Thanks to all for reading along!! Not quite so many tears this chapter. Promise!

--

As Gene followed her down the hall he knew there was no way he'd be able to sleep. He hoped at least he'd be able to control his growing hard-on. Gene stood wondering whether to strip in front of her or not but Alex snatched her pyjamas and slipped off to the bathroom. While she was gone he put his own on. He didn't bother with the shirt.

When Alex returned he was waiting for her, sitting with his back up against the headboard. Alex stood by the edge of the bed, not getting in.

"So, um, how do you want to do this?"

"Wot d'you mean?" He'd wondered the same thing. How did she want to do this? What he wanted wasn't going to happen. Not for a while, it seemed.

"Are you, um, wearing pyjamas?"

Gene looked at her, laughing gently through his nose. "Yes I am." Maybe he should offer to go. "If you're too uncomfortable I can go back out to the sofa."

"It's OK. You've been on the sofa long enough. It's OK."

"Good. Don't think my back could take one more bloody night out there." He stared at the ceiling.

Alex turned off her light, getting nervously under the sheet and pulling the duvet up to her stomach. The room was filled with light from the street lamps just outside the window, and he could see her profile in the shadows. He wanted to stay awake with her.

"So, uh, how're the dizzy spells?"

"Better, actually. They do seem a bit better. Maybe I had to get used to being near you."

"Not for the first time" he laughed, finally sliding his head down onto his pillow. "What about the other things. What did you call them? Images?"

"They're still there. It's sort of like feeling like someone's following me and having them disappear when I turn to look at them."

"Mmm." He wanted to put his arm around her, at least hold onto her, but she'd stayed so close to the edge of the bed he wasn't sure she wanted him to take that next step.

"Goodnight Gene."

"'Night Alex."

Gene lay awake for what seemed like an hour, listening to her breathe, wondering if she were awake or asleep. He wanted to move closer, put his arm across her back. Like he always used to. When he was finally sure she was asleep he rolled closer, laying his head behind hers on the pillow, closing his eyes, breathing her in. Oh God. He opened his eyes and enjoyed the sight of her lying there, her side rising and falling evenly with each breath.

He couldn't help himself. Starting at her shoulder, he ran his hand slowly down her arm, smoothing over the dip at her waist, the curve of her hip. He couldn't help the groan that escaped as he felt the twitch in his groin. He had to stop now, or he wouldn't be able to.

She let him think she was asleep.

--

Oh god. Alex gasped as the next thrust speared her, her hips moving in rhythm with his, both of them driving towards the same end. She could smell his sweat, feel it pooling between them as he groaned in ecstasy above her. Oh god, she thought, oh my god, this is it. She felt her nails dig into his back as he drove them on, as she felt herself spiral over the edge....

"Ahhhh!"

She shot upright, breathing hard as she looked around. Where was she? Bed, in her bed. Good. Must have been a dream. Gene lay at least six inches away from her.

"Wot? You OK?" It was muffled by the pillow. Gene lifted his head, looking concerned.

"Um, yes. I'm fine. You can go back to sleep." It happened again. Just like the day before, when she'd fallen asleep on his chest. Sex. She was dreaming about sex. Oh God. But sex with who?

He looked at the clock. "No such luck. Do 'ave to work today. One of us has to." He flashed a humourless grin.

"Yeah. OK." Alex shook her head, trying to wake up, shake the images. As Gene moved to get up she noticed his ankle had been crossed over hers under the sheet. She didn't say anything as he left the room.

Once she heard the click of the bathroom door she lay back down. It had felt so real, not like a dream. But it wasn't, she knew. It was a dream. Or a memory. She should discuss it with the psychologist today. Maybe.

--

"Do you mind picking me up a bit later?" Alex opened the door to get out of the Quattro. Two appointments today, and hopefully the doctors were going to give her the go ahead to go back to work.

"You reckon it'll take longer than usual?" He leaned toward the passenger side so he could see her on the pavement.

"No. But I'd like to get my hair cut. This raggedy mess has been driving me crazy. There's a salon not far from here. I can walk there."

"Sure. OK. Call the station when you get there and give them the address. Should an extra hour be enough?"

"Yes, thanks." She smiled and shut the door. Gene watched her walk toward the hospital. A haircut sounded like a good idea.

--

Gene stood waiting for Alex, leaning against the Quattro smoking a cigarette. He'd managed a spot right in front of the salon so she wouldn't miss him.

"Wow. That is short."

