Fic: Liar (Three Views of Sam).
For a moment she thinks he’ll tell the truth.
Right after Tony Crane speaks, letting loose the whole story, Sam gives her this look. He looks her straight in the eye, then turns away.
And says “I’m from thirty years in the future.”
As horrible as it is, Annie feels relieved. The whole business with Sam has gone entirely too far. She thought she could help him, but he’s got worse. That business with Vic Tyler, and him pulling a gun on the guv. She nearly stopped it then.
She should have stopped it then. Before the migraines. Before him falling over like that, and nearly being run down in the street. He’s got sicker and sicker, and has unshakeable delusion that it’s all Tony Crane’s fault.
Annie doesn’t know how long he can last like that.
That’s probably why he told Crane’s girl all this, Annie thinks. That’s probably why he’s admitting it now. Because he’s had enough of the pain and the sickness, and is ready to get help. Because he’s hurting, and part of him knows it.
The room’s quiet. Dead quiet. Everyone’s staring. Adding up all of the little moments; everything they noticed and didn’t speak of. Annie can see it in their faces. She’s not the only one who let things slide.
She’s the only one who knew. But it’s over now. Sam will get help. And she won’t be caught between what’s fair to Sam and what he needs.
Tony Crane’s enjoying this far too much. That bothers Annie. She wants to see him locked up. She’s certain, absolutely certain, that she saw him try to run Sam down in the street. He threw that poor counterfeiter off a building, and tried to kill Sam and the guv. He needs to be locked up far more than Sam needs to be put away.
But she’ll deal with that later. Properly. One piece of evidence at a time. The way Sam taught her.
“Is this true?” DCI Hunt asks. Annie can’t read his expression. “Did my DI tell you that?”
Sam turns around.
“Actually,” he says, “he told me.”
-------
After about ten minutes loitering by the doorway, Annie spots Sam walking out the door.
She follows him. She has to say something. Do something. Get him to see a doctor. At least do something about the migraines; once he’s in the doctor’s office, he might be persuaded to get psychiatric help. It’s a weak measure, she knows, but it’s something.
She’s let this go too long, and too far without doing anything at all.
“Sam,” she starts, calm but firm.
He turns around and smiles. “Oh, Annie! Just the woman I wanted to see!” He looks far better, and healthier than he’s been in days.
That’s a good sign, but in a way it’s bad. He’d be more likely to get help if she caught him while he was collapsing over furniture, and answering phones that hadn’t rung.
“Sam,” she tries again. “We need to...”
He cuts her off. “What do you think about joining CID?”
Annie blinks. “What?”
He pulls her aside. “Since Ray’s getting promoted, I’m supposed to find us a new DC, and you’re the best candidate You wouldn’t get any formal promotion yet, just a shift between departments. But I’ll back you for DS as soon as anything opens up.”
“I’d be a WDC, then?” Annie asks. Strange combination of letters. She can’t think of any women in CID; until Sam suggested it, she wasn’t sure it was allowed.
“Right, I don’t like tacking the W on everything, either. Officers are officers. No sense emphasizing the distinction. Tell you what; I’ll ask the guv if it’s strictly necessary. They drop the habit at some point; why not now? But I can’t promise anything. When it comes to gender sensitivity, the main difference between Gene Hunt and a brick wall is that the wall’s less likely to hit you for bringing the subject up.”
“No,” Annie shakes her head. “Don’t bother.” She’s not bothered by the letters WDC. She quite likes the sound of them.
“Well, I’ll see what he says. Make it my idea to drop the W. Keep you out of it. That is, if you’re interested in joining CID.”
Annie’s interested. She’s very interested. But she has to ask. “Is this a bribe?”
“What?” He’s wide-eyed with astonishment. It’s almost enough to convince her to let the question drop.
Almost.
“Is it a bribe? My reward for keeping my mouth shut about Tony Crane? Because if it is, I can’t accept.”
“No, no, no!” He shakes his head violently. “I’d never do that! You’re the best one for the job, honestly. The best choice by far, from what I can see. You’re sharp, you’re thorough, you have a knack for detective work, and unlike everyone else here, you have at least some interest in following procedure.”
“Look.” He holds up his hands. “I have some idea of how it is for women officers in this day and age. Most of the men on the force wouldn’t give you a chance. But I know you’re good enough to do this. I’ve been watching you work. You’re something special.” He puts his hand on the side of her face. “And after how well you did today, I think Gene will listen to me on this. This is your chance. You’ve earned it. Take it.”
A week ago, she’d have accepted with a clean conscience. A week ago, she’d have never thought Sam Tyler would offer a position on CID as a bribe.
A week ago, she wouldn’t have thought him capable of planting evidence, fitting a man up, or having someone else put away for his own insanity, either.
On the other hand, this is her shot. The guv may back her for the moment, but that’s not going to last. And without Sam on her side, she’s not likely to get another chance.
Besides, he’s trapped her. Or she’s trapped herself. She watched him get Tony Crane put away, and kept her mouth shut. Anything she says will backfire and bring her down with him. Staying off CID won’t change that.
“Sure,” she says. “Sounds good.” And she smiles.
It’s her professional smile. Policewoman’s skill.
Sam doesn’t notice anything odd about it. He smiles back. “Excellent! I’ll go have a word with the guv. And don’t worry; you’ll be brilliant.”
Annie nods, still smiling, as he walks away. A week ago, she’d have believed him. If he’d told her she’d earned her place, that would have meant something. Coming from him, with his fancy new methodology, that would have been a real testament to her skill.
