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"What?"

A man had smashed his way into the department and was now holding two pistols, one aimed at Chris and the other aimed at Ray, who, along with the rest of the department team, were cowering on the floor. The man in question could not be identified, as he wore all black, with a black balaclava obscuring his face. He was breathing heavily and stood blocking the doorway, and the only exit.

"Okay…everyone stay calm." Alex murmured, lowering herself to the ground.

Gene strode forwards, pushing past her.

"Mate, I don't know what you're up to, but I really don't appreciate you barging into my kingdom and waving a bleedin' gun around, threatening my team, alright?!" He yelled, seemingly oblivious to the fact that the attacker was currently wielding two guns and could shoot at any second.

The man glared at Gene, his eyes ablaze through the slits in his balaclava. He moved his aim from Chris to Gene, focussing on the DCI's forehead.

"Gene Hunt." The man's voice was sly and sinister. "You're really beginning to get on my nerves."

He took a step forward, but Gene was still not phased by the gun that was moving ever closer to his head. Alex, who was crouching on the floor next to Ray, reached out and touched Gene's leg gently.

"Gene…"

"How'd he get in anyway?" Ray whispered.

The man spoke again. "Let's just say that I'm a familiar face. You know, Mister Hunt, I thought your DI here made a wise move in having you suspended from office. Just about the only useful thing she's done...and then she decides that it's too cruel." He put on a mock-innocent voice. "She felt bad and wanted to get her 'Geney's' job back so she went running to Caroline Price and the authorities."

He laughed cruelly.

Gene frowned and looked down at Alex, who averted her gaze, not wanting to meet his eyes. So it was Alex who got the suspension lifted? Why hadn't she told him? The man's eyes lit up gleefully as he saw Gene's reaction.

"Oh, she hadn't told you, had she? Right, Alex Drake…stand up."

Alex hesitated. She recognised that voice, didn't she? She just couldn't place it.

"NOW!" the man screamed shrilly.

"Get up Bolly." Gene muttered.

Alex swallowed and stood up slowly. She moved instinctively closer to Gene, her arm brushing against his.

The man now swung the other gun round so that one was directed at Gene and one was on Alex. His back was still against the door, so nobody could get out or even attempt to.

"I've had so many opportunities. So many chances to do it."

"What the bleedin' 'ell are you harking on about?" Gene barked.

"SHUT IT!" The man shouted before stroking Alex's face with the gun. She shivered and her breathing quickened considerably. "Alex…Drake. You seem to be a very lucky woman. I did not succeed yesterday morning, although I see you haven't got a new window yet."

Alex swallowed with apprehension and the man continued in that same sinister voice.

"…and you were not in your flat when I went to pay you a little visit last night. So, now's my chance. I can do it properly now."

The whole room seemed to be holding its breath and the silence was somewhat deafening.

"Here's the deal." The man announced suddenly. "I take one of you hostage and if you don't give me seventy-five thousand pounds by this time tomorrow, then…I kill the hostage." He finished simply.

"Seventy-five thousand pounds?! What's that for then?" exclaimed Chris before he could stop himself.

The man didn't even turn to look at the DC, but kept staring straight at Alex and Gene.

"I believe…Chris Skelton…that that information is not part of the deal."

Chris winced at the use of his name. Gene, who had been keeping quiet, lifted his head.

"I never agreed to the deal." He stated calmly.

The man smiled menacingly through his eyes, and shifted his weight from one foot to the other.

"Oh, and I forgot to tell you the best part…you two get to decide between you who will be my hostage."

Alex took a step forward. "Now, stop this…nobody is going to be anyone's hostage. Let's all just calm down."

"Oh really DI Drake?" the man laughed mockingly. "You seem to be forgetting that I am holding a gun to your head and that it wouldn't take too much effort to gently…pull…the…trigger. Now, between you, decide!" he ordered.

Gene didn't even hesitate.

"I'll go if it'll shut you up." he said.

Alex leapt in front of him and took his arm, surprising him slightly. They were now facing each other and they stared at each other for a good ten seconds before she spoke.

"No. Gene I can't let you do that. It's me he wants. Let me go…I can talk to him."

Gene stood firmly and scowled at her.

"Stop talking rubbish Bolly. You are not going, you hear me?"

"Shut up Hunt. I can do this, alright?"

"No."

The man was growing impatient and he clucked his tongue mockingly.

"As touching as this little scene is…" he said loudly, a edge to his voice.

But Alex quickly turned round to face the man again.

"We've decided. Take me…I'll go."

Gene grabbed her hand as she began to walk towards the attacker.

"Alex."

Alex halted, as the use of her first name by Gene was a rare occurrence. He had always come up with his own little nicknames for her or called her by her last name…but never her first name. This is why it made such an impact on her, like a blow to the head. She spun around and put her arms around his neck in a strong, very-much-needed embrace that startled him. Gene responded by hugging her back, albeit a little awkwardly.

"Trust your instincts, Gene." She whispered in his ear, before reluctantly letting go of him and nodding at the man.

She moved before Gene could grab hold of his DI again. The man indicated for Alex to move so that she was now closest to the door, with the gun still positioned next to her head, whilst the other gun was being panned across the room.

"Nice meeting you all then." The man said with no trace of remorse in his voice. "Alex will give you a little telephone call telling you the location to hand over the money. Then you can have…oh, what did you call her?" he directed this question at Gene, who's mouth was firmly closed and his eyes blazed angrily. "Oh, yes…'Bolly'. How sweet. Well, when I get the money, you can have darling 'Bolly' back. Yes? Or I might change my mind, you never know!"

And with that, he shoved Alex through the doors, followed her, and then locked them shut before walking out of sight.

The rest of the department shakily rose to their feet. Chris and Ray both looked to Gene. The Manc Lion roared and kicked furiously at the nearest office chair, sending it cascading into the corner of the room with a loud crash.

"Guv?" Ray ventured.

"He's locked us in, Guv!" exclaimed Chris, walking over to check the doors.

"Raymundo, Chris! Find out everything you can about Evan White." Gene barked at them.

"Evan White?" Ray questioned. "Hey, isn't he that bloke that Drake was goin' out with?"

Gene turned on him. "Firstly, it's DI Drake to you! And secondly, she wasn't going out with him! Blimey Carling, you sound like you're back in school!" Gene fumed.

"That nutter sounded exactly like that Evan bloke!" Chris realised, a little slowly.

"Oh well done! We've got two real geniuses in building!" shouted Gene sarcastically. "It's nice to know that my supposedly best DC and DS are on the bleedin' ball today!"

Ray and Chris exchanged nervous glances.