Sorry about the delay on this one! Last week was just much busier than normal. Here's the episode 6 Easter Egg. The first one for episode 7 is also up and ready to go. Thanks for reading!

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Gene had just peeled off his shirt to get a look at the bruises when the banging started. It had been a long time since he'd had a beating like that, and he wasn't half as young as he'd been then. If they had followed him home they were asking to be six feet under.

He moved quietly down the darkened hall toward the door, but he needn't have worried. By the time he reached the door whoever it was had started shouting.

"Gene! Gene! Are you in there?" It was Alex. Still banging as he opened the door.

"Drake? What the 'ell d'you want?" He really didn't need her special brand of madness tonight and watched sourly as she pushed past him into the hall.

"Are you alright? You weren't answering your phone."

"That explains the bloody phone ringin' off the hook since I got home." He followed her into the kitchen. She was clearly agitated. Something had happened. "Are you OK Bolly? What are you doin' here?"

"Someone broke into my flat, Gene."

That was too much. He was going to have this bastards bollocks for breakfast. "Did they hurt you Alex?"

"No." She shook her head. "Gene? What happened to your face?"

"Nothing." He'd followed her into the kitchen. The hall was dark, but the kitchen light was on, and she could see his face. He was suddenly aware he wasn't wearing a shirt, but she hadn't seemed to notice. Or didn't care.

It had been a couple of weeks since they'd had sex, and while there had been more than one opportunity when he was sure, if he wanted, he'd have been welcome back up to her flat, he hadn't taken advantage. Not that he hadn't wanted to, but he did want to take her out, show her he was serious – at least once before they fell into a familiar routine. Although he'd had to admit he was looking forward to the routine, especially if it involved shagging Alex more nights than not. But right now he didn't want her here.

"Gene, that's not nothing." He didn't flinch as her hand went to his eye, her eyes focused on his injury but his were on her.

"It's not my first beatin' Alex. Get some kip I'll be fine."

She had her doubts. He looked bad. "Do you think it was the same men who broke into my flat? Gene they had bats! Did they hit you with bats?"

He sniffed, nodding. "Trevor Riley's men, yeah. They hit me with something." He pushed her away gently and reached for the open whisky bottle on the counter. "S'ok, though. I'm on medication." He grimaced and raised the bottle in a mock toast before putting it to his mouth, swallowing twice before offering it to Alex. Smiling, she took the bottle and drank.

"You should go home Bolls. I'll take care of that Riley bastard in the morning."

"I don't want to." She shuddered.

"They won't be back Alex. I'm sure it's safe. I'll stick a plod downstairs for the rest of the night."

She smiled weakly at him before looking away. "They're already there. I called the station and had them send someone over before I called you. And besides, we should do something about your injuries before you go to sleep."

He shook his head. "'M fine, Drake." But she had already left the room.

Alex took her time tending to him, she knew he'd try to chase her out as soon as she was done, but she didn't think he should be alone. He would never ask her to stay, admit to being scared. Maybe she could draw it out of him, make him talk about it. He said nothing at all while she was cleaning his cuts and bruises, only grunting occasionally if she asked a question, or poked him too hard.

"That's it then,"she said after finishing, gathering the wrappings and supplies from the kitchen table.

"Finally." He snarled, eyes narrowed. "Will you be off now?"

Alex risked a glance as she left the room to return the items where she found them. "I suppose, yeah. If that's what you want."

Gene sat in his kitchen and lit a cigarette, naked from the waist up. What did he want? He wanted to be alone, work out the next steps. He couldn't do that if she wouldn't leave him alone to think. It was bad enough they came after him, but he could take a beating. He didn't know what he'd have done if they had actually got to her.

"I could stay Gene," she interrupted his thoughts as she returned. "If you wanted to talk about it."

"There is nothing to bloody talk about Bolls. I just need some sleep." He stood up, pouring himself another drink. "I'll call the station, make sure you've got the all clear for your flat and you can go home."

She tried again. "Look, Gene. It can be very traumatic to be beaten like that. It's perfectly normal to be scared, or to experience feelings of inadequacy about - "

"Inadequacy? I've never felt inadequate about anything in my whole life!" He turned too fast to face her, and he was sure she saw him wince. "Just a few bloody bruises, that's all." He shook his head at the disbelieving look on her face. "Christ! What do I have to do to get you to believe me?" He was starting to get a few ideas.

"Nothing, Gene. I just, I wanted to make sure. That you were alright. That's all." She forced a smile.

"Well I am fine." He took a step closer, he could show her too, how fine he was. He was certain that would help. Taking another step he leaned close to her ear. "Suddenly Alex I feel very fine." He heard a small noise creep from her throat. "Would you like me to show you how fine?"

"Gene, I don't think it's a good -" He ended her sentence with his mouth, his body pressing her against the table. He'd show her inadequate.

"Gene..." His hands moved to her waist, pushing her jogging pants down over her hips. This wasn't exactly what she'd had in mind, but she knew, she thought she knew, that this was his way of dealing with it. Shag her silly, prove he was still a man. To her, to himself. She could help him, she wanted to. She reached a hand lower, stroking the evidence of his intent through the straining fabric of his trousers before reaching for his zip, urging him along.

He kissed her hard, teeth nipping, tongue everywhere. He needed her to know, to show her. Nothing inadequate about him at all. He tugged off her knickers as she took him in hand, smooth strokes until he pushed her so far back on the table she couldn't reach, had to prop herself up on her elbows. Gene pulled her roughly to the edge of the table, hooking an arm under one leg as he stepped between her thighs, as he drove into her, grunting as he pounded her to the table, short hard strokes as his body screamed in pain from the effort. His breath hitched in agony, the bruises on his ribs making it hard for him to breathe. Alex cried out as he moved faster, his strokes erratic, he was coming, he couldn't stop, ohgodohgodohgodohgod he exploded, howling in agony as he came, his head thrown back as he pulled her tight against him.

After a few seconds he bent low, rested his head on her stomach as she pushed up off the table. Gene was breathing hard as she smoothed his hair. She wanted to kiss him.

"Feel better?" She asked. He groaned. "Still want me to go home?"

He shook his head. "No." He croaked. "Let's go to bed Alex. Everything bloody hurts."