He looked up. Hers was shorter too, the curls almost gone. He resisted the urge to kiss her. "You like it short." He dropped his butt on the pavement and squashed it with his toe.

"Do I?"She stopped, considering. She did.

"Well, except when you need somethin' t'grab ont - " He caught himself.

"Grab what?" She hadn't been listening."

"Nothing. Never mind." Opening the door, he slipped his hand to her waist as she got into the car. Alex pretended not to notice.

"The doctor said I can go back to work. If you'll have me."

"Careful with your choice of words, Inspector." Gene growled, pulling the door behind him and starting the engine. "But I spoke with the Super already. Told 'im I'd rather 'ave you on desk duty than that idiot Rogers not botherin' t'show up at all."

"Well that's a ringing endorsement." Alex answered sourly. "What did he say?"

Gene sighed. "That's not what I meant." He tried again. "I told 'im I want you back on the team as soon as you're ready. If your doctor says it's alright. But 'e'd only approve desk duty until your memory returns."

"I understand." She did. But what if it never returned? She couldn't stay on desk duty forever. She'd have to cross that bridge when she got there.

Gene broke the silence. "So, I, uh, was thinking."

"Hmm?" Alex watched out the windows, the images passing by.

"Would you like to go out tonight? Somewhere posh. To celebrate, you know, going back to work."

Alex turned to face him. "Like a date?"

"If you like, yes. A date." He kept his eyes on the road.

A date. "OK." More time to talk. In a restaurant seemed reasonably safe to her.

"Good. Pick you up at home at seven." He pulled to a stop in front of their building and they both got out.

"See you at seven." Gene nodded and she watched him walk toward the station. A date with Gene.

--

As it neared seven Alex began to get nervous. Gene hadn't pushed their relationship very much, and she appreciated that. But a date seemed like an attempt to move things along. Well, it was bound to happen, he wouldn't be likely to wait forever, would he? But what if it didn't happen again? She'd had a hard time believing she was in love with him and she had an equally difficult time believing she could fall in love with him again. He must wonder, too.

And she was the one who said 'date,' anyway. He'd just offered to help celebrate. And she was happy about going back to work. She needed something to do. And the more she did the more she would remember, she hoped. Celebrating was good. Rationalizing it didn't stop the butterflies in her stomach.

She was looking at herself in the mirror, wondering if she'd put on too much mascara, when a knock at the door interrupted her.

"Who - ?" She opened the door to find Gene standing in the corridor. "Gene, what - ?" He was wearing a different, darker suit than when he'd left her, a crisp dark shirt and his black overcoat. It took her a few seconds to realize her mouth was moving up and down.

"Well it wouldn't be a proper date if I just barged in, would it?" He glanced at his shoes before looking at her, brow furrowed in a question.

"A proper...?" Alex recovered slowly. "No. No it wouldn't." She smiled, shaking her head, caught off-guard.

"So, uh, are you ready?" He looked her up and down. Alex felt her stomach knot up. Where did that come from?

"Ready?"

Stop staring Alex. "Oh!" She laughed, grabbing her wrap from the rack by the door. "Yes. Ready."

"After you." He stepped aside, following her down the stairs.

--

Gene filled her in on his day as they drove to the restaurant. Crime had been slow so he'd spent the day playing darts in his office with Ray. He won three games to two. Alex recognized the restaurant as they pulled up in front of it. She didn't think she'd ever eaten there.

"Is that French, Gene? I wouldn't think you'd like French food."

He slipped his hand to her waist as they walked to the door. "Not exactly French. And they do a decent steak 'n chips."

"Frites."

"Wot?" He leaned closer as if he didn't hear her. Her perfume filled his senses.

"I think the French call them frites. Steak frites."

"Well, they look like chips 'n they taste like chips. They c'n call them anything they like."

They reached the headwaiter, who took Gene's coat and Alex's wrap while greeting them.

"Good evening Mr. Hunt. Ms Drake."

"'Ello Jack."

Alex leaned close to his ear. "Do I know him?"

Gene returned the gesture, his lips grazing her ear. "Yes. You do. Just say hello."

She did, following him as he led them to a table in the back, pulling out Alex's chair.

"Thank you."

"The usual tonight?" He asked.

"No actually, Jack. Can you come back in a minute?"

Jack nodded and left them alone.

"Gene, have we been here before?" Alex was wide eyed.

"A few times. Yeah." He pulled a pack of cigarettes out of his pocket and set them on the table.

"Often enough to know the waiter? To have a usual?" She couldn't believe Gene would spend that much time in a poncey French restaurant.

