We Could Be Heroes
Chapter 5

Alex, and Gene had slept soundly, still fully clothed, and in each others arms. Gene hadn't even taken his coat off, let alone his boots. No dreams, no nightmares. First time for months, for them both. Alex woke first, dreading it had all been a dream. But watching Gene sleeping, touching his face gently with her finger tips, his lips, realised thankfully it was definitely real. She smiled, feeling better than she'd felt for so long. He stirred slightly, but didn't wake. Alex moved Gene's arm gently, getting up to make a coffee. She leaned on the door post, sipping her coffee, watching Gene's chest moving with his breathing. He was just how she remembered. His strong physique, his brooding looks, those eyes. Hair she'd always wanted spend a night running her fingers through. There wasn't a day since walking into the Railway Arms, that Alex hadn't thought about him. Alex also hadn't forgotten he had a dark side though. He could be stubborn, arrogant, conceited, never wrong, and downright impossible most days, and those were his good points! Deep down though he was a good man, and last night she felt she'd finally found he had a heart.

Her mind started drifting back to the other place. Molly was spending most of her time at Pete's, her Dad in Canada. Molly was engaged to a lad over there, so rarely came back. Alex had lost the one reason she went back, the only reason she left her Guv. Alex found it hard having Evan about too, she couldn't forget what she'd found out, why her parents died. She'd seen several shrinks, but none believed there was this other world, and the sessions always ended talking about that man, Gene. Ironic really, she couldn't sort her own head out. Depression had taken a big hold over her, even to the point she'd been off work sick, for months. One night it was just too much, she'd drunk nearly a bottle of Scotch, on top of several sleeping tablets, not by accident, then just laid on the couch, drifted off to sleep, with thoughts of Gene running round her head. Suddenly found herself back in Gene's world, this time she didn't want to go back. Alex had tried phoning the Guv, just to make sure he felt same way, wanted her back, but just couldn't bring herself to talk to him, when he answered. She was terrified he'd moved on, forgotten her. Alex had no idea what she would of done, although there was that female she'd seen Gene with, Alex hadn't forgotten that.

Gene woke with a start. Looked over at Alex.
"Shit Bols, what bloody time is it?"
That wasn't quite what Alex wanted as his first words, something romantic would of been nice.
"Probably time we both weren't here"
"We?"
"Yes, I was supposed to join you this week as your new DI"

Gene's heart sank, last night he'd been thinking, and planning all sorts, some pretty smutty stuff too, working with Bols again wasn't in those thoughts. Bugger.
"I'd better give you lift in then, I'll brief you on the way"
"It's probably best no one knows about last night" Gene said, thinking no one would bloody believe them anyway, and suddenly he wanted to forget it too.
"Ok Guv" Bols said, giving Gene one of her side ways flirty looks. The one that always made Gene's trousers feel a tad too tight.
It suddenly felt like Bols had never been away, for both of them.

George was cleaning downstairs.
"Morning Gene" George said smiling.
"Alex meet George, can't stop. Not a word, to anyone, George about last night" Gene said, hurrying up the stairs.
"Not a word" George shouted back. It was nice to see the old Gene back, George had missed him.

They both got into the Merc.
"Blimey Guv, this isn't the Quattro"
"You're bloody right Bols, observant as ever" Hunt said sarcastically.
Some times she could hit him, and had!

Hunt briefed Bols as they headed to the station. Bols couldn't believe Markham, Layton and Keats all in the frame. It was like picking up all the pieces again. She despised all 3, and couldn't wait to get involved in their downfall, especially Layton. The return of Carling had come as a nice surprise, she wasn't sure about Litton ending up at the Met, but felt sure the Guv had it all under control.

They parked up outside the station.
"Right Bols, you ready?"
"As I'll ever be" she took deep breath.
"Walk in together, you and me Bols, unbreakable" Hunt said with a twinkle in his eyes. Unbelievable, thought Bols, but kept that to herself
"Just don't hold my hand Guv"
Hunt threw her one of those looks, the one that made her toes curl, and a few other reactions she had no control over, but also could frighten the living daylights out of her.

