A/N
Sorry to be so long updating this fic- 'aving 'oops happened and this got put on the back burner for a while, I had my reasons though. Then my desktop with two thirds of this chapter on went to the computer graveyard, so I had to rewrite. I can't even remember if I thanked everyone for the Chapter Ten reviews, but if I haven't, I'm sorry and thank you very much xx Also thank you if you're still reading this, be warned this chapter is a little dark, Fen xxx
Chapter Eleven
.
A place for us
'You have to eat' Gene said
'Do I? Why?' Alex sat at the little table in Gene's attic flat staring at a bowl of soup.
'Because I cooked it.' Gene said, tearing up a French stick and slapping on butter, 'Do you have any idea how honoured you are? I've never cooked for anyone before.'
'You heated up soup.' Alex said, but she lifted her spoon.
Gene was uncomfortable, he hadn't a clue how to deal with this Alex, all quiet and washed out and defeated. 'All is not lost' he said slightly over dramatically, 'Look on the bright side! You still have me- the booby prize.'
'I don't have you though do I?' Alex replied, 'Don't you remember?'
'You really think I'm letting you go back to Branson?' Gene said, 'Think again, your time at World's End is over.'
'But why am I here?' Alex asked, 'If I'm dead there, why am I alive here? It doesn't make sense.'
'I don't know.' Gene said, 'But first thing on Monday morning we're going to see Henderson and telling him you're back at Fenchurch East whether he likes it or not.'
'But then what?' Alex asked, 'What happens then? Do I live out the life I was supposed to have in 2008 in 1980 whatever? Do I die again when 2008 comes around?'
'You're thinking too much.' Gene said hastily.
Alex shivered even though the heating was turned up to maximum,' Can I have a bath?' she asked.
'Of course.' Gene said.
As she walked around the table she reached out and touched his hand; he pulled her down onto his lap and held her tightly. She clung to him, gaining strength from his strength. 'Oh god Gene' she groaned, 'This is such a mess.'
'You'll feel better after a bath' he said uselessly, knowing he was talking shit.
When Alex was in the bath he thought long and hard. This couldn't wait until Monday; there were too many questions crowding into his head. He had a feeling that Henderson knew the truth. The Super had been so determined to off- load Alex somewhere else. He dialled Henderson's home number.
'It's me' he said when Henderson answered. 'Alex Drake is with me.'
'That's not a good idea.' Henderson replied quickly, 'I thought I made it clear…'
'You made nothing clear.' Gene said quietly, 'Why were you so insistent that she be transferred?'
'You began an inappropriate relationship with a fellow officer.' Henderson said, 'I was trying to save you from the upset when it all went wrong.'
'Bullshit.' Gene whispered harshly, 'You know something I don't. I don't like being kept in the dark like some kind of fetid fungi.'
'Gene it's in your best interests.' Henderson said hurriedly, 'I'm trying to protect you. Send Alex back to World's End, she'll settle down there eventually, and things can get back to normal at Fenchurch.'
'Alex Drake came from the future.' Gene said.
Henderson took a sharp breath and then had a coughing fit. When he could speak again, he said, 'Maybe she needs assessing for mental issues.'
'Well make a double appointment with the headquack then' Gene said, 'because I happen to know that she did.'
'Gene you really don't want to know the truth. Believe me.' Henderson said.
'Try me.' Gene retorted.
'It's not my place, I'm not equipped….'Henderson said.
'Tell me!' Gene said.
'I need to confer with someone.' Henderson said.
'If you don't start talking in plain English I'll rip your officious undersized head clean off that scrawny neck.' Gene threatened.
'I'll get back to you.' Henderson said, hanging up.
Gene redialled the number but it was engaged.
Alex came into the room swamped in Gene's bathrobe. 'Who were you talking to?'
'Henderson- he's not saying anything though- twatting little twerp.' Gene exhaled deeply.
'Gene?' Alex stood in front of him and he put his hands on her waist.
'Bolly?' he gazed at her.
'I've been thinking.' she looked unsure.
'Go on' he nodded.
'If I'm dead in this life, and had another life…..is it possible…?' she hesitated again.
'Go on.' Gene said.
'Is it possible that it's the same with you, with everyone at Fenchurch?' she whispered.
'Do I look dead? 'Gene rasped, 'Maybe after a heavy Friday night in Luigi's…'
'Of course you don't' Alex said, 'you look and feel alive, but then so do I.'
