Steady As She Goes (2/86)
Title: Steady As She Goes (2/86)
Author: dak
Word Count: 1563
Rating: Blue Cortina
Warnings: still angsty, but less swearing and blood in this part
Spoilers: references to 1.07, 1.08, and 2.01, but nothing major (I think)
Summary: The team begins to cope with the after effects.
Disclaimer: Still don't own. Still don't sue.
A/N: Thank you all for your wonderful comments on part 1! Don't know if I deserve them all. Part 2 has a little less action, but is chock full of Annie, so I hope that makes up for it. Again it's unbeta'd, so if you catch any mistakes let me know. 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
“With all due respect, sir, it were Litton an’ his men who got my officer shot in the first place!”
“I won’t deny that RCS is partially to blame--”
“Partially?” Gene snarled. Superintendent Rathbone folded his hands on his desk and waited for the DCI to settle. Gene took a deep breath and clenched his fists at his sides. He realized that if his fingernails were any longer he’d be drawing blood.
“It was Litton’s department, Gene. That makes it Litton’s responsibility. I believe I afforded you the same courtesy regarding that cell death a few weeks prior.”
“That was different. DC Skelton is my man which makes him my responsibility.”
Rathbone leaned back in his chair. “Skelton is also a victim. A victim of a crime committed by a man who was DCI Litton’s charge and until I see some sort of evidence,” (Gene cringed), “that proves him incapable of handling this case, it will remain his case. Understood?”
Gene didn’t reply. He knew that if he opened his mouth his fists would soon follow and while that sort of treatment was fine for suspects, and the occasional witness, it was not a method to be used against a superior officer. Instead, Gene turned on his heel and yanked open the door, nearly ripping it off its hinges.
“Go to hospital, Gene. Check on your man. Then take care of your own cases.”
The entire station felt the door slam shut.
*
Annie ran up the station steps, the freshly falling rain not bothering her in the slightest. She and one of the other DC’s had been investigating a home invasion when word came over the radio that an officer had been shot at the station. A detective from CID. In his entire life, old Clive had never seen a woman drive that fast.
“Phyllis!” Annie immediately ran to the desk sergeant. “I heard--”
“It’s Chris, luv,” Phyllis responded quietly.
“Is he...where is he?” Annie couldn’t bring herself to say what she was really thinking. Is he dead? Nevertheless, she prepared herself for the worst. Death came with the job, she knew that.
“Hospital. St. Mary’s. Ray’s with ‘im. Called a few minutes ago, said ‘e was in surgery. Don’t know for how long.”
“Right.” Annie let the news sink in as Phyllis relayed the basic story. Of all the days to be out of the station, she thought. As the shock wore off Annie slowly realized she was soaking wet and thanked God she wasn’t wearing white. “Is the Guv upstairs?”
Phyllis nodded. “With the Superintendent. Arguing, I believe. Though he’ll only be there ‘til his patience runs out,” she checked her watch, “which should be any time now.” Phyllis gave her a comforting smile. Annie tried to smile back but couldn’t quite force the expression. As she walked upstairs, Phyllis called after the lone WDC. “He’ll be alright, Annie. Chris’s a tough kid. When he wants to be.”
“Moreso lately, no thanks DI Tyler.” Annie paused on the stairs. “Where is Sam?”
“Don’t know,” Phyllis replied as she returned to her work. “Last I saw the Boss he was...he ran down to Collator’s after Chris.”
Annie thought quickly. Sam was like a mentor to Chris. If something happened to the younger detective Sam would be taking it the hardest, probably harder than even the Guv. She also knew how irrational Sam could act in heightened emotional states. Images of Vic Tyler and Tony Crane flashed through her mind. So instead of heading to the locker room for a dry set of clothes she went back downstairs, down to the Collator’s Den.
At the bottom of the stairs she peered down the hall. Several officers were milling about, smoking, and some boys from forensics were taking photos of the blood stains on the floor. Annie calmly made her way down the corridor trying not to think that, that was the same blood which would rush to Chris’ face and make him blush whenever he spoke about his girlfriend.
She was a few steps from the largest stain when one of Litton’s cronies stopped her. “Sorry. This isn’t the place for a woman. ‘Specially the CID slag.”
It took every ounce of Annie’s patience not to pop him one right there. She’d wait until she caught him outside the station. “At least I can properly disarm and restrain a suspect on my own before he shoots a fellow officer. Sir.”
