Authors Note: hey everybody! I'm back with the latest chapter (obviously) hopefully there should be another one posted before the end of next weekend :) Not too much happens in this one – but it's essential to the storyline. Please, please review! And on the note – my personal thanks to Everyonerunsfromsomething, JoinTheHunt1981and GeneHuntress for your reviews – they brighten my day!

Disclaimer: Don't own anything to do with Ashes to Ashes :(


Plymouth Calling

Part Two- Artemis, Allegiance And Approaching Alex

Chapter Three- Documents, Photos, Reports And Aliases


July 4th 1982,
Alex Drake's Flat, London

"Wakey, wakey Drakey," Gene called out as he entered the living and noticed that she was still led on the sofa. Fast asleep. He shook her shoulder.

"Mmmm...wha'd'ya wan'?" Alex moaned as she shifted her weight on the sofa to get a better look at him. "It's too bloody early to get up."

"It's half eleven yer lazy mare; we've gotta lot t' do today by the looks of it."

Alex nodded, still slightly overtaken by sleep. Moving her feet and legs from resting on the sofa to sitting on them, she rubbed her eyes wearily. Alex knew that she must look awful. She'd been writing to Molly until the late hours of last night while she was waiting for Gene to come home.

Home.

Alex liked the way it rolled off her tongue naturally when she said it. But this wasn't really her home, was it? She belonged in 2008 where there was touch screen technology and faster forensic technology. And where there was Molly. There hadn't been many messages from 2008 for a while – and Alex feared that she was slowly giving up.

But why had she suddenly made a move on Gene, then? Sam had been right; there was just something about. Although at the time, Sam had been infatuated with Annie Cartwright, but still.

For Alex, and for first the time in almost thirty years, she'd found somewhere that felt properly like home. Ironically, she'd had to have gotten shot to get there.

"Alex?" Her eyes snapped open as Gene's voice called out to her. "What's wrong, luv?" He asked, his eyes searching hers.

"Nothing, I was just thinking...about Artemis." Dropping her eyes, she shifted around on the sofa again, trying to stop the numbing pain in her ankles.

Silence, not for the first time, had descended over the room. Both Alex and Gene, although they refused to acknowledge it, felt a sudden change in the atmosphere – and it wasn't good. Room temperature was falling slowly and Alex picked up her breathing.

What was it about that word?

Gene felt the same. How could a word, a bloody word, make everything seem less real, as if the roof was closing in? They needed an answer to this corruption, Artemis and Masons as fast as possible.

"Wha' the 'ell 'r' we gonna do, then?"

Hazel eyes met stormy blue as she silently signalled to him, her voice of authority. "Get the file."


Twenty minutes later, Gene returned to her flat, bearing gifts of the Artemis file, Greens' personal file, Macs' personal file and Heaths' personal file.

"Right," Alex commanded, "Let's check out the Artemis file first." She walked over to the pile and picked it up. Slicing her nail over the corners, the seal was no more. Her eyes met Genes with a hint of fear; they'd committed a crime against the Government

Slowly and cautiously, Alex turned the pages of the file. Wide eyes and quickening of breath were the only signs Gene needed to know that something was wrong. Very wrong.

Alex watched as the pages of the file flew past her eyes. Photos, case studies, case reports, statistics and aliases were littered over the A4 paper pages. When she reached the end, Alex stopped and passed the file to Gene.

He took a little more time to survey the photos and documents.

The first picture was his official MET photo that was taken about a week before Alex arrived in 1981. Underneath was his complete policing history and personal references. It included trivial things like his favourite food and the most popular place he visited. Naturally, Luigi's was top of the list. But in handwriting, not typed, another destination had been added.

Alex's flat.

Panic and confusion swept through his body and fear for the woman that was stood three feet away flowed through his blood. Swallowing, and keeping up the Manc Lion charade, he turned the page.

The next photo was of Alex, dated about a week after she arrived. Like the previous page, it included her policing history, qualifications and personal references. It also included her favourite place to visit – Luigi's. However, where it said about family – Gene's had been blank – it said her daughter had died at the age of twelve. On her birthday.

Meanwhile, Alex had moved to sit with him of the zebra striped sofa. She had been reading over his shoulder – and now, as she reached her his hand, he could see the tears forming in her eyes.

Gene asked her gently, "What was her name?"

Sensing he already knew the answer, she replied, "Molly." There was a long pause; Alex was debating whether to say more or not. But her attention had been draw to something else on the form. Pointing, she asked, "What's that?"

