Alex and Gene arrived back in London early that afternoon. The return journey had been significantly more pleasant, even if Gene did have to keep pulling over to kiss the sexy smile off her face. When they eventually reached the station, having been waylaid yet again as they parked the Quattro, the rest of the team were in CID pretending to be working.

Ray had been left in charge while they'd been away, but after solving the case yesterday, they'd clearly had nothing else to do. Most of the lads were dozing on top of piles of yet-to-be-written reports, or else chatting over a dirty magazine and a couple of Shaz's cups of tea. The WPC herself was the only one who appeared to be doing anything productive, Gene noted as he peered in through the window from out in the corridor where he and Alex were loitering.

They had agreed not to say anything to the team about their "relationship" (although Gene was reluctant to acknowledge that that's what it was), until they had had a bit of time to get used to the idea. Despite the Guv's point that it would also be easier and better at work to keep things professional, he couldn't resist pushing Alex up against the wall in the thankfully deserted corridor, and stealing a quick kiss.

Before she had the chance to properly respond, Gene had pulled away, winked at her and was already marching into CID, leaving her breathless and just a little bit pissed off. He would pay for that one later. Smiling at the thought, Alex hurried after him. She quickly wiped the grin off her face when the whole team looked up as the doors banged open.

"Guv! You're back!" Chris exclaimed, jumping out of his chair in surprise, knocking stacks of paperwork all over the nylon tiles.

"Well done Christopher, thank you fer statin' the bleedin' obvious!" He snapped, striding across the room and into his office. Alex scurried to her desk, shedding her jacket as Shaz came over. Tearing her eyes away from the Lion's Den where the beast himself was stripping of his coat and gloves and pouring himself a scotch, Alex smiled warmly at her friend.

"Hi Shaz."

"How was Manchester then, Ma'am?" On the periphery of her vision, Alex saw Chris and Ray's heads turn in her direction. Trying desperately to think of anything other than the feeling of waking up in Gene Hunt's arms, she answered.

"It was fine thanks Shaz, the little of it I saw anyway."

"The Guv didn't give you a hard time then boss?" Chris asked, as Ray sniggered under his breath. Alex flushed slightly.

"What do you mean Chris?"

"Well about, yer know... the case and stuff yesterday. What you said on the radio..."

"Oh that, no he didn't... I actually had a good evening... a really good evening."

"And how was the accommodation Ma'am?" Ray questioned, his voice uncharacteristically even-toned, if a little forced. It was as if he was trying not to give himself away.

"It was fine. A bit cosy, but fine, you know."

"It's just, the lousy police budget for that sort of thing, yer know, sometimes you end up stuck in some dump where the bed takes up the whole room..."

"Well it was a bit cosy like I said but, it was fine."

The casual interrogation ceased the moment Gene emerged from his office, demanding to be brought up to speed on the case they had closed the day before.

Afterwards, while Alex was busy writing notes and the Guv was drinking with his feet up on his desk, Chris, Ray and Shaz were whispering. Their DI was pretending to be fully focused on her work but couldn't help but feel three pairs of eyes continually glancing over at her.

When Gene swept out of the office a bit later, dragging Alex with him, the volume of Shaz and the boys' discussion increased dramatically.

"They definitely did it!" Ray assured the other two. "Both of 'em have had grins like bloody Cheshire cats all day! The Guv would 'ave laid totally into us 'bout yesterday if he hadn't got his leg over last night!"

"Don't be disgustin' Ray!"

"S'true though!"

"What the Guv and DI Drake... yer know?" Chris asked, having only just cottoned on to what his friends were talking about. "Ray, do yer really think they-"

"Course they did!"

"Well, the Guv's been mad on 'er fer ages." Shaz reasoned. "And Ma'am always looks so much 'appier when they're together."

"The Guv's wanted to do 'er, sure, but, he's not soft! He's 'ad 'is shag, now he'll just kick 'er ter the curb like he always does." Ray assured the other two, folding his arms and stroking his moustache.

"No he won't! He wouldn't do that ter DI Drake. He cares about her!"

"Bollocks!" Ray responded. "Wham-bam-thank you-Ma'am... that's his style." Shaz shook her head disbelievingly.

"You are so blind, Ray. He loves 'er. And she loves 'im, I know she does. Don't you reckon Chris?" Her boyfriend looked confused, glancing between them.

"Err... I dunno really..."

"God you're both useless." Shaz sighed, giving up. She retreated back to her own desk as the subjects of their discussion returned, both looking slightly ruffled.

