"It's just over here, Gene; I want to show you the finished pit where I'm going to catch my tiger!"
"All right lad, slow down," Gene sighed as they approached the big open space in the jungle by the river. Gene met the sight of a deep, wide hole that had been dug into the ground by himself, Ray and Valley at different times. God help anyone that fell in.
"Gene!" Gene whipped around at the sound of Alex's voice as Freddy complained indignantly.
"Not now, Bolls, Freddy 'ere wants to show me 'is tiger pit," Gene explained, dismissing her.
"Gene…" Alex continued, "oh Gene, don't be like this…me and Valley, there's…there's nothing –"
"I don't really want ter here about your latest conquest, DI Drake," Gene said harshly, emphasising the impersonal reference to her rank, "just go and get yer knickers off like a good little girl."
Alex's mouth dropped open in disgust. "Fine," she muttered, stalking off.
Fine? Gene's eyes shot up. She wasn't really going to shag him, was she?
"Drake, where are you going?" Gene called out.
Alex whipped around, her eyes blazing. "I am getting out of your hair, Guv. Perhaps Valley will appreciate my company."
"That's not all he'll be appreciating," Gene snarled.
Alex shook her head, appalled. "You really can't get your mind out of the gutter, can you?"
"Me?" Gene scoffed. "What about you? You're the one that can't keep yer bloody legs closed!"
There was a stunned silence. Alex's eyes glistened and her chin shook before she turned around and made her way angrily back through the jungle.
Gene swallowed, a guilty feeling settling in his stomach. He didn't mean to make her cry. He'd have to make it up to her. Somehow.
Freddy pulled a face at Alex's retreating back and gestured to the tree branch hovering above the pit. He then kicked some palm leaves on the floor.
"We're going to hang some meat up here to lure him in," Freddy explained excitedly, regaining Gene's attention, "and cover the pit with these palm leaves so that he thinks it's safe to walk across. So, in the middle of the night, he's going walk along like this…"
Freddy began to walk tentatively around the pit acting as a tiger, Gene following. "Then he'll walk down here, and he's sniff the meat…" Freddy mimed sniffing melodramatically as Gene rolled his eyes, "and then he'll see it. So he'll walk along like this, and – ARRRGHHH!"
Freddy slipped and Gene's instincts kicked in, grabbing the ten-year-old boy under the arms and preventing him from falling into the pit himself.
"I think yer better just tell me, Freddy, not show me," Gene decided, straightening up.
"Well anyhow," Freddy nodded, "he'll jump for the bait, and that's how I'll catch my tiger!"
"Ha!"
Gene and Freddy looked up, frowning. Over by the trees looking as cool and lean as ever was Valley, smirking nastily.
"You really think you're going to catch our island's most dangerous animal in a pit with meat dangling from the tree?" Valley sniggered.
"Bugger off, Loincloth Boy, and make yerself bloody useful," Gene ordered as he and Freddy moved away from the pit, "you've got more important things ter do than pick on ten-year-old boys and try to impress Bolly."
Valley glared at him. "You'll never catch one of the tigers of Azlia. That's the stupidest idea I've ever heard."
"Just because I thought of it instead of you!" Freddy jeered back.
"Speaking of stupid things," Gene barked, swaggering up to Valley threateningly, "how long did it take for you to go back ter yer village and get those stupid flowers?"
"That's none of your business!" Valley sneered at Gene.
"Oh I think it is," Gene growled, "ever since you've got 'ere, you've done nothin' but try and get my DI into your bed. Well sunshine, it ain't bloody happening, so do yerself a favour and stop hitting on 'er. If she's goin' ter drop her posh knickers for anyone, its goin' ter be me, not you!"
Valley narrowed his eyes and clenched his fists.
"You sure about that?" he snarled. "What makes you think Alex would even go near an overweight, old brute like you? I get any woman I want, and if I want her, I'll have her."
