Fic: Tenpenny Opera (8/10) by Walkerbaby Green Cortina
Title - Tenpenny Opera (8/10)
Rating - Green Cortina (language, some violence)
Disclaimer - the Gene Genie cuddle toy will also say "You've been a very naughty girl. I think it's time for a trip to the cells. And I'll be bringing me handcuffs." Until then it's still Kudos and BBC's.
Warning - Violence of a more domestic sort than usual. Angst.
October 16, 1979 2:30 am
Sam shrugged into his shirt as he opened the door to his flat. God it was late. What time was it? Two? Three? Who was at his door besides the Guv at this time of night? He knew it wasn’t Gene, the knock had been too soft for Gene. Besides, the man had a key - he’d have just let himself in.
"Yeah?" Sam muttered as he pulled open the door. Her hair was down over her face and he could see the suitcase sitting next to her primly in the hall. "Gladys?"
"Can I stay here tonight?" She asked softly.
"Here?" He repeated. He hadn’t seen her since the day after the funeral. Had tried to stay away while she worked things out with Gene. Hadn’t wanted to be part of the impending explosion that was their marriage as Gene avoided going home every night, opting for the pub instead. Had wanted to stay far away from it because he knew there was nothing he could do to help and was a walking match around a pile a gunpowder if he were there too often.
"Sorry," he saw her grimace even though she didn’t look up. "This was the first place I thought of and it’s a bit far to walk to a hotel."
"You walked here?" Sam repeated. "At this time of night?"
"This was a bad idea," Gladys said as she reached for the suitcase. "Sorry. I should go."
The hair shifted and in the dim hallway light he could see why she kept her head down. Reaching out he took her chin. Pressed up on it so that she was looking him square in the face. The eye had already swollen and he knew it would be black by morning. "What happened?"
"Nothing," she replied.
"Gladys," Sam tugged her inside and shut the door firmly. Buttoned his shirt the rest of the way and started back toward the bedroom for his boots. "Out with it."
"We had a difference of opinion," she said from the sofa.
"Go on," Sam replied as he returned to the living room with his boots in his hand and sat on the recliner to put them on.
"It’s nothing," Gladys repeated. "I just needed a place to stay for the night. I’ll go to a hotel in the morning. It’s just for a week or so."
"Gladys," Sam sighed. "Tell me exactly what happened."
"Sam," she looked at him.
"Now." Sam said firmly.
"He came home drunk from the pub," Gladys shrugged. "Again. And we had a difference of opinion."
"About?" Sam sighed and leaned back in the recliner.
"He accused me of running around on him." Sam sat up and put his elbows on his knees. "Having an affair."
"And are you?" Sam asked remembering the day of Genie’s funeral.
"That’s what the difference of opinion was about," Gladys shrugged.
"He’s just upset Gladys," Sam sighed. "Irrational right now. Not an excuse for what he did. I’ll go round to the house and give him a good sorting out for you and he’ll come round tomorrow and apologize. If he were in his right mind he’d never accuse you of having an affair."
"I am having an affair," Gladys said simply. "Our disagreement wasn’t whether or not I was having an affair. It was what the two of us were going to do about it. Gene’s solution involved me telling him exactly who it was so he could go kick six types of shit out of them and that being the end of it."
"And your solution?" Sam asked warily.
"Told him I was leaving. Filing for divorce tomorrow with the family lawyer. Promised I’d keep it civil," she screwed up her face. "Not like Dorothy. Won’t fight him like she did. Don’t want nothing but free of him. He can keep it all. Just walk out with the clothes on my back. Even leave what little jewelry he’d bought me."
"You’re leaving him?" Sam asked blankly. "For someone else?"
"That’s where the difference of opinion came in," Gladys shrugged. "Told him I was leaving, and he was drunk and angry," she trailed off.
"No excuse," Sam said bitterly.
"Enough of one," Gladys replied.
"Who?"
