This is the sequal to my fic Everywhere, I would recomend reading that one first.

Huge thanks to Warbs1981 for her beta-ing skills. Please Read and Review.

I don't own ashes to ashes.

Alex Drake crawled into bed, burying her head into the neck of the man sleeping next to her. He groaned slightly and pulled her closer.

'You fell asleep while I was in the bathroom.' She whispered.

'Well unlike some Bolly, I've been at work today.'

She nudged him gently in the ribs. 'I'll be back tomorrow, no more paid leave for me.'

'You sure you're ready ter go back? The doctor said you could 'ave another week if you wanted.'

Alex sighed, not this again. 'Yes I'm ready. I don't look like a walking bruise anymore and I'm board at home by myself all day.'

He winced slightly at the casual mention of her injuries. 'It's not jus' the physical stuff Alex, wot about all the psychiatry yer so fond of?' He paused as if unsure of whether he should continue. 'I know yer still havin' nightmares.'

Alex shivered slightly as the images from her nightmares swam to the surface. An empty factory, a long sharp knife, cold grey eyes.

'I'm fine.' she said forcefully. 'It's perfectly normal to experience nightmares after an… an ordeal.' She sat up so she was facing him, willing him to understand that she needed this. 'I need to go back to work; I need to be normal again.'

Realising she wasn't going to back down, and knowing that if he was in her position he would be doing exactly the same thing he nodded in agreement. 'Fine, office 'asn't been the same without you anyway.'

She arched an eyebrow. 'Really?'

'Oh yeah, you wouldn't believe 'ow quiet it is, no one shoutin' at me, tellin' me ter make me own tea, spouting insane theories and Chris's arse doesn't look nearly as good in jeans as yours does.'

She snorted. 'Glad to see you've all been missing me.'

They had actually, even Ray he suspected, but he wasn't going to tell her that.

She lay back down, tangling her legs with his, resting her hand over his chest. She smiled as she listened to the steady thump of his heart and wondered for the hundredth time how they had got here. They hadn't spent a night apart since her abduction, Gene had shouted down Shaz's offers to stay with her after she had been discharged from hospital, stating that it was his job to ensure the well being of his officers. They had both received a knowing look from Ray at this announcement and a slightly confused one from Chris. She wondered how much Ray knew about their relationship and how much was just speculation, it worried her. While she knew it was inevitable that at some point everyone at the station would know about them, she definitely wasn't looking forward to becoming the chief subject of gossip at Fenchurch East.

'Bolly do you 'ave ter think so loudly?'

'What?' She hadn't been thinking out loud had she?

'I can 'ear the cogs whirring in that oversized brain of yours. You give it a rest now, there will be plenty of opportunities fer you ter give us insight into your own special brand of insanity tomorrow.'

xxxxxxxxxx

Alex walked into CID the next morning and was greeted by a round of applause, Gene had gone in half an hour before her, stating that it was best to remain professional, until everyone knew for sure and her actually arriving on time would only arise suspicion.

'Glad ter see yer feelin' better ma'am.' Chris grinned.

'Thanks Chris.'

Shaz placed a steaming mug of tea in front of her. 'Oh am I glad your back ma'am, they've all been a right nightmare while you've been gone, like children whose parents were away.'

Alex smiled. 'I can imagine.'

Ray strode past her desk, giving her a brief 'alright', before depositing a large stack of files on her desk, with a heavy thud. ''New cases.'' He explained. 'The Guv wants you up to speed.'

Alex glanced ruefully at Gene's office. 'It's good to be back.'

xxxxxxxxxx

After spending the entire day reading through every ongoing case she had missed while she was away Alex felt ready to scream. She rubbed her temples, trying to banish the headache that was plaguing her. A quick glance at her watch told her she had another half an hour before she could escape the noisy, crowded, smoke filled room that was CID, leaving early would only convince Gene that she was not ready to return to work, and she was determined not to be proved wrong on that matter.

Gene looked up from the file he was reading, taking in the sight of Alex on the brink of exhaustion. He watched as she massaged her temples, wincing no doubt at the headache that was troubling her. She wouldn't admit to being tired either, not after she had spent the past week telling him she was completely ready to return to work. He glanced round the rest of the room, Ray was reading a newspaper, Shaz was practically sat in Chris's lap as he played her a song on his walkman. No one was working except Alex and it wasn't like what she was doing was urgent, he may as well kick them all out early, no point in them staying while there was no work to do. That was why he was doing it, because there was no point any of them remaining at work for the last half an hour while there was so little to do, definitely not because Alex looked so tired.