Gene's fist had connected into Valley's handsome face before anyone could even blink. A sickening thud was heard as Freddy gasped and Valley tumbled backwards, only just remaining to stand on his feet.
"Don't you dare talk about her like that," Gene seethed.
"Jealous, Hunt?" Valley huffed, holding his sore face.
"Of what? Of a pretty-boy, in-love-with-himself, loincloth-loving poof?" Gene snapped, shoving Valley.
"That Alex prefers me," Valley taunted him, shoving him back.
That did it. Gene's fist flew at Valley's face again, knocking him to the ground. Gene clambered on top of him, punching him furiously and receiving a few painful punches back.
"Fight! Fight! Fight!" Freddy chanted. "Get him, Gene, punch his face in!"
Gene punched Valley hard and got up, satisfied, until Valley followed his lead and scrambled to his fight, throwing himself back at Gene. Punches were flying as Freddy jumped up and down from the side.
"Ow, now you get him, Valley! Fight, fight, fight! Your turn, Valley!"
Valley's muscles proved they were not just for show as he thunderously punched Gene in the stomach, winding him. Valley fist then collided with Gene's face, flooring him.
"Come on, Gene, now its your turn!" Freddy screamed. "Fight!"
From the treehouse, Alex, Ray, Lily, Chris and Scherazade heard the commotion and their mouths dropped in shock.
"What the…?" Lily frowned.
"Oh no," Scherazade panicked, "that's Valley, he always gets into fights! But who's he –?"
"Gene!" Alex gasped, running down the ladder hurriedly.
"Ma'am, let me go first, it might not be safe!" Chris called out.
"Oh move, yer twonk, if anyone's goin' to protect her it won't be you!" Ray spat. "Ma'am, wait! Hold on!"
The five of them ran through the jungle and towards the pits and the river where they heard the noise coming from.
"Fight! Fight! Fight!" Freddy cheered as Gene continuously smacked Valley in the chin, causing the warrior to stumble into the river and drench himself in the shallow water, humiliated.
"Come on, get him, Valley!" Freddy screamed hoarsely. "Fight!"
Valley clambered to his feet and jumped on Gene from behind, the two of them continuing to fight like animals to the death. Punches were flying as Alex burst through the trees and in between the two men, just in time to see Valley's fist hurtling towards her face.
"AAAH!" Alex yelled, shielding herself. But Gene's strong arm darted in front of her, grabbing Valley in fury and flinging him away from Alex as Chris dove into her, knocking her to the floor.
"Valley, Gene!" Scherazade shouted, causing the two of them to stop fighting as Ray and Lily too emerged from the jungle. Gene and Valley took deep, shattering breaths, their chests winded and blood and cuts and bruises forming on their face and bodies.
Scherazade, Ray and Lily stood and stared at Gene and Valley in shock and disgust. Chris gently lifted himself off Alex and helped her to her feet as Freddy quietly ran round to them, facing Gene and Valley as well.
"What's going on?" Ray said quietly.
Valley and Gene snarled at each other.
"Who started it?" Scherazade demanded.
Silence.
Gene was furious. A bird was reprimanding him in front of his team and Valley had managed to floor him. Also, he'd nearly got Alex hurt. If Valley had hit her, Gene would never have forgiven himself.
"You know, I think everyone's been working a bit too hard," Scherazade said diplomatically, "we're having a break. You two, stay away from each other. But we all need some time to relax and cool down. Lunch is ready now, so let's eat and then take the rest of the day off. The pirates won't come today. We can afford it. Come on, Freddy."
Scherazade made her way back to the treehouse, taking Freddy by the hand. Ray and Lily smiled weakly at Gene as they too walked away hand in hand, muttering animatedly.
Valley stalked off in humiliation to wash himself down in the river and Gene glared at him before turning his attention to Alex.
Alex's eyes were red and blotchy from tears and showed nothing but disappointment. Chris put his arm round her and led her away, leaving Gene on his own, cut, bruised and ashamed.