Alex and Gene shared a worried glance at each other before turning back to Jim. It was very rare when they were both stuck, she'd normally counted on Gene saving her but with him down next to her and no way of contacting Ray, Chris and Shaz she thought they were done for.
'No.' she thought stubbornly, 'We are not done for. Just a temporary set back. I'm not having him hurt Molly. If one of us can distract Jim then the other can get the upper hand and we can fight back. Jim's head's about to explode with happiness anyway, he thinks he's won so his guards will be down. All that's needed is quick timing, a plan and someway of getting Gene to understand without physically telling him…' Alex's thoughts and scheming was interrupted by a forward falling Jim Keats and an ear-to-ear grinning Ray Carling, standing behind with his gun held triumphantly above his head. Shaz and Chris were holding hands, smiling together, stood at the doorway."Took ya bloody time didn't ya Carling?" Gene asked heaving himself up and kicking a wincing Jim for good measure."Sorry Guv, but with no radio, no directions and no idea we were left to work on basic instinct." Ray returned. Shaz hurried past them, helping Alex to get her daughter up."You both okay Ma'am?" She asked considerately.
"Yeah, we're good thank you Shaz." Alex smiled, leaning down to face Molly, checking she was alright."Everything's gonna be okay Molls. Mummy's here now." She pulled her daughter into a hug, kissing her fluffy blonde hair and not wanting to let go. She heard the sobs of her baby and wrapped her arms round her even tighter for reassurance.
"Come on Bolls. We've gotta go, get this bastard into a nice comfy cell and she's gonna want something' to eat or summit'." Gene indicated Molly, before signalling to Ray and Chris to take Jim and take him back.
Back in the main office of CID Alex was sat in her desk chair, Molly sat on her lap, leaning against her. As her mum stroked her hair billions of thoughts and questions ran through her mind.
"Mum?" She asked.
"Hmm." Alex replied, fondling a lock of hair absent-mindedly.
"Where are we?" "1984." Alex sounded so casual in reply due to lack of sleep and the drama of the day. Molly was just as tired, so at the time didn't press the subject.
As the main office door opened she sat, bolt upright, staring in surprise. Gene looked just as surprised for some reason. Alex looked over lazily and smiled.
"Cell 14. Though' that one would sui' 'im." Gene told her.
"Isn't that the cell the four drunks projectile vomited in the other night?" "Tha's the one." Gene had a smirk on his face.
"That's disgusting." Molly piped up from her mothers lap.
"Indeed. I wanna talk to him." Alex noticed Gene's eyes glaze over, instinct telling him to refuse her.
"No ya don't." He replied, not an opinion, more of a statement."Yes I do Gene. I need to speak to him. He's a ba…an idiot yes, but I need to know why he was doing this." Alex chose her words carefully, hoping that Gene would do the same in reply.
"Nothin' I say is gonna stop ya is it?" He asked, knowing the answer."Molly, your gonna stay with Gene for a while, just until I've done some police work. Okay sweetheart?" She directed her voice toward her daughter. She mumbled something sleepily and slid off Alex's lap, heading over to the D.C.I."Give her some biscuits or something, you never know, she might just go to sleep." Alex's told him, her eyes silently thanking him, despite the fact he had agreed to nothing. Before he had time to comment however the sound of her heels were disappearing down the corridor.
"Right Molly…" He turned, the look of nervousness at taking care of Alex's daughter evident in his eyes. She didn't look as tired anymore, her eyes bright and shiny and brown. 'She has her mothers eyes' Gene thought.
"Right Gene…" Molly cocked her head at his silence smiling a little.'And by the sounds of it, her mothers attitude. Hope she hasn't got her mothers temper or they'll be the death of me.' He reviewed. For the first time in years he shuffled from foot to foot, slightly nervous…around a 12 year old girl.
Slamming the door violently Alex stormed confidently down the narrow corridor towards cell number 14, Jim Keats' new home. She could still smell the strong stench of vomit emitting and held a hand over her mouth and nose in order to block it as best she could. Viv followed with the keys in his hand, doing the same before stopping Alex."Maybe it would be best to reconvene to an interview room Ma'am? The smell at least would be bearable for more than five minutes." He suggested and Alex thought about it before replying. She just wanted to get this over and done with. Overcoming to the smell she nodded.
