Title: In Over Her Head
Rating: Blue Cortina for language and some scary situations.
Author: liquorishflame
Spoilers: none, but inspired by a line from 2.4
Word Count: 2897
Summary: She's afraid she's in too deep...
A/N: Beated by fawsley, (thanks fawsley

'Don't move!'

CID all froze, shivering as they kept their torches trained on Walter Paterson's wild, rain-drenched face as he squeezed his hands around the neck of his youngest and last son.

'Mr. Paterson...Walter...I know that you're upset-' Sam began.

'Upset! My wife left me to raise three kids on the dole, and you think I'm upset!'

'Is that why you killed them?'

'Better then living on scraps all your life.' Walter replied bitterly.

Out of the corner of her eye, Annie saw Ray inching forwards and bit her lip.
Just what they needed, some impulsive bastard wanting to play hero. Please Ray, don't, she prayed. Slowly, she started to toe off her shoes. If this was going the way she thought it was, she'd have to act quickly.

'Dad, please Daddy, let me go.' Davey said, as he shivered in the rain.

'Davey, Davey, I can't let you go, don't you see son? It's not safe out there for you...not safe at all.'

Ray leapt forward, grabbing Walter’s arm, jarring his grip. With a scream, Davey fell into the river below.

Earlier...
Annie walked onto the second floor, grinning as she did so. It'd been ages since she'd come for a visit, hadn't been there since her promotion really. 'Bout time that she did.

'Hey there Gwen, hullo Patrice.' The circle of women who'd been talking merrily stopped, turning to look at her, arms folded. Annie smiled as she looked around.

'What, do I have crumbs on my face or something?'

'Don't think you belong here...WDC Cartwright.' said Patrice snidely.

Annie felt the smile melt off her face. 'What d’you mean?'

'I mean, officer that there are better ways to get to the top then from the bottom.'

Someone snickered and she could feel her face turn red.

'Is that what you all think? That I, I, shagged the Guv to get me job?'

'Nah. We think you shagged 'em all' one of the other girls piped up. Annie felt her jaw drop open.

'Careful Cartwright, someone'll get ideas' tittered Tina.

She snapped it quickly shut, and turned to walk out as fast as she could, the petty laughter following her out of the room.


'No!' A simultaneous cry from the men watching, even as Annie was already in motion, ripping off her jacket and taking three steps backwards, as Sam and the Guv struggled with theirs. The Guv noticed her first.

'Cartwright...' he growled.

'Don't worry sir, I've got the gold in swimming.' she said briskly, just before she jumped off the edge, executing a perfect dive into the stormy waters.

The shock of the freezing cold was like being slap in the face by a thousand tiny needles., and she gasped, all the air going out of her lungs. Clawing her way to the surface, she took a shuddering breath before she went under again.

All around her, everything fizzled and boiled around her, like being trapped in a can of pop. She couldn't see anything, she barley move, pushed and tossed around like a toy boat in a bathtub.

Where was the boy? Where was he?


'Oi, Cartwright, just the bird we were lookin' for.' Annie stopped at Clive's shout.

'What is it sir?' Clive and Ray exchanged a sly glance.

'D'y know how many jokes there are about plonks?'

Annie took a deep breath and let it out again.

'No sirs, how many?'

'Two! The rest are all true!'

She stood there indignantly as they laughed at her.

'You know, I was promoted 'cause I'm good at my job.'

Clive snorted. 'You were promoted 'cause the Guv felt sorry for yeh.'

Annie grit her teeth, feeling a stinging in her eyes as she glared defiantly at the two of them.

'Well I don't know about you two, but I've better things to do then stand here an' make stupid jokes.'

Clive opened his mouth to say something, only to be stopped by Ray holding up a hand.

'No, no wait, hold up. Let's be fair Clive, Cartwright can do a lot of things regular coppers can't do.'

'Like what?'

'Well, like make tea!' The two of them broke into another explosion of laughter as Annie left to room in disgust.


She broke the surface for the second time, taking a quick gulp of air before going down once more. Looking frantically around, she tried to see something in the watery dark.

