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The Power of Love?

Annie sat on the steps waiting for Sam and the others to arrive. She knew Ray had told her to stay where she was but she couldn't help but wonder why Mia had come to the rescue. She also couldn't work out why Keats' had driven around town only to return to where he had kidnapped her. He could have easily carried her up the stairs to the flat when he had taken her from Luigi's. Annie didn't understand. She was debating ignoring Ray's advice and walking back in to the flat as the familiar squeal of tyres caught her attention.

Sam spotted Annie stood on the steps outside Alex's old flat the moment they had turned the corner. He was pleased Ray had taken his own car and was a little behind them with Chris, Phyllis and Sharon. He had the car door open before Gene had killed the breaks.

"Oi Sam!" Gene bellowed. Alex shook her head as Sam jumped out the car and headed towards Annie. Before she knew it Annie was enveloped in a hug. She hadn't realised how scared Sam had been, he rarely showed any affection in public. She hugged him back as she whispered reassurances that she was fine.

"So Mia just showed up then like?" Ray still couldn't believe what was happening. He had parked the car just behind Gene's Audi. He felt sick at the thought of Mia in the same place as Keats. He looked towards Alex who looked slightly unsteady on her feet.

"Yeah" Annie sighed "I'd still be in there if it wasn't for her. Its been quiet in there since I came out. I don't know why she helped me. Its not as if we were ever really friends was it?" Annie held Sam's hand as she looked towards Ray. He nodded as he looked up towards the window.

Alex leant against Gene's car. She knew he hated it when she did that but right at that moment she didn't care. If it was going to stop the world moving she was more than happy to lie across the blimming bonnet of the car. She narrowed her eyes as she watched the others. None of them seemed to notice she had hung back from them. Turning her attention to the window of her old flat she wondered what was going on in there. Had Mia really been working with Keats? She didn't want to think it was true for Ray's sake. He really was smitten with the murder squad detective. Lost in thought and trying to remain upright Alex didn't hear Gene approach.

"Bolls? Alex? Earth to Alex?" Gene stood directly in front of her. He didn't like how pale she was at all. He also didn't like how quiet she had been. He knew she had been worried about Annie. He knew she had been unwell with the morning sickness. Resting a hand on her arm he waited for her to answer him.

"Alex luv" His voice was quieter than before. She looked back at him as he waited. The world was still spinning as she dragged her eyes away from her old bedroom window. Her knees began to weaken as Gene called her name again. It was the last thing she heard before the world went black.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Ray had watched Gene walk away from the group before deciding he had to see what was going on in the flat. He looked over his shoulder once more to see Annie and Sam hugging as Gene walked towards Alex. Phyllis was fussing around as the others seemed to be deep in discussion. He shook his head, the time for messing around was over as he ran up the steps towards the flat.

Xxxxxxxxxxxx

Gene panicked as Alex fell in to his arms. She was deathly pale and freezing cold. He didn't think he had ever known her to be so cold, even after that incident with Kale and the freezer the year they had finally got together. She was limp in his arms as he swore, gently lifting her in to his arms he called her name as Luigi appeared to see what all the fuss was about.

"Luigi" Gene walked over to him with Alex in his arms. She appeared groggy and barely awake as he was ushered in to Luigi's resteraunt. Annie had spotted what was happening as she pulled Sam along with her. Sharon looked around the group, silently counting everyone. There was no sign of Ray.

"Chris? Where's Ray gone?" She stood with her hands on her hips as Chris shrugged.

"Dunno Shaz" It was then both spotted the door to the flat was open.

"Oh he ain't? He has ain't he?" Sharon glared at Chris who just shrugged. He was at a loss as to what to do as Sharon huffed in frustration. She marched up the steps in front of them as Chris and Phyllis followed.

Xxxxxxxxxxxx

Gene lay Alex on the red leather bench in Luigi's. The resteraunterr ran to the back to get blankets as Alex curled her arms across her stomach. She was sweating profusely as the nausea swept over her once more.

"Alex, Alex luv" Gene pushed her hair back from her face. She was shivering as Annie walked up to them.

"Ray has gone in the flat." She spoke as she saw Gene nod.

"Right now I don't care if Ray has gone to the artic." His eyes never left Alex. Annie nodded.

"I'll call an ambulance" She pulled out Mia's phone from her jeans as she spoke.

"No, it'll take too long. Sam!" He pulled Alex into his arms as Sam went to get the car.

"Gene" Alex whispered as he held her.

"Sshh Bolls. It'll be ok. I'll look after you" He kissed her hair as he carried her out of Luigi's.

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Ray walked up the steps of the flat and pushed the door open. He couldn't hear anything as he stepped in to the flat. Mia stood facing away from him as he entered the room. There was no sign of Keats.

"Mia? You alright luv?" Ray stepped towards her as Mia froze.

She showed no sign that she had heard him enter the room. He walked towards her touching her arm so he could turn her to face him. He stepped back in shock as he saw her tear stained face.

"Mia?" He sighed as she hung her head.

"He's gone. I dunno where. He's gone. I'm sorry Ray. I'm so sorry" She wiped a tear away as he pulled her in to his arms.

"You daft bat" He smoothed her hair as he held her "You saved Annie. You got nothing to be sorry for". She hugged him tighter as he kissed her head.

"C'mon" he pulled back, took her hand and led her down the stairs.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Sam drove like an idiot as Gene held Alex in the back of the car. She was barely awake as he kissed her forehead. She opened her eyes slightly. He was terrified it was something to do with the baby or the gun shot wound to the head. He had heard of people having bleeds in the brain and all sorts of things after a trauma. He felt sick with worry.

"Sam put yer foot down and stop driving like a girl!" He yelled as he held Alex tighter.

"Gene" Alex whispered "I'm sorry"

"You daft bat Bolls" He kissed her hair "You, me, Molly and this little one are going to be fine. You'll see"

"Yes Guv" Alex whispered as Sam pulled the car to a halt. He kissed her again as Annie opened the car door to help them get out.

"Right, lets get you sorted" He carried her in to the A&E department as Annie ran on to find a nurse. The place was busy with the usual Friday night drunks and clubbers all waiting to get the triage nurse's attention. Gene was determined he wouldn't wait for the drunk in front of him to move as he walked up to the addmission's desk.

"My wife is three months pregnant" He watched as a doctor and nurse approached. He was still carrying Alex as the doctor reached them.

"OK" The young doctor spoke "Come with us" Gene nodded once as he carried her through to the treatment room. All he could do now was wait.

author's note. Where has Keats' gone? How did he get out of the flat? Is Alex going to be ok? More soon ! (unless you think this is rubbish - let me know!)