Hello and welcome! Thank you for giving this story a try. It does kind of follow on from my other Life on Mars story 'Blimey it's a baby!' but it's not essential that you have read it. I would like to just take a moment to say a huge thank you to everyone who read and reviewed that - I hope you enjoy this offering of mine just as much!
Now for the boring part - I don't own any of the characters in this story (except for one who you'll be introduced to soon!). All rights are reserved to Kudos/BBC.
Enjoy!
Taking a deep breath as he admired the concrete building towering over him, Sam Tyler squinted at the mid-morning sun, peeping behind the mountain like structure. It hardly seemed like he'd been away from the place for a fortnight.
He continued to stroll up the steps, an unusual yet highly welcomed spring in his movements. For once, he felt happy, nearly euphoric. It had been a long time since he'd felt close to that.
In fact, he wasn't sure he'd ever felt as good as this his whole life.
A new wave of calm lapped over him, his mind and soul contently relaxed. Everything felt clear. Not like a few weeks ago - stuffed in a room wondering if he'd ever be freed from the dingy hell hole. He didn't let his thoughts dwell too deeply on that moment; it was in the past. He was more satisfied with looking towards the future.
The past few weeks had been near bliss for him, a re-adjustment to life in 1970's Manchester. The Gov had given him a couple of weeks off as compassionate leave. As soon as that bastard Mike Smith and Frank Morgan had been locked up, that was it; time for a well deserved break.
In fact, Sam was reluctant to take a hiatus at the time. The city would need all of the support it could get; to get settled back into its usual fairly sedate groove (well, as much of a sedated groove as such a city would ever obtain), free from murdering scum and inexcusable tragedy.
At least, that's what the Inspector had hoped.
Still, as he pulled the double doors open, he felt a rush of cigarette smoke cloud over him like he was behind a race car speeding down the track. DI Tyler was determined this was going to be a fresh start. He'd realised that - although he didn't particularly want to admit it - he couldn't cope entirely on his own. He couldn't keep the city of Manchester safe without the group of coppers around him. He wasn't superman. He certainly wasn't invincible. And now he appreciated that, even if – and only if - his whole life was now sculpted like a castle in the sky.
He knew that he'd got a good group of people around him, a strong team of coppers and personalities. He just needed to trust in them.
Turning left, heading towards the locker room, Sam's face lifted when he saw a beautifully familiar face standing vaguely still. Her deep brown hair curled in the same way that he' always remembered, her blue eyes focused on what she was doing. Her mild humming was as pretty as she; effortlessly so, like a butterfly swimming through the air into the dusk.
Tip toeing inside, Sam joined in with her humming, recognising the tune; 'Somewhere over the Rainbow'.
She jumped slightly, thinking that she was alone. Then her eyes fell on the near stranger close by. Her smile lit her whole face, a toothy grin engulfing any look of misery she may have had before.
"Sam!" she cried, leaping into his arms. "How are you? You didn't tell me you were going to be back today?"
Tightening his grip, Sam inhaled, taking in all of her scent that he possibly could; a steady fragrance of roses and sweetness, almost like honey. He'd missed that smell. He'd missed her gentle touch, soothing him even when he didn't particularly need it.
The sign of true love, perhaps?
He closed his eyes, enjoying the moment. She'd told him to do that, a long time ago. Yet, he'd never felt the need. This was all a dream - there was no need to enjoy it, right?
No. It this was now his reality.
"I wanted to surprise you," he softly spoke, breathlessly. They now stood inches apart, their hands entwined in quiet appreciation of the other. They wanted to see every millimetre of each other, to engrave this moment permanently in their minds. "You look great."
She flushed as her head bowed with a mild implication of embarrassment. "You do too," she replied, tracing her finger tips under his sharp, hazel eyes. Her sight became narrower as she smiled outwardly, pleased with her findings. "No dark circles then?"
"No. I actually managed to sleep for over an hour most nights."
"Most nights?" she eyed him suspiciously, her speech sing song like.
"Ok all nights!" he confessed, beaming widely to her. For Sam Tyler - used to restless nights of interrupted, panicked sleep and girls wielding stuffed clowns - this was certainly an achievement. "If you were there, well, it may have been a different story..."
His voice was vaguely coy but playful, unintentionally flirtatious. Just joyous – happy to be near her once again.
"Oi!" she laughed aloud, smacking him cheekily on the chest. Oh how she'd missed him. Even when he was being a pert little sod! Still, all harmless; all was fair in love and war.
He looked mildly shocked, mocking as if the tap had actually caused pain. He bent a little to kiss her lips warmly, a touch that neither of them had experienced for what seemed like ages.
They stood like that for several minutes, their lips touching in silent awe. Their kisses were gentle, emotional without being an outpouring of feeling; just pure gracious pleasure.
"Is there anything I should look out for?" he quizzed, breaking away from the passionate embrace.
"No, not really," she shook her head, visibly disappointed that their moment alone was coming to an abrupt end. "Not that I can think of anyway."
If there was one thing that would never change, it was Sam's commitment to work. She should have seen it coming; he wouldn't solely be in the station for a quick kiss and cuddle with his girlfriend, surely?
