Fic: Steady As She Goes (12/86)
Title: Steady As She Goes (12/86)
Author: dak
Word Count: 1866 this part; [20,158 overall]
Summary for Whole: After Chris is shot by accident at the station, Gene struggles to keep his team from tearing themselves apart as Ray takes out his anger on Sam, Annie makes a decision which jeopardizes Gene's career, and Sam gets involved with a murder.
Summary this Part: Gene and Litton have a "discussion" while the murder case progresses.
Rating: Blue Cortina
Warnings: angst, mild violence and swearing this part; more angst, violence, swearing, and violent imagery for whole
Spoilers: none this part; minor refs to 1.04, 1.08, 2.01, and 2.06 in others
Pairing: mild Sam/Annie
Disclaimer: Belongs to BBC/Kudos and other people who aren't me
A/N: I was away for the weekend, so sorry about the delay in getting this up. Course, HP7 getting released didn't help either. (Still haven't finished it, so don't tell me anything!) Hope you 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
"Harassing my officer on his sick bed is a quick way to a slow death, Litton. Don’ think for one second that you’ll be able to put a drop of blame on Skelton. Even if you are Rathbone’s little pet, he still ain’t that thick."
Gene’s hands were gripping Litton’s jacket collar so tight the mustached man could hear stitches ripping. Gene had Litton pressed up against his own office wall in RCS. Sam stood back behind Gene, grimacing at Litton so strongly it appeared as if Sam was attempting to punch him with only his mind. Ray stood behind Sam by the office door, both parties temporarily forgetting they were supposed to be killing each other. Ray was just waiting for one of Litton’s RCS blokes to come and defend their DCI. To his disappointment, no one even tried.
Phyllis had relayed Mr. Skelton’s message from Chris just as Gene, Sam, Ray, and Annie had finished comparing their notes on the Sanders murder. Sam was about to suggest a proper course of action, but then Phyllis’ call from downstairs had erased any thought of police work from all their minds. Even Annie had wanted to come with them to the RCS office, but Gene had insisted, rather rudely, that she remain where she was. Since he wasn’t yet over the Jackie Queen incident, Annie had simply shut her mouth and watch the boys stomp off.
They had been waiting for Litton in his office. He hadn’t stood a chance.
"I was only doing my jo-ack!"
Gene closed his hands a little tighter and lifted Litton off the ground, holding him there. Sam stepped forward.
"Proper procedure, Mr. Litton, requires that you discuss a hospitalized witness’ current medical state with his attending physician before subjecting him to questioning. Only after the doctor has determined that his patient is stable enough to withstand interrogation should an officer then proceed with his line of inquiry, with said questioning taking place under a doctor’s supervision, as to insure that the patient is not caused any unnecessary stress." Sam took another step towards Litton as Gene continued to hold him up against the wall. "Now with you being such a proper DCI, I’m sure that if I were to call Dr. Kendall he would confirm that you did in fact discuss questioning DC Skelton with him before proceeding with your investigation." Sam stared at him quizzically, waiting for an answer.
"Yagh," was all Litton could say. Gene relaxed his grip. Just a little. "Yes. Of course I did."
Sam continued to glare at him. "Chris’ doctor’s name is Richmond."
Even Ray couldn’t suppress a smirk as all three of them saw the briefest flash of terror cross Litton’s normally arrogant face. The cornered man tried to stammer out a response, but no coherent thought was able to pass through his lips.
"This investigation of yours better be cleaner than a nun’s panties from now on," Gene whispered as he removed his right hand and used it to punch him in the stomach. Litton doubled over and Gene grabbed his arm, twisting it around so that Litton’s whole body was forced to turn, allowing Gene to land a second well-placed punch right to Litton’s kidney. As the man fell to the floor, dazed and out of breath, Gene finally let go. He leaned menacingly over the fallen man. "I don’t have time to clean up your messes."
Gene stood up and straightened his own suit jacket and passed by Sam and Ray, throwing open Litton’s office door. The heavy vibrations caused one of Litton’s framed newspaper clippings of some wonderful achievement of his to crash to the floor. Sam couldn’t help but step directly on it, further crushing the glass and destroying the delicate newspaper print within, as he followed Gene out the door. Ray followed behind Sam, and A-Division’s top ranking officers marched single file, heads held high, out of the RCS office, Litton’s officers shell-shocked at the events which had just unfolded.
They entered the corridor and were headed towards the lift when a voice called from behind. "Mr. Hunt!"
The three men turned in unison. It was Litton’s DI. He had apparently found enough nerve to defend his DCI and was striding towards them when a sudden, single punch landed heavily on the man’s jaw, sending him sprawling to the floor.
Gene, Sam, and Ray, whose hands were still by their sides, immediately looked left where Annie had just emerged from the stairwell, and was now rubbing her right hand. Annie looked from the man on the floor to the three speechless officers beside her.
"He...he called me a slag. Sir." The three men continued to stare at her in surprise. "Uhm, I...We got a call...Just came to tell...Another body...By Canal Street."
"Right," was all Gene could say as he stepped into the open lift. "Meet me at the car," he said to all of them, and the doors closed.
