The letter that came through a couple of days after the Luigi's incident told me that if I didn't return to CID the day after it was delivered, I would lose my post as DI in Fenchurch East CID. The ultimatum had been given two weeks after the allocated time I had been given as compassionate leave after Gene's death; I was beginning to come to terms with it, but still struggling with everyday things such as talking with Shaz, buying clothes (I would hear his voice in my head, critiquing every item, and would tend to go with the clothes that were the sluttiest and he would have liked the best) and eating properly. The doctor I had to see after collapsing in my flat and being discovered by a worried Luigi told me that if I didn't start eating properly soon, I would be at risk of anorexia.

Trying to decide whether to go back to CID or to give up my job and life there was a challenge. I knew I had Shaz there, and Chris and Ray would give me their utmost support, along with the DCs and the rest of the station, all of whom knew and respected Gene completely. But the real challenge lay in the post Gene had held- DCI Thornton, who had shown very little respect for Gene whatsoever and seemed to have barely given his predecessor, the legendary Manc Lion, any thought at all.

Talking with Shaz about it would be too difficult. Chris and Ray would misunderstand completely, and Chris, bless him, would be hopeless anyway. So I turned to the one person I knew would be able to take it in: the little Gene in my head, the voice that I could hear whenever I missed him unbearably or needed the feel of his strong arms around me, holding me and soothing away my worries.

"Just be yourself, Bolls, an' knock 'im dead. Don't forget to let 'im know that it's my kingdom an' 'e's just a substitute for me. I 'ave faith in you, Bolly, an' don' you forget it, eh?"

Jumping and spilling my glass of wine at the distinct sound of his voice, ringing through my psyche, I clasped my hand to my heart and let the tears fall once again.

But despite my sorrow, Gene's voice had given me fresh determination. Let Thornton be a bastard. Let him take Gene's role as though it had always been his if he wants to.

But I knew who belongs in that glass office, and it wasn't him and never would be. I would always see a different person when I looked at that little sanctuary, and it would be our true Guv, the man I would always love and would never recover from the loss of.

Somewhere, I could feel some sorrow for Thornton- what chance did the man ever have?- but his attitude towards Gene made that ebb away pretty quickly. He was a boorish, poor substitute for the DCI of Fenchurch East, but he wasn't about to destroy Gene's memory forever, and that was what made me decide to return.

Nevertheless, it was with a heavy heart that I readied myself for my first day back at CID the next morning.

"Good to finally see you again, DI Drake."

I gave DCI Thornton just enough of a glare from under my eyelashes for it to compute with him, sitting myself down at my desk, which seems completely untouched since the day I lost Gene, since that fateful morning when we rushed to our DCI's death. Checking it over, it had been dusted once or twice, but otherwise, everything was where it was before, neatly in place and well-organised; the memory of Gene teasing me about my tidiness flashed into my mind, and I had to bite back the urge to be sick all over the checkerboard floor that his boots strode across so many times, the base of his kingdom…

Pretending to be charitable but really just wanting to get back at me for my obvious snub of him in Luigi's and the shameless avoidance of him ever since, Thornton put me on paperwork for the whole day, piling files and forms on my desk with vindictive grins at every possible opportunity. I gritted my teeth each time I was forced to look up and thank him for it, fire roaring through my chest, a temper that felt an awful lot like Gene's seething away in my core.

After what felt like an eternity, a call came through for a jeweller's that had been robbed, a diamond necklace quietly stolen by a small group of young men, evidently trying not to copy the all guns blazing incident in which Gene had died and which had been very well publicised. Thornton, grinning all over his smug face at the prospect of a call, grabbed up his coat and called Ray to his side in a lordly fashion, ignoring Chris completely and giving me a superior look badly disguised as concern as he opened the doors, blocking Ray's way out and creating an unnecessary holdup. "Gene would've been going by now," I growled to myself, avoiding Thornton's gaze but tuning in to Ray's "Ma'am's a DI, why isn't she comin'?"

Thornton turned to look at me, his eyes flicking down my body, coming to rest on my front, which he kept his gaze on as he spoke to me. I gritted my teeth, hating where he had his sights, inside hissing at him that they were for Gene only.

"DI Drake isn't up to calls yet. That much is obvious from the shoddy paperwork, the less than elegant attitude, and the obvious desire to avoid her senior officers. She will be remaining here until she is- well- enough to attend incidents."

The monster in my stomach roared; my temper snapped in two as I stood up, advancing on Thornton, noticing Ray shrinking away in the corner of my eye, him recognising my legendary temper and not wanting to get on the wrong side of it.

"You are an arrogant, selfish, self-important, conceited, useless, pathetic excuse for the DCI of this station! How dare you stand there with the attitude you're showing and speak to me like a three year old, not caring that I have lost the man I loved for years and am still getting over it, treating my team like scum and desecrating the station Gene worked so hard for. You don't deserve this post one bit! I would rather stab myself than watch Gene's Fenchurch East fall from grace at the hands of a bastard like you. Piss off, you perverted loser!"

The room erupted into applause; Gene's name was called all over Fenchurch East CID as I stormed out, pushing my way past a stunned Thornton and shoving him into the doorway as I went.

The echoes of "DCI Hunt lives on!" echoed in my ears as I made my way onto the streets, hugging myself, pride beaming on my face and fuelling the biggest smile I'd worn for months. I made my way down the high street, shoppers moving out of my way left and right, Gene's spirit moving in my rage and my happiness at the response from CID.

I was on top of the world, the world that had turned around completely since that morning.

I was so elated I didn't see the arm reaching out from an alleyway and grabbing me, pulling me into the dank space, clamping fingers over my mouth to stop the screams I shrieked into the cold morning.

"Bolly!"

I was shocked into immediate silence by the gruff voice that found its way into my ears as I struggled, my eyes widening, too amazed to do anything but go limp.

"G-Gene…?"

A/N: Nice little cliffhanger for you there! There won't be any more of this until I'm back from my holiday in Germany (I get back on the 1st November). Sorry! :( Hope you like this, and please remember to review! Thanks for reading. Jazzola :)