They both walked through the main office swing doors together, you could of heard a pin drop. Carling was first to break the silence.
"As I live, and breathe, Alex Drake"
"Maam, to you Ray" Bols said laughing. It went very quiet again. Oh no Carling thought, not again. It's a bloody nightmare them working together. Litton said nothing, just thought Hunt was always a lucky bastard.

"Bols, step into my office"
They both walked into Hunt's office, the door closed, the blinds shut. Leaving everyone else to wonder what sort of welcome the Guv was actually giving Drake.

Hunt poured them both a large Scotch.

"Welcome back Bols"

"Thanks Guv, about last night?"

"It's forgotten" Hunt said coldly. In his head the relationship had to stay professional, that alone was already tearing him apart.

How could she forget the way Gene had held her, the way it made her feel. She felt he'd finally opened a door to her, and was now slowly closing it again. Why was everything so complicated where Gene Hunt was involved, damn you Gene Hunt, she thought, needing the Scotch although not even lunchtime.

Hunt sat down, reached into his bottom drawer

"Yours I believe" handing her the DI Drake name plate.

"Oh Guv, you kept it, how sweet" Bols said, obviously taking the piss.

"Don't bloody flatter yourself" Everything was back to normal.

"Right we've work to do Bols" they both finished their Scotch.

Hunt strode out the office, with new vigour in his step. Bols following behind, looking slightly flushed, from the Scotch. Carling shook his head,

"I'm sure the Guv is slipping her one, and probably while we've all been sat out here. Shouldn't be bloody allowed, it's not right" he said under his breath.

"You're just jealous Carling" Litton said with a grin.

"Me? Course not" But Carling wouldn't say no, should Bolly Knickers offer.

"Raymondo, Litton, come with us, let's go get Markham"

Hunt's team arrived at Markham's, with 2 plod cars, can't be to careful with these bastards. Posh gaff. You don't get all on a banker's wages, Hunt thought.

"Right Bols, with me. Carling, Litton round back with some of the plod. Rest just stay here"

Bols, went to ring the bell.

"Christ Bols, you're not the Avon lady!"

Hunt booted the door in.

"Police, Markham, you bastard"

Markham just stood up, from his sofa. He'd been expecting this, just wondered what had taken Hunt so long. All he had to do was play his part, lay some false trails, leading to, the demise of Hunt. This was going to be good to watch.

Hunt handcuffed Markham, without a struggle.

"You're nicked"

"What, no protesting Markham, you banker?"

"You're history Hunt, just like the rest of the Dinosaurs"

Hunt handed him to plod, with a shove.

"Take him back. I'll be back in a bit for a liitle chat" Hunt smiled.

"Let's have look around, see what we can find"

Or plant, Hunt thought. It did seem a bit strange, Markham hadn't tried to leg it, put up a struggle. All seemed a bit too easy. Something was niggling at Hunt's guts.

"Guv" Bols had found some paperwork, dates, times, cash amounts.

"We'll have that, need something linking him to Layton, Keats, or both. Must be something here"

Carling, and Litton were being quite thorough, well trashing upstairs.

"Guv, up here"

Hunt couldn't believe the mess, but it did make him smile. Looks like my flat, on a good day, he thought. There was locked cabinet sunk into floor, under carpet tiles.

"Get crowbar, back of Merc Litton"

"Yes Guv, pleasure"

Between them they broke lock open. A treasure chest. Several thousand pounds in notes. 2 packs of drugs, and a list of names, phone numbers. One caught Hunt's attention, Cartwright's!

"I'll get plod clear this lot out. Good find" Hunt put the list of phone numbers in his pocket.

"Thanks Guv"

Hunt noticed Bols was missing. Went back downstairs, where he found her going through Markham's bins.

"You make a bloody hobby of this Bols"

But she'd found what he most wanted, another link to Keats. Just a simple note Markham had screwed up, and binned. With Terry's family album pics of Keats getting into car registered to Markham, the ID from Steve Taylor, they had some tools for interrogation. Needed keep the brief at bay, just long enough to have a chat Hunt thought.

