So last night I couldn't sleep and I couldn't stop typing and I got two chapters done. I know this is taking a while to get going but it's just the way the story is taking me. Thanks to everyone for keeping with it and please don't forget to review.

Walking into CID after their shopping trip, Shaz and Vicky felt a bit disappointed to find it empty. They placed all the bags on the floor up the corner except for putting the pharmacy one into Vicky's handbag, and it wasn't long before Shaz found the note that Chris had left for her.

Shaz,

Gone to Luigi's

I'll save you a chair and get you a drink

Don't leave me too long

Chris

Xx

'Come on then' Shaz turned to Vicky 'it's time to get drunk' she smiled and waited for her to catch up before walking out towards Luigi's.

Steve sat nervously alone at the bar; it wasn't that he didn't want to fit in with the rest of them; it was that after talking to Alex he needed to speak to Vicky, particularly before she went undercover and he was trying to gain the courage and think what to say to her. He didn't have long to gain much courage as he could hear her laughter from where he was sat. All of the noise the Fenchurch lot was making and he could hear only her; that had to mean something didn't it?

Still reeling from what Shaz just said, Vicky followed her into the mass of bodies that were crowded into the small Italian restaurant and sat down next to Chris with Shaz upon his lap. She noticed Steve looking a little lost and nervous so she gave him an encouraging smile and a little wave, the silent question of if he was coming over to join them in her eyes. He nodded and smiled then gestured to the bar to see if she wanted a drink. After laughing at her over-enthusiastic nodding; he picked up the two glasses and made his way to the table, managing to grab the last available chair which just happened to be the one opposite hers. He placed her glass in front of her - her usual, he'd memorised it since the first time she'd had a drink with him, and took a drink of his own. Regretful for the fact he couldn't get her on her own – yet.

After an hour of non-stop drinking, talking and general merriment; Shaz caught Vicky's eye and nodded at the far corner. Vicky turned and then with wide eyes and an even wider mouth, turned back to face Shaz.

'Are they always like that?' she questioned

'Yeah I told you didn't I?' Shaz giggled

Vicky nudged Steve and pointed towards the corner, he turned to see Alex leaning over the table with her head held up by one of her hands whilst the other was playing with the rim of her wine glass; and Gene had his face as close as possible to hers without touching, almost mirroring her position. They were laughing, joking and completely oblivious to their audience as they continued their obviously intimate conversation.

'Are they dating?' Steve shockingly asked

'The guv doesn't DO dating' Ray scoffed 'he just wants to get in her knickers is all, and she obviously isn't putting out. Don't understand why he won't give up.' He shook his head and turned away, disgusted at the subject of 'dating' the conversation had turned to.

Shaz glared at his back, but deciding on not saying anything, she stood up to get a round of drinks in and asked Vicky to accompany her to help her carry them back.

Standing around waiting for Luigi to finish with another customer, Vicky turned and leant her back against the bar. It was then that Gene once again nodded her to come over. As she approached, she wondered if she would tire of being summoned and sighed at the thought of what she would have to do during this undercover operation.

'Sir?' she asked once she reached him and immediately wafted the smoke from his cigarette away from her face, making Alex smile to her self.

'I want you in early tomorrow. I'm planning on us starting the operation in the afternoon, so we need to get sorted as soon as.'

'Ok sir, I'll just say goodbye to everyone and head over to CID to get my bags then I'll go to the hotel to get organised.'

As she started to walk away Gene grabbed her wrist and she spun around to face him.

'You don't need to leave now.'

'It's ok sir, if I leave now I can get a cheap taxi – its fine really.' She smiled reassuringly at him.

Gene sighed and turned to face Alex, seeing in her face that she already knew what he was about to suggest.

'Stay a few more hours and I'll drop you and lover boy over there off at your hotel and you can keep all of your stuff in CID overnight until we need it. There's no bloody point in taking it to the hotel to bring it back again!'

