Dance the night away

Fanfic named after a song by The Mavericks and also inspired by Strictly Come Dancing as i watch it all the time. The annual Fenchurch New Year's Eve party is in a week. Gene is panicking because that means he would need a date and that the date would need to teach him ballroom dancing….. Step forward DI Alex Drake!!

After the Super had kept reminding him what like every five minutess of this long drawn out day, about the New Year's Ball that was due to take place in Albrights dance hall just after Christmas , Gene had spent most of the day sitting in his office, too busy worrying and debating about who to ask, even Ray himself had a date which left everyone else quite surprised. Now Gene was the only male detective in Fenchurch that didn't have a date, Alex had chose not to go on New Year's Eve after she had promised to help Luigi out in the restaurant during the busy evening which he was dreading very much as most of his waiters would be going back to Italy to celebrate the New Year with their families.

Gene didn't seem too bothered really attending Femchurch's New Year Bash, as he would only be there for the delicious catering that would be available to eat at the prepared tables and of course the booze at the mini bar.

In the main office Ray was having a dilemma too about what he would wear, probably a black suit and white shirt as these annual celebration parties would always entitle. On every New Year's Eve , Ray would tend to go to the pub for a right knees up, boys night out , often getting so drunk that he would have the world's worse hangover the following morning.

" Should be a right laugh this New Year's party, i'll get to chat up all the birds maybe getting lucky, unlike the Guv he'll probably end up hiding himself away like the last time we' were back in Manchester" Chris and Ray had both noticed Gene's quietness during their last year up in Manchester, Gene's divorce had only just come through and he hadn't been in a partying mood to celebrate, taking to sneak out of The Railway Arms after a cruel remark made by Jack Litton "I bet Mrs Hunt wanted a piece of me more than she did of you". It upset the DCI quite a bit even though he didn't want to admit it. Being winded up by that idiot Litton had been the last, final straw for Gene because 3 months later he ended up putting in for a transfer to work in London for the Metropolitian Police, starting afresh with Chris and Ray who also expressed their aim to remain friends forever with the Guv.

Back in DCI Hunt's office he had been ringing other female detectives around the divisions but to no avail. One person had remained on his mind for most of the day was Alex. He'd seen how she was a fantastic dancer while they had been undercover a nightclub a few months ago. She had used seductive techniques to get the suspect they were after to confess to his involvement in a drugs case which impressed Gene very much. His concisous kept telling him no as he also harboured romantic feelings for her.

Gene grabbed his coat from the coat stand in the small office, before making his way to leave the office ,just about managing to come up with a quick excuse about where he was off to. "Going to see an old informant about a job offer, won't be long, Ray take any phone calls that come in through my office".

"Will do.. also... Guv what about the DS Atkins bet" Ray had been counting on him to hand over 20 pounds on as everyone was betting on whether the DS would be getting lucky with any women at the party. The DS was becoming fed up of Gene's many excuses of leaving the office early almost everyday , he figured out that the Guv was going to see Alex at her flat.

"Erm..I'll give it to you later Raymondo gotta other things to deal with yer daft poof" as he rushed off the end of his coat swishing from side to side. The air from the double doors blew most of the paperwork on the floor.

With Alex he knew he'd met his match, her fiesty attitude, dedication to work, toughness , the attraction they shared was undeniable although he felt he'd left too long to admit his feelings. Gene was not the kind of person who would just blurt out he felt about another person choosing to keep any personal emotions to himself instead. As he went to the Quattro stopping to breath the cool fresh breeze that was currently present. Driving the Quattro off pretty quuickly not noticing that he nearly knocked Shaz over.

"Guv being a Prat, nearly running me over " Shaz's first thought was as she then entered through the entrance door.

While he was driving Gene was thinking back to when he worked back in Manchester and were he overheard one of the much younger officers mention that he danced more like an embarassingly drunken father at a wedding, but now he was determined to prove everyone wrong that his dancing was actually not that bad. He was off to see Alex at her flat who was still nursing a hangover from a night out with Shaz and Chris, the night before.

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"Signor Hunt you are early today, will it be your usual drink" the little Italian made his way to pour out a drink for the more relaxed DCI.

