Disclaimer: I don't own anything Ashes to Ashes related, I'm just a fan of the show and the characters. Anyway, Matthew Graham and Ashley Pharoah named their televisual creations after David Bowie songs, whereas I'm naming my fanfic after a Chas n' Dave song. This is a plot-lite, smut-heavy Bank Holiday seaside frolic. I have reworked this fic a little since I originally posted it, but the story is still the same. Thanks for reading and reviewing.
Down To Margate
Chapter 1 - Getting There
Everyone in B Division had the August bank holiday on their 1983 desk calendars circled in red. After working the last two in May, they were due to get the next bank holiday off. There had been mutterings around the station for weeks about arranging a day trip to the seaside. Sergeant Viv James ended up with the job of organising it all by default. His cousin Arthur worked for a local coach company and promised he could get them a discounted rate if they made the booking through him. For days, Viv had been busy photocopying posters to pin up around the station in addition to attending to his other duties.
Monday 29th August Bank Holiday
Day Trip to Margate
£5 Per Person all in.
See Sergeant Viv James for further information.
DI Ray Carling spotted one of the posters pinned to the notice board on his way back from the first of his many daily time wasting trips to the gents. He took it upon himself to broadcast the news to the rest of CID. "Viv's arranging a piss up to Margate on the bank holiday, if anyone's interested," he announced to no one in particular.
"Fantastic, put mine and Shaz's name's down," DC Chris Skelton piped up. "It'll be nice to walk along the seafront hand in hand."
Ray wrinkled his nose in disgust, "Poof!" he exclaimed and turned away. Spotting DCI Hunt sat alone in his office, he went over to seek an ally and drinking partner. "Guv, you up for it?"
"What? A trip to Margate? Who else's going?" Gene asked with disinterest in his usual bullish manner.
"Dunno yet, but there'll be plenty of booze and there's bound to be some decent birds in bikinis once we get there," Ray said enthusiastically.
Hunt wasn't tempted; the only bird he was interested in was DI Alex Drake. As things between them had never been quite the same since he accidentally shot her, he doubted she would want to spend the bank holiday with him. But before he had chance to reply in the negative, the woman in question came sweeping back into CID.
DC Skelton managed to accost her as she walked through the doors. "Fancy a trip to Margate this bank holiday, ma,am? Me and Shaz are going," he smiled.
"I…um…I'm not sure, Chris," she replied taken unawares by his inquiry.
Ray took his boss' silence as an affirmative response "I'll go and put our names down then, shall I, Guv? I need to send a sausage to the seaside anyway," he said stepping out of the office. As he passed by Alex's desk, he caught her eye, "I'll put yours down an all, if you're going."
She glanced over at Gene; things had been awkward between them for months now and she was desperate to move past it. Perhaps a day out together away from work and reminders of past mistakes would allow them the opportunity to get closer again.
"Oh, go on then," she shouted in Ray's direction as he was already headed for the doors.
Alex gave Gene a hesitant smile and he gifted her with a quick upward quirk of his lips in reply. He didn't want to raise his hopes yet, but things were definitely looking up.
The gang were all gathered outside Luigi's waiting for the coach to arrive. Unusually for a bank holiday, it was a lovely summer's day perfect for a trip to the coast. Chris and Shaz only had eyes for each other. Ray passed the time chatting to some of his fellow officers, he had been busy placing bets with them in regards to who could drink the most and pull the most women. Gene stood slightly apart from the crowd waiting for DI Drake to come down from her flat. As soon as he saw her dolled up to the nines in her skimpy floral sundress, there was no one else who could hold his attention. Alex found herself similarly struck by Gene's appearance; he had on a short-sleeved azure blue shirt with casual beige trousers. She thought how nice it was to see him in something other than his drab work suits. Also, she couldn't help but be affected by the way the shade of his shirt complemented his bright blue eyes.
