Thanks to everyone for the reviews and favouriting – they really keep me going. Sorry for the delay in updating but I got distracted by Episode 7!
Disclaimers: All characters belong to BBC and Kudos.
Rating: Rated for Gene and language as usual
Summary: Finding Layton – blimey didn't mean the chapter to be this long but hope you enjoy
Chapter 7
You will see light in the darkness
You will make some sense of this
And when you've made your secret journey
You will find the love you miss
(Lyrics – Secret Journey, Police)
The car screeched to a halt, tyres squealing painfully as Gene brought the BMW to a halt. Judging by the police activity he knew he had found the right place – now all he needed was Layton. What he didn't need was his wife sitting next to him arguing the toss.
"I am getting out of the car" she fumed
"And once again I say you are bloody well not" he shouted. " I will not have you anywhere near that scumbag".
Undaunted, Alex reached for the door handle but Gene was too quick and activated the central locking system. With an ominous 'thunk' she was trapped. Unfortunately, Gene thought, so was he.
"You pig-head bastard" she screeched. Why couldn't she make him understand that she needed to do this?
"Bolly, I need to get out of this car and do my job – are you gonna let me?"
There was an ominous silence from the passenger seat.
"Alex love, I can't do this while I'm worrying about you. If you're out there" he pointed "then I can't concentrate on Layton".
Alex sighed, " I know but I….."
"No buts Alex". He looked at the determined set of her face and gave it one last shot.
"As your superior officer I am ordering you to stay in the car" he said firmly. He turned her face gently towards him, "As your 'usband I am asking, no, begging you to".
Christ, how was she supposed to argue with that? She gently touched his face.
"Okay, but be careful"
"Not what you usually say Bols" he smirked. He leaned over and gave her a quick peck on the cheek, while simultaneously checking his weapon was ready. He was gone before she had a chance to say anything else.
The gravel crunched under his tan coloured Chelsea boots as he strode towards the police cordon. 'Right' he thought 'where is the bastard? In the distance he spotted Sam and what looked to be a heap of rags on the floor – a non-moving heap of rags at that. 'Fucks sake' he thought and ran towards the area closing the distance in seconds.
The first Sam knew of Gene's arrival on the scene was the ominous sound of boots pounding and then been lifted bodily by his jacket lapels and slammed against the wall of the derelict building.
"Speak to me now Sammy boy and make it snappy – oh and please tell me that is not Layton's lifeless body lying there – or is just 'aving a nap?"
"Honest Guv, its not how it looks" sputtered Sam, still trying to disentangle himself from Gene's clutches.
"Well Gloria, he looks dead to me". He dragged Sam over to the body and gave it a swift kick.
"Yes, well, he's either dead or he's a better impressionist than Jon Culshaw so you'd better tell me which of these Nancy-boy, lager drinking piss–heads you call a team, shot him so I can have their arse on a plate".
Sam finally managed to wrench himself free.
"Guv, I can't….."
"Tyler, I don't give a blind man's hairy bollocks what you can or can't do! Which one of these soft, southern, Chelsea supporting crackheads cocked it up?"
"He was dead when we found him Guv" Sam gasped.
Gene stared uncomprehendingly at Sam for a moment as the information sank in. They both turned and looked at the body, which was lying face down, arms and legs bent into awkward angles. Sam continued while Gene just stared in disbelief.
"Layton was spotted in the area. They thought he was drunk or on drugs as he was staggering about so much. By the time we got here, this was how we found him. I'm sorry Gene".
"Yeah, me too" Gene said as he hunched down to look at Layton.
"Killed by a single gunshot to the back of the head I'd say" continued Sam
Gene raised an eyebrow. "I always knew your specialist subject was 'stating the bleedin' obvious'" he snarked.
Sam continued, "We'll have to wait for SOCO but there doesn't appear to be an obvious motive. Could easily be drug or gang related".
"Bollocks. We both know what this is related to – we just 'ave to find out 'oo and why" Gene said. He had a bad feeling about this. Christ, when was this nightmare going to end? His attention was caught by the odd angle of Layton's hand and he moved to inspect it closer.
"Guv"
"Yeah, I know, I know – forensics" Gene continued to examine the hand and discovered red fibres underneath the unkempt nails. "Make sure they get these fibres Sam. I want the bastard that did this and I want him now".