"Interview room 2 Viv." She replied and he nodded, moving to the side to allow her to escape back to the fresh air. He continued on, unlocking the door and looking at the ever presentable ex-D.C.I."D.I Alex Drake wishes to speak with you in interview room 2. If you'd like to come with me." Viv didn't wait for an answer, in true police style he firmly gripped the upper arm of Jim and hauled him through the cell door and down the corridor.
Alex waited, somewhat nervously in interview room 2, constantly glancing behind her at the door and tapping her red heel against the floor in growing impatience. All the time wasted was precious time she could be sharing with Molly, instead she was cooped up in here and Gene was with her daughter. After what felt like a lifetime of waiting she jumped round to the sound of the door clicking and Viv opening it and Jim was thrust forward. However it wasn't Viv who had pushed him. Alex held her tongue between her teeth to stop herself from blurting out a comment.
"Wha's the matter Bolls? Didn't honestly think I'm gonna leave you in 'ere with this psycho did ya? You're supposed to be the smart one." He shut the door and dragged Jim to the seat opposite Alex and headed back round, leaning on the chair next to her."Where's Molly?" "Molly's safe an' sound with Shaz. She'll be fine. Now didn't you wanna word with this bastard?" Gene stood back, allowing Alex to take control of the interview. She slowly cast her gaze back to said bastard and took a deep breath.
"What, in your sick, twisted, freak mind made you think kidnapping my daughter and using her as bait to get me to come to you was a good idea?" She asked, clenching her fists under the table although she'd always been against violence in the interview rooms.
"It worked didn't it?" Jim replied.
"Have you ever been on the receiving end of a seriously pissed off mum Jim? Hmm? Cos trust me, you're just about face to face with one at the moment." Alex retorted.
"I did not kidnap your daughter Alex. I rescued her. Where was her Mummy when she landed in this godforsaken place anyway? Getting drunk with her D.C.I no doubt."
"Whether I was drunk, sober or severely hung-over it does not give you the right to take her under your wing. Molly's a smart girl. No matter where she is she'd have known not to go off with strangers and to just stay put until someone she recognises finds her. What did you do to make her go with you? And I would seriously think about your answer before replying Jim." Alex glared at him, anger flickering like fire in her eyes.
"You do no' wanna be on the receiving end of 'er right 'ooks jimmy boy. Believe me." Gene commented from behind and Alex remembered the day she'd socked him straight in the mouth. Jim looked to weaken in his chair, loosening up, almost like he was aware he'd never win this time."I'm sorry Alex. I really am. I don't know what came over me, honestly. I mean the notes, the stalking, the kidnapping, the threats…that's not me, you know its not. Alex you have to forgive me, I never meant any of it." He finished and looked hopeful, directly at the D.I.
"No. I don't forgive you. You kidnapped my daughter, tried to kill me, stalked me and you really think I'm gonna turn around and say that's alright Jim, no hard feelings? The innocent 'I didn't mean it, that's not me' act doesn't work on me Keats, I've met enough bastards and liars in my time to know when someone means it and your about as truthful as bloody Pinocchio!" Alex slammed her hands on the table, partly in anger and frustration, the other to stop herself sinking to Gene's level and beating him to within an inch of his life. Annoyingly Alex watched as Jim didn't react, just continued to look at her, calmly, like they were talking about the weather. With that Alex stood up, signalled to the police officer stood in the shadows of the room to take him back to his cell. As he passed her she whispered into his ear;
"I hope you rot in hell. It's the least you deserve."
And with that she walked out of the interview room and back to the main office of CID.
"Alex!" Gene caught up with her. "Yer just gonna leave it at that?" He asked, confusion his expression."Yes. I don't want to talk to that bastard again. And don't you dare go and attack him Gene." Her eyes grew steely, glaring at him in defiance.
"Yer think I'm gonna leave it at that? He's gonna get wha' 'e deserves Alex."
"No! You beat him up he'll know he's antagonised you, he'll know he's won!" She persisted stopping in her tracks and turning to face him."He's a bastard through and through and he deserves a smack in that square 'ead of his for what he's done ta Molly!" Gene's gruff anger was returning, knowing that calm and caring would not grant him what he wanted.
