Chapter 11

Simon awoke with a start as the key turned in the lock. He felt as though he shot ten feet into the air. In reality all he'd done was sit upright. His head felt fuzzy and he blinked a few times. The sight of Kim coming into the lounge came into focus. He immediately felt his hackles go up although it took him a moment to work out why.

"Hey," she seemed surprised to see him, "what are you doing, Simon? I thought you would have been out at karaoke tonight."

Simon gave her a slightly evil look.

"I fell asleep," he said crossly.

For a second Kim froze. She couldn't understand what she'd done wrong. Unless… no, he couldn't have known about Shaz. That was impossible. She took a little step back.

"Have… have I done something to upset you?" she asked.

For a second Simon glared, then his expression relaxed and he realised what an idiot he was being. He shook his head slowly and sighed in frustration at himself.

"Oh God, Kim," he said, "you know when someone does something horrible in a dream and the next day you actually feel pissed off with them for it even though there's nothing they could have done?"

Kim hesitated.

"Oh god, what did I do now?" she demanded, "it was the nightmare about me burning your Red Dwarf videos again, wasn't it?"

Simon sighed again and shook his head.

"No, it's really stupid," he said.

Kim sank onto the couch beside him.

"Come on," she said, "spill it. If you're pissed off with Dream-Kim then I might as well know why."

Simon looked at her a little awkwardly.,

"I don't even know where it came from," he said, "I…" he flinched at the stupidity of the dream, "I dreamed about you, in bed with Robin."

Kim started to laugh. She couldn't help it.

"What?" she giggled.

"I know, it's really dumb," Simon hung his head, "It made no sense at all."

"I never even met him," Kim reminded Simon.

"I know," Simon sighed.

Kim took off her shoes and massaged her toes.

"What were you doing falling asleep and missing out on a night out anyway?" she asked.

Simon reached into his pocket and pulled out a box of pills.

"I got these from the doctor," he said quietly.

Kim took the box and stared at them.

"Tranquilisers?" she frowned, "are you sure that's a good idea/"

"I've not been sleeping well," Simon mumbled.

"You've not been functioning well," Kim corrected, "come on, Simon, you're already in bits, I don't think this is going to help."

Simon snatched them back. Maybe he shouldn't have said anything.

"I just needed a bit of extra help, that's all," he mumbled.

"Try eating," Kim told him, "try not getting blitzed out of your head every night. Try actually doing your job and trying to find other things to live for."

"Not that easy," said Simon. As he spoke he caught sight of a slightly red hue around Kim's mouth. "Hmm," he frowned, "don't remember you wearing any lipstick when you went out."

Kim froze. Then her cheeks turned the same colour as the staining on her lips.

"Oh," she began awkwardly, "I put some on at the club."

Simon raised an eyebrow.

"Oh you did now, did you?" he asked.

"Yes."

Simon stared at her.

"And what exactly did you use to apply this lipstick?" he asked sarcastically, "because whatever it was, I think your technique needs some fine tuning."

Kim felt the guilt swelling in her chest again but the memory of her kiss with Shaz overrode it. It wasn't as though she'd eloped with the girl! They'd only kissed. Why should she feel guilty for having a life?

"Actually, Simon, I'm pretty tired so if you don't mind," she started to potter around, getting ready for bed as a large hint for Simon to remove his backside and head to bed himself. He got to his feet with a frown.

"I hope you know what you're doing," he warned.

"Ditto," said Kim, "take your sleepyhead pills with you."

"With pleasure," Simon snapped.

"At least I know which of us will be having the sweeter dreams tonight," Kim commented slyly as she pulled the duvet around her.

Simon scowled but didn't have a comeback for that. Instead he just marched to his room to contemplate her possible infidelity alone.

~xXx~

Despite burning off half his taste buds, Gene had to admit that the pasta had been fantastic and even if it didn't make up for Alex's behaviour on the town the night before by itself then her plunging neckline certainly did.

"What's for pudding?" he asked, quite unable to remove his eyes from that area.

"Looks like you've already chosen what you want," Alex told him. She got to her feet and collected both their plates, walking to the kitchen with an exaggerated wiggle of her posterior to make sure Gene knew the apology wasn't ending with the meal. He topped up both their glasses as he awaited her return and then began a little nervously,

"Been thinking about what you said before."

Alex sat down and lifted her refilled glass.

"Which thing?" she asked, "if it was the one about burning your tongue then I think you learned the lesson the hard way."

"No, not that one," said Gene, "about Shaz. Taking things as they come."

