All Summer Long
Summary: After an explosion at the police station, the officers of Sun Hill are granted an all expenses paid holiday while the station is renovated. Frothy, summery fic. Not to be taken too seriously. Heavy on the fluff, light on the angst. Rated T but I may do an M rated version for any smutaholics out there!
Pairings: Sam/Phil/Nate, Kerry/Smithy, Honey/Dan, Andrea/Neil, Diane/Nikki, Jo/Millie, Diane/Stuart, Zain/OC. Maybe others.
As it's finally summer again, I thought I'd redo and improve this fic. This chapter isn't much different but things along the way will change. Reviews and suggestions are appreciated! :)
Thanks so much to everyone who read and reviewed the first time around! I owe ya!
Chapter One: The Holiday
The atmosphere at Sun Hill Police Station was tense to say the least. Three weeks ago a bomb had been detonated there, killing several officers and leaving many more injured. Everyone was on edge and all of the staff were feeling vulnerable. Three weeks on and the officers were slowly healing, most of the cuts and bruises had faded but the station didn't look much better off than it had the day of the explosion. Part of the reception area had been completely demolished by the blast and the rest of the building had been effected by smoke damage. Parts of the station weren't safe to work in and had been roped off. The station would have to be closed completely in order for the work to be done, and Barton Street would taking on some of their patrols. It had taken Heaton those three weeks to attain the grant for the restoration. The extent of the damage meant that the station could be closed for at least another three weeks.
Heaton called a meeting later that afternoon, inviting DCI Jack Meadows, DI Neil Manson and Inspector Gina Gold to his office to discuss the situation.
"You know," He said slowly, looking at each of them in turn after he had explain the situation to them. "This could be a perfect opportunity for a teambuilding exercise. Things have been a little fraught here recently, to say the least." He looked at Gina especially as he spoke. Things between the uniformed officers had been even more volatile than usual and everyone could use a break.
"What are you thinking of?" Gina asked, the first to speak and the most open to the idea. If it meant getting the relief out of her hair then she was up for anything.
Heaton looked thoughtful for a moment. "How about sending them away somewhere? Somewhere far from here where they can forget about everything that's happened recently."
Gina nodded her agreement, Heaton definitely had a good idea here and once it was thought out it could definitely work.
Heaton was pleased to find that someone was on board especially as it was Gina. He thought she would be the hardest to convince but if she was involved, Jack and Neil were bound to cave. He looked expectantly and his male colleagues, trying to read their expressions.
"Would we have to go along too?" Jack asked, looking rather sceptical.
"Not necessarily," Heaton replied. "I'd like some senior staff to go," He was getting into the swing of this now and the idea became more appealing by the moment. "But if anyone doesn't want to go, they don't have to." He noticed that Jack looked relieved by this.
"I suppose I could go," Neil tried to sound less enthusiastic than he felt. A week away from his overbearing wife was just what he needed but he didn't want anyone else to know that, except Andrea of course.
Heaton smiled triumphantly. "I'll see if I can find some cheap last minute deals and the two of you" He pointed to Gina and Neil. "Can tell your officers to see who's interested."
With that the meeting came to a close and the three senior officers left the Superintendent's office.
Sam Nixon walked back from the water cooler with a look of curiosity on her face. She sat down at her desk and took a sip of icy cold water before turning to share her find with Phil. The explosion had taken out the air conditioning system, leaving the office stuffy and humid on this warm May afternoon.
"I just saw Gina, Manson and Meadows leave the Super's office." She said, leaning forward and whispering conspiratorially to Phil.
"Sounds like someone's in trouble." Phil said once Sam was finished, an amused gleam in his dark blue eyes.
"What have you done this time, Phil?" Sam asked, playfully teasing him.
"Me?" Phil asked, his face the picture of innocence, making Sam chuckle. He reached over and took a sip of water from her glass. "Oh, that's good." He said, handing it back to her. "Next time someone decides to blow up the nick I hope they miss the air conditioning unit."
"The renovation is scheduled for sometime in the next fortnight, so maybe..." She trailed off, knowing she was being far too optimistic.
"It'll be fixed by winter." Phil finished for her, sarcastically.
"I do love your positive thinking." She replied before draining her glass and picking up the next folder from the stack beside her desk.
Heaton and Gold briefed uniform before the end of their shift, while Manson and Meadows told the CID detectives about Heaton's plan. Many of the officers thought it was a great idea, others were glad of the opportunity of a free holiday and some weren't interested at all. The next morning the officers who had showed an interested were briefed again. By this time Heaton had found an affordable all expenses paid holiday in Majorca and needed to know numbers for definite.
Most of the relief were in the briefing room when Heaton and Gold arrived, only Reg, Roger and Tony having decided they'd rather spend the free time at home or with their families.
"We leave at six next Saturday morning." Heaton explained to the relief, while Manson and Meadows told the detectives upstairs the same information. "You'll finish your shifts at five pm on Friday and you'll return three weeks on Monday." He looked around the room. "If you have any questions or concerns please ask Inspector Gold, and I hope you all have a lovely break."
There was a mixed buzz of 'thank you sirs' and 'yes sirs' as Heaton left the room and Gina had to call them to order.
"Settle down," She said, good humouredly. "You've still got another week left at work."
A smaller amount of the CID detectives had shown an interest in the teambuilding holiday, but still a fair few were crowded in one of the larger interview rooms for the briefing. When they left the room a while later, the thought of hours of paperwork in the sweltering office didn't seem so bad if they had a holiday to look forward to.
Their last week at work passed slowly after a weekend of last minute shopping and making arrangements. Everyone visibly breathed a sigh of relief when their shifts came to an end at 5PM on the Friday. The station was formally closed for the next two weeks and everything was left ready for the builders to begin working their magic on Monday morning. Reg, Roger, Jack and Heaton and a few others who had declined the free break wished the holidaymakers a good time but were still relieved that they were not the ones who were going. A trip like this could be a complete success or a total disaster, especially with so many people going.
hope you liked it! More soon! Xx
