Making the Wrong Connection

Summary: What would happen if Alex made sure the younger version of her got the tape that showed her Father had killed himself and her mother and had attempted to kill her too? Would her future be any different and would the Gene Genie come to her rescue....? Possibly GALEX not too sure yet!!

Disclaimer – I don't own Ashes to Ashes or the characters. If I did Gene Hunt would be all mine and him and Alex would be at it like rabbits on the show! The lovely people at Kudos own them....lucky bastards!!

Just a quick note, this is dedicated to some very important people to me: Lara, Cat, Claire Bear and Sades – you ladies mean the world to me and although we're all so far apart you ladies have given me so much love and support over the past few months....this is for all of you xxxx

Sitting opposite Gene, Alex cautiously studied him. She couldn't believe a few short hours ago she had seen her parents die, Gene rescue the younger version of herself and learn what had really caused the car to explode. She felt a vast range of emotions; happiness that Shaz was out of hospital and would be returning to work shortly; grief that she had lost her parents again, sorrow that she hadn't been able to save them and a deep sense of loss that she wasn't home with Molly. Most of all she felt confused.

As she was still trapped in the 80's then why was she still there. What connection hadn't she made?

Looking again at Gene laughing and joking with the rest of the team, Alex felt a surge of anger towards him.

'What right does he have destroying evidence? Never mind destroying evidence, what right does he have to keep that information from a young girl who is going to grow up confused about what happened to her parents?'

Alex lifted her glass from the table and downed its contents. Shuddering slightly at the taste, she reached for the bottle and poured herself another glass.

"Don't you think you should go steady Bolls?" a concerned albeit slightly sloshed Gene asked.

"I think I'm a grown woman and I can do whatever I like 'Gene'." replied a pissed off Alex, using the air quotes around his name just to wind him up.

"What have I told you about waggling your bloody fingers when you say my name??"

"Right now 'Gene', I just don't care." Alex responded, using the air quotes again around his name.

Getting up with her glass in her hand, Alex walked over to the bar stools and made herself comfortable talking to one of the younger WPCs who had moved to avoid Ray's lecherous stares and his awful advances.

As the night wore on Alex's jumble of emotions continued and she was left wondering what connection had she failed to see? Where had she gone wrong? Why wasn't she home with Molly now? How was she going to get home to her?

Her head a mess, which the alcohol clearly wasn't helping with she said her goodbyes and went upstairs to her flat.

Reaching the top of the stairs, she fumbled putting the key in the lock. Finally getting it in she twisted the lock when she had a flash of inspiration.

'The plastic covering of the video cassette may be broken but that doesn't mean the tape was in any way damaged and there is only one was to find out.'

Quietly and stealthily, Alex made her way back down the stairs. She needn't have worried about the noise she was making, the few of CID still in Luigi's were singing along to 'That's Amore' so loudly that she could have been having an orgy on the stairs and they wouldn't have heard her. Opening the door Alex peered from left to right several times making sure there was no-one outside. Satisfied the coast was clear she ran around the corner from Luigi's and headed towards the station.

Walking up the stairs to the station, Alex carefully opened the door and flattened her body against the wall. She didn't want anyone to know she had been in there and wanted to make sure that it was thought the cleaners had disposed of the tape. Peering in through the door to the main desk, Alex looked to see if the night desk sergeant was there. She couldn't see any sign of him so she slowly opened the door and walked through to CID.

Opening the door to Gene's office, she stepped inside and shut it again, just in case. Making her way around the desk, she knelt down and started to look through the bins contents. Underneath various bits of paper at the very bottom of the bin was the video cassette with shards of black plastic everywhere. Being sure not to loosen the shards, she picked the tape up out of the bin and looked at it. Upon further inspection, the tape appeared to be intact. Removing the white reels and the tape she put them in her pocket and placed the pieces of paper back over the top of it when she heard a noise.

Unable to do anything else she hid in the foot well underneath Gene's desk. Hearing the door to the office open she willed her heart to stop pounding and her breath to stop rushing out of her. Hearing the distinctive 'click' of boots, she knew immediately that it was Gene, no doubt there to drink his whiskey supply after being kicked out of Luigi's.

Alex could hear him walking over to the bookshelves, picking up a glass and the bottle of whiskey and walking to sit at his desk. She realised that the minute he stretched his long legs under the desk she would be caught out. Luck was on her side however, as once Gene sat down he swung his legs up onto the desk, poured himself a glass of the amber nectar and appeared deep in thought. She watched as he absent mindedly swirled the whiskey around in the glass before drinking it all and pouring another glass.

To Alex, what felt like hours had passed cooped under the desk, trying not to move too much as her muscles began to cramp up. Looking up at Gene she saw he had fallen asleep at his desk, the glass precariously balanced upon his lap. As quietly as she could, Alex began to move from her hiding place trying not to make any noise as the circulation returned to her muscles. Once free from underneath the desk, she crawled past Gene's chair to the edge of the desk and got up.

To look at him sleeping, Gene Hunt looked at least 10 years younger and all the hardness was removed from his face. Not wanting him to be disturbed she carefully removed the glass to avoid it being knocked off and placed it on his desk. Alex then removed his long black coat from the coat stand and placed it over him so he would get some warmth. Unable to help herself, Alex then lent forward and stroked the hair off his face. Gene muttered incoherently in his sleep and seemed to snuggle down into his jacket.

Alex crept out of the office and being as cautious as she was entering the building she made her way back to her flat to get some sleep.