The man glared at her but backed down, clearly afraid of hitting a woman. “Coward,” Annie mumbled. She stepped closer to one of the forensics photographers. “Jacob, have you seen DI Tyler, since the shooting?”
He snapped a photo and shook his head. “Sorry DC Cartwright. He was already gone when I got here.”
“Thanks anyway.” She turned to leave, glad to leave the blood behind.
“ ‘M sorry ‘bout Chris. Skelton’s a good bloke.”
“Yes. He is.”
Annie went back upstairs, her damp clothes beginning to make her shiver. At least she hoped it was the clothes. She reached reception and was about to go up to CID when a bear in a camel coat pushed past her down the stairs.
“Cartwright. Good. Comin’ to see Chris?”
“Yes Guv.” The clothes could wait she decided and quickly followed Gene who was making a beeline for the exit. “Sir, do you know where DI Tyler is?”
“Don’t know. Don’t care.”
The coldness in his voice froze Annie in her tracks. Everyone knew they could argue, but they usually put aside their differences when one of the team was in danger.
“Oi! Flash Knickers. You goin’ ta hang around here for your boyfriend or go spend time with your dying mate?” Gene stormed out the door, Annie immediately following behind. As he turned on the Cortina he realized what he had said. Annie quietly put on her seat belt as Gene lit a cigarette.
“He’s not dying,” he said softly and threw the car into gear.
*
Ray was on his last cigarette and wasn’t sure how that had happened. He’d had a full pack when he left the house this morning. He decided to retrace his steps. He’d had two in CID. One on the way to the crime scene. Two on the way back from the burglarized jeweler’s. Wait, Chris had bummed a few. Said he forgot to go to the shop before work to get his own. Div. That’s the last time he would share a pack of smokes with Chris.
Ray stood stock still in the middle of the hospital waiting room. It could very well be the last time Chris bummed a fag. Dead people didn’t tend to smoke much.
Ray stomped towards the nurses station.
“I told you before. As soon’s he’s out of surgery we’ll let you know. Now have a seat, sir.”
Ray reluctantly backed off and threw himself down in a chair, inhaling the last of his cigarette. “Lazy cow.”
With no more cigarettes to occupy his hands, Ray threw the butt on the floor, stood up, and tugged at his shirt and tie. Surprisingly, his clothes were mostly free of blood. A few patches here and there, but most of it had got on Tyler.
Tyler.
Ray grabbed a chair and threw it across the room. The nurse recoiled, but she’d clearly seen worse. “Coppers,” she muttered.
“Prolly get Litton to pay for that,” Gene took a swig from his hip flask and offered it to Ray, who took a healthy gulp. He handed the flask back to Gene.
“Cheers Guv.” Ray wiped his mouth as Gene offered the flask to Annie.
“Go on Cartwright. Might warm you up a bit,” Gene nodded. Annie let out a small smile of thanks and took a sip before handing it back to Gene. Being able to drive hell for leather around the streets of Manchester had clearly allowed him to let off steam.
“Any word, Raymondo?”
“Still in surgery Guv. Sodding bird there won’t tell me anything else. Sounds like a parrot, she does.”
He pat Ray on the shoulder. “Let the Gene Genie work his magic.” The Guv’nor plastered on his best gentlemanly face and casually strode up to the nurse. Annie had a seat in one of the chairs, her wet clothes squeaking against the plastic. Ray offered her his coat.
“Thanks.” She wrapped it around herself, happy for the warmth.
“Wouldn’t happen to ‘ave a packet of ciggies on yeh, would you Cartwright?”
“Sorry--wait.” Annie opened her purse and pulled out a slightly damp pack, handing it to Ray. “They’re Clive’s. Asked me to carry ‘em when we left the station. Apparently his wife got angry and sewed all his trouser pockets shut.”
“Women.”
“Yeah. They’re such trouble,” she tried to joke as she looked around the waiting room. There were no other recognizable faces.
Ray pulled out the driest cigarette and lit it. “He’s not here.”
“He hasn’t--”
“I rode with Chris in the ambulance. I’ve been waitin’ here, alone, since we got here. Jus’ me. An’ now, you an’ the Guv. Rather the prissy prat not be here anyway.”
Annie just nodded. So Ray was pissed at Sam, too. Well that was nothing new, but why couldn’t she shake the feeling that Gene and Ray weren’t telling her everything? She needed to find Sam.
