Background Noise

[smallhobbit]

Title: Background Noise
Rating: White Cortina
Word count: 440 words
Notes: Written for the background challenge at 1973flashfic  With the usual thanks to my betajinxed100 

 

Sam sat down and started to read a file.  He very soon became aware of the sound of Ray chewing gum, so he covered his right ear in order to concentrate.  Unfortunately, that only served to emphasis the tapping noise made by Chris with his pencil on his desk.  He tried covering his left ear as well, but then he became aware of Vince and Geoff discussing something.   The phone rang and he could hear Annie quietly speaking to someone.

So when Gene exploded out of his office demanding that whoever had borrowed his stapler should return it at once, Sam had had enough.  He stood up and yelled, “Will you all be quiet.  I can’t hear myself think.”  His outburst was greeted with a stunned silence.

“It seems to me, Gladys, that you’re the one making all the noise in here,” observed Gene.

Sam turned on his heel and stormed out of CID.  He marched down the corridor, snapping at a constable who was cheerfully whistling.  When he reached the front desk he found Phyllis humming to herself, so he glared at her, before leaving through the front door.

Outside it was no better.  Sam sat on the steps and listened to the sounds of the traffic; to a pickpocket caught red-handed protesting his innocence; to two WPCs gossiping about their boyfriends.  He heard heavy footsteps come up behind him.

Then he felt a hand under his arm and he was hauled to his feet.  “Come on Tyler, we’re going for a ride.”

Reluctantly he got into the Cortina.  He paid no attention to where they were going and so was surprised when they stopped by a patch of waste ground that he didn’t recognise.

“Out you get.”  Gene had opened the door for him, so he got out as instructed.  “This way.”

Sam followed Gene along a trail that led through some bushes.  The area appeared to have been a bomb site that had never been reclaimed and was now mostly overgrown shrub land.  They came to a small clearing.

“Sit,” ordered Gene.

So Sam sat.  At first he couldn’t hear anything at all.  Slowly he became aware of the birdsong.  He listened to the sound of the wind in the leaves and gradually he felt the tension leave his shoulders.  He looked at Gene, who was taking a long swig from a flask.

“I made a right fool of myself this morning, didn’t I?”

“Yeah.  But I’m sure they’ll all forgive you if you buy the first round of drinks tonight.  That’s if the pub won’t be too noisy for you, of course.”

“I think I’ll cope.”