Fic: Dreamers never lie (Gene/Sam LOM)
Title: Dreamers never lie
Author: Moi!
Rating: Green Cortina
Pairing: Gene/Sam
Word count: 2,487
Summary: Gene's a coward. He knows it, Sam knows it but how does a coward admit he's a coward?
A/N: Another one in the 'Who's to say?' 'verse. You know you love me really,lol.
Sam slammed into Gene's office, threw a handful of papers in Gene's face, spun on his heels and walked out.
Gene'd never had papers thrown at him before, not by anyone. No one, not even Gladys the almighty got away with that. Just as he was about to chase after him and give him a leathering, Gene thought he'd actually see what Sam'd chucked at him.
He picked up one of the crumpled pieces of carbon copy. Shit. They were Sam's promotion papers. Shit. He'd asked the Super not to say anything, not until he'd told the squad, not until he'd told his DI.
Attached to one of the papers was a copy of Gene's own transfer form.
Shit.
Sliding back into his seat, Gene yanked open his desk draw, rifled around and pulled out a bottle of Grants. Locating a glass, he poured himself a healthy measure and gulped it down in one. Pouring another, he allowed himself to breath and leant his forehead against the cool glass.
Double friggin' shit.
He hadn't even hinted. He hadn't thought he'd have to worry about it for a while. He'd forgotten that the Super'd wanted to get Sam's approval to the promotion before he announced it to the press and the station.
Sucking it up, gathering himself together, Gene got up and went to find Sam. He stuck his head out into the squad room. There was no one there. The place was deserted. Checking his watch, he saw it was well past beer-o-clock. The rest of the lads would be down the pub.
Sam must've gone home. He couldn't see him going to the pub in the mood he was in. Ray'd only have to twitch his 'tache in Sam's direction and he'd end up with a black eye. Actually, on second consideration, that was probably where Sam would go, if he was spoiling for a fight and wanted someone to pick it with.
Grabbing his coat from the stand next to his desk, Gene hurriedly threw it on and legged it out the building. Last thing Sam needed was a punch up on his record, not with impending DCI-hood on the cards.
That was a laugh, like he had any room to talk. He'd got into a fight the day he'd been given the go ahead to take over CID. Too much alcohol, too much enthusiasm, not enough brain cells. Hopefully his DI had more nouse than he did.
*************
Wandering through the Railway Arm's door, scanning the pub for Sam, Gene spotted him in the corner. On his own, nursing a whackin' great glass of scotch. Great, Sam sober was a pain in the arse, Sam pissed was twice as bloody bad.
Not that he could really blame him. He hadn't even mentioned it. They were s'posed to be movin' in together in three weeks. In two, he'd be in London, takin' over one of their divisions, with Ray and Chris in tow.
Not that Ray or Chris knew anymore about it than Sam did. He hadn't told them yet either. Somehow he figured that conversation would be much easier than this one.
Moving like he was sneaking up on a suspect, Gene tiptoed over to Sam, trying not to startle him. The mood he looked to be in, startling him could cost Gene an eye or a testicle.
"Sam?"
"Piss off"
Right, softly softly wasn't gonna work. Maybe a good slap would do the trick. No perhaps not. After all, he was the twat welshing out on Sam, not the other way around. He tried again.
"Sam!"
"I said, piss off. You deaf?"
Gene motioned for a drink off Nelson and then settled himself on the barstool next to Sam. Counting the silence in seconds, Gene gave Sam the chance to get up and walk away. When he didn't he tried yet again to get some kind of non abusive response out of him.
"Look, Sammy I..."
"Don't"
"Don't what?"
"It's Detective Inspector Tyler, to you"
"Sam please"
"You just negated all rights to plead me for anything, DCI Hunt"
With that he downed his drink and headed towards the door. He hadn't quite made it there when Ray spotted him. He'd been playing darts in the corner with some of the other lads. When he saw the look on his DI's face, he couldn't help the dig.
"Oh, what's up boss? Got ya pink panties in a twist 'bout something 'ave you?"
Sam stopped, hand on the door frame. Any other day he'd have been able to let it slide, let the little scroat's jibe slip right over his head. Not today.
He pulled back, raised his hands and motioned Ray towards him.
