Thanks so much for all the kind reviews, they're much appreciated. Now read on …

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Chapter 2

A few days later he was relieved to see her name appear on the appointment list again. He must have breathed an obvious sigh of relief, because when he looked round Matt was watching him with a huge smirk on his face.

"What?"

"Nothing, boss."

He shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly and went off to put the kettle on, whistling the theme from 'Love Story'. Harry gritted his teeth. He was an annoying little git at times, but he was very efficient. He had to admit he'd be lost without him.

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Alex arrived that afternoon looking calmer and more self-possessed than on the previous occasion, but Harry noticed her eyes lingering on him as if still not quite believing he wasn't her Gene, whoever he may be. He ordered tea and waited until Alex had made herself comfortable.

"Alex, where would you like to start? We can discuss the will, or you can tell me more about my doppelganger first. I'm a good listener."

Looking away, she twisted her fingers in her lap and then sighed heavily as if making a decision. She looked up and met his gaze without flinching and he thought again how fragile she looked. There were dark shadows under her eyes, she clearly hadn't been sleeping well.

"I suppose I owe you some kind of an explanation after the other day. It'll probably sound completely mad, but it all felt so real at the time. To be honest, I'm still struggling to adjust to being back here again. Oh dear, I'm not explaining this very well so far, am I? OK. I think you know I was a police officer, a DI to be exact …"

Harry interjected.

"Was?"

She sighed again.

"Nominally I still am, but I'm presently chained to a desk on reduced hours until the powers that be decide I'm fully recovered. If they ever do. You know the worst thing, Harry? I'm a trained psychologist and yet I can't seem to help myself."

She gave a wry laugh, and he waited patiently for her to continue.

"So here's the thing. When I was in the coma I apparently woke up in the early 80s. I had a life there, a job, got to know people, made friends … and after a while it felt more real than my previous existence here. Told you it sounded insane."

She searched his eyes, but he was careful not to give anything away.

"Tell me about Gene."

Just then the tea arrived and he poured them both a cup, giving her time to collect her thoughts. He didn't fail to notice the little smile playing around her lips.

"Gene Hunt was my DCI. At first I didn't like him much, thought he was a sexist, misogynistic dinosaur and in some ways he was. But he was also loyal, caring, thoughtful and the most dedicated police officer I think I've ever met. I think we both learned a lot from each other, even though we were loath to admit it. I annoyed the hell out of him, but he saved my life more times than I care to remember, and gradually we became … close."

Harry leaned forwards, rapt with attention.

"You mean you were an item? Oh, and by the way, you forgot drop dead gorgeous."

She stared at him for a second and then grinned, the first time he'd seen her look happy since the night of the party. It suited her, he thought, vowing to make her smile more often.

"Well you would say that, wouldn't you? And no, we were never a couple, the timing was always wrong somehow …"

Her face softened as the memories came flooding back, and he thought again what a lucky bastard Gene Hunt was. And also a very stupid one. If Alex had shown any interest in him, he'd have been right in there and hang the consequences.

"More fool him …"

She blushed and looked down at the floor.

"We were both proud. And stubborn. And pig-headed. I didn't actually realise how strongly I felt until it was too late and I was back here."

"So what happened? You just woke up from the coma with no warning?"

She frowned, twisting her fingers again.

"Not exactly. Gene shot me."

"What? Why? Surely you couldn't have annoyed him that much!"

She rolled her eyes at his attempt at humour.

"It was an accident. He was aiming at somebody who was threatening me, and I got in the way. He would never have hurt me intentionally. He … loved me. He never told me, but I knew he felt it …"

Her eyes filled with tears and he offered her a tissue, but she waved it away.

"I'm fine, honestly. I just wish we'd told each other how we felt while we had the chance. And the worst thing is I now have to deal with the fact that it was all a figment of my imagination. Apparently, I fell in love with my own construct …"

She tried to laugh, but it came out more like a sob and she accepted his renewed offer of the tissue. Harry sat back and thought for a moment, giving her the chance to collect herself.

"So. You think he looked like me because I was, if you don't mind me saying, someone you found attractive?"

Alex nodded, mopping her eyes.

"I assume so. Although all my other constructs must have been purely from my imagination, I don't recognise them as anyone in my real life. Strange, really."

Harry smiled at her.

"In that case, I'm extremely flattered. Although I am hoping you don't see me as a sexist, misogynistic dinosaur, if I'm honest."

She chuckled, despite herself.

"Don't worry, I suspect you're very different personality-wise."

"Hmmm … not too different, I hope. You did fall in love with the man, after all."

He winked at her and she coloured again. He decided it was now or never.

"Alex, I hope you don't think I'm trying to take advantage of a very odd situation, but I'd very much like to take you out on that date sometime. When you're ready, of course, no rush. I may look like him but I'm not him, I'm very much my own man. Although I am loyal, caring and committed to fighting for justice in my own way, if that helps."

He grinned at her and was rewarded with a watery smile.

"Actually, I think I'd like that. You may need to give me a few days just to get my head around everything, though. It was a bit of a shock when you walked out of your office, I must admit."

She cocked her head to one side, examining him for a couple of seconds.

"I can already see that you're not him. Maybe I could think of you as his twin, like him in looks, but a different personality. In a good way, you know?"

He nodded, feeling happier than he had in quite a while.

"Alex, whatever works for you. I just want to get to know you better, that's all. And remember, I asked you out first, OK? '

"There is that."

She smiled again and his heart skipped a beat.

"I suppose we'd better get on with discussing this will, eh? And it's a fixed cost regardless of how long we spend chatting about things, just so you know."

They spent a not unpleasant half hour thrashing out the details and then Alex left with the promise of it being ready for her to come back and sign in a few days. He saw her to the door and she turned back to him, hazel eyes gazing into blue.

"Thanks, Harry. For everything …"

"It was a pleasure. I'll ring you as soon as it's done."

His eyes were drawn irresistibly to the progress of her backside as she sashayed across reception. There was a cough from somewhere to the left of him.

"Put your tongue away, you're drooling …"

A grinning Matt dodged swiftly to avoid a whack round the head.

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Hope you enjoyed - all feedback welcome! More soon, I hope …