Sorry for the delay in updating - been very busy lately! I anticipate another two chapters and then maybe an epilogue! Thanks for reading and enjoy!

Alex felt the bullet enter her shoulder before she heard it. It wasn't the fact that it was unbearably painful, because it wasn't at first. There was just a staggering jolt and as Alex fell to the floor, she saw the clown. That same clown stood at the far end of the warehouse. It was smiling...a cruel, sinister smile that created a greater impact than the bullet that had just tore through her flesh and neatly imbedded itself in her shoulder. She hit the floor and the searing pain began to set in. She clasped her hand to her right shoulder and felt the ooze from underneath it. She felt woozy and her head lolled back against the dusty concrete floor.

Chris' mouth dropped open in shock and Ray's eyes suddenly widened as they watched their DI fall helplessly to the ground. Gene ran forward instinctively, causing his aim on Evan to fall. Evan laughed with glee and used this distraction wisely. He violently pushed Chris on his knees and then turned to sprint away, out of sight.

"No!" shouted Ray.

He pulled the trigger, and the bullet missed Evan's head by inches as he swiftly ducked out of the way.

"Chris! Ray!" Gene yelled. "After him! Now!"

"Yes Guv" they both replied and sprinted after Evan., out of the building

Gene ran to Alex, who was now barely conscious, a growing puddle of crimson forming underneath her.

"Bolly?"

He reached out and supported the back of her head, tilting it towards him. Her eyes were watery and severely shot, looking at her DCI with the utmost desperation. The filthy material gag was still shoved in her mouth. Before Gene looked at her injured shoulder, he gently untied the gag and removed it from Alex's mouth. She tried to swallow and then moaned with pain as Gene pulled away her hand to look at the wound.

"No..." she groaned, trying to writhe away from him.

"Stop movin'." Gene growled.

He took the bottom hem of his own shirt in both hands and gave it a violent tug. The thin material ripped off and Gene proceeded to wrap it tightly around her shoulder, the white fabric immediately was died scarlet with Alex's . Alex felt his hands work on her shoulder surprisingly tenderly and the pressure of the makeshift temporary bandage seemed to reduce the wound to a numb throbbing that pulsated around her body.

Conscious that Evan was still on the run, he wrapped his arm underneath Alex and secured it tightly around her waist.

"Come on. Let's get you out of 'ere." He muttered, lifting Alex effortlessly to her feet.

She seemed to regain a certain amount of consciousness.

"I can do it...I can walk by myself." She gasped.

"Yeah right." Gene said, under his breath sarcastically.

"No...no...Gene, I'm just slowing you down. You go ahead and...catch up with Evan." Alex told him, through clenched teeth.

"Stop being a dozy cow. That's the biggest load of tosh that's ever come out of your posh mouth." He retorted.

"Just...just let me walk...quicker that way."

Gene released her and watched as she staggered forwards. However, her injured shoulder seemed to be getting worse and the wound, mixed with complete exhaustion, caused the DI to stumble and fall again. Gene darted forwards to catch her, careful not to touch her shoulder. She collapsed against him and allowed him to support her as they made their way to the Quattro as quickly as possible. Still with a firm grip on her, Gene pulled open the car door. Alex turned her head to look up at him. They held each other's gaze for a long moment and so much was unsaid between them. Gene swallowed and helped her into his car, slightly embarrassed.

Gene sat next to her in the driver's seat and reached under the seat, pulling out a long scarf. Alex wasn't really in a position to ask her DCI why he had a scarf under his car seat. He leant over and reinforced her shoulder with the material.

"Need to keep pressure on it." He told her gruffly. "Try not to move it."

He started the engine and the Quattro roared into life. With a screech and spin of the wheels, the red vehicle raced forwards. Gene grabbed the radio from the dash board.

"Christopher? Ray? Come in...this is your DCI, come in!"

The radio buzzed and led before Chris' voice filled the car.

