The Early Hours

Forgot a disclaimer in chapter one, so here it is instead. (oops!)

Sun Hill and its population belong to whoever created them. I'm just playing pretend :)

CHAPTER TWO

Since when has Sam/Phil EVER been an option? Sorry to those of you who reviewed, suggesting this pairing, but I am set in my ways, and in my opinion, Sam should be with Jo. So don't eat me :( And thanks for the nice reviews.

Watching Phil surreptitiously fidgeting with the straws had given Jo a fair idea of which straw he wanted her to pick. However, Jo was finding it hard to work out which straw that was. Did Phil want to spend the night working with Sam, or did his own duvet and wife come first. Taking in the pleading look in Sam's eyes and Phil's unusually earnest expression, Jo guessed that duvets were low on Phil's priorities. Since breaking up with Tess, Jo no longer cared about trying to work sociable hours, and decided to take pity on Sam. Reaching for the straw that Phil held slightly tighter than the other, Jo tugged it out of his grip, and held it out.

"Looks like we got the short straws then," said Sam.

Scowling petulantly, Phil opened his hand to reveal a short straw. It was, however, not the shortest of the lot, and was enough to guarantee him a reunion with his duvet that night.

8 hours later... Sam and Jo have finished their shifts, gone home to get some well needed sleep, and returned to the station as a convenient meeting point.

Sam walked into CID, intending to collect enough paperwork to keep her occupied for most of the night. Having found the case notes she was needing to write up, Sam was about to walk out when a bundle of bright colours caught her eye. Phil had left the straws from earlier on his desk. Impulsively picking up the two shortest straws, Sam examined them thoughtfully. Just then, the doors to CID burst open, startling Sam, who guiltily shoved the straws in her pocket as she turned around to see who had come charging into the department. A harrased looking Jo Masters was already rifling hurriedly through the papers on her desk, apparently searching for work to take with her for the obbo. Muttering irritably, Jo was suddenly aware that Sam was watching her. Looking up, her expression changed dramatically, the frown disappearing almost instantly, a cheeky grin taking its place. Then the pile of papers she was holding slipped, and the frown returned. Jamming the papers into an untidy pile, Jo silently mocked her own clumsiness, then walked out of CID, still muttering,

"bloody admin...one job! just one thing!...incompetence..."

Her gaze following Jo as she left, Sam felt the irrational urge to go and yell at admin.