Once again thanks for your reviews. Now for some warm and fuzziness.
Chapter 29
Three days later
Alex looked serene asleep in her hospital bed. Her eyes were closed, her breathing light and rhythmic, her pale skin tinged with a healthy pinkness. Her body had begun to heal, the angry red cuts had faded, the dark coloured bruises lightened. Her heart beat strengthened as the sedative, which had kept her placid for the last three days, began to wear off. Alex's fingers twitched , senses started to spark back to life as the drugs ebbed away. The hustle and bustle of hospital noises swam to her ears and grew in volume, the disinfectant smell filled her nostrils. The noises became louder, voices became clearer...Alex opened her eyes "Gene?"
She was alone. Her eyes flitted around the sparse, white room, taking in the fact she was in hospital. "Gene?" she uttered more urgently. She looked down, slightly alarmed, at her arms which were covered in bruises, cuts and burns, inspecting her hands in more detail as they had borne the brunt of the explosion.
"Ah Miss Drake, your awake, excellent." A cheerful nurse bustled into the room. As she made notes on the chart at the end of the bed, she chattered on. "Your colleagues have been very worried about you, visited everyday they have. That young girl has spent hours sat by your side."
"Shaz." Alex supplied
"and Sergeant Makepeace has been here regularly, she brought you those fabulous flowers."
Alex turned her head to look at a striking colourful bunch.
"Gene?" asked Alex
The nurse smiled warmly at her "He's absolutely fine, we've taken him off the sedative, so he will be coming round soon too. You both had a very lucky escape."
"Thank God." She sighed in relief "can I see him?"
The nurse proceeded to take Alex's blood pressure "Let's get you sorted first, eh?" she discharged the air from the pump "Perfect!" The nurse then plumped up Alex's pillows "That Lt Dempsey has caused quite a stir...right charmer isn't he? He's got all the young nurses in a flutter."
"He's ok too?" Alex asked concerned
"Fit as fiddle." She grinned "He'll be back on his feet in no time, much to Nurse Wilkins and Nurse Jone's dismay. They fight over who's turn it is to dress his wound. Honestly, how one man can cause so much disharmony."
Alex couldn't help but chuckle.
The nurse continued to bustle around Alex's bed, re-arranging the sheets. "Your DCI Hunt has got himself a fan club and you, my dear, have quite a following yourself."
"Really?" Alex said surprised
"Oh yes, you both made the headlines and the six o'clock news. You have the whole nation worried about you." The nurse smiled again. "There are reporters camped outside as we speak." She nodded in the direction of the window. Alex stared at her aghast.
"Don't look so surprised." The nurse chuckled "The only female DI in the met gets injured, it's a big story."
"I spose." Agreed Alex, unsure
"Right, that's you." The nurse announced brightly "I'm going to check on your Mr Hunt then I'll bring you something to eat. I'll send Nurse Wilkins in with a nice cuppa for you."
"Thank you, nurse er..."
"Hargreaves, Jennifer."
"Nurse Jennifer." Alex smiled back.
She slumped back into her pillows happy in the knowledge that all was well and especially happy that Gene was ok. Alex closed her eyes again and continued to think pleasant thoughts.
"See, that's Kingscross."Ray was excitedly pointing to references on the maps which they recovered from the warehouse. The maps, Ray had discovered, actually made up one very large one. It was now spread out across the CID office floor, "Waterloo and Euston." He carried on jabbing enthusiastically.
"I see." Spikings rubbed his chin thoughtfully "So, you think they were intending to hit the London transport network?"
"Yep. We have checked all the co-ordinates. They're either train stations or bus stations except for two of them, they are Heathrow and Gatwick."
"looks like we foiled a large scale bombing campaign, would have caused not only widespread disruption, but also many deaths. Good work Carling."
Spikings was genuine in his praise for the team's hard work. CID had impressed the dour Welshman no end. He considered them a little rough around the edges needing further guidance, but on the whole they had been efficient, diligent, enthusiastic and above all fearless. In his opinion, if DCI Hunt kept getting results like this, he would be moving up the ranks...well there was a vacant Chief Super position now available at Special Branch. Spikings made a mental note to put a good word in for the Guv, not that Gene needed it...top brass had already sat up and taken note. Fenchurch East CID, along with SI10, had become the toast of the Met. For the past three years many a department had tried and failed to catch Daly, Gene Hunt and Gordon Spikings had been the men finally to achieve it. Spikings made another metal note, he had a 30 year old single malt which he had been saving until he found someone worthy enough to share it with him, Gene fitted the bill.
"I'd better ring the Commissioner, update him on these findings. The press will be expecting a release soon." Spikings stood up, preparing to leave.
The phone rang, Shaz answered "CID...yes it is...fab...thank you." She replaced the receiver, a broad grin swept across her face. "That was the hospital...the Ma'am's awake and talking...they said they're trying to wake the Guv now."
All in the room collectively sighed with relief. Ray was particularly relieved as he was beginning to feel the weight of being the superior officer in charge...he was not looking forward to the prospect of giving a press conference, that was Alex's forte.
Alex quietly walked up to Gene's side. She peered down at his rough features, watching him snooze on. She ran a soft finger down the short row of stitches which ran down from his eyebrow. Apart from that, there was very little evidence that Gene had been in an explosion. He had similar cuts and bruises to herself, but he looked in perfect health. Alex smiled as she studied his features "I'm sorry Gene, I didn't mean to have a go at you, I was just being a moody cow." She perched lightly on the side of the bed and took hold of his hand, she raised it to her lips and kissed it softly.
