Unforgettable Times

Chapter 4

I've probably given a huge clue away towards the end of the chapter but it gets very complex and full of ambuigity afterwards so its not as straight forward as it appears to be, Alex meets a member of the team but is he/she willing to hear it out when it comes to asking questions about Gene Hunt's existence?

Later that evening with the curtains closed as Alex curled up on her leather seated sofa, a brim flicker of lightness reflected her seated shadow against the wall , she clutched a cup of hot steaming chocolate, she allowed its aroma and its smells to inhale to overtake her breathing. Molly opted for an early night in bed after complaining of tiredness and drowsiness, it'd been a difficult drawn out long day for her, after a goodnight kiss and a moment of recognizable silence, she left her mother all alone to watch the 10pm News. It had been one hell of a tough month. Alex knew with great efficiency life was bound to be hurdle of its own to successfully achieve your defense against occasionally it proved and showed its emotionally charged moments where you struggled and felt like nothing else mattered anymore, she felt completely isolated from this world and dreamt of that vibrant, extraordinary, and magnificent decade of the 1980's she briefly lived through as an adult and how it left a bestowed feeling in her deepest of creative thoughts,

"Bolls…Bolls can you hear me…Please" Her eyes froze, astonished and pressurized at the sound of that familiar voice calling for her, desperately in his hour of need, she crawled over on her knees and hands nerves overwhelming as they intensified . She couldn't see any signs or imagery of his face, like how she'd previously seen of him, his image wasn't haunting her anymore they faded away, it was more of his growling disgruntled Manc voice that threatened her subconscious, creating a sideways passageway everytime she watched television she imagined him standing in the corner of the room, like an iron statue.

"Gene…I can't see you.. Hello Can you hear me?" she placed a hand flatly over the screen of her widescreen television, lowering her head in loss of encouragement and judgement at her belief in herself, she couldn't quite find it in her heart to produce those three words she'd clung on desperately to, locked away inside her heart , hoping to confess it altogether in a flurry of emotions if she was to see him again, she felt like a complete failure for all those missed opportunities they never quite grasped at 27 years ago.

"Bolly you have to find me bloody 'ell'…I can't live without you even though you frankly grate my patience and nerves like a useless cheese grater. c'mon I got a bloody headache so giantically enormously bigger than Ben Nevis and my bloody arse feels like its been used, thrown and kicked like a rugby ball around a pitch" He grumbled. She laughed heartwarmingly, same old Gene, same fantastic sarcastic jokes he tended to utter as always, he hadn't changed one little bit, "C'mon Brainy Knickers thought you were meant to be a Psychiatrist with your bollocks speeches"

"Christ its Psychology Gene do I have to spell it out for you on a big billboard" she whispered softly feeling no sense of losing her temper with him, he did infuriated her timelessly when she annoyingly found herself having to having to repeat the correct pronunciation of the word like a school teacher, she eventually accepted he'd never pronounce it right but still suspected he revelled in winding her up with secret enjoyment.

"I'm trapped, mind numbingly scared.. think I'm back in Manchester somewhere.. freezing me bollocks off as I suspect.. Buggering hell I'm a shivering wreck need ya.. c'mon get off that couch of yours.. get on the move" His voice dropped more and more into the distancing background, although she couldn't see what was happening, she overheard a huge thump that sent her flying half across the room backwards almost causing her head to slam against the coffee table which was situated near by.

" Don't go.. please I'm begging you…I love you Gene Hunt and I will search this whole world if I bloody have to.. just so I how much I want to spend my life with you, showing you what I deeply regret and should have admitted to you 27 years ago…" she pleaded, what she physically felt for Gene Hunt was hard really to put into a full understandable sentence, his lip pout made her entire body quiver just at the sight of witnessing it on one of his good less argumentative days, their sexual, sizzling chemistry couldn't be missed even by a blinded person everyone knew it, even surprisingly making an odd comment of advising them both to stop acting like two dozy buffoons.

