Disclaimers: I do not own Ashes. That honour goes to BBC, Kudos, and Monastic Productions. This fic is unbeta'd. All mistakes are mine.
I know I post new stories all the time, so thank you to all who actually stick around and read them! Thanks to Rolephant, who sticks with me when my walls are in trouble :) and helps me when the elves decide to play!
Alex sat at her desk, filling out paperwork. She sighed. It was already a long day, and it wasn't even noon. She looked up into Gene's office. He was sitting in his chair, boots up on the desk, idly throwing darts at a dart board. Ray, Chris and Shaz were nowhere to be seen, presumably finding something to do in the kitchen instead of doing the monotonous chore of paperwork. She looked over at Gene's office again. He was on the phone, still throwing darts. Noting her staring at him, he gestured for her to come in. Alex stood, glad of any excuse to get away from her desk.
"Yes sir. Yes, I understand. We would be glad to do that. Of course, sir. Right away." Alex leaned against the desk and waited. It must be the super on the phone; otherwise Gene wouldn't be so polite. Gene hung up the phone.
"That was the super," he said.
"What did he want?"
"Remember that string of robberies last month? The one you used all your psychiatry to solve?"
"Psychology," Alex said as she thought back, smiling. The robbers were hitting jewellery shops all across London. Tens of thousands of pounds of jewellery went missing. Gene had let her lead the case, and she had solved it in just a few days profiling the suspects. The super had noticed the quick result, and the papers had written about it. Alex was famous all across London. She had even been interviewed on Police 5 about what she did.
Gene was also pleased with her quick results, even though she had used her "psycho-bollocks" to get it done. Her finding the robbers so fast meant that the super was happy with Fenchurch, and they didn't have to worry about the station being split apart, a fear that had been in the back of the minds of everyone since the disastrous Lord Scarman visit.
"Right, whatever," said Gene, bringing her back to the present. "Anyway, our super was called by the super up in Manchester. He heard about you solving those robberies, and wants you to educate the department in your psycho stuff."
"Psychology," she sighed.
"Again, whatever. Of course Superintendant Cassel wants me to go, since I made the incredible sacrifice of letting you take the case."
"Well you could hardly help that. You had to be in court for most of it."
"Exactly. So we're due next week in Manchester, so you can try to show that bunch of idiots how to do psychology."
"Oh Guv, surely they're not that bad."
"I wouldn't count on that Bolly. Coming here was an improvement. Even Chris understands things better the twonks up there."
"How long are we going to be up there?"
"A week. We're going to stay with the DCI and his family."
"A week? Just for a presentation?"
"The super wants to see it in action. That way they don't only know the theory of your psychiatry, they know how to use it too."
Alex rolled her eyes, but didn't bother to correct him. "Alright, Guv. Can't wait."
\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Alex sat in the Quattro, not believing the amount of time it took them to get to Manchester. Only an hour and a half had passed between the amount of time she had stepped in the Quattro and the time he pulled up outside the GMP. She shakily got out of the car. Gene got out quickly; unfazed by the fact he had gone nearly eighty all the way to the station, with the light on and siren blaring the whole way. He had explained that this cleared traffic in front of him and let him go as fast as he wanted whenever he wanted.
"Right, Bolly. You ready to do this?"
"Yes, Guv. It's not like I haven't done this before," she said slightly irritated.
"Right. Let's go in there then." Gene broke into his long stride, Alex trailing behind him. He pushed through the hallways with purpose, not slowing even on his trip up the long flight of stairs. Alex was panting for breath when he finally stopped in front of a set of double doors.
"Here we are, Bolly. GMP." He flung the door open and swaggered into to the CID like he owned it. The room went silent as they walked in, everyone stopping to look up and see who had entered. Gene stopped and looked around.
"Get back to work!" he roared. Everyone jumped and hurriedly continued back to what they were doing. He strode past them and walked into the office of the DCI. A man was seated behind the desk. He was a slightly plump man, with dark brown hair and eyes to match. Although he was not a tall man, he seemed to carry a certain presence with him. Alex was sure it could be powerful at times, but with Gene in the room, any of that power the DCI of Manchester had shifted straight over to Gene. Gene walked straight to the desk.