"Nope Luigi i'm actually to see if Alex is around here anywhere"

"She is upstairs still not too well i'm afraid today"

"Yes well i know, just wanted to ask her a big favour"

Gene felt uncomfortable in confiding privately to Luigi about needing Alex to teach him a thing about ballroom dancing, maybe he would the response would be the Italian laughing , or maybe it was a bad idea in asking her one on one or Luigi trying to offer his helpful advice to his favourite customer. "See the thing is, i've gotta go to this New Year's Eve party and was wondering if Alex would accompany to the dance"

Alex appeared by the entrance door, "Oh.... Have you finished early, nothing wrong is there at work?" looking concerned as to why he had arrived in the restaurant a few hours early, she was wearing a blue and black striped jumper and leggings, she was looking slightly better and more perkier in her cheekbones.

"No i'm due back in a bit,...so did you hear any of me conversation with Luigi here"

"Dunno i heard about half of it..something about asking me about the dance.. in which i'd fully love to accompany you to the party" she said which brought out a moment of laughter between her and Luigi, Gene looked confused looking at both of them, pouting his lips.

" Eh so what's so funny then"

"on nothing its just that we, me and Luigi heard about your dancing styles, i bet every women from all the England would basically be throwing themselves at the Gene Genie's feet everytime ..you shook yer hips" she teased, she always enjoyed winding him up which would result in seeing the display of annoyance on Gene's face.

"Who bloody told yer, wasn't Chris was it opening his big gob?" he berated fuming

"Actually Ray did...said that you tend to dance while you're drunk"

"Really i'll end up getting him back for that later, i'm the only keeper of the Gene Genie's secrets "

"Don't worry I'll teach you how to dance the more basic way , hey why don't we go to that Salsa club down town.... meet me here later"

"Oh i suppose so then" he sighed, realising that he should be getting back to work by now.

At precisely 8pm later that evening, Gene met Alex by the entrance door of Luigi's, his eyes immediatey shot to zoom up and ddown at Alex's stunning black and gold, long length dress. "Holy Moly.. Bloody hell Bolls you trying to make my heart beat even more faster or have you been raiding Versace's clothing products again"

"Oh and here's me thinking that you'd end up saying that i've dressed like a tart yet again" He had surprised her with his reaction to the stunning silk satin dress, which had cost her a fortune to buy much earlier in the day.

"Nope not tonight you're not... that dress of yours is pretty hot Bolls any man even gays will throw themselves at yer feet" Gene smiled, unable to stop the obvious grinning to himself.

He then reached over to open the passenger door to the Quattro for her as she walked over, placing a hand on his shoulder and then leaning in to whisper in his ear "who knows someone i know very well might end up getting lucky tonight or very soon" the sound of her seductive tone made Gene's knees go very weak, she had such a special effect on him that he just couldn't figure out, he knew she must have had some feelings for him deep down inside of her . He then ran round to the other side of the car before climbing in to the driver's seat, quickly attempting a glance over at her and being unable to resist looking at her shiny lips, hoping and praying that what she said would end up coming true. The car then started its engine before driving off into dark rainy night evening.

"So where is this club then Bolls.. i don't wanna be doin all that mambo jambo dancing, i would rather be watching you strut yer stuff on the soddin dancefloor instead...study what important dance steps i'd need to teach you"

"No no Gene you'll definitely be doing a lot of the dancing.. you have to start learning"

He decided that she was right as usual as she was being a right Mrs Fruitcake. "How do i manage to put up with you and those fruit loopy ideas of yours"

"Thanks i always wonder the same thing about me having to put up with you...wanting to bang yer head on the table until you admit i'm right about most cases"

Tonight however they decided to put work to one side for now, hoping to forget their work troubles.

About half an hour later they eventually arrived at the brightly lit up Salsa music club Copa Madrid, they spotted mostly all young people entering or leaving. They both heard the music blasting out from the club, it was a different scene for Gene to be entering, as he hadn't really been to any other club like this before, always being use to dancing to the glorious music from the 1970's and 1980's instead.

"Right are you ready to boogie Gene?"

