'd reconsider.'

'Are we discussing the same person here?'

'You're both as bad as each other, you know that?'

'Mmm...' Thankfully, something started stirring on the CCTV tapes causing Sheelagh to pay full attention again. 'There! Those two match the description Tony got and they're coming from the right direction.' She looked at her boss. 'I better get this to Suzie.'

'Yeah, course.'

'Sam!' Phil looked up as she strolled into CID, trying to appear as nonchalant as possible. 'Thought Abi was coming home today?'

'I think she wants some time alone with the baby, understandable really.'

'Yeah, well, congratulations. Must be nice to be a...'

'I wouldn't go there, Phil,' she interrupted warningly.

He laughed. 'Fair enough. How are you though?'

'Erm, relieved actually. I was sure something would go wrong.' A small voice muttered that it really had. 'No, I'm fine.'

'Good. Well, if Abi don't want you at home how about a drink, to celebrate?'

Or sorrow-drown? 'Yeah, why not?'

'Great. I'll see you after work then.'

She forced her most convincing smile. 'Good.'

As she turned to sit down something in the opposite corner of the room caught her eye. Sheelagh talking to Suzie Sim. What could she do? Sitting, she tried to focus on her computer screen but her eyes kept flicking involuntarily back towards the two officers. Either Sheelagh was completely disinterested in her or she was doing a remarkable job of hiding her intrigue. Whatever, Sam was sure Suzie was gaining full attention. Trying again to focus, she couldn't help glancing over from time to time but still to no reaction. Finally, Sheelagh made her way to the exit which, of course, was right beside Sam. As she walked past her perfume drifted over. But nothing else.

Leaning heavily against the cubicle door Sheelagh tried to control the tears that were itching to flow. It wasn't just hormones- though thankfully that was an excuse she could use- it was seeing Samantha again which had opened up a whole can of worms.

Of course, she'd known they'd meet, it was a small station, but not for a few more days. From what Abi had said the previous day she was being discharged from hospital, didn't that mean Sam would want to be at home with her? Unless, Sheelagh realised with a sinking heart, they'd argued over her. Which was a very real possibility considering Abi's feelings about the situation. There was nothing else for it, she'd have to have words with the young mother.