"Thas alrigh' Bolls I'm used to your moody cow episodes." Gene opened his eyes to find Alex grinning at him. "Christ, look at the state of you." He joked
"Oi, cheeky." Alex nudged him in the side
"Ooof" grimaced Gene
"Oh sorry, that must be the broken ribs." Alex winced in sympathy "Any way ,you haven't seen the state of you yet. We make a right pair."
"That we do Bolly." He agreed a small smirk appearing at the corner of his mouth.
"I look like I've been pulled through a hedge backwards and you look like you've gone ten rounds with Henry Cooper."
Gene chuckled "I feel like I have the hangover to end all hangovers."
"Me the same, it would be easier to pinpoint the small bit of me that doesn't hurt."
"Well just let me know which ache and pain you want massaging, but it will 'ave to wait until I can sodding move." Gene winced as he used his elbows to pitch himself up into a sitting position. Alex helped him by moving his pillow up the bed head. As he shuffled his body the sheet slipped down to reveal his bruised and battered torso. Alex frowned as she looked at the multi-coloured skin. She wanted to caress the sores , take away the tenderness.
Gene caught Alex looking "Don't worry Bolls, it looks worse than it is."
"You could have died." She whispered sombrely
"Alex..." Gene didn't really know what to say. He was trying to read Alex's emotions. He could see there was something going on behind those brown eyes. Finally he managed "So could have you." Alex appeared to be lost in her own thoughts. Gene felt awkward, he knew he should say something or do something. He settled for reaching for her hand and playing with her fingers. Alex met his eyes and smiled, glad at the small amount of comfort he was offering. Despite Daly and Keenan's best efforts, they hadn't died, they were still here.
"See you, me Bolls, we're still un bloody breakable."
"Can't say the same for the Quattro." She uttered wistfully
"You can help me choose another." He winked at her "Perhaps it's time we got you a car...what's that Makepeace drives?"
"Escort Cabriolet. I did rather enjoy driving it." She beamed
"Right, when we get out here we'll go car shopping."
They were alerted to a knock at the door and in bounced Shaz, Chris and Ray. Shaz raced over to Alex enveloping her in a hug.
"Good to have you back Ma'am." Shaz swept along with emotion swooped on Gene and hugged him also.
"We made the papers Guv, look." Chris excitedly shoved the 'Times' into Gene's hand.
"It was bloody murder trying to get in 'ere today. Reporters everywhere." Added Ray "We're 'eroes"
Gene read the headline 'Fenchurch CID arrests the notorious Daly gang'
"fandabydozy, means the paparami will be all over us." He said sourly, unimpressed.
"Gene, don't you see?" Alex chimed "You've proved them wrong... you have proved we are an excellent, professional department who can cope with the biggest of cases. Not so long ago you were worried they were going to pension you off...they're not going to do that now."
Gene let Alex's comment sink in. She was right. They couldn't get rid of him now. He looked at each member of his team..all wearing broad smiles. His chest puffed up with pride. Each of them had played their part. Gene was extremely proud of all of them.
"There are two people we need to thank, though. Couldn't 'ave done it without them. Remind me to buy Dempsey and Makepeace dinner or summit. Speaking of which, is that loud-mouth Yank out of bed yet?" He didn't say it unkindly, quite the opposite. He'd grown very fond of Dempsey.
"He's got to have his plaster cast on before he can move around." Alex explained "His leg is quite a mess."
"He owes me a barrel of beer!" Gene suddenly remembered.
"I think Chris should have the barrel of beer, it was him who stopped Daly in his tracks." Breezed Alex "You were too busy dancing with him."
Gene put on his best sulky pout. "Gene Hunt does not dance, especially with the devil."
"Brill!" exclaimed Chris
"ladies and Gents visiting time is over." Nurse Hargreaves announced "Come on, chop chop." She clapped her hands together. "Mr Hunt needs his beauty sleep and you miss need to get back into your bed for yours." She ordered.
"Luv, you couldn't slip us out the back way could you?" Ray asked Nurse Hargreaves "Y'know ,so we don't have to fight our way through the press."
Nurse Hargreaves rolled her eyes "I'll see what I can do DI Carling. Now out" she shoed him away.
Roly Cavendish was sat at his kitchen table reading the newspaper. He couldn't believe it when his guards told him it was safe to go home. He had been holed up in a safe house since he spilled the beans on Daly. Roly had worried about the other gang members, but he had been assured that all principal members had been rounded up, the lesser ones had run. He had almost cheered when he heard Madame Yvonne was dead, but soon sunk into a depressive mood when he heard about the car bomb. He read the news paper article intently, drinking in every detail. He counted himself very lucky to escape from Daly more or less unscathed, but he felt very guilty about Simon. He was still in a coma in Oxford, his wife, Alice, at the end of her tether. It was only a matter of time when news of Simon's involvement hit the headlines. He stopped reading the paper as an idea started to form in his head. He would put it all right.
DCI David Hughes grinned smugly as he placed the paper back on the table in front of him. He wasn't mentioned, Barton had been caught. He was free from him, however he would have to lay low in Spain for a while longer until he was sure Barton hadn't implicated him. David reclined back on his sun lounger believing he had gotten away with it.
Alice picked up the trilling phone "Hello, yes this is Alice Hughes...sorry who are you?...no I do not want to give an interview...I have nothing to say...don't call here again."
She slammed down the phone and burst into tears.
Arrrr! warm and fuzzy allover...everyone is awake and well..if not a little bruised and crispy.
