Chapter 35

Alex gave Gene a slightly melancholy smile as they walked with the snake of ex-colleagues towards the location Gene was anticipating the Railway Arms to be found at.

"There aren't many here that I don't know," she said.

"Yes, it's a bugger to know some of this lot," Gene grumbled,

"No, I mean…" Alex sighed, "you didn't seem to have a lot of colleagues from Manchester who went to the pub."

Gene stared ahead.

"Yeah, well," he said, "memory seems to have improved since you came on the scene. Maybe it's all that humping. Good for the brain cells."

Alex knew she'd touched on a sore point - and that had nothing to do with the sex. She knew Gene regretted the years where he was falling short of his duties. He had more than made up for that now.

"I almost wish," she said quietly, "that we could… let them stay."

Gene looked at her, slightly aghast.

"Bols, have you any idea what that would mean?" he cried.

"Yeah, yeah, state of the world, blah blah," Alex mocked.

"I was thinking more about how many bloody lattes you'd have to get on the latte run," Gene told her. His expression softened a little and so did hers. They looked over all the familiar faces. As much as they knew they had to go back where they belonged just seeing them again had been a most wonderful experience. It only saddened them to know it was temporary.

"Was it strange to see Sam?" Alex asked Gene.

"Tyler," Gene sighed. He stared at the back of a leather jacket walking just ahead of them, "didn't think I'd be seeing him for a very long time."

"I'm not sure what he made of your news," Alex said a little awkwardly.

"Sam likes to think he's the one who gets the attention from the female members of the population," said Gene, "he can keep telling himself that if he wants but he doesn't have the Gene Genie charm."

Alex nodded to a brunette walking beside him.

"And that's Annie?" she asked.

Gene nodded.

"She's put up with Tyler's inane rambling for so many years she deserves a bloody medal."

"What, and I don't get one for putting up with yours?" Alex asked cheekily. She glanced at Gene and let out a tiny laugh. She finally felt like she could relax just a little. "I'm sorry about this," she began, "the whole… broken heaven thing, Gene. I didn't know this was going to happen. But I couldn't let Shaz die."

Gene stared at her. He knew that. And if he was honest, deep down, no matter what he might have said about the world he wouldn't have been able to let Shaz die either. But he wasn't the one who made the connections – that was Alex. She was the one who saved her from the screwdriver.

"You know, Bolly," he said, "you might have irreparably damaged the bloody space time continuum…"

"Oh, thanks a lot!"

"…But you did a fairly decent job catching our firestarter," said Gene.

Alex looked at him with a smug sideways smile That was about as much praise as she was ever likely to garner from Gene, but to her that was the pinnacle of compliments.

"Thank you," she said proudly. She stared at gene with a smile, then took a chance and planted a kiss on his cheek. Gene looked slightly alarmed.

"Steady Bols, not in front of the children," he said.

Alex laughed as she looked at the line of detectives and coppers stretching out before them.

"I hope they all remembered to bring a packed lunch and clipboard," she teased.

"Not many of them brought their bloody brain cells," Gene commented.

Alex sighed with a little smile. They continued to walk along for a little while. She was disturbed that someone, she suspected Chris, seemed to have started a round of 'We All Live In A yellow Submarine' at one point but it didn't really catch on.

"How much further?" she asked.

"Pub's only going to be a minute away," said Gene.

"Does Nelson do food?" Alex asked.

"Not unless you want another dose of food poisoning," said Gene.

"Bollocks. I'm starving now."

"Five minutes ago you were complaining I'd killed yer bloody digestive system, make up yer mind woman!" Gene admonished, "you'll have to wait until we get back."

"I'm not eating in the canteen," Alex told him, "I saw that woman scratching her big backside with the ladle yesterday."

"Surprised she didn't lose the bloody thing in there," said Gene.

It wasn't long before the crowd found themselves outside of the pub through which they'd all passed at some point. Alex felt a strange kind of flutter in her chest as she looked at it and swallowed. She didn't usually go with Gene when he took someone to their next place. She had her own local. When it was her turn, she took her charge to Luigi's. She hadn't seen the railway Arms since the night that she passed through the doors and left through the window. It made her feel a little strange to be back.

"So what now?" she asked, the breeze taking her hair away from her face.

Gene stepped forward. He made his way through the crowd, held a hand to his face to shelter his eyes from the sun and called,

"Nelson?" he waited but there was no reply. He looked around and tapped his foot a little. "Oi! Is the beer off or something?" he waited but there was still no response. He exchanged a glance with Alex who was looking nervous and twitchy. "Nelson?"

