I'll come 'round your houses and stamp on all your toys!

[hydeforareason]

With Christmas passed and another New Years spent together, the months after just seemed to fly on by.  The routine became commonplace, Peter was a little less clingy, and Sam felt incredibly proud to be the father of that little boy.  He'd nearly forgotten about the little journey to the centre of nothingness where Peter had his tea party with

Comments

[alwaystheguv]

Gene had been much happier these days, things were in a nice routine, the brat had learned rather swiftly not to bother him and Sam when they were in bed and since he'd started school, things were much better... even if he often faked sickness or walk out of school! Which naturally got them into trouble sometimes.

Still, Manchester had been a bit.. well, dull lately. No murder or serial killers, which was good in theory but boring in real life.

He was busy playing dart with the lads, he didn't notice Jack coming in.

If he would of, he would of been on the defence.

[cpt_51century]

"Is DCI Hunt here?" Jack asked, all smiles and flirting that he really hadn't meant to let get so far away from him. He just couldn't reign in the charm and shit, who would want him to?

Sam thumbed back towards the group of laughing men and Jack just laughed. "Sorry mate, wouldn't do much good to bother em either."

"Nah, guess it wouldn't," Jack agreed. "Maybe you can help me?"

"Maybe. Can always try?"

"Good. I keep you to sleep for a little Sam."

Sam blinked, looking confused, before his head hit the desk. Hard. Everyone in Gene's office collapsed too, right where they stood, leaving Jack and Gene staring at one another.

[alwaystheguv]

That was... unsettling. Blinking slowly, he looked around the room with a small baffled expression because what the hell was going around that it made everyone just drop down like that. Looking at the man across from him, he suddenly remembered that face. That man from the elevator.

"Come for something?"

Standing his ground, he reached out to gently push his men out of the way so he could meet this bastard head on.

"Go on then, what is it?"

At least he knew Peter was safely at school, he didn't want to have to worry about him as well as Sam, he was going to struggle now, he didn't like that. He didn't like being in this position.

[cpt_51century]

Jack made a pained face and glanced around. "It's never fun when I come up here. Nothing really likes me. Oh well. Actually, I want a meeting of the minds, so to speak. Me and you. Somewhere neutral so that my presence doesn't disrupt your little world here. I'd ask your boss, but no one's heard from him in a few..."

He made this round about gesture, as if he didn't know or the number was just too high for him to put into words.

"I really am sorry about all of this. I have to remember not to look people in the eye." He sighed, seeming genuine. It was just so hard to tell, given what Gene knew about him. "How about the void tomorrow, around lunch? Or, you guys do tea right? I'll bring cookies."

[alwaystheguv]

"Well that explains it, never met a RAF man. Nah, that was for the rich important lot, got daddy to make sure they avoided the trenches," Gene shot back, he didn't know much on the RAF, his family and friends had all been stuck in the trenches. And clearly, judging by the style, it was for a higher officer... it was obvious by how nice it was.

Offering the man a small raise of his eyebrow, he had to wonder what sort of rubbish place that was. Oh God, the hippies weren't right were they? He was definitely more determined to stay in his own little world now.

"No deal. He's my DI and if you ask him, he'd say the same. Like my boss, I don't give a fuck about the balance," Gene had built this world alone at 19 and worked his arse off to help others. Who cared about the God and the devil? He wanted his own corner of the sky kept separate.

"That place has people, someone there will handle it, that's your natural balance."

[hydeforareason]

"Then I think we have a little problem here. You've a soul that knows what's going on and youre not taking him up or down. I'm trying here, I'm really trying, Gene-- can I call you that? Without my brother hanging around, without him talking to me, I've got to do double duty. Not that you answer to me, I realize that, but your little pocket world? There are a few billion of them. A few billion people like you. And people like Jim. Not all the same, you guys, but good enough for an example

[alwaystheguv]

"It's not up to you, you can't push me around or demand from me. I don't trust blokes like you, got it? See, you're just a demon likes Keats, perhaps with less of an excuse for being a giant cock, and I have a habit of mistrusting you lot," with good cause. It wasn't his fault that his boss left, it wasn't his fault that someone had to go but they already made their choice.

The essentially sacrificed Peter's grown up life to have Sam stay and Gene refused to have that be in vain. Sam was staying where he was.

"Look, I know one thing and one thing only, I did this by myself. No one prodded me or prompted me, I wanted to be a hero and I did it... that universe either has someone like me or they're fucked. Sad fac6t of the world," Gene didn't like the idea of everyone dying there but the sad fact was that you couldn't save everyone and it wasn't Sams job nor his to handle another universe. "We handle these things our own way."

