Authors note - Right lets get one thing straight, this is not another story from me, but a story devised in my husbands brain and a story he wishes for me to write and post on this site. All I can say is a typical bloke who likes making and giving ideas but can't be arsed to do anything about it! Ok moan over please read and review and enjoy.
Disclaimer - Don't own Ashes to Ashes, just own a really strange husband and the lap top this was written on. Many thanks to Jazzola for the beta work once again.
Six thirty in the morning and Fenchurch East CID were travelling along London city roads, trying to get to the Shoebury Estate, where their informant had told them twelve drugs dealers associated with the notorious Nick Collins, the ring leader of the worse case of drug distribution in 1983 were residing in a flat on the top floor. Thanks to DCI Gene Hunt, Ray Carling, Chris Skelton and the rest of CID, within the year Nick was behind bars.
But why you ask, were we heading to Shoebury Estate? Well sit back and listen to the day we at Fenchurch East call Black Monday.
Fenchurch CID: just a normal day, on the way to an operation, with Chris and Ray having another of their famous arguments over a young blonde Ray picked up in the pub last night.
"Ray, she was my brass!" Chris complains loudly, the expression of someone who has had a great injustice done to them on his face. "That just was plain wrong, what you did."
"What you complaining about, it wasn't like you could do anything!" Ray replies, stroking his moustache, as is his habit (although I had figured out that it was also a telling sign of when he was fibbing). "Besides, she liked me more and you're with Shaz, so shut up!"
"But she was my brass!" Chris repeats, getting more angry by the minute.
"Will you two give it a bloody rest?" Jasmine asks from the other side of the room, rubbing her forehead lethargically. "We do not want you two having a moan and groan about some girl that must have been desperate to sleep with no other than Ray Carling."
Interrupting, Gene puts in his two-pennyworth, his expression bad-tempered and his annoyance very much unmasked.
"I don't care if the woman was sex on legs, I want everyone to concentrate, got it!" Gene bellows into the chaos of the van, finally getting calm. Once everyone's eyes are focused on him, his eyes turn to me, sitting quietly in front of the wheel, trying to keep my eyes off Ray's backside as I am driving. "So, Fisher, what do you think?"
"Guv?" I ask, just taking my eyes off the road for a few seconds as I'm driving the big blue Ford Transit van, unmarked transit van I may add, and therefore obliged to obey the rules of the road. Which is why Gene isn't driving. "Are you asking my opinion? Shouldn't you ask DI Drake's or DI Carling's?"
"Yes probably, but I've asked you, so spill, Madame Flipper," Gene replies, folding his arms across his chest in a display of stubbornness that we all know well. "Well?"
"Nick Collins was killed in prison and now several of his men have decided to start up the business," I explain, literally reciting what I had read from the file just a day earlier. "Are armed response coming, or are we all going in as we are?"
"No we do this, we have the plods as back-up," Gene replies, looking around the car, his eyes sliding from detective to detective. "Everyone check their wires."
On our Guv's cue we all check our wires, Alex leaning over and checking mine for me as I'm still driving. Gene nods his head approvingly as we complete the task, no complications arising from the often temperamental wires.
"Now check your fire arms!" Gene orders tensely, knowing these are the big things and watching as we all check; this time, that includes me.
I can do quite a good trick, driving and checking my gun, Ray doesn't like me doing it, but he can be a great big poof at times so be it.
We pull into the estate, lights off and I park the car just under the archway. Gene watches two young girls unsteadily make their way home.
"Right, from now on, we're watching each others' backs closely," Gene states, turning to me. "What do you think, DS Fisher?"
"That flat up there, green door level two, with all the writing over the walls, that's where they are," I explain, turning to everyone in the van. "We know there are twelve of them; we also know there're drugs in there so they may be high. We all have the bullet proof vests on and we all know what to do?"
"Yeah, go in and arrest them!" Ray replies, winking at me, the familiar wink that makes me feel better every time. "Once we have rounded them all up, plods will come along and take them to the station for questioning."
