I'm so sorry for the delay in updating this fic – thanks for sticking with it. So long has been the gap I thought it might be useful to include a short summary of the story to date.

Summary

Alex has awoken from her coma-within-a-coma and returned to 1982. She's persuaded Gene that she invented her story about being from the future to protect him and the team from Martin Summers and Gene has decided to believe her. Gene and Alex have entered the early stages of a relationship, but it's still a secret from the team. Alex is considering whether she should transfer to a new division when she returns to work. She has cleared Gene about the shooting and he has retaken his position in Fenchurch East. The team is setting up an operation to take down drugs importer Sniffer McHarris and his buyers, a team working out of the Six Bells pub. Ray, who has been showing signs of discontent about Gene's leadership, has been working undercover at the Six Bells to find out more.

Starting over – chapter 8

Gene sat in his office, staring out across his team. He was nervous about tomorrow night, about the operation to snare Sniffer McHarris and the other dealers. He trusted his team, but did they trust him? He guessed he'd find out soon enough.

Gulping at his coffee, he turned his attention to a piece of paper in the centre of his desk. Alex's transfer request. He sighed. It'd been about a week since she'd first raised the idea of moving to another division and no amount of sulking, charming or arguing with her had changed her mind. She was adamant that she couldn't work with him while she was sleeping with him. And as he didn't want her to stop sleeping with him, it didn't leave him with much alternative. Didn't stop him hating the idea of her bonding with another team, of some other DCI giving her orders, sending her into dangerous situations. His stomach tight, he signed her request and put it in the out tray.

There was a knock on the office's open door and as Gene looked up at Ray. "All set for tomorrow?"

"Yes, Guv." Ray stood awkwardly in the door frame. "Blue team will take Smithy, Red team will take Carter."

"And I'll be leading the Blue team, with you as back up."

"Yes Guv."

"And Chris'll lead the Red team, with uniform back up."

"Yes Guv."

Gene nodded. "Good. You're sure your cover wasn't blown?"

"Sure as I can be, Guv."

"Excellent, good man." Gene looked up at Ray, who was hovering in the doorway. "Anything else?"

After a pause, Ray came forward and sat at the chair opposite Gene's desk. "You haven't changed your mind, then?"

Gene sighed. He'd been afraid of this. "No, Ray. I haven't. The op will run as planned, with the focus on Smithy. Carter is the secondary target. Got to be that way."

"But Guv –"

"But nothing, Ray. I'm still your DCI and I've made my decision on this. Your intelligence from the Six Bells has been spot on, we couldn't have got this far without it. But my gut tells me that Smithy's the ringleader and Carter's just small fry. Smithy's the one we need. We focus on him."

Ray drummed his fingers on the table and for a moment Gene worried that they'd have to go through the whole argument yet again. But Ray gave a small nod and stood up, muttering, "Right, Guv," as he left.

Watching as Ray sloped back to his desk, Gene picked up the report on tomorrow evening's operation. Ray's work at the Six Bells had revealed the two individuals involved in the deal with Sniffer, one known as Horseshoe Smithy and the other Nick 'The Flick' Carter. He'd come across Carter before and was convinced he didn't have the nouse to pull off a major deal like the one planned. Horseshoe Smithy, on the other hand, was more of an unknown quantity, and Gene was certain he must be the ringleader. Ray disagreed, arguing that Carter was pulling the strings and should be the focus of the op, but he hadn't been able to provide any evidence for his view and Gene had decided to stick with his instincts. The plan, with Smithy at the centre, was agreed, although Ray's reluctance had been clear.

Gene checked his watch – five fifteen – and reached out to snag a bottle of scotch from the sideboard. He poured himself a small one and swallowed it down, pondering his decision to focus the team's resources on Horseshoe Smithy. In the old days he'd never have wavered, would have stuck to his decision with confidence and swagger, banishing any niggling doubts or worries. But now, with the world changing too fast around him, the old certainties brushed away in favour of paperwork, box-ticking and bureaucracy, he found he couldn't help but second guess himself, faltering slightly over the rightness of his decision.

"Bollocks to this," he mumbled, setting his whiskey tumbler next to his tea mug for the cleaner to deal with. "You know you're right. You'll prove it tomorrow." He shrugged into his jacket, wondering whether it was too early to head over to Alex's. Five twenty. Not too early.

~ x ~

"Alex! You there?"

"Bedroom." Alex looked up from the pile of laundry she was sorting on the bed, smiling as she saw Gene appear in the doorway. He was leaning against the frame, his tie hanging loose around his neck, and he'd kicked off his boots and socks. She swallowed. "Um. Good day?"