"Well you like it. So we've been a few times. Like I said. An' Jack's from Manchester, so 'e remembers me."

"He is not. I didn't hear a trace of it."

"'E works here, lost it for the swanky clientèle."

"I see." Alex smiled.

"So. Did the doc say anythin' about lettin' you 'ave a drink? We are celebrating. Would be a shame not to open a bottle." He looked at her over the top of the wine list.

"Well, he said I could have one a day. So I'm afraid I'll have to limit myself to a glass of wine."

Gene pouted. "Oh. OK. Well, we can celebrate later on then. When he gives you the all clear.

When their waiter arrived Gene seemed to know him too. He ordered for them both, suggesting the tip would be much larger if his glass of whisky were never completely empty. When he returned with their drinks they ordered, Gene opting for the steak frites and Alex choosing a salmon terrine.

"To your health, Alex." Gene lifted his glass, and Alex clinked it with a smile.

"So Gene, why did we come here the first time?" The restaurant surprised her. Now she wanted to know everything. Her curiosity was getting to be too much.

Gene set down his drink. "Well, we'd been together a few weeks. An' like I told you, we didn't exactly date – just got straight to the good stuff." He wiggled his eyebrows. "So after a bit we tried the date idea. Brought you here. You seemed to like it, so we come back now 'n then. Have a nice meal." He shrugged. "I do seem to remember, though, you got quite a bit pissed that first time."

"Did I? Hanging out with you, no wonder." Alex leaned forward. Gene's eyes fell below her chin and he shifted his legs a little under the table. Better. "Tell me more Gene. Please?"

Gene sat back. He didn't know how long he could stare at her without losing it and dragging her home. "OK. What about?"

Alex cleared her throat. "About us. Tell me about us."

Gene took a deep breath, pushing his lips into a pout. "OK" he finally nodded. "It wasn't easy, me 'n you."

"I can imagine." Alex looked at him. His gaze never fell from her. It had the double edged effect of making her slightly uncomfortable and turning her on with its intensity. She hadn't expected either feeling.

"No. Working together was a bit of a problem at first. You were certain it would cause some friction on the team. Which it did not, by the way. You c'n ask any of them. It didn't help that I'm sure you were sure that you didn't like me very much." He sipped his drink. "But you got over that part." He grinned at her and her stomach did a backflip.

"Gene, I got over not liking you quicker than you know. Really."

"Yeah? Can I ask, exactly what is the last thing you remember?"

"Well, I remember watching my p- the Price's car explode, and finding out Tim Price had planted the bomb. Then I seem to remember a bit of drinking."

"Yeah, you went on quite a bender. Do you remember me tellin' you off?"

Alex thought a minute. "Yes. Yes I do remember that. You told me you didn't bloody care if I drank myself to death, but if I couldn't do it and show up for work sober and competent to work you'd have me shipped off up to Newcastle.

"I did say that, yes." He smiled a bit. "I never would have, you know. Shipped you off." He averted his eyes for the first time.

"Yeah, well. It worked. So we didn't have to test that particular threat." Alex sipped her wine. This wasn't unpleasant so far. But she wasn't ready to admit that she was having fun.

"We have our problems, Alex, like any couple I suppose. But we do always manage to work them out." Gene looked up as the waiter brought him a new drink. "Sometimes not always in the most sensible way. We're both a bit stubborn. But the makin' up almost makes it worth it."

Alex coughed out an embarrassed laugh. "So we have our share of rows?"

"You could say that. In the beginnin' though it was mostly me."

"You?" She raised an eyebrow. "What could you possibly be stubborn about, Gene?"

"Yeah, well. I 'ad quite a bee in my bonnet about our, well, our differences."

Alex shook her head. Not quite understanding.

He took a deep breath. "Not my finest moments. Sometimes we'd run into posh blokes on the job. Real Hooray Henry types. They'd always give you a look over. Who wouldn't, right?" Alex felt embarrassed again. "I managed to convince myself a few times that you were interested in them too. You never were, though. And you rightly told me to bugger off until I could pull my head out of my arsehole and believe it."

"Gene..."

"No. You were right. Alex, you have never done anything that should've made me think it mattered to you. That it mattered to you that you're posh and I'm...not. I managed to convince myself of that rubbish all by myself." His mouth set in a grim smile.

Alex didn't know what to say, but she knew it must have taken a lot for him to admit something like that. He was turning out to be a much more complex man than she imagined. Probably not for the first time, it suddenly dawned on her.