"How do we know these men are Collins's men, Guv?" Chris asks. He was always the dim one, I reflect, sighing.
"Jesus, Chris, they could be Goldilocks and the three bears to you, just do your job!" Gene groans, rolling his eyes and looking at me as I giggle. "Kayla, make sure Chris doesn't do anything stupid."
"Like what?" I ask, remembering the incident where Chris shot a suspect (thankfully it wasn't another member of CID) in the foot for no reason other than that he'd held Shaz hostage. Which was a pretty good reason, but it didn't make the inquiry any smoother.
"Make sure he doesn't shoot any of us," Gene replies, turning to us all. "Well, what're you waiting for, Christmas?"
Under the exciting influence of that inspirational sarcasm, we all get out the car and, in stealth mode, creep up the stairs and towards the top floor. I was in front holding onto a large crowbar, Gene's favourite method of getting into locked houses, and as we approach the door, I check that everyone is in position and take a huge swing at the door.
In a instant it drops to the floor, guns and flashlights raised we go into the house.
"GET DOWN ON THE FLOOR, NOW!" I scream at a man running towards me, I have to punch him in the face to prevent him from hurting me or the rest of the team, who are scrambling over the door and arresting who they could find, taking down everything breathing in the room, including, by accident, a potted plant by the door. "Jaz, stay by the door, if anyone comes near it that isn't CID, shoot them, OK?"
"OK, got it," Jaz replies, standing at the door and surveying the area.
All twelve men are arrested and are taken back to the station in the police vans sat downstairs. It's then that my curious side comes to the front; I start to search a room where majority of the men were found and head towards an old cupboard at the edge of the room, peeking inside. As soon as I touch the shelf inside, the whole thing collapses to the floor, making a noise worthy of waking the dead; Gene and Ray run into the room, urgency on their faces, and take in me standing in front of the carnage, rolling their eyes at me before I can say a thing.
Once the dusts clears we find that the cupboard was not a cupboard, but was in fact a secret way into another unused flat and where most of the drugs were stored; we venture into the room and as Ray and Gene are collecting up the several bags of drugs up I look around the corner to find three to five more men stood there, with guns in hand.
"Guv, Ray," I whisper, beckoning them over with my middle finger to my lips to tell them to be quiet as they approach I whisper. "More of Collins's men, armed and waiting for action…"
"Got your gun?" Gene asks, smiling as I nod, turning to Ray. "Raymondo, gun?"
"Guv," Ray replies, taking his gun from his holder and then crouching down. "You are surrounded- drop your weapons and come forward with your hands in the air!"
"FUCK YOU, PIG!"
"Charming that," I reply, standing up and, with gun in hand, walking out. "Now, gentlemen, do you wish to be shot or would you kindly come with me; I'm not such an Neanderthal as these guys are, so can we resolve this peacefully?"
"FUCK YOU, BITCH PIG!"
BANG BANG!
I dart out the way of several flying bullets, taking aim at one of the men and shooting him in the arm; he yells in pain and drops his gun to the floor, groaning as I take aim at the second man and catch him in the leg. He drops to the floor in pain and, seeing the carnage, the third man runs away out of the flat entrance.
Without thinking I take off running after him.
I quickly catch up with the third man, who for some reason, and God forbid I don't want to know, is bleeding from his groin and hopping around like mad.
"Calm down, I know first aid!" I explain, placing my gun in its holder and approaching the injured man. "Can you tell me your name?"
"What's it got to do with you, bitch?"
"Well, I can arrest you and then leave you to bleed to death," I reply, shrugging my shoulders and walking away. "Your choice!"
"Adam, my name is Adam…"
"Well, hello Adam, how did you hurt your groin?"
"I stood on a fucking rake as I was running away from you," Adam replies, giving me a suspicious look. "For a girl you have a great aim."
"I've got quite a good punch on me as well," I state calmly, walking towards Adam, who backed away from me and then tumbled over the wall behind him. "SHIT!"