Alex froze, her glass an inch away from her lips.

"Yes?"

Gene spread his hands on the table and looked down.

"I'm buggered if I know what the right thing to do here is," he said, "but we're in a fix. Now you've 'met' her it won't be easy to stay out of her way, especially if she's got herself hooked on Metal Mickey's body mods." He looked at Alex seriously. "And we can't exactly tell Kim why her new boozing buddy doesn't want to see her new friend any more."

Alex breathed deeply. There was so much to consider.

"If it came to it… if we had to," she began, not wanting for a moment to be banned from seeing Shaz but trying to be balanced in her views, "then we could explain it to Kim. She does 'know' about this world."

Gene looked at Alex grimly.

"You want to be the one to tell Stringer her new carpet's about to end up six feet under?" he asked.

Despite his horrendous turn of phrase Alex shuddered at the thought. If Kim and Shaz were becoming so close and Shaz's passing was around the corner then Kim was going to be in for a terrible shock at some point in the near future. She put her head in her hands.

"Oh God," she sighed, "that's horrible, Gene."

Gene breathed in deeply.

"But," he began, "not that I'm becoming a fan of the whole fate and destiny bollocks mind, but she 'ad to have a reason for coming this way. There has to be a reason. Just don't know what it is yet."

Alex looked at him expectantly, trying to fill in the gaps from what he wasn't saying yet.

"So…?" she prompted, "what does this mean?"

"It means," Gene sighed, "that if Stringer drags her along for some Latte Throwing competition in me local beverage supplier of choice or you walk down the road and find her on the beat then it won't hurt to say hello." He paused. "But any more legless Bollys in the early hours of the morning are strictly forbidden," he lifted his wine, "unless they happen to be on me arm at the time."

Alex found herself smiling more broadly than she had in days. It might not be an ideal situation but she at least had a hint of hope that she might be able to see Shaz, at least every now and then. That was more than she had that morning and more than she had earlier that night.

"I think," she said, trying to hide her excitement, "that's about the best decision we can make for now."

Gene exhaled loudly and looked for all of the world as though he had the heaviest weight upon his shoulders. He drank more wine until he drained his glass dry and then looked back at Alex.

"Did I send her too soon?"

Alex wasn't sure what he meant.

"I don't know if I understand?" she said quietly.

"The Railway Arms," he said, "maybe she was too young."

Alex frowned.

"What's brought this on?" she asked.

"Seeing the age of her today, Bols," he shook his head, "she's so young."

"Yes, and she had three fantastic years with you and the old team," Alex reminded her.

"Was it enough though?"

Alex looked at him seriously.

"You know you did the right thing."

"But did I?" he stared at her, "I was wrong about you."

Alex sighed and ran her fingers through her hair.

"I was a different case," she reminded him, "and besides, I came back."

"If I made a mistake with you I could have made one with her."

Alex sighed.

"Gene… I saw stars," she whispered, "inside the pub. Remember? I told you everything. Shaz didn't see them. It was only me. Shaz was where she was supposed to be. With Chris."

Gene thought about her words and nodded slowly. Her words made a lot of sense.

"I hope you're right Bols," he said.

"You've never worried about this kind of thing before," Alex pointed out quietly.

Gene rubbed his temples. His head was starting to hurt.

"Today's got me head in a spin," he sighed.

Alex nodded. She could see that.

"I need your head to stop spinning in that case," she said quietly. She got to her feet and reached for his hand. "Come on."

"Yer not going to teach me the correct settings on the microwave to burn me tongue on a bowl of pasta are you?"

"Nope," said Alex, "what I've got planned involves using your tongue for something far more interesting."

Gene literally choked as Alex's words struck his ears. He just couldn't get used to some of her comments and requests, the libido was still a revelation every time it spoke up. It was developing a life of its own. When he finally regained enough composure to speak he decided to take her up on that offer.

"You have a way with words, Lady B," he told her as she began to lead him to the bedroom.

"No thinking about Shaz or pubs or stars on the ceiling," Alex told him firmly, "it's time to forget all of that for a bit and concentrate on feeling very much alive."

Gene was very glad to leave those worrying thoughts behind and to concentrate on something far more stimulating. He knew those same worries would still be there in the morning but for now it was time to get on with his own life and the very best elements of it.

"Take it yer hangover's gone," he commented.

Alex smiled. Her eyes told him everything he needed to know.

"Believe me, you won't be hearing me say 'not tonight dear, I have a headache'," she assured him and proceeded to spend the night helping to take his troubles away.