Chapter 1.

It had, again for the second time in her life, been the worst of days. This time though, this time it was ten times worse. Now she knew why it had happened and it had tore her heart into pieces.

Her own father had blown himself and her mother up. Alex would have died too if she had not wanted to go in search of that balloon.

Not only that. He was there, when it happened, he was there. He held her hand and carried her in his arms like an angel. Gene Hunt. The one constant that had always been in her life since she arrived here in 1981.

The same Gene Hunt who 4 days ago she had almost confessed her love for.

He had already saved her in more ways than he could ever imagine and now she knew that he had saved her all those years ago too. The Gene Genie, always there if she asked.

Sat on her own a few hours after they had watched Evan walk out of the office with little Alex Price, herself, Alex had decided that it was too much to sit and talk to everyone else tonight but not wanting to wallow in her flat on her own either.

"Oi Bolls! Bolly! You look terrible. Come on join the land of the living!" Gene shouted to her. The irony she thought. I wish I could Gene I really wish I could. She looked over to him and could see how concerned he was. They stared at each other for a few seconds. Both knowing that she was still here. That a few days ago she had told him if she couldn't get home, if she was still here now then she wanted him.

She decided that being on her own tonight was not the best idea after all and swaggered over to his table. He poured her a class of wine and raised his glass.

"It's all about timing this life, still got things to learn, adventures to have. Unbreakable Bolly. Unbreakable." He raised his glass and touched Alex's.

"Unlike this bloody wine which is undrinkable!" She smiled. Even in the horrible gut retching state she felt he could always make her smile. "Luigi get me a beer!"

She stayed at the table feeling better in the proximity of Gene. Her rock. God she hoped he knew how much he meant to her these past few days.

Gene leaned forward and brushed Alex's hand that was palm down on the table. Ray giving them a sly glance decided it was properly for the best he didn't hear any of what they were talking about and turned to the skip and Chris.

"Bolls, I ...bloody hell why do you make things so difficult." Gene cleared his throat and again trying to speak. To say she was confused was an understatement.

"I ... I don't get why you got so upset earlier about those two Prices. Don't think I would if you tried to explain it either. My head aint to good at understanding that sorta stuff. I know it must have been shit for the kid, properly somert to do with her but well... oh what the hell. Does this mean you're not going home now? I know that sounds stupid but ..."

A new batch of tears was again threatening to over spill. Alex knew what he was asking. They had arrived at the point where they left off the other night. She wanted nothing more at that moment in time to jump over the table and just crawl into his arms and stay there, never to surface. She was just about to tell him that she wasn't going anywhere for now, that she meant every word that she said but he found speech first.

Evidently Gene hadn't noticed the tears in Alex's eyes or the small smile playing on her lips as she was about to talk. The words he had found to say were meant to relax the tension he thought he had just caused. Not realising how it would sound to Alex he blundered on.

"Mind you I don't envy little Alex Price. Bet that White bloke never does tell her even if she asks what happened. What sort of sick bastard blows his family up anyway?" He looked up and smiled wearily. Then he saw the look on her face. It was a mixture of shock, anger but most of all hurt.

"Bolly are you ..."

"For your information 'Gene' a sick bastard that loved his family so much he didn't want anyone or anything else to have them!" Holding back the tears Alex stood up and ran out of Luigis up to her flat.

'Shit.' Thought Gene, 'so fucking close and I had to open my big gob again.' He sighed gulped the rest of his pint and grabbed his coat. A few minutes later, turning the keys in his beloved Quattro he screeched off down the road alone.

-

She heard the car turning the corner and away from Luigis. That unmistakable driving could only be Gene.

The bastard. Why did he have to say that? He should be up here now comforting me when I need it the most! She had this one moment as back up in case everything went wrong. If she was staying in 1982 she wanted it to be with him. Alex sat down on her settee and cried.

-

An hour or so later she had managed to gather enough strength to pick herself up off her settee and go and find a drink from the kitchen. Scotch was very much needed. She poured herself a decent measure and made her way back to the living room. Just glancing at the door for a split second she noticed a small white piece of paper.

Alex bent down and opened it up.

Bolly.

Whatever I said I'm sorry. You know where I am if you need me.

I'm a twat.

Sorry

Gene x

The tears fell freely yet again for the uncountable time today. What had she been thinking? How the hell could he know or understand what the Prices meant to her. He had even tried to tell her he didn't get it earlier on and she ignored it. Drying her eyes she reached for the phone.

"What." God he really was pissed, that tone was only reserved for 'fuck off!'

"Gene I ..."

"Bolls, is that you? Are you ....ok?" his tone changing instantly.

"I .... I need you." She sniffed, it was all he needed.

"I'll be there in 10" He placed the receiver down and Alex let out the breath she had been holding in since she started dialling.

-

5 minutes later she heard the car again. Coming to a screeching stop outside she heard the door slam and Gene banging about down stairs mumbling something to Luigi in apology for waking him.

KNOCK KNOCK

Alex steadily walked over to the door. Her breathing all erratic, this was it. No going back.

She opened her door and there stood a very out of breath worried as hell Gene Hunt.

"Gene I'm sorry ... I shouldn't have" This time he saw the tears and stepped forward in one big move taking Alex in his arms. She stood there crying into his chest for a while until she felt she could look at him without being terrified of what she saw back. Pulling back to look up to his face

"Take me to bed Gene." He leaned down and kissed her. Just as he had the other night. Soft, passionately and full of promise.

(A/N: Second chapter up soon promise. Hurrah for the smut and good things to come for our lovers!)