I run towards the wall and find Adam dangling from a light fixture from no place other than the crotch of his trousers; he is screaming in agony and I lean over the wall and grab hold of him, with some unknown strength lifting him cleanly up and over the wall, I sit him down on the floor and roll my eyes at his failed attempt at getting away from me.
After a minute (and some swearing from somewhere in the distance), the rest of the team arrive, take in the battered and bruised Adam and then look at me.
"What on Earth did you do to him?" Jaz asks, walking forward and checking Adam over. "I'm sure the Guv said capture and arrest, not beat them up!"
"I did nothing of the sort!" I protest, looking down at Adam. "Adam was already bleeding, and when I tried to offer my assistant at checking his wound he backed away from me, fell over the wall and landed on top of the light fixture, I pulled him up and sat him on the floor."
"I think we found someone who is clumsier than you, DS Fisher," Gene grins, looking down at the wound. "How did he get that, anyway?"
"Stood on a rake running away from me," I explain before bursting into unprofessional but unstoppable giggles and hauling Adam to his feet, dragging him down the stairs and into the police van.
As we witness all of Collins' men being taken away from us in several police vans, Gene turns to us all and calmly tells us that it's breakfast time, his face displaying the happiness of a job well done.
"Where do you suppose we will get breakfast at seven in the morning?" Jaz asks, glancing down at her watch. "Luigi's will be closed, and the food court at the shopping centre will be closed."
"Well, for once, maybe we should try the station canteen?" Chris suggests, walking away and getting into the car.
"If I end up shitting like a horse, it's coming back to you, Christopher," Gene warns, also going towards the car with Alex and Chris in tow. Jaz and Ray remain behind with me, a warning sign in itself; normally Jaz would be shooting off, being the anti-morning person she is. As soon as she turns to me, I see the distress and anger burning in her eyes; backing away slightly, I make myself easy prey for the famous Yates anger.
"You could have got yourself shot again!" Jaz screams, hitting me in the arm, her eyes glistening with tears. "How would I explain that to Megan and Amber?"
"Sorry, OK?" I apologise, sensing I am heading for a heated discussion with Ray. "Jaz, can you give us a moment?"
"Fine, just- fine," Jaz replies shortly, her voice constricted by tears, turning abruptly and heading to the car.
"Are you trying to get yourself killed?" Ray shouts as soon as her back is turned, reaching out and holding my arms tightly. "Don't know how Jaz would tell Megan, but more to the point, how would I?"
"Ray, you're hurting me," I gasp, trying to wriggle out of his grip, seeing his own emotions dancing in his eyes. "Ray?"
"God, I would kill for that little girl, but I won't be the one that tells a sweet ten-year-old girl that her mum was shot and killed!" Ray continues yelling, his grip loosening slightly. "God, Louie, you will be the death of me…"
"Ray, I'm sorry, OK?" I reply, pulling him into a hug, forgetting the rest of the team is watching. "God, Ray, I didn't think… I'm so sorry."
"Yeah, well, don't do it again," Ray replies simply, his voice dropping several decibels and muffling as he kisses me on the forehead. "Come on, Louie, let's go get some food."
As we turn around and walk to the car, forgetting about the others and arm in arm, the cheering starts.
Jasmine claps and giggles, Alex smiles and hugs the Guv, Chris and the Guv just stare at us and settle themselves in the car. I start the engine and the eerie silence in the car annoys me to high heaven.
"Right, will someone at least say something, the silence is bloody annoying!"
"Are you and Ray shacked up?" Chris asks, pointing to Ray and then me. "Bloody hell, how long?"
"I thought you two hated each other?" Gene butts in, watching me as I drive. I see his eyes cloud over with memories in the rear-view mirror and groan, knowing what's coming. "Wait a bloody minute, a few days back I walked in on you hugging and you both said it's because Kayla slipped and you caught her and because you are as clumsy as a ostrich on one leg…"
"Actually, that was true," I reply, looking at Jaz and Alex, who seem to be the only ones that haven't said anything to me. "Jazzy, Alex, you two are quiet, you OK?"
