Alex threw the roses straight in the bin. She was shaking and like earlier, after the dog had spoke to her, she felt sick. Walking over to the settee she downed the first bottle of wine without battering an eyelid. She felt her eyes get heavy as the effects of the wine took hold.

Just before she nodded off she returned her thoughts to Gene. This would be the first night since the Prices death she would spend without him.

-

It was still early outside when she woke. She could hear the milkman's cart moving down the street and in the distance a bin van doing its rounds. What she couldn't figure out was how she got to her bed. The last memory she had was passing out on her settee. Angry and drunk.

She turned around and saw him. She smiled to herself a little before remembering she was still angry with him for running back to the station at Macs say so and returned her face to an angry scowl as if he could see her through his closed lids.

Gene had come back to Alex's flat as soon as he and Mac had finished their 'chat'. He had found her sprawled out on the settee holding on tightly to an empty bottle of red. He cursed himself knowing it was his entire fault she would have a hangover in the morning and he wouldn't. Wanting to somehow make up for the fact he had deserted her and not even told her ...again, what was happening he lifted her up as gently as he could possibly manage and carried her to bed.

Now he lay asleep next to her. His brow still furrowed as if in thought. He looked strained and troubled thought Alex. What was he hiding from her? She couldn't help herself and reached out to touch his face. A stray lock of that lovely blond hair had fell across his face and she wanted to push it to one side and kiss him so badly.

She briefly touched his cheek and then scolded herself for giving in so easily. Alex got up and went to make some coffee. They had solved the Irvine case but trouble was never far away. She could tell today was going to be one of those days.

She had no idea.

-

It was another half an hour before Gene woke. He grunted at the sight of the empty space next to him and rolled on to his back roaming his hands over his face. She hadn't waited for him to wake up before getting out of bed. He knew she was still pissed at him. Bollocks.

He walked into the kitchen to find her propping up the work surface reading through some paper work. She had a cup of coffee in the other hand and carried on reading as he entered.

"Some coffee on the side."

Before she had given him chance to reply she left the kitchen and slammed the bathroom door behind her. He heard the mug being put down and the shower being turned on. She was still REALY pissed. For a split second he wondered whether to just bite the bullet and go join her in the shower. Though he didn't fancy getting another left hook from her.

-

They got dressed basically in silence. A word here and there. Mainly Gene apologising for being in her way.

By the time he had made it to the station he had had enough. He pulled her to one side down a small ally way just before the front doors and pushed her against a wall.

"I'm sorry ok." He looked angry but Alex knew it was a mixture of pleading and fear.

"For which bit? The part where you swaned of back to supper duper Mac? Or the part where you won't tell me what the hell is going off?!"

"Both." He let go of her arms and placed his hands in his pockets. He had returned to his little boy lost stance and she knew she stood no chance. She straightened out her clothes that had got ruffled up on the wall and let out a calming breath.

"Well it's a start." She grabbed his face with both hands and kissed him quickly but passionately, fully on the lips. She couldn't remember a time in the past 2 weeks where they hadn't gone 12 hours without kissing each other. Alex pulled away and turned to walk back towards the stations front doors. She knew he was watching her as she walked in front of him, could feel him smiling.

"You're not allowed to look at my arse yet though Gene. You have a lot of making up to do."

He cleared his throat and averted his gaze. Steeling one last look at her before he entered the station, he knew she was still angry but hopefully by the end of the day he would have made it up to her enough to at least sleep in the same bed tonight.

-

They were the first ones there again and although they had talked and apologised outside Gene still felt a bit awkward so he made a b line for his office and some sort of paper work excuse leaving Alex at her desk to finish off the Irvine report.

She still didn't understand while Hales pretended to be drunk but as Gene and most of the team didn't find it interesting enough to warrant an investigation she knew there was no point in trying. She stamped the folder and filed it away.