Come on Davey, where are you?

She tried scissoring her legs, but was stopped by skirt trapping her legs around the knee. She would have screamed in frustration, but gulped it down, aware this time of the air she still had in her sore lungs.
She saw something pale in the water, reached out to grab it, only to push it away in revulsion. It was a hand, a drowned hand! she thought, before seeing that it was only an algae covered branch.

She went up once more, another shaky breath, then down again.

What was that thing about drowning? That you went down three times before you were really drowned? Was this the third time or the fourth time?
And why wasn't anyone down her with her, helping her? Where were the others?



'Oi, Flash Knickers! My office, now!'

Annie looked puzzled as she got up from her desk and walked over to the Guv's office.

'Shut the door.'

She did so.

'You know what this CID needs Cartwright? It needs more men. Hairy, sweaty, determined men with balls the size of my fist. Know what I mean?'

He glanced at her and she nodded vigorously, although she wasn't sure why. He turned away to look at his new Clint Eastwood poster, hands clasped behind his back.

'It has come to my attention...that this city is awash with crime. Drenched in moral decay. Soaked in sin.'

He paused, and turned around. 'And how do I know that?'

'Er...how sir?'

'I know that, because someone's been nicking out of the tea money jar. In our own CID.' He shook his head sadly.

Annie smiled brightly. 'And you think I could find out who it is, right?'

DCI Hunt frowned.

'Why would I ask you that?'

'...Well, why else am I here… sir?'

He raised his eyebrows, giving her a long look and her heart sank.

'Today is not your day Cartwright.'

'You don't think...Sir, I didn't do it!'

'Oh if I only had a shilling for every time I heard that.' he sighed sorrowfully as he put a arm around her shoulders, guiding her back out of the office.

'But-'

'Just make sure it's all back by the end of the day, and we'll say no more on the subject, all right petal?' He slammed the door, barely missing catching her hand in the frame.


What if they'd thought that they were both drowned? What if they'd gone back, given up? She dived in, head first, not even thinking on how deep it was....she could have cracked her head open, sunk to the bottom. Maybe that's what they thought...

Annie Cartwright! Get a grip girl! It's just that you're low on oxygen, "paranoia and a sense of impeding doom," right? Think now, where did Davey go down!

She surfaced once more, looked around, hair plastered over her face, making it all that much harder to see in the dark and the rain.
It was there! He'd gone down there!
As she dived again, she thought she heard voices calling her.


'Hey Annie.' Sam said as he stopped by her desk.

'Heya.' she said quietly, not looking up from her work.

'What's the matter?' She sighed, pushing a hand through her hair as she looked up at his frowning face.

'Nothing, I...the Guv thinks I'm the one who took the tea money.'

His eyebrows shot up.

'He what?!' With a determined look on his face, Sam stormed into the office, slamming the door. Annie cringed as shouts were heard.

'First sign of trouble, blame the woman, right Gene? Let's do her for original sin while you're at it, you ignorant sexist wanker!'

'First of all: knock before you come in! Second: just because you're getting your sweaty mits down her knickers every Friday night does not make her innocent, in fact, far from it!'

Annie slunk further down into her chair as the rest of the CID turned to look at her.

'It's not even true.' she mumbled into her lap as the shouting got louder.

'Annie's not like that-'

'Oh she's not like that because she batted her lashes and waved her hips at you? That bit of skirt had you wrapped right 'round 'er little finger since day one! She's got too much power over you, and you know it!'

'Unlike some people, I do not do all my thinking with my lower anatomy!'

'If you don't get out of my office right now, I'll make sure you don't do anything with your lower anatomy!'

'Guv-'

'Shove off!'


What's the first rule of lifesaving? Don't get yourself in trouble.
Thanks matron.

She went deeper and deeper, her ears ringing, the breath painful in her lungs. Flinging her arms out in a stroke, she hit something soft.

Davey?!

She turned clumsily slow, to see his face, mouth open, eyes fluttering...
With a surge of triumph, she grabbed him.