The two of them exchanged awkward small talk and were grateful when they saw the coach pulling up to the kerb. Viv, who had been appointed by the rest of the gang to be in charge of proceedings due to his cousin being the driver, started to usher everyone on board. Alex climbed up the steps with Gene following close behind her admiring the view as he went. She chose to take the seat behind Chris and Shaz, directly across from Ray. The Guv promptly sat down next to her, not waiting for or needing an invitation. Viv did a quick headcount and they were soon on their way. Everyone was in high spirits as the journey progressed.
The beer had already begun flowing and a couple of DC's got a sing-song started but not many were inclined or drunk enough to want to join in at that stage. Alex began rifling through her handbag for the selection of pick and mix she had bought for the journey.
"D'ya want a drink, Bolly?" Gene inquired as she continued searching through her bag.
"Not yet, thank you. How about something to suck on?" She asked as she suggestively proffered a paper bag filled with boiled sweets in his direction.
Gene gave her a curious look before taking a Fox's Glacier mint, unwrapping it, and popping it in his mouth. She watched entranced by the way he moved his lips as he sucked on it. He noticed her staring but didn't know what to make of it and so he kept quiet. Alex began to feel the tingling sensation of arousal and decided to push things a little bit further. She leaned over his lap to offer the bag of pick and mix to Ray, who sat completely oblivious on the seat opposite. Both Alex and Gene tried not to react as her breast brushed against his chest along with the motion of the coach, but she couldn't help noticing him shifting slightly in his seat. She purposely edged even closer to him, and rested one hand on his thigh for support. Ray made his selection from the bag of sweets and she pulled back slowly giving Gene an innocent smile as she did so. He merely pouted and furrowed his brow as he contemplated what kind of game she might be playing.
"You ever been to Margate?" He asked in an attempt to divert her from adding to his discomfort.
"No, I can't say that I have," Alex shrugged. "What about you?"
"No. Blackpool was about as far as we'd get on a day trip from Manchester," Gene replied.
"It'll be our first time then," she said with a mischievous grin.
Alex got more emboldened as the journey progressed and she took every opportunity to get closer to Gene. At one point, she even rested her head on his shoulder giving the excuse of not having slept well the night before when secretly she thrilled at the feel of his body pressed against her own. She mused that this trip could be make or break for them in terms of taking their relationship to the next level. If Alex was being completely honest, she had wanted him for a while but the timing had never been right or other things managed to get in the way. She could have sworn the feeling was mutual, or it used to be before the events that ended with her being shot.
There had certainly been some low points in their relationship, and although they had quickly re-established their working partnership after the shooting and the fall-out from Operation Rose, it seemed as if Gene had withdrawn himself from her on a personal level. The evenings they spent in Luigi's alone together had stopped abruptly with the Guv only willing to stay if all the team were in attendance. On the rare occasions they found themselves side by side as the others drifted off, Gene would swiftly make his excuses and exit, his discomfort plain to see.
Alex hadn't tried to tackle him on the matter because she had been confused about her own feelings. She had another life to get back to and a daughter, no small thing. In the aftermath of the damage Martin Summers had managed to inflict on their connection and the subsequent hurt Gene had caused with his actions, it didn't feel as if they could ever return to how they were. Alex did want him, though. She allowed herself to admit she always had, ever since he had roared into view in the Quattro. At first, it was nothing more than animal attraction, but now it had grown into something deeper. She might even begin to call it love.
Gene felt ill at ease. He had carefully avoided spending time alone with Alex over the months since he accidentally shot her and now here he was, sitting close enough to feel the curves of her body pressed against him. He started sweating, and not just from the heat of the strong August sun. The effort of not allowing his body to respond to the nearness of her, when all he wanted to do was get closer still, was killing him.
"I think we're almost there," Alex remarked breaking into his private agonies.
"Mm, maybe…What?" Gene snapped realising he'd managed to answer a question that hadn't even been asked.
