Closer Every Second
Chapter Four
"Remember even the time that the guv stamped your own arse!" Shaz slurred as she spilt half her drink upon the counter of Luigi's bar. She and Alex had been enjoying a girly day together and they were remembering their best moments with the team. Little did they realise that DCI Keats was sitting down at the table directly behind them and listening to every word.
"That was good times!! Then my own blooming mother walks in!!" Alex scoffed as finished her glass of red wine. "Your mum walked into CID?" Shaz said confused.
"Ooops!" Alex said. "One of my little secrets...best not to say anything to anyone...most importantly Gene, he'll question me none stop like...well himself!"
Keats ears pricked up and he raised an eyebrow...Alex's mother walked in?
"What in the name of Raymondo's furry moustache are you two doing?" came the voice of Gene Hunt, emerging from the doorway. He winked at Alex and she giggled, the drink having gone to her head.
"Well, I have been told that a certain DCI Keats is reported missing" Gene continued, playing his game.
Alex rolled her eyes "Another needle in a haystack Gene. I believed you all the while." She raised her glass to find it empty.
Shaz laughed, pointing at her glass "its empty silly!" she nudged Alex and whispered something in her ear. Alex let out a strangled giggle and put a hand in front of her mouth. "Shaz!"
"Speaking of you PC Granger" Gene continued. "Chris wishes to escort you home. He and I quote 'is worried that you might fall over too many times as beforehand' whatever that nonsense means."
Shaz nodded and gave Alex a hug. "See you tomorrow stamped butt!" she laughed hysterically and Alex high fived her as Gene rolled his eyes, Women and booze...
"Reencountering the stamped arse situation were we?" Gene asked, raising his eyebrows at her. She grinned seductively and poured herself more wine and took a swig. "It was quite hilarious at the time."
"Best moment of my life" he replied and she giggled, nudging his arm. "Rude git." She accused mockery. He sighed and looked at her, surveying her.
"You're pissed" he stated.
"You are a construct" she replied.
He chuckled. "I believe I've heard those words before."
"Indeed you have DCI Hunt" she mused, the drink controlling her flirting. Gene smiled; he knew how it felt to be this drunk before.
He leaned down and whispered "Look behind you and recognize the shoes." Alex turned sharply to where Keats was disguised and nearly spit her wine out of her nose.
"What the hell?!" she yelled, pointing at him. "You filthy eavesdropper!" she screamed.
Crikey, thought Gene. He had forgotten how she was anger when pissed.
Keats got up and winked at her. "Evening DI Drake. Hunt."
Gene grunted and took a swig of beer which Luigi had handed him.
"Get. Out!" Alex said her voice icy as frost.
Keats chuckled.
"Get out before I throw you out the bloody window!" she warned.
Gene raised his eyebrows and noticed Alex had her gun tucked in her back pocket. Slowly he reached for it and withdrew it. She hadn't noticed.
"I come in here to escape the harsh reality of work and stress and shitloads of paperwork and you poking your nose in everywhere!" she yelled. "To hang out with my friend and have a loose night. But no, DCI Keats wishes to first accuses me of allegations that are plain NONSENCE!" she yelled, raising her voice.
"And second, eavesdropping while I relax. You're just how Gene used to be!!"
"Gee thanks Bolls" Gene said. Alex didn't react.
"I could have you done for harassment." She muttered quietly.
Keats was getting to his feet. "I was just leaving....Bolls."
Before Gene could stop her, Alex had aimed a punch straight in his manhood. Ouch, though Gene. Alex can hit hard and no man wants to experience that in that area. He thought himself lucky.
"I...I thought it....was your nick...name!" Keats groaned, clutching his privates. He wasn't going to arrest her. He hadn't been the gentlemen he knew he was and Alex would never have done this while sober.
"Bolly, calm down. Your drunk and gunna regret this later. Come with me." Gene said, tugging at her. When she didn't move he sighed and hoisted her up in his arms. She didn't fight him and they were up the stairs and in her flat before she could blink.
"Shit" she murmured as she clutched her head and swayed. Gene caught her just in time and carried her into her bedroom. He laid her carefully on the bed and got her silk night top she wore to bed. He removed her boats and her jacket.
"You're going to undress yourself Bolls, even if you are pissed." He muttered. Why was he acting all gentlemen lately? Why had he felt so possessive of her and why on earth did he want to swell with pride when she punched him in the balls about the nickname???
"I'm going to be sick" she muttered. Gene grabbed her metal bin and shoved it in front of her mouth before she was promptly sick into it.
"You weren't lying" Gene commented and kept it in front of her.
"That stupid prick" she cursed, sweat beading upon her forehead.
