(So here it is , chapter nine. Sorry about the delay but as I said, science revision, along with all of the other homework that teachers feel is appropriate to waste our time with. Hope to post chapter ten soon, I know exactly what is going to happen, I just have to write it.)

Chapter Nine

Gene had woken up, dressed only in his underwear at about half past three in the morning, to a high pitched scream that shook him right to his core. He looked down at Alex who was still sleeping peacefully; he was almost entranced by the gentle rise and fall of her chest. Any other time and he could have sat and watched her for hours, but he had to find out where that scream had come from. His eyes flicked around the room, looking for a clue as to where he might be, suddenly remembering the night's events, he leapt out of bed and pulled on his trousers and shirt as, if it was the little girl then he doubted she would be reassured to see him dressed only in his boxers. Silently running up the stairs, he was surprisingly light on his feet when he needed to be, he saw the little girl sat bolt upright staring at something in the corner of her room. Quickly glancing he saw that there was nothing there, slowly he entered her bedroom not wanting to shock her, and sat on the edge of the bed as he and Alex had done a few hours before. Talking to her calmingly about birthdays, horses and all the things he thought little girls would like, whilst rubbing soothing circles on her back. Gradually the young girl, Alex Price started to relax into Gene's arms, it was just then that Gene looked up and saw Alex leaning on the door frame, she was smiling, obviously thinks that the Manc Lions gone soft thought Gene. "So the Manc Lions a pussy cat really," she teased.

"Nope not me love, I'm the Gene Genie," stated Gene. Secretly he didn't mind Alex seeing this side of him; he'd just have to make sure that no one at work found out, after all he had a reputation to keep. The whole police system would collapse if the criminal underworld heard that the Manc Lion had gone soft.

"Are you two boyfriend and girlfriend?" asked the young Alex coyly. If only things were that simple thought Alex, exchanging a look with Gene they smiled, both at the idea of them being together and the little girl's simplistic view of the world.

"Yes we are," clarified Alex, the little girls face broke into a smile, and she slowly drifted off to sleep once again. "Nightmare?" questioned Alex, as a young girl she had suffered from nightmares involving the death of her parents. Instead of a clown haunting her it had been that red balloon.

"Yeh, I think so," murmured Gene. Retreating down the stairs in silence, they got back into their makeshift bed pulling the covers back over them. Yawning, Alex rolled over so that she was facing Gene, their bodies pressed together. Wrapping his arms around her, Gene muttered, "Night Bolls."

"Night Gene," she replied, before raising her head slightly and kissing his lips tenderly.

They were woken by an alarm clock going off somewhere in the house, both trying to get up at the same time they fell back down, realising that their legs were entwined. "Now then, how did that happen?" Gene said chuckling.

"Well Mr. Hunt, I would love to remind you. But right now we have a little girl to get ready for school," Alex said, putting on a mock posh voice. However as she disentangled their legs, she swung hers over his body, so that for a second she was straddling him, before jumping out of bed and pulling on her jeans. "Now then, where is my top?" Gene reached down to the floor, and flung the top at her, it landing neatly on her head. "Thanks," she said, pulling the top off her head and sticking her tongue out at him. Pulling it over her head and adjusting it carefully so that one bra strap could be seen she walked out of the room to find where the alarm was.

As she reached the landing she saw the little girl's head poking around her bedroom door. "Hi Alex," she said. Do you think you could help me find this alarm?" The little girl nodded and taking her had lead her into Evan's bedroom, "Aha," cried Alex as she hit the alarm stopping the insecent beeping, making her younger self titter nervously. "So then, breakfast?" asked Alex, she had long since forgotten the morning routine that she and Evan had set up between them.

"Evan said that I should wash my hair this morning, that's why he set the alarm." The little girl seemed nervous as she spoke, unsure of how Alex would react to her correction.

"Of course," said Alex softly, "lets run you a bath then." As the little girl went to get her school clothes ready Alex sat on the edge of the bath, letting the water run through her fingertips, it's soothing sensation relaxing her. "Right then," she said as the young girl entered the bathroom, "you have a bath and wash your hair, and I'll go downstairs and make your lunch. I'll dry your hair for you after if you want."

"Thanks Alex," said the little girl as Alex left the room, and turned to walk down the stairs and into the kitchen, stopping briefly to throw a pillow at the now snoring Gene. Rifling through the kitchen cupboards she found various items of food, suitable for a packed lunch. As she finished preparing the sandwiches she flicked the kettle on, hoping that Gene would be able to function better after he drank a cup of strong black coffee.

Hearing, feet padding down the stairs Alex appeared, wrapped up in a dressing gown with sopping wet hair dripping onto the floor. "Alex, why don't we go and wake up DCI Hunt?" suggested Alex, a wicked thought entering her head. Shushing the little girl as they entered the living room she pointed for her to go to the over side of the room and mimed throwing a pillow at him. "On the count of three," whispered Alex. "One, two three"

Both of their pillows launched at Gene's face with surprising accuracy, "Oooof," exclaimed Gene. What the hell was that he thought, slowly opening his eyes wincing as the light hit them. Blinking rapidly he saw Bolls and Alex standing in separate corners of the room laughing at him, throwing both pillows back at them he got up and shrugged on his shirt, "coffee made yet Bolls?" bellowed Gene, as he walked into the kitchen. Stopping he poured the little girl a bowl of cereal and passed her the milk from the fridge. "There you go Luv," he said, more softly this time.

"Right then eat up Alex, and then I'll dry your hair." Announced Alex, hunting through the cupboards for the sugar, she had never had sugar in her coffee back home, she had been watching her figure then but here it seemed that she ate so little that she needed the sugar to keep her going.

"Top shelf Bolls," muttered Gene, reaching up to the shelf above her, their bodies pressing together a he did it. Automatically her hands slithered down to his bum, then realising where they were, she let go as if she had just had an electric shock. Laughing Gene lifted down the sugar pot, brushing his hands against her breasts as he came down, making the little girl giggle at the intimacy between the couple.

About half an hour later they were finally ready to go, driving off in the Quattro Gene sat Alex in the back and helped her with the seatbelt, pushing the seats back he helped Bolly in and muttered "not you Bolls, you're still a police officer." Pulling up outside Luigi's they walked inside to collect their police I.D. which Gene had left to dry and forgotten about in the rush. Gene walked into the restaurant first, and walked behind the bar to find the keys to Alex's flat. Just then Alex entered holding the little girls hand, and led them both upstairs to her flat, feeling safer now that they were certain that Evan wouldn't be there. Squeezing back against the wall to let Gene past she felt their bodies touch, only for a fleeting second but it reminded her of just how she felt about him.

Opening the door they walked in and Gene started to gather up the various pieces of documentation that were scattered around the radiators in her flat. Looking briefly at the notice board Alex said, "Gene, there's a note."