CHAPTER 25

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The car door slammed loudly, echoing down the street. Alex stomped away from the Quattro, muttering under her breath as she walked away from the station and across the street towards Luigis. The street lights lit up the puddles that were dotted along the road. It seemed that every day this week they had argued over everything and nothing, like an age old routine that couldn't be broken they bickered and fought over every little fact and piece of evidence at work and then when they were outside of work they would argue too... though not as much in these last couple of weeks.

"Drake! Get back here!" Gene's voiced echoed loudly.

"No!"

The Quattro car door slammed once more, a little more gently this time as Gene locked his precious car before following Alex, who was already at the top of the steps leading down to Luigis. He caught up with her grabbing her arm and pulling her back.

"I told you to stop."

"You're not my father Gene nor have you the right to tell me what to do!"

"For your information Drake as your DCI I 'ave every bloody right to tell you what to do!"

Alex pulled her arm free of his grip, prodding her finger into his chest.

"Not whilst we are off duty DCI Hunt." She spat out his title, the venom in her voice clear.

Gene caught her hand and for a moment Alex wondered for a moment what exactly he intended to do. His touch lingered for a moment longer before he pulled her away from the steps and away from the prying eyes of the rest of the team who were curious over the commotion. They stood under a street lamp a few metres away from Luigis, the raucous noise of the team singing loudly and drinking could still be heard clearly though.

"I'm warning you Drake you're gettin' pretty close to really pissin' me off."

"Good." Alex met his steely steady gaze, she knew she was being stupid acting the way she was but Alex just couldn't help it. Everything he had done over the last two weeks had been really getting to her and he had finally pushed her over the edge today with his latest little stunt. "You've already pissed me off Gene as you so eloquently put it."

He chuckled, eyebrows raised in amusement. "Oh really? An' what exactly 'ave I done to get you so bloody worked up?"

"Where do I start?! You refused to press charges against Marisol, Alisa or Isobel... which I know you had your reasons for but then you fabricate evidence making me look like an idiot in front of the Superintendent. You've had me put onto cases which are simply a waste of my time and resources just because you want to prove a point. Not to mention the fact that you've spent these last two weeks acting like... like I am nothing more than just a DI to you."

The truth was that Alex was angry that Gene had spent nearly every free hour he had from work speaking with Marisol, Alisa and Isobel. He would visit Belle in hospital and had ensured that none of them would have to remain in custody.

If Alex hadn't of know better she would have said that Gene was falling for them all over again. The only reason Alex knew that wasn't true was because Gene had distanced himself from Alex too... from most women it seemed. He didn't flirt with the girls in the bar like he usually did, and the sexist remarks had almost completely disappeared. Even Shaz had remarked how subdued Gene seemed lately.

Alex had tried to talk to Gene but every time she tried he gave her yet another pile of pointless paperwork. What Alex didn't want to admit though was that she was hurt that the barriers that they had managed to finally break through were back in place and twice as strong from his side. It would seem that the physical wounds had healed but the emotional ones were causing long term damage.

"What did you bloody think I'd do Drake? You reckon I should 'ave pressed charges against those stupid tarts who got involved with the wrong man? You think that I'd present information that would make my whole team look like they couldn't organise a piss up in a brewery? I'm the DCI in this department an' it is up to me to make the decision that is best for my team!"

"Including isolating your DI?"

"If I think it's for the best then yes!" Gene lit a cigarette discarding the match into the nearest puddle. Alex watched the smoke rise lazily from between his lips into the night air.

"You know what the problem with you is Gene. You can never say sorry!" Alex barely managed to contain her anger as she ground out the words from between her teeth on him. "Do you even know what it means?!"

"For your information Drake I've got nothing to be sorry for."

"Sorry but – "Alex was about to make a sarcastic remark but she was cut short.

"Apology accepted" Gene took a drag from his cigarette, crumpling the now empty packet and discarding it to the ground.

"I wasn't apologising Gene! I was... oh you know what forget it!" Her tone of voice changed to that tense and terse way she had of speaking when she was so near to screaming her head off. "Clearly you are incapable of comprehending how wrong you've been! You know what Gene... you are such a Neanderthal! You really infuriate me Gene Hunt!"

"Now Bolly don't get you knickers in a twist." The glint in his eye was more than enough of a warning for Alex that she was heading into dangerous territory. Gene could hold his temper when he needed but when he was around Alex all sense of self control seemed to fly out of the window.

Alex ran her fingers through her hair, the curls starting to go limp in the damp mizzle that was beginning to fall. Pacing back on forth on the pavement, she wanted to scream, she needed to cry but most of all, despite how much she currently despised and loathed Gene Hunt... all Alex wanted to do was kiss him.

And that was far worse than any feeling of hatred she wished she could contours for him. She felt drained and tired and no longer had the urge to continue trying to get Gene to understand why she was so angry with him. Alex turned away heading back to Luigis, her hands shoved into her pockets.

"What's the matter Drake? Finally got all that naggin' 'n bitchin' out of yer system?" His snide comment dug deep.

"You know what Gene." Alex turned to face him her tone falsely cheerful, "Why don't you go and see one of those tarts you seem so eager to keep your bed warm at night."

Alex forced a smile at Gene but as she went to walk away, he caught her and pulled him back into his arms. It happened so suddenly, Alex found herself pressed against Gene's body, gazing up into his eyes. The cigarette he had been smoking had been discarded and as Alex went to speak Gene forced her arms behind her back, pinning them with one hand. With the other he gently cupped her cheek and pressed his lips against hers.

She gasped against his lips but it only seemed to encourage Gene further as his kiss became bruising and demanding. Alex responded the only way she knew how... by melting into his arms.