When You Were Young, by dakfinv, (PG-13)

[culf.livejournal.com]

Fandom: LIFE ON MARS
Pairing: Sam Tyler, Gene Hunt
Length: 5 medium length chapters
Author on LJ: dakfinv
Author Website: Masterlist
Why this must be read: There was no way I wasn't going to rec dakfinv this month, as she's my favorite Life on Mars writer. If you like Sam-angst, this is the author for you. 

In this story, Sam suffers from a brain injury that reduces him to the mental state of a four year old. It's surprisingly cute, with mentally-four-year-old-Sam running around being adorable, but quite angsty from the perspective of Gene, who has to see his once brilliant DI like this, not knowing if he'll ever be well again.

“My DI’s a retard,” he shouted loud enough to earn several disapproving stares from nearby staff.

The doctor took a deep breath and soldiered on. “He has lost a significant amount of intellectual ability. Right now I’m trying to determine how severe the damage is, but according to the tests I’ve performed so far, it seems his brain has regressed to the intellect of a three or four year old child. I’d like to conduct some IQ tests to determine--”

“I don’t care what you do,” Gene sneered, unable to stop pacing.

“Mr. Hunt...”

“I’m not family. I’m not his power of whatsit. Whatever you do, it’s got nowt to do with me.”

“Sam needs as much support from his friends as--”

“That,” Gene pointed at the door. “That is not Sam Tyler and it is not my responsibility.” He stormed off down the corridor in a puff of camel-haired fury. No, that was not his DI. That was a bloody joke. Tyler was smart, too smart for his own good. Tyler was a bit off his rocker, but he found answers where there were only questions. He chased down scum and locked up crime lords, and he wouldn’t give a toss about stupid, bloody hexagons.

No, that...it wasn’t Sam, and if it wasn’t Sam, it wasn’t one of his men, and if it wasn’t one of his men, it wasn’t his problem.

When You Were Young