Alex gave him a strange look. "We're nearly there. Margate. It said five miles on that last road sign."
"Good, I'm getting cramp sat here," he complained.
Her intention had been to throw caution to the wind. Alex felt the time had come to be bold but, in light of the return of Gene's brusqueness, her courage started to fail her and she spoke falteringly. "Err - I was wondering, well, I mean you don't have to, but - would you like to do something? Together, I mean, just the two of us." She felt her cheeks flushing and growing hot with embarrassment.
Her suggestion caught Gene off guard and he didn't know how to respond. Was she making a move? He had long since admitted defeat when it came to fathoming out women, especially Alex. There had been a time, not so long ago, when he dared to allow himself to hope that maybe there might be the slimmest chance of her returning his affections. But all that had been shattered when he heard her true feelings about him on the cassette tape he'd found on his desk. And while they had forged a fragile reconciliation after she had awoken from her coma, he was determined he wouldn't fool himself again into thinking she could ever feel more for him than professional regard. It was because of that vow he had intentionally distanced himself from her. He knew if he let himself fall back into the comfortable routine of spending as much time alone with her as possible, he would just be torturing himself with fantasies of a future that could never be.
"Gene?" Alex grew more and more uncomfortable by his silence and began to wish she had never said anything.
He focused his gaze on her, his penetrating eyes looking deep into hers, causing her stomach to flip over with desire.
"What exactly would you like us to do together?" Gene asked in the same tone he used for questioning suspects determined not to betray his uncertainty regarding her feelings for him.
"Oh, I think there are lots of things we could do together," Alex teased with a suggestive smile, surprising herself with her brazenness. But she had frankly grown weary of all the dancing they'd done around each other. It had been going on for far too long.
He gave her a smirk. "Fancy a bit of the Gene Genie, do you?"
"No, I fancy all of him," Alex replied her hand trailing seductively up his thigh leaving him in no doubt of her sincerity.
Gene felt himself responding with a bit too much enthusiasm and, as he began to let himself accept with wonderment that she did really want him, he felt a sudden urge to get off the coach and take her somewhere where he could show her just how much he wanted her too.
"Bloody Hell, aren't we bloody there yet?" He loudly and impatiently growled drawing the attention of the other passengers.
"Temper temper," Alex soothed. "It will all be worth the wait, I can promise you that."
"Can't wait to hit the boozers, eh, Guv?" Ray said leaning over the aisle.
"I certainly can't wait to get my hands on a stiff one," Alex quipped with a mischievous grin.
Gene threw her a warning glance as he tried in vain to cool his ardour until they were at least off the coach. As a distraction, he began plotting ways they could "accidentally" get separated from the rest of the gang.
The coach made its way slowly along the seafront. Margate was already bustling with people out to enjoy the holiday sun. Viv announced they were approaching the designated drop off point and that the coach would collect them back there at 5 pm on the dot. Latecomers were warned they would be left behind and would have to make their own way home. The coach pulled up outside a row of guest houses and as the passengers disembarked, Gene was already scanning the windows for Vacancies signs. He had the idea he and Alex could lose themselves in the crowds at the earliest opportunity and he could get them a room so they might explore in greater detail the many things they could do together.
"Where to first, Guv?" Ray asked as they all gathered on the pavement.
Alex began to feel a bit awkward as she and Gene stole a glance at each other. But as they were surrounded on all sides by the rest of the gang, there would be no quick exit for them.
"Dunno, Raymondo, let's just set off walking and see what we find, eh?" Hunt replied as the gang started to make their way slowly along the road.
Gene tried to hang back and caught Alex's elbow to steer her aside so that the others could pass, but with so many people milling around they couldn't help but be swept along with the crowd. The two of them exchanged a wistful glance before ploughing on with everyone else.
After passing a few shops and arcades, they came upon an amusement park. Alex couldn't help a wry smile creeping over her face as she read the sign, Dreamland. Everyone seemed to be keen on sampling all the fun of the fair and so Gene went along with it, hoping a chance would present itself for him to spirit the object of his desire away before he exploded with anticipation.