[hydeforareason]

"Listen to me," Jack said, blue eyes flashing a dangerous cerulean. "I'm not like Jim Keats. I am nothing like Jim Keats. I'm as much a demon as a potter is a clay pot thrown on the wheel." Jack sighed a little. "I'm not able to force you to do anything, but I did want to make a trade. I can't keep it up, repairing the splits. Which is a shame, I really like Jim and I really like Owen over in the Angel-less pocket world. But I'm just going to have to let the whole section go under."

He started to put his gun back together again. Slowly. He let Gene figure out what he meant, that he was the only thing holding the flood gates back from...oh, four hundred worlds. Plus or minus. He did the inventory last week but he couldn't really remember.

"This section isn't my only problem, you know? I've got some angels that have decided to latch together worlds over a few sections and it's really playing havoc with order. They've already made their oceans all dry up. Do you know the effort it takes rewatering entire worlds?"

[alwaystheguv]

Gene took off rather swiftly, he had a plan to start and he didn't want to get lost in this place. It seemed everyone was counting on him to win... goodie. He hung around the void for a bit before he returned to CID. He still had questions. Why did Sam appeal to Jack? What had he wanted with Peter before and what happened to the poor vessel the devil was now using? An RAF man, probably died in war?

Gen headed home early, ignoring his men as he drove back home. It was 2pm, he knew it was early, but he had to cool off and spend some time with Sam before he went back... perhaps he could safely bring his DI with him? If he covered up everything.

But that was a dodgy line to walk.

The moment he got inside, he was greeted by Peter, who ran up to give him a hug and say hello. "All right, my little deputy, where's Sammy?"

"Cooking!"

[hydeforareason]

Sam appeared a moment later to chase Peter into the bathroom to wash his hands and paused to gently pat Gene's chest, lean in, and give him a small kiss on the side of his lips. "Let me get him washed up and after dinner... I want the truth." Sam gave Gene one of those looks and let it go for the next few hours. After Peter was in bed with Gene Jr. and Sammy Cat, Sam slipped out of his shirt and into a dressing gown to join his lover on the sofa more comfortably.

The television was allowed to play for a little while before Sam demanded attention...and not exactly in the fun sort of strip-off-your-clothing way either. He did take Gene's hand though, as if that might make him more prone to talking.

"What did Keats say?"

[alwaystheguv]

"Wasn't Keats, he wasn't even there. It was just the Devil... calls himself Jack, apparently. He told me a bunch of stuff, the worlds are unstable," Gene informed Sam, he was always quick to the point and rather awful with details. It was a bit of a Gene thing and he couldn't help himself, admittedly, he had never been a man of many words.

It wasn't typical of a rough Northern upbringing.

"See, the worlds are unsteady for some reason and the ones lacking an angel are going to either be destroyed or merged. I don't like either and ... well, one thing lead to another and now I'm recruiting angels."

God, it sounded as bad as it was as well.

[hydeforareason]

Sam went from almost laughing at the jest to looking angry at being lied to....to a sort of horror that was the actual look someone ought to give when being told about something so off putting. "Ex...Excuse me? You're recruiting-- What about me?"

Well it seemed like a good idea to offer. Wasn't that what Sam was working for? He'd been at it for over a year now, ever since Peter came into their lives. He was Sam's supposed ticket to wings. No one bothered to explain to Gene that the world was meant to be balanced, though.

Or that there couldn't be two angels in one world. Gene was running blind without guidance. Or, rather, guidance from the other side. No wonder he couldn't function to his own potential!

[alwaystheguv]

Gene nodded and picked up Peter with ease, doing his own version of the tuck in that Sam did. Peter got the same process on the cover was less smoothed out and the lamp was left on in case.. and except for removing the lads jacket, he didn't get changed into his pyjamas. But his way was faster! The kitten, which knew the routine by now, was soon lying on Peter contently. Gene Jr just seemed thrilled to be away from the boy so Gene left the sod be.

"So 'early' night... we need the cupboard moved for this?"

Gene smirked as he tossed all of Peter's toys back in their chest, obviously eager to get this done in case Peter woke up demanding water, a story from Sam and for the man to lie with him.

[hydeforareason]

'You're goin' off to war tomorrow, Gene," Sam said, flipping off the television. "I think that deserves a cupboard in front of the door manoeuvre." It took Gene's hand over Sam's mouth and a few threatening whispers to keep the Kitten from making all of his usual noises, and Sam ended up biting Gene rather badly on his throat just above the collar line as something to keep his voice muffled. They hadn't had a really good shag in a long time and...