Ray looked at the bruised man who was now slowly getting to his knees. "Blimey Cartwright. Where were you when that Skinhead got loose?" Ray moved to the stairwell. "Good one," he said, then disappeared down the stairs.
The RCS DI scurried back to his office, leaving Sam and Annie alone. Annie tried not to admit the pain the punch had caused her, but it must have began to show on her face.
"Here, let me see it," Sam said kindly, hoping he was coming off more chivalrous than chauvinistic.
Annie reluctantly held it out. "It’s fine. Really."
Sam gently rubbed his thumb around the small scars on her knuckles. "Looks like you caught a bit of his teeth. You should put some antiseptic on that."
"I’m the one with the first aid training, remember?" Annie let him hold her hand slightly longer than necessary, then quickly pulled it back. "Guess we should go meet the Guv."
Sam shoved his hands in his pockets. "Dead body, right." He pressed the button for the lift and they waited awkwardly for it to arrive.
"How do you feel?" Annie asked.
"Oh. Loads better. Doctor prescribed me some pills."
"Didn’t know you went to the psychiatrist," Annie smirked. The lift arrived and Sam allowed her to enter first, but stayed quiet. "What? Not going to defend yourself?"
Sam leaned against the back wall of the lift, next to Annie. "I could, but after seeing that punch I’m just afraid I’ll end up unconscious again if I do."
They looked at each other and smiled as the doors slid closed.
*
He was face up, arms and legs at awkward angles, hands covered in defensive wounds. Bruises covered his face and his clothes were torn and bloody in various places. He lay behind some rubbish bins on a pile of rotten, forgotten garbage, and the stench was almost unbearable.
"It could be him. I didn’t get a good look before I passed out. What do you think Guv?" Sam asked as he crouched beside the body.
Gene stood behind Sam, smoking. "Mostly saw the back of ‘is head as he was leggin’ it, but hair color’s right. ‘Bout the same build, too."
Sam braved the smell and moved closer, checking the man’s pockets for any identification. His position and movement provoked the pain in his ribs, but Sam did his best to ignore it. "Wallet’s gone," he said as he slowly stood. "We could go back to the shop owner with a photo. See if he can identify him."
Gene pointed to the young lad’s neck. "Strangled, too. Jus’ like Sanders."
"They have to be related. If this is the man we saw running from the off license."
Gene finished his cigarette, let the butt fall to the ground, and crushed it with his white loafer. "Guess that would be good and bad."
"How so?"
"Bad because our best lead is deader than Litton’s dick. Good because, if the killings are related, looks like you’re off the chopping block, Sammy-boy." He slapped Sam on the back, unintentionally causing Sam’s ribs to scream in protest once again. Sam rubbed his aching side. "Told yeh you weren’t a killer."
Gene turned away from the body and walked back to the Cortina. Sam approached Annie, who was busy taking notes. "Annie, make sure the scene is properly cordoned off for forensics. Tell them I need a clear photo of the victim’s face as soon as possible. Ray..." Ray chewed his gum and avoided eye contact. "Interview the neighbors. See if they saw or heard anything suspicious."
"I know how to do my job."
Sam sighed and refused to take the bait. He needed to try and patch things up with Ray, not make them worse, so he walked back to the Cortina without another word to his sergeant.
*
Forensics had given Sam the victim’s photo two hours later. The old shop owner had confirmed that this was indeed the man who had run from the store the other day, but he couldn’t recall his name. When Gene and Sam returned to the station Oswald’s preliminary autopsy report was waiting for them. He stated that the unknown man had been strangled to death with bare hands, the same M.O. of Dom Sanders’ murder.
Sam was relieved that he was now only a witness who could barely remember anything rather than a murderer with the same problem. By the time Gene and Sam had fully discussed Oswald’s initial findings it was beer o’clock.
Gene had told Sam he could come to the Arms to celebrate his innocence, as long as he stayed away from the booze, but Sam declined stating that he was looking forward to seeing his own flat and getting a good kip in his own bed for the first time in two nights. Gene nodded and left, mumbling something about owing Cartwright a drink.
Sam was more exhausted than he had let on at the station and collapsed into bed immediately upon entering his flat. He lay there a few minutes before deciding a hot shower and a change into some new pajamas would be the best course of action.
After the shower he towel-dried his short hair and slipped on the clean soft pajamas. He ate a cup of non-expired yoghurt he found in his fridge and swallowed down his pain pill. He also decided to unplug the telly, just in case the little girl wanted to make another unannounced visit, then finally crawled into bed.
Though it was nowhere near as comfortable as his soft, king-sized bed in 2006, the camp bed was still ten times better than the stiff hospital one or the cement floor of cell four. He fell asleep quickly, allowing the incredible stress of the last few days to drain away.
Sam was only asleep a few hours when the banging on his door started. Still exhausted and half-asleep, Sam tried to sit up. "Hang on, Guv. I’m coming. Don’t have to bust down the door," he yawned groggily as the banging continued.
Sam threw off his sheets just as the door burst open. In lumbered a man who was definitely not Gene Hunt.
_________
Part 13