Ray swaggered confidently towards him. Sure that Tyler wouldn't have the balls to do anything about his little joke.
He got within inches of Sam and smirked "What?"
Gene got up off his stool and put a hand on Sam's shoulder "Don't Sam. Leave it"
Sam shrugged him off violently and sneered at him "You also just lost all right to tell me what the hell to do, now fuck off and leave me alone"
Gene pulled his hand back and raised his arms in surrender, knowing it'd do no good trying to talk him out of what he was about to do. Sam needed someone to pummel, Ray was as good a target as any.
Sam didn't even think, just reacted. He lashed out, thumping Ray in the nose, spreading it across his face.
Ray stumbled backwards, knocking a chair over. It took him a second but he came back with an elbow to the face.
Sam ducked but Ray's bony arm caught him on the chin, jarring his teeth. Raising an eyebrow and the sweaty oaf, Sam lifted a hand and beckoned him on. Pulling the same move as when he'd fought with Gene in that hospital room, all those years ago.
Ray did as predicted and lunged for Sam, arms outstretched.
Sam dodged the move easily, years of fighting the tougher, faster DCI had gotten him into good shape. Sam jumped a little and kicked Ray in the back as he passed. Sending him skidding face first into another chair.
Ray went to pull himself up when Gene's heavy tones broke the silence "Stay down Carling"
Sneering at Sam and wiping his face with an already bloodied hand, Ray just nodded and slumped against the upturned chair.
Gene hooked a hand into Sam's collar and bodily dragged him from the pub on his tiptoes. Being taller certainly had it's advantages.
*********
Sam felt himself smack into a wall. His head snapped back and he could see nothing but spots for a second. Gene didn't give him chance to retaliate, just pinned him with his entire body weight.
"Get off me"
"No. You're gonna listen"
"No, I don't think I am"
"Yes, you bloody well are Sam"
"No, sir, I'm not. I stopped caring what you had to say about 2 hours ago"
"You're angry, so I'll let that slide, but be warned, I'm not about to take shite from you Tyler"
"Oh, now it's Tyler, is it? This morning it was 'Oh fuck Sam, sammm' but now your little secret's out, it's back to Tyler"
Gene gripped Sam's face, stopping him from turning away.
"I didn't know what to say. I...what was I...It's too much. They offered me a promotion Sam. Would you have passed it up?"
Sam closed his eyes, trying to block out the image of Gene swimming in and out of focus.
"I don't know but I certainly would have told the bloke I was screwing that I was leaving for London in a fortnight. I certainly would have told the man I was s'posed to be moving in with that I was leaving him"
Gene let his hands drop. Stepped away from Sam and sighed. How could he tell him, how could he tell the man he thought he might be falling in l...that he was sleeping with, that he was leaving him. Especially seen as that man had left everything for him. Lost everything for him.
A broken sob filled Gene's ears and his own heart thudded once in his chest. Reaching forwards, he tried to offer some kind of comfort to Sam.
Sam batted his hands away and legged it, took off out of sight.
Gene let him. Knowing it'd do no good to follow. Not tonight. He didn't have an explanation to give him, not one that'd satisfy him. Not an honest one.
*****************
Sam'd spent the last two weeks avoiding Gene. Every shout, every call out, he'd ridden with someone else, they'd not managed to be alone in a room together for 14 days and Sam had reinforced his flat door with a dead bolt and three more locks to prevent Gene from bursting through it uninvited.
Gene figured it was probably for the best. He'd be leaving in a day anyway. He needed to get used to not having Tyler around. Except it hurt like a son of a bitch. He missed him, missed his snarky comments, his picky pain ways.
Most of all, he missed having someone to curl up with at the end of the night. Still, all for the best.
It was midnight, officially his last day in Manchester, his last day leading the team he'd spent so many years building from the ground up. He was sat in his, soon to be Sam's office, nursing a large glass of cheap plonk and contemplating the nature of the universe when the phone rang.
He stared at it for a moment, wondering if it was the alcohol making him think it was ringing. When he was sure it was actually trilling at him, he picked it up.
"'lo"
"Gene?"
Gene's breath caught in his throat.
"Sam?"
"Yea, can you...come over, please"
"You gonna let me in this time?"