"Sure, I'm just glad I'm not the only one who knows now," Jaz replies, turning and smiling at Alex, the smile of a relieved woman. "Oh, sorry, Alex knew as well, I kind of let it slip, Shaz knows as well."
"Bolly, you mean to tell me that Ray and Kayla here were lovers and you never thought to bloody tell me?" Gene asks, pointing at Alex, his eyes more hurt than anything else. "You could've told me at least…"
"LISTEN UP!" Ray shouts above the noise in the car. "Yes, Kayla and I are dating, and no, we didn't tell you because we knew that there would be ten million questions to be answered! Now, if you all shut up till we get back to CID, then we will gladly answer your questions!"
The car falls into silence once more, only this silence is welcomed with open arms, although that isn't possible as I was driving. But you get the point.
We eventually reach Fenchurch East Station. I drop everyone off at the door and take the van around the back to the garage; as I get out the van and lock it, I feel as if I'm being watched; beginning to feel creeped out, I turn around sharply to come face to face with PC Daniel West, the young copper who Jasmine says has a crush on me.
"Oh, morning Daniel," I say calmly, swinging the keys in my hand. "What brings you out here at this time of the morning?"
"I was on nights, was just on my way home," Daniel explains. "What brings CID in so early? Another stakeout?"
"Something like that, yes," I reply, walking beside Daniel. "Have you ever thought of joining CID?"
"I would, but I can't stand DCI Hunt or DI Carling- what a bunch of tossers!" Daniel mutters, looking at me as I glare at him. "What did I say wrong?"
"Both of those men are fine officers and I don't appreciate you saying bad things about them," I snarl, jabbing Daniel in the skinny ribs. "DI Carling happens to be my partner, so I suggest you go home before I flatten you- got it?"
"Got it, sorry DS Fisher," Daniel replies quietly, almost completely unperturbed by my outburst, just smiling and shaking his head. "Look, CID is just not for me."
"Suit yourself, bye PC West," I fling carelessly over my shoulder as I walk back into the station and CID, muttering as I enter the room. "Stupid jumped up little twerp!"
"Who's a jumped up little twerp?" Ray asks, sitting me on top of his desk and then sitting down in his chair and putting his arms around my waist.
"PC Daniel West," I reply, shaking with disgust. "Trying to flirt with me, failing and- well he's just a young guy looking for something he won't get from me!"
"Oh, he fancies you like no mans business," Jaz states quietly, smiling at the affection Ray is showing me. "Seems someone else is absolutely in love with you too…"
"Indeed it does, Jazzy," I reply, kissing Ray on the lips, not hearing the groaning and mock gagging from the Guv, who seems to be taking it in good stride now that Alex's owned up to keeping it a secret.
"Will you two give it a rest? God if you two carry on like this, we'll be having a mini Fisher/Carling crawling around the office!" Gene moans, shaking his head and kissing Alex on the lips as she walks across the room with some files, drawing wolf-whistles from the admiring and slightly jealous DCs. "Now that's what you call a kiss!" he adds as Alex laughs and I smile at him, Ray beside me chuckling as well.
Gene may be a dinosaur at times, but he has his moments when you just see a man who is trying to make his world a better place with every inch of his soul; I almost feel jealous of Alex, seeing that side of him in private every day. Not that I'd swap, of course.
Rolling my eyes at the Guv with a grin on my face, I walk over to my desk, sit down on the chair and file my nails; from looking out of the corner of my eye, I know that Jazzy is watching me so turn to look at her- I'm almost surprised as she smiles the biggest smile ever, walking over to me and seating herself on the corner of my desk, her slim figure blocking the gaggle of DCs from view.
