So in my rush to post the first chapter, I forgot to post the disclaimer. I don't own anything - if I did, then I can assure you we wouldn't all be feeling the need to write all this fluffy stuff.

A little unsure about the Sam/Gene bit in this chapter, as I didn't watch LOM so I don't know how they intereacted with each other, but I've been assured by becstarrr that it's okay. I'll let you decide. Other than that, it's unbeta'd so all mistakes are mine.

Gene downed his scotch and placed his glass on the bar. He looked across the room and his eyes fell on Alex. They'd become separated when, in their delight at having their Guv with them, Ray and Chris had dragged Gene to the bar. Alex was now sitting at a table with Shaz and Annie, but she wasn't engaging in any conversation with them; she was just staring into her half-empty wine glass. It pained him to see her like that, but he had to remind himself that while he had lived another 5 months in his realm, to her it would seem like only a hour since she found out that she wouldn't return home, that she'd never see her daughter again.

"She'll be okay you know," came a familiar voice. Gene turned to see Sam place his also empty glass on the bar. "Nelson, same again for me and The Guv," he called to Nelson, before adding with a nod at Gene, "but he's paying."

"Bloody cheek!" retorted Gene. Nelson returned quickly with their drinks and after taking a long drag of his, Gene faced Sam, "Will she really be okay?

"She's a fighter Gene; she'll get through this. It's just all a bit raw for her at the moment. She's not had as long as you to get her head round everything." Sam let his words sink in, before continuing, "Look Guv, I want to apologise; for not being able to tell you the truth. I just wasn't strong enough to put you through that."

"Stop it." Gene told him sternly, "You're talking like a nancy boy again!" Sam chuckled, 'some things never change,' he thought. Other things did change though; there was a softness about the Guv that Sam hadn't seen before. He had a hunch as to the reasons for this and as he followed Gene's gaze to the small table where the girls sat, his suspicions were confirmed.

"Go to her; she needs you." he instructed, smiling as Gene, for once, didn't argue and pushed himself away from the bar before heading over to the table in the far corner.

Alex looked up; sensing Gene's presence as he approached the table and smiled, but Gene noticed that the smile didn't quite reach her eyes. He nodded a greeting to Shaz and Annie who then discreetly moved from the table to give them some privacy.

"Hi," Gene began nervously.

"Hi," she returned, shuffling up the bench slightly so he could take a seat next to her. The two of them sat in silence for a few moments, before Alex could take it no longer. "Earlier, you said something about explanations," she prompted.

"I thought I'd be okay in that world Bolly, saving souls. It was what I did, what I'd always done y'know, even if I may not 'ave been aware of it. But when I went back to the office it just weren't the same; not without the team, not without..." he trailed off, not knowing if he had the courage to finish that sentence. He didn't know where they stood now; death could do funny things to a person and he was uncertain what she would want from him. "And then the new DI, Roberts arrived; right pain in the arse 'e was. Much more annoyin' than Tyler or you; not that I would've thought that would be possible but there yer go. And 'e needed help Bols. I couldn't just leave 'im flounderin', could I?"

"No, I suppose you couldn't," she agreed; after all, that wasn't Gene's way. Then, suddenly realising that time had been moving a lot slower where she was than where Gene had been, she asked. "H-how long...how long have we been gone? For you I mean," praying that he wouldn't have had to endure a great period of loneliness.

"About 5 months." Alex took a sharp intake of breath, her thoughts filled with images of Gene sat alone in his office, reliving the memories of his death; no one to talk to about it, no one to confide in; no one to trust.

"I should never have left you Gene, I'm sorry. I didn't realise until after I came in here that I wasn't ready, I wasn't at peace. That's why I was running to the door when you came in; I was trying to get back." Gene lifted a hand to her cheek to wipe away a stray tear that she hadn't even realised had fallen.

"Why? 'Onestly! Wimmin! Never bloody satisfied," he joked, until he saw the flash of pain in her eyes before she lowered her gaze to her glass once again. 'Shit!' he thought, even after everything he still managed to hurt her. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean that 'ow it sounded." He tried to justify why he'd sent her away. He hadn't wanted her to carry the burden of the lost souls; that was his job. He couldn't put her through that. Although, he'd known as soon as he'd returned to CID that he'd made the wrong choice but then Roberts had arrived and delayed his efforts to get here. "It was your time; there was nothing left for you in that world Bols."

"There was you," she stated, looking up at him. And with those three words the atmosphere around them changed and Gene began to think that what he'd longed for all these lonely months might finally happen. Their last kiss had plagued his dreams but he hadn't dared hope that had meant anything more than goodbye. But now, as their faces moved towards each other and he felt her breath on his lips, he knew it had held far more meaning.

Their lips touched tentatively at first; gently brushing over each others, but quickly the 3 years of built up passion took over and their tongues duelled for dominance. After a few minutes they both pulled away breathless.

"Alex," Gene began but was cut off by her finger on his lips.

"Ssh! No more talking. Not tonight," she told him before capturing his lips in hers once more.

Well? What did you think? Want more?