"Just, come"
Gene dropped the receiver back into it's cradle, stared at it for another moment and then grabbed his keys and his coat.
***********
Sam opened the door, stepped back and let Gene in. There were two glasses of whiskey waiting for him on the table. Snatching one up, gulping it down, savouring the burn, Gene turned to face Sam.
"So, what d'ya want?"
"Answers"
"I told ya, I got offered a promot.."
"Don't bloody lie to me. I know you, you love this city, you love this squad. You wouldn't accept a promotion. So, why?"
"I..I don't have any answers for ya"
"That isn't good enough Gene"
Gene couldn't look Sam in the face, couldn't bring himself to witness the fresh hurt taking root behind his eyes. Instead he grabbed for the second glass, concentrated on the way the amber liquid caught the light.
"You're taking Ray and Chris"
It wasn't a question but the question behind it was clear. Why hadn't he picked him? Why hadn't he put his name forward?
"They said I could bring two men. Didn't think you'd wanna up sticks and shift to London"
It was a blatant lie, they both knew it. Gene knew Sam would have followed him anywhere. That was the problem.
Sam came towards Gene, stood up on tiptoes and looked him straight in the eye.
"Why won't you let me be with you?"
"Because Sam, just because"
"But..."
"No, I'm tellin' you no. Don't follow me, don't phone me, don't write to me"
Gene could see, actually see Sam's heart shattering. He kicked himself, hated himself, but he knew it was for the best. Sam'd get over it, find himself some nice little plonk to settle down with and forget all about the overbearing DCI.
He fought hard not to remember that Sam'd already done that. Already found himself some nice little plonk, already settled down; house and garden, somewhere to hang his hat, seed his dreams. Gene'd ruined all that. Pushed, pushed and aggravated, picked away until Sam'd admitted who he really wanted to be with.
Now he was leaving him, after everything he'd given up, but Gene still thought it was for the best.
"Why? Why are you bloody running away from this Gene?"
"I can't, Sammy I just..this is wrong. We can't, I can't.."
Gene looked wrecked, even Sam had to admit that. The deep circles under his eyes, the lines on his face all seemed harsher some how.
"Yes you can. Yes we can. We have, for crying out loud. What's the difference? Twelve months ago you were dry humping me into every available surface, now you can't stand to look at me. What changed?"
Sam desperately wanted Gene to turn round and kiss him in a fit of, what? Anger, rage, anything. Instead he just avoided eye contact and clenched his fists.
"What changed? What fuckin' changed! You left your wife Sam. You left your wife an' your home an' you followed me. You dogged me 'til I couldn't bloody think straight"
Sam's shocked expression made Gene crazy, made Gene want to thump him 'til his head fell off. He was trying to make a new life for himself, in turn making a new one for Sam.
"Don't you bloody dare. Don't you dare make this all about me. If I remember rightly, you were the one who started everything. You gave me a mind altering blow job in the back of one of the police vans. You started this, now you want to run away before you finish it"
Gene scrubbed a hand over his face "Moment of madness"
"Seven bloody years is not a moment of madness. It's cause for you to be sectioned"
Gene lost it then, lunging at Sam, hands forming fists before his brain had time to catch up. It'd been so long since they'd fought like this. Like they had something to really fight about.
Gene's knuckles connected with Sam's cheek before Sam had time to duck. His head snapped sideways, letting lose a mouthful of bloodied spit.
Gene stared at the offending fist, like it was someone else's.
Sam didn't stay still for long, swinging his arms with no coordination or rhythm, he launched himself at Gene. Grabbing fistfuls of hair and yanking, kicking anywhere he could reach. Letting go of all the pain and bitterness that'd been building for the last fortnight.
Gene's reaction was in built, something born of a childhood with a hand heavy father and years spent policing Manchester's streets. He tucked his head into his body and barrelled forwards, taking Sam off his feet and thumping him into the nearest wall.
He heard Sam's head crack against the dry wall. Saw him crumple and his automatic response was to go to him, pick him up and put him back on his feet. Instead he clamped down on it and turned away. Fleeing before he undid everything he'd been working for this past fortnight.
The last thing he saw was Sam, broken and bleeding, beating his fists against his floor, fighting back harsh, gut wrenching sobs.