"Don't get too drunk next time eh Bolls?" Gene joked. She did the two finger sign and him and he winked back at her. He enjoyed her presence better than his family and ex wife had been, he thought. Whoa! Where did that come from?
"Staying on the sofa?" she murmured and he relaxed when he saw that she was stroking his black and red tie that was dangling in front of her. He nodded and wiped the sweat off her head.
"Can you pass my water?" she asked, motioning to the bedside table where a glass of water was sitting. He obliged and she downed it in one. Flopping back on her bed she wished more than anything for her hangover to go away.
"Sweet dreams bolly knickers" he murmured and kissed her on the forehead as he normally did when he rescued her from downstairs on nights like this. She blew a kiss to him cockily and sighed, closing her eyes and falling asleep as she did.
Gene hadn't even exited the room when her faint snoring was heard. He'd felt his insides flutter when she mock blew a kiss at him and he had no idea why. He grabbed a shirt from the wardrobe which he had left before she'd arrived and closed the bedroom door behind him.
He got the blanket for the sofa and pillow, snuggled down and sighed. Why did he have the sense of dread and passion coming on to him? He got up suddenly and locked the front door to the flat. Feeling a lot safer, he went back to the sofa and also fell asleep easily, dreaming.
"You never told me your name" Gene said as he popped a piece of bread into the woman's open mouth. Her hair was a delicate brown and had soft short hair, gelled into the basic eighties hairstyle. He wanted so badly to reach over and kiss her lips until he died but the woman looked into his eyes and a confused expression appeared on her face.
"Gene it's me, Alex."
Gene jerked awake, sweating and breathing hardly. He saw it was morning. It took him a while to realise that Alex, in person was sitting on the coffee table, looking at him concerned. She was wearing a dark blue silk and low riding top which left little to the imagination, along with her normal night blue jeans and killer heels. "You alright Gene?" she asked.
"Yer..." he murmured, putting his hands in his greasy and short blonde hair. "I..fine Bolls."
"We need to get to work. Body has been found, stabbed to death and we are needed. Get in the shower and I'll make you breakfast." She recited and got up, leaving him with a annoyed expression upon his face.
"GENE!" she yelled a moment later, he jumped as he'd been gazing into space. "Gene...wake up and smell the coffee." She said, placing a cup of coffee on the table. He went to move but she put a hand on his shoulder. He looked up to meet her concerned expression again, worry painted in her eyes.
"You sure you're ok?" she whispered.
"Yes!" he groaned harshly, getting up, knocking her hand away and marched to the bathroom. Alex sighed and went back to making breakfast.
They were walking into CID when Gene thought he couldn't stand it anymore. They hadn't spoken since before breakfast and he was feeling quite guilty.
She wasn't being cold to him, on the contrary she was feeling fine. Just a bit puzzled.
Pushing open the doors to CID they found no one was int here yet. The silence grew and Alex broke it by sitting behind her desk and scanning the file in front of her.
Tension grew so thick that when she started humming, Gene nearly jumped out of his skin.
He walked around the desk and leaned over her shoulder. It wasn't a nice case to be doing but this was the police.
He saw Alex shudder. He traced the page and he shivered too. Te body had been found in a graveyard, next to a freshly built grave but been abandoned.
"Creepy..." he murmured. Alex got up from her seat and walked across the room to the kitchen area.
She got two fresh cups, got the kettle boiling and was stirring it around the cups when Gene walked over to her.
"Bolls..." he started but had no idea how to finish. She looked up and saw pity in her eyes again.
She poured the milk into the cups and picked both of them up and walked to Gene's office, kicking the door open with her heel and closed it behind Gene. She gave him his tea and flicked open the file on Gene's desk as well. It was the same as Alex's but a sticky note was attached.
It's now or never...
Confused, she showed him the note. She hadn't a clue what he meant but Gene understood it. Keats, the barstod he thought and crumpled it in his fist and threw it into the bin.
She was about to walk out when he blurted out "Bolly, I'm sorry."
She turned and raised her eyebrows. "For what?" she asked.
"This morning....when I..." he trailed off.
She chuckled. "Gene, Gene, Gene, what am I going to do with you?" She said affectionately.
"Huh?" said Gene. He was confused.
"I wake up most mornings confused, angry and worried the entire time sweetie. I was just worried as you were half moaning in your sleep. At first I thought I left the radio on but it was you. Got me scared for a moment as well." She added.
He went over to her and gave her a warm hug. It felt so nice that he had to make his arms let go. "Thanks..."
"Sorry to interrupt guv..." Ray Carling said from the doorway, making them both jump. "But there's been an eyewitness who has come forward."
"Let's fire up the Quattro!" Gene said happily. He took her hand and walked out of CID, feeling better than when he'd entered it.