Tears pricked sorely at both of her eyes as she fought them back heartbreakingly as his voice eventually disappeared from the HD quality sound, she accessed this situation and could never look back on any damaging circumstances of finding her friends she first thought of to be imaginary constructs but had grown to develop strong every lasting friendships with.

xxxx

Some days later, as she attended her second appointment with Gordon Bell, Alex remembered another of her never-ending dreams about Gene Hunt. Her latest included, picturing a what if scenario, a Hollywood movie style gun showdown, the Quattro appearing from afar, with such terrifying multiplying traveling speed across a deserted sandy desert in Dubai, it represented the present day, it chased alongside a Bugatti Veyron, both guns firing on all cylinders , a confrontation soon developed as the Quattro blocked its modern rival's pathway on a long stretched road.

Both drivers confronting each other as they stepped out of their respectable cars. As the heat wave continue to blaze hotly throughout its surrounding and sand filled location. The heavyweight appearance driver of the Bugatti Veyron stood motionless, hands visibly shaking while watching on as Gene Hunt's two leather skinned boots stepped onto the graveled covered road, he wore his sunglasses like an unbreakable iron clad action hero, acting as if no single individual would never dare or question to get in his bad books. He looked ruggedly handsome, tanned from head to toe , light streaks of blonde hair, neatly combed backwards and parted.

"Drop your weapon…Nowhere to run now fatboy…If you just so much as carry on fleeing I will guarantee to shoot out those windscreens wipers of yours.. I'm magnificent shooter with any sort of pistol in hand… all ignorant baddies miserably lose the battle every time to the Gene Genie" He cocked his gun.

"Try me Hunt.. You won't succeed.. You'll fail just like any other pathetic detective who's every chased me half way across all of Europe and Africa " This man snarled menacingly, acting with such protectiveness, arguing his case, unafraid of what Gene was aiming to do, he demanded to be shown full and decent respect in the eyes of God. His bandana displayed red and white stripes around his head.

"Oh I'll make you eat your words you twat and then observes as you crap those god awful pants you're wearing" Gene muttered, taking hold of his gun, directing where the intended target was to fired towards. Two vibrating gun shots rung out echoing , successfully smashing the windscreen of the Bugatti, leaving a poof of smoke in its aftermath. The mysterious gun slinging detective with his gun and his Quattro became regular fixture constantly in her dreams, she yearned for this protectiveness, shieldiness from threatening criminal scumbags who indescribably set out to finish off what Arthur Layton's mission in which he failed to complete.

Alex wrote every detail of this down on a small notepad she bought with her, diplaying an sensitive satisfying grin.

Xxxx

" So Alex.. How've you been coping.. since your last appointment" Gordon, showed full observation and understandment, hoping she would be encouraged to find a solution to her dreams. "Do you still dream of him.. Gene?"

She smirked in remembrance as that last dream played back to her like a rewounded video cassette on playback before replying, "He never quite leaves my dreams… sometimes he… speaks to me in them … Can't let go.. I know that sound obsessive to say the least.. His face cannot be misplaced its always leaves me feeling satisfied of seeing over and over again " Alex explained, embarrassed she may be admitting too much information. She relaxed her shoulders easily whilst making herself comfortable on the patient couch.

"Do you feel confident in explaining your dreams…Alex?… do you perhaps feeling your grip of life slipping away and or sense of dislodgement...I know some patients that have told me of similar experiences especially like this..like yours in general..." He stressed anxiously, rubbing a hand across her forehead to wipe away sweat.

"What do you mean?" She couldn't help in asking, confused by what he actually meant, was he about to admit to something unexpectedly? She listened with focus and intrigue.

"Two previous patients claimed to be friends of his…said they worked for the Greater Manchester Police force alongside him.. The younger patient told me that he called him the Guv…he'd been in a coma himself for 6 years previously couldn't remember what happened suffers with blackouts and los of memory.. All he has in those precious dream like memories.. poor lad. "

"Oh my god Chris" She wasn't sure if she was indeed correct or incorrect but that sound like a prefect description of what he could potentially utter.

