Disclaimer: I don't own Ashes To Ashes, and I never will! *Sobs*
A/N: Hello everyone! Can I just thank you all for all your encouraging reviews about the first chapter of Major Tommy! I'm back from holiday, but just about to leave again for a walking expedition, but I'll be back on Monday night to start chapter 3! Phew! Reviews, once again, are appreciated!
Chapter 2: HHopsital
Alex walked swiftly out of Gene's office, smiling slightly at Tommy's small grin as he admired his cluttered surroundings, the great gash across shifting on his forehead as he raised his eyebrows in admiration. Alex offered her hand to the young boy who popped off the desk and waved cheerily at the Man Lion, sulking in his den.
"Is that nice man coming with us?" Alex heard Tommy chirp, as she pushed her way through the CID doors.
"No, not today Tommy. . . " she replied "But maybe another day."
Tommy frowned slightly, his eyebrows knitting together, his brown, blood-matted hair hanging over the corner of his eye "He seems. . . Lonely" he continued "Especially in his little glass box."
Alex smiled softly "I think so. He's had some tough stuff happen to him- the Guv. He's someone I don't think anyone truly understands." Even me.
Tommy stopped walking suddenly which in turn pulled Alex into a stop. "Are you ok Tommy?" she asked, bending down a little.
He grimaced, rubbing the back of his legs "I can't walk very far. My legs start to hurt. . . "
Something isn't right, Alex thought,"How come Tommy?" she said squeezing his hand encouragingly.
He shuffled his feet and looked at the floor, suddenly feeling very small in the bland, ominous presence of the CID corridor, the slit windows revealing the interior of the interview rooms casting shadows, "It's the back of my knees." he whispered, his blue eyes dulling.
"Can I take a look please Tommy?" Alex said, reaching to the bottom of his trouser leg, tentatively rolling them up when he slowly nodded his consent.
Alex's heart sunk into her stomach "Oh my g-. . . oh Tommy. . . " Alex said, shaking her head slowly with utter sadness.
"It's ok. . . I just can't walk very fast. . ."
Alex stared at the huge cut across the back of his knee joint; it was deep, much deeper than the one on his head- like an angry eye bitterly weeping, slowly seeping a mixture of puss and blood as it glared back at her. She was wondering how neither her nor Gene had managed not to notice the slightly dark, bloodied patch on the back of his trousers. Gene was carrying him. . .
She rolled down his trouser leg, looking up at Tommy from her crouching position, "Is it like this on your other leg Tommy?"
He nodded, eyes shining again with tears "Daddy said I didn't deserve to walk on the same ground as him. He made me crawl around the house. It scared me. He's so big. He cut the back of my knees with little red flippy knife as I lay down watching the TV. I screamed and screamed and he just turned and left. . . "
Alex couldn't believe what she was hearing, she touched his cheek gently "Oh Tommy. I promise you, neither myself nor DCI Hunt will let your dad near you. . . and when you're all better, I promise to take you somewhere really nice for being such a brave, brave boy. . . a treat."
His eyes brightened slightly, though Alex could still see that his tears had not completely subsided from the corners of his eyes "A treat? Really?"
"Yes really." she said, nodding. "But for now, I know this is not much fun- but I think we should go see a nice, friendly doctor nearby. It won't take long- what do you think?"
Tommy nodded "Can you carry me though please?"
Alex closed her eyes slowly, speaking softly "Of course, come on now, let's go." she whispered, picking him up.
The car ride to the hospital went quickly, Viv's relaxed approach to driving was a pleasant change from Gene throwing the Quattro around the streets of London, and as she settled into the passenger seat, her eyes flicked to the wing mirror where she could see Tommy watching the trees zoom past, his eyes just peaking over the bottom of the window.
Upon entering the hospital, she was quickly greeted by a charming, big smiled, big haired Doctor Corday, who immediately showed them to a small, tidy examination room whereby Tommy was placed gently on the edge of the bed.
Alex told Tommy that she'd be sitting on the chair just outside the room, which Tommy had happily agreed to as he watched in fascination further down the corridor the surgeons and the doctors sweep through different doors, clipboards and equipment flying between hands, interspersed by fast moving hospital beds and other apparatus on wheels.
As Alex slumped down into the chair outside- she immediately felt her body relax a little. It'd been a long, tiring day- certainly one she didn't want to re-experience any time soon. But that was what the job was like, wasn't it? Any day could bring absolutely anything to our doorstep.