He invited her in for another hug, making sure that their grasps were as close as they could be. "You know, I missed you, Annie."
She gazed up at him, her eyes slowly becoming aware of his words. "Really?"
"Of course - why do you sound so shocked?"
Annie let go a little, jerking her shoulders indefinitely. "I dunno, it's just you didn't ring or anything."
"Neither did you!" Sam rationally retaliated with a little chuckle.
"True," she agreed, nuzzling against his neck once again. "Did you want to go for a drink, you know, after work?"
Her request sounded almost like a shy teenager, reluctant to agree to a first date without their parent's permission. She noticed Sam smirk, realising what she'd said sounded most absurd.
"Sure, anything for you."
With their lips parted but edging closer together, they heard a loud knock behind them. They leapt apart, peering at the other officer stood in the doorway, a face that neither of them were over excited to be graced with.
"Annie, love, when you get a minute, DS Carling wants you to file these away," the haggard, smaller woman told, shuffling closer to the couple. "Oh, hello DI Tyler, I didn't think you were due back yet?"
"No, I wasn't. But I got bored watching paint dry back home."
Phyllis rolled her eyes, passing Miss. Cartwright the folders. "Well, welcome back." she greeted as warmly as she was ever going to.
One thing that would never change about Phyllis was her unintentionally aloof persona. Really she wasn't like that; she was a great hand when need be, as hard as nails. Someone who, if she was on your side in a fight, would be an unobvious asset but a valuable one all the same.
As she turned to leave, Sam followed her, offering a wink to Annie as he departed. "Say, Phyllis, have you seen the Gov about?"
She paused for a split second. "Yeah, I think 'e's in 'is office. I think he's got a young girl in with 'im though so you might not be able to see 'im straight away."
Sam frowned inquisitively, wondering exactly what was going on this time. He thanked her before making his way inside CID. The smoke screen got worse as he walked closer; he certainly hadn't missed that over the past few weeks; the feeling of fog creeping into his lungs like a not so friendly ghost.
As he pulled the doors open, he stood in silent contemplation, glancing briefly from side to side; the place certainly hadn't got any more peaceful or tidy since his brief break. There were files stacked haphazardly all over the place, a sure fire health and safety hazard. The desks were littered with empty coffee cups and whisky bottles, sweet wrappers and other food items.
It looked like DI Tyler would have a lot more work today than he'd bargained for.
But he did think for a second how fond the heart does grow through absence; although he sometimes detested the place, hated the dumb crime in the city and disliked the people, deep down their was a burning admiration for it - for a few people in particular.
Thinking that he'd not been noticed by anyone, as if he was invisible, he was sadly mistaken when Chris came bounding over to him, sandwich affixed to his palm.
"Heya, boss! Did you have a good 'oliday?"
Sam couldn't help but smile at the rather energetic man before him, complete with oily tomato ketchup running down his chin. "Yeah, good thanks. How about you, are you alright?"
"Yeah, I'm fine, ta."
They nodded to each other; it was very clear that the young Skelton had missed DI Tyler's presence in the office immensely. He'd been over looked quite a bit over the past few weeks. In fact, he'd nearly punched Ray in the nose when he started taking all of the credit for their rescue attempt at the Smith's residence.
Still, it didn't stop Skelton acting like a puppy excited to see their old owner the moment the Inspector waltzed back in the place.
Sam marched over to his desk, picking over odd documents and pens that had been stashed there. His eyes scanned them, detecting the ones that required the most attention.
"Say, Chris, do you know who the Gov is with?"
Chris took another bite out of his butty, shrugging. "Nope, sorry. Some cute bird, though. Beautiful 'air, even if she did look a bit upset."
Sam nodded, as if he understood. In truth, he wasn't really listening although he did wonder why crying would interrupt the condition of hair. He was too preoccupied with a piece of paper, written in the Gov's best joined up, before him. 'Oi, Gladys, when you get back, get your scrawny arse into me office before I 'ave to drag you in by it!'
Sam tittered openly; it really was like little had changed in Manchester's A Division - even though he felt he'd evolved a thousand times over in the past few weeks. Then, he guessed he knew he wouldn't have it any other way.
He slapped the paper with the back of his hand, skipping over to the office, his eyes still locked on the sheet before him.
Suddenly, a gust of wind nearly knocked him flying, barging into his shoulder and out of the double doors like a flash of lightening.
The girl had appeared from the Gov's office; a spark of bright, sandy blonde hair sprinted past him, her whimpering low in an attempt not to be noticed. However, she thudded her way out of the building in such a way it would have been impossible not to have noticed her.
Sam turned, shocked at what he'd just seen. She looked barely older than twenty, her soft sobs denoting that she was possibly younger; that she had yet to find strength in her voice. As if she was still maturing, realising it was ok to have your own opinions. Boy, had he been there before.
Sam chuckled wryly, keeping the sound deep, stuck in his throat; it was all only slightly amusing. He shook his head, determined that nothing was going to put him in a bad mood.
Until he saw his Governors face.
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