Glancing up looking at Gene she could see he was trying his best to look busy. Stupid man, he didn't need to be all embarrassed. Arguing as Alex had found out in her first marriage was all part of the parcel. She was looking forward to making up later. Before she knew it she had made her was over to his office and was now propping up his door frame.

"So what are you doing to make yourself look so busy then Gene? I've just done all the paper work. You're not drawing again are you?" Her tone was playful. If they were going to make up later she needed to give him some sort of break.

"How dare you Bolls I'm working very hard." He smirked and for the first time in nearly 48 hours she saw her Gene coming through. He held up the note pad he had been sketching on. She cracked out laughing.

"Can't you see how hard it is to get you tits right on paper?" He tilted his head back as if beckoning her over to him and she came and sat on the edge of his desk just to the side of him.

"So how am I doing then? Do I get to look at your arse yet?"

"Not quite yet but were getting there. Just.... your ok aren't you? I mean this stuff with Mac. You know me, I worry." She was being honest now. The fact that he was keeping something from her was one thing but she had seen firsthand what Mac could do to someone. She was worried about him as well.

He leaned forward and placed his hand on the waist, sliding her along the desk so she was in front of him.

"Bolly, I'm fine. " His voice was completely calm, his face honest. She sighed and smiled at him. She hopped up onto the desk fully now and placed one leg either side of Gene.

"Good. Then what do you suggest you're going to do about making up for last night?" He stood up and wrapped his arms round her waist. Resting his head on hers he started to laugh.

"What?" Alex asked him puzzled.

"I thought about coming and doing this earlier when you got in the shower but I was worried you would punch me."

"I would have."

"Well what are you gona do about it now then Bolly knickers?"

She wrapped her legs round his waist and pulled him towards her with them, when he was close enough she grabbed his tie and pulled him down towards her face.

"This." Hungrily she pressed her lips against his and pushed her body even further into his. She could feel him react under his trousers and she moved her hands from the desk to his arse. He grunted into her mouth.

"Bolly if you carry on I'm not going to be held responsible for my actions."

She giggled again and placed her arms around his neck.

"Later then?" She questioned.

"Later, now go on get out my office and do some work." He winked at her and smacked her arse as she turned to leave.

She had literally just got back to her desk and almost sat down on her chair when Viv came through the doors.

"Mam, Guv there's some trouble down at the Gypsy camp. Ray and Chris are on their way down there now. One of the travellers has stolen a car and is driving it round the fields a bit dangerously."

"Cheers skip were on us way." They grabbed their coats and heeded for the Quattro.

-

"Well that went well Boys well done, 10 out of 10 for diplomacy." Alex was not surprised by Ray and Chris's reactions to the gypsies or Genes for that matter. By the time they had got there, there was a dead body to deal with. Ray and Chris had chased the driver of the stolen car and it had upturned into a ditch and killed the driver dead on the spot.

"Well they shouldn't bloody well be there in the first place. Bloody Gypos." Ray was sat in the back with a very worried looking Chris.

"Yes thank you Raymondo, I'm sure were all aware of that but was there any reason for you to play Tron with the poor bastard!"

A load of new shit to deal with thought Gene. Still he had later to look forward to he smirked, not unnoticed by Alex.

She leaned over to his side and whispered....

"You're going to have to stop thinking about my arse DCI Hunt or you're never going to make it through the day."

-

The day seemed to be getting lighter. This morning it seemed so gloomy and over cast to Alex and Gene but after their encounter in his office and a few hours to cool off things were starting to get back to how they should be. Happy and horny like any couple just engaged should be.

Laughing at something stupid Chris had said on the way up about Swindon being near Norway they didn't notice Super intendant Macintosh as they all entered CID and they all had to stop abruptly. To a passing spectator the way they collided would have resembled a Marx brothers sketch.

"Sorry sir didn't see you." Said Gene He had cleared his throat and the light look on his face from before had disappeared.

