Around fifteen minutes later, Ray, Chris and a team of forensics had arrived. Although, how Gene had managed to gather together four forensics officers at this hour, she would never know. Gene had left Alex sitting down in the bar whilst he went to join the investigation upstairs. She thought it best not to interfere. That wasn't her field area…she focussed on psychology, although even that, which she knew so well, seemed to be failing her. So Alex sat there, feeling totally helpless, huddled in Gene's thick overcoat, until she heard footsteps coming down into the bar. She could tell it wasn't Gene before she even saw the person. Light, agile footsteps could only mean it was Chris.

"You alright ma'am?" he asked her.

Alex nodded.

"We've nearly finished in the flat so we're gonna clean it up for you, yeah?"

"Thanks Chris." Alex gave the young DC a weak smile.

"Oh, and Luigi's got a room ready for you…for tonight. Also, the Guv told me to tell you that you can have tomorrow morning off if you want?"

"Right"

Chris turned to leave, but then remembered something else.

"Yeah, and he said that he'll have his coat back tomorrow."

"Okay. Night Chris"

"Night ma'am."

Alex stood up and waited until Chris' footsteps had faded away, then she followed him up and found the temporary flat that Luigi had prepared for her.

Alex lay staring upwards. She didn't feel tired any more and she just lay in the darkness. She couldn't get her head around what had happened during the day. Was Gene right in saying that the and the break-in were connected? If so, could the bullets have been meant to hit her and not Gene? Alex wrapped her arms around herself tightly. The other flat was warmer than this one.

She had spread Gene's heavy coat over the duvet in the hope that it would keep her a little warmer. It smelt of smoke, whiskey and aftershave, but surprisingly, Alex didn't care. She drifted in and out of sleep, dozing a little but never for long periods. Sleep just didn't want to come, and when it did, she would be haunted by clowns and memories of Molly, but always ending with her falling…always falling.

"I have to work this out. I have to fight this." She whispered into the darkness. "That's what Sam did. I can't let this beat me. But time…time's running out."

Gene Hunt stretched back in his office chair and picked up the first document in front of him. From where he sat in his office, he could see the rest of his department busy at work. A certain amount of pride surged through him when he saw that. Hunt sniffed carelessly, took a swig of coffee, and looked back at the document. However, he was distracted when he saw his DI walk through the department door and begin to talk with Ray. Frowning, Gene stood up and opened his office door.

"Oi Bolly" he called, causing her to look up at him.

"Yes?" she replied icily.

"I thought I told you to take the morning off? Or maybe Bo-Peep here didn't pass on the message!" Gene jabbed his finger in Chris' direction and glared at him.

She ignored him, and instead, threw him his large overcoat that she had been carrying over her arm.

"Hey, watch it!" Gene protested. "This coat is worth a lot! It's my favourite!"

"Right." Alex scoffed. "I suppose you need it to cover your massive male ego."

"Oh ha ha, Drake. Your wit and humour never ceases to amaze me." Gene growled sarcastically.

Alex gave a satisfying smile.

"Now stop being a dozy cow and get your backside in 'ere." Gene ordered, indicating his office. "The forensics papers have just come in."

Alex's eyes widened.

"Already? That was a bit quick! How did you get them in so late last night anyway?"

"Ah, see…I cunningly lured them in with a trail of breadcrumbs." Gene told her sarcastically.

Alex sighed with exasperation and followed her DCI into his office.

No sooner than she had stepped through the door, she heard another door slam open and a number of screams and yells erupted from behind her.