"You know, Gene. I don't hate you. I got over that pretty soon after I transferred here." She played with the stem of her wine glass. Her fingers were a breath away from his on the table. "I respect you Gene. Maybe not from the beginning, but I do. I may not always agree with you, but in your own way you make things happen."

Gene nodded, crossing his arms in front of him and leaning forward on the table. "That's a start."

Their meals arrived and they chatted pleasantly about less intense subjects. Gene went over what she'd be expected to do once back in the office, being very clear that she was not to go out on any calls and would be spending the first few weeks going over open cases, helping to find clues that might help close them. He even made Alex eat some of his chips, but politely declined an offer of her salmon.

"Dessert?" Their waiter appeared at the table.

"Wot d'you say Alex? Fancy a puddin'?"

Alex shook her head again. Of course Gene would find a way to make a posh restaurant like this one fit into his comfort zone.

"I would love some." She ordered a crème caramel and Gene opted for a chocolate mousse, claiming that as she'd had it before, at least he knew what it was.

After dinner they went for a walk, but ended it quickly as Alex hadn't brought a warm enough coat. Gene put his big overcoat over her shoulders as they walked back to the Quattro.

"Thanks. I seem to be caught a bit off guard by the weather."

"No problem." Gene shivered a little.

"I need a new coat anyway. Now that my leather one is gone."

"I could take you shoppin' on Saturday. If you like."

"You want to go shopping with me?" Alex couldn't quite believe it.

"No. I said I would take you shopping. I will sit in the car reading a paper, smoking fag after fag and complaining that you are taking too long. After you are done, I might buy you lunch."

Gene smiled wide when Alex laughed. "Well, when you put it that way. I'd love you to take me shopping."

"Good."

--

Gene parked in front of their building, moving quickly to open her door.

"That was a lovely evening Gene. Thank you." She still wore his big coat over her shoulders.

"My pleasure Alex."

As Alex fumbled in her bag for the keys, Gene leaned his shoulder against the wall, his hands stuck deep in his pockets. He cleared his throat.

"You know Alex, some blokes might at least expect a snog after a nice dinner like that."

Alex stopped searching for her keys, her eyes glancing downward before she looked up at him. Gene was staring at his feet.

"Only if, you know, you'd want to." He looked up, eyes more questioning that hopeful.

"OK." She took a step closer as he bent down, covering her mouth with his. Gene slipped both hands to her waist, under his coat, pulling her closer as her body curved against his. His big coat fell to the floor as her arms curled around his neck, his mouth moving softly against hers. Before she knew it or could stop she was running her tongue along his top lip, opening her mouth as Gene eagerly slid his tongue against hers, softly insistent as she sighed into him. He wrapped his arms tighter, one hand moving over the curve of her arse as neither of them seemed able to stop. Finally, needing a breath, they broke apart together.

He rested his forehead against hers. "Christ Alex. Kiss like that I might start to get the idea you like me."

Alex was breathing hard, her eyes still closed. Still shaking from the intensity of their kiss. "Gene... need to sit down."

"OK." He fished in his pocket for the keys and let them in, helping Alex to the sofa. "You alright?' He got on his knees on the floor in front of her.

"I'm sorry. Gene I'm sorry. I just, I couldn't stop, then I couldn't see straight."

"I 'ave been known to 'ave that effect on women" he chuckled."But it 'as been a while."

"Could you get me a glass of water please?"

He moved to the kitchen and was back in an instant. Alex drank eagerly.

"Was going to ask if you wanted a drink, but maybe you should just go to bed?"

Alex nodded. "I am quite tired." She looked into his eyes. "I'm sorry."

"No, no. Don't be sorry. First really big day out. Come on, let's get you into your jim-jams."

Once Alex had changed and got into bed Gene sat down next to her. He hadn't changed.

"You're not coming to bed?" She asked him.

"I'll be in in a bit. Is that OK?"

"Yes. Of course. Whenever you want." She shouldn't have asked him. She wasn't offering anything. Why did she ask him?

He kissed her lightly on the forehead before getting up and leaving the bedroom.

After he left, Alex lay in bed, replaying the evening in her mind. Gene could certainly be charming when he put his mind to it. He even managed a tolerable sense of humour. She suddenly, desperately wanted to make sense of it all. If she was in love with him she wanted to feel it. It was only fair to him.

When Gene came to bed about half an hour later he did his best to be quiet. He didn't want to wake her. Slipping quietly under the sheet, he moved as close as he dared. After watching her for a while, he lay on his back, hooking his fingers together behind his head, thinking about kissing her until he finally fell asleep.