Fic: Steady As She Goes (53/86), blue cortina, dakfinv
Title: Steady As She Goes (53/86)
Author: dak
Word Count: 781 this part; [97,685 overall]
Summary for Whole: After an accidental shooting at the station, Gene struggles to keep his team from tearing themselves apart while his and Sam's friendship is pushed to the limits.
Summary this Part: Gene brings Sam home.
Rating: still Blue-ish Cortina, uhm, what's slightly darker than blue?
Warnings: angst, swearing, violence, violent imagery, minor drug use, mild sexual situations, self-harm for whole
Spoilers: none here; see each chapter for specific spoiler warnings
Pairing: mild Sam/Annie, Sam/Maya, Gene/missus
Disclaimer: Belongs to BBC/Kudos
A/N: Okay, a very, very short chapter on my part but I'm going away for the weekend and wanted to post once more before I run off. Please enjoy!
Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11 Part 12 Part 13 Part 14 Part 15 Part 16 Part 17 Part 18 Part 19 Part 20 Part 21 Part 22 Part 23 Part 24 Part 25 Part 26 Part 27 Part 28 Part 29 Part 30 Part 31 Part 32 Part 33 Part 34 Part 35 Part 36 Part 37 Part 38 Part 39 Part 40 Part 41 Part 42 Part 43 Part 44 Part 45 Part 46 Part 47 Part 48 Part 49 Part 50 Part 51 Part 52 Part 53 Part 54 Part 55 Part 56 Part 57 Part 58 Part 59 Part 60 Part 61 Part 62 Part 63 Part 64 Part 65 Part 66 Part 67 Part 68 Part 69 Part 70 Part 71 Part 72 Part 73 Part 74 Part 75 Part 76 Part 77 Part 78 Part 79 Part 80 Part 81 Part 82 Part 83 Part 84 Part 85 Part 86
The front door clicked open and shut, finally ending the anxious stillness which had consumed the small home. In the sitting room, she waited in Gene’s chair to see who would be passing through the hall. Over the years the soft leather had completely conformed to her husband’s changing shape and as she sat in it, she allowed it to swallow her up, consuming her with its shape and his smell. Many long nights had she spent curled up in that chair and every one flashed through her memory as the distinct sounds of footsteps grew ever closer. Seeing them pause in the doorway she sprang to her feet, suddenly more confused than concerned.
"Gene. Why is Sam soaking wet?"
It was one of those questions she thought she would never have to ask but the fact that she did should not have surprised her. Gene nudged Sam forward. "What did we discuss?" He said sternly. She noticed he was using the fatherly voice he had always practiced but never needed. Sam shuffled forward on his command and wrapped his thin, damp arms around her waist, enveloping her in a tight hug.
" ‘M sorry," he whispered in her ear and she felt his body shake as he started to cry. Grasping him tighter, she rocked him slowly, running a comforting hand over his head.
"Oh, oh Sam. It’s okay, luv." She looked over Sam’s shoulder at Gene who stood stoically a few steps behind. Something very wrong must have happened.
"Okay, Tyler. You can stop fondling me wife now." Sam immediately dropped his arms and dragged the back of his hand across his sloppy nose before turning and shuffling back to his Guv. Gene placed a hand on his shoulder and forced Sam to make eye contact. "Go up to your room an’ get in some dry clothes. I want you to sleep til I get you for dinner, alright?"
Sam nodded, the picture of obedience, and slowly shuffled up the staircase. As soon as he was out of sight, Mrs. Hunt stepped forward and gave Gene a slap on the arm. "You broke your DI!" She accused in her loudest whisper, throwing up her hands.
"It weren’t me!" Gene denied, rubbing a hand over his arm, pretending the slap hurt.
She slapped him again in right about the same spot. "This is worse than the time you made that poor Skelton boy walk all the way home from the Lancashire Constabulary Dinner Dance!"
"It was good for ‘im."
She hit him again. "It was pouring rain! He nearly caught pneumonia."
"Made it to DC though, din’t he?"
She hit him once more for good measure and stalked off to the kitchen. Gene followed behind, removing his driving gloves and coat in the process. "Look, it weren’t me," he said again, setting his coat and gloves on the table then lighting a fag.
"Tray," she ordered without looking at him and he pulled the glass ashtray across to his side of the table.
"He took something," Gene explained.
"What?" She spun round forgetting she was supposed to be feigning anger.
"Not sure what, he won’t say. By the looks of it, prob’ly more of those pills the quack had ‘im on. Varium."
"Valium," she corrected. "Well how’d he get them? They didn’t send him home from hospital with any, did they?"
"I pulled him out of there meself. Only thing I can figure is that Merrick brought ‘em over this morning."
"That smarmy bastard! I knew I should’ve spit in his tea. What does he think he’s doing, bringing that junk into my home? I should go round his house right now, give ‘im what for." Gene stared at her, raising an eyebrow in interest. "Don’t look at me like that. I’ve been married to you over twenty years. What do you expect?"
"I love you."
"Stop it," she said in mock anger, checking the roast in the oven.
Gene extinguished his ciggie in the tray. "I’m goin’ to make sure he didn’t kill himself gettin’ changed."
"First good idea you’ve had all day. And you both better be decent for dinner at seven."
"Stu and I will be sittin’ here quarter of."
Mrs. Hunt slowly closed the oven door and regarded her husband with great concern. "Sam," she said softly.
"Hm?" Gene asked, halting his exit from the kitchen.
"You and Sam will be sitting here at quarter of."
"That’s what I said," Gene argued, completely unaware of the slip-up as he ducked out of the room and jogged upstairs.
Mrs. Hunt watched him go, nervously wringing her hands on her apron. "I knew it," she sighed to herself.
