Two more days of being Molly's full-time father. It echoed round in Gene's head as he called in on a neighbour to ask a favour of her, knowing that Molly, despite being more than welcome in CID, couldn't spend every day there. There were rules, he grumbled to himself as he trudged up the path in old trainers and jogging trousers, ringing the doorbell and giving the occupant of the house a tiny smile as she opened the door.

"'Ello, Mandy. Can I ask a favour?"

Mandy Skelton cocked her head to one side in silent encouragement as Gene leaned against the doorframe, his foot unconsciously scuffing the mat.

"My DI's daughter's stayin' wi' me, but I've got ter go ter work an' can' take 'er in wi' me a second time. Would yer be able ter look after 'er?"

Mandy smiled, nodding.

"Course. It's fine, Gene."

Gene gave her the barest minimum of a hug, retreating back up the path hurriedly and heading back to his own house, a couple of plots down. Had he looked back, he would have seen Mandy watching him fondly; he'd been such a guardian to her son, looked after him and his friends and become one of the people he respected the most. She owed him more than a favour, and every time he found himself in deep brown stuff, she was chuffed that he turned to her for advice. She'd been told many a time that she was level-headed, sensible and a great agony aunt, but having the great Manc Lion turn up on her doorstep asking for help was certainly no small event.

Turning back into her house with a smile on her face, she began readying the house for Molly Drake's visit, hoping that she was like her mother; if so, she knew they would get along just fine.


"Oh, Gene, please?"

"Molls, it was only fer the one day. Yer can' come in every day, God knows what would 'appen if on yer first day I got inter a fight wi' my superior officer an' yer revealed 'is womanisin' ter the 'ole department."

Molly pouted, looking like Gene for a split second before returning to whining.

"Ple-ease? Pretty pretty please with a cherry on top and ice cream and chopped nuts?"

"Don't like chopped nuts. Look, Molls, she's Chris' mum, 'ow bad can she be? She's a great woman, yer'll get on like an 'ouse on fire. Yer can take yer files as well an' look 'em over wi' 'er. She's just there ter entertain yer and keep an eye on yer."

Molly sighed, pretending to bop Gene on his still-sore nose.

"Fine. But you have to make it up to me."

"I can bring yer 'ome some files on the Delphine Parks rape an' murder case? Yer can try gettin' yer 'ead round some real police work, try an' figure out 'oo the baddie was 'cos 'e was never sent down fer 'is crimes. Worse luck."

Molly nodded enthusiastically, knowing that she would miss CID and her beanbag in Gene's office but knowing that her track record was a little shaky at the moment.

"Fine. And what about the case with George Staines? Can I see the file on that too?"

"Anythin' ter shut yer up!"

Molly cheered, hugged Gene and received a hug in return before motoring up to her room and yelling down that she was going to call her mum.


"Mum? I'm going to Chris' mum's for the day, Gene said I couldn't come into the office with him because something happened between me, him and the Super. Gene kind of got hit on the nose, but he sorted the Super out and he's fine now. Well, not too red anyway. The Super'll probably never father another child after that hit to the gonads. Gene's snakeskin boots are perfect for that kind of thing. Have you ever met Chris' mum? Gene said to call her Mandy, if it helps."

"Yes, I met her one time," Alex replied, a smile on her face in the small room in Belfast as she managed to cut through her daughter's endless chatter and get a word in edgeways. Molly had always talked too much, but she loved her for it. "She's great, just don't try to rub her up the wrong way or anything like that, eh? And what happened with Gene and the Super? Fill me in, please."

"I told everyone in CID that the Super was shagging Dorothy, which Gene told me he was-"

"Language, Molly!"

"Sorry- er, having sexual intercourse with her, Dr Mother. Anyway, he got really annoyed and hit Gene in the face, so Gene fell back and kicked him in the meat and two veg, as James May would say sometime in the future. He just kind of collapsed. I don't think Gene did any permanent damage, but he was pretty winded. It was so funny, but you had to be there."

"Probably," Alex said dryly, hearing Gene calling Molly in the background and someone knocking on her own door. "I've got to go and so have you, so ring me this evening and let me have a chat with Gene too, eh? Love you, darling."

"Love you, Mum," Molly replied, smiling as she put the phone down. Alex put the phone down, smoothing her hair down and turning to be greeted by a nervous young copper who'd come to get "Madam Drake" from her room and get her into the conference centre.

I wouldn't mind Gene calling me "madam" some time... she thought as she walked after him, imagining her partner's snakeskin boots walking down the narrow corridor and keeping her company.


Gene was having a good day so far. Two armed blaggers caught and shoved in the cells, one successful prosecution for a case a month or so ago and several cups of very sweet tea drunk, although Shaz had a cold so it had fallen on Chris instead. He'd had to fish out the tea leaves, but the liquid itself had been fine.

He was leaning back and relaxing on his desk, playing a quick game of darts, when the call came through.

"Hunt?"

"Gene- I- oh God, I'm so sorry, I just don' know what ter do- Gene, yer 'ave ter come 'ere, Molly's gone missing."

An entire iceberg slid coolly into Gene's stomach; he caught his breath, almost choking on the air as he stood straight up, letting the files on his desk thump to the floor, grabbing the Quattro keys as Mandy gasped that Molly had been going to the shops and hadn't come back.

He strode out of CID with one order to his department: "Find Molly Drake. Now."


A/N: Ooh! Nice little twist :) Hope you like it! Please remember to review. Jazzola :)