Fic: 5 Times Chris Saved the Day..., white cortina, dakfinv
Title: Five Times Chris Saved the Day, and the One Time They Noticed
Author: dak
Word Count: 1555
Rating: white cortina
A/N: For
gosh_a_monster
1.
“Where the bloody hell is that file?”
DI Tyler was beginning to panic. He had to testify in court that afternoon, and without that file, he couldn’t review the case. Tommy Higgins had been in and out of jail so many times, the Guv said the bastard probably thought of it as his summer holiday home. Now, though, now they had enough evidence to lock him up for life.
But, a piece of that evidence would be DI Tyler’s own testimony. If he couldn’t find the file, and if he couldn’t review his own notes on the case, Higgins’ bulldog of a solicitor would tear the Boss to shreds. Well, his testimony anyhow. Chris was pretty certain Sam would be able to hold his own in a fight with the short, chubby man. Tyler was searching everywhere - in desks, under tables, even the locker room. Soon he would have to leave for the courthouse. It was beginning to look hopeless.
Then, Chris remembered Ray had been complaining his desk had been all wobbly-like. He’d grabbed a stack of papers to shove under the back, left leg. While DI Tyler was searching the bogs, Chris knelt down and yanked the folders out from under Ray’s desk. Sure enough, there was the Higgins file. Just as he rose, the Guv strode over, and noticed the object in Skelton’s hands. He took it from Chris without a word, just as Tyler trotted nervously back into the office.
“There you are, Gladys,” he chucked the file at Sam. “Told you it was here all along, didn’t I?”
Sam sighed, mumbled something about incompetence, and ran to meet the prosecutor at the courthouse. The Guv strode back to his office and slammed the door shut. Ray complained that his desk was wobbling again.
2.
With so much paper and cigarettes about, it was bound to happen eventually. A flicker of embers leapt from the fag dangling from a sleeping Geoff’s lip, and landed on his weekly reports. The tiny bit of heat took hold and soon smoke was rising steadily from the pile of papers. Geoff snored. A small flame rose from the stack. The crackle of fire became louder. Geoff snored.
Chris loped into the near empty room, reading his latest issue of Spider-man. His nose was quite adjusted to smoke, but as he sniffed the air, he realized something was off. Reluctantly raising his eyes from Mary Jane, he spotted the small fire forming on Geoff’s desk. With the amount of paper and alcohol in the office, the whole place could go up in seconds. Chris ran over and, without thinking, began smothering the fire with his comic book. Luckily, he extinguished it quickly, but not before the damage was done.
The station might be saved, but Mary Jane was ruined. Chris sighed and walked back to the canteen. Geoff snored.
3.
The crims were escaping round the back. The Guv and Boss spotted the movement and were after them in an instant, leaving Ray and Chris behind. Ray half-heartedly took off in their direction, not wanting to run in the summer’s heat. Chris already knew he’d never catch up, so he wandered to the front of the building and lit a ciggie. It was so bloody hot today, how could anyone want to commit a crime?
He slowly loosened his tie and imagined he had a nice, soothing pint in his hand. How long was it before beer o’clock? He raised his arm to check his watch, and elbowed the third suspect in the face. Chris looked down to see the man writhing on the ground, blood spurting from a now-broken nose.
The Guv and Boss jogged back to the building, clearly out of breath and annoyed at each other over something. They were arguing in typical fashion - ignoring everyone and everything around them - when DCI Hunt spotted the man lying crumpled on the ground. He screamed something about at least not all of them getting away and ordered a still panting Ray to throw him in the back of the car.
The rest of the team silently piled into the stifling Cortina. Chris rubbed his aching elbow.
4.
The pub was closed.
The. Pub. Was. Closed.
It was an unimaginable nightmare. They could go to another pub, but they were already here, and this was their pub. They shouldn’t have to go anywhere else. The Guv pounded on the door, shouting Nelson’s name. The Boss stood by and smirked. Ray looked to be suffering from a heart attack.