"When you going to tell them the other news?" Jazzy whispers, her big blue eyes showing anxiety and anticipation, shining for all they're worth. "You'll need to tell them soon…"
"You make it sound that I'm going on maternity leave, it's just us booking a honeymoon" I reply, before backtracking on myself and getting confused. "Wait, how did you know that?"
"Megan told me," Jaz replies, patting my hand. "I'll not say anything till the time is right, but one question- where is your ring?"
"On a chain around my neck," I reply, standing up and deliberately giving her a glimpse of the diamond and white gold as I go into the kitchenette, her and Ray following me in. "Fancy a brew?"
I receive two nods of the head and a grateful smile from both, so I make myself busy making tea. We all sit down at the table just as Alex walks in, busily talking to Shaz.
"I don't know why they didn't want to go to school, they wouldn't tell me," Shaz explains, turning to me and Jaz. "Your daughters are outside."
I stand up straight away, Jaz and Ray following up; as I get to Megan and Amber, I lift Megan onto my desk and go on my knees, brushing the hair from her face as I smile at her.
"Hey princess, why don't you want to go to school?"
"I just don't, OK?" Megan replies, looking up at Ray. "Daddy, do I have to go school?"
"Is there a valid reason, baby girl?" Ray asks, also going on his knees and stroking Megan's face. "Meg?"
"I don't feel like it," Megan replies, rolling her eyes, knowing fine well that wasn't a valid reason. "Fine, you want to know?"
We both nod, Amber sitting down beside Megan and hugging her, I hug Amber and kiss her cheek as Jazzy wraps her arms round her daughter and sits down next to her.
"We get picked on at school," Megan explains as Amber nods, her face trying to stay calm. "How they found out I'll never know, but they pick on us because of how we were conceived!"
"Bloody hell!" Ray responds, pulling Megan into a hug. "Who is picking on my little lady?"
"Everyone in our year, daddy," Megan replies before sobbing her heart out into Ray's chest.
"Amber, you OK?" I murmur to Jazzy's girl as Megan cries and Ray comforts her, the double act that I've grown to love.
"Yeah, just worried about Meg," Amber replies, just so like her mother, the calm one. "Mum can we stay here today? We have homework, we can sit with Viv- we won't be any bother, honest."
"You'll have to run it past the authority of the office, then."
We all swerve round to look at the Guv, thinking of how he seems to be able to creep up on us all the time- good job we never say bad things about him, God knows what he would do…
"Little Yates and Fisher can stay, got some games in my office- collect them and go pester Viv," Gene says, pointing to the office, allowing Megan and Amber in and then watching as they skip down the corridor to Viv. "Good God, I'm getting a big softy in my old age."
We all remain silent and that includes Alex, his girlfriend. We are all lucky in love; I was with Ray, Chris was with Shaz, Alex was with the Guv and Jasmine was dating this very cute forensics guy, called Reece Evans- boy he got me all hot and bothered, and I was engaged, for goodness' sake.
"Kay, what's that on the chain around your neck?" Shaz asks, coming closer towards me and taking hold of the chain. "Oh my God, is that a ring?"
"It sure is," I reply, smiling and blowing a kiss at Ray, who catches it, puts in his pocket and then goes all red as he sees the rest of CID staring at him. Rolling my eyes at him, I take the initiative and start the ball rolling for our big announcement.
"Ray, maybe we should tell all of CID now?"
"Oh my God, you're pregnant!" Alex squeals, pulling me into a hug and patting my stomach.
"Get off me!" I yelp playfully, gently pushing Alex away. "No, I'm not pregnant, we are…"
"Moving in together?" Chris asks, ducking Shaz's hand. "What?"
"Let them bloody speak for themselves," Shaz replies, rolling her eyes. "Carry on, guys."
"Thanks," I reply, looking straight at the Guv, nerves beginning to raise their heads in my stomach. "Well, me and Ray are engaged, and will need some time off next year for our honeymoon."
The pause is beginning to make me nervous as Gene first scrutinises me, then breaks out into a small smile.