Which way was up? Which way?
Calm Annie, calm. Follow the air bubbles, remember?
Hard to see, hard to see in the half light underwater, but they were going...

Down!


She was drinking a coffee in the canteen when Phyllis sat down in front of her.

'Christ the day I've had...I tell you, who in their right mind gets drunk at 9:30 in the morning...'

She stopped and looked sharply at her.

'Christ Annie, you look like someone drowned yer cat, what is it?'

She looked down into her mug. 'It's nothing ma'am, really.'

Phyllis put two fingers under her chin and forced her head gently upwards.

'Come on love. You don't have anything to prove to this lot.'

Annie stood up, pushing away from the table.

'Yes I do! Everyday I do! I have to put up with the jokes, and the snide remarks, and the second bloody guessing all the time, because everyday, every bloody day I've got people telling me I can't do this.. this bloody job! And I'm so scared Phyllis, I'm so scared that they're right.'

She ran off, the tears finally running down her face.



She rolled, and kicked, flying towards the surface, letting out her breath on one shout. 'I've got him!'

'Cartwright!'

The Guv's voice, and Sam, Chris, Ray. The plods with them, all shouting for her.
She towed Davey to the side, spluttering and shivering, clawing at the slimy bricks, slammed against it by the rising waves.

'Oi, I see her!'

'Don't you jump in too Tyler, you'll crack yer head open!'

'Give me the rope you div, come on now!

Annie grabbed at it and was pulled upwards, clenching her teeth at the pain as her arm was wrenched, aching, by the boys unconscious weight. They were pulled jerkily to the top. She was nearly frozen, tired beyond belief, and God help us, but she had the most terrible stich in her side...

The boy...the boy was cold. He was cold, and he wasn't breathing.

She hung on miserably, willing them to be there, to be done. -

Hands reached for her, helped her up, gently taking Davey. 'CPR, he needs CPR.' she stuttered as Sam took him and started breathing into his lungs. The team huddled around them, leaving her and the Guv alone. He glared at her as she stood, shivering and sore. She looked away, focusing on Davey's face.

'Where's his dad?'

'Walter? That daft bugger tried to jump in after the sprog an' almost put three officers in the drink. Took five more to stop 'im.' He sounded like he was apologising. She looked at him, and the Guv seemed...ashamed almost.

' "Sprog" sir?'

He was back to glaring at her, thank goodness.

'Blimey Cartwright, I know I said CID needs more men, but you don't have to prove how big the knackers in your knickers are!' The Guv growled, taking off his jacket and draping it over her. She pushed at it.

'I'm fine sir.' she said, teeth chattering a lie, refusing to rub the pain in her side. He scowled at her.

'Don't be daft.'

'If it were you or Sam, you wouldn't be askin' for special treatment.' she protested, trying to push it off again. He grabbed the lapels, pulling her in so fast that she thought he was going to punch her. Or kiss her.

'Number one! If any of my men, and that includes you flash knickers, was bloody stupid enough to take a swan dive into the river at this time of year, I would bloody well insist they get 'special treatment'! Number two! It's pissin' down, I'm not gonna have you catch yer death! Number three!' He leaned in close.

'It may have escaped your notice, but yer top’s gone all see-through. You may 'ave nice tits, but I'm not havin' one of my officers flashin' the entire CID for a treat!
Nice bra by the way.' He let go.

Was it just lack of oxygen, or was there the hint of a smirk on his face?

'...Good point Guv.'

'All my points are good 'uns.'

Okay, definitely a smirk there. She couldn't believe how he was turning this into a lesson in innuendo.

Annie gave a weak smile, clutching camel coat tightly around her.

'You're not just trying to make me feel better are you sir? Because I rescued Davey, but I couldn't save him?'

'Cartwright...'

'Sam's been working on Davey the whole time we've been talkin'. He's not breathing sir.'

'Annie..'

'He's not breathing.' She swayed, and the Guv put out a hand to catch her, but she brushed him off.

