Expect the Unexpected

[smallhobbit]

Title: Expect the Unexpected
Rating: Green Cortina
Word count: 910 words
Notes: Written for the hurt/comfort challenge at 1973flashfic  With the usual thanks to my betajinxed100 

 

With DCI Gene Hunt away for a couple of days taking the missus to a cousin’s funeral on the other side of the country, DI Sam Tyler answered the phone.  It was a snout calling to say that the gang they were after were back at the warehouse.  Sam shouted to the others and they raced off, anxious to reach the warehouse before the gang had the chance to depart again.

Reaching the warehouse there was no sign that anyone was there, but Sam decided that they should check the building anyway.  He directed Geoff and Vince to go in the main door, whilst he and Chris entered from the back, leaving Ray to watch from where they had parked the cars.  Cautiously Sam and Chris entered the warehouse and went up the first staircase.

“If we walk over to that far staircase, we can see if there’s any evidence that someone’s been here,” Sam said.

The layer of dust covering everything soon showed that wherever else they might have been the gang certainly hadn’t been on this particular floor.  Having reached the other side Sam had just started on the stairs down when the tread broke and he fell heavily landing with a crash.  He groaned.  Chris hurried down after him.

“Are you okay, Boss?”

“Yes, just help me up.”

Chris helped Sam onto his feet.  He shook slightly, but waved away any further offer of assistance.

“There’s clearly no-one here,” he said.  “Let’s find Geoff and Vince and get back to the station.”

That evening Ray was making helpful comments to Chris, who was losing badly at a darts match; saying things like “you’d score higher if you hit the board”.  He barely registered that Sam had said he was going.  Ten minutes later, whilst getting another pint at the bar, Ray said good night to Phyllis as she too left.

Shortly after that Phyllis rushed back in, “You’d better come outside.”

Ray followed her out, to find Sam doubled up in pain, clutching his chest.

“Bloody hell, Boss,” Ray complained, “You could have waited till I’d drunk me pint.”

Phyllis glared at him.

“Okay, I’ll take you to hospital.  I suppose I can always eye up the nurses whilst we’re there.”

Ray went to get his car and returned shortly afterwards.

“It’s alright Ray, I’ll be okay in a couple of minutes,” Sam said.

“You are going to hospital,” Phyllis ordered.  “And I’m coming with you.  It’ll save getting the bus home.”

Once at the hospital Phyllis insisted on remaining whilst the doctor checked Sam out.  Receiving confirmation that despite extensive bruising he had only cracked one rib she went home, enforcing the doctor’s instruction that Sam needed to get some rest by saying that if he turned up at the station the following day she would immediately arrange for him to be taken home again.

Ray drove Sam back to his flat and then saw him in, grumbling that he’d better make sure that Sam got in okay, because otherwise he’d never hear the end of it from Phyllis.  Ray then made both of them a cup of coffee whilst Sam got into bed.  Sam tried to thank Ray, but Ray muttered gruffly that he was just doing what the Guv would expect him to do.

Next morning Sam was in bed feeling slightly sorry for himself.  He was a bit better now the pain killers had kicked in but was still moving carefully.  He was debating about getting up and getting something to eat when he heard hammering on his door.  Slowly he got out of bed and went to open it.  Gene came in and sat down heavily on the bed.

“I’m sorry, I should have ignored Phyllis, it’s just, Gene, what’s wrong?” Sam tailed off.

“It’s okay.  I rang the station and Ray told me.  Any chance of a drink?”

Sam went to get the bottle of whisky out of his cupboard and groaned as he bent down.

“No, I’ll do it,” Gene found the bottle and two glasses.  “You sit down.”

Sam gratefully sat down and looked with concern at his friend.  “Why are you back already?  What happened?”

Gene poured two large glasses of whisky and passed one over to Sam.  “There was no funeral.  I used it as an excuse, because no-one would question me taking the time off.”

“So, what..?”

“I did take the Missus to her cousin, who is in very good health.  She says that I’ve got a month before she goes to a solicitor to file for divorce.”

“A month?”

“Yeah, it’ll give me time to decide my priorities, apparently.  She said I’d always been a selfish bastard, but that I’ve got worse over this past year.”

Sam felt a twinge of guilt at that.

“She said that she used to know that at least I’d be back when the pubs shut, but that now she can’t even be sure of that.  She’s always been there for me.  What am I going to do, Sam?”

Sam looked at Gene and his heart went out to him.  He went across to the bed where he was sitting and hugged him.  “Don’t worry, Gene.  We’ll sort something out.”

In return Gene put his arms round Sam, and then loosened his hold slightly as he felt the younger man wince.  “Daft bugger, falling down those stairs.  You need someone to take care of you.”

“We’ll look after each other.”