"Usual. How about you?"

"Good, actually. No painkillers at all today, and the doc's signed off on me going back to work. Now all I need is somewhere to go back to." She raised an eyebrow in his direction.

"Yeah, yeah. Signed the papers. Should be straightforward now. You'll be back on someone else's beat soon as."

"Thanks, Gene." Alex finished putting the laundry away and sat on the edge of the bed, looking up at him.

"Alex." He paused, looking at the floor for a moment. "Are you absolutely sure you want to move? It's not too late, you know…"

Alex sighed and held a hand out towards him, smiling as he caught it, taking a seat next to her on the bed. "We've been through this, Gene. I'm not going to change my mind." She lifted his hand to her lips and brushed a kiss into his palm. This thing with Gene, whatever it was, she wanted it to work. More than she'd admitted to him. More, even, than she'd admitted to herself. And she just wasn't sure how they'd manage their personal relationship if they had to spend all day together in the office. Didn't think she'd be able to switch between being subordinate at work and equal partner at home. A transfer seemed the only solution.

"Fine," Gene nodded, his thumb tracing small patterns at the small of her back. If that's what it took to keep them together, then that's what would happen. He didn't have to like it but he could get used to not seeing her face every day at work, as long as he got to see it every night at home. And every morning.

Closing his eyes, he felt his body respond as she cupped his chin, her fingers making small circles along his jaw. He could smell her perfume, feel the heat from her skin. Turning towards her, he dipped his face to hers, taking her lips in a slow, gentle kiss.

He held her face carefully in his hands, running his tongue across her lips, capturing her sighs of pleasure, echoing them with his own. It had been weeks, now. Weeks of exploration, of learning about each other, what they liked, what they wanted. They each knew every square inch of the other's body, every curve and dip and freckle, and yet it still felt as fresh, as mind-blowing as the first time. He wondered whether he'd ever tire of touching her, tasting her. Feathering his fingers down the column of her neck, across her shoulder, he eased her gently down to the bed, moving to lie alongside her. "Beautiful, Alex," he murmured, undoing the buttons on her blouse one by one, revealing her creamy flesh to his heated gaze. He nuzzled at her throat, tugging her blouse free of her trousers, pushing it from her shoulders, down her arms.

"Mmm, Gene," Alex sighed, lifting her hips as she wriggled out of her jeans and knickers. "Love how you touch me."

Raising himself above her, he flicked the clasp on her bra, drawing it away, dropping it on the floor. He lowered his head, sucking gently at the sensitive curve where her breast met her ribcage, licking a slow path towards the taut bud. Taking it into his mouth, he dragged his tongue across the tip, smiling as he felt her squirm beneath him. "Taste so good, Alex," he whispered against her breast, his warm breath teasing the wet peak, and he watched as it tightened even further.

She reached out to catch her fingers in his hair, pulling him back up for a long, deep kiss. Wrapping a leg around him, she could feel his cock pressing hard against her, and she raised her hips to meet him, curling into him. "You're still dressed," she pouted, breathing heavily as she dragged her hands to his waist, smoothing them beneath his shirt, across his skin.

"Can't have that," he breathed, tugging his shirt over his head, rolling away from her for a moment to shed his trousers and boxers. She sighed as she took in his naked body, feeling her own body respond, a pulse beginning to beat heavily between her legs. Running a hand down his chest, over his belly, she took his cock in her hand, marvelling anew at his strength and power. He closed his eyes as she brought her mouth to him, stretching her lips around his hard flesh, sucking slowly, her hand pumping lazily at the base. "More, please," he pleaded, his hips flexing to meet her mouth, his fingers making tangles in her hair.

She continued to tease him, pulling away just enough that she could run her tongue around his tip, sneaking it across his most sensitive places, holding him firm as his hips tilted towards her. "Alex," he gasped, "want you." He flipped her over to her back, settling himself between her thighs, staring down, into her passion-glazed eyes.

"Gene," she murmured, linking her ankles at the small of his back, curving her body up to his. "Now, please."

"God, yes." He groaned as he slipped a hand between them, dipping a finger into her centre, feeling her slickness, her heat. Swirling his finger around her clit, he couldn't hold back as she bit down on his shoulder, and he pushed into her, filling her completely, pausing deep within her for a moment as she trembled beneath him.

She moaned against his throat, pulling him closer, until his body was pressed along the length of hers, his hips rocking against her, small movements that sent her into freefall. "Oh, Gene, more," she cried, tightening one arm around his back, pulling on his hip with the other.

