It took me all day, but finally letting me post this (hopefully)

Big thanks to Tess 24, Abi, Vikki, Becki and sn0zb0z for reviewing

Chapter 16

Sam and Phil returned to CID together, trying not to look in too good a mood, just in case anyone suspected what had happened between them in that interview room. Neither could help glancing at Stuart as they entered who was furiously shuffling papers on his desk, determined not to look at the pair.

"You know, I almost feel sorry for him" Phil whispered

"You're getting soft in your old age Hunter" she joked

"Maybe" he admitted, heading to his desk as the phone started to ring,

"DS Hunter" he answered

"It's Danny Blue" the man said, sounding angry

"What's up?" he asked. He was beginning to get tired of the con men's games.

"Stacie says she'll make her statement." Phil frowned. If she was agreeing to cooperate why was Blue sounding so annoyed?

"I'll be down as soon as I can" he said, hanging up.

"What was that about?" Sam asked

"Con artists" He said shortly "Want to come?" they both noticed Stuart look up at them when he asked, and Sam was beginning to feel guilty for her treatment of him, so she replied,

"If it's just a few edits to her statement, I'm sure you can manage that by yourself" Phil nodded and replied,

"I'll see if Zain wants to come for something to do. He's been looking pretty depressed since you talked to him"

"Okay" she replied, turning away from both him and Stuart, feeling the pressure on her to make her choice clear, however she knew she couldn't talk to Stuart in front of Phil. It would be too humiliating for Stuart. She heard Phil walk away, and the CID door swing softly shut, so she finally felt free to talk to Stuart. She slowly turned around again, and Stuart was still sitting at his desk, still staring at her, waiting for her to speak.

"I'm sorry" she said, "But it wouldn't have worked. We don't have the chemistry"

"Not like you and Phil" Stuart said, a touch of anger and envy lacing his words, "He's not perfect you know."

"Who is?"

"He'll cheat on you"

"Maybe"

"Will you forgive him when he does?"

"No" she said. She couldn't foresee herself ever speaking to Phil again if he slept with someone else now; after all they've been through.

"Then it's only a matter of time before you're a free agent again" Stuart said, with a half smile, turning his back on her, signalling their conversation was over, Sam wanted to correct him. Wanted to defend Phil. However she knew that this was what Phil Hunter did. No matter how many times he promised that she was different, she knew she'd never truly believe him. Anyway, if that's what Stuart wanted to tell himself to make the break up easier, then she should let him. He was going to have a hard time from now on, now that she'd left his side, he'd have no more friends left in CID.

Phil wasn't surprised to see the only two con artists in the room. Apparently Danny had found it easier to convince Stacie with the other three out of the way. They were talking earnestly between themselves, but Phil entered anyway,

"Am I interrupting anything?" he asked, not really caring if he was

"No" They both answered, sounding irritated by his presence. He'd take that as a yes

"Let's get started then" he put on an annoyingly cheerful tone, "Where were you?"

"In the park. I really had had an argument with Danny. He was being jealous, as usual."

"What happened next?"

"Two men appeared. One had a knife, but no one else seemed to notice. Everyone just kept on walking, while the men approached me, and I wanted to scream, but I couldn't, because they were too close, and I knew they'd kill me if I drew attention to them," the woman said, and Phil could see the fear in her eyes, just from remembering what happened. He had no doubt that this account was the real thing, however, the woman was so traumatised that he wished that this was the fake, and the other, the lie about teenagers, that barely seemed to phase her was the truth. The other conman seemed equally disturbed by Stacie's newest version of events.

Sam approached Stuart nervously, and laid a hand on his shoulder. He jumped and turned around quickly

"Oh, it's just you" he said, getting back to his work. Sam felt oddly deflated. She'd gone from being girlfriend to that annoying person in less than half a day.

"I was just wondering if you have that report for the Green case."

"On your desk" he replied, not bothering to as much as glance at her

"Right…" Sam replied, hovering beside his desk, yet unsure why she was doing it. She was with Phil now. She didn't need Stuart. So why couldn't she stay away from him?

"Anything else?" he asked impatiently, swinging round to face her.

"We need to talk" she replied

"About what?" he asked, sounding confused

"Us"

"There is no us anymore. You made that clear when you slept with Hunter,"

"I was lying before… Phil and I have never slept together"

"Yet" he finished for her

"I don't know if I made the right decision before," she blurted out

"What?" Stuart asked, seeming interested for the first time

"Phil and I… We talk, we flirt, we argue, we don't speak for a while and then it all starts again. This is the first time we've gone past that. I'm scared." She admitted

"Of what?"

"Losing him as a friend. Him cheating on me. Everything."

"So what? You want me to tell you that I want us to be together, so you can pretend you do too, just to give you an out with Phil? Sorry Sam. I'm not going to be a puppet in the Sam and Phil show anymore. Anyway, he likes you. He won't cheat" Stuart said with a sigh

"Thanks" Sam said, with a small smile

"No problem," he said, pulling her into an awkward hug. Sam pulled away when she heard someone clear their throat, and groaned as she saw Phil standing beside them, eyebrows raised,

"Am I interrupting anything?"