Frank Morgan insists Sam needs to go back to Hyde. Sam has to convince him that he's the real Sam Tyler and not Sam Williams.

I don't own the rights to Life on Mars, rats.

This is set after the final episode of the second series. Yes, it is all over, but the adventure continues.

Half inspired by my Life on Mars doodling, half by A matter of life and death, and an extra half for good measure of inspiration from Doctor Who, 'cos you can never have too much inspiration!

One Way Ticket

Chapter 1

It had started out as a rather nice day for DI Sam Tyler. For one, he had woken up with the lovely WDC Annie Cartwright next to him. Sam was still getting over the reality of, well, reality. 2006 may have been real, but he'd decided that 1973 was a better reality. Now he was just glad to see the sun shine, and know that he was alive. Sam walked into CID to find half the room assembled ready for some big announcement. DCI Gene Hunt, the Gov, was nowhere to be seen. Sam moved over towards Annie and gently poked her in the ribs making her turn. He quickly planted a light kiss on her check which caused woops of laughter of Ray and some of the other Neanderthals of the department. Annie blushed a little, "C'mon, you only saw me an hour ago." She muttered in Sam's ear as he perched next to her on the desk. Sam grinned, "So?" he replied but Chris' gaze caught his eye and he suddenly became aware of all the eyes in the room, on him. Thankfully, help can in the form of a DCI in a camel coat.

"Right you pathetic excuse for a department. I 'ave just spent the best part of a scotch on the phone to Litton asking why 'e got there first. A run of the mill bank robbery should be easy for you to get your arses in gear and get there first. So?" Gene spat most of his speech and when he was finished glared round the room at cowling department members. Only Sam looked cool and resolved. "So where were you Gov? At..?" Sam asked, and was surprised to see nodding from around the room. "Good point Sammy-boy. Now, this is why 'e's a DI. You got to think on your feet, there was no robbery. Sam, you've just signed yourself up for special duties." Everyone sighed with relief, except Sam, who sighed, trying not to guess what he'd have to do.

Sam was called into Gene's office half an hour later. "There you are." Gene said with a smirk. "Yes, Gov, here I am." Sam retorted and Gene's smirk almost twisted into a grin.

"Here." Gene said handing Sam a very thin file and Sam got a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. "You have got to be kidding me." Sam said looking at the file, quite clearly labelled on scrawny biro writing, Speech for School assembly. "Think of it as justice for nearly getting us all shot, and for being a know-it-all bastard all the time." Gene lent back into his chair, "Tomorrow, Sammy-boy." Sam left Gene's office in a huff, and for just a second wished he was back in 2006. Suddenly his desk telephone rang, making him jump. "Can you here that?" Sam said to Annie, breaking out into a cold sweat. "'Course Sam, answer it!" Annie said, rolling her eyes.

Sam picked up the receiver, "Sam Tyler." Sam said into the phone, throat suddenly dry.

"Sam, you're needed back in Hyde, you can drop to façade, be back with people who respect you." Morgan's voice rang out, Sam began to shake is head.

"You don't get it! I'm Sam Tyler, not, not, no!" Sam said before slamming down the phone. He looked at his hands, he was shaking. "Sam, what's wrong Sam." Annie asked scared by his manic, petrified eyes. "They want me to go back." Sam said, collapsing into a chair.

Coming soon, chapter 2, how will Sam cope with public (school (sorry joke)) speaking, and what will Morgan's demands do to Sam's new found stability with Annie and the rest of CID. Find out:-D