DISCLAIMER: I do not own the characters of Jo Masters, Sam Nixon and Phil Hunter. They are the property of TalkbackThames and shall be safely returned to their original state once I have finished with them. evil grin I do however own the character of Heidi featured in this chapter, she is mine, all mine!

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hopefully you're all enjoying the story so far. Please R&R so I know that you are liking what you are reading. Criticisms welcome as well. Many thanks and enjoy the chapter!

Chapter 4:

It was the morning after Jo had been shot and she couldn't sleep due to the pain in her shoulder, so she decided to go into work, maybe that would tire her out. It was obvious the painkillers she had been prescribed weren't working, but she best not drive just incase, so Jo phoned a taxi and within half an hour she was making her way up to what appeared to be a very deserted CID. Then again, it was 7.30am. Jo made her way to her desk and began on the paperwork that had been haunting her for a while now.

About half an hour later, when Jo was deeply engrossed in what she was working on, Phil Hunter arrived and when he saw Jo working away, immediately made his way over to her.

"Jo," he said, "What are ya doing here?"

"What does it look like?" Jo responded, "And thanks for asking if I was okay."

"Sorry, its just that if the DI sees you she'll hit the roof!" Phil replied, "How are ya feeling?"

"I'm in pain," Jo answered truthfully, "But its manageable. I was having trouble sleeping so I thought I'd come in and distract myself from the pain."

"Well the DI's due in at 9, I suggest you make yourself scarce by then," Phil said, "Coffee?"

"No thanks," Jo replied before looking back at her paperwork.

Phil made his way down to the canteen for some coffee. He sat down at a table and flipped open his phone to call Sam.

Sam woke to the sound of her phone. "Hello?" she said groggily.

"Morning Sam, it's Phil," he replied, "Sorry, did I wake you?"

"No, its fine really, what's the problem?" Sam asked, now more awake than she had previously been.

"It's Jo," Phil said, "She's sitting upstairs doing her paperwork, obviously in pain and looking as though she's not slept."

"She's what?" Sam replied, somewhat shocked that Jo would even consider turning up at work the day after she'd been shot.

"Yeah, that's exactly what I thought," Phil said, "Anyway I just thought I'd warn ya before ya turned up and saw her."

"Thanks Phil, I'll see you soon," Sam responded, hanging up before getting out of bed to shower and get ready for work.


It was 9am when Sam arrived at work and made her way to get some coffee before heading up to her office. As she entered CID she saw Jo still sat at her desk working away. Sam went into her office and placed her cup of coffee on the desk before going back to the door.

"DC Masters," she said, "Can I see you in my office please?"

Jo didn't hear Sam talking to her as she was that enthralled in what she was doing. Phil nudged her.

"Oi, watch it," she said, rubbing her shoulder a little.

"DC Masters," Sam repeated, "My office now."

"Don't say I didn't warn ya," Phil said to Jo as she walked past him.

As Jo walked into Sam's office, she closed the door and stood before her. Sam closed the blinds so no-one could watch their exchange then sat down at her desk.

"You can sit down you know Jo," Sam said and watched Jo sit down before continuing, "Why did you come into work?"

"Couldn't sleep," Jo replied, "Had pain in my shoulder most of the night."

"Which is precisely why you shouldn't be in today," Sam said, "No-one expects you to be here today or even here for the next few weeks."

"I just needed something to take my mind off the pain," Jo replied.

Sam stood and moved around to the front of her desk, kneeling next to Jo.

"I know it must be hard for you in a house on your own and in pain," Sam said, placing her hand on Jo's knee "But you could have stayed at mine, I wouldn't have minded, I liked spending time with you."

"I know and I enjoyed being there with you," Jo replied, "But I had something I had to attend to."

"That's okay," Sam responded, "And I respect that there are some things you don't want to discuss with me, I'm hoping to change that in the future though."

"You're not mad at me for leaving without an explanation?" Jo asked.

"How could I be mad with you Jo? You made me happy last night, something I haven't been for a long time," Sam replied before kissing the brunette softly and lovingly as Jo began to respond slowly. A moment later Sam pulled away slowly and smiled at Jo, who smiled back.

"Now we both know you shouldn't be here," Sam said.

"Sam, please don't," Jo replied, "Just let me stay a few more hours then I promise I'll go home."

"Okay," Sam said in defeat, kissing Jo's cheek, "Now go before I change my mind."

Jo smiled and stood with Sam, kissing her forehead then left Sam's office returning to her desk and continuing with her paperwork.


An hour or so passed and Jo was now asleep, her head resting again the desk she was sat at, on top of the paperwork she was working on. Phil rose from his desk and knocked on Sam's office door.

"Come in," Sam said, looking up from her computer as the door opened, "Ah, Phil, what can I do for you?"

"It's Jo, I think you'd better see for yourself," Phil replied, and moved aside from the door as Sam stood and walked out into the main area of CID. She saw Jo sleeping at desk and held back a smile.

Making her way over to Jo's desk, she gently shook her until she awoke from her slumber. Sam knelt beside Jo, waiting for Jo to wake properly.

"You should go home," Sam whispered as she watched Phil leave CID meaning the two of them were now alone.

"But Sam…" Jo began.

"Come on Jo, you're obviously tired, I'll drive you home," Sam said, "And I'll let you take some paperwork with you incase you get bored."

