"Coming, Gene!" she called, giving that picture one last glance before closing the bedroom door.
The evening was a great success between the two of them. They'd laughed and talked and flirted, but it was somehow different to normal. It had more meaning and more sincerity. It was beginning to get late, and Gene could see Alex was tired.
"You can 'ave this one, Bolls," Gene decided that evening, showing Alex the room after he'd got her a cup of tea. It was cream with a double bed in the middle of the room. "It all right?"
"It's perfect," Alex smiled weakly. Gene nodded. "Gene…thank you. I should've known I could rely on you."
"S'okay, Bolls," Gene said softly, "yer didn't deserve what that bastard put you through, even if you are a mouthy tart. I'm gonna get 'im for yer. You just stay 'ere and take it easy, Bolls. Stay as long as yer like, until yer feel safe."
A tear leaked from Alex's eye. "Thank you," she whispered, tenderly leaning in to hug him. Gene wrapped his arms around her, resting his chin on her head. He lightly kissed her hair and pulled back.
"I'll leave yer to it then, Bollyknickers," Gene sighed, "if yer want me, I'll be downstairs. I'll call CID ter give 'em my orders…if the bleedin' station's still there after the two senior officers 'ave left it alone!"
Alex laughed. "Ray in charge…a sight I don't think I want to see. But Gene, you don't have to stay for me. You can go back to the station –"
"I'm not leaving you alone, Alex," Gene said firmly, "you've been…" Gene swallowed, not wanting to say the word. "He hurt you Bolls, so I'm stayin' 'ere with yer."
----
It was the dark of the night when Gene awoke to the light sounds of whimpering. He opened his eyes groggily and tried to focus – what was that?
"No…noooo…Jack…help me…please…GENE!"
Gene bolted out of bed as Alex began to erupt into spine-chilling screams. Gene flung her bedroom door open and switched on the light to see her thrashing about beneath the sheets, sweat trickling down her face as she screamed with all the air in her lungs.
"GENE! GET HIM OFF ME!" Alex hollered, terrified in her sleep.
"Alex! Alex, it's okay, it's a nightmare, wake up, Alex, WAKE UP! ALEX!" Gene shook her viciously, giving her a light slap on the face. After a few more shakes Alex's teary eyes snapped open, wide with fear.
"Where is he?" Alex wailed. "Gene…he's going to hurt me…"
"No he won't, Bolly, I won't let him," Gene said firmly, "you just had a nightmare. It's okay. Nothing's gonna hurt yer. I'm here."
"I thought he was going to do it again," Alex gasped, collapsing into Gene's chest. Gene held her in the silence until she had calmed down.
"Nothing's gonna hurt yer again, Bolls," Gene promised, "not while I'm around. C'mon now, I'm freezin' me arse off 'ere. I need to go back to bed. You gonna be okay?"
Alex nodded slowly, but tears began to stream down her face again. Gene's heart broke. His Bolly was completely traumatised. That bastard tosser Jack Drake. He was going to get him. Gene swallowed.
"Do yer…do yer want me to stay in 'ere with yer? Just for tonight?"
Alex visibly perked up. "Would you?" she whispered.
Gene nodded. "Course, Bolls. Only don't think too much, don't snore and don't wallop me in the night thinking I'm yer bastard on an ex-husband."
"Deal," Alex smiled, giggling slightly as Gene turned the light off and climbed under the sheets with her. He was a little unsure how to be…he wanted to protect her, to hold her…but she'd been raped less than twenty-four hours ago. She probably wasn't ready for intimate contact.
However, as soon as Gene was tucked under, Alex shuffled towards him. Instinctively he wrapped his arm under her neck and over her shoulder so she was resting on his chest, cuddled up to the Manc Lion.
"Thank you, Gene," Alex said quietly and gratefully, "I don't know what I'd do without you in this world."
Gene lightly squeezed her shoulders. "Night, love. Try ter get some sleep. Don't worry. I ain't gonna let anything happen to yer. Ever."
----
Jack kicked Alex's television in furiously and let out a roar of anger. That scheming little bitch. That manipulative, lying, cheating little whore. Going back to the flat to find it empty, there was only one place that Alex would be. She must have finally cracked; she must have told that dinosaur Gene Hunt. Oh that bitch would pay. He wasn't getting sent down in this world. He was going to get her back for this. Hotwiring the nearest car in the street and keeping his eyes peeled for a bright red Quattro, Jack revved the car into action and began to drive.
----
"You sure you're going ter be all right? Because I can get Ray and Chris ter go and arrest him…"
"No, Gene. Do your job. I'll be fine. After all, he doesn't know I'm here and even if he did know that I've come to you, he doesn't know where you live."
Gene pouted. "Okay. As long as you're sure. If you have any problems or you don't feel safe, just call the office, okay?"
Alex nodded. "Yes Mum," she grinned.
"And there'll be less o' that, yer cheeky tart," Gene smirked, almost laughing. "Right then. I've got the whole of CID on the look out for 'im, and once we find the dickhead he's goin' ter be locked up for life. And get the shit beaten out of 'im."
Alex smiled. "Thanks, Gene."
Gene smiled back. "Any time, love."
----
Alex closed the door as Gene drove off to the station and she relaxed on his comfy sofa. Even the furniture smelt like Gene – whisky mixed with cigarettes and his aftershave. Alex began to flick through the channels on the TV when the doorbell rang less than five minutes later.
"Gene," Alex muttered, her heart leaping at the thought of seeing him again. She fiddled with the lock. "Forget something then, Gene?" Alex giggled before flinging the door open.
Alex's eyes widened in fear, but then he was on her before she could scream for help.
Dragging her inside, Jack held a drugged cloth to Alex's nose and mouth, one hand holding it there and the other wrapped around her stomach. She struggled viciously, screaming and shouting despite her muffled state. But then the world seemed to be getting fuzzy.
"Night-night, sweetheart," Jack sneered as Alex lost consciousness. Throwing her over his shoulder, Jack kicked Gene's door open and ran to the stolen car before throwing her into the boot. Cackling nastily to himself, Jack made a clean getaway before any of Gene's neighbours could even think about phoning the police.