Author: Moi!
Rating: Green Cortina
Pairing: Gene/Sam
Word count: 2,487
Summary: Gene's a coward. He knows it, Sam knows it but how does a coward admit he's a coward?
A/N: Another one in the 'Who's to say?' 'verse. You know you love me really,lol.
Sam slammed into Gene's office, threw a handful of papers in Gene's face, spun on his heels and walked out.
Gene'd never had papers thrown at him before, not by anyone. No one, not even Gladys the almighty got away with that. Just as he was about to chase after him and give him a leathering, Gene thought he'd actually see what Sam'd chucked at him.
He picked up one of the crumpled pieces of carbon copy. Shit. They were Sam's promotion papers. Shit. He'd asked the Super not to say anything, not until he'd told the squad, not until he'd told his DI.
Attached to one of the papers was a copy of Gene's own transfer form.
Shit.
Sliding back into his seat, Gene yanked open his desk draw, rifled around and pulled out a bottle of Grants. Locating a glass, he poured himself a healthy measure and gulped it down in one. Pouring another, he allowed himself to breath and leant his forehead against the cool glass.
Double friggin' shit.
He hadn't even hinted. He hadn't thought he'd have to worry about it for a while. He'd forgotten that the Super'd wanted to get Sam's approval to the promotion before he announced it to the press and the station.
Sucking it up, gathering himself together, Gene got up and went to find Sam. He stuck his head out into the squad room. There was no one there. The place was deserted. Checking his watch, he saw it was well past beer-o-clock. The rest of the lads would be down the pub.
Sam must've gone home. He couldn't see him going to the pub in the mood he was in. Ray'd only have to twitch his 'tache in Sam's direction and he'd end up with a black eye. Actually, on second consideration, that was probably where Sam would go, if he was spoiling for a fight and wanted someone to pick it with.
Grabbing his coat from the stand next to his desk, Gene hurriedly threw it on and legged it out the building. Last thing Sam needed was a punch up on his record, not with impending DCI-hood on the cards.
That was a laugh, like he had any room to talk. He'd got into a fight the day he'd been given the go ahead to take over CID. Too much alcohol, too much enthusiasm, not enough brain cells. Hopefully his DI had more nouse than he did.
*************
Wandering through the Railway Arm's door, scanning the pub for Sam, Gene spotted him in the corner. On his own, nursing a whackin' great glass of scotch. Great, Sam sober was a pain in the arse, Sam pissed was twice as bloody bad.
Not that he could really blame him. He hadn't even mentioned it. They were s'posed to be movin' in together in three weeks. In two, he'd be in London, takin' over one of their divisions, with Ray and Chris in tow.
Not that Ray or Chris knew anymore about it than Sam did. He hadn't told them yet either. Somehow he figured that conversation would be much easier than this one.
Moving like he was sneaking up on a suspect, Gene tiptoed over to Sam, trying not to startle him. The mood he looked to be in, startling him could cost Gene an eye or a testicle.
"Sam?"
"Piss off"
Right, softly softly wasn't gonna work. Maybe a good slap would do the trick. No perhaps not. After all, he was the twat welshing out on Sam, not the other way around. He tried again.
"Sam!"
"I said, piss off. You deaf?"
Gene motioned for a drink off Nelson and then settled himself on the barstool next to Sam. Counting the silence in seconds, Gene gave Sam the chance to get up and walk away. When he didn't he tried yet again to get some kind of non abusive response out of him.
"Look, Sammy I..."
"Don't"
"Don't what?"
"It's Detective Inspector Tyler, to you"
"Sam please"
"You just negated all rights to plead me for anything, DCI Hunt"
With that he downed his drink and headed towards the door. He hadn't quite made it there when Ray spotted him. He'd been playing darts in the corner with some of the other lads. When he saw the look on his DI's face, he couldn't help the dig.
"Oh, what's up boss? Got ya pink panties in a twist 'bout something 'ave you?"
Sam stopped, hand on the door frame. Any other day he'd have been able to let it slide, let the little scroat's jibe slip right over his head. Not today.
He pulled back, raised his hands and motioned Ray towards him.