She pulled out a file quickly from under her jacket that she'd got Shaz to put on her desk earlier- Freddy Clyde. She knew that Gene would kill her for walking around London with police documents, but she felt the need to read it elsewhere. An attempt at a moment's peace outside the zoo that was CID.
Alex sighed as she opened the file, gently lifting up the post-mortem photographs of a boy viciously murdered by his own father last year- just before she'd rocked up in this world, discovered in his bloodied cot with several severe blows to the head, hit multiple times with a cricket bat. Wondered if the motives were similar to that of Carl. . . Pure hatred of the innocent? Beating them because they could? Or just bloodlust in arguably its most tragic form? It shook her to the very core that parents could do such horrendous things to their own children- cases like these made her sick with worry about her own daughter- 26 years in the future . . Molly, my own dear Molly. . . a girl who didn't even exist yet. Was she ok? Would she always be safe? What was she doing right now. . . ?
God it hurt. So, so much. Hurt like a bitch. She'd almost got used to the sadness now. . . almost. Over six months ago, after her parents death- things had changed for her. That numbing pain she experienced after watching them blow up the second time had also numbed her grief for her lost daughter- although it'll always be there. That dull, throbbing ache that was almost like a second heartbeat- the constant reminder of the bond with her daughter -torn apart by time.
She picked up another photo of Freddy, studying the deep bruising caused by internal bleeding around his temple. The deep purple like spilt ink across his flawless skin- his face relaxed, free of guilt and life's trials looking almost angelic. . . only tainted by the hand of another, twisted monster.
She was certain Gene's thoughts would have reverted back to Freddy's case too. Ray had mentioned he'd never seen the Guv so utterly angry with himself- letting the social services first time round give the boy back to his father when there was no solid evidence to pin him to the assault, or, as it was claimed at the time by the solicitor, an "accident"- then one month later, they'd found him in that cot- battered, bludgeoned and bloodied.
He'd looked completely defeated when she'd walked into the office earlier. . . oh Gene. . . she knew he wanted some alone time, so had told him not to come, even though she'd have secretly liked him to accompany her, taking pleasure at daily occurrences like walking by his side, the desire to hold his hand in her own becoming more and more hard to drive away.
Alex groaned slightly and threw her head back. Bloody Gene Hunt. She frightened herself of how much she thought about him. How often he wriggled his way into her thoughts, she loved the way he slouched casually in his office chair, the way he gripped the Quattro wheel in his tight, leather gloves, the sexy pout which so often wanted to make her grab him by the lapels and kiss him all over. . . the eyes that bore right into her, searching her, felt like he was reaching into her and flipping her stomach over with those long, slender fingers.
She felt herself blushing, recalling her most recent dream of her and a certain Mr Hunt playing rather dirty on the hood of the Quattro. She could barely look him in the eye when she came into work that morning, images of him fully clothed in his coat and ripping her clothes off were not going to leave her anytime soon. Christ that was a good dream. But it wasn't just his body that she wanted to get to know. . . she wanted to know the real him- entirely and completely. She'd seen snippets of it throughout her time here, like looking through the lock of the door and seeing only a little of the room on the other side. But she wanted more- she wanted the key to Gene Hunt.
She often wondered how she'd got to this position- how these feelings of absolute admiration, care and attraction she felt for this man. The last man on earth she ever thought she could see herself spending the rest of her days with. . . but here she was; it had taken some time, gradually, but she felt like he was the centre of her existence in this world now. Nothing would be worthwhile without him, she knew she'd have died on more than once occasion without him. He was her everything here- her best friend, her saviour, her rock. . . and maybe, even one day- her partner.
Alex felt as time marched on, and the further into 1982 she went without Molly, her resistance of him was also slipping away. Every accidental touch of their hands setting her nerves ablaze, each lingering look making her skin shiver, her whole body calling for him to touch her, kiss her, feel her. . . she knew she couldn't take that heart breaking risk though- she often felt foolish for rebuffing him at their date many months previously. But then her heart sank as she remembered Molly, all alone, probably sitting by her bedside in a cold, dingy hospital. And until she knew for certain that there was no way of ever returning home, back to Molly. Her and Gene could never be together- and that was if he wanted her- and that, broke her heart.