Cautiously he tiptoed to the doorway of the pub and peered inside. Empty. No one around. He looked behind him and gave a strained shrug.

"Looks like the bar's closed for business," he said.

"Oh come on, Gene, I'm parched," Sam complained.

"I need to restock my bandages," Susannah added.

"And I need someone who can give me a bloody light!" cried Ray.

"Guv, where's Nelson?" Chris asked.

Gene took one cautious step inside. He thought for a minute that he might be sucked into some kind of weird vortex bit nothing happened. He tiptoed to the bar and found a note taped to one of the beer pumps. With a sigh and a groan he stomped back out and read it to the impatient crowd.

"Lost my customers, gone to bring in some business. N."

"Oh what?" a murmuring of discontent rose from the crowd who were all complaining that they were thirstier than the next person. As they bickered amongst themselves Gene held up his hands.

"Wait," he cried, "just wait. Nelson won't be gone long. He'd practically tethered to the bar. So let's just wait for 'im to get back shall we? And then we can all 'ave his bollocks on a plate for leaving us without beer."

"What about you?" Sam called out.

"Me?" Gene glanced behind him, he shook his head. "Not time for me to join you yet. Still got stuff to do here."

"No, I mean – why don't you put your burgeoning bar skills into good use." There was a devilish glint in Sam Tyler's eye. Gene shuffled uncomfortably. It had not been his favourite undercover mission and his bar skills left much to be desired.

"Listen, Tyler, if that's a bloody challenge then why don't you get behind that bar and start pulling pints?" he said.

"At least mine might have some beer in them," Sam told him, "they won't be pints of foam."

"You might know how to pull a pint but that's about the only thing you know how to pull," Gene retorted, "how long did it take you to get some lip action out of DC Cartwright?"

"Guv!" Annie's mouth fell open, horrified.

"Well what about you?" Ray piped up, "Looks like you finally got yourselves together but the times we wanted to bang your heads together…" he looked from Gene to Alex, "or book you a bloody motel room and send you a plate of oysters."

"Nothing wrong with taking yer time," Gene told him sternly, "DI Chaser-Of-All-Skirt-and-Shagger-Of-None!"

"Wa-heeey!" Chris and Shaz cheered as Ray's face looked like thunder.

"Look," Ray began sternly, "all I want is a bloody pint, somewhere to sit down and to finally get to smoke my cigarette. Alright?"

Simon looked at Ray, then nudged Kim.

"He's one, he said.

Kim nodded.

"Oh yeah, no doubt."

Ray frowned.

"One what?" he demanded.

Simon spread his palms innocently.

"Nothing," he said.

"I want to know what you're saying about me!" cried Ray.

"Nothing, just… admiring your moustache, that's all," Simon couldn't stop himself from laughing a little which set Kim off.

"You've all got it in for me today!" cried Ray, feeling more than a little picked on.

"Go on, Guv," said Sam, "get behind the bar and at least pull him a pint. Day he's had, he deserves it."

Gene narrowed his eyes as he scanned the crowd. A chant started to go up from somewhere. He wasn't sure but it sounded like "Guv, pull us a pint." The chant started to catch on, becoming louder and more insistent. Eventually he couldn't take the chanting any longer, rolled up his sleeves and said,

"You load of rotten buggers, you'd better come in and pull up a stool. You're about to see how to drink, Gene Genie style."

~xXx~

Nelson wandered absently into the line. It was a long line. He wasn't sure what it was for but then again he could hardly see past his Telephone Box hat, giant teddy bear swathed in union jacks, poster of Buckingham Palace or scale model of Big Ben. By the time he got to the front of the queue and found himself standing between two Beefeaters, having his photo taken and being charged ten pounds for the privilege he decided that this was probably a good time to give up and go home. Or at least back to his nice cosy pub.

With all his classy tourist gear he was sure he would be the envy of the afterlife.

~xXx~

"I can safely say that Nelson's job is safe," Sam said as he scrutinised the pint. He estimated there was about 10% beer in the glass. The rest was thick, white foam.

"It's the best one yet, what are you complaining for?" Gene cried, shoving the pint across the bar, "that'll be eight quid."

"Bugger off," said Sam.

"Got to pay for me wedding somehow," said Gene.

Sam glanced around at Alex who was talking to Susannah. Susannah seemed to be edging towards Alex with a big bandage and Alex was denying the need for one quite furiously.

"You've done well for yourself there, Gene," he said.

Gene put on a stern face but there was a smugness behind it.

"I'm a lucky bugger," he said, "I've not forgotten that either."

"How long has she been here?" Sam asked.

"Fifteen, sixteen years," said Gene, "give or take."

