We do not own Ashes to Ashes, Eastenders or Waterloo Road
Chapter 25
Christian helped Roxy clean the pub in short order. He agreed to do the men's room if she did the women's, he was not going to do both himself he told her, not when he'd bought cakes for breakfast.
Roxy had finished the women's before Christian had finished the men's. She finished her earlier job of collecting glasses and started to wash them up. If she listened carefully, she could hear Amy's familiar delighted gurgles. This made her smile.
Christian wiped glasses dry and put them away then stopped as he remembered the barrels needed checking and went to do so.
Roxy was about to complain about him leaving in the middle of a job but saw his direction and let him go. She finished washing the sticky glasses and picked up his discarded towel to finish his job.
Christian came back and pronounced the barrels fine.
"Shall I open the door?" he asked.
Roxy looked around her pub, it seemed clean. That had taken her half the time it normally took, mainly Christian's influence.
"Go for it"
Christian went and unlocked the door and then turned on the music. He danced across the pub back to Roxy and then encouraged her to join him since the place was empty.
Roxy laughed at him softly before joining him and enjoying their mini rave.
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Rowan was having probably her most fun day at the café so far. Chris stayed by her side to help and people seemed to be loving the Cake or Death joke, those who knew it.
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Alyssa nodded, resigned, and saw him out of the flat. She shut the door behind him and hugged herself momentarily, leaning against the wall.
Alyssa sighed and checked the time and her eyes widened. She ran to the bathroom and showered swiftly. By the time she was showered, dry and dressed, she had a little time before she had to go.
She picked up her phone and called Rowan.
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Ray kissed away her tears softly as he tipped over the edge too. He panted quietly and rolled them both so that they were lying on their side. His arms encased her gently and he held her to him tightly.
Ronnie cuddled close to Ray and sniffed.
"Next time, could you bring on the handcuffs a bit sooner?" she asked quietly and sighed in contentment.
Ray looked down at her slightly shocked. He had not been sure how she would react to him getting them out in the first place, he had reasoned with himself though, what did you do with people that resisted arrest? You handcuffed them.
"Kinky little madam!" he exclaimed in amusement.
Ronnie snorted a laugh and curled up close to Ray.
"Does that bother you?" she asked, her tone highly amused.
Ray raised his eyebrows at her.
"Did I say that?" he questioned playfully.
Ronnie grinned at him. "Just checking."
She kissed him. "Oh, I should get ready for my girly day now," she commented, her voice full of contentment. She turned to Ray. "You better find my phone while I shower," she told him and levered herself up.
Ray growled and dragged himself off the floor.
"Bossy woman," he grumbled and scanned the room.
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Shaz sat at the breakfast table eating cereal awkwardly. She had been woken by shrieking from Alex's room. She had been about to run and see what was wrong when she heard the sound of her DCI calling her DI's well known nickname. Shaz by this time had made it to the kitchen and blushed furiously as she realised exactly what was making Alex scream.
She supposed she should be grateful; this was the first time, as far as she knew, that they had done it while she had been in the house. She sipped her orange juice and heard the shower turn on; the screams had been replaced by a brief period of laughter from Alex. That had stopped fairly soon though.
She pulled the newspaper towards her and tried to become very absorbed in one of the articles on the page in front of her.
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Alex kissed Gene's forehead as she made her way out of the room. She spotted Shaz at the dining table and fought down a blush as she made her way to the kettle. Her coffee had long since gone cold.
"Morning Shaz."
Shaz looked up warily. Alex was decent. She smiled uneasily at her.
"Morning."
Alex leaned against the counter as she waited for the kettle to boil.
"Shaz, Ronnie, Alyssa and I are going out for a spa day today, would you like to join us?" she asked her kindly.
Shaz looked up. Spa day? Her plans for the day had consisted of either trying to find information on Glenda or attempting to locate somewhere that she could temporarily afford to live in, either way she wanted to be out of Gene and Alex's hair.
"Erm, I've got plans today Ma'am. But thank you," she replied respectfully.
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Jack shoved his hands angrily in his pockets and mulled over the Alyssa situation. He liked her a great deal. It wasn't just that she was pretty, well, beautiful, he amended. She had turned out to be smart and witty and utterly charming. She was impeccably dressed and never a hair out of place it seemed yet she ate the most disgusting bacon sarnie he'd ever seen with a great deal of mess. He was lost.
The situation last night with Ray came into his mind. He didn't want to just fall into bed with Alyssa, but, he had to wonder in his desire not to muck things up by jumping into bed too quickly was he doing it by pushing it off. He sighed and fished out his cigarettes, looking forward to the distraction of paperwork.
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Rowan heard her phone going off and fished it out of her pocket. She flipped it open.
"Heeello," she said.
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"Hey Rowan, you sound happy," Alyssa smiled into the receiver. Business was clearly going well.
"Ronnie, Alex and I are going to the spa today, and I just wondered if you'd like to come too?" she asked
"Oh, I'm rushed off my feet here with this Cake or Death special, but it sounds nice," Rowan broke off as she had a thought. "Not sure it would be wise though," she looked around briefly, "considering the umm, teeth problem," she reminded. Rowan didn't want to take the chance of anyone seeing the marks and the questions that would inevitably follow. "Besides, though a massage might be nice, you know I'm not into all that waxing and buffing business," she added with a chuckle.
Alyssa gulped. The bruises and teeth marks on her body. Spa day not ideal then
"Ah yes. That may be a problem. Cake or Death, Eddie Izzard?" she asked curiously.
"Yes!" Rowan said, delighted at someone else getting the reference. "It's going over like a house on fire, though not as many people know it as I thought. I've been giving half price to people who can quote it at me, you know, the bit where we're out of cake I'll have the chicken etc, not given out very many I have to say," she giggled.
"Oh, and um, when you have a minute today I'd sort of like to ask you about something, not now, it's not crucial but sometime today," Rowan requested uncertainly.
"Ask me something? Well, I'll see you later then, not sure what I'm doing tonight but I've probably got to come home anyway," Alyssa added.
"Or just stop by the caf or something if you're done before 4. Like I said, not urgent though. Just a thought I had." Rowan noticed she was getting people in. "Look, I'm getting a bit of a line here so I'll talk to you later okay?"
Alyssa laughed down the phone.
"Ok, see you round 4 then, have fun," she disconnected the call.
Alyssa sat back down on the sofa and picked up the remote.
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Ray growled as she moved out of the way and stumbled off to the bathroom.
She had plans for the day; he wondered what the Guv and Chris were up to. Maybe he should call them...
Even doing work was preferable to sitting around doing nothing
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Shaz stood.
"I'll see you later Ma'am."
Alex waved at her as she left.
She wandered out of the house and down to the shop, she glanced in the window for anything that pointed to accommodation. She sighed. Nothing.
She went into the shop and bought today's newspaper. She didn't want to go home and read it.
Home! Alex and Gene's flat.
It was too cold to read it outside. She ambled along to the café and joined the back of the queue.
Rowan looked up, a bit surprised to see Shaz. She smiled brightly.
"Hi Shaz, Cake or Death?"
Shaz looked up.
