This little fic has floated about on my laptop for several weeks now and I finally decided, what the heck, lets upload it.

This came from a little idea, which grew into a train of thought, where I wondered just how the team would react if something happened to Alex... Inspired partly, it must be said, by the legendary rantandrumour and her genre of 'being mean to Alex'.

I would love some feedback on this because I have ideas of where I want this to go, who has to do what, and what has to happen...And I'd like to know if people would like to read more, especially now the show is over.

Thanks to the fabulous rantandrumour from Luigis for beta-ing and thinking up the title (I see you didn't exactly rush to help Alex) :p

Divide and Conquer

Chapter 1 - No warning.

"So it's all set then?" he asked from where he sat in the prison cell, his foot soldiers surrounding him in a council of war.

"Our agent is in place and waiting, watching, at Fenchurch East," the stocky ex police officer answered.

The leader of the group nodded, he was satisfied that all the pieces were now in place as ordered.

"It's all good to go," one of his lieutenants nodded in confirmation. "Just give the word."

The prisoner sat back on his bunk, his seat of power, looking at his loyal followers standing before him. He may have lost his freedom, but he still had his influence in the criminal underworld and the world of bent Masons.

DCI Carnegie nodded to the second in command in his gang. "The word is given. Make sure it's done, and properly."

The second nodded and left the cell. Carnegie smiled in cold satisfaction as his plan was now set in motion.

"But sir," one of his lower ranking foot soldiers - a former PC of his - cut in. "Wouldn't it be easier to just take Hunt out of the equation completely?"

Carnegie leaned forward and got to his feet, placing a hand on his junior protégés shoulder.

"No lad, it's all about power plays in this game," Carnegie explained. "It's about showing who's boss."

"How though sir?" the young criminal asked.

"Hunt thinks he has me beaten," Carnegie said with distaste. "I am going to show him that ain't the case."

"So you're not going to have him killed?" The junior was confused.

"No, I want Hunt to witness this," Carnegie said with a nod of approval. "I want him to know this is our payback for messing up Operation Rose."

"I see." The young former PC was impressed. "So you're going to hit him where it hurts most?"

"Indeed lad." Carnegie agreed. "The way to hurt Hunt is to hit Drake."

"No!" Gene walked briskly through the corridors of the Fenchurch East police station.

"But if you just listen to me Guv." His D.I was just a step behind him with a point to prove.

"Not listening Bolly!" The D.C.I mockingly placed his hands over his ears as he made for the exit of the building.

"Guv, we've been watching this guy for weeks," Alex explained as she followed Gene through the station. "The cars this dealer sells are all dodgy, every one of them, and probably dangerous too!"

Gene stopped in his tracks and turned back to Alex. "Bolls, it ain't happening." Gene shook his head. "So stop talking."

"Listen to me Guv!" Alex continued regardless. "We put the Quattro on false plates, send someone in with it undercover, make him think it's stolen, that it's a hot motor, and see how much he gives us for it."

"No!" Gene protested again.

"We then watch the premises and see what he does with it," Alex continued with her plan. "If he is dodgy he'll try and get shot of it ASAP to the highest buyer because he knows the car is hot and worth a lot cash in hand, and then we go in".

"Are you not listening to me Drake?" Gene shook his head. "You are not, N-O-T, not passing my car onto a dodgy dealer in stolen motors!"

"But Guv, can't you see?" Alex continued with determination. "This is exactly the sort of car he'd jump at!"

"He could do anything to it!" Gene protested. "Re-spray it, break it up... Christ, he could even take it out and plough it into a building! N.O. No!"

"You know this will work Guv," Alex assured him.

"Alex," Gene sighed with frustration. "If you wanna set up a sting with a red Audi Quattro, then fine, knock yourself out, but go buy your own. A man's car is his castle! Now are you coming to Luigi's or what?"

Alex shrugged. "Well, as long as you know I'm right on this"

"Oh shut it," Gene huffed mockingly at his D.I. "Or I'll make you get the first round in"

With the debate clearly settled in Gene's favour the two officers walked towards the main entrance of the Police station and left the building. Alex proceeded across the road but stopped momentarily as Gene diverted.

"Where you going?" she enquired from the kerb as the nearby Police Ford Granada started its engine, adding to the sounds of the street.

"Just locking my car and making sure the keys are ON my person." Gene nodded accusingly in Alex's direction. "Got to after your ridiculous suggestion"

"Whatever." Alex shook her head and continued across the road in the direction of Luigi's without Gene. "You can catch up," she called, "You're still getting the first round in."

The screech of tyres and roar of the engine had gone unnoticed by the two sparring police officers until too late.