Where the bloody hell could he be?
_______
Part 3
Author: dak
Word Count: 1563
Rating: Blue Cortina
Warnings: still angsty, but less swearing and blood in this part
Spoilers: references to 1.07, 1.08, and 2.01, but nothing major (I think)
Summary: The team begins to cope with the after effects.
Disclaimer: Still don't own. Still don't sue.
A/N: Thank you all for your wonderful comments on part 1! Don't know if I deserve them all. Part 2 has a little less action, but is chock full of Annie, so I hope that makes up for it. Again it's unbeta'd, so if you catch any mistakes let me know. 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
“With all due respect, sir, it were Litton an’ his men who got my officer shot in the first place!”
“I won’t deny that RCS is partially to blame--”
“Partially?” Gene snarled. Superintendent Rathbone folded his hands on his desk and waited for the DCI to settle. Gene took a deep breath and clenched his fists at his sides. He realized that if his fingernails were any longer he’d be drawing blood.
“It was Litton’s department, Gene. That makes it Litton’s responsibility. I believe I afforded you the same courtesy regarding that cell death a few weeks prior.”
“That was different. DC Skelton is my man which makes him my responsibility.”
Rathbone leaned back in his chair. “Skelton is also a victim. A victim of a crime committed by a man who was DCI Litton’s charge and until I see some sort of evidence,” (Gene cringed), “that proves him incapable of handling this case, it will remain his case. Understood?”
Gene didn’t reply. He knew that if he opened his mouth his fists would soon follow and while that sort of treatment was fine for suspects, and the occasional witness, it was not a method to be used against a superior officer. Instead, Gene turned on his heel and yanked open the door, nearly ripping it off its hinges.
“Go to hospital, Gene. Check on your man. Then take care of your own cases.”
The entire station felt the door slam shut.
*
Annie ran up the station steps, the freshly falling rain not bothering her in the slightest. She and one of the other DC’s had been investigating a home invasion when word came over the radio that an officer had been shot at the station. A detective from CID. In his entire life, old Clive had never seen a woman drive that fast.
“Phyllis!” Annie immediately ran to the desk sergeant. “I heard--”
“It’s Chris, luv,” Phyllis responded quietly.
“Is he...where is he?” Annie couldn’t bring herself to say what she was really thinking. Is he dead? Nevertheless, she prepared herself for the worst. Death came with the job, she knew that.
“Hospital. St. Mary’s. Ray’s with ‘im. Called a few minutes ago, said ‘e was in surgery. Don’t know for how long.”
“Right.” Annie let the news sink in as Phyllis relayed the basic story. Of all the days to be out of the station, she thought. As the shock wore off Annie slowly realized she was soaking wet and thanked God she wasn’t wearing white. “Is the Guv upstairs?”
Phyllis nodded. “With the Superintendent. Arguing, I believe. Though he’ll only be there ‘til his patience runs out,” she checked her watch, “which should be any time now.” Phyllis gave her a comforting smile. Annie tried to smile back but couldn’t quite force the expression. As she walked upstairs, Phyllis called after the lone WDC. “He’ll be alright, Annie. Chris’s a tough kid. When he wants to be.”
“Moreso lately, no thanks DI Tyler.” Annie paused on the stairs. “Where is Sam?”
“Don’t know,” Phyllis replied as she returned to her work. “Last I saw the Boss he was...he ran down to Collator’s after Chris.”
Annie thought quickly. Sam was like a mentor to Chris. If something happened to the younger detective Sam would be taking it the hardest, probably harder than even the Guv. She also knew how irrational Sam could act in heightened emotional states. Images of Vic Tyler and Tony Crane flashed through her mind. So instead of heading to the locker room for a dry set of clothes she went back downstairs, down to the Collator’s Den.
At the bottom of the stairs she peered down the hall. Several officers were milling about, smoking, and some boys from forensics were taking photos of the blood stains on the floor. Annie calmly made her way down the corridor trying not to think that, that was the same blood which would rush to Chris’ face and make him blush whenever he spoke about his girlfriend.
She was a few steps from the largest stain when one of Litton’s cronies stopped her. “Sorry. This isn’t the place for a woman. ‘Specially the CID slag.”
It took every ounce of Annie’s patience not to pop him one right there. She’d wait until she caught him outside the station. “At least I can properly disarm and restrain a suspect on my own before he shoots a fellow officer. Sir.”
