Again many thank you's to the wonderful Rantandrumour.... as ever mistakes are all mine


Alex turned the radio on as she removed her make up with a cotton pad. Keeping the sound down low, she leaned in with eager curiosity. There had not been any messages for a week or so.
She was aware of the song changing before a whooshing sound rushed through her head, and everything suddenly sounded as though it was under water, marred by a fuzzy haze. Red bleeding into black, running into gold. Her senses dulled.
Just a whisper. "Alex." Sounds rose in volume and pitch, reaching a deafening crescendo, before coming to an abrupt end, just as the door to the bathroom clicked and Gene stepped into the room. Sounds came back gently, colours sharpened, Billy Joel playing quietly in the background.
She was used to hearing Molly beg for her return, but Alex's godfather replacing her daughter's voice was less reassuring then she could have contemplated. The man who had once upon a time soothed her nightmares away with gentle condolences now only reminded her of the gaping abyss that opened at the memory of a far off future.
"Alex?" The way Gene called out to her, caused heat to flush through her, dispelling the cold from the pleading whisper of Evan's voice.

.*.

Utterly exhausted, but unable to sleep, is one thing she hated most. At times she was astounded that her mind could conjure up such vivid details, of a world she had created from Sam's voice on a tape and her childhood memories.
She just wished her mind would give it a rest once in a while. A few hours of sleep without interruption or dreams would suit her fine.
Gene snored mockingly behind her, turned on his side. He slung his arm across her waist and rubbed his face against her shoulder blades.
She lay still for a moment, before lifting his arm at the wrist, to move away from him and avoid any unneeded embarrassments.
However with a possessive snuffle, he pulled Alex to him, her back against his chest, his hand grazing the underside of her breast as he held her tightly. "Sleep 'Lex," Gene said before sleep took him once again with a series of rumbling purrs.
Gradually she felt her body give into his demanding hold and relax, being lulled into sleep by the warming scent that was uniquely Gene.

.*.

Having woken up in one another's arms, Gene and Alex had avoided all eye contact as they got ready for the day ahead.
It was not that either of them regretted how they had come to consciousness. It was that they were both acutely aware of it, having felt so natural.
His finger had been tangled in her hair, her head resting above his heart that beat out a soothing rhythm.
It was only when Alex moved to use the bathroom, that she noticed Gene was awake and clear eyed enough to suggest he had been for a while.

.*.

Gene walked heavy footed down the stairs, uncaring if he woke Alex's landlord. He had spied from the landing that Ray was asleep in the squad car. Chris was sat, or rather slumped forward with elbows on the dash board, looking haggard and fighting to stay in the land of the living.
Chris sat up ram-rod-straight when he saw his DCI advancing on the vehicle. However he did not have enough time to nudge Ray before Gene was banging his fists on the driver s window.
Startled into awareness, Ray tried to look alert. On seeing Hunt and Drake he momentarily had the decency to look abashed at having been caught out by both of his superiors.
"Guv, I err..." He looked to Chris, hoping he would jump in with a stupid remark and take the spotlight for himself, but Chris did not look up for anything.
"I don't want your excuses! Get out the sodding car. Chris, you too."
Leaning against the car, Christopher rigorously rubbed his hands over his face in the hope of rubbing some feeling back into it.
Taking pity on him, Alex handed her keys to him and pushed him towards her flat, speaking softly to him. After a moment s hesitation he did as she said.
"Where the hell does he think he's going? Christopher!"
"Will you keep it down?! I said he could have a kip in the flat"
"Why don't you read him a bedtime story while you're at it? Ray where the bloody hell do you think you re going? Station! Now!" he bellowed at the figure trying to sneak up the fire escape.


Thank you for taking the time to read.