"Fancy a go on the rollercoaster?" Alex asked him with a suggestive twinkle in her eyes.
"I was hoping for a different sort of ride," he said, gently manoeuvring her to one side as Ray, Chris, Shaz and the others piled past them and boarded the car.
"Not joining us?" Ray inquired giving them a suspicious look.
Hunt gave him a dismissive scowl, "The Gene Genie doesn't ride on roller coasters."
"Are you coming on, ma'am?" Shaz called over to Alex as she stood looking slightly sheepish.
"Err, no, I think I'll sit this one out and keep the Guv company," she replied with a smile.
The roller coaster juddered and began to move forward sparing them any further scrutiny from the gang. Gene and Alex lingered a moment to wave everyone off before he grabbed her hand and pulled her away with growing urgency. He caught her around the waist once they were safely out of sight of any prying eyes and pressed her up against a nearby wall. The sound of KC and the Sunshine band singing Give It Up blared out of the overhead speakers.
"Can't wait, eh?" Alex managed to say before Gene brought his lips crashing hungrily against hers, his tongue eagerly exploring her mouth as his hands wandered, one finding and squeezing her bum while the other circled her back holding her body close against his own.
Alex responded with equal enthusiasm fully intending to make good on her earlier promises. She grabbed his buttocks with both hands, thrilling at the feel of his obvious arousal pressed against her stomach through the thin fabric of her dress.
"We need to find somewhere and fast," Gene growled low in her ear making her grow even hotter and wetter than she thought possible.
"Maybe you should, um, calm down a bit first," Alex observed grinning and gesturing with her eyes towards his prominent erection.
"I can't help what you do to me," he said pulling her in for a more considered and tender kiss.
A few moments later, when Gene felt he had got himself under reasonable control, they hastily set off to find a room. Unfortunately, they didn't get very far before they heard an array of familiar voices calling out to them.
"Over here, Guv," Ray bellowed in their direction having just disembarked from the roller coaster ride.
"Fancy trying the water chute, DI Drake?" Chris shouted over from where Shaz was tugging him towards the Log Flume.
"Buggering hell, we'll never shake 'em off," Gene huffed with exasperation as he threw a desperate glance at Alex.
She couldn't help laughing despite her frustration and she grabbed his hand to join in with the rest of the gang. "Looks like we'll have to make do with the thrills and spills of the water chute for now," she said trying to mask her disappointment.
"Yeah, okay, I could do with a bucket of cold water throwing over me," Gene agreed needing something to cool his ardour.
"Don't worry we'll have our time together," Alex assured him. "Even if we have to wait until we get back to my flat tonight."
"Ruddy Hell, I can't wait that long," he complained.
Before she could join the others in the queue for the Log Flume, he grabbed her arm and swiftly guided her past them and out towards the exit, steadfastly ignoring the shouts of protest from the rest of the gang until they were safely out of range.
"Gene, that wasn't exactly subtle, was it?" Alex scolded gently worried what the others would make of their swift exit.
"Sod em! I'm too randy to be subtle," he said as he put his arm around her and led her back in the direction of the hotels and guest houses they had passed on their arrival.
The first place they came to with a Vacancies sign in the window was called The Palm Court Hotel, and Gene wasted no time in renting them a double room. In short order, they were making their way up the stairs as fast as possible. Upon reaching the second floor, they anxiously made their way to their room at the end of the passage.
Gene paused as he went to slip the key into the lock. "This is it then. No second thoughts, eh, Bolly?" he inquired using his pet name for her, his whole body shaking with anticipation.
Alex turned her lustful gaze on him before putting her hand over his and pushing the key the rest of the way in to open the door. "I think we've both waited long enough, don't you?"
Gene followed her inside and then kicked the door firmly shut behind them.