"That's a long time to be in limbo," said Sam.

Gene nodded. He stared at Alex who now had the bandage wrapped several times around her waist and was blanching in fear as Susannah came at her with a safety pin to secure it.

"She's staying, Sam," he said.

Sam lifted his pint of foam to his lips, had second thought and put it down again.

"How can you be sure?" he asked.

"Lost her once and she came back," said Gene. He looked at Sam. "You came back."

"Yeah, but there was no going back for me," said Sam, ""If she's still alive out there –"

"She made her choice," Gene told him, "buggered if I know why, but…" He watched Alex sneaking away and shuffling out of the bandages, "Must be doing something right." He coughed slightly, "speaking of doing things…" he moved out from behind the bar, "watch the bar for me, would you?"

Sam looked a little taken aback as Gene flung a beer mat at him.

"Why? Where are you going?"

"Want to inspect a window," Gene called back.

He accosted Alex just as she was busy trying to persuade Ray that everyone was not really against him and that she was certain he would find a light soon. She found herself gently pulled aside by a slightly shifty looking Gene.

"What's the matter?" she asked.

Gene glanced around.

"I've heard stories," he said, "about you and a window."

Alex hesitated. She wasn't sure where this was leading.

"Yes, Gene, you know that's how I got back," she said.

Gene looked around to check no one was listening and then said conspiratorially,

"Dangerous things, pub windows. Anyone could fall out." He leaned a little closer and said, "Maybe we should inspect it. Make sure it's safe." He raised an eyebrow. "In the lavvy, wasn't it?"

Alex finally caught on. She looked at Gene, licked her lips gently and then said,

"Are you saying you want to commit a cardinal sin in heaven?"

Gene looked back and forth. Then he looked back at her.

"That's about the size of it," he said as he stepped closer.

"Gene, I can feel the size of it…" Alex commented but before she had a chance to finish that thought she found herself whisked away to the toilets for a spot of safety investigation.

Sam shook his head with a smile as he watched them go. Gene had changed, in good ways. He could see Alex was a part of that. She might have made a crappy psychologist, he thought to himself, but as a foil for Gene she had been ideal and really helped him to grow.

"Speaking of which," he mumbled. His eyes scanned the pub until he spotted a man in similar attire to his own. "Oi. Simon, isn't it?" he called out.

Simon looked around awkwardly. He saw Sam beckoning him over with a finger. He felt quite anxious suddenly. He'd heard a great deal about the legendary Sam Tyler. It felt like the man had been some kind of deity in the grand scheme of things. He crept slowly to the bar and cleared his throat.

"Can I help you?" he asked,

"Yeah," said Sam, "I want you to look after Gene for me."

Simon hesitated. He glanced around. He didn't even know why. Maybe in case Sam was talking to someone else. He tried to think of something to say.

"Uh… I'll try," he said, frowning with confusion, "I mean – I do try. When he lets me."

"I know, I've seen," said Sam.

Simon took a step back. This conversation seemed to be getting more confusing by the moment.

"What do you mean?" he asked.

Sam looked at Simon seriously.

"I do a bit of bar work for Nelson sometimes. Hard job, running a real pub and heaven."

Simon gave a nervous laugh.

"Uh… I should imagine it is," he said.

"Sometimes we get to check on the good ones," said Sam, "make sure they're OK. The Gene Hunts of this world need someone to look out for them as well."

Simon nodded slowly.

"That's true," he said quietly.

"He was one on his own," said Sam, "job was too big for him. It's a good thing he's got people like you and Alex."

Simon wasn't sure what to say.

"If you watch over Gene," he began, "why were you surprised to hear about him getting married."

"I don't watch over his bedroom," Sam pointed out, "I'm not a pervert."

Simon sighed.

"Good answer," he said.

Sam looked at him seriously.

"Two pieces of advice for you," he said.

Simon looked at him expectantly.

"Go on."

"You've got a…" Sam hesitated, "a different role to play in this place. You're unique. One of a kind. Like a bridge between the two worlds."

Simon felt a very strange breeze down his spine.

"Wh-what do you mean?" he asked.

"You'll find out one day," Sam told him, "until then, don't underestimate your power here."

Simon swallowed. This was all getting a little bit Twin Peaks for his liking.

"And the other thing?" he whispered.

Sam leaned across the bar.

"Hanging around outside leather shops and trying to turn yourself into me isn't necessary, Simon. You've already got his friendship. Stop trying so hard."

Simon bit his lip.

"You," he said quietly, "it was your voice, outside the shop," he remembered a ghostly voice that had haunted him, "wasn't it?"

