Disclaimer: All characters belong to the BBC and Kudos Production. Sadly, they don't belong to me. Lyrics belong to Nina Simone.


Gene leant back against the Quattro, silhouetted in the moonlight. He'd taken one look at the body and stomped back over here grinding his teeth. He lit up another cigarette, watching his breath turn to condensation in the chilly night air.

Alex walked over slowly, biting her lip. She recognised his mood, knew best not to push him right now. He felt responsible. It was his duty to protect the people of this city and that was victim number 5 in under a week. All killed by the same man.

Gene turned his glare on her.

"I want 'im Drake."

Alex nodded and pulled an evidence bag from her pocket. She handed it to him.

"His calling card."

Gene read the note.

'The Hunter and the stag. The clock ticks.'

Gene kicked the tyre and leant on the bonnet.

"This bastard's runnin' rings around us."

"He's growing over confident."

"At the minute 'e's got every bloody reason t' be!"

Gene rubbed a hand over his face in a tired gesture. Alex frowned, he was going down into himself again, doubting himself. She needed to be strong, now more than ever.

"I'm going back to the station."

Gene nodded and looked around.

"Where's Chris?"

"I sent him back to Shaz, there's not much more he can do tonight."

Gene nodded again and got into the Quattro, opening the window when she remained on the pavement.

"Well? Yer comin' or what?"

Alex smiled as she went round and got into the car. She wasn't on her own just yet.

Alex rubbed at her eyes before checking her watch - 3.30. She stretched, uncomfortable from sitting in the same position for so long. Stifling a yawn, she looked to Gene's office. She smiled and got to her feet, stopping in the doorway.

Gene was hunched over the desk, snoring lightly. She couldn't help the wave of compassion that swept over her. He had so much pressure on him and had to deal with the weight of it alone. No friend to talk things over with, no loving wife to go home to. He had to cope with everything alone.

Alex walked over to his desk, reaching for the radio that softly played in his ear. Her hand stilled as she listened to the familiar song. Nina Simone.

"I wish I knew how it would feel to be free.

I wish I could break all the chains holding me,

I wish I could say all the things that I should say,

Say 'em loud, say 'em clear, for the whole round world to hear.

I wish could share all the love that's in my heart,

Remove all the bars that keep us apart,

I wish you could know what it means to be me,

Then you'd see, and agree that every man should be free."

Alex looked at Gene again. They may have been invisible, but he had chains alright. Strong enough to hold a lion, no less would do. She had to help him. She may not have been able to help herself, and get out of this godforsaken place, but the least she could do was help Gene. He'd helped her enough times.

With a resolved nod, she turned off the radio and started back towards her desk.

"Oi! I was listenin' t' that!"

Alex spun around to find Gene had pulled himself upright, eyes still closed and a piece of paper stuck to his forehead. She couldn't help but laugh before going back to him and peeling the paper away.

"I thought you were sleeping."

"I was restin' me eyes!"

Alex smiled knowingly.

"Why don't you go home?"

"Because yer seem quite 'appy to be sat at yer desk fer hours!"

"So? The late shift are still here. If I need anything I'm sure they'll be able to cope. Besides, I had a late start this morning remember?"

Gene got to his feet, walking round the desk and grabbing his coat. The truth was he hadn't wanted to leave her alone, wanted to be there to give her a lift home when she'd finished. She obviously had other ideas.

"Fine."

Gene stalked off without a word, leaving Alex to wonder what the hell she'd done wrong now.

When Gene wandered back in at 8, he found Alex fast asleep at her desk. He rolled his eyes and went to the kitchen putting the kettle to boil. He strolled back over to Alex and banged a fist on her table. She woke with a start.

"What are yer still doin' 'ere?"

"I must have fallen asleep."

"Funny, I 'adn't noticed that!"

"What time is it?"

"Time yer were back at work."

Alex frowned at him. She'd worked all night to help him. Couldn't he, just once, give her a break?

"At least I'm trying!"

"What?"

"At least I'm not laying down and taking it, rolling over to self indulgence and feeling sorry for myself! At least I'm taking some responsibility!"

"Now might be a good time fer yer t' wake up Inspector. Do yer know 'oo yer talkin' to?"

"Believe me, I wish I could wake up! Get out of this nightmare! I mean what's the point?"

Alex shoved past him to the kitchen, mumbling angrily to herself. Off on another psycho rant. Gene leant over the desk to see what she'd been doing all night. The notes were at the top of the pile.

Maybe he shouldn't be so hard on her…she was under a lot of strain right now after all.

Ray bustled in, face of thunder and threw himself down at his desk.

"Oh not you an' all."

Gene stomped off to his office, leaving Ray to deal with Alex or visa versa. Alex knocked on his door ten minutes later, cold indifference written all over her face.

"What?"

"We've found her father."

"Right, then we best go pay Mr. Edwards a visit. Tell 'im 'is daughter snuffed it last night!"

As it turned out, Mr. Edwards didn't have a daughter called Rebecca. Only one son, James.

Gene tried to make light of the situation as they stepped back into C.I.D.

"Well that came as a bit of a surprise t' the old bastard, eh!"

Chris glanced up.

"Guv?"

Alex sighed.

"We just went to break the news to Rebecca Edwards' father. He hadn't seen his son in three years."

"Didn't know 'e was a she. 'is own son!"

Chris sniggered, Ray huffed. Alex rolled her eyes.

"Oh for gods sake Ray, what is it?"

Ray frowned more deeply.

Chris stopped sniggering and tried to keep a straight face.

"It's Amy, ma'am. She's ignorin' 'im. Won't answer the door, answer 'is calls…"

"Shut up yer twonk." Ray spat.

Alex shook her head and went back to her desk. Shaz smiled and handed her a file.

"Background, ma'am, on Rebecca?"

"Thanks Shaz."

Alex opened the file and read the background info. She frowned as she read occupation. Jumping to her feet she went to Gene's office.

"She was a nurse."

"What?"

"Rebecca Edwards was a nurse."

"So?"

"So… So what if our killer worked in the same hospital?"

Gene raised his head.

"Yer might 'ave somethin' there, Bolly."

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