Big thanks to Abi, Vikki, sn0zb0z, Ami and Becki for reviewing the last chapter, Lots of SP in this one.
Chapter 17
"Nothing" Sam said, pulling away from Stuart quickly
"Doesn't look like nothing to me" Phil said, eyebrows raised
"Oh yes, Sam just declared that she really loves me and just decided to tell you she liked you for the hell of it" Stuart said dryly,
"Shut it" Phil turned on him,
"Really Phil, we were just talking"
"And what? You fell into his arms?"
"Are you always going to be like this?" Sam asked
"What?"
"Every time I talk to a man, are you going to think I'm sleeping with them? Because last time I checked, it was you who can't be trusted, not the other way round." Sam replied harshly, and regretted it as soon as she said it noticing the hurt expression on his face. He said nothing for a second, before muttering
"Sorry I bothered you then" and went to his desk, refusing to look at either her or Stuart.
"Well thanks a lot" Sam hissed
"Hey, it's not my fault lover boy saw you" he defended himself
"I know, but you could be a little more… sensitive."
"Why should I? You left me for him remember, not the other way round. Phil and I have never liked each other and we never will. Deal with it." She stared at him, muttered something that sounded distinctly like,
"Men!" under her breath and went to Phil's desk.
She leant over it, and whispered in his ear, so not to make a scene,
"Sorry"
"What for?" he said in a tight voice, shuffling some papers
"Saying that I can't trust you… I didn't mean it"
"Yes you did" he said, staring at his desk, "For all those years, I was just the guy you could have a laugh flirting with, and now it's gone further than that, you don't know what makes you different to all the other women I've cheated on, right?" Sam nodded, surprised that Phil could tell all this, after being together less than a few hours. But then again, he did always know her best.
"Well you're not different." He said with surprising honesty, "And you're right, you can't trust me, you can't know that I won't cheat because I don't know that I won't yet." Then he backtracked, seeing the look on her face, "I don't mean I want to cheat on you. Course I don't. It's just I never started out intending to cheat on Cindy, and it happened. A lot. You're not different to Cindy. But I'm different to the Phil that cheated on her. I've changed over the years and you know it. You've been with me, helped me, encouraged me. So that's why I think I won't cheat. But I can't know for sure until I'm tested, so I can forgive you for not trusting me." He looked up at her for the first time since both arrived at his desk, trying to gauge her reaction, however her face was impassive. Then slowly, she leant down and kissed him quickly on the lips, before whispering
"I believe in you, even if you don't"
"Thanks" he whispered back and leant into kiss her again. However, they were brought back to reality as a phone rang on a nearby desk, and both remembered that they weren't at home, weren't in an empty interview room, they were in a busy CID room surrounded by their colleagues, who were pretending not to stare.
"Want to give them something to stare at?" Phil asked, only half joking
"Go on then," Sam agreed, laughing and falling onto his lap. However, once again the moment was ruined as Zain burst in; looking like a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. He came straight across to Phil,
"I did it. I dumped her." He said, looking pleased, "And…. What're you doing on his lap?"
"We're together now," Phil said, shooting a smug look across the room to Stuart.
"Well that's all great," Neil said from behind them, "But some of us do have some work to do, including you, DS Nixon, so I'd appreciate it if you and DS Hunter stop whatever it is you think you're doing and do some work for a change."
"I'm waiting on my informant to get here Guv" Phil said
"Well you can wait on him outside, so you won't disrupt work anymore" Neil said firmly, "Zain, my office, now. It's about the Kristen Shaw case."
"Great" Zain muttered under his breath, "I'll see you later then" he said to Sam and Phil, and went into Neil's office.
"It's bloody freezing out here" Phil said, pulling his coat further around him
"It's fine." Sam bushed off, "Stop being such a wuss"
"I'm not! Just where the hell has Danny Blue got to?"
"How am I supposed to know? It's okay Phil, he'll get here eventually"
"While we stand here waiting for him. I hate conmen."
"Look, there he is now" Sam said, nodding to a lone figure walking down the pavement, hands stuffed in pockets
"You took your time" Phil snapped irritably when Danny stopped next to them
"Sorry. So are we going to do this?" he asked
"Yeah, the DI said we could go ahead with it"
"Okay" the conman replied, looking ill
"Are you okay Danny?" Sam asked in concern
"Never better," He said, obviously lying, "So what happens now?"
"Well I'm ready to go if you are" Phil said, looking forward to getting this operation over with. The sooner, the better.
"Hendon's dangerous" Danny blurted out, and Sam and Phil exchanged a glance. That was what made him so nervous
"Don't worry" Phil replied, in what he hoped was a reassuring tone, "We have ways of protecting you and your girlfriend." Knowing that Stacie wasn't Danny's girlfriend, but hoping the thought of it would cheer him up. It seemed to, as his face brightened instantly.
"Ready to get on your vest?" Phil asked
"Vest?"
"Bullet proof vest. You didn't think we'd send you in to talk to an armed drug dealer without one did you?" Sam asked, trying not to laugh
"Actually, yeah" the conman replied, looking sheepish
"We do know how dangerous Hendon is Danny" Sam reassured him, "But we've been through worse." She exchanged a glance with Phil, remembering Weaver, Kennedy, Wallis, everyone who'd threatened them over the years.
"Okay" the conman swallowed again and looked a little less ill than before, "What are we waiting for?"
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