"Erm, cake please," she said in confusion.
Rowan grinned and gestured at the display case, now getting quite empty.
"You can have something besides cake, though, sorry, it was just," Rowan shrugged. "I thought it would be fun to do this cake special today. I'm a big fan of Eddie Izzard and so I thought, well that works," she laughed a bit nervously. "Um, so, coffee, tea, something as well as cake or instead of?"
Shaz smiled. She'd never been much of an Eddie Izzard fan.
"Coffee and a cake then please" she replied with a small smile.
Rowan poured her a coffee and put the cake she'd indicated on a plate and put it on the counter. She took the money and gave Shaz her change.
"Anything else?" she asked.
Shaz tucked the newspaper under her arm and took the plate of cake and coffee carefully.
"No, thanks."
Shaz moved to a table and settled herself. She opened the newspaper and sighed as she scanned the pages.
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Ronnie sat on the couch and tapped her fingers, anxious to go. She was surprised at how much she was looking forward to today. She hoped Ray didn't take too long; she didn't want to leave while he was in the shower.
Ray washed himself clean and wrapped a towel around his waist after rubbing his hair dry with it.
He padded out of the bathroom and saw her sitting on the sofa drumming out a beat with her fingertips. He smiled.
Ronnie looked up at Ray. She stood and kissed him soundly, taking care to avoid getting damp.
"I'll be back later, I've got my phone if you need to call," she said and stroked his cheek before heading out the door and upstairs to beat out a tattoo on Alyssa's door.
"Have fun," he called after her.
Ray watched her go and then retreated to the bedroom to change into something decent.
He was going to have to do something with himself today.
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Alyssa jumped up eagerly at the knock at the door and ran to it. She grabbed her coat as she threw it open.
"Hey, Ronnie."
She closed the door firmly behind her and followed Ronnie downstairs and out of the flats.
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Alex had sat listening to the snores coming from the bedroom for some time now. They had gradually built from small snuffling snorts to the earth rumbling sounds that were now being emitted.
She looked down at her watch and smiled. She stood and walked out the front door, closing it softly behind her.
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"Let's go have some fun," Ronnie grinned at Alyssa before leading her downstairs and out the door. "I called Rowan and she's going to bring us a champagne lunch around noon. She said she'll try to stay if she can get Bianca to cover for a bit but we'll see. She's not into the whole pampering thing is she?"
As they neared the salon she looked around for Alex.
"She likes the massages and stuff but not what she calls 'the waxing and buffing,'" Alyssa told her as she leant against the wall of the salon waiting for Alex.
"Waxing and buffing?" Ronnie asked with a laugh. "Very apt. Oh, there's Alex," Ronnie waved.
Alex waved at the pair as she approached.
"Hey guys."
Alyssa waved back beaming in excitement. She hadn't had a spa day in a while.
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Rowan nodded then looked at the clock, nearly 11:00. She went over to Chris who was industriously washing up for her.
"Can you go ahead and get down the banner and bring in the specials board? I need to get going on lunch and Ronnie asked for a special lunch today. She and Alyssa and Alex are having a spa day," she chuckled.
"Why are you here then? Alyssa is your best mate and all," he asked, confused.
"Chris, I'm busy here and besides it's not really my thing. All that buffing and waxing and facials and it's just, not me," she shook her head, unwilling to tell him the real reason she was so unwilling to go. Easier to fall back on her non-girly ways.
Chris nodded.
"Besides, they did ask, Alyssa and Ronnie both. I may stay for a bit of a chat when I take the lunch over but only if we see Bianca and she can cover. You should call Ray and see if he's up to anything today," she suggested.
"Maybe," he replied. He didn't like the idea of leaving her alone. He couldn't say why, but it felt wrong.
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Ronnie grabbed the door to the salon so they could go in. "Hi, Chelsea, Roxy should have called. We're having a spa day and Rowan is going to bring us over lunch and Roxy said it was fine for us to eat here," she said, giving Chelsea a friendly grin. Chelsea smiled and nodded.
"Yea, she did," Chelsea answered. "How do you want to start?"
Ronnie looked at Alyssa and Alex. "Massages first then the waxing and buffing?" she suggested with a grin at Alyssa.
Alyssa grinned back.
"A very good idea," she laughed back.
Alex looked between them not getting the joke. She'd obviously missed something.
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Ray sat at the table munching slightly burnt toast covered in a thick layer of butter.
He picked up his phone and scrolled down his contacts list until he hit Chris' number. He pressed call.
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Ronnie saw Alex's confused look and chuckled.
"Oh, I should explain," Ronnie said. "When asked if she wanted to come along today, Rowan said that while she might enjoy the massage, she wasn't really into all the buffing and waxing," Ronnie explained as she giggled. "However, she is bringing us a champagne lunch and might stay for a bit if she can."
Ronnie followed Chelsea upstairs where she handed around fluffy pink robes for them to change into. When they were ready, Chelsea had them climb on the tables and she and Amira and another girl Ronnie didn't know got to work on them.
"So," Ronnie began with exaggerated innocence as she turned her head to face Alex. "How are things with you and Sexy-Voice then? I thought I overheard him in the pub last night mention a new flat for the pair of you?"
Alex opened her eyes and smirked. A chortle escaped her lips at Ronnie's supposed innocence.
"Yes, Gene's got us a bigger place. It was a lovely surprise too. I hadn't anticipated it, I mean, sometimes I can tell what he's thinking but then I get to a point where I get so frustrated because I can't read him."
"Yea, he doesn't strike me as the readable type," Ronnie mused. "Though I don't think there was any doubt what was on his mind the other night, the pair of you, in that alley," Ronnie teased bawdily and laughed.
Alex blushed and then a smile broke her face at the memory.
"Gene is...impulsive," she said picking her words carefully.
"So's Ray, though impulsive seems a bit of a mild word where Ray is concerned," Ronnie remarked.
"And how about you and that Mister Jack, Miss Bit Too Quiet over there," Ronnie fired at Alyssa.
Alex laughed. If Ray was anything like Gene then impulsive was a weak word to use.
Alyssa turned to them.
"I really like him, but..." she sighed trying to put it into words.
"He's...constantly nervous" she said confusion etched onto her face.
Alex turned her head to look at her.
"Nervous?" she questioned.
Alyssa sighed again.
"He says he really likes me and I felt that he does," she said cheekily, "but he is constantly tense."
"So, the pair of you haven't….." Ronnie trailed off. "hmmmm. You know, Alyssa, if I'm going to be totally honest, you are severely stunning. Some guys can find that nerve-wracking. Besides, he's like a hunted stag over at that school. I even heard Jane and Tanya talking about him once. I'd be surprised if he hasn't gone off women altogether. Be gentle and if that doesn't work, I'll see if Ray will let me loan you his handcuffs," she finished with a wicked laugh. "Not that we've got to use them yet," she added with a regretful sigh.
Alyssa blushed faintly at the complement. She turned the information over in her mind. Handcuffs?
Alex burst into laughter at Ronnie's words.
"Handcuffs! Been indulging in roleplay have we?" she asked, amused.
