Next morning Gene walked into CID, he was late as he got a rubbish nights sleep. He looked at Alex's desk and noticed she wasn't there.

"Shaz, where's DI Drake?"

"Don't know Guv"

"Well bloody find out woman! What do I pay ya' for?"

"Yes Guv, sorry Guv"

Alex was still in bed when she heard the phone repeatedly ringing, it was 10 o'clock. 'I bet Gene is pissed off, oh fucking well' she laughed. A while later she heard a knock at the door and a quiet feminine voice follow it. "Ma'am, it's me" 'Thank God it's not that twat'. She dragged her self out of bed and walked towards the door. After welcoming Shaz into her flat, they were both sat on the sofa.

"Ma'am, the Guv wanted to know where you were"

"Well, evidently I'm here Shaz"

"Yes ma'am. But erm- why you weren't at work" she coughed awkwardly.

"Oh, didn't he tell you? I've resigned, effective immediately" she said so matter of factly.

Shaz was gobsmacked and lost for words, was she being serious?

"You- you.. What? You can't resign ma'am. Why?"

"Ask that useless wanker"

"Sorry ma'am" she looked down at her hands that rested on her lap and started shuffling them awkwardly.

"No Shaz, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap, it's just.. Just" she trailed off as tears started to fall.

"Ma'am, what's wrong?" she placed her delicate hand gently on Alex's shoulder hoping to offer just a little bit of comfort. Alex burst out into tears at that point, she couldn't help it and she told her everything as if she had word vomit. After the tears subsided Alex felt slightly better at having someone to talk to.

"I'm sorry about this Shaz, you should get back to work. We don't want two of us without a job now do we?" She laughed slightly, knowing there was nothing remotely funny about the situation.

"You need to talk to the Guv, he cares about you"

"He only cares about himself Shaz"

Shaz walked back into CID and straight into Gene's office without knocking.

"There's only one person aroun' 'ere that comes in 'ere without knockin' and it ain't you, what do you want?"

She couldn't help but feel anger rising in her "I want to see ma'am, Guv"

"And?"

Shaz shook her head "She was right about you"

"What are ya' talking about Granger? Go an' make some tea before I sack ya'"

"Oh shut up Guv. That would mean two of us have left, not good is it. Two people leaving in two days.. Why didn't you tell anyone? Why haven't you tried to stop her? What have you done? Why have you done this?"

"EXCUSE ME! Stop with all the bloody questions woman!"

"Well?" Shaz asked, not scared of her pig-headed DCI at all.

"Well what?"

"You've treated ma'am like some cheap whore and she's done nothing but trust you, care for you and perhaps even love you. All men are the same! She's over there now you know, been awake all night, crying. She looks awful, you've made her feel worthless. Are you actually stupid Guv? You mean everything to her, how can you not see it? Ma'am worships the ground you walk on, I can see it with the way she looks at you. How you both are together, you can't deny it. Does she mean nothing to you? She's the most bravest, intellegent and beautiful, strong woman I've ever met and you're going to just-"

"I know Shaz, just stop yeah. Please" his voice was laced with guilt and defeat. He sat back down into his chair with sagged shoulders looking exhausted.

"Just go to her Guv" she whispered and silently left his office.