"Yes Guv"
Gene sighed loudly and then pursed his lips in concentration. Now, how exactly to tell his dearly beloved screechpot wife that she would not get a chance to confront her assailant or even find out why he tried to kill her. Maybe she would be in a better mood by the time he got back to the car.
"GENE"
Alex's voice carried from the cordon. He could see her 'negotiating' with uniform branch who were, in fact, carrying out his orders and not letting her past.
"DI Hunt, ma'am, you cannot…..". Alex dodged past the PC and made a run for it. Pretty impressive for a woman who had just left hospital, Gene thought. The officer managed to grab her arm just as Gene reached her.
"Thank you PC Ashley, think I've got it from 'ere". He held Alex gently but firmly.
"Let's go back to the car Alex, I'll tell you everything"
"Where is he, I need to see him. And just why did that officer call me DI Hunt?" she said not sure in her own mind which piece of information she wanted first.
"Cos that's your name, woman" he said "what else would he call ya?"
"Christ, have I woken up in the middle ages? Did Mrs Pankhurst not exist in this dimension?
"I don't know 'oo the ell Mrs Pankhurst is or what she as to do with it but you are Mrs Alexandra Hunt, DI Hunt, Alex, Bols or Bolly, whichever you bleedin' prefer". They were both building up a head of steam now but despite this Gene smiled to himself.
"What's so funny? Alex fumed
"Sorry, nothing but its just…….." He reached out and dragged her into his arms and held on tightly. He breathed in deeply and closed his eyes. Her scent surrounded him and the warmth of her body mingled with his. It was going to be alright.
Alex had stopped wriggling in his embrace now and let herself be soothed by the sheer size and masculinity of his body. She felt safe, but more to the point, she felt more alive than at any time since she had emerged from her coma.
"Just what, Gene?" she said more calmly now.
"We're arguing – just like we always do" he smiled. "You don't know 'ow many times in the past couple of months, I would 'ave given anything to 'ave an argy-bargy with ya"
"You know you'll probably regret telling me that later" she smiled as he began to steer her gently towards the car.
"Ay, no doubt Bols, no doubt" he laughed. Alex turned her head at the unaccustomed sound. She couldn't remember the last time she heard Gene laugh – he didn't seem to do it much in 1981 bizarro world. She liked it.
"And the reason you are DI Hunt my luv, is that you agreed that when we got 'itched it wouldn't be right to still call yerself after that poncy, scumbag, lawyer of an ex-husband of yours" he finished triumphantly.
Suddenly Alex stopped. "And you Superintendent Hunt have been distracting me from my original purpose". She turned. "Where's Layton?" Gene took both her hands in his.
"Alex, you don't need to see 'im. He's dead, nothing more to be done now"
Alex closed her eyes and tried to process the information. Dead, Layton, Dead. She had a brief vision of a bullet coming towards her and quickly opened her eyes to find Gene looking at her with concern.
"Then I still need to see him Gene".
He sighed. "Alright, but not for long now, no observations, discussion, psychology what-nots. You'll look and that's it, comprende?"
Alex nodded her agreement while Gene led her towards the crime scene. She needed evidence, to see that he was actually dead, that he could no longer hurt her or haunt her dreams.
The body was just as Gene had left it. Sam smiled as Alex approached but said nothing – there was nothing to be said.
She tentatively approached the body, still holding Gene's hand as though he was her anchor in stormy seas. She took in everything, the gunshot wound, his face turned to the side, the unkempt clothing. It was over then, she thought and with that he knees gave way under her. Gene grabbed her just before she hit the ground.
"See, told ya not to, but you wouldn't listen" as he began to hoist her into his arms.
"Put me down you great lummox" Alex beat her fists against his chest "I'm not an invalid".
"We're going 'ome Alex"
"Yes I know, and if you put me down I promise to be good. Honest".
Gene reluctantly complied with the request.
"See" Alex said, "That was easy wasn't it?" She turned to Gene and took his face in her hands, looking deeply into his eyes. "Now, take me home Gene Hunt, wherever that is. This is over". She kissed him, turned and walked determinedly towards the car.
'But its not' Gene thought grimly as he followed quickly behind. "Its not over yet'.
……………… to be continued