Disclaimer: All Characters are property of the BBC and Kudos Production.

Gene woke the next morning to an audible gasp. He opened one eye to find Alex standing over him, a look of shock on her face. Gene yawned and reached for his shirt.

"Sleep well Bolls?"

Alex frowned.

"Never mind how I slept, what are you doing here?"

Gene remembered her words, and pouted a little.

"Yer asked me t' stay. Yer weren't up t' much last night. Thought yer felt a bit sick, wanted someone here 'yer know."

He watched Alex' eyes widen with shock for a second and then it was gone, hidden behind the tough woman once more. He wondered how she would have reacted if he told her the whole truth. Alex shook her head, as though trying to clear it.

"Well in that case thank you."

Gene nodded but said nothing for a moment.

"Work t' do Bolly."

The two of them had a quick clean up and headed for the station. Seeing them walk in together, Chris and Ray exchanged a look, which didn't go unnoticed by Gene.

"Right yer bunch of twats, I want Mark Barnes in custody by lunch time, n' the Gene Genie always gets what 'e wants doesn't he?"

Ray looked from Gene to Alex and back again.

"Look's that way."

"What?"

Ray recognised the threatening tone in Gene's voice, and stared at his feet.

"I mean yes Guv."

"Good. Right, Bill n' Ben, you go n' pull Chapman in, n' be quick about it. The new D.C is due anytime. Shaz, you make me a cuppa."

Gene wandered off to his office, pulling a razor and mirror out of his drawer. He went about having the shave that he'd missed this morning. With his face still covered in shaving foam, he saw Alex wander into his office.

"Guv? Don't you think we should pull Barnes in?"

"With what? Like yer said last night no evidence, he thinks we're onto him n' he'll run a mile, we need somethin' that'll stick."

"We've got the witness statement."

"Not enough Bolls."

"Come on Gene, put the squeeze on him."

"I said no. Now if you've quite finished…"

Leaving his sentence hanging, Gene nodded towards the door. Alex sighed and left.

"Bloody women."

Seconds later, Shaz knocked and entered with his tea.

"What is it with you lot eh?"

Shaz looked a confused.

"Guv?"

"Women! What do I 'ave t' do t' get you lot off my back?"

The young WPC looked like she would rather be anywhere else right then, so Gene didn't press her and allowed her to leave the office. Just as he towel dried his face the door knocked again.

"Bloody 'ell! What now?"

Viv poked his head round the door.

"Sorry Guv, D.C Kite's in reception."

"Cheers skip, send 'er up."

Following Viv out of his office, Gene made for Alex's desk.

"Bolls?"

"What?"

Oh he wished she wouldn't use that tone.

"Yer fancy showing D.C Kite the ropes?"

Alex sighed.

"I'm not a babysitter Gene."

Gene scowled.

"No one is asking yer t' be!"

"No? Well I'm sick of babysitting! Chris, Ray, you, thank god at least Shaz can look after herself!"

This earned a small smirk from Shaz.

"I'm perfectly capable of lookin' after myself."

"Yeah? Well you look after Kite then!"

A female voice made them both suddenly turn and calm down a little.

"That would be nice."

Gene looked her up and down and raised an approving eyebrow. 6 inch heeled red boots, tight white jeans and a red top so tight he could have sworn he had a coronary. She drooped her lids and smiled in his direction. All Gene could do was stare, and Kite didn't seem to mind. Alex cleared her throat to cut the atmosphere. Gene glanced at her before clearing his own throat.

"Yer must be Kite. I'm D.C.I Hunt, this is D.I Drake. Yer'll meet the rest of the team later. Now though, Drake will show yer round."

Gene raised an eyebrow at Alex, daring her to refuse. For some reason though, she suddenly seemed happy to comply.

"This way D.C Kite."

"It's Nicky."

Gene couldn't help but watch the two of them.

Now there go two good looking birds he thought.

Kite was a little younger than Alex, but just as confident. Kite had attitude, a working glass girl who'd had to work for what she's got. Gene admired that. Oh, he liked that a lot, but did he prefer an elegant Drake, or a flashy Kite?

Alex couldn't help herself. She knew she was glaring, but she couldn't seem to stop it. She'd tried taking her mind off things, she'd even engaged Ray in conversation for ten minutes or so but a high feminine laugh kept breaking through her resolve. Ray wasn't really in the mood either, they'd lost Chapman and now some other bird was getting more time with the guv. Alex felt for him.

She felt her head swing round again and watched as Gene filled Kite's glass. Alex knew the glare was back in place. She didn't know who she was most angry at; Gene for being so…so stupid, or Kite for breaking ranks.

Why was she surprised? She knew as well as anyone else that Gene always got his way. And if Alex was any judge, she guessed Gene would be having his way with Nicky in a few short hours. What business was it of hers anyway? Gene was nothing to her except her boss after all.

With a nod, Alex resolved herself to be perfectly indifferent. To ignore the pair of them and their antics, and be completely professional at all times. If no one respected her for it, she could at least have self respect, and at least no one could go on about her love life for a change. Gene would be firmly in the spotlight with Kite and that suited Alex just fine. Really, it did.

With a sigh, Alex got to her feet. Feeling there was no time like the present, she gave a half wave to Shaz and started for the stairs. She heard Gene's call over the din.

"Oi Drake, yer missin' all the fun over 'ere!"

Setting her face to indifferent, Alex continued to the stairs without a backwards glance.

Gene walked over to the Quattro, a slight smile on his lips. Tonight had gone pretty well. The boys all liked Kite and her ways. He had caught Shaz giving her a sort of hateful look earlier, but Gene put that down to the stupid grin on Chris' face every time she spoke to him. Alex hadn't exactly been her usual self this evening either. She'd sat at the bar on her own all night, throwing scowls his way.

Gene sighed audibly, shaking his head as he fished the car keys from his coat pocket.

"Bloody Women."

Gene had treated Kite no different than he treated Alex. There was no clear preference. What on earth could she have been so angry about?

As Gene slipped into the car, his head swam a little with the heavy smells of perfume. He could smell Alex's feminine musky scent, mixed with the sensual smell of his new DC. Gene sat there for a few minutes, trying to determine which scent he preferred, but his nose betrayed him and soon he could no longer smell anything, leaving Gene to his other senses.

Well that's chapter two, i hope you liked it! I'll update again ASAP. Thanks for reading :D LQx