Gene had taken a lot of preparations in order to ensure that Alex was going to be safe in the care of Chris for a few days. He'd caught an extra supply of fish and got Ray to fetch extra fruit, and he hoped Chris would have the brains to find more, not argue with Freddy, keep the animals under control and not argue with his Bolly.
Ray and Gene had fixed the raft they used to get to the island and made extra precautions to make it strong. Packed with sails, wooden ores, the captain's binoculars, the captain's guns, a couple of knives and food, Gene felt they couldn't be anymore prepared if they tried.
"Push it out, Ray, check it floats!" Gene called to Ray as they all gathered on the beach the next morning to see Gene and Ray off.
"On it, Guv!" Ray yelled back, wading into the ocean with the assistance of Freddy and Harvey the elephant. "It's all good, Guv, I reckon we should sail it with the tide! C'mon!"
"Guv," Chris panicked, "yer…yer sure I'm in charge? Me? DI Drake surely should –"
"In the station, DI Drake would be the one accompanying me," Gene pointed out, slapping Chris on the back, "but out 'ere, it's a different story." Gene glanced at Alex who was pulling Freddy down off Harvey as she walked him back up the beach with Ray.
Gene sighed. "Look after her, Chris. I don't want anything to happen to her. Understand?"
Chris nodded. "Course, Guv."
"And Freddy. Little tyke's growing on me."
As if on cue, Freddy suddenly hugged Gene's lower body tightly. "Bring me back a snake!" Freddy begged. "Or something cool!"
"We'll try, lad," Gene laughed.
"Yeah. Bye, Gene! Bye, Ray!" Freddy grinned before running off to chase Rusty and Rover. "Don't leave me with Alex and him for too long!"
Chris pulled a face at Freddy as Ray snorted.
"He's got you sorted, mate," Ray sniggered, "anyway, we'll be seeing yer. Take care."
"You too, mate," Chris nodded to Ray.
"We'll be okay, Ma'am," Ray said to Alex, awkwardly hugging her with one arm. Alex clung to him.
"Look after yourselves, and for God's sake use your heads," Alex laughed lightly.
"Will do. I'll just go make the final adjustments then we'll be off. C'mon, Guv," Ray sighed, walking towards the ocean. Chris went to help him, leaving Gene alone with Alex.
"You'll be all right, Bolls," Gene smiled at her, "Chris will take care o' yer. I've 'ad words. Just don't go all fruitcake on the poor bastard, okay? Don't think Wonder Chris can take that flying solo."
Alex began to laugh, but the laughter very quickly transformed into panicked sobs, a faint trace of tears trickling down her face.
"Oh Bolly," Gene sighed, embracing her and holding her tightly, stroking her hair, "we'll be fine. And so will you. We'll be back before yer know it."
Alex nodded, pulling out of Gene's arms, but not unkindly. "I know," she said softly, "it's just me…being silly. Everything will be fine. You promised."
"Indeed I did, Bollyknickers. Don't cry, sweetheart. It's all right." Gene lifted his fingers tenderly to wipe away her tears, but found himself distracted by her full, luscious lips. Gene swallowed and met Alex's eyes. Seeing the flame of affection in them, he slowly placed his lips on hers with a sweet, sensual kiss.
"No more tears, Alex," Gene murmured, "I'll see yer soon, love. I promise."
----
"Bloody hell, Guv, can we stop 'ere? I'm absolutely knackered!"
"Raymondo, we've been sailing for five bloody hours and you 'ave 'ad a total of nine breaks. Can't you last longer than half an hour or something?"
Using their wooden ores, Gene and Ray rowed gently to shore on the beach. This part of the island was quieter than their base and had less jungle, but they both knew they preferred their surroundings back at the treehouse.
Gene pulled the raft up into the sand so it was far enough away from the ocean and then he took a few rocks from the ground and threw them hard against the branches of the exotic-looking trees. As if by pure skill, a couple of coconuts fell heavily in the sand with a thud.
"Nice one, Guv," Ray grinned, cracking the coconuts open and handing one to Gene as they sat in the sand to take a breather.
"Cheers," Gene nodded, looking out into the horizon. It had only been five hours, but he was already missing Alex. They had a mutual affection for one another now, so why did he have to suggest buggering off for a few days when their romance was just about to blossom? At least he wasn't leaving her with a sexually frustrated Ray. At least leaving Alex with Chris and Freddy meant no-one else was going to be trying it on with her.
"So what we looking for again, Guv?" Ray asked, breaking Gene's train of thought.
"Other people," Gene said bluntly, "ports. Anything really. Anything that might 'elp us get home a bit faster."
"Do yer miss it, Guv?" Ray wondered. "Yer know, CID like?"
Gene frowned. "I miss clearing the streets of scum everyday," he admitted, "I miss the Quattro o' course. I miss gettin' pissed at Luigi's and I miss the other boys, and even Shaz. Don't miss the cold. Don't miss the paperwork. And if I'm honest, I actually love living on this island. Relaxing each day. The animals. Freddy in 'is weird little way. You and Chris aren't too bad either. And Bolls. Yeah. My Bolly."
"Bet yer love the sleeping arrangements, 'ey Guv," Ray grinned lecherously, "so come on, tell us. The others aren't about. Have yer screwed DI Drake yet?"
Gene glared at him. "As I've told you before, Ray-bloody-mondo, she is your superior officer so show her some respect!"
Ray raised his eyebrows. "Calm down, Guv. It's just you two seem real close now. And yer sleeping in the same room…I wouldn't blame yer, Guv, she's a bloody gorgeous bit of totty."
"And you're to keep yer grubby mitts off her!"
"Okay, okay," Ray said defensively. He eyed Gene suspiciously. "Do yer like her, Guv?"
Gene looked down quickly, averting Ray's eyes. "She's my DI. Course I like her."
"Nah, I mean do yer like her like her? We all know yer want to shag her but…well, if that's all it was you'd have been in 'er knickers within the first month of meeting her."
Gene smirked at Ray. "You're smarter than you look," he chuckled. Sighing, Gene ate a bit more of his coconut. "I think if I'm totally honest with yer, Ray, our little Bollyknickers is becoming a little more important than I ever thought she would. I do like her. I like her a lot."
Ray nodded. "She likes you too, Guv. Bloody obvious."
Gene tried not to show it, but he was grinning like a Cheshire Cat.
"Which brings me back to question one," Ray said mischievously, "go on, Guv…have yer shagged DI Drake? Has she gone down on yer? Have yer touched –"
Gene tapped his nose before Ray went into any more graphic details. "A gentleman never kisses and tells," Gene winked as Ray laughed in frustration.
----
Gene and Ray continued their journey around the island. The sun was blazing and the sea was cool, and they took it in turns to control the raft. It was only when they began to hear the sound of human voices that they both sat up in alarm.
"Ray, put the sail down!" Gene hissed.
"Why, Guv?" Ray frowned. "It could be a port! They could help –"
"Put it down, yer dozy twat!"
Ray dragged it down roughly, shooting Gene a look of confusion as his superior officer began to duck. "Guv? Guv, what is it?"
Guiding their raft to a halt behind some huge rocks, Ray noticed what was wrong.
A pirate ship was anchored up ahead, and down the beach were about thirty pirates and two tied-up prisoners that looked like an old man and a young weedy-looking bloke in his early thirties.
"Shit," Gene panicked, "it's the pirates that attacked us, Ray. And it looks like those two didn't manager ter get away!"