(Right then chapter twelve, we're back in 1981 now with Gene and Alex. Thank you for all of the encouraging reviews please keep them coming as its nice to know that people actually like my ramblings based on an obsession for Ashes to Ashes that probably isn't healthy. So I'll shut up now and let you read it.)
Chapter Twelve
Gene had been watching Alex carefully from the car whilst Chris and Ray sat in the back, he didn't even know what they had been joking about, he had been too busy concentrating on Bolls. As he saw Steve getting more and more agitated he placed his hand on the door handle ready to jump out if Alex needed him. So when Steve pushed her the first time he was already running up the path, and as Alex fell backwards into the water Gene had just arrived and immediately cuffed Steve, pushing him against the park bench. By the time he glanced down at the water the ripples had almost stilled, and there were no bubbles rising to the top. Tearing off his coat and shoes without thinking he dived into the lake, his arms and legs searching for Alex. Unable to see through the murky water he was relying entirely on touch.
As the darkness closed in on her, Alex began to panic. Why had Molly said goodbye to her? Was she dying? Where was Gene? The white clown appeared in the corner of her eye, "I'm going to get him Alex," it said "the one person who you have left." Desperately Alex spun round, trying to see the clown in full view.
"No... Not Gene," she tried to shout, but ended up swallowing the water. Desperately trying to cough she ended up chocking. Trying to wriggle free of the invisible ropes that bound her, she felt her legs go numb and tears began to run down her face, mixing with the cloudy water surrounding her. Suddenly feeling a strong hand grasp her arm, she kicked, desperately trying to get rid of the clown that haunted her.
Gene felt his hand brush against her arm, and grabbed it, trying to pull Alex towards him. He could tell that she was scared as she struggled against his hand. Refusing to give in he waved his other arm around searching for her waist. Clamping his hand on it, he dragged her weighted body to the surface. Bursting through into the air, his eyes stung as he tried to see where the edge of the pond was. Positioning Alex's body as far on the bank as he could, he lifted himself up and bent over her body. As she coughed, the life flooded back into her and her eyes slowly fluttered open as if she was coming round from a long sleep. "I couldn't get back" she said helplessly. Meaning back to Molly, though Gene took it to mean that she couldn't swim back to the surface.
"I know luv... I'm here, don't worry." He whispered as he cradled her head in his lap. Meanwhile Ray and Chris had finally realised what was happening and were bundling Steve into the boot of the Quattro. Shifting into a sitting position she gazed up into his eyes intently, once again she saw his love for her reflected in them and new that no matter what, Molly would want her to be happy. Lifting her mouth to his she kissed him, he responded kissing her back slowly and tenderly, tracing his fingers down her damp wet clothes. Softly breaking apart, Gene got up and picked his coat up of the grass, wrapping it around Alex's shoulders and escorting her to the car. "Where've you put that bastard?" shouted Gene to Chris and Ray as he and Alex drew nearer the car. He was keen not to put Alex in any more danger having nearly lost her once already that day.
Driving back to the station there was silence in the car, interrupted only by the odd banging coming from the boot. Gene glanced over to see Alex shivering in the corner of her seat, covered in his jacket which didn't appear to be doing much to warm her up. "Right then you pair of puffs, you bang up that scumbag nonce in the back whilst I take Bollinger Knickers here home to get dried off."
"Get her knickers off morel like," Ray muttered to Chris, but not quite quiet enough to escape Gene's hearing.
"Oy you, have some respect for you senior officer!" he yelled, causing Chris to yelp in surprise at the Guv's harsh tones.
"Struck a nerve there mate," whispered Chris, still not quiet enough.
"Will you two prats shut, or you can get out and walk," yelled Gene again, as he twisted round in his seat to glare at his two junior officers, whilst wondering if they were just being their usual annoying selves or if they had seen his and Bolls affectionate display by the duck pond.
Pulling up outside the station, Gene clambered out of his seat to let Ray and Chris out of the car, and opened the boot to heave the now sobbing bloke out, and stand him up on the pavement. Then slamming the door as he got back in they roared off towards Alex's flat, looking back he saw the bemused expressions on Chris and Ray's faces as the sauntered up the stairs and back to work, but he doubted that they would get much done.
"Did they see us," whispered Alex. She had sat their silently taking in the apparent hostilities between the three men, however she understood that he needed to vent his anger somehow and was grateful that he hadn't chosen to do that on the suspect.
"No, they can't have done," he replied, hoping and praying that he was right. "Don't ever do that again to me Bolls," he said affectionately. She didn't know how he had felt when he saw her body falling into the pond, they had only been together for one day, and that wasn't official, but already he couldn't imagine his life without her.
Alex thought she knew how he felt; she had after all experienced similar feelings when Arthur Layton had taken Molly hostage. Leaning over the hand brake she rested her head in the crook of Gene's arm, taking in his scent, cigarettes, whisky and now the faint smell of damp. Still it comforted her and she found herself happily day dreaming of her, Gene and Molly whilst he drove.
Parking outside Luigi's Gene walked round to Alex's door and said "Right then Drake, let's get those knickers off you," Ray was probably closer to the truth than the thought, thought Gene as he slipped his hands underneath her and effortlessly picked her up, pulling his coat tight around her body he walked up the stairs leading to her flat. He carried her all the way to the bathtub, before carefully stripping her clothes off and throwing them into a heap on the floor, closely followed by his. They sat in the bath tub together letting the water slowly heat up their bodies.
Finally they dragged themselves out of the bath, when they realised that the water had turned cold and wasn't exactly the prevention of hypothermia which it was supposed to be. Gene began to roughly towel himself dry whilst Alex sat on the edge of the bath tub watching him, that coy smile playing on her lips as she thought through what they had just done. "Right then Bolls back to work," he growled.
"You really know to spoil a moment don't you Gene," she purred, walking up to him and wrapping her arms around his neck, pulling him back down into the bath tub.
It was a few hours later, and Gene was leant against the counter in the kitchen, drinking a cup of strong black coffee in an attempt to wake himself up. Alex was stood inside her bedroom, putting on her bright blue eye shadow with such precision that any one would think she was painting a masterpiece, but she already is a masterpiece thought Gene.
He was interrupted by a shrill ringing sound, coming from the ridiculous red telephone that Alex kept by the door, "Gene can you get that?" yelled Alex. Jeeez thought Gene, at what stage in a relationship do you usually start answering other people's phones? Mind you it was probably just Ray or Chris ringing to say that they'd cocked something up majorly and were up sht creek without a paddle, or disinfectant.
"Hello, this is DI Drake's residence," he said putting on a mocking posh voice just in case it was one of her upper class friends who she wouldn't want to be embarrassed in front of by a northern flat foot such as himself. As he stood listening, his face became more and more bemused, so much so that when Alex walked into the room she couldn't help but giggle at the confused expression that he was wearing. Hanging up the phone saying "yes sure she'll be right there," he turned around to face her and said, "Some woman on the phone. She says can you go and pick up your daughter from school as you're already 15minutes late."