"Too right i am... still wishing i wore me Saturday Night fever clothes.. i'd certainly would have shown these dancing kids a thing or two about strutting moves on the dancefloor"

They both entered underneath into an underground cavern style bar, walking down the flight of steps in to the small bar area where lots of spectators and dancers were seated while watching the barman currently showing off his impressive cocktail skills, flipping a glass of ice cubes up in the air which they then dropped one by one back in to the small drinking glass. "Ha imagine if they did a film about guys flipping those cocktail drinks bet it would be crap" Gene joked.

"Yes but they did" Alex forgot for a moment as Cocktail wasn't released until for another 5 years.

"Anyway feeling like dancing then" she smirked hinting to the dancefloor in the very next room.

"Why not" he replied, his eyes lingering and illuminating from the neon electric near by, she tugged on his hand hard leading him in to candle lit room which displayed framed pictures of great famous South American and Spanish dancers and musicians . Alex moved her body close to Gene, moving her hips from side to side, he tried very hard to keep up but couldn't.

"No Gene move your hips like this.. don't just stall there look..i'll show you now... follow my lead" it would be hard job in teaching him all this dancing as she would have to put up with his mood swings nearly all of the time, she then placed both her hands on the sides of his waist line, while moving her's at the same time. "Like this" the tone in her soft voice and as her body kept moving so much closer, he began to realise that the feel of her fully clothed breasts were starting to rub against his cotton made jumper making his heartbeat even much faster. The sounds of the drums being played also added to the red hot chemistry that remained present. He was starting to learn quite well just about keeping in rhythm with her body movements, she held his hand tightly once again looking up in to his eyes to see the fire and passion that burnt within feeling the need and want to kiss his lips in their moment of happiness, whatever it was bringing him to this club seem to work its magic pretty well.

As she moved her lips up to his, he was feeling the very same thing, they both could see that they needed and wanted each other after realising it had been left too long, many months to show how they really cared for each other. However they were quickly interupted by the sound of a Spanish entertainer.

"Hey give it up for these two excellent dancers" the music singer, Carlos spoke into his microphone clapping his hands together as everyone also joined in clapping, Carlos explained about the history of the club going into a lot of detail, contnuing to talk for what seemed like an hour.

"Wish that Spanish git would bugger off as i wanna do more dancing here" Gene said whiipering to Alex, while shifting his shoulders, looking round at the other dancers who seemed to be enjoying themselves very much. "Now i wanna take things down to a slow romantic level, hit the music Javier", his saxophone player.

"Hold me Gene" she whispered, an offer that he couldn't refuse and his arms slowly moved to wrap around Alex's lower waist. They looked in to each other's eyes not daring to break the magic spell being felt between them, letting the lyrics wash over their thoughts they currently shared.

"You and me girl we got a good thing going on

We were once young and now we both feel the love

Our hearts beating as one

Watching as the doves fly high in sky

You make me so different and loved as the moonlight shines so bright"

The night sailed away as they hadn't realised most of the peope had already left, time had passed on.

As he drove her home back to her flat, around 11pm.

The conversation was about their wonderful evening "I've got to say Bolly i enjoyed myself very much for the first time in donkey's years, dancing to cuban mambo music"

"Well i'm glad you really loved it...how about going again tomorrow night maybe taking in something different perhaps.... a few Foxtrot dance steps to learn?"

"I don''t see why not.. so this would be a second date wouldn't it"

"I guess so" she wasn't sure of what else to say after leaving the club they still felt extremely nervous round one another, the music had bought out their passion and desire that they knew remained deep inside. The car came to a slow stop, arriving at Luigi's restaurant, "Well i guess i'll see you back in work tomorrow.. remember no breathing a word of any this to Raymondo and Christopher as they'll only end up taking the piss and plus i can't wait to see the shocks on their faces when me and you starting dancing together"

She agreed, knowing that she wouldn't be able to keep it secret any longer as Shaz would probably keep asking all the time about the DI and DCI's secret meetings which all of the team were bound to find out about sooner or later as any gossip about the latest on the Guv and Drake would almost surely spread round like wildfire within a few hours.

Next Chapter : New Year's Eve dawns as Gene wonders what the New Year will bring and for his relationship with Alex that is hotting up fastly