Ronnie giggled. "Well, according to Ray I'm a very bad girl. This morning I got a bit, um, handsy with him when I was talking to Roxy. He accused me of what was it….unbecoming conduct towards a police officer and oh yea and sexual assault," she snorted laughter. "And there was me, choosing to resist arrest. He chased me with those cuffs for a good 10 minutes then we didn't even use them. I think I shocked him a bit when I complained that we didn't use them," she shook with laughter. "I can't help it though, there's just something about him that I cannot resist. He makes me crazy."
Ronnie turned her head to Alyssa.
"Even your little flatmate had to agree when she gave me that scolding last night."
Alyssa and Alex were in hysterics.
Alyssa looked up shocked but interested at Ronnie's words. Something had surprised Ray and possibly embarrassed Rowan last night and she wanted to know what.
"What?"
Ronnie grinned wickedly.
"I know she was just trying to make me think about things but she says to me basically that I better let Ray back in or he would be welcome to stay as she's never had a threesome and he's a nice bit of rough after all," Ronnie said, and burst into gales of laughter. "He told me later he was really thrown, flattered, but kind of shocked at what she'd said. She didn't know he could hear her, poor thing."
Ronnie was silent for a moment as she attempted to settle her laughter.
"I think I'm going to try and shock him myself today as well," Ronnie said casually. "I'm think I'm going to get a Brazilian," she finished and let out a wicked chuckle.
Alyssa's laughter returned. No wonder she had seemed fairly bashful when she had come back in. She was tempted to talk about Rowan's reaction to the fact that Ray had heard, but felt that her friend wouldn't appreciate it.
Alex looked back at Ronnie.
"Ray's good in bed then?" she pressed.
Ronnie turned back to Alex.
"Good…" Ronnie paused. "I don't really think that quite describes it. He's, unprecedented," she giggled. "He, um," and Ronnie blushed, "he's exceptionally well-equipped if you know what I mean and he utilizes it to great effect. I know it's now an open joke that I'm a bit, ahem, vocal but there is a reason for it trust me. He is…something….else," she finished, her tone slightly awed. "I think my sister could verify that as well. She walked in on us the other night. I think she thought I was, being attacked, you know, in a bad way. I'm not sure if Ray has fully recovered but he did learn that it's not always a good idea to lose control in the middle of the living room floor," she burst into peals of laughter again as she remembered the look on Ray's face. "And I don't think Roxy will ever show up at my flat without calling first ever again," she finished and tried to catch her breath.
"What about Sexy-Voice then, I'm sure he's got some mad skills," Ronnie smirked.
Alex smiled.
"He does" she said slyly. "I turn to jelly at his touch that was proved in the alley. Though he is gentle when he wants to be too. More showing his love rather than relieving his lust," she sighed remembering their morning. "He's tremendously sexy when he gets out of the shower," she said reliving it in her head.
Their massages were finally finished and Chelsea and the others wandered off to take a break and let Ronnie and her friends relax. Chelsea was shocked at Ronnie's conversation but pleased, it was pretty clear she wouldn't be attempting to lay claim again to Jack.
Ronnie sat up and fluffed her hair. "He definitely strikes me as quite a man," Ronnie had to agree.
"Ray can be too, he's amazingly sweet and protective. I know he's not stunning handsome but there's just something about him, and his eyes, I look into them and it's like there's nothing else around," Ronnie said dreamily.
"The other day he thought he'd hurt me. It wasn't his fault, it was mine," she looked down and toyed with a hangnail. "I admit I'm not sure what happened but really the human body can only take so much and I just," she paused, "couldn't get enough. So I wake up with these massive horrible muscle spasms in my legs. I couldn't move and it hurt like hell. Ray was terrified. He called the ambulance and I kept trying to convince him I was okay. I didn't want to explain to the doctor what had happened. I mean, really, what do you say? Oh yea, seems I've shagged myself into paralysis," she laughed wryly.
"Anyway, he rubbed my legs till the spasms were gone and I convinced him to call off the ambulance but I think it really scared him. I'm trying very hard to keep my hands to myself though so it doesn't happen again. Going for quality rather than quantity," she chuckled. "I think this morning was the first time he truly let himself go since that happened," she looked at Alyssa. "So, I apologize for the noise."
She sniffed and sighed.
"So," she said her eyes still on Alyssa. "What's the consensus on Mister Jack then? Is the snogging promising at least?"
Alyssa looked up.
"He's a very good kisser." She replied enthusiastically. "He let's himself go a bit when he's kissing anyway. It's like, he's reluctant but then he can't stop once he's started." she smiled "he has a habit of clearing his throat when he's uneasy too, I love his voice," she told them wistfully.
She shifted to look at them and jolted herself out of her daydreams. "He stayed over last night and told me he really liked me but was looking for more than a quick shag," she scanned their faces. "I think he was shocked by my bacon sarnie this morning though."
"Oohh," Ronnie commented. "Sounds like a good sign to me, he's well and truly hooked," she grinned.
"I thought I saw him in the kitchen. He stayed over and kept his hands to himself? Well, if he has that kind of self control you are in for it," Ronnie laughed. "What's so shocking about a bacon sarnie?"
Chelsea and the other one Ronnie didn't know came back.
"Amira had plans with her mother-in-law so she had to go, but Gayna's still here," Chelsea explained. "Alright, so what you want next?"
Ronnie looked at Alex and then at Alyssa. "Well, I've not changed my mind. I'm going a bit crazy and extreme. I'll have one of those Brazilian waxes," she said, sounding braver than she felt.
"That is extreme, yea," Chelsea agreed and led Ronnie off to the small booth.
Gayna looked at the other two and waited.
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Chris was carrying out the rubbish when his phone rang. He fished it out of his pocket and looked. Ray.
"Yea, mate?"
"What are you up to today, Chris?"
"Not much, helping Rowan at the café right now, but not much else," he replied.
"Fancy doing something? Ronnie's on a spa day and we've still got this case to sort! Unless you wanna go down the pub."
"Pub works for me. What time? Ro needs me here a bit longer, she's doing up a lunch for Ronnie and them," Chris answered.
"Around 1 then. I'll call the Guv."
"Yea, alright. 1 o'clock," Chris agreed.
He went back into the café and told Rowan what he was going to be up to. She nodded and kissed him.
"I'll just close up when I take the lunch over there to the girls then. Oh, wait," she went back up to the counter, having seen Bianca just walk in. She got together some cakes for her and asked if she could cover for an hour around noon because she had a lunch delivery. Bianca readily agreed.
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Ray scrolled further down his contacts list and dialled Gene's home number.
Gene heard the phone ringing from far away and groaned.
"Bolly, get the phone, woman!"
Then he remembered she wasn't there. He rolled over and grabbed the phone. "Hunt!" he barked.
Ray was taken aback by his DCI's brasher than normal tone.
"Err Guv. Me and Chris are going to the Vic at 1. D'you fancy it?"
Gene groaned and sat up. His headache was still gone and he was feeling much improved after sleeping. He scrubbed his face.
"Yea, could do with a pint or two and all," Gene agreed.
"See you later then Guv. 1 o'clock."
