This is my new story – it's a product of a very rainy day.

Please bear with it & I hope you like the opening chapter.

Let's set this around series 3, but pretend there was no Keats and no 'pub'!

'Right! Listen up.'

The team jumped from their slouched positions as the Manc Lion stepped out of his den. Little had been going on recently in the crime world and as far as Ray and Chris were concerned that meant they could lie back and have a good old smoke all morning. Alex and Shaz on the other hand were determined to keep themselves busy and not stoop to their level. Shaz had spent the morning retyping up some case notes and Alex sorting through some old files trying to alphabetise the documents.

Numerous depressed faces in the squad room glanced up at their Guv intrigued to what he had to share with them. It was a cold December morning and even indoors the cold draught hit them making each and every one of them shiver. The weather didn't exactly help their lack of motivation.

'Just 'ad a call in, its come to our attention that there is a major drug gang about, 'nd they're dangerous, very dangerous.'

Ray's face lit up. 'Finally. a proper investigation for us all. I'm sick to death of just sitting here doing nowt.' Alex and Shaz glanced at each other shaking their heads. Exchanging a 'what an utter retard' look. Ignoring Ray's comment, Gene carried on.

'Turns out they're running a 'ighly secretive organisation underground somewhere in London, 'nd our job is to bring the bastards down.'

Everyone picked up on Gene's mood as he spat his words out that morning, pointing at the floor and tensing up as his words came out – something had rattled him.

'So do we have any leads?'

Alex stood up; intrigued by the new investigation they'd been given.

'Well Bolly, turns out the main man is no other than Danny Dixon.'

Chris and Ray jumped up; suddenly they were no longer slouched in their chairs but stood up glancing at their Guv.

'Yes lads, 'the' Danny Dixon'

'Well who is Danny Dixon' asked Alex confused and bewildered. Even Shaz stopped typing and looked up.

'Danny Dixon Bols is a very nasty man. We 'ad the pleasure of dealing with 'im up in Manchester, nasty little bastard. Tried to kill one of our plonks when he realised we were onto his little business. In the end we got 'im, but had no evidence that stood up in court. He's a bastard, and he will certainly not be too chuffed to see us lot again.'

'I remember him, nasty piece of work.' Ray shuddered as he light up another cigarette.

'Shaz I want you to pull out all the files of recent drug related incidents we've had. Chris, Ray, Drake with me, we're off to see one of his ex buyers living in London, been tipped off with his address. He should know where our Danny boy is. The rest of you I want you to do somethin' useful – bring in all the known crack heads you know and see if you can get 'owt out of 'em.'

A range of faces glared back at Gene, most muttering 'Yes Guv'. It was clear some of the so called team in here could not be chewed with the work that was involved with this, but he knew he could rely on his A-team. Shaz was great with the little details, Chris and Ray on the other hand were not as intellectually useful as he wanted them to be but they were still a valuable piece of the team. And as for Alex, she also was very good on picking up on the details and her psychiatry crap, or was it psychology? He could never remember. As much as they bickered and argued he was secretly very fond of his DI and couldn't help but take in how gorgeous she looked as she headed across the room towards him on that winter morning of 1983.

'Right Bolly' stepping out of his trance, 'Me thinks it's time to Fire Up The Quattro. And I mean it everyone; he is dangerous 'nd is known for his bastard possession of firearms as well as drugs. I want 'im stopped! No one deals drugs on my patch. Com prehende?'

'Yes Guv' as the four of them headed out of the room.

Shaz sat there sighing, one day she thought, one day she'd be able to join them. Alex and Chris were perfectly aware of her capabilities but as far as the Guv was concerned, she wasn't brave enough to deal with the crimes and situations the team often found themselves in.

Gene was very proud of the team he had created and had great pride in what they could achieve, even if they did argue the whole time.

Alex strolled down the corridor behind her Guv, followed by Chris and Ray. She'd got used to it all by now – the harshness of some of the investigations. Back in 2008 no way could a police officer get away with shooting a possible suspect as he fled from an officer, nor beat the living daylights out of them in the interview room. But secretly she has a lot of respect for her Guv, although a lot of the time she didn't show it. Alex knew she pushed her luck with him, said things that the likes of Chris and Ray would never get away with but she didn't mind. It made her feel safe and secure in her own little way. As long as he was there, she knew little harm would come to any of the team.

But even she was concerned about this new investigation – this 'Danny Dixon' did sound dangerous and as far as she could see, Gene was clearly disturbed by his reappearance. As they headed across the icy car park towards the gleaming bright red Quattro, she just hoped that they could find him in time.

x x x x x x x x x x

So there's the first chapter – I'd really appreciate your thoughts and reviews please as they are what encourage me to write more!