YOU ARE NOT ALONE

My First Amy/Alex fic – tell me what you think!

Disclaimer: Mt. Thomas and all characters belong to Blue Heelers, Southern Star and Channel 7. Lyrics belong to Geelong Footy Club, Powderfinger and Foreigner.

PART ONE

"Amy!"

Amy stuck her head out of her office where she had been deeply engaged in her own wandering thoughts under the pretense of writing a report.

She traced the voice to the Sergeant who was sitting at his desk, a phone in his hand.

"Yes Mark?"

"There's been a torching of a property out on Widgeree Rd. A Mr Douglas, suspected arson. You might want the use of a uniform?"

"What about PJ?" Amy inquired.

"He's finishing his last pages of ceremonial paperwork. I was thinking maybe just give him a quiet ride out for his last day. Susie and Evan are out on patrol and Kelly and Joss are-"

Suddenly an ear-splitting shriek came from the ceiling and both Amy and Mark winced.

"-changing the batteries on the fire alarms."

"Sorry!" Kelly's voice wafted in from the front desk and Mark shook his head.

"Do you want to take Senior Constable Kirby?"

"Okay."

She turned to survey the station. She saw messy desks, scratched filing cabinets, mountains of paperwork, but no Kirby.

"Alex!"

Amy raised her voice in an effort to locate the Leading Senior Constable.

He emerged from the mess room a couple of moments later and gave Amy a low bow.

"How can I be of service ma'am? Coffee?" He offered her his mug which was adorned by the Geelong Cats logo.

Amy raised her eyebrows.

"In a Cats mug? Are you joking? Blue and white, 'We are Geelong, the greatest team of all,
we are Geelong, we're always on the ball'? Not in this lifetime."

"Ah, a chick who follows her footy. I respect that."

"Actually I don't – but it's interesting what you read in public toilets."

"Hey, whatever." Alex surrendered taking a sip.

"You called?"

"You're coming with me to a torching on Widgeree Road. Suspected arson."

Alex walked over to her, leaning against the desk, dangerously close to her.

"To what do I owe this honour?"

Amy rolled her eyes pushing him away.

"Believe me, it isn't by choice that you're coming with me. More like last resort."

"Come on Foxy, you know you love me deep down. I know I do." His eyes sparkled.

"Baby I've got you on my mind" He crooned.

"Honey you won't ever know,

How much I need ya by my side,

Promise you I'll never go-"

"Kirby if you don't put a sock in it, I can't make any promises about the state of your physical health in the coming moments."

"Ooh. Fiesty…I could get used to that! I think I feel another song coming on!" Alex announced as they got into the CI car.

Sighing, Amy resigned herself to the fact that he was not going to shut up.

"You're cold as ice….you never take advice….it happens all the time…you're closing the door, you leave the world behind…"

As hard as she tried to block out his off-key singing, his words still penetrated her ears and Amy couldn't help think that maybe they had a bit of truth to them.

"Anything else turns up, you can call the Mt Thomas station. Failing that, there's not much more we can do." Amy told an old Mr Douglas, an hour and a half later.

"But there must be!" The old man's face showed his age as he looked up in desperation.

The fire had been a bad one. Almost the whole property had been destroyed along with sheds of produce, most of his house and years of memories.

"I'm really sorry but we just cannot find any evidence."

"It was that flaming kid down the road. I know it was!"

"I'm sorry but we've paid him a visit and he has a confirmed alibi for last night. If anything else comes to mind, you can give us a call."

"Failing this, I hope you have a good relationship with your insurance provider!" Alex cracked.

"God you're an insensitive prick." Amy snapped as they walked back to the car.

"What?" He asked.

"That man has just lost almost everything he owns and you're making cracks about insurance."

"Hey, I was just stating facts."

"God, you know what?" Amy said crossly as they approached the CI car. "Forget it, you are impossible. I bet you have never suffered through anything in your life."

"Hey." He said, his voice losing its bravado. "That's not fair."

"Prove me wrong."

"I might prove you wrong on a lot of conceptions you have about me. That is, if I'm given the chance."

He touched her waist. His hand was warm and gentle but after years of unwanted touching, she flinched without thinking.

"Stop it!" She almost shouted, unwanted tears reflexively springing to her eyes.

Visibly shocked, Alex quickly withdrew his hand.

"I-I'm sorry."

Amy leaned against her the door, closing her eyes momentarily. She felt violated although she knew she had no reason to feel threatened. Alex might be a clown who could take a joke too far but Amy knew he was no monster and was suddenly hit with a stab of remorse.

"Look it's not you-" She started but was interrupted.

"If it's about your childhood-"

His voice petered out and their eyes met for a second, before hers dropped to the ground.

"I didn't know you knew." She said finally.

"I know enough."

"Can we – can we leave it at this please? I don't talk about this and I'd like it if you respected that." Amy asked, biting her lip, acutely aware of the awkwardness of this situation.

"Of course I will. But Amy – I care." He said looking at her earnestly, for once surrendering his usual class clown demeanour.

"We all care. And we're all here…especially me."

Amy was surprised that when she looked up his eyes were still on her, his face caring and giving.

"Thank you."