Just want to say in advance that Orsett Hall is an actual Hotel but I don't own it, or own anything to do with, it just seemed like an ideal location :)

Hope you enjoyy... x

Wednesday the 2nd May was an early start for CID. Each with packed back they had arrived at the station at the earlier time of 7am in order to head out to Orsett Hall for the wedding. Shaz was waiting inside with Alex as Ray, Chris and Gene sorted out who was going with who outside. Eventually, Gene headed inside and over to the two women who were deep in conversation about the next few hours.

"Mothers meetin' over. Righ' Shaz and Bolls your both in the Quattro with me, Ray and Chris are headin' down together." He enlightened them and they headed outside to where the Quattro was waiting.

"You could have at least given it a clean Guv." Alex suggested, running a finger along the side and produced a smear of dirt on her finger.

"it's a bleedin' wedding not a car show. Now get in or I'll leave ya here." he complained and moved the chair so Shaz could sit in the back. She had a look of sheer delight on her face. Not at the fact she was getting married soon. This was her first time in the Quattro. After Alex had settled into the passenger seat he put the key in ignition and drove the car out of the station, as fast as he could make it go.

Ray and Chris were already a good twenty minutes ahead and Ray had begun to complain.

"Couldn't 'ave 'ad it nearer could ya? I've never bin' this tired. Didn' no it were possible. Shouldn't be. Bloody ridiculous." He moaned.

"Ray. Shut up. I'm gettin' married today and I don' need you ruinin' it." Chris responded, a huge beam across his face. His head wasn't as bad as he was expecting from the stag do last night and he knew that was what was wrong with Ray. He had a terrible hangover.

"Last nigh' was good though. And that stripper! Gotta admit I did good!" Ray grinned, remembering the night before.

"Honestly, wouldn't have noticed to be honest mate."

"That's cos you were bloody focussed on today. She was gorgeous Chris! And the speed in which those clothes came off…wow!" Ray leant back on the chair, allowing the memories to wash over him.

"She took a quick likin' to you." Chris pointed out, watching the road ahead.

"Yeah. Even though it was mean' to be your evenin'. She seemed ta think I was gettin' married!"

"I'd hope so. I told her you were." Chris replied dryly, indicating as he turned left.

"Ya did what?" Ray asked in confusion.

"Wha' am I gonna wan' with a stripper Ray? I have Shaz. Thought you'd like her, so told her there was a mistake with names and you were the one gettin' married. She didn't complain, still got paid."

"You know I'd be angry with you if it wasn't for the fact that all my birthdays seemed to come at once last night." Ray replied.

They fell into silence as Ray fiddled with the radio, attempting to find a half decent song for a while.

Shaz sighed. 'bloody expected' she thought. It had been no longer than half an hour since they first got into the car and she was already wishing she was someone else. It wasn't awkward silence, like sometimes in CID. No, it was the arguing. As if she thought they'd be civil on her wedding day.

"No! All I am saying is that we are in no bloody hurry so why do you have to drive like we're gonna be killed if we're there a second later than expected? Its not like they can start without us. The bride is in your bloody car!" Alex complained, a little loudly.

"For crying out bloody loud woman! You think I'm going too fast well fine then!" and with that he pulled to the side of the road and stopped the car.

"Now your just being ridiculous." She seethed.

"No. You said I was goin' to fast. Is this slow enough for ya?" He growled.

"Your actin' like a bleedin' two year old Guv! Now drive will you!"

"Wouldn't wan' to go too fast now would I?" He commented and Alex let out an angry sigh.

"You know I honestly have no idea why on Earth I thought it'd be a good idea to get in a car with you? Your either going stupidly fast or acting like a bloody idiot and not going all together. What exactly are you hoping to achieve from this Guv?" Alex asked, folding her arms and turned in her seat to look at him. Each of them glared in silence at one another.

"Either kill each other or get a room." Shaz muttered under her breath but her sound did not go unnoticed.

"What did you say bridey?" Gene asked, no change in his tone. Shaz had, had enough.