"DCI Carter."
"The DCI who took over for Litton when they bounced him out a few years ago?"
"The one whose job Gene wanted you to have, yes." Gladys nodded.
"I’ll tell you the same thing I told Gene, I didn’t want to take over the mess that was RCS. It was better to wait for them to split CID into two units like I knew they were going to and then take that position instead." Sam answered with a frustrated shake of his head. They’d all been through this before. "How did this happen Gladys?"
"Came by to pay his respects and Gene wasn’t there," Gladys said softly. "He’s getting me a place as soon as Gene’s served with the papers. We’re going looking for a flat this weekend. Should have somewhere to go next week."
"Pay his respects?" Sam repeated. "Paying his respects became getting you a flat as soon as Gene’s served? "
"He wants to get married after a decent amount of time," she added. "Thought he’d apply for a transfer so we were somewhere but Manchester. Wanted to be decent about it for Gene’s sake."
"Decent about it?" Sam laughed bitterly. "How is there anything decent about this?"
"Sam," she glared at him.
"Sorry Gladys but no," Sam shook his head. "There’s no way to explain this to me that makes any sense. There’s no decent about this."
"It just happened."
"Just happened?" Sam repeated.
"God Gene’s rubbed off on you," she sighed. "That’s exactly what he said."
"There’s a reason for that," Sam shouted angrily. "Man doesn’t go to pay his respects and end up slipping it to a brother police officer’s wife! There’s no respect in that! Do you realize if they weren’t the same rank Carter would be out on his arse for this? Still could be if Gene pushed it?"
"He says he doesn’t care," Gladys said staunchly.
"Of course not!" Sam roared. "He’s too stupid to think with anything but his dick! He’s got a cheap piece of pussy on tap and Gene’s too heartbroken and has too much pride to admit he’s lost his wife to another DCI and file the complaint."
"Don’t you dare talk to me that way Sam Tyler!" Gladys screamed back.
"Why not?" He snarled. "It’s the truth!"
"You’re just jealous!" She shrieked.
"No!" Sam argued. "I’m just a decent enough man not to fuck my best friend’s wife! No matter how intent she is on spreading it around to all and sundry who comes knocking at the door!"
The slap stung but he was too enraged to notice it as more than a nuisance. Before he was certain exactly what had happened Sam Tyler found himself in a position he never thought he would. Feet planted firmly on the floor, sitting on the sofa with a grown woman sprawled face down across his knees while he took his belt to her arse like a small child. When his arm was tired and she was sitting on the floor staring at him angrily he let out a sigh. "Guest bedroom now," he ordered. "You’ll stay there while I go over and talk with Gene. Then I’ll bring him back here and the two of you will work this thing out. You might want to call DCI Carter while I’m gone Gladys. Tell him to get out of Manchester. Because as soon as this is settled between you and Gene, I intend to have a discussion with him about the do’s and don’ts of paying a condolence call. Understood?"
"I’m not a child Sam Tyler," she spat angrily.
"Well you’re certainly acting like one," he replied as he rubbed his hand across his eyes. "So if you’re going to act like one Gladys then I’m going to treat you like one. Now go to your room and stay there until tomorrow morning or I decide I can deal with you and say otherwise."
When she didn’t argue Sam let out a deep breathe. This wasn’t how things were supposed to happen. He knew that losing a child put a strain on a marriage. He knew Gene was doing everything wrong if he wanted to keep Gladys. Knew that the two of them were on a slippery slope and falling fast. They could pull out of it though, Sam decided. They could make things work. It was obvious from what Gladys had said that Gene wanted them too. Had gone about it entirely wrong as usual, Sam thought, but at least he’d attempted something. He just had to make Gladys see that. See that Gene still loved her. Still needed her. That she still needed the Gene Genie. He scrubbed his fingers through his hair in frustration as he poured himself a drink. She could see how much Sam still needed both of them, he admitted finally. How much he needed the family that they had made together and he was a part of. How lost he’d be without it. Without them.