"That's ok Gene, a word if you don't mind. I hear the departments driving skills have been at there best?" He glanced at Ray and Chris who were looking anywhere but at Mac.

Gene and Mac went over to his office and talked for a few minutes, Alex watching them intently to see if she could lip read anything at least.

"Right then." Started Mac "It seems that DS Carling here swerved into Jed Wicklow's car to knock him out of the way of a young girl, who luck would have it has offered to come forward and bare whiteness to that. Isn't that lucky."

Alex looked at Gene behind him. She could see he wasn't happy about it, but he didn't seem to be protesting to much either. The lighter brighter mood had moved yet again back to a gloomy one and yet again all thanks to Mac.

"Carry on then fellas. It's a good morning." Mac left after nodding at Gene. Alex couldn't believe it everyone was going to just go along with this? A cock and bull story about some girl?

"How can you let them do that?" Alex was standing at Gene's side now. He could hear the anger in her voice. He knew in that moment that tonight they were not going to be making up. In fact if things went how Gene suspected them to go it would be a while before he could explain to Alex. He sighed and carried on.

"Do what?"

"Run with a complete lie? You heard what Ray said on the way back, he looked out of it, and He was proberly on drugs. Mac says jump and you ask how high Gene!" She was almost shouting now and the whole team was looking at them.

He pulled her to one side and lowered his voice. He had the same tone as he had had in the past few days when he asked her to trust him. Slightly pleading.

"What you need to remember Bolls is I'm one of the good guys here." He stared at her still holding gently to her upper arm. Alex blinked and shrugged away from his touch.

"I'm beggining to wonder Gene." He thought for a split second he saw a tear forming in Alex's eye and he almost told her what he had wanted to say for the past 2 days but he looked away.

Alex turned and walked as fast as she could out of the office. No one needed to see her crying.

-

The body of Jed Wicklow had mysterious disappeared and after Shaz had explained that the families normally burnt the belongings and the body themselves the entire team rushed down there. Alex included, who after her talk with Gene had been sombre and quiet. At the gypsy camp site they met a Dr Battleford who seemed out of place at the gypsy camp. He was well spoken and looked like he belonged in a private practice.

As they were leaving Dr Battleford caught up with Gene and Alex and asked for a quiet word. It appeared that the car that had been smashed up in the accident was actually his it had disappeared a few days ago but as he knew it was one of the gypsies he didn't want to report it. He had become friends with a lot of them and didn't want to get them into trouble.

Then to Alex's horror as they were saying good bye to Dr Battleford Gene outstretched his arm and shook the Drs arm in the same way she had seen Mac shake Mr Rugbys the other day. She blinked and stared at Gene.

"What?"

"Nothing." She got in the car without another word. Surely not Gene? Never?

-

All the way back Ray and Chris could tell there was something wrong. They weren't talking. Even before they got together they talked. Ray elbowed Chris and after he looked at him and raised his hand Ray knew it would be up to him.

"Is ...urm ...everything ok Guv? Mam ?"

"FINE!" they both said in unison. Ray didn't try and talk again.

-

By the time they had got back to the office after a very long, very silent half hour stuck behind a mile long traffic jam Mac was yet again waiting for them outside.

He wasn't alone.

Dr Battleford had turned up and was looking very pally with Mac. They got out the car and Ray and Chris made their way back to the office they still couldn't look at Mac even though they had ironed out the earlier crash.

"Ah Gene, DI Drake. I believe you met Dr Battleford earlier today?" He shook Genes hand again and Alex felt sick. She looked away in disgust. What the hell had gotten into Gene? 3 days ago everything had been perfect. It was all going great.

Now.... now she didn't know what to think.

"Gene Dr Battleford is the exclusive Dr to the gypsy settlement. He is on 'the level' Gene." Alex noted how Mac said on the level. He was a member of the Masons. She had seen enough. Alex made a dismissing sound and turned to walk away. She could hear Gene excusing himself.

