Not many festive Galex fics around this year, it seems. Oh well, here's my two-part contribution to keep the flag flying at least. Hope you enjoy!
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All I Want For Christmas
Chapter 1
"Good morning, DI Drake. And how are we this fine December day?"
Alex looked up, favouring the young officer with a warm smile.
"All the better for seeing you, DS Angelo."
And it was true. There was a definite glow about Archie, he was one of those rare people who could light up a room with his presence. She had to admit he was very easy on the eye with his dark good looks and his taste in immaculately fitting suits, but she suspected it had more to do with his open, friendly personality and ready humour. Whatever, most people around him seemed to respond immediately to his easy charm. Apart from one, that is. A certain bad-tempered DCI.
Gene appeared to have taken an instant dislike to the poor bloke the minute he walked through the door, almost as though he blamed him personally for Ray's absence. Archie had only been with them a few weeks, acting as DS Carling's temporary replacement after he'd taken a bullet to the shoulder, and it was hardly his fault Ray had chosen such a busy time to get himself shot. Alex knew it was really the fact that Archie was Gene's polar opposite that irked her superior officer so much, though. DS Angelo was suave, sophisticated, well-spoken, cultured … and to make matters worse he and she had hit it off almost immediately. They'd already been out together several times in the last few weeks – lunches, dinner, and once to the theatre – and she'd thoroughly enjoyed herself every time.
Strangely, despite all his obvious charms, it seemed destined to remain a perfectly platonic relationship on both sides. There was just no spark of attraction between them, and his interest in her seemed more fraternal than anything else. She wondered idly if Archie was actually gay and suppressed a smirk. What a disappointment that would be to the female population of Fenchurch East.
She glanced over at him again, his dark head now bent over the massive pile of paperwork the Guv had deliberately dumped on his desk. There was something oddly sexless about him, she mused. Try as she might, she just couldn't imagine him doing anything as undignified as breaking into a sweat, never mind getting down and dirty between the sheets.
"DI Drake. You plan ter spend the whole day droolin' over that smarmy git, or is there a possibility of yer doin' any actual work at some point?"
Gene's low growl vibrated close to her ear and she swallowed hard, temporarily at a loss for words as she gazed up into the mesmerising steely-blue eyes that haunted most of her dreams. His face was mere inches from hers, his lips set in the usual sexy pout, and a shiver of arousal skittered down her spine and took up residence between her thighs.
"My office, if yer don't mind, Lady Bols. Soon as."
He stalked off and she tried to gather her wits. How did he manage to reduce her to a quivering wreck with just one blistering look? The mere proximity of him always made her heart pound erratically and her knees go weak. Unlike Archie, the Guv positively oozed sex appeal from every pore. Six feet of rampant testosterone in a suit, he ruled his kingdom with a rod of iron and the sheer force of his magnetic personality. He was alpha with a capital 'A': dominant, masterful, imposing, with a world weary demeanour and those rugged good looks … the Manc lion on the prowl was indeed a sight to behold. He was the undisputed king of his own jungle and oh, how she'd love to unleash the beast in him.
She took a deep breath and released it slowly, hoping her legs would support her when she stood. Archie glanced up and flashed her a lopsided grin, rolling his eyes in a gesture of support and understanding. He'd been on the receiving end of DCI Hunt's sharp tongue numerous times since his arrival and yet nothing seemed to ruffle him, not even the Guv on the rampage. Oh God, she hoped he hadn't overheard Gene's sarcastic comment about the drooling, especially as it was so far removed from the truth …
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Archie watched with interest as Alex sashayed her way into Gene's office, head held high, hips swaying provocatively. He'd been observing the two of them since the minute he arrived and the sizzling chemistry between them was unmistakeable: the air almost crackled with static when they were in a room together, their mutual desire clear for anyone with eyes to see. It went much deeper than just a physical attraction though, tempered as it was by respect and a growing affection which they were both doing their level best to hide. On the surface they appeared to be chalk and cheese but it was clear to him that they were meant to be together, they were both just too stubborn to admit their feelings. Add to that a fear of rejection, especially on Gene's part, and the worry of how a romantic liaison might affect their working relationship and it was no surprise that they'd become stuck in this limbo: both of them lonely and frustrated, but reluctant to disrupt the status quo.
Still, it seemed all his plans were finally coming to fruition and in the nick of time too, seeing as it was only two days until Christmas and he was due to finish at Fenchurch East that very afternoon. All that remained was to continue pushing the Guv's buttons whatever chance he got, make sure he knew that his stand-in DS had a date with Alex that night, and then keep his fingers crossed. His instincts told him that DCI Hunt's jealously had progressed from a low simmer to something approaching boiling point, he just needed to throw a little more fuel on the fire to be absolutely sure. And then, having lit the blue touch paper, retire gracefully and await the inevitable explosive results.
He grinned to himself, watching the two of them clash over something, their unresolved sexual tension subsumed in aggression yet again. They were mere inches apart, Alex windmilling her arms in frustration as Gene clenched his jaw, eyes flashing, his hands balled into fists. They really needed to get horizontal before one of them spontaneously combusted. He felt a momentary pang of regret. The Guv was one lucky man, having a gorgeous, feisty, intelligent woman like Alex Drake in his life. Archie sighed, knowing all his efforts would once more go undetected and unappreciated.
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Later that day Gene glanced up from his desk and narrowed his eyes in annoyance. DS Angelo was perched on the edge of Alex's desk, the two of them deep in conversation. Smarmy bastard. Can't leave her alone for longer than five bloody minutes. He gritted his teeth, tempted to go out there and tell him to get back to work, but he knew that would just make it seem like he saw the other man as some kind of a threat. Archie leaned over to whisper something close to her ear and Alex's peal of laughter made Gene clench his fists, the muscle in his jaw twitching in irritation. Why could he never make her laugh nowadays? Seemed they did nothing but snipe at one another since lover boy arrived on the scene. She even spent most of her time at Luigi's sitting at the bar with him, leaving Gene to occupy their table alone - miserable, frustrated and morose.
Archie reached out to squeeze Alex's shoulder affectionately and Gene felt a sharp stab of jealousy somewhere beneath his ribcage and a sudden urge to walk out there and punch him right in the handsome gob. He ground his teeth, wondering why it suddenly mattered so much. As Archie got up to return to his desk, his parting remark carried to Gene's straining ears.
"Ah, but that would spoil the surprise now, wouldn't it, DI Drake? I promise you'll have fun, though. Just make sure you wrap up warm, OK?"
It was clear they had yet another date that evening, and seeing as it was his last night Gene was willing to bet he'd be planning to get inside her knickers. Over my dead body. He could feel the pressure building inside his head, his control slipping as unfamiliar feelings began to boil up inside him, threatening to overwhelm his better judgement. The Manc Lion does not do jealousy. I'm just lookin' out for her, that's all. Bloody woman's a liability when it comes ter blokes, needs me around to make sure she doesn't get taken advantage of. And in that very instant he knew exactly what he needed to do …
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Want to know what Gene's got up his sleeve? Better let me know, then! :)