"Yea, yea," Gene mumbled and hung up. He staggered into the kitchen remembering to put on his robe in case Shaz was still around. He turned on the kettle and set about making some tea. He should get dressed and go to the café. He could do with a fry up. As soon as he thought it, he headed for the bedroom to get dressed and have a quick shave.
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Rowan finished packing up the lunch she'd made. She had settled for doing lettuce wraps. She did some grilled chicken Caesar style wrapped in large leaves of Romaine. The others she did in Greenleaf and did grilled chicken with ranch dressing. She added some strip sliced vegetables and a bit of parmesan in the Caesar and some white cheddar with the chicken and ranch. For dessert, she included brownies lightly dusted with powdered sugar to make them pretty. She checked the clock and then set about getting the rest of the evening prep done, then she wouldn't feel so guilty if she had to lock up for a bit.
With Chris' help, Rowan got all the prep caught up. Bianca finally got there and so Rowan gathered up the lunch she'd packed and gave Chris a quick kiss. She headed for the pub to get a bottle of champagne as promised. She grinned cheerfully when she saw Christian behind the bar.
"Hiya, need a bottle of champagne. It's for Ronnie, I don't know what kind she likes, but if you do?" she said.
Roxy overheard Rowan's query. She zoomed over and picked a bottle of champagne out from under the counter.
"This ones her favorite, I put it aside for her earlier."
"Oh, thank you," she said and fished out the money for it. Rowan knew about Brian and Roxy. She wanted to warn her but didn't think she'd be believed. So instead, she resolved to be as nice to her as possible, when Brian showed his true colors the girl would need all the friends she could get. Rowan had had no one back then but she had two people to help her now. She stashed the bottle in the basket and headed out.
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"I think he's got the impression that I'm very ladylike and well, my bacon sarnies are incredibly messy and fairly controversial to that view, he was more than a little bit shocked. But thanks to my dad I have a habitual way of eating them," she shrugged.
Alyssa thought about treatments for moment.
"Facial, please."
Alex was content to let the other two go before her and simply relaxed as the beauticians attended to her friends.
Ronnie managed to hold back on shrieking. Fortunately Chelsea knew what she was doing and it wasn't as horrifying as Ronnie thought it would be. She'd listened to Alyssa as she was having it done.
"You do give off the impression, not that you're a snob or anything. You just, you're always nicely dressed and your hair just so, he probably was surprised you are an actual person. I think he's got you on a pedestal. Maybe I should get you those handcuffs, that way he can't run when you prove to him you're no angel either," Ronnie agreed with a laugh as she walked with great care for her still slightly sore lady parts.
"Well, Ray better appreciate this is all I can say," Ronnie winced as she sat back down. "The lady garden is bare," she chuckled and winced.
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When Rowan got to the salon, Alyssa and Alex looked to be having facials while Ronnie was doing her own eyebrows.
"Hiya, lunch is here," she said cheerily.
Ronnie stopped what she was doing and smiled.
"Hi Rowan, um, you should know Ray is thinking about taking you up on that offer you made last night for a threesome," Ronnie said, trying very hard to sound serious.
Rowan blushed furiously and nearly dropped the hamper.
"Ronnie, please, I…." she began, not even sure what to say. Then she saw Ronnie's mouth curve into a huge grin as she began to laugh.
"I'm sorry, I just couldn't resist," Ronnie giggled.
"I've half a mind to take this lunch away," Rowan threatened and placed the heavy thing on a magazine-covered table. She pulled out the champagne. "Roxy set this aside for you and I made lettuce rolls and brownies."
"Ooh," Ronnie exclaimed as she moved to peer into the basket.
Alyssa waved at Rowan. She had been told not to move so tried very hard not to laugh at Ronnie winding Rowan up.
Alex was told she was done and hopped down off the little seat to greet Rowan. She glanced hungrily at the hamper and she licked her lips.
"Hello, Rowan."
She wondered about getting a Brazilian too. She dismissed the notion, too much pain.
"How's it going at the cafe? Has Gene turned up yet?"
Alex was pretty sure it would be the cafe he would go to for breakfast, not only was the house running out of food swiftly, but she didn't think him in the mood for cooking for himself.
Chelsea finally let Alyssa go and she thanked her. Alyssa walked over to Rowan and embraced her, allowing the laughter to take hold.
"I can't believe you said that!" she exclaimed through her giggles.
Rowan looked at Alex and shrugged. "He hadn't turned up when I left, but Bianca's there so I didn't lock up. He'll be able to get food if he needs feeding," she explained. "The café was preeetty busy today, I did a special, Tea and Cake or Death, it seemed to go over fairly well."
Rowan hugged Alyssa back and blushed again.
"Yea well, if I'd had any idea he could hear me I would have kept my big mouth shut. I'll never be able to look Ray in the face again," she half-moaned, half-laughed. "Chris had a great good laugh at me though. I could have smacked him. I didn't expect him to get jealous or anything but I didn't expect him to laugh. They're all getting together at the pub in an hour or so. I imagine it may get mentioned, men being men and all," Rowan rolled her eyes.
"So," Ronnie said as she swallowed her mouthful of food. "We're all dying to know, Chris any good in bed?"
Rowan looked at Ronnie, her eyebrows slightly lifted in surprise. She thought about it for a moment. "Well, um, good is a bit….welll….relative isn't it?"
Ronnie folded her arms and stared at Rowan. "Huh?"
"Well," Rowan heaved a breath, "I don't actually have a lot of, well, practical experience to base anything on. He's taught me a lot um, and I have no complaints," Rowan shrugged again and blushed. All three of them were looking at her. "Oh, boy, okay, look, you want blunt, fine, I'll be blunt. Even without a good basis for comparison I can say that he gets me a big O every time," she blushed. "So, I'm well satisfied at any rate."
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Gene decided he was fine and shrugged on his jacket and headed to the café for some food.
He was slightly disappointed to see the redhead in the café, but he ordered his food anyway and she cooked it passably well. He sat at the table next to Shaz so he wouldn't interrupt her and Chris wandered over and sat with him.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Ronnie burst into gales of laughter and clapped.
Rowan looked sidelong at Ronnie then. "I don't have to ask you if Ray's any good," she commented.
"Or your big slice of man either, if the other night in the alley was any sort of example," she added at Alex.
She turned to Alyssa.
"That just leaves Jack," Rowan grinned as she pulled her feet into the chair and wrapped her arms around her legs. "Personally, I think he'll turn to be pretty amazing," her smile widened. "Better than some," she added, carefully leaving out Max's name in case Alyssa wanted to keep that to herself.
Ronnie began to giggle as she stared at Rowan and then looked at Alyssa. "Better than whom?"
Alex looked up at Alyssa with interest at Ronnie's question and Rowan's implications.
Alyssa's eyes widened at Rowan's comment. She gaped at her, why was she bringing that up, on a girly day with a load of women prone to gossip. It was not supposed to be public knowledge.
At Ronnie's question she shot daggers at Rowan before trying to think of a cover story. She turned to look at the two inquisitive women.
"Erm...better than the last man I shagged" she said, giving Rowan a reproachful look.
Rowan gazed at Alyssa steadily. She hadn,'t given anything away.