"Bolly, bolls. What's wrong? Come on we have work to do." He turned her round and she had tears in her eyes again. He felt the guilt again. Why couldn't he trust her with this? He hated doing this to her. He wanted so much to just grab her and hold her but his stupid arrogant 'I have to do this on my own' side was holding strong.

"No, no we don't. You do you and you're 'Pals' over there. Tell you what as you seem to be running this investigation how the hell you like I'm going home. My input is certainly not needed!"

"BOLLY! Bolls! GET BACK HERE...."

But she had disappeared round the corner before he could even try and call her back.

-

She sat in Luigis nursing a bottle of red. Luigi had tried to talk to her about whatever it was that had made her so upset she felt like she needed to come and drink herself into a stupor at 3 in the afternoon. She had dismissed him and opted to sit alone in the opposite corner to where she and Gene normally sat.

She couldn't sit in their booth, not at the moment. She was starting to doubt rushing into a relationship with Gene. There was so much about him she didn't know. Had she been blind? Had she let her heart rule her head to much?

After a few hours of debating she decided that there must be something he wasn't telling her. The Gene she knew would never do this. She loved him, she should talk to him. After all she was bunking off work. She put her bottle down on the counter and headed back to the station.

As Alex walked through the office to Gene everyone was watching the news. The conflict in the Falklands was in full scale. She was always surprised at how things that she knew had happened in the past surprised her as they were happening.

He sat at his desk.

He didn't look like he was drawing this time.

He looked serious and like this morning when he was asleep worried and in thought.

Alex closed the door behind her. He looked at her and gave her the smallest of smiles. It didn't reach his eyes; she could see it was forced.

"Thought you had gone home, are you here to stay?" She knew he just didn't mean for the day.

"I don't know Gene, depends what you say next."

"I have to do this Bolly I need you to yet again trust me. I've been telling you for days, just fucking trust me!" She could see he had that look he did this morning when he tried to apologise. Fear and a pleading tone.

"You're the thin blue line Gene I know, but I saw you let a line of investigation go because of the way they shook your hand." She didn't want to ask him out right if he was part of the Masons. If he was he couldn't tell her anyway but if she skated round it he might let something slip.

"Did you though Bolls?"

"Well what did I see?"

"Well whatever it was if you don't like it don't watch."

Gene stood up. He needed a drink, a big one at that. He walked over to his filing cabinet and poured himself a whiskey. She was walking over to him. If she got to close he wasn't sure he wouldn't be able to not reach out and grab her.

Alex walked right up to him and placed a hand over his heart. He closed his eyes for a split second enjoying the closeness of it and then snapped back into reality.

"Please let me in..."

"No." God he hated himself.

"just talk to me...trust me...." Her big brown eyes were looking at him. Pleading for him to just tell her.

He looked down at her lips. It took all his will power not to swoop down and capture them with is. For a split second Gene opened his mouth to speak and then changed his mind. He took a big gulp of whiskey and walked towards the door. He stopped at the frame and looked back at her then left.

She could see he wanted to tell her something. That if he had stayed he would have said why he was being such a complete dick about things. Alex sat in his chair and hugged the coat that hung around the back of it. Taking a deep breath she was filled with the smell of Gene.

Alex remembered she had come over to try and iron things out with him. That she loved this man. She knew when she agreed to marry him he was an enigma. Alex stood up and went after him.

-

It would all be fine she thought. She just needed to find him, kiss him and everything would be fine. The makeup sex would be amazing and tomorrow morning she would get out of him whatever was troubling him.

She had run down the stairs and just saw his jacket flicker out of the front door.

"GENE! GENE! ..." He evidently didn't her. She got to the front door and saw him getting into a car.

Not just any car.

Super Intendant Macintosh's car.

(A/N: Oooh where's he going with Mac? Well we sort of know but poor Alex! We all love a bit of angst though right? REVIEW! Cheers guys.)