A/N: Mean, Claire? Me?

Why was it that when you were desperate to get somewhere every set of traffic lights turned against you and every idiot on the road decided to settle in your area?

The only reason Sam was pondering this mystery was because she was inwardly seizing up and concentrating on anything apart form the image of Sheelagh lying broken which was swarming around her brain was a good thing. Gina in the driver's seat was constantly muttering under her breath about the state of the traffic, saying how many of them she wanted to arrest on the spot. It was just a ploy to stem the thoughts of Sheelagh and Sam was grateful.

Finally, though, as they neared the hospital she allowed her mind to head into the uncomfortable territory. 'What am I going to do if something's happened to the baby?'

Gina glanced sideways. 'Don't talk like that. For all we know they're both perfectly fine, Suzie just wasn't specific.'

'Sheelagh won't cope,' Sam continued as if Gina hadn't spoken. 'And she won't want anything to do with me since she thinks I don't want the baby. She'll say I've just changed my mind because of the accident.'

'Sam, it's pointless doing this to yourself. Just be patient.'

It never had been a word in her vocabulary, the chances of it being added now were low. Right until Gina pulled up in the car park she was examining the worst-case scenario, almost convincing herself that was the true situation. As she rushed into the foyer she realised she didn't have a clue where she was headed. Time for some real action.

'No, you listen to me. You're going to let me in there or I'm going to find something in this hospital and pin it on you.'

Sheelagh shook her head at the familiar voice drifting through the curtains as the young doctor beside her grimaced uncomfortably. 'It's fine, let her in.'

'Are you sure? Do you know her?'

'Unfortunately, yes. And believe me, it'll make things easier on your nurses.'

The doctor still seemed to think it was like letting the lion into the enclosure but complied, pulling back the curtain to reveal Samantha being restrained by a young nurse and a burly security guard. Sam took advantage, squeezing past and sitting quickly at the bedside. 'Are you okay? What about the..?'

'If you're quiet for half a minute we were just about to find out.'

'You mean you don't know yet? Why aren't you hyperventilating or something?'

'I am,' she admitted as Sam took her hand. Looking to the doctor, she questioned, 'Can we get this over with?'

Nodding, the young woman finished prepping the machine, lifting up Sheelagh's shirt. 'This gel's cold.'

She barely felt it, she was concentrating on the blank screen and squeezing Sam's fingers tightly. 'It's fine.'

'Okay. Let's see what we've got.'

A few seconds later the screen flashed into life. Watching the image made her breath catch, nothing was moving. 'What's wrong?'

'Um...' Suddenly, a little pulsating blob spurted at the top of the screen. 'That's the heartbeat! I think we're okay.'

Sheelagh let out her breath, glancing to see who seemed to be crying. 'Are you okay?'

'All the way here I was thinking the worst. I was sure it was bad news.'

As the doctor made a discreet exit Sheelagh felt there was something she had to set straight. 'Did you want that?'

Sam shook her head. 'I suppose I deserved that. But last night I realised something, I think it was between the baby poo and the bath, I love you, Sheelagh. And you're having a baby. I've been looking at it as a solid wall, it's not. It's an opportunity for us, if you'll let me take it that is.'

'Sam, have you really thought about this? Is it a knee-jerk reaction to finding out I was in here?'

'I was trying to find you when you went and got yourself mixed up in this.'

'I'm sorry.'

'I should be the one apologising. How ridiculous have I been?'

'If I tried answering that we'd be here all day,' Sheelagh smiled. 'But I need you to be sure.'

Sam leaned forward to kiss her. 'I'm sure, I promise you. Now, what the hell were you doing out in that car?'

'It doesn't matter,' she tried then took in the look on Samantha's face- apparently it did. 'The DI needed my input and I was happy to get out for a while.'

'It was his fault?'

'It was Nick Danes' fault, Sam! Him driving a car at us was the real problem.'

'You wouldn't have been out at all if it hadn't been for Manson. Did he even wait to see if you were alright?'

Sheelagh sighed. 'Do we have to do this? I would like to enjoy you apologising for a while before the interrogation.'

'Sorry, I'm just...'

'You. And I'm not complaining too much.'

Sam smiled. 'Listen, I've got something to do but I'll be back. Don't even think about going anywhere.'

'Where are you going?' she asked quickly, noticing the gleam in her eye.

'Just to pick something up at work, I won't be long.'

Before Sheelagh could protest Sam was out of the ward. Shaking her head, she wondered what she was up to, something stupid no doubt. A few moments later another familiar figure came through the curtain. 'Gina, hi.'

The Inspector smiled a little. 'I just got run over by Samantha.'

'She didn't mention where she was going did she?'

'I think I caught something about killing the DI. I wouldn't worry about it.'

'Right,' she answered uncertainly.

'Guv!' Sam barged into the office without waiting for a reply to her extremely courteous knock. 'Can I talk to you?'

He looked up, the irritation more than evident. 'I'm in the middle of something actually.'

'Oh?' she questioned innocently. 'Putting more pregnant PC's in harms way?'

'If you're referring to Sheelagh Murphy...'

'Yes, I am. Do you want to know how she is? Or how her baby is? If there is still a baby.'

'I'm not sure what your position is in the situation.'

'Sheelagh and I are partners. You might have upset me slightly by almost killing my family.'

For a minute he looked as though he was trying to process the statement, he still didn't appear half as guilty as he should've though. 'I didn't realise you two were an item.'

'Why would you?'

'Obviously, I understand why you're upset but venting your anger on me won't help matters.'

She kept her voice steady. 'It won't help my career, I'm sure of that. But it's helping me.'

He frowned, she guessed he was trying to anticipate where she was heading. 'How is she then?'

'Alive.'

'And the baby?'

'Alive. No thanks to you.'

'Now, listen, Samantha...'

'No,' she interrupted. 'You could've phoned the hospital if you'd wanted to know they were alright. I'm assuming this piece of paper, whatever it is, holds some vital information, your tax returns maybe. Enough importance to warrant you ignoring the safety of a woman you put at risk.'

'You better reconsider your tone here, Sam,' he said, obviously trying to exert his authority.

'Pulling rank, Neil? Wouldn't expect anything else. Did you arrest the men you needed to?'

'There wasn't much left of Nick Danes. But we got Clive Carmichael, he's looking at a hefty sentence.'

'As long as you've made an arrest. I suppose that has to look good.'

'Samantha, I'm not having this!'

Finally, her temper was slipping from her grasp. 'She could've died! What were you doing taking a pregnant woman out on the streets?'

'It's a result! And she's fine!'

'That makes it alright?'

'It means we haven't lost anybody.'

'And if you had?'

'We didn't!'

Spotting a hefty book on the filing cabinet beside her she picked it up, aiming directly at his head.