Gene heard the crack of a gunshot and jumped; he ran to the window. There was nothing, just people going about their weekend business. A reel of grainy film played in his head for about five seconds, bunting with the union flag, a farmhouse kitchen, and the Queen as a very young woman.
He turned to Alex, 'Another life? Why would I need another one? This one's crazy enough.'
The phone rang and he grabbed it up.
'I'm coming over to talk to you both.' Henderson said, 'When would be convenient?'
'ASAbloodyP- would be convenient.' Gene said, dropping the phone, 'He's coming to see us.' he said.
'Good- I think.' Alex looked terrified, but oddly she suddenly felt stronger. She realised that she loved Gene almost as much as she loved Molly, in a different way of course, but the depth of her love meant that she knew she had to be strong for him, she had a feeling that Henderson was going to tell him something terrible, and she was just glad she was there for him and he wouldn't have to face it alone. She also had a feeling he was a man who hadn't known a lot of love throughout his life and it broke her heart. Under all the bluster and the bullshit he was quite simply the loveliest man she had ever known.
'I need a smoke.' he said.
'You may as well smoke in here.' she said as he made for the door, 'I can't exactly die twice can I? In fact-give me one.'
'You're joking me' he managed a half smile.
'No go on, do that thing they do in the old films, light two and give me one.' Alex said.
He shrugged and put two cigarettes in his mouth and lit them, before passing one to her. Alex took a puff.
'Eugh.' she said, taking a second puff and turning green, 'I need a drink to get the taste out of my mouth.
Gene took the cigarette from her and stubbed it out. Alex poured wine for both of them. Then they sat on the sofa and waited for Henderson.
.
The Super looked completely out of his comfort zone in Gene's flat. As Gene ushered him into the sitting room he tore at his shirt collar as though it was strangling him, and plonked a briefcase on the coffee table.
'May I sit?' he asked hoarsely.
Gene nodded.
The Super scrabbled in the briefcase and brought out a manila file, smoothing it over and over again with a not quite steady hand. He looked over at Gene who was perched on the arm of a chair.
'When I give you this there's no going back.' he said, 'You do realise that? I can put it back in this briefcase and you can stop asking questions, and things can carry on as they always did.'
'And Alex?' Gene asked.
'If Alex agrees to go back to World's End' the Super said, turning to Alex, 'Sometimes being selfless is the only thing to do- for the greater good you understand.'
'I don't give a rat's arse about the greater good.' Gene said, 'She's going nowhere- it's not even her decision to make. I say so. She's back and she's staying back- she's my partner.'
'I'm not your enemy Gene.' the Super still raked at his shirt collar and the shaving rash on his neck, 'I only ever wanted to protect you.'
Gene held out his hand, 'Thank you….Sir, but with respect-give!'
The Super handed over the file and began to stand up.
'Stay there' Gene ordered.
'I have a prior engagement.' the Super said, but he stayed seated.
Gene flipped open the file and pulled out a lone sheet of paper, as he began to read he also began to turn pale, his lips moving as he read, he looked up at Alex.
'What? What is it?' she asked urgently.
Gene passed the sheet over to her, she was terrified to see his hand shaking, and hardly dared read the words on the paper. Tears blurred her vision as she read;
'Name- 'Gene .S. Hunt- Age 19 '
'Date of Death- June 2nd 1953'
'Rank of Officer- PC'
'Cause of Death- Gunshot wound'
'Corpse undiscovered by real world-believed to be at rest at Farringfield Green, nr Bolton '
'Projected rank as guide- DCI-possibly higher.'
'Length of Service- indefinite.'
Gene sat down heavily; Alex knelt beside him, 'Oh Gene'
He stared into space, seemingly in a daze, but when she took his hand he gripped it so tightly he almost broke her fingers. She felt his pulse racing and jumping in his wrist, and tried to calm it with her thumb.
'You?' Gene looked at Henderson.
Henderson nodded, 'We do the best we can.'
'Carling?' Gene said thickly.
Henderson nodded.
'Everyone?' Gene croaked.
'I'm afraid so lad.' Henderson said sadly.
'I need to go to that place. Farringfield Green- there was a little girl went missing there recently- the name was familiar but I didn't know why.' Gene said, 'Will they….? Do they ever find me? In the real world?'
'I don't know.' the Super said. 'I'd like to think they will- is anything coming back to you?'
'No' Gene stared at the floor.
'I'd better go.' the Super said, 'We'll discuss this on Monday, your duties…'
'My duties?' Gene frowned.