Soft bastard. He picked up his coat pulling it over his broad shoulders before bellowing at them at them all to bugger off to Luigi's before he changed his mind.

'Mine's a pint!' He shouted at Chris's retreating highlights, shaking his head, highlights, on a bloke?

Predictably Alex was the last to leave, carefully storing the files away that she had been reading, before turning to face him frowning slightly.

'Why are we off early then Gene? Don't tell me the Manc Lion can't even handle a full day at work.'

'Was bored Bolly.'

'I thought that's why I was back at work.' She smiled suggestively. 'To help you while away the dull hours.'

'You do, but I can't bloody well stare at yer arse when you sit on it all day can I? So come on, shift it and I'll walk behind yer.'

xxxxxxxxxx

Alex unenthusiastically sipped her second 'welcome back' drink, and tried to focus on what Shaz was saying. She had been desperate to get back to the normal routine of work followed by Luigi's but now she was there she just wanted to crawl back into bed. The restaurant was too noisy, too hot and thanks to the sudden influx of what seemed to be nearly every officer from Fenchurch East, filled with cigarette smoke.

'Signora Drake, you look beautiful, it's so good to see you back here.'

Alex looked down at Luigi's beaming, honest face and couldn't help but return his smile. 'It's good to be back.'

Luigi's beam stretched even wider as he leant forward to whisper conspiratorially in her ear. 'Mr Hunt, he hasn't taken his eyes off you all evening.'

Alex's gaze flicked over to the corner she knew Gene would be occupying and met his gaze, the intensity in his expression made her shiver slightly as his cool blue eyes bore into hers.

Without glancing back Alex slowly made her way over to the table in the corner, sliding into the seat opposite Gene.

'You look tired Bolls.'

Alex rolled her eyes. 'You really know how to make a girl feel special don't you.'

'I try.'

Alex leant over the small table, close enough to breathe in his scent, to brush her lips against his cheek as she whispered in his ear. 'Actually, I'm not feeling very tired at the moment, maybe you could help to wear me out?' She moved away from him, leaning back in her chair as she watched his reaction with satisfaction.

Gene glanced quickly around the room, nobody was watching them, nobody would notice if they left early. 'Leave the door on the latch; I'll follow you up in ten.'

Alex smiled, standing quickly and making her way unnoticed across the crowded restaurant, up the stairs until she reached her flat.

Once inside she found herself pacing around the small living room, unexpectedly nervous. Gene had stayed at her flat every night since her abduction, holding her, watching over her as she slept but he had made no attempt to take things further and now, Alex was tired of waiting.

Heart pounding in anticipation Alex moved into her bedroom, peeling of her boots, jeans and top until she was clad only in lace bra and knickers. She glanced anxiously into the mirror, patting down imaginary stray hairs and touching up her make-up. She stepped back to take in her full appearance. The black lace contrasted perfectly with her smooth alabaster skin, perfect except for the two faint lines etched into her stomach, the only physical reminder of what had happened to her. She shook her head; don't think about it, not tonight.

She jumped slightly as she heard the door swing open, then firmly shut. She lay back on the bed, smiling as she listened to the familiar footsteps making their way to the bedroom, the soft thud of his coat hitting the sofa, the creak of the bedroom door as he pushed it open.

She heard his breath catch slightly as he took her in, a vision in black lace, waiting only for him.

'Bloody 'ell, you tryin' ter seduce me or wot?' He kicked off his boots and pulled his off tie from where it dangled loosely around his neck.

She gazed up at him as he crawled over her on all fours, and captured his lips in a passionate kiss, reaching up to unbutton his shirt, pushing it down his arms and letting it fall carelessly to the floor, shortly joined by his trousers and boxers.

He moved to her neck, biting gently, loving the soft moans she gave. He moved his attentions lower, unhooking her bra and covering her breasts first with his hands and then his mouth.

'More Gene, please more.'

He grinned moving lower, trailing kisses of fire over her perfect stomach, but stopping dead as he reached them. Two small, neat little lines, barely visible in the dim light of the bedroom. Unwelcome images swam before him and he felt her tense, she knew why he had stopped. He looked back down at them, two lines, forever etched into her so he would never forget, never let her down so badly again. It was his penance, he knew that. He had failed her, he should have been there sooner and those two white lines would always be his reminder.