Well Gene could just flip his collar up in the morning. Or figure out how to make the thing disappear. He was a bloody angel. He should be able to figure out something as simple as hickey removal! Afterwards, sweaty, Sam spread out on the pillows and watch Gene strut around naked to remove the furniture from the door.

He'd come to really enjoy the view.

"Don't get a scotch. Get your arse back to bed."

[alwaystheguv]

"Shut it, you," Gene complained as he hauled the cupboard away and groaned, grabbing his hip flask as an act of defiance and climbing back into bed, taking a sip and offering it to Sam. It had been a rather lovely night and it was great to have a proper shag, even if he'd have to find a way to remove a hickey tomorrow unless he wanted to come up with a good excuse like the missus or a prozzie.

It was only half an hour later when Peter came toddling in, rubbing at his eyes and looking expectingly at their bed.

"I had a bad dream, can I sleep with you?"

Gene groaned. So close! So very close to a free night where no dad responsibilities were needed.

[hydeforareason]

"Yeah, absolutely," Sam said, always grateful when he managed to get his pants on before Peter came in instead of shimmying into them after. He wouldn't let the boy have the centre of the bed, that was still rather wet and likely very unpleasant. And he really didn't want his child having to experience that. So, unfortunately, Sam got the uncomfortable part of the bed. But he rather liked being in the middle just the same, and he really liked experiencing Gene's arm around him so that he could hold Peter too.

"You're a good dad," he said, after Peter fell asleep again. He wanted Gene to know that since his own dad had been pretty shitty from what he had heard. This was just proof that you could rise about your upbringing.

Sam lightly stroked his fingers through the little boy's hair.

"I know I said it already, but be careful. I really don't think I can handle him alone every day."

[alwaystheguv]

"Sam, hate to tell you this, but you're no use here. Unless you want to take over and lose Pete anyway you can't do much. You're not a lost soul and you're not an angel, you kind of blend in," sad but true. Sam couldn't be used. Peter was his first idea and perhaps he could find another solution but for now, he wanted a break away from that world. It was frustrating.

Sighing, he rubbed the blood from his hair, rather frustrated at the mess it'd made to his shirt.

"Even if I did use Pete, you know he'll be fine," Gene offered, no one could really touch him, no doubt he'd be fine. Unless a horrible demon intervened and killed him... but that was like a 5% change at the most.

But enough of that he just wanted to drop the topic. "Anything on for tonight?"

[hydeforareason]

Sam calmed, though it was a bit obvious that he was doing it on purpose. He didn't want to worry Gene by openly worrying himself. He shrugged a bit, shaking out his hands. "Let's see, a good soak to get that blood out? Managed to coerce Chris into watching Pete tomorrow..." So pub? "But only if you're feeling up to it. Don't know yet if your brains have leaked out just yet."

He laughed when Gene scowled and the placed both hands on the Lion's shoulders and leaned down until they were at eye level.

"The Super's called twice today," Sam mentioned, frowning a bit before he pressed a peck to Gene's forehead. "Something about Fenchurch East. Wouldn't tell me."

[alwaystheguv]

"I fancy a wash actually. I fancy going home and lying down and not being bothered for 12 hours... course I'm not holding my breath," he did live with Peter, who insisted they all ate dinner together and that Gene gave him a full run down of all the blaggers and bastards.

Not that Peter could say bastards in front of Sam.

"The super? Oh great, I'll go have a look in... is the blood overly noticeable?" He could just claim he was on a hunt or something? Serial killer or psycho. Even some animal rights nutter who threw blood at him?

Either way, he wanted to do this now and get it over with.

[hydeforareason]

Sam gave Gene a once over and frowned openly, shaking his head. "Meet me in the men's in ten minutes. I'll find some shampoo." It required locking the door because Sam was the one to wash the blood from Gene's hair -- "you're just going to open that cut back up you know," he had groused -- and as gentle as he was, he did manage to rinse the red out of Gene's hair before the Lion roared too loudly and roused suspicion.

Sam also brushed off the coat, lightly cleaning masonry dust from the shoulders and back and scrubbed out the blood stains from the collar.

When his lover was presentable, Sam patted himself on the back, toweled off Gene's hair again, and made him sit for half an hour in his office to dry off completely before he sent him on his way to see what the Super had to say.

A promotion.

Well, sort of. Gene was being offered a job in London.