'Nothing..it was all for-'

There was a spluttering cough behind her.

'He's breathing! He's goin' to be all right!' Sam cried out. The entire team started clapping and cheering. Annie let out a relieved sigh, and pushed the hair out of her face with a trembling hand.

'You know what sir?'

'Yeh Cartwright?'

'You never asked me...if I took..the sodding money..'

She never got to hear what the Guv had to say about that, because her legs buckled and she fell.


Phyllis did not bother to tread lightly as she stormed onto the second floor to where the WC's were laughing and talking with each other.

'All right you lot, stop your gabbin!' she snarled, making her presence known. The plods leapt to their feet, nearly standing to attention.

'So..anyone hear what happened last night?'

Glances were exchanged, but no-one said a word.

'Our own WDC Cartwright dived into the river to rescue a boy from drowning. No hesitation. Just did it.'

She paused, raking her eyes across the room. 'Know where she is today?'

'Resting on her laurels ma'am?' Tina said.

'More like resting on her-'

'Quiet!' There was terrified silence.

'She's in hospital, with suspected pneumonia a dislocated shoulder, three broken ribs, and a perforated lung. None of which anyone knew about, until she collapsed at the scene. You know why?'

Phyllis looked around. 'No? No clever dick remarks?'

The silence grew heavier.

'Let me tell you why, you pathetic bunch of sodding infants. Because, she jumped into a freezing bloody river in the middle of November. Why? Because she felt that she had something to prove. Why? Because in a male bloody dominated field, you either stand out or you blend in! Because if a woman complains about so much as a hangnail, the men in this job tell her to go cry to her old man!'

No-one could look her in the eye.

'So why didn't she tell anyone?'

Patrice tentatively raised her hand. Phyllis ignored her.

'Cause she was afraid to. She thought the people here wouldn't think she was up for the job. If you ask me, she's better qualified then anyone in this room.'

Turning around, she saw DCI Hunt standing in the doorway, his face like granite.

'Oh, hello there Guv. Didn't know you were there.' she said in an unsurprised tone.


Annie was dozing quietly in her hospital bed when there was some loud whispering and shushing in the hallway. Frowning, she sat up just as they burst into the ward.

'For she's a jolly good fellow, for she's a jolly good fellow, for she's a jolly good fellow...And so say all of us!'

It was nearly half of the CID, Sam, DCI Hunt, Phyllis, Ray, Chris, and Clive.
Sam and Phyllis were singing whole-heartedly, while the others were sneaking scared looks at Gene, who managed to sing and glare at the same time.

'Good news! Davey's doing just fine, and he's askin' after you. He seems to think you're Superwoman.' Sam said as he leaned forward and gave her a peck on the cheek, making her blush and the CID make kissy sounds. She ignored them, smiling back at him.

'It's Supergirl, not Superwoman.' Chris corrected.

'Shut up you div.' Ray muttered. Still smiling, she tuned to the Guv, who looked

DCI Hunt handed her a large bouquet of pink roses and baby's breath that he'd been hiding behind his back.

'Compliments from the team.'

'Oh...Guv..' She gathered the bouquet towards her, breathing in their scent.

'Yeh well, don't get all soppy. Would have done it for any member on my team.'

'You'd send Ray or Sam flowers?' Annie teased. The Guv reddened as the others chuckled.

'Shut that smart mouth an' enjoy that bookay what I brought, all right?'

'But Guv, I paid for it.' Chris piped up. The Guv turned to him, a toothy grin on his face.

'Yes Chris, thank you for reminding me. And why did you pay for it?'

Chris made a face. ' 'Cause I took the tea money to get me new album and forget to pay it back.'

'What album was it Chris?'

Chris mumbled something.

'We can't 'ear you.' Ray protested.

' "Cherish" by David Cassidy.' Chris said, blushing.

'Bloody hell, next you'll be telling us you're really "Christina"!' Gene said.

The team laughed, and Annie smiled. Some of the laughs were forced, and some were genuine, but there was really only one thing she cared about.

They were laughing with her, not at her.