"Well, sorry, you did say your ex was crap if I recall," Rowan commented with a shrug. "Shame you never shagged your boss, he was well up for it," she added with a smile, to show Alyssa she had no intention of giving that away.
Alyssa gave her friend a thankful smile and gave her hand a gentle squeeze gratefully.
Ronnie giggled.
"Why are you working for him anyway? With your style you should be somewhere else, not dressing to impress Max Branning. Have you had to slap him yet or is he keeping his hands to himself?" Ronnie wondered.
"Max is okay. He's actually quite the gentleman," she told Ronnie in his defence.
"You know," she said as Chelsea and Gayna left the girls to their lunch to go have their own downstairs, "I think Roxy is looking for a receptionist for this place. She needs help big time. She said the books are a disaster and appointments keep getting missed because no one wrote them down. You want me to talk to her? I could. She'd be crazy not to want someone with your looks and style at that desk downstairs."
Her ears perked up at Ronnie's words. She wasn't sure how Max was going to behave towards her on Monday and she was dreading it. He had been pretty pissed off when she had told him. Also working here meant she didn't have to see Brian, she wasn't sure if she would be able to control her anger when she saw him after what Rowan had told her, and she didn't want to give away that she knew in case that made it worse for her.
"I'd have to run it past Max and hand in my notice but working in a salon is much more me than a car lot," she beamed at Ronnie happily.
Ronnie grinned.
"Do you have a CV, and I don't suppose you have any management skills at all?" she asked. "Roxy doesn't like to admit it but she's pretty hopeless when it comes to business, if you could sort that out you'd be saving her life," Ronnie whispered to her. "However, I'm just not sure I believe you about Max," she said in a normal tone of voice. "He had to have tried it on at least once."
Alyssa looked up at Ronnie.
"I can get you my CV no problem," she told her then she shrugged and grinned "who knows, Max might even give me a reference."
She picked up a bread roll and tossed it from hand to hand.
"If he has tried it on at work I haven't noticed, but I know he did the first time I met him at the pub when he offered me the job."
Ronnie nodded and began looking over the nail polish colors.
"So, he must have wanted to try it on and never got the guts," Ronnie snorted.
Alyssa smiled at Ronnie's comment and started to eat the food Rowan had brought with her.
Rowan winked at Alyssa when she didn't think Ronnie or Alex could see. Then something occurred to her. "Your friend Shaz came into the café this morning though, she seemed a bit down," she said to Alex.
Alex looked up, concerned.
"I think she may have been feeling a bit embarrassed. Gene and I weren't exactly quiet this morning," she told them, she smiled. "I think I cured his hangover though," she added with a smirk.
Rowan leaned against Alyssa. "What do you think about having Chris, well, I mean, um," her voice dropped to a whisper. "I want to ask him to move in. I like the energy with both of you there and well, it would be cheaper all around with only having to pay a third," she glanced at Alyssa out of the corner of her eye.
Alyssa looked at Rowan, a little surprised but very pleased.
"No objections at all, I mean I get on with him, he makes you happy AND he's always at the flat all the time anyway. Besides, surely it's cheaper for him too, paying 1/3 of the rent on a place rather than the whole rent," she shrugged slightly and then beamed in approval at her friend.
Rowan hugged her legs and smiled.
"I'll ask him today then," Rowan advised. "Are you seeing Jack tonight? I like him. He feels nice," she paused realized how that sounded and corrected herself. "I mean, his aura feels nice." Rowan's voice went wistful and childlike, "It's like one of those warm, light summer rains."
She raised her eyebrows at Rowan; she had known exactly what she had meant but still chuckled as she corrected herself.
"He mentioned something about going out tonight. Not sure what he's got planned though. He's catching up on paperwork today. Apparently he's falling behind," she sighed.
Alyssa took a bite out of the roll and eyed up the champagne, surely lunch time was not too early to start drinking? She wondered silently.
Alex picked up a clear polish and began brushing it over her fingernails, quite happy to be listening to the conversation as it flowed amongst her friends.
Ronnie picked out what she wanted and then began her own raid on the basket. She grabbed the champagne and opened it and began pouring out glasses and passing them around.
Rowan passed on the champagne and looked at Alyssa.
"He'll be around. I think tonight might be your lucky night."
Alyssa took the champagne with raised eyebrows. She took a sip and contemplated Rowan's words. There was no way Rowan could possibly know that for sure but she nodded in acceptance.
Rowan grinned at Alyssa. She could tell Alyssa didn't believe her and that was fine. She would see differently. Rowan stifled the urge to giggle.
Alex drained a glass of champagne quickly and then refilled her glass. She smiled again at the friendly banter and screwed the top back on the bottle of polish.
"You've changed Ray, Ronnie," she commented.
Ronnie looked at Alex in surprise.
"I have? Hmmm," she looked down. "I hope that's in a good way. I know he's changed me. Although, now I don't think anyone knows how to react around me anymore," she chuckled. "You know as far as people who've known me a long time go. You guys just take me as I am and don't expect me to act a certain way. I think Ray does too. He just, accepts me," Ronnie shrugged. "He encourages me to play and I've never been one for that but he's just so irresistible, I know it sounds unbelievable." She rubbed her face. "He doesn't push; he's just there, a rock."
Rowan stood up. "Well, I better get back. I need to have a conversation with someone back at the café," she looked at Alyssa, her expression excited. She gave everyone hugs and headed out.
Alex nodded.
"You've definitely changed him for the better. Before he met you he used to be really misogynistic. He was not happy when I turned up as his DI. A woman as a senior officer. He was not impressed." Alex chuckled at the memory.
"But since he met you, he doesn't seem to behave in that way anymore. Which is good," she added.
Alyssa smiled encouragingly at Rowan as she left and waved as she went out the door.
Ronnie contemplated what Alex said.
'I've not seen that," Ronnie mused. "I mean, he's said some things I found very offensive and I've let him know what I think about speaking that way but, huh. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised but apart from the occasional annoyance he's wonderful to me."
Ronnie narrowed her eyes and gazed at Alex. "I think maybe you've had the same effect on Sexy-Voice."
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Shaz looked up briefly at Gene and gave him a weak smile before returning to her paper.
Chris looked over at Shaz.
"What you doing?"
Shaz looked up at him and glanced quickly at the Guv.
"Flat hunting," she replied quietly.
"That won't be too easy Shazzer," Chris said with sympathy. "Took me forever to find the little flat I have not too far from the police station."
Gene looked at Chris and then at Shaz.
"Don't worry if you have any trouble Granger, you can have the spare room until you find a place," he told her and applied himself back to his food.
Shaz looked up at Chris in dismay. She wanted to be out of Gene and Alex's hair. She liked being independent.
She turned her attention to Gene when he spoke.
"Thanks, Guv."
