Just something i came up with after seeing series 3 episode 1.
At five past six the door to Gene's office was swung wide open. Everybody was braced for a bollocking or being told they would be staying late, so what the Guv actually said came as something of a relief.
"Right, piss off you lot. It's gone beer o'clock and I'm gaspin'." Gene scanned the room and saw almost a dozen blokes with dodgy hair scrambling for the exit before he changed his mind, but no Bolly. Bugger. WPC Granger, being the dedicated sort, well more dedicated than the men that had practically run out of the room, was still fannying around at her desk. "Shaz! Did Drake tell you where the bloody hell she was going before she left?"
"I think she's just gone to the ladies Guv. She said she was staying a bit to catch up with things." Or to avoid yours bloody truly. Gene didn't blame Alex for not relishing the prospect of socialising with him and from the way Shaz had been acting towards him and his newly recovered DI, it was perfectly clear whose side she was on. Not that he was all that surprised. Female solidarity and all that.
"Well…I was going to buy her a drink but if she wants to stay late and do paperwork on her first Friday back then who am I to stop her." Shaz turned around and gave him as sharp a look as she dared.
"Guv! She was in a coma less than a week ago."
"Calm down you dozy mare. I'm not havin' her put herself back in hospital. She's not over the road in an hour, I'll fetch her meself. Bugger the paperwork." The sharpness left and was replaced by relief and gratitude.
"Thanks Guv." Jesus he even got a smile.
"Don't thank me Shaz. You're keeping my glass full for the next hour. Punishment for being such a lippy bint."
"Small price to pay Guv."
"Not with the amount I can knock back." Shaz didn't reply but thought that the Guv looking out for DI Drake, looking out for her properly, was worth more than money, more than the money even he could possibly drink in an hour.
In the end she didn't even have to spend that much. The Guv left early, after spending most of his drinking time surreptitiously watching the door. Ray and Chris remained oblivious as usual but Luigi caught her eye. They shared a knowing smile.