A week ago, she didn’t know how well he lied.
Right after Tony Crane speaks, letting loose the whole story, Sam gives her this look. He looks her straight in the eye, then turns away.
And says “I’m from thirty years in the future.”
As horrible as it is, Annie feels relieved. The whole business with Sam has gone entirely too far. She thought she could help him, but he’s got worse. That business with Vic Tyler, and him pulling a gun on the guv. She nearly stopped it then.
She should have stopped it then. Before the migraines. Before him falling over like that, and nearly being run down in the street. He’s got sicker and sicker, and has unshakeable delusion that it’s all Tony Crane’s fault.
Annie doesn’t know how long he can last like that.
That’s probably why he told Crane’s girl all this, Annie thinks. That’s probably why he’s admitting it now. Because he’s had enough of the pain and the sickness, and is ready to get help. Because he’s hurting, and part of him knows it.
The room’s quiet. Dead quiet. Everyone’s staring. Adding up all of the little moments; everything they noticed and didn’t speak of. Annie can see it in their faces. She’s not the only one who let things slide.
She’s the only one who knew. But it’s over now. Sam will get help. And she won’t be caught between what’s fair to Sam and what he needs.
Tony Crane’s enjoying this far too much. That bothers Annie. She wants to see him locked up. She’s certain, absolutely certain, that she saw him try to run Sam down in the street. He threw that poor counterfeiter off a building, and tried to kill Sam and the guv. He needs to be locked up far more than Sam needs to be put away.
But she’ll deal with that later. Properly. One piece of evidence at a time. The way Sam taught her.
“Is this true?” DCI Hunt asks. Annie can’t read his expression. “Did my DI tell you that?”
Sam turns around.
“Actually,” he says, “he told me.”
-------
After about ten minutes loitering by the doorway, Annie spots Sam walking out the door.
She follows him. She has to say something. Do something. Get him to see a doctor. At least do something about the migraines; once he’s in the doctor’s office, he might be persuaded to get psychiatric help. It’s a weak measure, she knows, but it’s something.
She’s let this go too long, and too far without doing anything at all.
“Sam,” she starts, calm but firm.
He turns around and smiles. “Oh, Annie! Just the woman I wanted to see!” He looks far better, and healthier than he’s been in days.
That’s a good sign, but in a way it’s bad. He’d be more likely to get help if she caught him while he was collapsing over furniture, and answering phones that hadn’t rung.
“Sam,” she tries again. “We need to...”
He cuts her off. “What do you think about joining CID?”
Annie blinks. “What?”
He pulls her aside. “Since Ray’s getting promoted, I’m supposed to find us a new DC, and you’re the best candidate You wouldn’t get any formal promotion yet, just a shift between departments. But I’ll back you for DS as soon as anything opens up.”
“I’d be a WDC, then?” Annie asks. Strange combination of letters. She can’t think of any women in CID; until Sam suggested it, she wasn’t sure it was allowed.
“Right, I don’t like tacking the W on everything, either. Officers are officers. No sense emphasizing the distinction. Tell you what; I’ll ask the guv if it’s strictly necessary. They drop the habit at some point; why not now? But I can’t promise anything. When it comes to gender sensitivity, the main difference between Gene Hunt and a brick wall is that the wall’s less likely to hit you for bringing the subject up.”
“No,” Annie shakes her head. “Don’t bother.” She’s not bothered by the letters WDC. She quite likes the sound of them.
“Well, I’ll see what he says. Make it my idea to drop the W. Keep you out of it. That is, if you’re interested in joining CID.”
Annie’s interested. She’s very interested. But she has to ask. “Is this a bribe?”
“What?” He’s wide-eyed with astonishment. It’s almost enough to convince her to let the question drop.
Almost.
“Is it a bribe? My reward for keeping my mouth shut about Tony Crane? Because if it is, I can’t accept.”
“No, no, no!” He shakes his head violently. “I’d never do that! You’re the best one for the job, honestly. The best choice by far, from what I can see. You’re sharp, you’re thorough, you have a knack for detective work, and unlike everyone else here, you have at least some interest in following procedure.”
“Look.” He holds up his hands. “I have some idea of how it is for women officers in this day and age. Most of the men on the force wouldn’t give you a chance. But I know you’re good enough to do this. I’ve been watching you work. You’re something special.” He puts his hand on the side of her face. “And after how well you did today, I think Gene will listen to me on this. This is your chance. You’ve earned it. Take it.”
A week ago, she’d have accepted with a clean conscience. A week ago, she’d have never thought Sam Tyler would offer a position on CID as a bribe.
A week ago, she wouldn’t have thought him capable of planting evidence, fitting a man up, or having someone else put away for his own insanity, either.
On the other hand, this is her shot. The guv may back her for the moment, but that’s not going to last. And without Sam on her side, she’s not likely to get another chance.
Besides, he’s trapped her. Or she’s trapped herself. She watched him get Tony Crane put away, and kept her mouth shut. Anything she says will backfire and bring her down with him. Staying off CID won’t change that.
“Sure,” she says. “Sounds good.” And she smiles.
It’s her professional smile. Policewoman’s skill.
Sam doesn’t notice anything odd about it. He smiles back. “Excellent! I’ll go have a word with the guv. And don’t worry; you’ll be brilliant.”
Annie nods, still smiling, as he walks away. A week ago, she’d have believed him. If he’d told her she’d earned her place, that would have meant something. Coming from him, with his fancy new methodology, that would have been a real testament to her skill.
A week ago, she didn’t know how well he lied.