The Early Hours

CHAPTER THREE

Sorry for taking an age to update, I am lazy, and my muse has deserted me :( Car park bit is for all the Jam Tarts out there, especially you, BouncyJo ;o)

Waiting in the car, Sam checked her watch for what felt like the thousandth time. Jo was almost 15 minutes late, which meant that they would be hard pushed to complete the journey in time to make the change-over on time, which was bound to piss off Phil and Zain, who had taken the previous watch. Rolling her eyes, Sam realised that Phil wouldn't make a fuss about it, as long as she was there. Finally, Sam spotted the distinctive form of DC Masters running across the car park. Suppressing a grin, Sam started the car.

"Sorted out admin then?" Sam asked as they pulled out of the car park.

"In a word: No... I'm gonna have to write up those case reports again, all because they're incapable of doing their jobs properly. I mean, how difficult can filing be?"

"Oh that's a real pain... if there's anything I can do Jo, just ask."

"Thanks Sarge," Jo smiled appreciatively, "I was planning on doing it tonight... The paperwork, that is," Jo blushed, cursing the way her feet seemed to take up permanent residence in her mouth when she was around Sam.

Raising an eyebrow at Jo's double entendre, or was it a Freudian slip? her brain supplied, Sam put the thought to the back of her mind as she skilfully drove the relatively short distance to the surveillance house. Ringing the doorbell, she stepped back and waited for the door to be opened. Making a bet with herself that Phil would answer the door, she was not to be disappointed. Putting on his best 'smouldering look', Phil ushered the two women inside. Sam smirked as the phrase 'damp squib' came to mind, before familiarising herself with the layout of the flat, grateful that it was better furnished than most of the buildings she had run surveillance from.

Surmising that the fact that the obbo was being run 24/7 was responsible for the presence of the 'home comforts' in the flat, Jo looked approvingly into the kitchen and master bedroom, which had the best view of the entrance to the apartments opposite. Chucking the sleeping bag they had brought onto the double bed which had been pushed into the corner, Jo arranged her paperwork neatly on one half of the mismatched coffee table, taking care to leave space for Sam's stack of files.

Strolling into the bedroom with two steaming mugs of coffee, Sam felt the warm glow of pride, familiarity and affection bubble in the pit of her stomach, watching Jo fiddling curiously with the camera, her lower lip caught between her teeth in a pose of concentration and deep thinking. Walking over to the window, Sam got her first proper look at the building they were watching.

"Coffee Jo?" Sam asked.

Straightening up, Jo turned around, not realising that Sam was standing behind her, jogging Sam's arm as she did so. The inevitability with which Sam poured hot coffee down her front would have been comical, had it not been for the very real risk of burns from the scalding liquid.

"Thanks Sa- Shit! Oh I'm so sorry Sam!"

"Jo! You Muppet!" Sam cursed, not really meaning to insult the brunette, knowing that it was her own fault for standing too close.

"Ow, jeez, that'll teach me to make hot coffee again!" Quickly stripping out of her sweater Sam noted mournfully that her favourite vest t-shirt was now stained with the coffee that had soaked through three layers and was responsible for the burning sensation across her chest. Well, that and Jo Masters' gaze, which she tore away to look Sam in the eye as she spoke.

"You're gonna need to soak that as soon as possible if you're to get the stains out Sam."

Cutting across her, Sam shot back sarcastically, "So what do you expect me to do, stand in the shower for the rest of the evening?"

Instantly regretting her harsh words, and feeling more than a little guilty at the crestfallen look on Jo's face, Sam was about to apologise when Jo continued despite Sam's put down.

"I was just gonna offer you my jumper if you wanted to soak your sweater straight away, I reckon they turfed someone out of this flat, there's even some Vanish in the kitchen, should sort out that coffee stain no problem."

Grateful that Jo was so considerate, Sam took her offer up. "Thanks Jo, that's really good of you, and I'm sorry I snapped, that was uncalled for."

Smiling slightly, Jo took off her jacket as Sam strode into the kitchen in search of the cleaning stuff Jo had spotted earlier. Running the kitchen tap until the water heated up sufficiently, Sam set to work rinsing the coffee out of her sweater, thankful for the detergent which was making fast work of removing the stain. Wringing the excess water out of her newly cleaned sweater, Sam was about to go in search of somewhere to dry the garment when she noticed the neatly folded jumper on the counter. Picking it up, Sam felt a shiver run down her spine as she realised it was still warm, Jo had been wearing it barely minutes before. Closing the door, Sam removed her t-shirt and bra, briskly rinsing the coffee from her skin before pulling on the borrowed jumper, revelling in the feel of the soft fabric against her bare skin. Rolling up the sleeves, Sam eventually rediscovered her hands, and was able to rinse the stains from the rest of her clothing, before hanging the items to dry on the radiator in the hall.