She looked back at the paper. There had to be somewhere.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Christian was glad when Syed finally turned up. It meant Amira and his mum were gone for the day and they could spend a bit of time together. Maybe they could back to his for lunch, Christian thought. For now, he was content they could just occasionally chat and be near each other.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Danny ran through scenarios over and over again in his mind, trying to sort out the best way to get hold of Roxy's phone. He wouldn't be able to do it in the main pub, but if he could get her to take it upstairs and even leave it behind it would be enough. He would need a distraction. He checked his watch, at least an hour until Glenda showed up, maybe more. She could be unreliable when the mood took her. He went back to planning.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Brian stopped off for lunch at the café, disappointed at not seeing Rowan there but chose to eat all the same. He noticed the police boyfriend she had sitting at the back with some other people and chose to stay well away.
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Rowan practically ran back to the café. She smiled cheerfully at Bianca and thanked her. She was glad it was Saturday. Breakfast always seemed to be busier than lunch on the weekend. She noticed Gene sitting at the back with Chris and huffed a small laugh. She wondered how upset he'd been that Bianca had cooked his food.
She looked at Chris until he looked up at her and she gestured him to come up to the counter.
"So, how's their girly day going?" he asked her.
Fine. They're bonding. It's all very, what's that movie, oh yea, Sex in the City," she laughed. "Boy, have I heard some things," she shifted her eyes in Gene's direction. "But I need to talk to you, while it's not busy."
She led him to the back. "I checked with Alyssa and she's all for the idea. How do you feel about staying permanent in the flat? You know, moving in? With me?"
Chris' jaw fell open in surprise. He'd thought she was only going to ask about him having a set of keys.
"You're sure? She doesn't mind and," he broke off unable to say more. Rowan nodded. Chris grabbed her and kissed her. "I'll see if Ray will help me before we go to the pub. Maybe the Guv will too. I don't have much to pack really." He kissed her again and touched her cheek then he pulled out his phone to call Ray. And then another thought occurred to him. Shaz could have his old place.
What a great day this was turning out to be.
Chris listened to the phone ring. "Come on, Ray, pick up." He flipped the phone closed and flopped back down across from Gene and looked at Shaz. He'd try Ray later or talk to him at the pub.
"Hey, Shaz, I think I found you a place," he said with a grin.
Shaz looked up hopefully.
"Really? Where?" she questioned enthusiastically.
"My old place. I'm moving out. It's got furniture and all, and it's close enough to walk most places and it's reasonable.
Shaz looked at him curiously
"Where are you going to live?"
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Alex nodded this she agreed with. After reading Sam's memories of Gene he was not as bad as she had expected. He could actually be quite, well, sensitive. She definitely saw a change when they were on their own.
"I certainly see a change about him when it's just me and him. Especially when I'm upset. If you'd met him for the first time in our line of work you wouldn't believe he could be so tender and caring. I mean, I fell asleep on the sofa last night and even though he was drunk, considering his hangover this morning, he carried me to bed and I woke up in his arms this morning," she smiled again and licked her lips as a wet Gene once again crawled into her mind.
Ronnie looked at Alex's face and giggled.
"Looks like you did a bit more than that!" Ronnie accused with a chuckle. "But then so did I and I was on the phone with my sister," she snorted laughter as she remembered Ray grabbing her phone and throwing it, going on about giving her full treatment.
Alex gave Ronnie a knowing nod as she pushed the image from her mind.
Alyssa and Alex burst into laughter as they processed the rest of Ronnie's sentence.
"So, hang on, your sister has not only caught you at it but heard it down the phone!" Alyssa managed to say through her giggles.
Alex snorted into her champagne at Alyssa as she tried to take another sip.
Ronnie looked at Alyssa, her shoulders shaking with silent laughter.
"No, but she heard him growl. He's very big on growling is Ray." Ronnie blushed. "It may sound weird but I like it when he growls. He's really…" she paused trying to think of the word, "primal. He hung the phone up on her and tossed it away before anything happened, and then there was the whole being chased with handcuffs. So she didn't really hear anything you know, naughty."
Alyssa's laughter had faded into a gentle chuckle.
"Poor Roxy. She'll be having that mental image for the rest of her life," Alyssa's laughter finally subsided. "Did she suspect what was happening?"
"No, she came slamming into my flat, she heard Ray yell then me yell. She thought it was a burglar or something. I'm not sure how Ray's dealt with it either, but Roxy blushes every time she sees him," Ronnie collapsed into laughter. "I did try to help, I did," she continued, tears of laughter streaming from her face. "But only his shirt was there so I picked it up and dropped it over him, it didn't really help much, all things considered."
Alyssa's laughter was renewed at these words and she clutched her stomach that now ached from her hysterics.
Alex chuckled too.
"What about on the phone. What did she think was happening there?"
"No idea," Ronnie replied. "She heard him growl cause I um, was, you know," she made a gesture and blushed. "She asked if everything was okay and I said he was hungover and complaining. She may have suspected something right when he hung up the phone but I don't know and there is no way I am going to ask her."
Alex giggled and finished the food Rowan had brought.
Alyssa looked around and sighed. She clapped her hands together.
"So, what's everyone doing next?"
Alex looked up with a mouthful of food. She swallowed and lifted her foot and wiggled her toes,
"Pedicure!"
Ronnie looked at her own feet and agreed that a pedicure was the way to go. She offered to wait so Alex and Alyssa could go first. She wanted to paint her fingernails and lacked patience for someone else to do it.
Alex settled herself in the chair and picked out the colour she wanted, ready to go.
Alyssa did the same and watched Ronnie absently as she painted her fingernails.
Chelsea and Gayna came back from their lunch and settled down to give Alex and Alyssa their pedicures, starting with a paraffin dip. Ronnie hummed tunelessly under her breath as she painted. She had hoped the two would stay gone longer; she had wanted to tell Alex and Alyssa what Gene had found for her. She reached over to touch the pocket of her jeans where they were folded nearby and suddenly remembered the papers were in her other pants and she'd not grabbed them to bring with her. She sighed and went back to her nails.
Alex sighed as Chelsea got to work on her toenails and leaned back on her chair happily.
Alyssa leaned forward, curiosity getting the better of her, to watch exactly what Gayna was doing to her.
Ronnie finished her nails and then sat so she could watch what the other two were doing.
"So, what do you think those boys are up to today anyway?" she wondered aloud.
Alex looked up.
"God only knows, I hope they're working on the case but I highly doubt it. Probably pigging out in the cafe or having a few pints up in the pub," she sighed back.
"Probably," Ronnie agreed.
"What was Rowan talking about earlier, Alyssa? Something about something being cheaper? Do you know a good place for shopping or something?" Ronnie wanted to know.
Alyssa was completely engrossed in what Gayna was doing to her toes. But she looked up at Ronnie's question. She'd find out soon enough anyway, Rowan hadn't said to keep it a secret and Chris would probably know by now anyway.
"A rent split between 3 people," she replied grinning.
"Ooh, so Chris is moving in for good finally?" Ronnie exclaimed. "Excellent."
She checked over her fingernails. "I may ask Ray sometime soon. The fact that he went to yours and didn't just go home to his own place after that dust up says something I think."
Alex looked up at this. Ray didn't do hints. He did blindingly obvious.
"Or maybe it's because he knew you'd relent and let him back in. In which case he was being lazy and going to the closest place possible that held people he knew. Which just so happened to be his best mate's girlfriend's flat upstairs." she said with a small shrug.
