A/N: A small story for Ashes to Ashes.
Disclaimer: Only the characters you don't recognize are mine.
Gene Hunt was in a bad mood. This was the first thing Alex Drake noticed when she walked into CID on Monday morning. Chris and Ray were hunched over their desks, keeping their heads down, while Shaz scurried around carrying papers, looking terrified, followed by the Guv, who was shouting and cursing at anyone he could see. Unfortunately for Shaz, she was the nearest to him.
Alex decided to do something. Poor Shaz was on the verge of a breakdown. So she walked over to Gene briskly, her high heels tapping on the black-and-white floor. Gene looked up, his thunderous face brightening slightly. He's glad he's found someone else to shout at, Alex thought sourly.
'Gene, stop shouting at Shaz! What has she done to you?' She frowned at Gene and put her hands on her hips.
'I am shouting at her because I am annoyed, Bolly. I am annoyed because Mr High and Mighty new Superintendant has decided I can't do my job properly, that's why!' He grabbed Alex's arm and led her into his office, slamming the door behind them.
'What do you mean?'
'The new Superintendant is bringing two new people into our team, a DI and a DCI. Here,' he said, passing her a folder. Sure enough, she read that two CID members from another police station in London were being temporarily transferred over to Fenchurch East.
'It says here that their police station burnt down, and they needed a place to carry on with the case they were working on,' said Alex. 'It says nothing about you not being able to do your job.'
'They are giving us the DCI. He obviously thinks we need help,' Gene huffed.
'So, they were working on the same case as us. The Lippold murders,' said Alex. 'They probably moved them here so we could help each other. Did you actually read the folder before blowing up about it?' she looked at him accusingly, and he had the decency to look abashed.
'Well…'
'I'm just glad I caught you before you complained to the Superintendant.' Alex grinned, and Gene huffed again. Alex turned back to the folder. 'DCI Finn and DI Jardine. I don't think I've ever met either of them before.'
'So, they were working on the Lippold case as well, were they?' asked Gene, sitting down at his desk and pulling the papers towards him. 'Hopefully they'll be able to shed some light over a load of dead ends.'
A few weeks ago there had been two murders, a young girl and a woman, both killed with a blow to the neck. The way that their bodies were arranged, hands and legs tied together, and left with only a few ripped scraps of clothes, however, was reminiscent of a series of murders twenty years ago, by a man called Connor Hobbs. It wasn't him, however, as he had died in prison three years earlier, and a search through all his known accomplices had revealed nothing. They were on the verge of giving up, as there hadn't yet been another murder, so the well of evidence had run dry.
'Why were they investigating it?' she asked.
' 'Nother murder, down in their patch. 18 year old girl called Rebecca Griffiths. They may have something we don't.'
'When are they coming?' asked Alex.
'Today.'
'Today! Isn't that a bit short notice?'
'Apparently not,' grimaced Gene. 'I know I'm going to hate them.' Alex sighed and rolled her eyes.
It was nearing one o'clock. Gene, wanting the place to be spick and span for the newcomers, had had everyone help clean up the place. Alex suspected that he only asked her to help him take down all the slightly smutty posters, most of which were high on the wall so she had to stand on a chair to reach them, so he could look at her arse. She didn't mind particularly, because she had an easy job compared to poor Chris, who was made to sort all the papers out.
They had all finished and were waiting with baited breath for the DCI and DI to walk through the doors. The ticking of the clock seemed to be louder than normal, and it was annoying Gene. He tapped his fingers on his desk, and looked around his office. At two minutes past one he huffed in annoyance and slammed out of his office, nearly knocking Alex over as she walked past the door carrying and armful of files.
'Are they bloody here yet?' he said, grumpily. She plonked the files on her desk.
'No.' Chris and Ray came over with Shaz.
'It'll be nice to have some new people 'round the place,' offered Shaz. They all looked at her. She ducked her head, but was saved from having to answer by the double doors slamming open.
Two people were standing at the threshold. A man and woman, both reasonably young. Everyone froze, looking at them, as they started to walk towards the Guv. He turned and stared at them as they approached.
The woman reached the Guv first and held out her hand.
'DCI Hunt, how nice to finally meet you.'
'You too. I'm guessing you're DI…'
'DCI Finn, actually. This is DI Jardine.' She smiled at him, rather smugly. Ray and Chris' mouths dropped open, and Alex almost laughed out loud. She had a feeling she'd like DCI Finn.
'But you're a bird!' blurted Ray. Finn gave him a hard look.
'Good observation, DC. Nice to see you've earned your position.' Alex smirked again. DCI Finn turned to her.
'DI Drake, yes?' She smiled.
'Please, call me Alex,' she grinned, and shook her hand.
'Then I'm Meg.' The both grinned again. 'This is Ryan Jardine, my DI.'
The man shook her hand as well. Alex appraised him silently. He was as tall as the Guv, with short sandy brown hair and had a slim stature. He had a nice, open face, and she took to him immediately.
Meg, in contrast, was slightly smaller than Alex, dark hair and eyes, pale skin, and had a very angular face. She was pretty, and Alex felt slightly large next to the petite woman.
***
Gene looked the DCI up and down. He had been surprised to find out how high her rank was, but he tried not to let it show. He found himself looking at her body, shown off by the tight suit she was wearing. She was slim and pretty, but he found he still preferred Alex.
The DI seemed like a nice bloke, if completely under Finn's thumb. Gene shook his hand.
'So, Jardine. Is that French?'
'Yes, but I was born in England.'
'Right, we might as well get on with what we've come here to do. I don't suppose you could brief us in your office?' asked Meg, but before Gene could say anything she had already pushed past him and gone into his office. Ryan held up his hands in a 'what can you do' motion, and followed her in.
'Well come on, Drake,' huffed Gene, and they walked into his office, Gene shutting the door behind him.
A/N: I would like four reviews before I update chapter two. So get reviewing!