Thank you for all the kind reviews, they really do make my day! Here's another chapter for you all. x

They were sat in Alex's flat, finishing off glasses of wine - or in Gene's case, scotch - in a comfortable silence.

"What was that all about then Bolls?" Gene asked, putting down his glass and propping his feet up on the coffee table in front of them. Alex paused, frowning as she took her mind back to her conversation before.

"Oh, Shaz just.. knows.." Alex bit her lip.

"About us? Shit a brick Bolly how the hell?" His eyes were wide open and he was now sat up to attention, his legs jumping off the table quicker than lightening. Alex quickly shook her head.

"No no no, not us as such, just... that I had 'someone' back on Friday night." She waggled her fingers in true Alex Drake-style before exhaling, twisting her mouth into anticipation for his reply.

"Oh. Right. Yeh. And what did yer say?"

"That she was mistaken."

"Yeah bloody right she was. Not ready for them all to find out yet... are we?" Gene's expression was suddenly soft, he was leaning forward closer to Alex now.

"No" It was plain and simple, their relationship had barely even begun yet and neither were ready to announce anything to their gossiping colleagues. Although neither Alex nor Gene wanted to even think about the possibility of their new relationship going wrong, both - deep down - knew that broadcasting it this early on when things were still new to themselves could have serious detrimental consequences to many parties involved. Alex finished off her glass of wine before standing up. "You staying?" It was clearly a rhetorical question, and Gene certainly didn't need to be asked twice.

XXXXX

They entered work in the morning together, yet this time they were perfectly on time - and it seemingly aroused no suspicion. All got down to work after the daily calls of 'Morning' to each other.

It hadn't been half an hour when Viv entered the office, notepad in hand, shouting information leaked about an armed robbery.

"We've got half an hour to get down there, catch the bastards red handed and send them to the cells. Easy peasy. Now mush!" Gene ushered his team out of CID as they collected guns and coats, ready for the first bit of work of the day.

Heads turned as the screeching of tyres echoed down the streets of London. The iconic red Quattro shot past the various buildings, forcing horns to sound as it's driver weaved in and out of the traffic. Performing another almighty spin round the corner, Gene put his foot down as they approached the destination, speeding - seemingly carelessly - along the road. Upon reaching the site of the alleged robbery, the Quattro slammed to a stop, it's inhabitants barely fazed by the wreckless driving - apart from one.

"It is possible to drive quickly without nearly causing death in the process you know!" Alex glared at Gene as they climbed out the car. She merely got a smirk in return whilst Gene ushered his colleagues closer towards him.

"Fifteen minutes til the bastards get here. Armed backup is on the way, get yer guns ready and I'll sort out where yer gunna go." Gene instructed, bringing his own gun out of the inner pocket of his coat. "Raymondo, Christopher you'll go inside, hide somewhere. And when I say hide, I bloody well mean hide, comprende?" They nodded, bringing out their own guns in anticipation. "And you Lady Bolls, will be with me. Outside, away from the shop. Hiding." He caught her eye as she frowned.

"Out of harm's way, Guv?" Alex questioned in a mockingly sweet tone.

"Out of harm's way." He repeated, before turning away to sort the backup out. Alex scowled, rolling her eyes. It wasn't unusual for him to be slightly protective of her, there had been many, many incidents before where he'd clearly - whether conciously or not - put her safety above others in his team, yet this time it was much more deliberate, and much more obvious. Alex didn't bother questioning him on it though, and followed him over to assess the scene. It was a jewellers. Nothing special, yet it was fairly isolated and small; a prime target for a burglary such as the one planned. There was an alley close by, of which Alex assumed Gene and herself would hide down, and a launderette two buildings down, yet apart from that the road was quite plain. She walked over to where the rest of the team were currently standing, also surveying the shop in front of them.

"Five minutes. Everyone to your places, now!" Gene shouted, directing people with his gun held aloft. The scurry of feet and sound of guns clicking echoed down the street as people took their assigned spots. Gene joined Alex down the alley, Gene protectively standing in front of her as they took watch, silently waiting.

It wasn't long before the suspected robbery was in fact under away. A white van came casually along the road, if they hadn't have been on the lookout it wouldn't have even looked out of the ordinary. It parked, quite sanely, next to the jewellers. Guns were taken off safety as the team braced themselves. Masked men then got out of the van, not quite as sanely as they had approached. They immediately smashed the front window of the shop, shotguns raised and voices shouting. Gene brought his radio up to his mouth, signalling for the coppers to go. Armed backup suddenly appeared from nowhere, cautiously yet confidently closing in on the robbers. Shouts of 'You're surrounded by armed bastards!' came from inside as Ray and Chris jumped into action. Gene and Alex quietly made their own approach as the robbers began to surrender.

"Oi you thieving scum, hands where we can bloody well see them!" Gene aimed his gun as he approached, Alex instructed to stay metres behind him. She rolled her eyes, watching the scene unfold.

It took the team less than an hour before they were on their way back to the station, criminals apprehended and job done.

"Good job that was. Easy." It was as far as Gene would go to complimenting his team's work, yet it seemed sufficient for Ray and Chris. Alex, however wasn't pleased quite so easily.

"Not that I got to do anything." Her eyes drifted out the window.

"Yer got the easy part Bolls, consider yourself lucky." Gene turned the Quattro round a corner, either ignoring or not realising her annoyance at not being allowed to be in on the action.

"I'm a Detective Inspector, my job isn't meant to be easy, Guv." She turned to him at the same time that he turned to her, the Quattro slowing. He cleared his throat once, telling her so many things purely through his pale blue eyes. She swallowed, raising her eyebrows before turning away. Alex knew exactly why he was being like this, and felt a conversation was in order, yet she also knew that such a conversation was not suitable when in the company of Ray and Chris. Gene smirked slightly before also turning back to the road, silently driving back to the station.