Never say never again, huh? I hadn't planned on penning another festive Galex, but I have some rather persuasive friends (you know who you are!) – and once the idea surfaced, the muse wouldn't give me any peace!

Anyone who knows me knows I've had some major health issues in the last couple of years. Generally much improved now – and getting down to some writing again has been a major part of the recovery process. Anyway, enough of the maudlin stuff and on with the fic! Hope you enjoy …

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It'll Be Lonely This Christmas

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Chapter 1

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It was a late afternoon in early December. Oxford Street was aglow with Christmas lights and bustling with shoppers in search of a festive bargain. Salvation Army volunteers ministered to the needy with a steady diet of Christmas carols, bright-eyed children pressed their noses against the window of Hamleys, and the odd drunk sporting a Santa hat weaved his way in among the merry throng.

Inside CID, the atmosphere wasn't entirely dissimilar. An artificial tree covered in gaudy decorations was propped up in a corner, listing slightly due to an altercation with a football earlier in the day. The ceiling was decked not with boughs of holly but with shimmering metallic streamers, migraine-inducing under the unforgiving artificial lighting. Not content with that, Shaz had also pinned tinsel over every doorway, giving the department the look of a tacky nightclub after closing time. Someone had rediscovered a battered old radio which was now pumping out a constant stream of Christmas hits from the 60s and 70s at a ridiculously high volume, accompanied by the odd hideous crackle of static.

With no major cases presently in the offing, the team were supposedly catching up on overdue paperwork. In reality, this meant that everyone with the exception of Alex Drake was writing their cards, discussing their various Yuletide plans, and counting the minutes until they could legitimately decamp to Luigi's and get plastered.

Gene Hunt was seriously off his game. Realisation had dawned when he'd considered reprimanding them and then decided he just couldn't be bothered. He hated being idle: it made him listless, bad-tempered and out of sorts. It didn't help that he was no great fan of the festive season. Christmas Day invoked uncomfortable childhood memories, mostly of his father stumbling in from the pub blind drunk and the rest of the family treading on egg-shells until Hunt Senior had stuffed his face and fallen asleep in front of the fire.

Things had improved considerably after he got married: at least then he'd been able to rely on a decent scoff, plenty of drink and a bit of hanky panky, during the early years, anyway. After the former Mrs Hunt deserted him for a used car salesman, he found himself unwittingly following in his father's footsteps; rolling in pissed from the pub and sleeping it off in front of the false bonhomie that passed as festive 'entertainment' on the telly. He didn't imagine that this year would be any different.

Sighing heavily, he glanced up from the Sporting Life and his gaze immediately came to rest on Alex. Seemingly oblivious to the chaos surrounding her, she was poring over some paperwork, her brow furrowed in concentration. As he watched, she rubbed the bridge of her nose and blew out a long breath before stretching her arms over her head to release the tension in her shoulders. The thin cotton of her blouse stretched taut over her ample curves, and every cell in Gene's body sat up and took notice. Suddenly, his trousers felt too tight and he shuffled around in his chair in an attempt to get comfortable.

Idly, he found himself pondering on her possible plans for the Big Day. Would she be spending it with that posh twat, Evan White? She'd denied any romantic involvement, but he wasn't convinced. The thought of the two of them together produced an unwelcome spasm somewhere in the vicinity of his stomach, which he put down to indigestion, brought on by a dodgy meat pie at lunchtime. He growled low in his throat, his fists clenching involuntarily at his sides. Bolly Kecks needed a real man, not one who looked like he'd blow away in a high breeze. She was a feisty, passionate woman: she'd only break that pasty-faced wimp, snap him like the pathetic twig he was. The thought cheered him somewhar. A man like White wouldn't have the faintest clue how to satisfy a woman like Alex Drake.

Gene prided himself in being a gentleman, both in bed and out. It was a matter of the utmost importance to him that any female of his close acquaintance enjoyed themselves between the sheets. He'd been with enough women to gain a certain expertise in that department, and he considered himself rather an accomplished lover nowadays. Not that he'd had the opportunity to put his skills into practice much recently, he had to admit. He'd tried to persuade himself that he was too preoccupied with work, but he was forced to admit that he'd had little interest in anyone else since Bolly Kecks crashed into his life and wrapped him around her little finger. In all honesty, he could think of other things he'd much rather be wrapped around.

Lurid visions assaulted him as his imagination ran riot: Alex, writhing in ecstasy as she came apart beneath him in bed; moaning her pleasure as he took her from behind over his desk; pleading for more as he pinned her against a wall and pounded into her until they both reached a heart-stopping climax. Groaning in frustration, he rubbed a weary hand over his damp forehead and sagged back in his chair. Wonderful. Now he was rock hard without any immediate prospect of respite. Reaching for his glass, he took a good slug of whiskey and closed his eyes. Beer o'clock couldn't come fast enough.

Alex sighed, massaging her temples and frowning at Chris and Ray, who were currently flicking elastic bands at one another. Thank god it was almost five: if Noddy Holder asked her one more time where she'd be hanging her stocking she swore she'd be tempted to scream.

Her gaze wandered in the direction of the Guv's office. He looked the picture of relaxation: head back, eyes closed, long legs stretched out in front of him. Surely he hadn't succeeding in nodding off in the midst of all this festive mayhem? As she watched, he reached for his glass and she suppressed a smirk. Even Gene hadn't perfected the art of drinking in his sleep as yet. He took a sip, running his tongue along his lower lip to catch a stray drop, before his expression reverted to the usual default pout. His long fingers continued to caress the glass slowly, sensually, even after he'd replaced it on the desk. Alex shivered involuntarily as a wave of desire washed over her and arousal pooled low in her belly. Huffing her frustration, she willed the feeling away. Don't go there, Alex. He was her superior officer and more importantly, her trusted friend and ally; the only one she could rely on in this altered reality. She couldn't afford to risk that connection by giving in to purely physical lust.

Despite her internal pep-talk, she was unable to tear her gaze away. Nobody would describe Gene as pretty, but he was undeniably attractive in a rugged, lived-in kind of way. She wondered if he was seeing anyone at present. He was a virile, alpha male in the prime of life, after all: it seemed unlikely he'd be living like a monk. The idea of him with another woman bothered her way more than it should. I bet he's a really good lover. The thought popped uninvited into her head, blind-siding her for a moment. Her fertile imagination took over, and in her mind's eye she imagined the two of them together: Gene, above her, inside her, his powerful thrusts pressing her down into the mattress … taking her hard and fast over his desk … pinning her up against a wall as he pounded into her over and over.

The visions left her shaken to the core and she crossed her legs in a vain attempt to lessen the insistent throbbing between her thighs. This won't do, Alex. This won't do at all.

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Will it be a lonely Christmas for the Guv and Bolly Kecks? You'll have to read on to find out! I'll try not to keep you waiting for too long …

If you enjoyed, please let me know. The feedback is always most welcome.