Ray swaggered confidently towards him. Sure that Tyler wouldn't have the balls to do anything about his little joke.
He got within inches of Sam and smirked "What?"
Gene got up off his stool and put a hand on Sam's shoulder "Don't Sam. Leave it"
Sam shrugged him off violently and sneered at him "You also just lost all right to tell me what the hell to do, now fuck off and leave me alone"
Gene pulled his hand back and raised his arms in surrender, knowing it'd do no good trying to talk him out of what he was about to do. Sam needed someone to pummel, Ray was as good a target as any.
Sam didn't even think, just reacted. He lashed out, thumping Ray in the nose, spreading it across his face.
Ray stumbled backwards, knocking a chair over. It took him a second but he came back with an elbow to the face.
Sam ducked but Ray's bony arm caught him on the chin, jarring his teeth. Raising an eyebrow and the sweaty oaf, Sam lifted a hand and beckoned him on. Pulling the same move as when he'd fought with Gene in that hospital room, all those years ago.
Ray did as predicted and lunged for Sam, arms outstretched.
Sam dodged the move easily, years of fighting the tougher, faster DCI had gotten him into good shape. Sam jumped a little and kicked Ray in the back as he passed. Sending him skidding face first into another chair.
Ray went to pull himself up when Gene's heavy tones broke the silence "Stay down Carling"
Sneering at Sam and wiping his face with an already bloodied hand, Ray just nodded and slumped against the upturned chair.
Gene hooked a hand into Sam's collar and bodily dragged him from the pub on his tiptoes. Being taller certainly had it's advantages.
*********
Sam felt himself smack into a wall. His head snapped back and he could see nothing but spots for a second. Gene didn't give him chance to retaliate, just pinned him with his entire body weight.
"Get off me"
"No. You're gonna listen"
"No, I don't think I am"
"Yes, you bloody well are Sam"
"No, sir, I'm not. I stopped caring what you had to say about 2 hours ago"
"You're angry, so I'll let that slide, but be warned, I'm not about to take shite from you Tyler"
"Oh, now it's Tyler, is it? This morning it was 'Oh fuck Sam, sammm' but now your little secret's out, it's back to Tyler"
Gene gripped Sam's face, stopping him from turning away.
"I didn't know what to say. I...what was I...It's too much. They offered me a promotion Sam. Would you have passed it up?"
Sam closed his eyes, trying to block out the image of Gene swimming in and out of focus.
"I don't know but I certainly would have told the bloke I was screwing that I was leaving for London in a fortnight. I certainly would have told the man I was s'posed to be moving in with that I was leaving him"
Gene let his hands drop. Stepped away from Sam and sighed. How could he tell him, how could he tell the man he thought he might be falling in l...that he was sleeping with, that he was leaving him. Especially seen as that man had left everything for him. Lost everything for him.
A broken sob filled Gene's ears and his own heart thudded once in his chest. Reaching forwards, he tried to offer some kind of comfort to Sam.
Sam batted his hands away and legged it, took off out of sight.
Gene let him. Knowing it'd do no good to follow. Not tonight. He didn't have an explanation to give him, not one that'd satisfy him. Not an honest one.
*****************
Sam'd spent the last two weeks avoiding Gene. Every shout, every call out, he'd ridden with someone else, they'd not managed to be alone in a room together for 14 days and Sam had reinforced his flat door with a dead bolt and three more locks to prevent Gene from bursting through it uninvited.
Gene figured it was probably for the best. He'd be leaving in a day anyway. He needed to get used to not having Tyler around. Except it hurt like a son of a bitch. He missed him, missed his snarky comments, his picky pain ways.
Most of all, he missed having someone to curl up with at the end of the night. Still, all for the best.
It was midnight, officially his last day in Manchester, his last day leading the team he'd spent so many years building from the ground up. He was sat in his, soon to be Sam's office, nursing a large glass of cheap plonk and contemplating the nature of the universe when the phone rang.
He stared at it for a moment, wondering if it was the alcohol making him think it was ringing. When he was sure it was actually trilling at him, he picked it up.
"'lo"
"Gene?"
Gene's breath caught in his throat.
"Sam?"
"Yea, can you...come over, please"
"You gonna let me in this time?"