"Fair enough, give me the exact dates and you can have them," Gene replies, chuckling as the rest of the room falls silent and then starts talking, a hubbub of noise and smiles.
Gene wanders back into his office, sits down in his chair and puts his boots on the desk; just as he gets settled, the phone rings and as on impulse we all look up at the office and listen in, as is the habit here.
"How did you get this number?" Gene asks, his voice quiet but carrying through the near silence. "I thought you were dead!"
I venture nearer to the office and listen in, Gene looks at me and shoos me away but I stay put.
"No, I will not meet you," Gene protests, but seems to weaken. "OK, fine, give me an hour and I'll tell you what happens."
Gene slams the phone down and storms out the office; standing in the middle of CID, he addresses us all, his face serious.
"Right, listen up, you lot!" Gene bellows, causing us all to tune in immediately; the general noise in the office stops so abruptly it's as though someone has cut it with a knife. "Someone who I thought was dead has just rang me, wants to meet me."
"Who, Guv?" Ray asks, standing beside me. "Guv?"
"Nick bloody Collins," Gene replies, sitting on top of Alex's desk, his eyes guarded as we all stare at him.
"How is that bloody possible? He's dead!" I say, looking around the equally confused faces of CID. "Guv, what did he say?"
"Congratulations on arresting some of his men, the low profile ones," Gene explains, visibly paling now; uneasiness creeps into the office, as we all know how much it takes to make the Manc Lion nervous. "Apparently he has more men out there, more dangerous, and Collins wants to know in fifty minutes my rules and regulations."
"Well, he bloody can't have any," I shout, going over to the white board and putting Nick Collins in bold writing on the top. "Let's review, shall we?"
"Is it me, or does DS Fisher take over an awful lot?" Bammo enquires, looking around CID.
"Yeah, but she's got a cracking pair of tits on her though, so do DI Drake and DS Yates," Terry replies before turning to face me.
"Have you two quite finished discussing my bra size?" I enquire, glaring at the two men and concentrating on the rest of CID. "Right, facts!"
"We were informed that twelve of Collins's men were in a top flat of the Shoebury Estate, with all the drugs," Jaz says simply, also picking up a marker pen and writing Shoebury Estate and drugs on the board.
"Anything else?" I ask, looking directly at Chris. "Who was the informant, Chris?"
"I don't know, they never left a name," Chris replies, slipping further down his chair. "Sorry…"
"Does this have a point, DS Fisher? I presume this has a point," Gene asks, folding his arms across his chest. "We have another Alex Drake with the physiatrist bollocks!"
"Psychology!" Alex groans. "You do that on purpose, don't you?"
"Anyway, yes, I do have a point," I interrupt. "We need someone to go undercover and get information."
"Who do you suggest to do that?" Gene enquires, more interested now.
"Well, me and Chris," I reply, looking at Chris as he falls off his chair in shock. "Umm- maybe Ray, then?"
"No, you and Christopher will be fine," Gene replies, picking Chris up from the floor. "You both go as bodyguards to Collins himself."
"One question, Guv."
"What is it now, Fisher?"
"Didn't Collins meet Chris when you first came down here?" I enquire, standing beside Chris. "If so, he will need a disguise."
"Oh, I know- he can wear a wig!" Jaz states, walking out the office and returning quickly with a black wig and placing it on top of Chris' head. "There you go, sorted!"
Chris doesn't look convinced, and, to be honest, neither am I; we definitely need to spend a few more hours getting ready. Shaz goes and hires some authentic bodyguard uniforms, and somehow Jaz and Alex manage to make us fake IDs and CVs. Chris complains about his wig, how it itches, but Gene tells him to stop being a poof.
Gene finds out where Collins' base is with one swift phone call; as Chris and myself make our way there for jobs, we are both nervous, and we agree to watch each others' backs as we are told by the Guv that if Nick Collins doesn't like your face, you go to the bottom of the Thames.
To be continued …..
Please read and review as it makes myself and my very excited husband happy, this was is idea all along I'm just the typist!