Michael Sampson was tied to a wooden chair, his mouth gagged and his clothes dirty and torn. He was visibly weak yet his eyes were wide, staring at them painfully. The team ran towards him and began pulling at the ropes on his hands and legs. Gene pulled the gag out of his mouth.

"You alrigh'?" He asked, as the man stood up awkwardly, stretching his trembling legs.

"What do you think? I've been tied to this chair for god knows how long without any food whatsoever!" The man spat angrily, his face filled with venom as he stared up at Gene.

"Well if yer gunna be like that I can easily tie you back up you ungrateful bastard." Gene muttered. Alex widened her eyes at his lack of care for the poor man, before scowling at Gene as their eyes met.

"Michael, we'll get you to hospital to get checked over." Alex said sympathetically. Michael's face softed slightly, and he nodded gently as they began to walk out, swallowing deeply.

"Lizzie! What have they done with Lizzie? If they've laid a hand on her I swear to God-" Michael suddenly shouted out, panicking. His face was etched with worry, his eyes wide and frightened for his daughter.

"We've got Lizzie back at the station, we've been looking after her for the past few days, don't worry - she's perfectly fine." Alex replied gently. Michael exhaled deeply, rubbing his hands over his face as the realisation that everything was going to be okay hit him.

"Thank god." He murmured. "If they'd have done anything to her I swear to God.." He trailed off, shaking his head. "But she's okay." A small smile appeared on his face, perhaps the first to grace his skin in a long time. Alex smiled too, glad that the case was solved. She helped the man walk out, until handing him to a uniformed officer who took him to the police car, wrapping a blanket round him. The team walked out of the building and watched the vehicle pull away.

"Does anyone else think this was.. I dunno.. a bit too easy? They didn't seem to make it too hard for us, I mean-" Ray pondered aloud as they walked towards the Quattro.

"Yes Ray, cos' Drake getting kidnapped, a full on car chase, a whole street search and traipsing around the bloody countryside is definately easy." Gene barked back sarcastically. Ray immediately blushed and slunked into the car, embarrassed.

They entered CID to find Elizabeth running at them, her eyes wide.

"Have you found him? Have you? Where is he?" She began hunting round, trying to see whether or not he'd entered the room with the team. Her face began to contort into an expression of panic as she realised he wasn't with them.

"He's at the hospital getting checked over, we'll get someone to take you over soon." Elizabeth's face then lit up, a smile spreading across her face. Relief swam over her as she ran over to Shaz and hugged her. They'd both been spending a lot of time together over the past few days, despite the fact she was meant to be staying at Alex's; the events over the past few days had decided otherwise. Shaz walked out with Chris and Elizabeth, who was chattering about her dad. Ray made a face and sat down, grabbing his packet of cigarettes. Alex turned to Gene, raising her eyebrows, with a small smile on her lips.

"We've done it again Drakey." Gene said as they made their way into his office.

"Yes, we have." Alex smiled gently, taking the glass of drink that Gene was offering her. They chinked glasses before silently taking a sip. The pair sat in silence for a while, mulling over the events of the past few days. Alex then took a deep breath and turned away from Gene, her eyes suddenly beginning to well up. She'd hardly had time to think over the past few days, and now the events and emotions were catching up on her as she relaxed.

"Bols?" Gene asked inquisitively, half hoping she'd stop so he didn't have to show his sensitive side.

"Mhm?" Alex quickly wiped her eyes and held the tears, turning quickly back to him, trying her best to hide the fact she'd let her emotions take over. But she wasn't strong enough and her eyes were quickly welling up again. She put a hand under her nose to try and stop herself but it was to no prevail.

"You, er, wanna talk?" Gene asked awkwardly. This was not something he was used to. Alex regained control and shook her head, forcing a smile.

"It's nothing, really."

"Bols if it's nothing then I'm Cindy Crawford's left nipple." Alex laughed gently, this time a genuine smile spreading across her face. "Come on, you can tell the Gene Genie. I don't want you cryin' now do I, not when we've just cracked the case!" Gene attempts at comforting her were poor, but somehow they worked.

"It's just.. Elizabeth... she was so happy to hear her dad was okay.. I want my daughter to hear that I'm okay, Gene. I want her to be happy to hear that I'm going to come back, that I'm going to survive.." Tears were again falling down Alex's face as thoughts of her daughter overcame her.

"Now Alex, I haven't a clue what yer on about, but I'm sure you'll see her soon." Gene tried to comfort her again, to which Alex just nodded. Gene then suddenly grabbed her hand, sending shivers up each of their arms. He squeezed it gently, before adding "It'll be fine Bolly, trust me." Alex looked up into his blue-grey eyes, which - despite appearing cold and hard - were one of the biggest comforts to her in the world right now.

"Will it Gene?" She asked. The tears had stopped but her eyes were still watery and red. Gene squeezed her hand again reassuringly.

"Course it will." He smiled. It wasn't often that Gene genuinely smiled, but here he was, smiling and holding Alex's hand. This definately wasn't normal.. maybe there was a sensitive side to the Manc Lion after all.

I don't know whether to end it there or not. Obviously from now on the storyline won't be to do with the whole kidnapping malarky, so I might make the next part a separate sequel instead, more focused on Galex etc and their building relationship - the plot will take a backwards stance. I don't really like the way I've written this Fic that much, I feel I could have done a lot better! So hopefully next time I can improve and focus a bit more! If you want me to continue with this I shall, although I feel a sequel will fit a bit better? Got some ideas up my sleeve so hopefully I can write it up. :) Thanks for all the reviews and things etc, they really mean a lot. Look out for a sequel or something! - I might just end up adding to this you never know. :) Sorry, I'm rambling, but thank you all! Love, Gracie xxxx