"Just, come"
Gene dropped the receiver back into it's cradle, stared at it for another moment and then grabbed his keys and his coat.
***********
Sam opened the door, stepped back and let Gene in. There were two glasses of whiskey waiting for him on the table. Snatching one up, gulping it down, savouring the burn, Gene turned to face Sam.
"So, what d'ya want?"
"Answers"
"I told ya, I got offered a promot.."
"Don't bloody lie to me. I know you, you love this city, you love this squad. You wouldn't accept a promotion. So, why?"
"I..I don't have any answers for ya"
"That isn't good enough Gene"
Gene couldn't look Sam in the face, couldn't bring himself to witness the fresh hurt taking root behind his eyes. Instead he grabbed for the second glass, concentrated on the way the amber liquid caught the light.
"You're taking Ray and Chris"
It wasn't a question but the question behind it was clear. Why hadn't he picked him? Why hadn't he put his name forward?
"They said I could bring two men. Didn't think you'd wanna up sticks and shift to London"
It was a blatant lie, they both knew it. Gene knew Sam would have followed him anywhere. That was the problem.
Sam came towards Gene, stood up on tiptoes and looked him straight in the eye.
"Why won't you let me be with you?"
"Because Sam, just because"
"But..."
"No, I'm tellin' you no. Don't follow me, don't phone me, don't write to me"
Gene could see, actually see Sam's heart shattering. He kicked himself, hated himself, but he knew it was for the best. Sam'd get over it, find himself some nice little plonk to settle down with and forget all about the overbearing DCI.
He fought hard not to remember that Sam'd already done that. Already found himself some nice little plonk, already settled down; house and garden, somewhere to hang his hat, seed his dreams. Gene'd ruined all that. Pushed, pushed and aggravated, picked away until Sam'd admitted who he really wanted to be with.
Now he was leaving him, after everything he'd given up, but Gene still thought it was for the best.
"Why? Why are you bloody running away from this Gene?"
"I can't, Sammy I just..this is wrong. We can't, I can't.."
Gene looked wrecked, even Sam had to admit that. The deep circles under his eyes, the lines on his face all seemed harsher some how.
"Yes you can. Yes we can. We have, for crying out loud. What's the difference? Twelve months ago you were dry humping me into every available surface, now you can't stand to look at me. What changed?"
Sam desperately wanted Gene to turn round and kiss him in a fit of, what? Anger, rage, anything. Instead he just avoided eye contact and clenched his fists.
"What changed? What fuckin' changed! You left your wife Sam. You left your wife an' your home an' you followed me. You dogged me 'til I couldn't bloody think straight"
Sam's shocked expression made Gene crazy, made Gene want to thump him 'til his head fell off. He was trying to make a new life for himself, in turn making a new one for Sam.
"Don't you bloody dare. Don't you dare make this all about me. If I remember rightly, you were the one who started everything. You gave me a mind altering blow job in the back of one of the police vans. You started this, now you want to run away before you finish it"
Gene scrubbed a hand over his face "Moment of madness"
"Seven bloody years is not a moment of madness. It's cause for you to be sectioned"
Gene lost it then, lunging at Sam, hands forming fists before his brain had time to catch up. It'd been so long since they'd fought like this. Like they had something to really fight about.
Gene's knuckles connected with Sam's cheek before Sam had time to duck. His head snapped sideways, letting lose a mouthful of bloodied spit.
Gene stared at the offending fist, like it was someone else's.
Sam didn't stay still for long, swinging his arms with no coordination or rhythm, he launched himself at Gene. Grabbing fistfuls of hair and yanking, kicking anywhere he could reach. Letting go of all the pain and bitterness that'd been building for the last fortnight.
Gene's reaction was in built, something born of a childhood with a hand heavy father and years spent policing Manchester's streets. He tucked his head into his body and barrelled forwards, taking Sam off his feet and thumping him into the nearest wall.
He heard Sam's head crack against the dry wall. Saw him crumple and his automatic response was to go to him, pick him up and put him back on his feet. Instead he clamped down on it and turned away. Fleeing before he undid everything he'd been working for this past fortnight.
The last thing he saw was Sam, broken and bleeding, beating his fists against his floor, fighting back harsh, gut wrenching sobs.