Always

Sam closed the door behind her, leaning on it for a moment and closing her eyes.

I’m so glad today is over, she thought, remembering how awkward she had felt all day. What with trying to avoid Stuart, and then feeling bad about it, and then trying to avoid Phil, and still having feelings towards Phil, and then feeling uncomfortable around them both, knowing that they were both uncomfortable too, it had been one hell of a day.

“Mum?” came a voice from somewhere inside her house.

Willing her body to move, she walked through the tiny porch area, closing the porch door behind her, and placing her bag and keys on the side table, she shouted back to her daughter, “Abi? Where are you?”

“In the front room mum”, came Abi’s reply.

Walking into the front room and shaking her jacket off, she asked, “So, how was college?”

Abi shrugged, concentrating on the TV, “School-like.”

Sam didn’t have the energy nor the will tonight to even try and invoke a response, so she walked out to wards the kitchen shouting, “You want a drink Abi?”

Abi walked into the kitchen carrying a glass of water, “No thanks, I’ve already got one.” She leaned against the doorframe, watching her mother make herself a strong cup of coffee.

“That bad huh?” she asked Sam.

“Sorry?” Sam asked, confused.

“Strong black coffee equals a bad day at the office”, Abi informed her.

“Abi, I always drink strong black coffee”, she reminded her daughter with a smile.

Abi tilted her head to one side, considering this. “True”, she began, “but I’m not wrong am I? There is something wrong.”

Sam took a seat at the breakfast bar, hands around her hot drink and stared into her cup as though all the answers she wanted were hidden there.

“Mum?” Abi probed. “Ok, now you’re starting to worry me, what’s wrong?”

“Isn’t it the mothers job to ask the awkward questions?”

“Usually, but I think we can make an exception.”

Sam smiled, no matter how much she hated Abi’s father, she was eternally grateful for him, because without him, she wouldn’t have the most beautiful daughter in the world.

She knew it was pointless to even try and put Abi off the scent, now she knew something was wrong. “It’s just . . . Phil. And Stuart. And the whole situation. Abi, I don’t know what to do anymore. Stuart is so nice and kind and considerate and I think he really likes me, but . . . . it’s just . . . he’s not . . . “

“He’s not Phil?” Abi finished for her.

Sam nodded. “I’m so stupid.”

“You’re no stupid Mum”, Abi told her. “You can’t help who you fall for.”

“But I have Stuart and he’s been so good to me and I don’t want to hurt him.”

“I know Mum, but by doing this, you’re hurting yourself and Phil.”

Sam snorted. “I don’t think Phil even notices me any more.”

“Now I know that’s not true and I think you do too. Phil is mad about you and I think you should tell him how you really feel.”

“It’s not that easy Abi. Stuart . . .”

“Is a nice guy”, Abi interrupted, “but he’s going o get hurt anyway, whether it’s now or in a years time. Don’t you think it’s better on him to know now?”

“Mum, just what you want to do, think about yourself for once. Think about this though, How would you feel if Phil left town tomorrow and you never got the chance to tell him how much you love him?”


Abi walked out, ignoring her mothers protests of, “I never said I loved him?

wow - another really good episode.please update soon. by the way i like your 'spin' so far!!!!:)

Koolies, I'm liking it. Also about your earlier reply to my post. Your not having her choose Stuart over phil are you? Or her choosing neither? or her dying because I'll cry. However, thats a bit hypocritical since my fic on fanfic.net killed her off. Hehe. Ssshhh.

loving this story and really like the way its going- please update soon.
bex
x

that was really good. I hope you don't kill sam offthough lol

another great update. I'm really enjoying this skript

“Morning”, Sam acknowledged Stuart as she walked over to her desk the following morning.

“Morning”, he replied, before he lent over his desk to give her a kiss. The look on his face when she pulled away was enough to make tears well in Sam’s eyes.

I’m such a bitch.

Returning to his desk, he made himself look busy, shuffling some case notes around and desperately avoiding her eye.

Walking over to his desk, she said “Sorry, Stuart. It’s just . . . can we talk?”

“Sure”. He replied, not glancing up from his desk. When she made no attempt to leave his desk, he eventually looked up asking, “Now?”

“Are you busy?”

“Nothing that can’t wait.”

“Ok, good, you want to grab a coffee?”

Stuart put the files he’d been shifting around down, and motioning to the door, he told her. “After you”.

Placing two coffee filled mugs on the table, Sam sat down, across from Stuart. They were sat in the far corner, away from the hustle and bustle of the uniform officers who were on a break.

“Stuart, there’s something I need to tell you.” She continued to stare down into her coffee cup, too afraid to look into Stuart’s eyes.

“Well, from the tone of your voice, I guess it’s not about my choice of clothing!”

Sam glanced at him briefly, smiling. “Stuart, it’s just that I think this might not be such a good idea.”

“You mean us?”

Sam nodded. “You have to know that it isn’t you though. I really do like you, you’re funny and smart and kind and under different circumstances . . . “, she trailed off, not wanting to give him any false hope. Now that she had started, she knew she was doing the right thing for everyone. In the long run.

However, that doesn’t help me in the present, she thought, carrying on as best she could.

“It’s me, I’m not ready for another relationship. Well, not with . . . “, she wasn’t making a very good job of this.

Stuart, who had remained silent through her ramblings so far, now spoke up. “With me?”

Sam noticed a somewhat understanding tone in his voice. Looking up, she saw he was smiling, although the smile was obviously filled with hurt.

“I’m so sorry.”

He placed his hand over hers on the table. “It’s alright Sam, you don’t have to explain.”

“But I want to”, she protested.

“No, I mean it. You don’t have to. Don’t get me wrong, these last few months have been amazing and you’re amazing Samantha, you really are. I’m going to miss you, but I was kidding myself, thinking that I could ever come between you two.”

“Sorry?”

Sam was sat with her back to the counter and didn’t notice Phil come in and order a coffee. Giggling slightly at the look of confusion of her pretty face, Stuart nodded his head in the direction of where Phil stood, now paying for his purchases. Turning around, she saw Phil and meeting his gaze, she blinked back the tears that had been threatening to fall all morning.
__________________________________________________ ______________

Phil noticed Sam and Stuart sat together in the corner, holding hands across the table.

Trying not to be noticed, he paid for his coffee. However, he couldn’t help but look, as he did, both Sam and Stuart glancing in his direction.

Oh great, he thought, hastily making his exit from the canteen, they were probably laughing at how pathetic I am.

__________________________________________________ ______________

“Sam, I’ve seen the way you look at one another, along with the rest of the station. You know I don’t like the guy, but I know he makes you happier than I ever could. I don’t know much about the history between the two of you, only what I’ve heard, but all I need is to see you together and it’s obvious you were made for each other.”

Those tears that had been welling up inside her, now escaped, tumbling down her cheeks as she held Stuart’s hands in her own. “I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t be. Just promise me one thing?”

“What?”

“Tell him how you feel.”

Stuart made to leave, as Sam tried to wipe the tears that had fallen from her eyes. Before he had a chance to leave, Sam grabbed his hand, “Friends?” she asked.

Stuart took a step back towards her and kissing her on the forehead, he promised, “The best.”

As she watched him walk away, she honestly thought, with the exception of finding Abi after her abduction, she had never been so grateful to anyone in all her life.

great chapter. really moving- i very nearly cried myself! can't wait for the next update. this has to be one of my favourite fanfics ever!
bex
x

Really good update. well done

I cant wait to see Sam tell Phil her feelings

really good chapter. goo for stuart for tellin sam to tell phil her feelings