She hoped off the chair carefully as Chelsea finished her toes and walked on her heels to a different chair so that Ronnie could get her pedicure.
Ronnie nodded at Alex's comment. True enough, no matter that she wished it wasn't. She handed the polish she'd used on her fingernails to Chelsea and sat down.
"So, what do we do now," she asked brightly. "Do we get drunk and get tattoos?" she snorted laughter and tried not to think how much she'd wished what Alex had said about Ray wasn't so totally true.
Alyssa giggled.
"Drunk I do not mind. In fact, bring it on! However tattoos, not for me. Never been one for needles. Unless you want to those little transfer tattoos. Those I can manage," she smiled back.
"Roxy said hers didn't hurt at all. But she was off her face at the time if I remember correctly," Ronnie chuckled. "Transfer tattoos it is!"
"I'm glad we did this," Ronnie suddenly said.
Alyssa chuckled.
"Me too, so far today has been great," she smiled warmly at the other two and stretched out her legs as Gayna released her toes.
Alex smiled at them; she was half way through another sip of champagne.
"Next time we drag Rowan along. Make her girly if it kills her," Ronnie joked.
Alyssa smiled at her comment. She didn't feel Rowan would be in any condition to do this anytime soon.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Ray dived for his phone but by the time he reached it had stopped ringing. He growled and checked his missed calls. Chris. He had hoped it would have been Ronnie. He hastily called Chris back.
Chris grabbed up his phone as it started to ring.
"Yea, listen mate. Can you help me move my stuff? There's not much, but more than I can carry by myself. I'd like to do it before we go to the pub."
Rays ears pricked up.
"She asked you to move in then?"
"She did, she asked me to move in," Chris told Ray, his tone echoing his surprise. "I guess she's been talking to Alyssa about it and got the answer when she delivered their lunch cause she asked me right when she got back. Bit of a shock mate, I can tell you. So can you help us out?"
"Sure no problem, when d'you wanna do it?"
"Now if we can. That way Shaz can move her stuff into my old place, she's looking for a flat and I don't need mine anymore. See ya in a few then," Chris said. He flipped the phone shut and grinned.
"Sorted," Chris said.
"I'll take Shaz to get her stuff and drive her over," Gene offered. Alex would want him to. Bloody woman. Dictating his actions even when she wasn't around. He finished his breakfast and drained his tea. He picked up his plate and carried it to the counter and stood there a moment looking at Rowan.
"You're a smart bird," he said to her. "He's a good lad, well done. However, I do have one problem."
Rowan looked at him, eyes wide with surprise.
"Don't go running off when I might want breakfast," he slid the empty plate to her. "It was edible, but not a patch on yours."
Rowan grinned and took the plate. "Yes, Mr. Hunt," she said cheekily and took the plate to the sink.
Shaz looked up at Gene in surprise as he offered to help; well more told them what was going to happen. She nodded meekly at his words and drained her coffee. She folded her paper and followed him. She turned to Chris as she stood.
"Thank you."
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Ray left the house, tapping his pocket as he left to check he had keys to get back in.
He made his way over to the cafe; he suspected that it was the best place to meet Chris seeing as he said he was helping Rowan.
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"Course Shaz, anything for a mate you know that," Chris told her in surprise. He wrote the address down and handed it to the Guv. "Meet you back there with the keys.
Gene nodded. He'd left the Quattro at home so he and Shaz would have to walk back and get it.
Chris say Ray walking up as they left the café and gestured him in the direction they needed to go.
Ray nodded and jogged until he caught up with Chris.
"So, Shaz is having your place?"
"Yea, she's looking for someplace and it's not easy to find flats round here. My old place is perfect for her if she wants it. You know, Rowan gave me the impression when she got back that Ronnie and them are, you know, talking," Chris told him. "She said she heard some really interesting stuff but wouldn't say what. I guess they really do talk about us when we're not around," he shrugged.
Ray looked at him a little shocked. Ronnie was sharing information with them? He groaned. She'd gone with Alex. That was all he needed. DI bloody know-it-all Drake giving him stupid looks and making sarcastic comments.
"Rowan told me what she told Ronnie last night, I think I upset her though when I laughed at her. I don't think she thought it was funny that you heard. She's pretty embarrassed and all," Chris confessed. "I wouldn't worry about it Ray," Chris said when he heard Ray's groan. "I think they'll keep things to themselves. Ronnie seems pretty private about stuff and you know Drake doesn't go shooting her mouth off, well not that way anyway."
Ray looked up and grinned.
"It was quite flattering what Rowan said. And it's not the comments I'm worried about. It's the little looks and that I'm never going to be able to look at her without knowing that Ronnie's discussed our sex life with her," Ray grumbled back.
"You think Ronnie might have said something bad?" Chris laughed. "Besides, Alex is there talking too. How do you think the Guv would feel if he knew? We talk about them, or we would, I guess, we might. Ronnie only said she didn't want to hear you talk like that in front of her. Can't say as I'd blame her. I don't think I'd like it if Rowan suddenly started discussing our business in front of me with other people," Chris shuddered. "I mean, not that she would say anything bad, I don't think…." Chris trailed off.
Chris unlocked the door to his flat and began throwing his things in his two suitcases.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Shaz trailed after Gene as they walked to the Quattro. She'd never sat in the front before. This would be weird.
Gene kept reminding himself that Shaz was there so he didn't lengthen his stride and leave her behind.
"It's good you're going to be close to here," Gene told her. "No one else knows this yet.
He handed her some forms. Forms stating that DCI Gene Hunt would be taking over in Walford and DCI Marsden had been transferred elsewhere. He grinned and lit a cigarette.
Shaz took the documents. She gasped. This would mean he would be directly in charge of the Mitchell case.
"What about the rest if the team?"
He'd gone through all that trouble to get Chris transferred back and now he was leaving! She frowned.
Gene pointed at one of the other pages, listing the names of the team and that they were all going to be working under DCI Hunt and that Chris' transfer out of Walford had been canceled and he would be joining the other officers working under DCI Hunt. Gene grinned and waited to see Shaz' reaction. He'd had her promoted to DC.
Shaz beamed at the list of names being transferred and at Chris' canceled transfer. She spotted her promotion and gasped. Impulsively she reached up and planted a light kiss on his cheek.
"Thank you, Guv, thank you soo much."
Gene grunted at Shaz.
"Knock that off Granger or I'll report you for conduct unbecoming a police officer. I can't have that sort of thing from my DC's," he threatened, but he couldn't help smiling a bit. His heart just wasn't in it. He had what promised to be a good case, he had Bolly and he had his team. Life was good.
Shaz grinned back and used her key to get into the flat. She immediately started packing all her stuff into any bags she could find. She cleared the room sufficiently and heaved her stuff out of the house.
"Ready?" Gene asked as he spun the keys to the Quattro on his finger. He couldn't wait till Monday to get back on the case. Little did he know it was all going to explode in just a few hours…..
