Andy was coming to regret his offer to take P.C. Smith's night shift. It was bloody cold out here. Even with gloves his fingers ached, and his breath curled around his face as he walked up the empty street. He didn’t like this route, he decided, quite glad he no longer had to work the night shifts.
But it wasn't only the cold and the empty night crowding in that made him wish he were anywhere but here. Dilwyn’s beat depressed him. Litter clogged the kerbs, sidewalks cracked by the insidious invasion of determined weeds, empty shops, some of which were boarded up, others starkly empty. This was a neighborhood in serious decline. He felt sorry for anyone who lived here. Felt sorry for Dilwyn who, as a first-year rookie, was stuck with this territory.
Not a soul in sight. Not a sound except off in the distance where people apparently preferred to be, in a warm pub sharing a pint and a laugh and a song. Where he would have been if not for his momentary insanity. Not that he regretted helping out a mate, especially given his first kid had decided on a surprise appearance in his dad's first half hour on his shift. It'd been the right thing to do.
"Thank you, thank you Andy! I'm a dad!" He'd wrapped Andy up in a bear hug, nearly lifting Andy from his feet before dropping him back to the floor. "The shift's easy, I promise. Nothing ever happens on my shift." He'd clapped Andy hard on the shoulder. "Just don't fall asleep!" He'd hugged Andy again. "I'm a dad!"
Andy chuckled to himself as he stepped off the kerb and crossed the street. He stifled a yawn, wishing something, anything, would happen to break the monotony. His wish was granted seconds later when a car passed, radio blaring and window down. In a moment it turned the corner and was gone, and he was alone again.
He hoped that wouldn't be the highlight to his night.
Though he had Dilwyn's hurried instructions regarding his usual walking path stuffed in his pocket, Andy found himself ambling along, swinging his baton, just letting his steps take him where they wanted. Not like anyone was in dire need of his assistance. Dilwyn hadn't been joking when he said his shift might put him to sleep. He yawned again.
Following the car's path, he turned the corner onto yet another deserted street. Except, however, for a large black car with blue lights above the back window and on the right front panel sitting just outside a street lamp's pool of light. If the car was turned on, he couldn't hear it.
What was a posh car like that doing in a place like this?
He stopped, frowned. Looked around, saw no one. Crossing the street, baton stilled now, he approached the car. Black, big, looked like a Range Rover, but...not. He stepped into the pool of light, folded his arms across his chest and stared at it. He walked around the vehicle, waiting for its occupant to acknowledge his presence, but to his surprise, on closer inspection there didn't seem to be anyone in it.
"Bloody hell," he muttered, looking around. "Stupid."
Though nothing apparently happened around here, it didn't mean nothing would. If he had a car like this, he certainly wouldn't leave it here. Especially not with the engine running.
Andy clipped his baton to his belt and contemplated the vehicle. It was nice. He'd never been this close to a Range Rover before. Not the usual car for a bloke like him. His fingers itched to touch it. But, a car like this was no doubt rigged with fancy alarms. He wondered what it would be like inside, started to reach for the door handle, dropped his hand.
He walked back to the rear of the vehicle, his fingers clenching for that one touch, to see what it felt like. Which of course was ridiculous. It was just a car, and... Andy frowned. Vaguely familiar. The dark windows, fancy blue lights, and... He hunkered down to look closer at the license plate. Definitely not the average license plate. Government maybe? Where had he seen it before?
Torchwood: Andy/SUV: Part One
But it wasn't only the cold and the empty night crowding in that made him wish he were anywhere but here. Dilwyn’s beat depressed him. Litter clogged the kerbs, sidewalks cracked by the insidious invasion of determined weeds, empty shops, some of which were boarded up, others starkly empty. This was a neighborhood in serious decline. He felt sorry for anyone who lived here. Felt sorry for Dilwyn who, as a first-year rookie, was stuck with this territory.
Not a soul in sight. Not a sound except off in the distance where people apparently preferred to be, in a warm pub sharing a pint and a laugh and a song. Where he would have been if not for his momentary insanity. Not that he regretted helping out a mate, especially given his first kid had decided on a surprise appearance in his dad's first half hour on his shift. It'd been the right thing to do.
"Thank you, thank you Andy! I'm a dad!" He'd wrapped Andy up in a bear hug, nearly lifting Andy from his feet before dropping him back to the floor. "The shift's easy, I promise. Nothing ever happens on my shift." He'd clapped Andy hard on the shoulder. "Just don't fall asleep!" He'd hugged Andy again. "I'm a dad!"
Andy chuckled to himself as he stepped off the kerb and crossed the street. He stifled a yawn, wishing something, anything, would happen to break the monotony. His wish was granted seconds later when a car passed, radio blaring and window down. In a moment it turned the corner and was gone, and he was alone again.
He hoped that wouldn't be the highlight to his night.
Though he had Dilwyn's hurried instructions regarding his usual walking path stuffed in his pocket, Andy found himself ambling along, swinging his baton, just letting his steps take him where they wanted. Not like anyone was in dire need of his assistance. Dilwyn hadn't been joking when he said his shift might put him to sleep. He yawned again.
Following the car's path, he turned the corner onto yet another deserted street. Except, however, for a large black car with blue lights above the back window and on the right front panel sitting just outside a street lamp's pool of light. If the car was turned on, he couldn't hear it.
What was a posh car like that doing in a place like this?
He stopped, frowned. Looked around, saw no one. Crossing the street, baton stilled now, he approached the car. Black, big, looked like a Range Rover, but...not. He stepped into the pool of light, folded his arms across his chest and stared at it. He walked around the vehicle, waiting for its occupant to acknowledge his presence, but to his surprise, on closer inspection there didn't seem to be anyone in it.
"Bloody hell," he muttered, looking around. "Stupid."
Though nothing apparently happened around here, it didn't mean nothing would. If he had a car like this, he certainly wouldn't leave it here. Especially not with the engine running.
Andy clipped his baton to his belt and contemplated the vehicle. It was nice. He'd never been this close to a Range Rover before. Not the usual car for a bloke like him. His fingers itched to touch it. But, a car like this was no doubt rigged with fancy alarms. He wondered what it would be like inside, started to reach for the door handle, dropped his hand.
He walked back to the rear of the vehicle, his fingers clenching for that one touch, to see what it felt like. Which of course was ridiculous. It was just a car, and... Andy frowned. Vaguely familiar. The dark windows, fancy blue lights, and... He hunkered down to look closer at the license plate. Definitely not the average license plate. Government maybe? Where had he seen it before?