'Gene?' The uncertainty in her voice cut deep, she didn't deserve this, she hadn't deserved any of it.

'I'm sorry Alex.' It was barely more than a whisper.

He felt her hands in his hair, tugging him back up so she could look at him.

'For what?'

'Yer know wot, I should 'av been there.'

She frowned. 'You were there, you told me you were everywhere remember, and you were.' She reached urgently for his hand, twining their fingers together. 'You saved me.' She whispered.

He shook his head. 'Should have found you sooner, should never have let him take you in the first place. Christ it wasn't even me that found you, Shaz did all the work, I just ran around like a useless twat while she worked out where you were.'

'That's not true, I read the reports, you spent the entire night tearing London apart trying to find me, and you did find me, like I knew you would.'

'Alex..' He began.

'No.' She said firmly. 'You can't keep blaming yourself for this, you found me, you saved me.'

'I can't forget it, if I 'ad listened ter you about Rowland's from the start…'

'Gene please don't do this, I can't keep raking it all up, playing the blame game. What I need from you is for you to be here with me. I need you to stop thinking about the past, stop blaming yourself and start thinking about the future, because I need you there with me. I really need you there with me.'

He nodded. 'Okay.'

xxxxxxxxxx

Alex jumped at the crash of the double doors being flung open; she looked up to see Viv hurrying into the room.

'Armed robbery at a jeweller's in progress.' He shouted through Gene's open door.

Alex jumped to her feet, pulling on her jacket, her heart racing as she followed Ray and Chris out of the station. This was the first call she had responded to since she came back to work and she could already feel the adrenalin coursing through her veins. She didn't even mind Gene's erratic driving as the bright red car hurtled towards their destination. This was what she needed, to be back to work properly, taking part in the action again.

Gene felt strangely numb as he drove, one word echoing through his brain, filling him with dread, armed. The men in the Jewellers were armed. Could he do it again, could he knowingly send her into another situation where she might be in danger, could he take that risk again?

She would never forgive him if he did it, but it would be worth it, to keep her safe, to keep her in his world.

The car screeched to a halt and Alex jumped out, stopping dead when she saw the expression on Gene's face. His eyes were full of uncertainty, his mouth twisted in a terrible grimace of indecision she had never seen before.

She knew what he was going to say before the words left his mouth, but they still shocked her to her very core.

'Drake, wait in the car.'

'What?'

'You 'eard me, you sit tight love, we'll deal with this.'

Ray and Chris exchanged identical looks of horror; this would not end well for anyone.

Shock quickly turned into anger. 'What do you mean, 'we'll deal with this'? I am a DI and I am more than capable of dealing with a robbery!' Why was he doing this? He knew how important getting back to normal was to her.

'I am not going to tell you again Drake, I am your superior officer and you will do as I say, now get in the car!' Why didn't she understand he couldn't deliberately put in her in danger again?

The sound of shots being fired in the bank brought the Alex back to the situation at hand. They had to stop the robbery; there wasn't time for her and Gene to iron out their issues now.

'Fine.' She hissed, flinging herself back into the car, her cheeks burning with the humiliation of backing down in front of Chris and Ray.

Gene nodded his approval, then turned on his heal running into the jewellers.

Alex slammed the door shut and pushed her head back into the seat, choking back the tears that threatened to engulf her.

How could he do this? Force her to wait behind like a child.

Gunshots and shouts sounded again from the bank, and she felt her stomach tighten with nerves. If he had let her go in she could have resolved in peacefully, without shots being fired. Instead she was sat alone in the car trying to vanquish the thoughts that Gene was the one being fired at.

The door to the jewellers crashed open and she felt a dizzying rush of relief as she saw Ray and Chris forcing two now cuffed would be robbers out of the shop. Her gaze fell on Gene as he followed them out. She could see the tension clearly outlined in every inch of his body, his face however was set, devoid of all emotion and she knew he was steeling himself for the inevitable confrontation.

He let himself back into the Quattro without saying a word, pulling away from the scene without waiting for Ray and Chris.

The heavy silence hung in the air as Gene drove slowly through London, his knuckles tight on the steering wheel under his gloves.

