★★★7

[didorothy]

[have Sam as the happiest he has ever been. Ever. Why is he so happy? That would be because there is a mobile phone in his hand. That's right, a mobile phone, from 2006]

I was - 1973 - but 2006! The textile factory, it's - it just turns into 2006. I was - my mobile! I have my mobile back! [isn't cuddling the mobile phone. Really!] And my PC and satellite television and it's all there and the rest of Manchester is '73 but there's that little, little... pocket of 2006...

Oh, uh, Fumie? You left your glasses at my flat.

[now, back to not!cuddling the mobile phone]

Comments

[didorothy]

[slows down as they near the end of the street] That one?

[theguv.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's it. [hardly waits for Sam to stop the car, opening the door and stumbling out and up to his own front door, fumbling with his keys the whole way, wobbling and swaying as he walks. and then, of course, drops his keys while trying to get them in the lock, cursing loudly and beginning to bang on the door] Oi! Woman! Let me in, damn you! [pause, listening] Yes I bloody well can! You can't lock me out of my own bloody house, Goddamnit! [pauses again, still listening, then bangs on the door some more] Unlock this Goddamn door right now, damnit! Don't make me break it down!

[didorothy]

[presses his head against the steering wheel and pretends he isn't here. No, he's somewhere else entirely - somewhere quiet and peaceful. Someplace where a nicely cooked dinner is waiting for him. Maybe some light music, too, as he eats. And a book, something light and relaxing. He is definitely not here]

[theguv.livejournal.com]

[yells some more, pounding on the door as the neighbours begin yelling at him, then kicks it once more before stumbling back to his car, knocking on the driver's side window] Oi! Tyler! Get out, I'm going for a drive!

[didorothy]

[most certainly not getting out] Where to, Guv?

[theguv.livejournal.com]

[bodbugosbgs] Get out of my bloody car, Tyler! I'm not in the mood! [and more yelling from the neighbours. Gene curses expansively, slamming on the window, then stumbles to the other side, crawling in] I don't give a damn where we go, just drive, Dorothy.

[didorothy]

[which means they're heading back to Sam's flat! Sam, of course, maintains diplomatic silence, because he has a feeling that anything he says will be the wrong thing to say]

[theguv.livejournal.com]

[it's probably a good thing he isn't telling Gene where they're going, because he'd probably get slugged. as it is, the Guv is looking for his flask again, forgetting that Tyler took it] Doesn't your CID notice you're missing? Or did you tell 'em you had to rush out to take care of your pissed DCI? [he isn't bitter, no]

[didorothy]

[let the record show that Sam Tyler hates it when Gene Hunt gets drunk and bitter while they're trapped in a car together. Honesty is good. Bitterness is painful] Well, they haven't radioed me yet, so it looks like I'm not missed. [and a left, some silence, and then--] I can't run CID without you, Gene. The team wants their Guv back. I don't know how much longer they'll put up with me.

[theguv.livejournal.com]

And weren't you the little ponce saying the world would be better without me, Tyler? [is that a little bit of smugness? why yes, yes it is. but he's also, well...angry about the whole CID thing, so] Why should they radio you? You're too busy playing with your technology and mobiles and all that other nancy ass gay boy science you hold so dear. I told you CID needs to be whole, but you're too bloody stubborn and stupid to listen, aren't you, Tyler?

[didorothy]

I didn't mean it. I'm sorry. [be as mean as you want, Gene, Sam sees right through you] They'd radio me because their Guv told them that I'm their Acting DCI until he comes back, and they'll do anything for him. Everyone on the team would. [looks at him before turning his eyes back to the road] I'm listening now. [except for the bit where Gene expressly told Sam that Gene wasn't going to stay at Sam's flat. But whatever]

[theguv.livejournal.com]

Damn straight you're sorry, Dorothy. frowns, slumping in his seat again] They're a good lot, a good team. You could learn a thing or two from them, Tyler, instead of running off with that sodding brat. Useless shit, you are. Gotta fight...gotta win this, Tyler, and I can't without you. The blasted bird said as much. And maybe you want to go back to Hyde or wherever the hell you're from, but I want my CID back and in one piece, and that means you've gotta get your head out of your arse and realise where the hell you belong.

[didorothy]

[frowns, fingers tightening around the wheel, as he turns down the street where he lives] Guv... But what... What if I don't belong here? What if I never belonged here? [and he winces a bit, afraid of Gene's reaction]

[theguv.livejournal.com]

[and wow, bad, bad question there, Sam. have a very irate Gene] Oh don't you even start that again you bloody div! Where the hell else do you belong, Tyler? Hyde? Don't give me that bullshit! [struggles to turn in the seat, attempting to grab both Sam and the wheel] Get the hell out of my car, you Goddamn ponce bastard! You've no right to sit there when you can throw that in my bloody face, you right bastard! Get out! [struggles to get a better hold] GET OUT!

[didorothy]

[manages to park the car near his house and yanks the keys out of the ignition, throwing the door open and getting out] You're getting out too. [his voice isn't as strong as he wishes it was] I'm not leaving you here. [walks around to the other side and opens Gene's door] You can stay at my flat until you're sober enough to drive home. [is quite ready for any physical aggression, though there's an air of oppression that seems to bend his back almost imperceptibly]

[theguv.livejournal.com]

I'm not staying in your bloody flat! [gets out of the car, swinging haphazardly at Tyler as he tries to stumble off, leaning against the car more than he'd really like, disoriented and just way too pissed to be able to walk straight] What'd I tell ya earlier? I'm not stayin'! Not with some Goddamn traitor. Piss off, Tyler, I'm through with you. Go back to your bloody Hyde. We don't need ya! Goddamn faerie bastard! Where are my keys? [fumbles with them, trying to get to the driver's side]

[didorothy]

[holds the door to the driver's side shut, snatching the keys away. His heart, by the way, is breaking] I'm not a traitor, Gene. I'm not. But I... Guv, please. Gene...

[theguv.livejournal.com]

Don't give me any of that bullshit, Tyler! [tries to wrestle him away from the door, more than ready to punch (which misses, by the way)] You don't bloody well deserve to even say my name, you piece of shit! Now move or I'll bloody well make you!

[didorothy]

[punches Gene, and then catches him before he can fall to the floor when he goes down. He struggles with Gene's weight, but still manages to drag him up to the flat and lie him down on the bed. Sam stops to contact Fumie over the network of the glasses and tell her not to come over, then hangs up his jacket, Gene's coat, and grabs the cheapest bottles of alcohol he has, setting them down beside his chair. He turns off the television -] Not tonight, you're not doing this to me tonight [- and then collapses onto his chair]

I'm really sorry, Gene. But it's not real. It... it isn't real, right? I can't stay. I have to go home. I want to go home. [runs a hand through his hair, sighing and pops open a bottle to take a large swig]

I do.

[drinks himself into the warm waters of Lethe, until he's forgotten enough to allow him sleep]