Gene's eyes followed her finger and squinted at it. "Er – it says 'relationship status'."

Alex raised an eyebrow, "Yeah – so?"

"Well – it says...'Detective Inspector Alexandra Drake, as of June 28th, although it is suspected to have been going on her a while, is currently in a relationship with Detective Chief Inspector Eugene Hunt'."

Exhaling loudly, Alex turned to look suspiciously out of the window, "Shit. How do they know?"

Gene thought for a minute, and then they replied in unison, "We have a mole."

Again, silence filled the air, but this time, Gene placed his arm around Alex's waist and drew her closer to him. She lolled her head on his shoulder and they continued to read the file.

The next page was full of CID's statistics; prosecution rates, cases per year, numbers on the team at a time, and more.

The following page was the Martin Kennedy case file – evidence codes, reports – everything. It even mentioned the possible breach of security by DCI Hunt and DI Drake at Edgehampton.

After that, the pages didn't mean anything significant to Gene or Alex. They were full of binary codes and encrypted file numbers and locations.

The penultimate document was completely covered with photos. They were all black and white and they were all of Gene and Alex. The first one they noticed was them at Luigi's in yesterday morning – before it had even opened. Underneath there seemed to be some writing, notes maybe, 'DI Drake and DCI Hunt in Luigi's. Relationship confirmed. June 28th 1982, 10:58 am.'

The next one was of them walking from Luigi's to the station before Gene was sent to Plymouth. Alex was laughing and her eyes were wide – she looked drunk. Gene was smirking at her as he held onto her waist to stop her from falling over. The caption read, 'DCI Hunt and DI Drake walking back from Luigi's. Suspected relationship. June 2nd 1982, 9:54 pm.'

The last one they looked at was of Alex. Balancing two files on her right arm, she was stood flat again filing cabinets while she read another file. She looked slightly panicked – understandable, after all - the caption underneath stated, 'DI Drake, reading personal files without authorisation. June 28th 1982, 11: 34 am.'

"Well, Bolls, looks like we're rather popular wiv the Government at the moment."

"Yeah – but why us? I mean – we work for the MET, but we've never been in any trouble, we handle tough cases, we keep our heads down."

"Maybe that's why they're interested in us." Gene replied, rerunning everything through his memory again. Alex stayed silent.

"They're spying on us. And I haven't noticed. They've been spying on you, Alex." Again she stayed silent, but Alex could hear the concern that saturated his voice. Although he'd never admit it, Gene Hunt was actually scared. The Government was after him, and her, and they wasn't anything they could do about.

Or was there?

Alex ran the photos through her mind again. They had only been taken yesterday, or about a month ago. She frowned; how had they got into the file? Gene had kept that file under lock and key since August last year – after they'd stolen it from Edgehampton. Then another thought entered her mind.

The official seal hadn't been broken until she'd broken it this morning.

"Gene..." Alex started, but stopped as a noise was heard outside.


Shaz crept up the stairs with extra cautiousness and calmness. Knowing that she would be severely reprimanded for doing this, it was part of the reason she chose to go alone.

Pausing to listen for any noise around her, Shaz leant against the door frame, not watching where her foot was going – it kicked the door.


Immediately Gene had jumped up, pulling out his gun and walking suspiciously towards to door. In a similar reaction, Alex also reached for her gun, but instead of pulling it, she just walked calmly to the door; Gene had her back.

Reaching for the handle, Alex drew in a breath and called out, "Who's there?" As her head poked out the door, Alex reeled back with shock, "Jesus, Shaz! You scared the life out of me!"

As soon as he'd heard Shaz' name mentioned, Gene's gun had been placed back in the holster. He appeared at the door with Alex. "What' yer doing 'ere?" he asked bluntly.

Shaz' eyes were wide with a reasoned sense of fear – and relief. Part of her had already known that the Guv would be with the Ma'am and that they'd be alone – together. However, what Shaz was concerned about was much more real.

"Can I come in?" she enquired, looking at Alex, "please, Ma'am? – It's important."

Alex nodded and opened the door wider. Gene narrowed his eyes at Shaz but didn't say anything. Shaz walked into the living room and placed herself nervously on a chair; she didn't seem to even notice the files and papers scattered over the table.

Without giving them a chance to ask, Shaz started, "I've come alone. Everybody thinks that I'm at the dentist." Gene gave a wry smile; Shaz would have made a bloody good copper. "I got your note, Ma'am, and I did watch carefully." Shaz observed how Gene threw a glance at Alex but with a small smile, a thousand messages were conveyed.