'What are you doing?' Alex said finally, as he drove straight past the station.

'I'm not doin' this at the bloody office.' Gene growled, pulling the car to a halt outside Luigi's.

Not bothering to reply Alex got out of the car, making her way up to her flat, Gene following straight behind her, carefully shutting the door before moving to the kitchen and pouring two large measures of Scotch.

He tried to pass one glass to her but she shook her head, standing rigidly in front of the television. Gene sighed, placing both drinks on the coffee table.

He took a deep breath, where did he even begin? 'I know yer angry wiv me…'

'Angry! Angry doesn't even begin to cover it Gene! How about furious or humiliated? God do you have any idea how that made me feel?'

'I'm sorry.'

His gaze dropped to the floor and her heart couldn't help but melt. He looked so dejected, stood in her flat, eyes on the ground, feet anxiously shuffling as he waited for her response.

Fighting to keep her voice even Alex tried again. 'Why did you do it Gene?'

Because I love you so much that the thought of you being hurt scares me more than anything else in the world. 'I dunno.' He ran a shaky hand through his hair. 'I mean, you've only been back two days, maybe you should wait a while before going out in the field again.'

'That's bullshit Gene. The Super is fine with me going back out in the field and so am I, so why did you make me stay behind?'

He moved away from her to sit on the sofa, needing the distance between them if he was going to do this, to tell her his feelings, to make himself so vulnerable. He tugged anxiously at a stray thread, his eyes everywhere but on her.

Eventually he spoke, his voice barely more than a rasped whisper. 'I can't see you hurt again Alex, I can't allow you to be in a situation where you're gonna be in danger, I just can't.'

'Gene, I'm a Police Officer, my job means that I am going to be in dangerous situations, just the same as yours does.'

'I know, and I know you Alex, yer like to be at the centre, right in the middle of the soddin' danger, an' it scares the shit out of me.' Had he really just said that?

'I can't change that Gene; I can't change who I am any more than you can change who you are. All I can ask is that you trust my judgement and believe that I won't put myself in any unnecessary danger.'

He nodded slowly. 'I trust yer judgement Bolls, but I 'ave a very different definition of 'necessary danger' when it comes ter you.'

She moved to sit next to him, taking his hands. 'I'm not going to be careless, but I need to be where the action is, you can't keep me locked away.'

'That's not wot I want.'

'Good.' She smiled at him. 'So will you let me do my job now?'

'Yeah, okay, but I swear if any other piece of scum so much as looks at you..'

'Then you'll beat the shit out them until they stop.' She finished, moving closer to him. 'Now are you going to kiss me?'

'I'll do more than bloody kiss yer.' He growled, pushing her onto her back and capturing her mouth with his.

He kissed her hard on the mouth, biting her lip, as she tangled her fingers in his hair. He brought his hands down to cover her breasts through her blouse, squeezing gently and she gasped into his mouth. He shifted his attention to the buttons on her blouse, eagerly ripping them open and she mimicked his movements with shaking hands, desperate to feel his skin against hers.

He tossed her blouse to the floor, before swiftly reaching around to unhook her bra, exposing her breasts to his hungry gaze. He bent his head to take one pink nipple in his mouth, swirling his tongue around it before biting gently.

'Oh God Gene.'

He felt her hands on his belt buckle, as she pushed his trousers and boxers down his legs.

'I need you… need you inside me.' She gasped as he moved his attentions to her other breast.

He laughed and unzipped her jeans, pushing them away from her body, before slipping his fingers under the lace of her knickers. His fingers found her clit, and they swirled confidently over the tiny bundle of nerves, making Alex twitch, before ripping away her soaked knickers entirely.

He raised himself up over her, positioning himself at her entrance and pausing there, looking into her eyes.

Alex felt as if he was staring into her very soul. 'Please.' she whispered.

He slid into her in one smooth motion, thrusting gently, making her whimper.

Alex's hands found his arse, gripping firmly. 'Harder Gene, show me that you still want me.'

'Always want you.' He groaned, before speeding up, thrusting hard and deep, bringing his hands between their bodies to caress and pinch her into orgasm.

He felt her clench around him as she gasped out his name, and he let himself go releasing into her with a muffled shout.

They collapsed on the sofa together, panting and laughing.

'Flamin' 'ell Bolly I've missed your sofa.'