The man glared at her but backed down, clearly afraid of hitting a woman. “Coward,” Annie mumbled. She stepped closer to one of the forensics photographers. “Jacob, have you seen DI Tyler, since the shooting?”
He snapped a photo and shook his head. “Sorry DC Cartwright. He was already gone when I got here.”
“Thanks anyway.” She turned to leave, glad to leave the blood behind.
“ ‘M sorry ‘bout Chris. Skelton’s a good bloke.”
“Yes. He is.”
Annie went back upstairs, her damp clothes beginning to make her shiver. At least she hoped it was the clothes. She reached reception and was about to go up to CID when a bear in a camel coat pushed past her down the stairs.
“Cartwright. Good. Comin’ to see Chris?”
“Yes Guv.” The clothes could wait she decided and quickly followed Gene who was making a beeline for the exit. “Sir, do you know where DI Tyler is?”
“Don’t know. Don’t care.”
The coldness in his voice froze Annie in her tracks. Everyone knew they could argue, but they usually put aside their differences when one of the team was in danger.
“Oi! Flash Knickers. You goin’ ta hang around here for your boyfriend or go spend time with your dying mate?” Gene stormed out the door, Annie immediately following behind. As he turned on the Cortina he realized what he had said. Annie quietly put on her seat belt as Gene lit a cigarette.
“He’s not dying,” he said softly and threw the car into gear.
*
Ray was on his last cigarette and wasn’t sure how that had happened. He’d had a full pack when he left the house this morning. He decided to retrace his steps. He’d had two in CID. One on the way to the crime scene. Two on the way back from the burglarized jeweler’s. Wait, Chris had bummed a few. Said he forgot to go to the shop before work to get his own. Div. That’s the last time he would share a pack of smokes with Chris.
Ray stood stock still in the middle of the hospital waiting room. It could very well be the last time Chris bummed a fag. Dead people didn’t tend to smoke much.
Ray stomped towards the nurses station.
“I told you before. As soon’s he’s out of surgery we’ll let you know. Now have a seat, sir.”
Ray reluctantly backed off and threw himself down in a chair, inhaling the last of his cigarette. “Lazy cow.”
With no more cigarettes to occupy his hands, Ray threw the butt on the floor, stood up, and tugged at his shirt and tie. Surprisingly, his clothes were mostly free of blood. A few patches here and there, but most of it had got on Tyler.
Tyler.
Ray grabbed a chair and threw it across the room. The nurse recoiled, but she’d clearly seen worse. “Coppers,” she muttered.
“Prolly get Litton to pay for that,” Gene took a swig from his hip flask and offered it to Ray, who took a healthy gulp. He handed the flask back to Gene.
“Cheers Guv.” Ray wiped his mouth as Gene offered the flask to Annie.
“Go on Cartwright. Might warm you up a bit,” Gene nodded. Annie let out a small smile of thanks and took a sip before handing it back to Gene. Being able to drive hell for leather around the streets of Manchester had clearly allowed him to let off steam.
“Any word, Raymondo?”
“Still in surgery Guv. Sodding bird there won’t tell me anything else. Sounds like a parrot, she does.”
He pat Ray on the shoulder. “Let the Gene Genie work his magic.” The Guv’nor plastered on his best gentlemanly face and casually strode up to the nurse. Annie had a seat in one of the chairs, her wet clothes squeaking against the plastic. Ray offered her his coat.
“Thanks.” She wrapped it around herself, happy for the warmth.
“Wouldn’t happen to ‘ave a packet of ciggies on yeh, would you Cartwright?”
“Sorry--wait.” Annie opened her purse and pulled out a slightly damp pack, handing it to Ray. “They’re Clive’s. Asked me to carry ‘em when we left the station. Apparently his wife got angry and sewed all his trouser pockets shut.”
“Women.”
“Yeah. They’re such trouble,” she tried to joke as she looked around the waiting room. There were no other recognizable faces.
Ray pulled out the driest cigarette and lit it. “He’s not here.”
“He hasn’t--”
“I rode with Chris in the ambulance. I’ve been waitin’ here, alone, since we got here. Jus’ me. An’ now, you an’ the Guv. Rather the prissy prat not be here anyway.”
Annie just nodded. So Ray was pissed at Sam, too. Well that was nothing new, but why couldn’t she shake the feeling that Gene and Ray weren’t telling her everything? She needed to find Sam.
Where the bloody hell could he be?
_______
Part 3