Sam didn't reply. Instead he pulled a near-perfect pint and stood it in front of him.

"On the house," he said, "thanks for looking after him."

Simon hesitated. He felt strangely emotional. He gave Sam a nod and a sincere smile.

"My pleasure," he said quietly, then picked up his pint and walked away. He had plenty to think about.

~xXx~

"Well, that was… interesting," Alex brushed her hair out of her face and peered around the door to check the coast was clear before hurrying Gene out of the ladies'.

Gene hastily untucked Alex's skirt from the back of her knickers before anyone spotted it and adopted an innocent expression.

"I give it eight out of ten," he said, "the position of the toilet roll holder was a bit inconvenient. Me arse is going to be sore for a fortnight."

"Yes, well," Alex blushed, "at least I didn't get over excited and grab onto the chain for stability. I knew we should have put the seat down before we started. It was like trying to do it in a bloody fountain."

"Guv?" Ray's voice stopped Gene in his tracks.

"Yes, Raymundo?"

"Did you know you've got bog roll stuck to your shoe?" Ray asked.

"No. I did not," said Gene as he peeled it off.

"And to your back," said Ray.

Gene blushed and pulled a sheet from the back of his coat.

"Thank you, Ray.

"And sticking out your flies…"

"DI Carling, if you don't stop pointing out where you have spotted pieces of toilet roll about my person then I will be giving you good reason to use one – to wipe your head after you become more closely acquainted with the inside of the toilet!"

"Nelson!" Sam's voice called out.

The gathering in the pub turned to see Nelson staggering into the bar, his souvenirs smothering him half to death. He let them fall to the floor and stretched out his arms, revealing his I Love London t-shirt.

"Mon Brave!" he cried, his eyes focused on Gene, "it's good to see you!"

"This is only temporary," Gene warned, "just keeping the beer warm for you while you were out…" he frowned as he spotted Nelson's touristy make-over. "Bloody hell, Nelson, they saw you coming, didn't they?"

"I love London!" Nelson protested.

"By the looks of it London loves you," said Gene, "how much did you spend?"

"Uh, Gene," Alex tapped him on the shoulder "don't you think we'd better be going?"

Gene felt his heart sinking a little as Alex spoke. It was true. It was time to go. He looked around the pub full of faces that he had been so grudgingly glad to see again. He gave a gruff smile to each and every one of them. One day he'd be joining them, but that time was a long way away. Gene had sent years helping others. Now, with Alex, he was finally learning to enjoy his own life before he had to go.

"Well then." He said, "I suppose me bar skills are surplus to requirements now."

"Such as they are," Sam volunteered from behind the bar.

"Thank you, Tyler," said gene. His eyes scanned the pub and he nodded to the friends that he hadn't seen in so long. "You scruffy lot, look after each other. Keep one cool for me."

"You have enough drinks waiting for you already when you finally join us, Mon Brave," Nelson told him.

Gene gave a nod. He turned and walked slowly to the door. Alex walked beside him, one hand on his shoulder, while Simon and Kim walked a little way behind. As they reached the door Kim hesitated and looked back. There at a nearby table was Shaz with her arms around Chris. Her chest felt heavy.

"Shaz," she said quietly.

Shaz looked up at her. There wasn't a hint of recognition on her face.

"Yes?"

Kim's eyes grew teary.

"Goodbye, Shaz," she whispered.

Shaz gave a polite smile.

"Bye," she said. As she watched Kim leave she turned to Chris. "She seemed like a nice girl," she said.

Gene turned around and gave the crowd one last glance.

"Get these doors shut, Nelson, before they all go looking for matching t-shirts," said Gene, "they'll be copying your style.

"I'm the original," Nelson smiled. He stepped to the door, threw Gene a warm smile and before they knew it the door had closed and their friends were gone again.

The four of them stood in silence for several moments, each wrapped up in their own thoughts. Their eyes met and a look of shared trust and knowledge was exchanged. Finally, as they realised that the pub was no longer there behind then Gene spoke up.

"We'd better leave before Eddie arrives looking for beer. Seemed pretty pissed off he wasn't getting an invite."

"Can we stop for lunch on the way?" Alex asked hopefully.

"Where do you want to go?" asked Simon.

"I'm not fussy," said Alex, I'll eat anything. Well, anything but pasta…"

As Kim's distressed expression caught their eye, both Simon and Alex extended an arm around her shoulders and the four of them slowly made their way back. It had been the strangest of days in so many ways and one that none of them would ever forget. It had brought hope, familiarity, devastation and sadness. But the one thing that couldn't be denied was that it had brought them all closer together. And in a world so fragile that could only be a good thing.