Ray sniggered again as Gene shut himself in his office and Alex smoothed her hair down, and began touching up her red lipstick.

"Oh, and you owe me a fiver, Ray." Shaz spoke up suddenly.

"Do not!"

"Yes you do, and you know it! Now pay up Carling!" She raised her eyebrows challengingly at him before he conceded, digging a note out of his wallet and handing it to her.

"What was the bet Raymondo?" Gene asked interestedly, having appeared in his office doorway. Ray remained silent, glancing at his co-conspirators for help.

"Erm, it was..." He started.

"It wasn't a bet Guv." Shaz spoke up quickly. "DS Carling had one to many last night and threw up all over some poor girl's shoes outside Luigi's. I leant him some money so he could give 'er the taxi fare home, as an apology." Everyone except Ray found this extremely hilarious and the room descended into laughter. Amidst the jokes and jibes at Ray's expense, Gene caught Alex's eye and flashed her a smile, something only Shaz noticed.

"Yeah all right, shut up you lot!" Ray complained, staring daggers at Shazza who was smiling, looking very pleased with herself.

That night Luigi's was very loud as the whole of CID was letting off steam. Alex and Gene were sat at their usual table in the corner, making the most of the chaos going on around them to shift closer together, hands and legs brushing accidently. A great deal of alcohol was consumed by all, and cigarette smoke was thick in the air; this combined with the humidity of so many people in a small space meant that after a few hours it was becoming too much even for Gene. That and the fact that Alex's hand on his thigh was distracting him from his intent task of staring down the front of her top.

They shared a look briefly, before he excused himself and headed outside for a smoke. After a moment Alex made to follow, unfortunately she was collared by Shaz halfway to the door.

"Ma'am come and dance!"

"Not thanks Shaz, it's boiling in here, I need some fresh air."

At last Alex made it to the entrance, pushed the door open and made her way up the steps to street level. Slipping round the side of the trattoria she found Gene leaning against the wall, smoking. He dropped the end of his cigarette on the ground, crushing it with the toe of his crocodile boot as she approached. It was amazing that she had lasted in there as long as this, Gene thought to himself, considering how much she hates the smoke.

Realising that his action could be seen as considerate, he got out another cigarette to prove to himself that she didn't have him wrapped around her little finger... just yet.

"Do you really need that, Gene?" Alex asked, stopping in front of him.

"And how would you know what I need Bollykecks?" He returned, although he put the cigarette back in the packet as he did so.

"Well... I don't profess to know exactly what you need Guv... but I might have a couple of suggestions..." Her hands slid up his chest and disappeared round his neck as Gene pulled her closer.

"Only a couple, Bolly? That does surprise me." One hand was at her waist, the other squeezing gently below her arse, their hips pressed together.

"For starters." She finished.

"S'more like it."

Her lips brushed delicately across his, as if seeking entrance. Gene granted it willingly, his fingers stroking up her back to tangle in her hair before pulling her face closer to his, kissing her harder. Alex moaned as his hand moved lower again, tugging her shirt from her waistband, caressing bare skin.

After a few moments she pulled away, gripping his hand in hers, dragging him in the direction of the other steps so they could continue this upstairs without having to brave the chaos of the restaurant again.

As soon as the side door had slammed shut behind Gene and Alex, their three colleagues fell out of their hiding place and began talking and laughing loudly, having struggled to contain themselves for the last five minutes.

"I bloody told you!" Shaz burst out, pointing a finger at Ray, the wine giving her even more confidence than she usually possessed. He nodded, nudging Chris.

"Blimey! They were all over each other!"

"At least they didn't... yer know... right here. That would have been... wrong." Chris added, shuddering at the thought.

"Ma'am's got more class than that!" Shaz replied, leaping to her absent friend's defence. "The kind of person who'd do that is... Ray!"

"Too right!" He and Chris laughed, but the latter stopped when Shazza looked disgusted. "Hey, do yer think that blonde I was chatting to would be up fer it? Yer know, the one with the really nice pair-sonality!"

"Dunno mate, she seemed pretty pissed."

"Perfect!"

Shaz shook her head in distain as Ray headed back inside to try his luck with the inebriated blonde.

"Think he might be in there!" Chris remarked, grinning drunkenly at Shaz.

"Urgh, men!" She complained loudly, before spinning on her heel and setting off down the road, muttering to herself, leaving her bemused boyfriend standing there.

"Shazza! Wait!" Chris called after her, hurrying to catch up. "What have I done now?"