Sweat beaded on Gene's body, he couldn't hold on for much longer. Grunting into her neck, he thrust deeper, pulling out to the tip then thrusting hard again. Every nerve on fire, blood pounding through his body, he held her tight as he felt her crash around him. He heard her call his name but then nothing as he was deaf to all but the pleasure of exploding into her, filling her, wanting it to last forever.

After a minute, his strength gradually returning, he rolled over to his back, pulling Alex into the crook of his shoulder as he went. This part still terrified him. The exposure, the vulnerability. He wasn't sure he'd ever be comfortable with the way she made him feel, but maybe what he needed was more practice. Yeah, he could live with that.

Alex looked up at him, smiling. Her body still hummed, tingling from the impact of his touch. She'd never felt anything like this, never expected to find it with Gene, but she revelled in the heat in his gaze, the tenderness in his fingertips. She placed a kiss against his chest, listening to his heart as she lay close by. "Nice day at the office, dear?"

"Bit short on DIs, but otherwise okay." He stretched, hugging her tight, words of love and longing just moments from escape. Breathing in quickly, he gave her a final squeeze before sitting up and swinging his legs over the side of the bed. "Got anything planned for supper?"

Rolling her eyes, she told him he could help himself to anything he fancied from the kitchen, and he could get her something too while he was at it. He told her he'd fetch something up from Luigi's.

By the time he was back she'd showered and changed into leggings and a soft, comfortable jumper. He transferred the meals from foil containers to plates, bringing them through to the living room, picking up a bottle of red as he went. They ate off their laps, sitting comfortably together on the sofa, chatting about nothing, quietly enjoying each other's company. At the end of their meal he cleared away their plates, returning with a tumbler of scotch for him and a mug of hot chocolate for Alex. She took it gratefully and snuggled against him, mellow from the wine and the company.

Gene downed the scotch and turned his face into Alex's hair. He took a deep breath, enjoying her smell, before asking softly, "Alex, love. Tell me about Molly."

He felt her stiffen alongside him and immediately regretted his question. "S'all right if you don't want to talk about it. You don't have to."

"No," she said slowly. "No, it's fine."

She felt him curl an arm around her, holding her close. So many lies already; she didn't want to add any more. But how could she explain about Molly in a way that he would understand? She took a breath. "The thing is, I – well, I just don't know where Molly is."

"You don't know?"

Alex picked at the fabric on the arm of the sofa. "We've been apart for about eighteen months now. Since just before I came to Fenchurch East, in fact."

"I don't understand. Can't you look for her? Find her?"

"I've been looking ever since you've known me. But I couldn't tell you, couldn't tell anyone. Kept it secret because I didn't want to jeopardise my chances of being with her again."

Gene paused. "You didn't think I could help you?"

"Believe me, if I'd thought you could help, I'd have asked you." She looked at the floor. "It's no use, Gene. No one can help me. Not even you."

"I don't understand. You're trying to find her on your own? How do you know she's all right?"

"That's just it, Gene," she said sadly. "I don't."

He gave a small nod, his lips pulled into a thoughtful frown. "Is that why you used to act like such a fruitcake? Worried about your daughter?"

"Yes, I think that's probably true." She laid her head on his shoulder, linking his fingers with hers.

Gene shook his head. "Must've been hard for you."

"Was. Is, still." She took a moment to gather herself and Gene waited, his arm tightening gently around her. "I miss her. Even now I miss her, like a physical pain every day."

"I don't really understand this, Alex. There's more that you're not telling me."

She squeezed his hand. "The thing is, I haven't given up, Gene. I can't tell you everything because I still hope that somehow, God knows how, somehow I'll be able to find her again. And you've got to understand that I'll never stop looking. If I ever get the chance to be with Molly again I'll grab it without looking back. Even if that means I can't stay here, with you."

His face remained impassive although he gave a tight nod. "Is this why you keep banging on about leaving? Because you keep thinking you've found a way to be with your daughter?"

She suddenly saw how difficult it must have been for him, her continual failure to commit to her life in the eighties, and she turned his face towards hers, her eyes intent. "It's taken me a long time to accept that I might never see her again. That I might have to continue here without her." She touched a finger to his lip. "I won't stop hoping, stop trying to find her. But now, I'm not going to let it stop me living a full life while I'm waiting."

"I know you'll always put your daughter first Alex," he whispered. "I wouldn't expect anything less. But none of that stops you from doing this." He brushed the slightest of kisses across her lips, pulling her close.

To be continued - next and final chapter up very soon :)