Alex's thoughts were tripped by smiley Doctor Corday approaching from across the corridor- seeing a little Tommy through the open door of the examination room looking rather pleased with an orange lollipop.
"Is he going to be ok then Doctor?" Alex asked, slipping her thumbs into her jean pockets as she stood up.
"He turned round to look at Tommy standing at the doorway of the room, looking up at them nervously "He'll be fine." he murmurmed in a low tone "I've put a bandage on his head for the time being, and on his knees- but he'll have to come back later this week for stitches on both. He should probably have crutches for a couple of weeks following the op- just so he gets accustomed with distributing weight more easily on his feet- due to the injuries on his knee joints."
Alex nodded solemnly "Were there any other injuries you noted Doctor?"
"Yes I'm afraid so." he said, crossing his arms slightly over his clip board, "There also seems to be some bruising around the shoulder blades. . . but they look at least a month old. . . they must have been pretty horrific when he was first hit."
"Ok then, thank you Doctor." Alex winced, starting to move towards Tommy, her voice changing pitch to something brighter and lighter. "Come on Tommy, do you to stay round mine tonight? I've got a nice big bed for you to sleep in! DCI Hunt's going to try and get in contact with your mum so she knows where you are."
Tommy smiled brightly "Ok! Let's go", holding out his arms to be picked up again.
Tommy scampered as fast as he could, hobbling slightly, through Alex's front door as soon as the key was turned in the lock. Picking up her post off the door mat and laughing as he bounced up and down on his bum on the edge of her bed, her duvet covers shifting like crimson waves.
"Go have a look in the middle draw of my chest Tommy, there's a big plain white t-shirt in there you can use some sort of pyjama type thing!" she called as she threw her leather jacket onto a chair back "Then you can use my toothbrush and just get into bed- as it's getting pretty late now!"
"Ok Alex!" he shouted from her room.
Alex flicked through the letters in her hands "Bills. . . bills. . . more bloody bills. . . " stopping the cycle when she saw the signature scrawl of her Glaswegian friend. Dropping everything else onto the table, she walked over to the sofa and curled her legs under herself as she carefully ripped open the envelope.
Dear Alex,
I hope all the apes of CID are behaving themselves for you more than there were last time I heard from you! I still wonder how you cope with them day in day out you know! It'd drive me absolutely insane within a week, good god you're a patient woman, bloody saint if I ever knew one!
Everything at the Gazelle is fine thanks- being editor has certainly been a challenge, but it has definitely made me see journalism and the media in an entire new light. The effect it can have on people- whether it's those who read them or those who are written about, is a lot more profound than I thought as a young, bolshy journalist back in the 70s. It's in a career position like this from the one that I'm getting to see the "bigger picture", how everything slots into place and has a purpose on this world. I certainly understand the very essence of the media hound much more than I did about a decade ago.
I'm so sorry for dropping you in the crap like that Alex! I hadn't realised he'd overheard our exchange before the bus. Sounds like he grilled you on it pretty heavily later though. But please, Alex- if you seriously are considering him. Be 100% sure at who you are becoming involved with. Gene Hunt- in any question- is not an answer one should take lightly. He's fiercely loyal and protective, and if he does let you in, he will not want to do things by halves- you have him all, or none at all. Even a man like Gene can only take so much heart ache- especially men like Gene.
And you don't think he sees you anymore than a colleague, a friend? You make me smile- although I made some pretty cheap shots at the time when I came down to London. I can see it when two people are falling for each other. You can deny it all you like- but the way he looks at you- he's consumed by you. I never, ever thought I'd see the moment where Gene realised he was in love, but I swear on my life, the way his eyes longed for you was one of the most heart wrenching things I've ever witnessed in my days on this planet. And more surprisingly- from the great Manc Lion. You're a special, special woman Alex- to have him feel that way about you is utterly beautiful. I only hope things work out for you both.
Be safe, Alex, take care,
Jackie xx
Alex leant back on the sofa and closed her eyes slowly. Letting the letter stay unfolded in her lap like a blossoming flower, allowing Jackie's words to sink in. She thought about Gene again- the way he was with her- treating her like an equal, his manner, and respect, towards her in recent months.
Then she thought of him looking at her. Those swirling blue eyes glinting with passion, fire. . . something else. . .
But before she finished her thoughts, the letter had drifted onto the floor as she fell asleep.