"We'll let Markham have nights free B&B, pub"

"Nice one Guv" said Carling.

Cartwright's was quiet, just couple of diners in.

"Couple bottles of Bollinger George" Hunt ordered.

"Oh Guv, that's a poufs drink" Carling said, suddenly wishing he hadn't. George just ignored it. Twat, he thought.

"What we celebrating anyway Guv" Litton asked

"The return of my team Derek, the return of my team, oh, and you"

Litton just smiled, but he hated Hunt sometimes, he would get even. Him, and Carling went and sat down. Bols, and Hunt stood at the bar, obviously trying to stand not to close to each other.

"Hi, Alex, are you ok now?" George asked, then thought perhaps he shouldn't of, especially when Gene scowled at him.

"I'm good, thanks. Am I ok to use the flat"

"Of course Alex, I've even cleared the mess out today, thought you might need it" George smiled, be good having someone around he thought.

"Those 2 are hiding something" Carling said watching them.

"You don't need a degree in applied bollocks to see there's something going on" Litton replied. Carling was glad to see Drake back, he had enormous respect for her, but she was trouble for the Guv, always had been, she could destroy him without even trying. The Guv's mood had definitely lifted, but there was also something troubling him, Carling hoped it was work.

George took the Bollinger over to the table. Hunt, and Bols followed. George opened one bottle, Hunt the other.

"My team, un bloody breakable"

"Unbreakable" they all replied, clanking their glasses.

"Now can I have a pint Guv" Carling asked, Litton agreed, they all laughed. Nothing changes thought Bols.

"2 of your finest George, for the heathens" Hunt ordered with a grin, he wanted to talk to George about the phone numbers found at Markham's, but tonight wasn't the time.

After few more pints, Carling and Litton decided leave the Guv, and Bols to it. It was starting to get obvious they wanted to be on their own.

"See you in the morning Guv, looking forward to a little chat with Markham" Carling said heading to the door.

"Night, good work today"

Carling, and Litton looked at each other, blimey Bols must be getting to him

"I should go too Bolly Kecks, busy day tomorrow" Gene was getting pissed, Bolly always went to his head, both of them, and didn't want to do anything he may want to forget tomorrow.

Alex's heart sank, she could feel herself starting to cry.

"Stay" she said, almost pleading.

"I can't" Gene said, longing too. He noticed a tear running down Bolly's face. He put his hand on her face, wiping the tear away. Alex put her hand on his.

"Don't bloody do this to me Alex" Gene said coldly, pulling his hand away. He never called her Alex. Bols, Bolly, Bolly Kecks, pain in the arse, but never Alex.

"Is there someone else" Alex said quietly.

"Don't be ridiculous" Gene snapped

"But I saw you, the night before we..."

"What you saw was that bastard Ray setting me up, and that reminds me I still owe him. Just go upstairs Bolly, get settled in, have some rest. You're just tired. I'll see you in the morning"

Gene put on his coat, and went up the stairs, without even a look back.

Already Alex was wishing she'd not come back. Gene was so unpredictable, one minute close, the next so far away, her emotions were all over the place. Perhaps he was right, she just needed decent nights sleep. It had been a rollercoaster since she'd returned.

Gene stood top of the steps for some while. He wasn't sure how much more he could take of this. He'd got what he wanted for so long, his Bolly back, but it was tearing him apart, and could see it was doing the same to her, which hurt even more. All he wanted was to go back down the stairs, spend the night with her, spend rest of his bloody life with her. Thank God he was still sober enough, to pretend to be a bastard.

Alex took bottle of Bollinger, and glass upstairs. Once inside the flat, started sobbing, throwing both against the kitchen wall.

"Damn you Gene Hunt" she screamed.

George had watched it all, and heard her in the flat. It made him think of Sam and Annie, they were always destined to be together. These were too, he thought, if only they just give in to it, and let it happen ..