"I'm sorry do you know him if you don't mind me asking?" He questioned her allowing this only to stay as confidential and privately ,finger placed above his lip as he prepared to her reply.

"Yes He was a Detective Constable in 1981- 1983..It shattered mine and Gene's hearts in two when we'd discovered he took bribes.. everyone ignored him said he they couldn't forgive him.. Treated like a stranger.. He offered to made up for wrong doings.. one day in June 1983 he succeeded in becoming heroic I felt proud to be there when he rescued a young girl called Jessica in a raging river he risked life and limb sacrificng himself against Gene's wishes.. Things overturned and he was hailed as a brave hero" Alex proudly replied, she had to find him no matter what wherever he lived in London, she came to the conclusion he must have been fatally shot by Max Dunne before she died, the thought of this other patient baffled her thoughts and clarity, Was it Keats, Gene, Shaz or even Ray?

"Sounds like a brave young man… To do what he thought was considerable.. Alex as a fellow Psychologist like yourself I can't give out further any other patient confidentiality…. You can acknowledge that can't you when you've came across similar cases" He sympathized with her, an silent agreement was exchanged and accepted between them.

xxxx

Typically, pathetic I thought he'd help me understand this he'd seemed willing to assist .. no one can help me anymore.. I just hope Joe has found evidence to prove Gene worked for the Met.. Joe's always shown himself to be a bloody mystery of his own

Meaninglessly it fully tested her annoyance and frustration clearly, her behaviour increased when Gordon politely asked her to leave. Her phone seemed to be ringing on popular demand, vibrating thumping against her chest pocket, they were incredibly irritating to listen to, she could never recognize or learn how to use a touch screen mobile phone. She answered, with a wheezing cough, assuming she must be developing signs of coldness .

"Mum there's some young detective.. he's been sent by your boss something about Gene Hunt's profile.. He claimed he knows you well spotted you the other day" It all sounded endlessly confusing and pointless that a man she barely had an opportunity of meeting was swanning around her house.

Xxxx

Doctor Kishosi finished examining two patients and moved on clutching hold a thick clipboard full of information on one particular patient, in which he heavily studied eyes drawn towards on how long this one man stayed in his coma for, guilt and sorrow consumed Doctor Kishosi altogether, it proved to a complex problem when escorting his patient's only friend to the waiting lounge.

"His friend challenged me drastically said some odd offensive words said I wasn't fit to be a doctor.. He's chosen not to give permission in turning off the life support machine.. I can see where he's coming from… Understandably his friend Gene… when and if was to wake up he wouldn't know where he is, who he is…A man can be intoxicated by many fascinating, extraordinary, personal things…maybe he needs the love of a good woman one who can make him feel alive again"

"You can allow this to affect your judgement Jin. patients have their own lives to do what they always aimed to do in life, marry a loved one, have children, emigrate and celebrate birthdays, anniversaries etc"

xxxx

Alex angrily chucked out a flirtacious Robert after he'd tried to kiss her lips when she mislead him to believe she was single and looking for love when actually she meant about finding the right bloke and settling down to a blissful happy life with him, however at least she had all the information she could research. One last encounter ensued as he was about to leave.

"I'm sorry if I rubbed your nose up the wrong way Robert but this about a profesional personal matter..Your behaviour is disgusting is that how you try to chat up birds in nightclubs god forbid the unfortunate woman you take home with you" She implied, giving him a taste of his own medicine.

"That man you told Joe about... he's never worked for the Met... you're a nutter sweetheart..talking about an imaginary person" He turned nastily, his affected charms vanishing, it a cold twisted dark laughter.