Chris shuffled around the building and went in the open back entrance. He found Nelson crouched underneath the bar, finishing the installation of the new pumps. Noticing Chris, he sighed and explained how he’d meant to finish this earlier. Unfortunately, he had been missing one of the parts and was delayed in finding it. Chris offered to help and within ten minutes they were finished.
Nelson gave him permission to unbolt the doors, and Chris scarcely had the locks slid back when the doors burst open. He was shoved to the side, barely avoiding being flattened by the heavy doors, as the never-ending line of men streamed inside.
It took Chris nearly a half-hour to finally get served. (At least it was on the house.)
5.
He couldn’t believe he was running late. He hadn’t been late a single day since the Boss arrived. Well, not after that first time, when DI Tyler lectured him for forty-five minutes on the obligations of policing, or summat. Chris hadn’t really paid attention to the whole thing. If only his dad would help pay for his own car. Then, Chris wouldn’t have to worry about making the bus when Ray was too hung over to pick him up.
When the bus started to slow long before the next stop, Chris leaned over to see the driver clutching his left arm. It was the same thing his grandad did when he had his heart attack. Chris ran to the front of the bus and, with the help of another passenger, stopped the bus and laid the driver on the floor. He told the other passenger to call for an ambulance. Luckily, there was a phone box right outside.
After the ambulance arrived and took the driver away, Chris had to run all the way to the station. He was over an hour late now. DI Tyler only lectured him for a half-hour this time.
And the one time they noticed...
He’d spotted him lying on the pavement on his way back from the chippy. The poor thing was still alive, but injured by the looks of it. He emptied the box he’d been given to carry all the food back to the station, and placed the weak thing inside.
Annie was the first to notice when he arrived.
“Oh, Chris. Where did you find it? The poor thing,” she cooed. She immediately called the nearest veterinarian. “I bet he’d be gone by now if you hadn’t found him,” she sighed and kissed Chris on the cheek.
Ray spotted him as soon as exited the lift.
“Oi! Div-head. You have me...” Ray trailed off as he stared inside the box. “That ain’t what I ordered.”
The poor thing mewled pitifully and Ray was startled to see all the WPC’s on the floor rush over and warble over the poor creature, grabbing Chris’ arm and thanking him for being such a generous man to save the sweet, little thing. When they finally departed, Ray had somehow earned himself a date with WPC Roth.
“Why haven’t we tried that before? Cheers, Chris!” Ray grinned.
The Guv walked over as soon as Chris set foot in CID.
“Took you long enough,” he grumbled as he came over to claim his food. He stared at the contents of the box. “DC Skelton. Typically I prefer me chips with salt and a bit of vinegar. Not fur. Or meat, ‘less it’s fish.”
Chris stuttered, unsure as to how he should explain this to his Guv, when DI Tyler rushed over.
“Chris! Annie said...IVANHOE!” he shouted when he saw the cat. “What happened? Where did you find him? Is he alright?” DI Tyler stroked the tabby’s fur and the cat immediately began to purr. The Guv sighed, muttering something about appeasing nutters, and walked away. “It’s alright. You’ll be okay,” he whispered to the cat, cooing more than the women.
Chris explained that Annie had already called a vet, and that the cat would be taken care of.
“It...it was you,” DI Tyler’s eyes glazed over the way they sometimes did. Chris backed away slightly. “He’d been missing for days. Ran off after we moved. Thought he was a goner. Then the police...they...” Sam coughed and quickly composed himself. “I, er...the cat belongs to Ruth Tyler. I believe she’s staying with her sister, Heather, at the moment. The number should be on file,” Sam nodded nervously and began to walk away, then turned back at the last second.
“Thank you, Chris. Really. That cat means a lot to...someone. Thank you,” DI Tyler smiled, then disappeared inside the Guv’s office.
Chris didn’t know why there was so much fuss over a cat. He was just glad no one was mad that he’d returned without their food.