"So Bolls. What do you want to do first?" Alex Drake looked steadily at her boss waving a bottle of whisky and a packet of condoms at her.

"Both unopened I see," she remarked blandly.

"That's because I have to refresh my supply every couple of week Bolly. I keep running out." Alex raised an eyebrow in reply and turned away, focusing on the blank, white mass that was the car windscreen. She was feeling cold again, breath misting and freezing on the glass. Alex hated the icy chill pinching at her bones. Cold, white memories flickered at the edge of her mind, tweaking panic in the pit of her stomach.

"Whisky."

"What?" Startled, Gene had been watching Alex intently for the last few minutes as she sat in silence staring flatly ahead of her, not responding to his fidgets and sighs. "You asked what I wanted to do first. I choose whisky." She had turned towards him now, shivering uncontrollably, tucking her legs beneath her and holding the leather jacket she wore tight to her body. Her toes were numb and her fingers ached. "And don't presume that means there's a second choice." Gene handed her the whisky and watched for a moment as she struggled to unscrew the cap with stiff hands. Reaching for the bottle he gruffly spoke. "Let me do that."

"I can do it!" Alex snapped in reply, continuing to attempt to get a grip. Shivering so much now, it was all she could do not drop it.

"No you can't Bolly. Give me the bloody bottle before we both freeze to death." After a moment of stubborn hesitation Alex allowed him to take it from her, open it, and hand it back. She clasped the cold bottle with both hands and raised it to her slightly blue lips, filling her mouth with the amber liquid. The warmth of it filled her head, alcoholic vapours curling around the nooks and crannies of her mind. Bliss. Closing her eyes, she swallowed, savouring the glowing slide of it as it lit small fires in her stomach. Without opening her eyes, she took another gulp and sighed. Although her body was still shivering - short, sharp jerky spasms firing through her system, she no longer felt cold.

Slowly, she became aware of the car shifting slightly and a rustle of movement beside her. Opening her eyes lazily, Alex saw Gene Hunt shrugging out of his dark, woolen coat. "What are you doing?" Her voice was a husky whisper, the effort of speaking barely within her reach.

"You're freezing Alex. You haven't got enough clothes on." He paused a moment, holding his coat in his hands. "And that's something I never thought I'd say." He offered the thick, warm coat to her. "Put it on."

"I'm fine. I don't feel cold anymore." Alex's eyelids were drooping now, a languorous warmth slipping stealthily through her body, whispering treacherous thoughts of sleep and oblivion. "Anyway," she murmured. "You said I was frigid, so the temperature should suit me…." Her eyes fluttered closed and her arms fell limply to her sides.