Disclaimer I do not own Ashes to Ashes. Or Life on Mars. Funny how Kudos seems to be ending all my favourite programmes at the moment :(

Railway Children,

Nelson shook his head as he watched the three detectives huddles over their drinks in the far side of the pub. he watched as Ray seemed to try to cajole the other two with him, although all looked equally depressed. He threw his tea towell down on the bar.

"Man Brav." He clapped Ray on the back as Chris looked up and smiled slightly. "You look as if you lost a tenner and found a penny."

"Feel like it." Ray answered.

"Where's Gene and his lady?"

"Giving evidence in court. Same for Annie and Sam."

"Ah." Nelson nodded. "In that case, you three need to keep clear heads because as sure as eggs Gene Hunt will have your guts for garters if you don't." Nelson began clearing their glasses away as Shaz smiled wanely. She knew he was right, even if the men with her were going to protest.

############

Gene stared up at the sky, briefly wondering why the Judge was taking so long. Everything seemed to be annoying him. He loosened his tie and undid the top two buttons as he tried not to worry about Alex being on the stand. He knew how much she hated the thought of facing the man that had held her hostage twice and almost killed her. He closed his eyes as he remembered how she had been shaking that morning when she had woken from her nightmare in the early hours of the morning.

"Christ Bolls. Be ok." He mumbled as he watched Sam walk towards him.

##########

"I swear by Almighty God." Alex took a deep breath as she read the oath written on the small card in front of her. "To tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. So help me God." She could feel her legs begin to weaken as she spoke. She wished Gene was there to watch her but as she glanced at the public gallery she knew that he had yet to give evidence. Her eyes fell back on the kindly Crown Prosecutor as he walked towards her.

"Can you tell the court where you worked before you joined Fenchurch CID?" He smiled slightly as Alex nodded.

"I was a DS on the Vice Squad."

"DCI Morgan's team?"

"Yes."

"Then you would have met Mr Layton before?"

"No. I had profiled him. I was working a case where we suspected a man fitting his profile was the guilty party."

"But you never caught him."

"I transferred while the case was still live." Alex stared.

"So, until the day he shot you in the head you had never actually come face to face with Layton?"

"That's correct."

"And it was due to that gunshot wound to the head that you spent approximately eight weeks in a coma. Then he holds you hostage while you were working Alex subconsciously touched the scar on her forehead. She knew it was barely visible but she knew it was there. She couldn't drag her eyes away from the man in the dock as the waves of nausea washed through her.

"Yes."

"DI Hunt. Can you tell me, on the day in question did you believe the man in the dock intended to kill you and the young man he killed?"

"I didn't think he would kill Danny. I mean the kid was only there because he was trying to protect me. I thought I could get him out of the office. I knew he was going to kill me."

"You knew? How did you know?"

"He told me."

###############

Annie folded her arms as she stared at the sky. It was a beautiful autumn day and for a moment she wished she was at home getting the baby ready to go to the park. Instead she was sat on a bench outside the courthouse worrying about her friends. She had been in the witness box for less than ten minutes. She couldn't decide if that was good or bad but she hoped it was over just as quickly for Alex and Gene. She smiled slightly as Sam walked towards her.

"I just saw the Guv."

"You aren't supposed to talk to him. He hasn't been in yet." Annie sighed.

"They changed things around, He's been in before me but he hasn't seen Alex yet, but he's worried sick."

"He said that?" Annie rested her head on Sam's shoulder as he wrapped his arm around her.

"No." Sam smiled. "Gene Hunt admit he's scared. About as likely as Chris winning Mastermind."

Annie shook her head. She knew the young DC was a bit of a liability at times but he was a hard worker and he did try. Since Sharon Grainger had been on the scene he was much better. It was as if he was constantly trying to impress his girlfriend. Annie smiled slightly as Sam kissed her hair.

"How did it go?"

"The defence is an idiot." Annie answered. "I think she wants Layton convicted."

"Don't we all?" Sam hugged her a little tighter, knowing gow close they had come to it being Annie that was in Alex's position. Annie closed her eyes as she felt his arms tighten on her waist. She knew she wanted to go home to be with her husband and son but there was no way she was going to be able to leave until the Jury had been dismissed. Annie snapped her eyes open as the familiar sound of an ambulance could be heard approaching the court.

"Sam?"

"Yeah." Sam released her as they both turned and started making their way hurridly back to the court.

###########

Alex stepped down from the witness box as the Judge turned his attention to the Jury. They knew they still had to hear from Phyllis and Viv but that wasn't until the next day. She sighed heavily as she reached the back door of the court. Her headache had been getting slowly worse since the moment she had arrived in the witness stand. Gingerly she opened the door so that she could leave. She smiled slightly as she saw Gene stood leaning on the wall opposite the door.

"Gene."

"Bolls." He stepped towards her as the room began to spin. In seconds she was in his arms as her unconsious form was swept up as Gene began yelling for help.

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more soon x