"Alex!" Gene shouted in horror as he looked up from locking the Quattro.

Neither had seen it pull out - the rapid departure of police cars being hardly out of the ordinary at Fenchurch East. What had been out of the ordinary, however, was that it had flashed no blue lights and sounded no siren. The marked Police Granada had accelerated sharply, the car pulling away from the side of the road in a split second and veering at speed towards its target. Within moments it had hit it's intended victim, striking Alex from behind. The force sent her crashing onto the vehicles bonnet with a crash of person meeting metal. The Granada then slammed on its breaks, stopping with a screech and catapulting Alex like a rag doll from the car and onto the hard surface of the road. Alex hit the ground hard and came to a crumpled rest lying on her side.

Gene immediately ran as fast as he could in horror at the sight before him. He crashed to his knees at Alex's side, his overwhelming concern for his D.I numbing all other cares as the footsteps of the now fleeing Granada driver faded into the distance.

Alex's eyes were partially open but not focussed as she lay in the road, blood smearing her grazed face.

Gene's gloved hand gently touched Alex's shoulder, careful not to move her, yet constantly reassuring her with his presence.

"Urgent assistance required!" Gene bellowed into the radio he pulled from his pocket. "Ambulance now! Outside the station! Hit and run. Drake's hurt! Hurry!"

"I'm on it," a voice confirmed. "It'll be here as fast as it can Guv!".

Gene let his radio drop to the road upon hearing that help was on its way. Until it arrived, he had to keep Alex warm and reassured. With a swift move, he took off his black overcoat and placed it protectively over Alex like a blanket.

Gene leant forwards on his knees, leaning over Alex and placing his gloved hand over her own as it lay weakly on the hard road by her face, her fingers grazed from hitting the ground hard.

"S'alright Drake", Gene assured his injured D.I. "Help's coming, just hang in there...can you talk Alex?"

He looked down at her face. It was obvious to Gene that Alex was fighting not to close her eyes, struggling to focus on anything around her.

She breathed something faint and Gene leant closer over her, his ear just above her face, struggling to hear.

"Don't try and move Alex!" Gene ordered. "Where does it hurt?"

Again Alex struggled to communicate, her breaths shallow and clearly filled with pain. "Can't..."

"Can't? Can't what?" Gene's concern grew. "Can't breathe? Can't what?"

Alex let out a sharp pained breath, too weak to even vocalise a mere whimper.

"Stay with me Alex!" Gene ordered. "Focus on my voice, where does it hurt?"

"Legs..."

"Your legs hurt?" Gene checked. It was difficult to understand her, her voice was growing weaker all the time.

"No..."

"Alex? Where does it hurt? The ambulance will need to know!" Gene urged. He held her weak hand tighter in his own, as if the pressure would give her something to focus on to stay conscious.

"Legs..." Alex breathed again, barely audible.

"Could be broken," Gene nodded. "So don't try and move".

"Can't...move" Alex rasped, a tone of panic enveloping her every breath."Can't...feel...legs. Gene...I can't..."

Gene's heart rate increased as the truth of Alex's pained whispers hit him and he realised what she was trying so hard to communicate. She couldn't feel her legs.

His mind raced as the facts sank in. First fear. Then panic. Then Alex. He knew she was hurt the moment he saw her hit the ground, but to not be able to feel her legs?

"S'okay." Gene spoke with a false calm reassurance. "Don't you worry, just keep them breaths coming Bolls. We're going to get you to the hospital and get you seen to by them magical doctors. I just need to you to stay with me, you understand Bolls?"

His heart sank as he looked down at the broken form of Alex before him. Her eyes had drifted almost entirely shut and he knew she was fading fast from consciousness. The only comfort was the sound of a rapidly approaching siren as the ambulance, street by street, got nearer.

He didn't bother to even try and suppress the grin as he looked down upon the scene from a window three floors up in the police station.

Several uniformed officers had now appeared. One was photographing the damaged Granada for use as evidence, another was redirecting traffic away from the station, and there were several others shooing onlookers away.

All the time he watched as Hunt simply knelt by his damned DI, offering reassurance and warmth.

In truth, he was annoyed. Not that this unforseen incident had occurred, but that Hunt had been with her and would inevitably stay with her to the hospital and then her bedside.

Approaching the scene right now would be pointless. Hunt was always volatile at times like this.

The ever present grin widened to one of glee as Jim Keats formed an idea.

He watched as the ambulance arrived and its personnel rushed to Alex.

"D&C...," he chuckled to himself as he turned away to head back to his office. "...Divide and conquer."

End chapter one...