Sorry about the extensive delay, but this was hard to get a handle on for me. I'm sure once you read it you'll wonder why because there's barely anything here. :lol: I think in the end it was a case of loving the characters and hating the story they were given. Ah well. Not much to be done about it now.

So here's the set of Episode 8 Easter Eggs. What I've done is rewrite a couple of key scenes to play as if the Egg I had written for episode 7 had been how it all played out. Hopefully you'll be able to tell where these fit in as I've left a few dialogue cues but not written any specific introductions. I'll just trust that you've all seen the episode. ;)

And yes, I have written an alternate ending. Coming very soon.

xxxxx

Alex sat at her desk, alone in CID, the morning having been more awkward than she'd hoped. She hadn't quite known what to say and Gene had pulled his trousers on and scurried out quickly, mumbling something about a shower and a shave. She glanced at the door for the hundredth time. Maybe he'd reconsidered his offer to help her look for the farmhouse. It wasn't going to stop her. She needed to know if Sam was buried out there. If Gene had really told her the truth.

Maybe that's what the ghost was doing all this time. Leading her to Sam – to the truth. The Ghost. She choked back a sob. Gene's ghost. She hadn't even had time to think about the implications of what that meant. Gene's ghost. Could she even trust what she'd seen? Maybe it wasn't really his ghost, but something else - a message sent to warn her. Even with all her experience she had no idea where to put this kind of information. It was too big even for her to grasp.

And what about Keats? He seemed to know something - more than he let on certainly. He had pushed her to find Sam, yes, but had he given her any reason at all to trust him over Gene? Not really. And Gene had made a habit out of not telling her things she wanted to know. Needed to know. But Alex knew who she wanted to believe.

xxxxx

xxxxx

Alex followed Gene into his office.

"You're avoiding me."

He didn't look up. "Am not."

"Yes you are." Alex paused. She didn't know if she could go on. She couldn't stop it. "What was that this morning?"

"What was what?"

"You left in a hurry."

"I thought it was best." It was best.

"Best?" Alex choked, trying to maintain her composure. "Best for who? For you?" She was near tears. "Everything you said, everything you - we…did, was it all just a lie? Another deception?"

He couldn't answer. He didn't know how. He could only set his jaw and look at her.

It was better this way. She should hate him. It would make it easier to stop her. And the case would keep her busy, away from Keats. Maybe by the time it was over he'd think of something else to tell her.

She was crying now. "I can't believe I trusted you. I let you…" she bit her lip, letting it hang in the air. It nearly broke him. He only wanted her.

"Pull yourself together Inspector. We've got Dutch diamond smugglers to catch this morning and I suggest you get on it." He tapped his desk absentmindedly. "We can waste time driving around the country looking for your mysterious farmhouse later."

"I seriously doubt that we will do anything, later," she hissed, turning on her heel and leaving the door swinging on its hinges behind her.

Gene watched her storm to her desk, sitting hard in her chair and roughly shuffling papers. He still didn't know why, but he needed to keep her here where he could see her. He watched her answer her phone, stepping through his door to try to listen, but he couldn't hear her voice over the din of the room. When she got up to leave the look on her face told him all he needed to know about who'd been on the phone.

xxxxx

xxxxx

"You know, you're the most difficult, stubborn, obnoxious, misogynistic and reckless human being I've ever met."

"Come on. Surely you've missed one out?"

"And yet somehow, you make us all feel safe."

"It's over, Bolly. It's no use trying to cheer me up."

"Just tell me. What happened to Sam? You said the last thing he did was go to the pub. Why?"

Bloody stubborn woman. "You don't need to put the word "why" after the word "pub."

"Why?"

"Because that's what you do after a job."

"You foil a blag, you go to the boozer. But is that how it's meant to end, Gene?"

He just looked at her. He'd had enough, he just wanted to go.

"Remember last night, Gene?"

He looked away. He'd never forget it.

"We agreed. No regrets."

He chuckled sadly. "I've got a lifetime of 'em Alex. Ironic, eh?"

Alex moved her legs, shifted closer to him. "No more Gene." She leaned in.

He closed his eyes for a moment. No. He couldn't tell her. Wouldn't. But he didn't move, let her kiss him. He wanted it - her. She was the only real thing he had left. She curled across his lap, her hand slipping around his neck and he put his hand on her waist, the other around her shoulders to keep them upright. He wanted to push her to the floor - it was only the two of them here anyway. Finally, Gene kissed her back, letting her tongue slide over his as she pulled him closer, held him tighter. It could end right here, he thought. It would be enough. For an endless moment they clung to each other until finally Alex pulled away, smiling sadly.

"I don't regret anything," she whispered.

"Give it a few minutes. You'll come to your senses." He almost smiled.

Alex laughed. "Come on Gene," she pushed herself off the floor. "We have a job to finish."

"No Alex. I said it's over."

"You care about these people, all of them. And they care about you. You can do this. I can help you. It's why I'm here. I'm sure of it now."

He shook his head as she walked over to the abandoned white board.

xxxxx

xxxxx

Gene pulls away after she kisses him. He wants her to stay. She can't know that.

"Goodbye, Guv."

It breaks his heart, but he says it anyway. "Go."