"I am not having you beat him up for Molly! She's fine if you hadn't noticed, a little confused but that's not about being kidnapped that's about arriving here in the first place! Jim Keats didn't touch her and your not touching Jim Keats!" Alex was matching his anger, their voices beginning to rise in the arguments that had infamously echoed around Fenchurch East since she'd arrived 4 years ago.
"Alrigh' then if it means that bleedin' much to ya I won't punch 'im for 'er sake, I'll punch him cos he's a slimy fuckin' bastard and deserves it, and cos I'll enjoy smacking him to kingdom-bloody-come!" "Will you stop trying to act the bigger person! Any bigger your ego will be larger than America! You are NOT the winner in all of this Gene nor will you be if you beat him up! You'll knock yourself down to his level! Now I am telling you do not lay a finger on him! Understand?" "I don't need your permission Bolly nor will I ever need it until you are my superior officer which will not happen! Now you listen and shut your over-sized gob for just five minutes will ya…I am your D.C.I and therefore you will obey me, not the other way round. If I say I'm gonna knock ten bells outta Jimbo then I am going to knock ten bloody huge bells outta 'im. I am not gonna stick around waiting for your permission. Now I was telling ya tryin' to support ya and that but now I'm gonna do it for the sheer bloody hell of it!" With that he turned and stormed down the corridor, his long black coat billowing out behind him."Gene!" Alex called after him fiercely. He ignored her, pushing the doors open and allowing them to slam behind him."You bloody bastard Gene Hunt!" She screamed after him before running her fingers through her hair exasperatedly and turning to enter the office where Shaz had taken Molly into the kitchen, to try and block some of the loud yelling coming from Alex and Gene.
"Everything alright Ma'am?" Shaz asked tentatively, leading Molly back out as Alex sank onto the desk.
"No Shaz everything's not alright. D.C.I Hunt will make sure of that. Come on Molly, let's get home." She stood up, grabbed her white leather jacket and put her arm comfortingly around Molly's shoulders. Giving a small smile to the young WPC she led the way out off the office and back to the flat above Luigi's.
Molly's eyes widened as she stepped inside the warm flat, in front of her mother. Alex was as casual as ever, shutting the door slightly louder than anticipated and slinging her coat and keys on the arm of the chair. She then turned to her daughter who was wandering around in wonder, opening doors and cupboards and looking out at the view from the living room window.
"Mum…what's going on?" Molly asked, joining her mother on the sofa and staring up at her."Molly. This is 1984, Fenchurch London. You've been injured back in 2008 and have been sent into a coma, bringing you back here. The same thing happened when I was shot. I was brought back to 1981, the year your grandparents died. You must have been brought here because you wanted to be with me and this is where I was. Only Jim got to you first.""He's a freak." Molly commented simply. Alex couldn't help but laugh."Molly! Normally I would tell you off for calling people freaks…""…But you can't. You called him much worse mum, you and your boss did." She interrupted. Alex bowed her head."You heard that huh?""Mum I think they heard you two shouting in Australia." Molly replied laughing. Alex smiled.
"Just your average day in CID Molls."
"2010.""What?""You said I was injured in 2008. It was 2010. Time didn't stand still mum. It continued moving.""Oh…Molly your…""14 years old. I was having my birthday party this weekend. Evan was taking me to Disneyland." She replied and Alex sighed annoyed.
"It's alright mum. I've been before. I know what it's like.""That's not what's up Molls. I forgot it was your birthday." She looked up and Molly continued to smile."By the sounds of it you had a lot more on your mind recently. It's okay." Alex's smile was short-lived when a banging noise erupted on the door."Alex? Alex! You have to open up!" It was Ray's voice. She answered the door quickly, seeing an exhausted fellow D.I.
"Ray what's going on?" Alex asked in surprise."The Guv's beaten the shit out of Keats. Erm…I mean, the Guv's really hurt Jim…" Ray clocked onto Molly sitting on the sofa.
"He wouldn't listen to me before Ray what do you think has changed?" "Chris and Shaz locked him in the CID office." "Oh bloody hell!" Alex quickly threw on her coat.
"Ray look after Molly!" She called as she headed down the steps two at a time in a hurry.
hey guys, an extra long chapter cos im so late posting :( btw...next chapter...IS THE LAST!