This is my first Ashes to Ashes fanfic, comments and criticism are welcome (please don't be too harsh hehe)
I'd like to say thank you to wobbleduck for being my beta and so much more...
Disclaimer: I don't own anything to do with Ashes to Ashes.
The day started like every other, Alex had been asleep, wrapped up nice and warm, dreaming of things that had happened a long time ago, but now she was awake, her eyes fixed onto the wall in front of her. It was then, staring at the wall, when she realised something, and only one word came into her head, "Fuck" she thought to her self, that one word was enough to sum up the rest of the day ahead.
Eventually Alex got out of bed, glancing at the clock as she did. With a small sigh, she made her way to the bathroom. A few minutes later, she was showered and dressed, sitting at the kitchen table with a mug of coffee in her hand.
She checked her self over in the mirror before leaving for work, she didn't really want to go to work today, but decided that it would be for the best if she was kept busy. Or at least that is what she had drilled into her own head. It was a clear day, so she had decided to walk, take the time to clear her head enough to be able to concentrate at work.
Alex arrived at CID to find that everybody else was already in. She slunk quietly to her desk, keeping her head down, hoping that nobody had noticed that she was the last in. She didn't want to be noticed, at least not yet. Unfortunately for her, everybody looked up as they heard the doors swing closed behind her.
Ignoring them, she sat down at her desk, still not looking at anybody, wishing for the work day to go quickly so that she could get out of there. Keeping her head down, she got on with her work, not really paying attention to what everybody around her were talking about. That was until she heard the words 'released' and 'prison'. She lifted her head up slightly, continuing with her work, not wanting them all to realise that she had taken an interest in their conversation topic.
Soon she had forgotten about her work and was sat listening intently to the conversation that Ray and Chris were having, she had so far learned that the person they were talking about had been released from prison, Ray was making sure that they didn't tell her why he had been put away in the first place, Gene had asked him not to.
"His release has been all over the news and in the papers," Chris shouted over to her, receiving a sharp kick from Ray for saying too much.
Ray kept on glancing over at Alex; he knew that they shouldn't be talking about this, especially in front of her. He had been careful not to name any names so far, and hoped that Chris could do the same, though Ray wasn't holding his breath over that one. Alex eventually got up from her desk and walked over to where the others were sitting, perching herself on the end of Ray's desk, curiosity having gotten the better of her.
Gene had been watching Alex since she came into work, it was rare that she was in after everybody else, but today he was going to let it pass, he knew what today was. He just hoped that the two idiots sat talking to her would keep quiet about everything. He was sure that she knew Lance was going to be released soon; he just didn't think she knew that it would be today. If Alex found out, it would break her.
"So…" Gene heard her say. "Who is it then? I seem to have missed the morning newspaper, and I can't remember the last time I watched the news"
Gene waited to see who would answer; he knew neither of them would be able to deny her an answer, especially with her being their D.I. It was Chris who finally spoke.
"Oh, you know 'im…that Lance guy…got put away a few years ago…" He trailed off, seeing the looks that both Gene and Ray were giving him, he had said too much.
"Lance?" Alex questioned.
Chris looked at Gene, who was indicating for him not to say anything else. He looked away, and nobody else answered her.
"Lance??" She asked, more insistent this time.
Again nobody answered her, for fear of upsetting her, or worse, upsetting Gene. They could tell that she was getting angry, and still they didn't say anything, and for that, Gene was grateful.
Alex looked at each of them in turn, she even glanced at Shaz, who, up until now, had been sat quietly typing at her desk. Seeing the expressions on their faces, she knew that she wouldn't get any answers from them, they respected Gene too much. She knew he was watching her from his office door, she could feel his presence there, that and the fact that Chris kept on looking over towards the office with a worried look on his face.
"Drake…My office," Gene said firmly, before she could ask them again.
Alex turned to face Gene, standing still, just staring at him for a few seconds before she eventually walked over to him. She heard the others sigh with relief behind her and almost turned around to glare at them, but thought better of it and carried on into Gene's office.
He followed her in and closed the door behind him, watching Alex as she paced the length of his office. He continued to watch her, waiting for her to either stop pacing or to shout at him, he knew which one he would prefer.
"Lance who, Gene?" She asked eventually, standing still, facing away from him.
"Lance who?" She all but screamed, turning to face him when he didn't answer straight away. She had an idea of who it could be, she just needed confirmation, but she hoped that she was wrong.
Gene glanced down at the floor before lifting his head up to look her in the eyes. If he was going to tell her, then he would tell her to her face. He waited until she looked directly at him before answering her quietly.
"Lance Dowele"