"Robert! How are you, you old bastard?"
"Gene!" said the man in slight shock. "We weren't expecting you till later!"
"Yeah, well driving slow is for poofs."
"And heaven forbid you act in any way like a gay man and obey the law," Alex butted in.
The DCI stopped, his mouth agape. "I take it this is DI Drake?"
"Yes sir," said Alex.
"Oh I see," pouted Gene. "You go all respectful and say 'sir' to him, but you won't even let me get off with driving fast."
"I don't have to make an impression with you, Gene. I've already done that."
"Yes. You're a fruitcake. Thank you for reminding us. This is DCI Robert Helm, by the way. Robert, this is DI Alex Drake." Alex reached out and shook hands with DCI Helm.
"Pleasure to meet you, sir," she said putting extra emphasis on the 'sir' to rile Gene up. She glanced at him and saw that it had worked. Gene was currently giving her a dark look. She ignored him and turned her attention back to DCI Helm, who was talking again.
"...want to give your presentation?"
"I'm sorry sir?"
"When do you want to give your presentation?" he repeated. Alex looked at the clock, it was just gone one.
"I was thinking that maybe I could give the presentation tomorrow or the next day. Give them a chance to see it in action first."
"Good idea, DI Drake." At that moment a brunette woman walked in. "Tyler! You got those documents then?"
Alex stared. It couldn't be Annie could it? Gene was looking at the woman also.
"Annie!" he said. "How you doing?"
Annie looked up in shock. She had not noticed the two people standing in the DCI's office. "Guv!" she said. "What are you doing up here?"
"My DI has to give a lecture about her psychiatry stuff."
"It's psychology, Guv, and I'm DI Alex Drake." Annie extended her hand.
"Annie Tyler. Pleasure." Alex looked at her. Annie seemed to be tired. Greif still filled her eyes.
"According to Sam, they were soul mates. Then he died, and not even a child to remember him by? No wonder she's like this."
Annie exited the office as the phone rang. Helm picked up the phone.
"Right. Okay we're on it." He hung the phone up and looked at the pair still standing in the room.
"Dead body few blocks up. Looks like you can use that psychology of yours right away, DI Drake."
Gene pulled on his driving gloves. "Let's fire up the Quattro."
\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Gene, Alex, and DCI Helm had been at the scene for several minutes before the rest of Manchester CID showed up.
"Bullet wound to the chest, coming from the front. Witnesses say the suspect was dressed in tight white jeans, a stonewashed denim jacket, and a purple shirt. He was wearing trainers and was a pair of sunglasses. No one knows what happened to the man after he shot the victim," stated DCI Helm.
Gene looked over the body. "Wallet's still here. No signs of beating or robbery."
"So why murder someone in the middle of the day, in front of a bunch of people? You're almost surely not going to get away," muttered Alex.
Gene looked up at her. He could almost see the wheels turning as she tried to figure out why someone would do it. He looked back at the body. The room was silent, and he heard Alex gasp slightly.
"You okay Bolls?" Suddenly a gunshot broke the silence of the pub. A man in a denim jacket and tight white jeans ran out the door.
"Bastard was hiding!" Helm yelled. "After him!" Two plods ran out of the pub.
Gene could not move. He was staring at Alex whose eyes had suddenly opened wide.
"Oh..." she whimpered, before collapsing on the ground. Gene ran over to her.
"Ambulance! Someone call a bloody ambulance! There's an officer down!" Alex was staring up at the ceiling, a bright patch of red staining her cream-coloured shirt. Gene supported her in his arms, not looking away from her face. Her eyes focussed on him.
"Gene..."she whispered.
"Don't talk Alex. You'll be fine. You're not allowed to go anywhere. You got that?"
"Yes, Guv," she said, pain heard clearly in every syllable. Her eyes closed as the ambulance arrived.
"You stay with me Alex," he ordered as she was lifted on the gurney.
"Stay with me," he repeated as the ambulance doors closed.
Yes, I know I started sad... It gets better I promise! Reviews are always appreciated, and will receive a proper thank you after I finish posting this story! TBC!!!