"I said kill each other or get a bloody room! You two! Ma'am you say he acts like a two year old but he doesn't. You both act like a pair of teenagers! Constantly fightin'! I shoulda just walked! I'd get further than we're getting at the moment. Its always something with you two and its ridiculous! You're both as bad as each other and arguing ain't gonna change a thing. Now either get out and kill one another or sit round, shut up and get me to my wedding!" She yelled at them, frustration seeping out of her. Both senior offices stopped and looked at her in silence, their eyes almost popping out of their heads at the telling off they'd just been given from the WPC. Turning round in their seats neither of them uttered another word as Gene started the car and headed back out onto the main road.

Shaz smiled to herself in the back of the car. Her yelling could have gone two ways:
1) Both of them sitting in silence for the rest of the journey, clearly embarrassed at being yelled at or
2) Both of them yelling at her and kicking her out the car to walk. She was glad the former had been the way it went.

The rest of the journey involved all sitting in silence, not even making eye contact with one another. Embarrassed to admit it, both Alex and Gene were thinking the same thing. Shaz had been right. And she knew it.

Arriving at the hotel and they spotted Ray waiting outside for them. His cheerful grin was cut short when he saw the silence between all of them, and the hint of satisfaction in Shaz's eyes. What had happened on their journey?

"Guv, Ma'am. Chris is on the East wing gettin' ready and Shaz you'll be on the west." Ray explained as he noticed both senior officers stand as far apart as possible without being ridiculously far. Shaz looked between them and exchanged a glance with Ray as he pointed in confusion in the direction of the west wing. Shaz and Alex left in silence."Wha' happened?" Ray asked, hoping Gene would shed a little light on the situation."Nothin' Raymondo. Now where's Christopher?" He asked and Ray led the way, in bewilderment, to the east wing.

The Bridal room was large and spacious, plenty of room for Shaz to get ready. Neither of them had spoken on the way over, Alex still in slight shock that Shaz had yelled at them.

"Ma'am?" Shaz waved a hand in front of D.I Drake's face as she stared off into the distance, snapping her out of the daydream. Alex was glad her normal, chirpy self had returned.

"Huh? Oh sorry Shaz, just daydreaming." Alex commented, a little dazed before closing the door and dropping off the bags she'd brought up, onto the floor. Checking the clock she read the time: 7:48am. The ceremony was in just under 6 hours. Plenty of time.

"Right I'm goin' for a bath, that car stank of smoke." Shaz complained, slipping her jacket off and dropping it over a chair and heading into the bathroom, locking the door behind. Shortly afterwards the sound of water gushing into the tub could be heard. Alex took this opportunity to have a look around the room. It was very simple and not too overdone, a traditional colour scheme of pink's, whites and pale yellows. There were three sofas in the middle of the room, surrounding a wooden table and pointing towards a hotel TV. In the corner was another couple of chairs, next to a table with a large, ornamental lamp in the middle. Beside this were two large, classy French patio doors, leading out to the balcony.

The balcony wasn't especially big but allowed Alex to stand outside and take in the breathtaking view. Large fields of green spread out for miles and thick tree's surrounded them. From her eye line she could see a bright blue pond with specks of green plants and nearby a swimming pool. It was like something out of a painting. Leaning on the old architecture, a balcony wall in pale stone she spotted what looked like her D.C.I, wandering alone through the grounds. True to normal she could see the trail of smoke suggesting he was having a cigarette. From the distance he hadn't noticed her watching him from high up.

Gene liked strolling through the grounds alone. It was quiet and peaceful and meant he could smoke without being complained at. Almost an hour in the car and spending most of it in silence. He refused to admit that he had been embarrassed at being shouted at but made a silent promise to himself that the minute Shaz and Chris were back from their honeymoon she'd be doing all his paperwork for at least a month. And all the cleaning up. And by the time that month was over Shaz would never want to look at a teabag again. That he would make sure of.

As he lit the second cigarette Gene came over all funny. Nothing like illness or anything, the Gene genie did not get sick. Almost like he was being watched. He turned, looking around him but could see nobody. Then he knew someone was there. Who else just threw that stone that happened to land so close to him, almost making him jump. Confused and slightly annoyed he looked around again. A nagging feeling inside of him had a feeling that D.I Drake was behind this. But where the hell was she?

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