'Oh ok thank you sir' and with that she scuttled back over to the bar to help Shaz. Gene turned back to Alex, saw her grinning and shook his head.

'Not a word bolly, not a bloody word.'

Half carrying and half dragging an inebriated Steve from the Quattro to the hotel lifts on her own; because Gene Hunt does not 'carry sissy nancy boys who can't be man enough to handle their drink', Vicky realised all too late that she didn't know what room number Ste was occupying. So she did the only thing she could do, she dragged him up to her room, dropped him in the single armchair and covered him with a spare blanket. She then opened her handbag to retrieve the pharmacy bag and took the box out from within it, carrying it to the bathroom and sat on the toilet to read the instructions.

Alex swirled the wine in her glass as she sat thinking. She couldn't believe that Gene had offered to drive both Vicky and Steve to the hotel; it was so out of character for him, it made her smile at the thought of what else is hidden under the tough man façade he projects and if she would ever get a chance to see that side of him. She stole a glance at the clock, it had been half hour since he'd driven them to the hotel and he obviously wasn't coming back. She downed the rest of her wine and made her way to her flat to get some much needed sleep.

After walking into Luigi's and seeing that everyone had left; Gene had ordered a quick drink, which he proceeded to down in one, and walked towards Alex's flat. After knocking and shouting the obligatory 'Open up! Police!' Gene waited and waited; until he could finally hear shuffling about. The door sprung open to reveal a sleepy eyed Alex dressed only in her dressing gown.

'You got some poncy twat in here bolls?' Gene asked, desperately trying to keep his eyes on her face but failing when the gown started to slip off her shoulder.

'No Gene' she sighed 'I'm not the tart you think I am you know.'

'Hmmph I bet you are bolls, if the way you're shoving your tits in my face is anything to go by.'

Whilst she was distracted by pulling her dressing gown tighter around herself; Gene stalked into her living room and proceeded to sprawl himself across her sofa.

'Oh do come in Gene.' She replied sarcastically 'and while your at it, why don't you make yourself comfortable?' she added when she noticed how he had placed himself within her living room.

'Thanks, I will do. Look bolls, I'm not gonna pussyfoot about. You have some knowledge that you are going to share with me whether you like it or not.'

She was definitely confused now; all information she had on the case, she had shared with Gene and the rest of CID.

Her perplexed facial expression spurred him on and he sat up properly so she could sit down next him.

'I don't have any kids bolls, I want you to tell me what I should be like. I'm fucked if I know how to act like a dad, especially an overprotective one.'

She smiled to herself then; fully understanding what was going on. This is his way of asking for advice, he would never say he'd need something – it would make him seem weak.

'Well, you know how you drove Vicky and Ste home earlier? It's actions like that, just act like she's the most precious thing in the world but at the same time mix that with your own brash, controlling, need-to-know-everything personality and you should be fine.'

He hung his head and nodded, but she could tell that he didn't fully mean it.

Finally lifting his head to look at her, he replied.

'Bolls, gimme some more detail.'

'Well, a parent wants what's best for their child, but an overprotective one will constantly try to control them. You're going to need act as if Vicky needs to tell you where she is going, who with and what time she will be back. If any guys come near her you are going to have to get all menacing and scare them off as quickly as possible because no way would an overprotective parent allow their daughter to have a boyfriend. Also when you are in public, you have to make a spectacle of making any and all decisions for her. When you two are in public, she will basically be dependant on you to say what she can do.'

He nodded again and she could tell that he fully understood what he had to do. He then suddenly got up and headed into her kitchen, where he then decided to rummage in her cupboards. Wondering what he was doing, Alex followed him.

'Gene, what the hell do you think you are…' She was interrupted by a bottle being thrust in her face.

'Come on bolls, I need to get pissed.' He spoke as he stalked past her and flopped back onto the sofa. He then poured a measure of vodka into each of the glasses and held one out for her. Which she gratefully took, consolidating herself with the fact that she may not see him for a few days so she might as well make the most of it.