A/N: Thanks once again to all my reviewers: Vikki; X-Kate-X;sn0zb0z and romy katherine. You all make me smile :D

Chapter 6

Phil pulled into the police station car park, shooting a worried glance at Sam. He hadn't meant to let slip about Zain, especially as Sam wasn't supposed to know about the undercover operation, never mind that Zain was sleeping with the suspect. He was touched by her concern for him though he knew she meant it as a friend. They entered CID together, still in silence. He watched Sam carefully as her eyes flicked over everyone in CID and he was relieved to see Zain had gone out.

"Terry, where's Zain?" Sam asked

"He got a call on his mobile about another case. He said he had to go out. He told the DI but he didn't seem happy." Terry said

"Okay, thanks" Sam said, walking towards Neil.

"Guv, where did Zain go?" she asked

"He had another case."

"What case was it?" she pressed.

"Does it matter?" the DI asked, glancing over at Phil as he spoke. Sam took this as a sign that it was this secret undercover operation that Phil and Zain were supposedly working on.

"No Guv" she answered.

"There he is anyway." He said, nodding towards the door. Sam turned to see Zain arriving back, and making a beeline for Phil. Soon they were talking in whispers. Sam sat down in her chair and took the opportunity to look at Zain, really look at him for the first time in ages. His hair was rumpled, he looked like he hadn't been sleeping well, yet when he wasn't under stress, Sam realised he actually looked happy. She had rarely seen Zain look happy in his time at Sunhill, and although she was pleased for him, she knew that this couldn't end well.

Eventually Phil and Zain parted. Zain headed outside to get a coffee, and Sam took the opportunity to really look at Phil too. Not that there was any real reason to, but she liked looking at him in those times he was distracted and didn't notice she was watching him. He looked exactly the same as usual, yet there was something different about him that she just couldn't place. Then she realised. He looked stressed and she was worried. Phil rarely stressed over cases. She knew Zain was in too deep if he'd managed to get Phil worried.

As Zain re entered CID with a cup of coffee in hand, Sam stood up and went to stand by his desk.

"Yeah Serge?" he asked

"Are you okay?" she asked him, unsure how to go about this

"Yeah. Why shouldn't I be?" he asked, taking a sip of his coffee

"You're looking very tired lately."

"Well I'm fine." He said firmly

"Good." She said, watching him raise his cup to his mouth, "So who's this suspect you're sleeping with?" Immediately, he began to choke on his coffee. When he regained his composure, he said,

"What? I'm not sleeping with anyone" he said, rather unconvincingly

"Don't lie to me Zain" Sam said, "Phil told me"

"What exactly did Phil tell you?" Zain said, glancing over at Phil who was shooting him apologetic looks.

"Just that you're sleeping with a suspect, but it is obvious. You've been disappearing all the time, coming in late, and looking completely exhausted."

"I've just been working hard" Zain brushed off

"I'm not going to argue with you Zain," Sam sighed, "But just be careful okay?" she paused, waiting for him to reply. He just looked at her, acting like everything was completely normal.

"Oh and if you drag Phil down with you, you'll wish you've never been born" Sam said coldly, seeing she wasn't getting through to him, before she walked off, back to Phil's desk.

"What did you do that for?" Phil snapped, "He's not going to listen to me now that he thinks I told everyone about him, is he?"

"He had to be told."

"I know," he sighed, "But he won't listen to me, or anyone else for that matter."

"Well then, he's screwed, isn't he? People need someone to talk to in here, or else they'll go insane."

"Yeah, thank God you have Stuart, I wouldn't like to see an even more insane Sam Nixon."

"Hilarious Phil, but I wasn't talking about Stuart."

"Really?"

"Yeah, Stuart and I don't tell each other as much as we probably should."

"Then who's this person that's keeping you sane."

"You know who."

"Maybe, but I need to hear it."

" Fine, it's you Phil. Happy?" she said dryly

"Ecstatic." He grinned. They both looked up as the door to CID opened and Smithy walked in.

"You're working on that con artist case, aren't you?" he addressed them both. They both nodded, so he continued,

"One of the con artists, the woman, Stacie Monroe. She's in St. Hugh's. She's been stabbed."

A/N: Dramatic, eh ;) for anyone that just can't wait to hear what happens next, they could go look at the hustle version of this. it's 2 or 3 chapters ahead of this one. But before you go, if you indeed decide to go at all, review please :D Positive or negative, I just love that feedback!