When she opened up the folder, amazingly he was correct, the only familar noticeable name that stroke an accord was one Jim Keats, he'd looked exactly the same, geeky looking, sweet and a practical joker from what she remembered of him. Sadly he was killed in a drive by shooting while patroling the streets of London two years previously, Jim had experienced the same type of fractured brain injury as Alex but had slipped in a deeper buried coma, one he could escape from..

Still you haunt me to this day I will say only this I'm sorry you died the way you did I guess we did share a strong ambitious connection as you kept announcing during our one on one talks in my old flat above Luigis .. Never ceases to amaze me all those horrible twisted things you said about Gene.. you were sly, deceitful, two faced and bitter because unfortunately you didn't gain the respect you wanted badly..you had to resort to desperate measures by creating a wedge between me and everyone in the team.

xxxx

To cheer herself up Alex decided a jog through Selby Park was in need on Monday morning as the sun warmed up, she stretched her calf muscles and arms, today she wore a silk pink sport t-shirt and blue jogging pants, running at a slower pace upon entering the footpath, this modern life was unrecognisablem her body shivered. She halted to a grinding stop, in the far background she spotted Chris walking a Yorkshire terrier.

"Chris ... Chris " His head snapped around, his expression appeared to be confusing.

"DI Drake..." he muttered, his eyes widening in bewilderment, Intentively questioning if this woman was really his former DI , his jaw almost threatening to drop on the grass.

"Chris?..." Her eyes closened halfly, Oh god he thinks i'm a complete crazy random stranger who's just ruined his perfect peaceful morning walk

"I can't do this your in my head aren't you?... I've created your ghost like figure haven't I" He panicked, rubbing his eyes repeatedly like he'd just woken up from bed. His life was very complicated and difficult enough to get use to.

"Chris it is me... I'm so glad you're here" she hugged him but received a negative reaction from him. One name connected them as she let it slip.

"I'm not an insane mad woman... remember the day you met me... I looked like any other prostitute... Gene carried me into the station after i became weak in the legs"

"oh my god DI Drake You can't be here You got killed by fatal blow to the head..you died in my eyes... i guess i dunno what happened to me back then..Think Dunne killed three of us the scumbag i hope he's rotting away somewhere in a cell" his eyes twitched in amazement he gathered the right amount of courage to step forward and hug her which they savoured for a few minutes, he pulled away to drink a bottle of Lucozade. "My Pyschologist said it might come in handy everytime i struggle to walk,,, have a loss of energy in my knees and foot"

"Why?"

"Had an accident After I got released from hospital... Signed up at the job centre...one day when i attended my fortnight appointment.. thought i saw the Guv at the top of stairs wearing his normal clothes... just stood there staring at me creepily...he reached a hand out for me So i began running towards him...somehow must have lost my footing and tripped banging my head.. hurt like shit...do you dream about him?" Chris asked, kindly in sweet nature.

"We've got so much to catch upon...is he back in Manchester?"

"Never moved..as far as i know.. I transfered about seven years ago came down on me own to start afresh, adjust to a new life... thank god i did so...I was a Detective Inspector until i had my first accident' His adams apple's gulped biting down hard on his upper lip nervously.

"Chris I need to know.. Please "

"I'm still in touch with Ray...He said Guv's been in a coma for over five years.. one of these days his life support machine will have to be turned off" Alex couldn't accept this possibility, She visualised an upset and disappointed Gene in her glance.

"I want to visit him stay by his bedside I'll move up to Manchester..." Out of the blue she determingly stated She didn't take time to consider how Molly might take this sudden news.

"You can't just abandon everything you have.. what you've built up in your policing career and living arrangements" He tried to make her see sense.

I can't squander this...I can't mess it up he confessed something i never expected him to in his last dying moments..Its so frustrating My life is already a mess as it is..My daughter presumingly thinks I've lost my marbles..My friends don't want to know me anymore.. I just need to introduce Molly my daughter to Gene... they've never met..I just hope they might get along for heavens sake" Chris nodded, itching a finger underneath his chin, while smiling down at his Yorkshire terrier

End of chapter