Title: Jamie
Fandom: Ashes to Ashes
Characters/Pairings: Gene/Alex
Rating: PG
Warnings: None

Summary: Alex Drake thinks she knows all about Gene Hunt. But what happens when a surprising turn events reveals something previously unknown about Gene. What happens as he turns to Alex for help? How will this affect their relationship?

Another kind of AU fic from me. Probably set sometime between series 1 and series 2, but it doesn't really matter - it's going to divert from the main story, hence the AU! Thanks to Gene'sGirl13 for checking this over.

Chapter 1

Alex struggled with her shopping bags as she tried to retrieve the key to her flat from the back pocket of her jeans, groaning as she heard the phone begin to ring inside. She tried harder to find her key, wanting to get in before whoever was calling rang off. No such luck. As the first bag fell from her arms she heard the phone give its final ring. 'Damn it!' she thought, hoping it hadn't been anything too important. After another 30 seconds of fighting with her bags she realised she wasn't going to be able to open the door this way and gave in putting the bags down. She unlocked the door only to hear the phone ringing again. She dropped her bags in the hall way and dashed into the living room to pick it up.

"Hello?"

"Bolly, it's me." Alex smiled to herself as she heard the gruff tones of her boss on the other end of the phone. She didn't know why though, he only ever rang her on their weekends off when they were needed in work; she could see her relaxing weekend flying out of the window, waving to her as it left.

"Can't B-relief handle whatever it is? It's Saturday and I've not had a day off in weeks."

"Err...it's not about work," he informed her. His admission piqued her interest,

"Oh?"

"Yeh. Look...err...can yer meet me? My place in about an 'our?"

"I suppose so. What's this about Guv? Where are you?"

"I'll explain when I get there." Alex opened her mouth to respond, a move it seemed Gene had anticipated, "Don't Alex. This is one time I don't need yer askin' twenty questions. Please?" He sounded exhausted and stressed, in such a way Alex had never heard before, so she relented,

"O-okay. About an hour?"

"Yeh. If I'm not there when yer arrive, yer know where the spare key is; let yerself in and wait." With that Gene hung up, leaving Alex extremely puzzled indeed.

The taxi pulled up in front of Gene's house fifty minutes later. She knew she was early but she just couldn't sit round her flat doing nothing. Something was obviously going on with Gene and she had to admit she was worried. His voice had held a terrifying vulnerability; something she'd never thought she'd hear from the Manc Lion. She paid the driver and got out, thanking him. She waited until he'd driven out of sight and then, making sure no-one else was around, she located the spare key under the sill of the living room window and let herself in.

She'd been to Gene's house a couple of times before, usually for work related stuff, but she'd never been in it without him. The urge to pry was almost overwhelming; to explore the Manc Lion's lair and learn more about him, but she forced herself to just sit on the couch and wait for him. She looked around to occupy herself trying to glean at least something about his private life, but personal items in the room were sparse, providing her with no information. She laid her head against the back of the couch to wait for him. She closed her eyes, only intending to relax, but was soon asleep; her morning of shopping catching up with her.

The sound of a car on the gravel drive outside pulled her from sleep and she shot up from her seat. A quick glance out of the window told her that Gene was back. She looked at the clock; he was thirty five minutes after he'd said he'd be. As the front door opened she decided to pour them both a scotch; he'd sounded like he could do with one on the phone.

"I'd almost given up on you," she called out to the hallway.

"Sorry...'ad ter drive a bit slower than usual...I er...'ad some precious cargo," he announced, entering the living room. Alex turned around and nearly dropped the two whiskey tumblers she was holding. Gene was stood in front of her, a young boy with blonde hair asleep in his arms.

"Wha-" she began but then found the words wouldn't come. Gene chuckled despite the situation,

"If I'd known this was what it took ter 'ave yer lost fer words I'd 'ave introduced yer long ago."

"Who-?" Alex again found herself lost for words and could only point to the child he was holding.

"This is Jamie; me son."

A/N: Just a short little introductory chapter to whet your appetites! I hope you enjoyed it. Let me know what you think please!