Shaz took a deep breath and continued, "I followed DCI Heath and SuperMac to a rendezvous in a park about ten minutes away from here. I watched them meet with a man that I now know was SuperGreen. There were all shot dead, but somebody else must've been watching too, because a girl came to rescue SuperGreen and took him to a hospital."

"Shaz, how can you possibly know that?" Alex questioned – of course Shaz was telling the truth, but how did she know about the Hospital bit?

"Because on July the first, SuperGreen announced that he was our new Detective Superintendant and that you two had been suspended. He also said that we weren't allowed any contact with you. He threatened us all – professionally, personally and all the spaces in between."

Alex was thoughtful, but Gene cut in, "Wha' did the girl look like?"

Shaz didn't miss a beat, "She was around my height, had brunette curls down to her waist and she looked about mid twenties." Alex nodded absently...

"Wait! That's Skye Kenning. Y'know, the girl who was caught by the Heist Squad but escaped. That's not all, Gene. How did the photos get into the Artemis file while it was sitting in your desk at your house?"

Gene threw a wary glance at Shaz but Alex continued, "How are they connected? Gene, we're being targeted...by the Government."

Shaz frowned; this wasn't the situation she had expected from her two senior officers. Alex looked like a rabbit caught in headlights; her fear, panic and distress were rolled into one. Shaz had never seen the Ma'am like before – she was used to the confident and cocky version. However, as Alex went to sit on the edge of the sofa, running her hands through her curled hair, Shaz noticed a shift in the Guv.

Although he'd looked worried as soon as she's turned up, he wasn't masking the emotions very well now. He stared at Shaz for a little while, but as soon as his gaze fell on Alex, he changed. He went to sit next her, taking her slim body into his arms. Placing his right arm around her shoulders, her started to sooth her by stroking her hair.

Gene Hunt didn't do girly things like hugs and comforting, but this was Alex. She was different. Both had forgotten about little Shaz who was now becoming awkward while she watched them; Alex had pulled back and was gazing into Gene's eyes. But Gene suddenly remembered and swung around to face Shaz.

"So, anything else been 'appening down the station?"

"No, the new DCI and DI seem to be clean – I mean, they're white, Guv."

Gene gave her a crooked smile at her use of his and Alex's vocabulary reguarding bent coppers, "Good t'know, Shaz. Keep us posted, aye?"

"Yeah – I'll messages with Luigi once a week unless something big happens." Gene and Alex nodded, "By the way, what actually happened in Plymouth – if you don't mind me asking."

"Well," Alex started, "Gene was forced to transfer by SuperMac because he was –"

"Worried that I'd show him up," Gene cut in quickly, giving Alex a 'that look'.

Shaz accepted the answer and walked to the door. Alex kissed Gene on the cheek and followed her.

"Congrats, Ma'am," Shaz whispered to her friend, "y'know – about you and the Guv. I 'ad my suspicions, like." Alex smiled and hugged her. As Shaz walked down the corridor, Alex spoke her reply quietly.

"Be careful, Shaz. Something is changing."

And Alex honestly believed that statement. Not being one to believe in fate and destiny, she had a hard time believing that things more than just coincidences. But this journey from London to Plymouth and back again had gotten her thinking. There were too many coincidences for something more sinister not to be at work. But who was controlling it?

Shivers of concern ran riot down her spine. Although Gene hadn't seen it, Alex had looked more carefully at the very last page in that god forsaken Artemis file. It had been arranged in order of dates, but the information was still simple to read. There were statistics, what appeared to be aliases, reference to 'Caine' and Alex's mother. But the most starling thing of all had been the rest of the information; it was a plan of action.

The Government were planning to test weapons on the British public.

Somehow, the Mason's were still involved.

And somehow, Gene and Alex were part of the scheme.

But above all, the scariest thing for Alex was that she couldn't remember this being mentioned in any history books.

Because it wasn't.


Authors Note: Dun, dun, dur...! What d'ya think then guys? I hope you enjoyed this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it. The pace of the story seems to increasing for here on in and doesn't really involve much of the other characters apart from Gene and Alex, SuperGreen, Skye and Thornberry. So I'd like to know if anybody wants to hear from Ray, Chris and Shaz during the next couple of chapters. Also, there are going to be elements of the show that you might recognise from Series two and three – but not many. Anyway...I've bored you enough – 'till next update, my good friends!

Finding Answers xx