Rating - Green Cortina (language, some violence)
Disclaimer - the Gene Genie cuddle toy will also say "You've been a very naughty girl. I think it's time for a trip to the cells. And I'll be bringing me handcuffs." Until then it's still Kudos and BBC's.
Warning - Violence of a more domestic sort than usual. Angst.
October 16, 1979 2:30 am
Sam shrugged into his shirt as he opened the door to his flat. God it was late. What time was it? Two? Three? Who was at his door besides the Guv at this time of night? He knew it wasn’t Gene, the knock had been too soft for Gene. Besides, the man had a key - he’d have just let himself in.
"Yeah?" Sam muttered as he pulled open the door. Her hair was down over her face and he could see the suitcase sitting next to her primly in the hall. "Gladys?"
"Can I stay here tonight?" She asked softly.
"Here?" He repeated. He hadn’t seen her since the day after the funeral. Had tried to stay away while she worked things out with Gene. Hadn’t wanted to be part of the impending explosion that was their marriage as Gene avoided going home every night, opting for the pub instead. Had wanted to stay far away from it because he knew there was nothing he could do to help and was a walking match around a pile a gunpowder if he were there too often.
"Sorry," he saw her grimace even though she didn’t look up. "This was the first place I thought of and it’s a bit far to walk to a hotel."
"You walked here?" Sam repeated. "At this time of night?"
"This was a bad idea," Gladys said as she reached for the suitcase. "Sorry. I should go."
The hair shifted and in the dim hallway light he could see why she kept her head down. Reaching out he took her chin. Pressed up on it so that she was looking him square in the face. The eye had already swollen and he knew it would be black by morning. "What happened?"
"Nothing," she replied.
"Gladys," Sam tugged her inside and shut the door firmly. Buttoned his shirt the rest of the way and started back toward the bedroom for his boots. "Out with it."
"We had a difference of opinion," she said from the sofa.
"Go on," Sam replied as he returned to the living room with his boots in his hand and sat on the recliner to put them on.
"It’s nothing," Gladys repeated. "I just needed a place to stay for the night. I’ll go to a hotel in the morning. It’s just for a week or so."
"Gladys," Sam sighed. "Tell me exactly what happened."
"Sam," she looked at him.
"Now." Sam said firmly.
"He came home drunk from the pub," Gladys shrugged. "Again. And we had a difference of opinion."
"About?" Sam sighed and leaned back in the recliner.
"He accused me of running around on him." Sam sat up and put his elbows on his knees. "Having an affair."
"And are you?" Sam asked remembering the day of Genie’s funeral.
"That’s what the difference of opinion was about," Gladys shrugged.
"He’s just upset Gladys," Sam sighed. "Irrational right now. Not an excuse for what he did. I’ll go round to the house and give him a good sorting out for you and he’ll come round tomorrow and apologize. If he were in his right mind he’d never accuse you of having an affair."
"I am having an affair," Gladys said simply. "Our disagreement wasn’t whether or not I was having an affair. It was what the two of us were going to do about it. Gene’s solution involved me telling him exactly who it was so he could go kick six types of shit out of them and that being the end of it."
"And your solution?" Sam asked warily.
"Told him I was leaving. Filing for divorce tomorrow with the family lawyer. Promised I’d keep it civil," she screwed up her face. "Not like Dorothy. Won’t fight him like she did. Don’t want nothing but free of him. He can keep it all. Just walk out with the clothes on my back. Even leave what little jewelry he’d bought me."
"You’re leaving him?" Sam asked blankly. "For someone else?"
"That’s where the difference of opinion came in," Gladys shrugged. "Told him I was leaving, and he was drunk and angry," she trailed off.
"No excuse," Sam said bitterly.
"Enough of one," Gladys replied.
"Who?"
"DCI Carter."
"The DCI who took over for Litton when they bounced him out a few years ago?"