'It can wait until Monday' Henderson said. 'I am sorry, believe it or not, I didn't want you to ever have to know.'
.
Gene had been drinking steadily since Henderson had left. Alex tried to talk to him but he blocked her out and applied himself to his whiskey anesthetic . In the end she stood right in front of him. 'This is my fault, it's all down to me. If I hadn't made such a fuss about World's End…'
'Don't talk shit.' Gene said, 'How is this your fault?' he poured more scotch down his throat, 'Although I don't know exactly what you're still doing here. Why would you want to stay? When you think about it, you're shacked up with a kid, a nineteen year old boy.'
'That boy isn't you.' Alex said, 'You have grown and developed beyond all recognition…'
'I've certainly grown.' Gene said dolefully, glancing at his beer belly, he sighed heavily, 'You're a good woman Bolls. You try to see the best in people, make the best of any sit-u-a-tion' his words were becoming more pronounced as he struggled with them against the effect of the alcohol.
'You're a man, not a boy' Alex said, 'with huge responsibilities that you cope with brilliantly. Think of the loyalty you inspire.'
Gene poured more scotch , 'Keep up' he told her, nudging his booted toe at the wine bottle on the coffee table. But Alex made peppermint tea, hoping to calm her churning stomach.
Just after eleven she put him to bed, sozzled wasn't the word, he had practically pickled himself in scotch. After a speedy bath, she crawled in beside him.
About an hour later, just after she had dozed into a troubled half sleeping state, he rolled onto her, his mouth biting at her neck, his cock large and rampant and searching out the one place where it fitted so well. She opened her legs and he entered her roughly, the bed complaining noisily as he moved on top of her desperately, hammering into her, apologising for being rough but not curtailing his thrusts in any way. He seemed to be pushing all the breath from her. She held him, crooning little words of encouragement that came out as stammers. He came quickly, gripping her hips, groaning like a wounded animal as he emptied into her. When he was through he stayed on top of her, breathing heavily into her neck.
'You got nothing from that.' he said in a broken voice, 'What a bastard.'
'I got enough.' she said, ' Try to sleep. Stay inside me if it helps'
.
'Alex?'
'Hmm?' she had been asleep.
'We need to go to Farringfield Green.'
'Yes, and we will'
'Now'
'It's too warm'
'I'll go alone'
She opened her eyes, he was leaning over her, and 'I can't sleep'
'You're still pissed' she said.
'I'm not' he moved away from her and fell out of the tall bed.
Still groggy with sleep, she leaned over the edge of it, only able to make out a form on the floor courtesy of the dim light that came from the hall. 'Get back in here.'
Gene was like a turtle on its back, 'When I can fucking unwedge my fucking self I'm going to Bolton.' he said determinedly.
Alex sat up, 'Right.' She glanced at the clock, 'It's 3am. The entire world is sleeping.'
'I'll make coffee and then we'll go.' Gene was using the sheets to try and haul himself up and not doing very well.
Alex got out of bed and helped him. When he was standing he looked down at her, 'You know why this fucking bed is in this too small for it room don't you?'
'No' she smiled.
'They can't get the bastard out unless they chop it up or burn it.' he grumbled.
'Well I like it' she said, 'It's very comfortable.'
'Pah' he muttered, 'Right coffee.'
Alex showered and wondered quite what she was doing. She must really, really, really, really, love him, she decided; a few days before Christmas and she was getting up in the middle of one of the darkest nights of the year to go to some god forsaken northern place to look for a grave.
'Wrap up warm' Gene ordered, coming into the bedroom with a steaming mug of coffee, 'It's freezing out there. I feel a bit shaky. You may have to drive.' He shoved the mug at her and began going through a pile of clothes.
'I think that's a given.' Alex said, 'There's no way you could drive, the amount of scotch you put away a few hours ago.'
'I'm stone cold sober.' Gene said, putting a jumper on inside out and back to front.
'Well you need to learn to dress yourself then.' Alex said, pulling it off him and putting back on correctly. 'Are you sure you want to do this?'
He kissed her briefly on the mouth, 'Would have jumped off Tower Bridge if it wasn't for you.' He told her, 'Yes I have to do it. I have to get it straight in my head.'
Alex grabbed her coffee and took several sips, Gene had added the same amount of sugar that he put in his own coffee but she still drank, 'Alright' she carried the mug through to the kitchen sink and left it there, still half full, 'Come on then.'