"Okay," Jo replied, too tired to complain.

"Good, get your coat and I'll meet you out the front in 10 minutes," Sam said, getting up and going back into her office.

Jo grabbed some paperwork and put her coat on as best she could then made her way down to Sam's car to wait for her.


Sam walked out of the station 10 minutes later, smiling at Jo as she unlocked the car. Both women got into the car and Sam proceeded to drive Jo home. After a few minutes of silence, Sam looked over at Jo to check she was okay and smiled when she saw Jo sleeping peacefully beside her. About 5 minutes later, Sam was outside Jo's house. She unbuckled her seat belt and leant over to kiss Jo gently. Jo woke slowly and smiled at Sam, giving her a few quick kisses before undoing her seat belt and getting out of the car. Jo invited Sam inside and put her paperwork down on the coffee table in her living room.

"Do you want a coffee or something?" Jo asked.

"No, I'm okay," Sam replied, pulling Jo into a gentle embrace, looking up at her, "And as much as I would love to stay, I have to get back to the office."

"It's okay," Jo smiled, "I understand. Besides, I've got my paperwork to keep me company."

"You are not touching your paperwork until you have had a proper sleep Ms Masters," Sam smirked.

"Oh is that so?" Jo smiled, kissing Sam softly.

As the two of them broke apart, Jo led Sam towards the door.

"I'll pop round after work and make sure you're okay," Sam said, kissing Jo's cheek softly.

"I'll see you then," Jo smiled, watching Sam drive away before going back inside her house. It was time for Jo's medication so she poured a glass of water in the kitchen and took her tablets before returning to the living room and curling up on the couch, covering herself in a blanket falling asleep slowly.


Back at the office, Sam was finding it hard to concentrate on anything, too worried about Jo to be bothered with anything at work. She walked out of her office to get some water from over by the window in CID. Sam was daydreaming as she stared out of the window and jumped as the phone on Jo's desk rang. She walked over to Jo's desk and picked up the phone.

"DI Nixon," she said into the phone.

"Oh hello, I was looking for Jo Masters," the voice on the other end of the phone replied.

"I'm sorry, she's on leave for a few weeks, can I help at all?" Sam asked.

"Jo told me she was coming into work for a few hours today, I thought she was still there," the younger woman's voice said.

"She's gone home now. I can take a message if you like?" Sam suggested, slightly confused.

"Can you tell her to call Heidi?" she asked, "It's important."

"Okay will do," Sam replied.

"Thank you," Heidi said before hanging up.

Sam wandered into her office and dialled Jo's number, but got no answer. It was nearly the end of her shift by now so she decided to finish up and head round to Jo's house.


Sam arrived at Jo's shortly before 6pm. She knocked on the door a few times and waited for a response. The door opened a minute later, a groggy looking Jo appearing at the door.

"Sorry, did I wake you?" Sam asked.

"It's okay," Jo replied, stepping aside, "Come in."

Sam smiled and walked inside into the living room, sitting herself down on the couch next to Jo.

"How was work?" Jo asked.

"I have no idea, I was distracted most of the day worrying about you," Sam replied honestly.

"Aww Sam," Jo said, pulling Sam close to her.

"I did have a bizarre phone call though," Sam replied.

"Oh?" Jo asked.

"Yeah, someone called Heidi phoned for you, said for you to call her as soon as you could because its important?" Sam answered with a confused tone in her voice.

"Oh damn, I forgot to call her earlier," Jo replied, "Do you mind if I do it now?"

"No of course not," Sam smiled, "I'll put the kettle on, give you some privacy."

"Thanks," Jo smiled as watched Sam leave the room, then dialled Heidi's number from her mobile, "Hi it's Jo. I had an accident at work yesterday, I got shot in the shoulder."

"Oh Jo, are you okay?" Heidi asked, sounding concerned.

"Yeah, just a bit sore," Jo replied.

"Look, don't worry, we both know what I was calling about, but I can hold off until tomorrow if you like? Let you get some rest?" Heidi suggested.

"Thank you," Jo replied, "I'll see you at the usual time tomorrow then?"

"Yeah, bye Jo. Hope you're feeling better in the morning" Heidi said, before hanging up.

"Sorted?" Sam asked as she walked back through with some drinks for them both.

"Yes, everything's sorted," Jo smiled, "Now come here."

Sam placed the drinks down on the coffee table and moved over to Jo, who pulled Sam onto her knee and began kissing her passionately before pulling away, then proceeded to kiss and nip at Sam's neck lightly. As Sam let out a soft moan, she felt Jo smile against her neck, beginning to suck softly.

"Jo, are you sure?" Sam asked, slightly breathlessly, "I mean, your arm, I don't want to…"

Sam was cut off by Jo kissing her again with more passion than before. "Yes, I'm sure," Jo replied, a slight smirk appearing on her face, "I might be a little incapacitated, but there are some things I am perfectly able to do."

"Oh really? Like what?" Sam smiled.

"Well Ms Nixon, that all depends on how much you are prepared to trust me," Jo replied.

"That all depends what you have in mind," Sam smirked, feeling butterflies in her stomach.

"A simple yes or no will do Ms Nixon," Jo smirked as she nipped Sam's neck again.

"Yes," Sam moaned softly.

"Very well then," Jo smirked beginning to unbutton Sam's shirt, kissing along her chest, preparing themselves for a very memorable night ahead…