________
Part 54
Author: dak
Word Count: 781 this part; [97,685 overall]
Summary for Whole: After an accidental shooting at the station, Gene struggles to keep his team from tearing themselves apart while his and Sam's friendship is pushed to the limits.
Summary this Part: Gene brings Sam home.
Rating: still Blue-ish Cortina, uhm, what's slightly darker than blue?
Warnings: angst, swearing, violence, violent imagery, minor drug use, mild sexual situations, self-harm for whole
Spoilers: none here; see each chapter for specific spoiler warnings
Pairing: mild Sam/Annie, Sam/Maya, Gene/missus
Disclaimer: Belongs to BBC/Kudos
A/N: Okay, a very, very short chapter on my part but I'm going away for the weekend and wanted to post once more before I run off. Please enjoy!
Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11 Part 12 Part 13 Part 14 Part 15 Part 16 Part 17 Part 18 Part 19 Part 20 Part 21 Part 22 Part 23 Part 24 Part 25 Part 26 Part 27 Part 28 Part 29 Part 30 Part 31 Part 32 Part 33 Part 34 Part 35 Part 36 Part 37 Part 38 Part 39 Part 40 Part 41 Part 42 Part 43 Part 44 Part 45 Part 46 Part 47 Part 48 Part 49 Part 50 Part 51 Part 52 Part 53 Part 54 Part 55 Part 56 Part 57 Part 58 Part 59 Part 60 Part 61 Part 62 Part 63 Part 64 Part 65 Part 66 Part 67 Part 68 Part 69 Part 70 Part 71 Part 72 Part 73 Part 74 Part 75 Part 76 Part 77 Part 78 Part 79 Part 80 Part 81 Part 82 Part 83 Part 84 Part 85 Part 86
The front door clicked open and shut, finally ending the anxious stillness which had consumed the small home. In the sitting room, she waited in Gene’s chair to see who would be passing through the hall. Over the years the soft leather had completely conformed to her husband’s changing shape and as she sat in it, she allowed it to swallow her up, consuming her with its shape and his smell. Many long nights had she spent curled up in that chair and every one flashed through her memory as the distinct sounds of footsteps grew ever closer. Seeing them pause in the doorway she sprang to her feet, suddenly more confused than concerned.
"Gene. Why is Sam soaking wet?"
It was one of those questions she thought she would never have to ask but the fact that she did should not have surprised her. Gene nudged Sam forward. "What did we discuss?" He said sternly. She noticed he was using the fatherly voice he had always practiced but never needed. Sam shuffled forward on his command and wrapped his thin, damp arms around her waist, enveloping her in a tight hug.
" ‘M sorry," he whispered in her ear and she felt his body shake as he started to cry. Grasping him tighter, she rocked him slowly, running a comforting hand over his head.
"Oh, oh Sam. It’s okay, luv." She looked over Sam’s shoulder at Gene who stood stoically a few steps behind. Something very wrong must have happened.
"Okay, Tyler. You can stop fondling me wife now." Sam immediately dropped his arms and dragged the back of his hand across his sloppy nose before turning and shuffling back to his Guv. Gene placed a hand on his shoulder and forced Sam to make eye contact. "Go up to your room an’ get in some dry clothes. I want you to sleep til I get you for dinner, alright?"
Sam nodded, the picture of obedience, and slowly shuffled up the staircase. As soon as he was out of sight, Mrs. Hunt stepped forward and gave Gene a slap on the arm. "You broke your DI!" She accused in her loudest whisper, throwing up her hands.
"It weren’t me!" Gene denied, rubbing a hand over his arm, pretending the slap hurt.
She slapped him again in right about the same spot. "This is worse than the time you made that poor Skelton boy walk all the way home from the Lancashire Constabulary Dinner Dance!"
"It was good for ‘im."
She hit him again. "It was pouring rain! He nearly caught pneumonia."
"Made it to DC though, din’t he?"
She hit him once more for good measure and stalked off to the kitchen. Gene followed behind, removing his driving gloves and coat in the process. "Look, it weren’t me," he said again, setting his coat and gloves on the table then lighting a fag.
"Tray," she ordered without looking at him and he pulled the glass ashtray across to his side of the table.
"He took something," Gene explained.
"What?" She spun round forgetting she was supposed to be feigning anger.
"Not sure what, he won’t say. By the looks of it, prob’ly more of those pills the quack had ‘im on. Varium."
"Valium," she corrected. "Well how’d he get them? They didn’t send him home from hospital with any, did they?"
"I pulled him out of there meself. Only thing I can figure is that Merrick brought ‘em over this morning."
"That smarmy bastard! I knew I should’ve spit in his tea. What does he think he’s doing, bringing that junk into my home? I should go round his house right now, give ‘im what for." Gene stared at her, raising an eyebrow in interest. "Don’t look at me like that. I’ve been married to you over twenty years. What do you expect?"
"I love you."
"Stop it," she said in mock anger, checking the roast in the oven.
Gene extinguished his ciggie in the tray. "I’m goin’ to make sure he didn’t kill himself gettin’ changed."
"First good idea you’ve had all day. And you both better be decent for dinner at seven."
"Stu and I will be sittin’ here quarter of."
Mrs. Hunt slowly closed the oven door and regarded her husband with great concern. "Sam," she said softly.
"Hm?" Gene asked, halting his exit from the kitchen.
"You and Sam will be sitting here at quarter of."
"That’s what I said," Gene argued, completely unaware of the slip-up as he ducked out of the room and jogged upstairs.
Mrs. Hunt watched him go, nervously wringing her hands on her apron. "I knew it," she sighed to herself.
________
Part 54