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Jack sighed as he plowed through the mound of paperwork. The first thing he'd done when he got home was take a nap. He hadn't slept well at all trying to keep his word to Alyssa that he would keep his hands to himself. Now he applied himself to the paperwork with a vengeance. He would see Alyssa that night no matter what and this time, he might not make such rash promises. He lit another cigarette and got back to work.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Roxy danced around the pub in a very good mood for a change. She practically skipped from customer to customer indulging in some light flirting every so often.
She was very sure that her good humor was due to last night. Also, retelling it to Christian hadn't hurt and had forced her to remember some of the finer points of the evening.
Christian joined Roxy in her good mood. He was going to have an hour to spend alone with Syed soon, maybe more if he could wheedle it out of Roxy. He turned the music up a bit louder and raved with Roxy every chance he got.
Roxy laughed every time Christian spun her around in time to the music and felt that the good mood of the bar staff was influencing the punters. Their regular morning visitors had stuck around for a lot longer today.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Danny called Glenda again to find out exactly when she was coming round. He wasn't sure how much time he was going to have to get hold of Roxy's phone. And he still hadn't thought of a diversion. But his luck was clearly in; the fact that the safe was empty had still not been discovered.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Ray stood feeling a little awkward just standing in the doorway. He watched Chris get on with packing.
"Anything you want me to do?"
Just grab stuff and throw it in the bag," Chris replied. "There's a few things in the kitchen but not much. Oh, and need to take the rubbish out and clear the fridge and all. Shaz won't like it being left a complete tip."
Ray grabbed a bag and marched to the kitchen. He emptied the bin and then as an afterthought mimicked this action with all of the other bins he could find.
He picked up stuff from the fridge and put it into another bag. He left some food for Shaz in the kitchen figuring she would get hungry and Chris wouldn't mind too much. The he went on a rampage, grabbing stuff and chucking it into random bags.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Brian came in and smiled to see Roxy dancing around. She'd told him about Christian so he didn't go and threaten him for putting his hands on Roxy. He sat down at the bar and gave Roxy a small wave.
Roxy beamed when she saw Brian. She twirled past Christian towards him and leant over the bar to kiss him before running off to serve another customer.
Brian was pleased when Roxy dance by and kissed him. He hoped he'd get more than that tonight.
Roxy finished with her punters and came our from behind the bar and took the stool next to him.
"Hello, stranger."
"Hello," Brian said, his deep voice laced with pleasure at seeing her. He ran a finger down her cheek.
"Having a good day?"
Roxy smiled at the contact.
"So far so good. In fact I'd go so far as to say I'm in an unusually good mood," she replied nonchalantly, a grin fixed on her face.
"So, can we get together tonight? I don't mind staying around here if a babysitter is too much trouble," Brian offered.
Roxy pondered the notion for a second.
"Why don't you stay here anyway? Then I don't get the hassle of trying to find someone."
"Don't mind if I do," Brian said and kissed the tip of Roxy's nose. "How about a pint then?"
Roxy smiled back and slipped off the stool.
"Coming right up."
She made her way back behind the bar and pulled him a pint.
Roxy stood the pint in front of Brian and held out her hand for payment.
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Rowan hummed while she worked. She couldn't wait to get home and see Chris' things in the flat. She never thought she could do something like this with someone ever again. She was glad she was wrong.
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Shaz had chucked her stuff into the back of the Quattro and settled herself in the front seat. She buckled her seatbelt. She'd had experience of his driving when sitting in the back with Chris and Ray, only in the front she didn't have either of them there to soften the sharp turns. She had also seen Alex in the front hanging on for dear life. She nodded.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Chris threw his last few things in bags and then walked slowly through the flat to make sure he'd not forgotten anything.
"I think that's the lot," Chris said. He picked up the one suitcase and grabbed the bags of rubbish he could manage and carried them out.
As he got outside he could hear the familiar roar and squeal of tires that signalled the arrival of the Quattro.
Shaz had held on for dear life. Her knuckles were white, even though she had not been rebuked for wearing a seatbelt, and consequently had not removed it, she had still felt the need to cling to the side of the car.
Shakily, she relaxed her grip as he swung the Quattro to a standstill. Shaz unclipped herself and opened the door. She got out of the car and felt a sense of relief once her feet hit the pavement. She collected as much of her stuff as she could carry out of the car and dumped it on the pavement before going back for the rest.
Gene helped Shaz carry her things. He was annoyed she'd worn a seatbelt. What was it with everyone whinging and wearing seatbelts? Gene Hunt did not approve of girly seatbelts.
Ray grabbed the stuff Chris had left and followed him outside. He made it out the door to see a familiar flash of red as the Quattro spun expertly and stopped just short of the kerb.
Chris walked over and handed Shaz the keys to the flat.
"I've already rung the landlord, he's happy so you should be fine. Here's his number if you have any problems. I wasn't here much so it's pretty clean," he grinned. "Enjoy."
"Cheers, Chris."
Shaz took the keys off him and smiled. Her own place. No one else's, hers. Eagerly she hurried inside and surveyed the rooms searching out what was where and any changes she may want to make.
Shaz found herself satisfied with the little place. Not one thing that she wanted to change. Well, nothing major anyway.
Chris picked up his case. "Ready, Ray?"
Ray picked up the bags again and nodded his head.
"After you."
"You staying here Shaz or coming to the pub?" Gene asked.
Shaz dumped her stuff into the front room and swung her keys around her finger.
She strolled out of HER flat and locked the door.
"Definitely coming to the pub."
Gene got back in the car to drive to the pub.
"No girly seatbelts, woman," he stated when Shaz got in. He rolled his eyes. "I'll drive carefully it's just over there anyway," he groused.
"By the way, the paperwork, not a secret, feel free to share the news if you like. I'll stand you a pint for your promotion, or, well, whatever you're drinking," he offered.
Shaz nodded and gripped the sides of her seat, pressing herself into the back as he drove.
"Cheers, Guv."
Gene drove somewhat carefully to the pub and got out.
"Let's get started, those two can catch up when they get here," Gene decided.
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Jack was getting very frustrated with the paperwork. He wanted to be with Alyssa. He could not get her out of his mind.
He got up and made a sandwich and then sat down with it, a beer and turned on the tele.
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Chris put his bags in Rowan's room and looked at Ray.
"Pub."
Ray handed him the rest of his stuff and nodded.
"Pub," he confirmed and led the way out.
Chris put his other bag near the wardrobe and was about to leave when he noticed a sheet of paper on the floor. He picked it up and read it over. It looked like some of what Rowan had told him were rituals in her Book.
She had stuff written down and then notes in another color of ink off to the side. She said sometimes things could be adapted for other things and had done so quite often. Then he read the top and he frowned.
Ray poked his head back around the door.
"Are you coming or what?" he asked slightly exasperated.
Chris knelt down and rummaged at the bottom of the wardrobe and pulled out a small hand sewn doll. Blond hair that Chris knew must be Brian's was sewn to it. He heaved a breath, anger filling him.
Anger at Brian for what he'd done and anger at Rowan for keeping it from him. He read the top of the paper again, ignoring Ray's question.
"To bind an abusive man" it read. He looked at Ray as he crumpled the paper in his hand.
"I have to go to the cafe," Chris said in a low tone. "I may need your help."