"Guv? Yeah, we're on 'is tail. Just turned into St. John's Street. Lookin' like 'e might stop soon."

"Right. We're on our way."

Gene put the radio down and averted his full attention to driving. He suddenly swung the car down a street to the left, leaving a considerable trail of dust behind.

"You alright over there?" Gene directed this at Alex, who was leaning her head against the car window. She was so pale and her eyes were dark with exhaustion. She nodded silently but didn't look at him.

"We'll get you to the 'ospital as soon as we've locked this bloke up, yeah?" Gene wanted to keep Alex conscious.

That was what you had to do right? When someone was injured and losing ? Keep them talking, keep them awake? Keep them fighting.

"Yeah." Alex whispered faintly. She didn't have the strength to argue with him.

The Quattro sped down the narrow streets and as Gene turned into St. John's street, he could see the figures of Chris and Ray standing with their backs to him at the end. He swiftly parked the car a little way up the street and turned to Alex.

"You're stayin' here." He told her firmly, before getting out of the car and jogging to where his subordinates were, pulling his gun out as he went.

Chris and Ray stood with their guns held high. Evan stood smiling at the two of them. He was holding something, a device in his hand. He looked up with glee as Gene approached.

"Alright, you're going to explain what you're doing and why you're doing it within the next thirty seconds, otherwise I will personally blow you to smithereens and all that will be left of Evan White will be splattered down that wall behind you!" Gene yelled.

"Guv, 'e's got something in 'is hand." Muttered Chris.

Evan held it up.

"Yep, I believe, Chris, that you are absolutely right. All I need to do is turn this dial and this whole housing estate will go up in flames."

"He's raving mad!" exclaimed Ray.

"All I want is the money, Hunt!" Evan yelled.

Chris bit his lip nervously. Neither of the briefcases had any real money in them.

"Now, I'm sure we can come to some sort of agreement?" Gene said.

His voice was harsh and strong.

"I don't think that's much of an option." Evan told him. "How is Alex? Is she alright? Not hurt too much, I hope?"

His eyes glinted manically as he watched Gene's face twist uncomfortably.

"Oh, she's ruddy marvelous! She's losing more every second and if she doesn't get to 'ospital in the next hour, she's gonna be ...thanks to you!"

Evan seemed to relax, unlike Chris and Ray's grips on their guns.

"You know...in three days time, there's going to be an explosion. A big one that will kill people and cause devastation."

"Eh, that's why 'e needs the cash, Guv!" Ray spoke up suddenly.

"Is that right, Evan? You need the money to fund your little project that will, inevitably, end in ?"

"You have no idea, DCI Hunt."

"You see, I've met people like you before. You're lonely, desperate, pathetic human beings who decide to take out their anger on other people who don't deserve the destruction that you are forcing upon them. The world is better off without you. Now, you are going to hand over that device of yours, before more people get injured!" Gene shouted, taking a step forward.

Alex forced her eyes open. She tenderly felt her shoulder. It was numbingly painful and he surrounding the wound had begun to dry. She peered out through the car window. She couldn't see clearly what was going on and she didn't like it. She didn't like just sitting there, useless, in the car. Alex knew she could help. Wincing, she unbuckled the seatbelt that Gene had made her wear and kicked open the car door. Grabbing her shoulder with a silent yelp, she stumbled out of the vehicle. She could now make out four figures at the end of the road.

The one on the right was smaller and skinny; that had to be Chris. Next to him, stood the burlier outline of Ray, and further back was the tall lean frame of Evan. No mistaking it. The fourth figure was tall and broad. He was larger than the other men; physically, and in presence. Any random onlooker would recognise Gene Hunt's immediate authority. The way he stood; fearless and superior. There were times when Alex felt exasperated and rolled her eyes frustratedly at her DCI's self-righteous mannerisms, but sometimes it was all she could do not to applaud him for being unique and stable in times of urgent crises.