Shaz returned very quickly with bad news. "There's a problem with the system. We can't do anything until tomorrow."

"Right!" shouted Gene excitedly from the opposite side of the office. "Luigi's it is then!" The team yelled "Yes, Gov," back at him and they began to collect their belongings. "And Bolly?" She turned to face him. "Wear something slutty."

Alex tutted and ignored jeers from the CID team, secretly coping with butterflies in her stomach. 'This is ridiculous, Alex, pull yourself together,' she thought, desperately trying to ward off blushing. She was unsuccessful and managed to leave the office before anyone noticed.

Gene was already half way through his first bottle of house rubbish when Alex arrived. She was wearing a pair of her now trademark tight jeans with the red stitching down the legs and a red, off-the shoulder top which gathered tightly at the waist. Over the top, she wore an oversized suit jacket, which Gene noticed suspiciously like one of his own and she had pointed red heels to match. 'Not slutty,' Gene thought, 'But it'll do.' Her glance lingered on Gene for slightly too long before she approached the bar and took rest on a stool.

"Ah! Signora Drake, a pleasure to see you!" Luigi bustled over from a table he was waiting on. "A red wine for the lady?"

"Thanks, Luigi," Alex replied politely.

Alex waited patiently for her drink. She could feel Gene's eyes burning through the back of her head. As coolly as possible, she slowly turned back to look at him. A split second after making eye contact, Gene looked away in embarrassment and pretended to admire the artwork on the wall beside him.

Just as Alex turned back to the bar, the figure which had just entered the bar caught her attention. It enormous amounts of self-control not to stare, but she was exceedingly pleased when he sat a few feet away from her. Alex guessed that he was not much younger than herself, dressed in a suit not unlike Hunt's.

"I'll have a scotch on the rocks when you're ready," then man said with conviction. Alex knew what Hunt would think of him: 'On the rocks? Poof... An' he speaks like he's got a bag o' marbles in 'is mouth. Just like you, Bolly.'

"Hard day?" Alex piped up.

"Something like that, yes," he gave her a sparkling smile to match his emerald eyes to which Alex responded with the most obvious blush and schoolgirl giggle. She looked past the mysterious man to where Gene was sat, where he was stewing in jealousy. Alex was very pleased at the thought of that. "As stressful as being an accountant is."

"An accountant? Complicated stuff which I could never do," Alex began to flirt shamelessly. The more the spoke, the more dutch courage she needed to continue. Eventually, Eric – the mystery man – began to feel very uncomfortable being around this crazy drunk woman. Alex was beautiful, but she couldn't half talk. Eric realised in the middle of her fourth anecdote involving DCI Hunt that she loved that man. He also concluded that he was the man he saw on his way in, now sat behind them, whom Alex kept glancing over to. Eric decided to leave her with a kiss to help her on her mission in making this man jealous: he felt sorry for her.

"I hate to disappoint, Alex, but I must catch up on my sleep. I'll have to love you and leave you, I'm afraid."

"So soon?" Alex slurred, finally realising how drunk she actually was. She had found out he was only here for a business trip so she would probably never run into him again. Probably best.

"Lovely to meet you, Alex," he added as he stood up. Alex jumped up beside him, being careful not to lose her balance. He leaned in and whispered, "I won't begrudge you a goodnight kiss." He looked into her glazed eyes, and placed his lips on hers. To his terror, she misinterpreted the peck as an invitation to a passionate embrace. 'Why the hell not?' he concluded, and gave in.

They eventually pulled away and said their awkward goodbyes. She grabbed her newly refilled glass from the bar and found Gene's table where he was sat, alone. "He was a nice man. Accountant, from London, on a business tri.."

"Let me stop you right there, Bollinger-knickers," Gene intervened. "I told you to dress like a tart, not act like one."

"He kissed me, Gov," Alex countered.

"Looked like more of a surprise attack from you if I'm totally honest. Poor man looked mortified."

Alex sat back in her chair with a small pout, speechless and quite offended. After a short while, Alex came back into her stride. "Nothing ventured, nothing gained. You know your problem, Gene? You're afraid to feel. You're afraid of rejection. And, you're afraid of judgement from others."

"You're right."

"...What?"

"You're right, Bolly. I'm afraid. I'm scared." Alex was shocked. Was this the same man? His voice began to get louder and the whole bar could now hear. "Teach me, Bolly the bleedin' oracle! Help me feel, Alex. Help me become a better man!" He stood up as Alex covered her face with her hand. "Oh, Alex, I wish I could be like you, putting myself on a plate for every Tom, Dick an' 'Arry and not fearing rejection. Everyone here thinks you're a jumped up, drunk, little tart but not me! I agree with you Alex, you really are the bloody dog's bollocks!"

Alex rose from the chair with such force that it overturned. The bar fell silent and she walked around the table and stopped inches from his face. "Well, Bolls, are you gonna kiss me or punch me?" Their breathing was heavy: there fights were always exhausting.

Alex allowed herself a short chuckle and said, "I'm going to call your bluff. See if you can feel this." She lifted her hand as if to slap him and Gene flinched. Alex's hand came to rest on his neck. She pulled him in, and kissed him even more passionately than she had with Eric – with anyone. She stopped and smiled at the look of utter shock on Gene's face. Without another word, she walked out of the bar.