"The one whose job Gene wanted you to have, yes." Gladys nodded.
"I’ll tell you the same thing I told Gene, I didn’t want to take over the mess that was RCS. It was better to wait for them to split CID into two units like I knew they were going to and then take that position instead." Sam answered with a frustrated shake of his head. They’d all been through this before. "How did this happen Gladys?"
"Came by to pay his respects and Gene wasn’t there," Gladys said softly. "He’s getting me a place as soon as Gene’s served with the papers. We’re going looking for a flat this weekend. Should have somewhere to go next week."
"Pay his respects?" Sam repeated. "Paying his respects became getting you a flat as soon as Gene’s served? "
"He wants to get married after a decent amount of time," she added. "Thought he’d apply for a transfer so we were somewhere but Manchester. Wanted to be decent about it for Gene’s sake."
"Decent about it?" Sam laughed bitterly. "How is there anything decent about this?"
"Sam," she glared at him.
"Sorry Gladys but no," Sam shook his head. "There’s no way to explain this to me that makes any sense. There’s no decent about this."
"It just happened."
"Just happened?" Sam repeated.
"God Gene’s rubbed off on you," she sighed. "That’s exactly what he said."
"There’s a reason for that," Sam shouted angrily. "Man doesn’t go to pay his respects and end up slipping it to a brother police officer’s wife! There’s no respect in that! Do you realize if they weren’t the same rank Carter would be out on his arse for this? Still could be if Gene pushed it?"
"He says he doesn’t care," Gladys said staunchly.
"Of course not!" Sam roared. "He’s too stupid to think with anything but his dick! He’s got a cheap piece of pussy on tap and Gene’s too heartbroken and has too much pride to admit he’s lost his wife to another DCI and file the complaint."
"Don’t you dare talk to me that way Sam Tyler!" Gladys screamed back.
"Why not?" He snarled. "It’s the truth!"
"You’re just jealous!" She shrieked.
"No!" Sam argued. "I’m just a decent enough man not to fuck my best friend’s wife! No matter how intent she is on spreading it around to all and sundry who comes knocking at the door!"
The slap stung but he was too enraged to notice it as more than a nuisance. Before he was certain exactly what had happened Sam Tyler found himself in a position he never thought he would. Feet planted firmly on the floor, sitting on the sofa with a grown woman sprawled face down across his knees while he took his belt to her arse like a small child. When his arm was tired and she was sitting on the floor staring at him angrily he let out a sigh. "Guest bedroom now," he ordered. "You’ll stay there while I go over and talk with Gene. Then I’ll bring him back here and the two of you will work this thing out. You might want to call DCI Carter while I’m gone Gladys. Tell him to get out of Manchester. Because as soon as this is settled between you and Gene, I intend to have a discussion with him about the do’s and don’ts of paying a condolence call. Understood?"
"I’m not a child Sam Tyler," she spat angrily.
"Well you’re certainly acting like one," he replied as he rubbed his hand across his eyes. "So if you’re going to act like one Gladys then I’m going to treat you like one. Now go to your room and stay there until tomorrow morning or I decide I can deal with you and say otherwise."
When she didn’t argue Sam let out a deep breathe. This wasn’t how things were supposed to happen. He knew that losing a child put a strain on a marriage. He knew Gene was doing everything wrong if he wanted to keep Gladys. Knew that the two of them were on a slippery slope and falling fast. They could pull out of it though, Sam decided. They could make things work. It was obvious from what Gladys had said that Gene wanted them too. Had gone about it entirely wrong as usual, Sam thought, but at least he’d attempted something. He just had to make Gladys see that. See that Gene still loved her. Still needed her. That she still needed the Gene Genie. He scrubbed his fingers through his hair in frustration as he poured himself a drink. She could see how much Sam still needed both of them, he admitted finally. How much he needed the family that they had made together and he was a part of. How lost he’d be without it. Without them.