Disclaimer I do not own anything related to Ashes to Ashes or Life on Mars. Anything related to them belongs to Kudos. No copyright infringement intended. THis story takes place about six months after Back to the Beginning.

A Winter's Tale

Gene sat in his office looking out over the main CID office. He was tired. The latest case had been difficult. More difficult than he could have anticipated. He propped his cowboy boots on the edge of the desk as he thought about the young victims and how he would have reacted had he been the father of the youngest. Not much older than my Molly he shook his head as he thought about the young boy he and Alex had interviewed. He couldn't really believe the young lad had been so brave. Deep in thought he didn't hear Alex enter his office until she was directly in front of him.

"Gene?" She sighed.

"Yes Bolls" He sat up properly. She had been back from Maternity Leave for just over a month and Gene hadn't realised how mych he had missed her until she was back.

"Everyone is going to Luigi's" She watched as he nodded. He looked exhausted.

"Right"

"I might just go home to the girls. You go if you want" Alex already had her oversized jacket on. He actually missed the small leather jacket she wore in the warmer weather. This coat hid her from him almost completely. Gene shook his head as he stood and approached her.

"No" He watched as she raised her eyebrows "No, I'm getting too old for all that. Going home sounds the best plan. C'mon lead the way"

Alex was dumbfounded. The case must have affected him more than she had realised as he took her hand in his and lead her from the office. The outer office was already deserted as Ray and the others had all headed off to the pub. Pausing by her desk to turn the computer off. The light from her desk lamp illuminated Gene, making him look older.

"Gene" She reached up and touched his face as he closed his eyes. "What is it? What's wrong?"

"Nothing Bolls" He held her hand to his lips, kissing her palm.

"Gene" She almost whispered.

"Just can't help but think this isnt over. I mean we got the right scumbag but I dunno. Just got a feeling that it isn't over" He sighed as Alex stepped closer.

"We will go through everything in the morning" She sighed as he bent his head to hers. "Make sure" His lips were millimeters from hers as the phone rang. Both jumped apart as if they had been shot. Alex rang a hand over her hair as Gene answered the phone. She saw him physically tense as he listened to the caller. He slammed the handset back down on Sam's desk.

"It isn't over Bolls. It is far from bloody over."

"What happened? Who is it?" Alex tried to keep the panic out of her voice.

"That sick scumbag" He shook his head as Alex raised her eyebrows. She expected an answer. "That scumbag was working with someone else. Says he has Sharon."

Alex closed her eyes as she heard Gene speak. Sharon Grainger, the baby of the team was in trouble. She glared at the young DC's desk as she absoebed the news.

"Sharon? Oh my God"

"Get the rest of the drunken idiots back here. We find Sharon Grainger. I am not having this thug think he can carry on where his brother left off. Not on my watch and not here" He stormed back in to the office as Alex picked up the phone. She could only pray he was right.

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"You dunno wot you are messing wiv" Sharon glared at the man in front of her as he laughed. The place smelt of damp and wet paint. Sharon was more angry than anything. She had only stepped outside Luigi's so she could pick up a signal on her mobile phone. Now she was stuck in what appeared to be a basement with Frankie Hughes stood in front of her. She narrowed her eyes as her dark fringe fell in to her face.

"Gene Hunt's little terrier" He laughed.

"They'll find me and when they do, you'll be for it" She turned her face away as Hughes laughed.

"You don't get it do you DC Grainger? They arent going to find you. They know you are missing. I called that precious Guv of yours but they aren't ever going to find you. They arrested my brother for murder. I want him released. You for him." He sat in front of her as she realied who Hughes was.

"You are Tommy Hughes brother? The Whitechappel killer we stopped on Operation Innocence last month" She smirked. "Not one of our most difficult arrests. He coughed to all six murders" She almost laughed.

"Yes he did. But what makes you think he was telling the truth?" He ran a hand down Sharon's face as she silently hoped her team knew where to find her and didn't take long about it. Please work it out Ma'am please. She thought as she stared in to the eyes of a madman.

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Authors note. THis is going to be the Christmas fic. But I had to put a case in there too. Please let me know what you think. As with all my Ashes stories they are set in present day Fenchurch. Thanks.