Starting over – chapter 9

Ray didn't like it. He sat alone in a booth at the Six Bells, watching Carter and Smithy standing together at the bar. Carter was confident, expansive, his arms flung wide. By contrast, Smithy seemed small, cautious, drumming his fingers against his leg, fiddling anxiously with a beer mat. Ray didn't like it at all.

The thing was, the Guv hadn't been the same lately. Not since the Chris Skelton disaster, the stupid bloody mess about Supermac. Ray didn't want to think that the Guv'd lost it, but as he watched the two targets he couldn't help but wonder.

Of course, it wasn't the Chris thing, or even Supermac, that had sent the Guv over the edge. It was Drake. Shooting Drake had been the single most devastating action the Guv had ever done and for a moment Ray hadn't been sure whether the Guv'd make it through. For a moment, Ray hadn't cared. Luckily Drake had pulled through, cleared the Guv's name about the shooting, but Ray wasn't sure she'd really forgiven him. He couldn't say he blamed her.

So it was hardly surprising, all things considered, that the Guv's judgement might not be everything it used to be. And Ray was increasingly certain that the Guv was wrong about this evening's operation.

Lighting a cigarette, Ray shifted a little in his booth, making sure he could still see Carter and Smithy on the other side of the pub. Their demeanour had changed, their heads were closer together, sweat now breaking out on Smithy's brow.

No way was Smithy the brains behind this deal. Why couldn't the Guv see it? Ray was sure that the focus should be on Carter, but no amount of discussing it had changed the Guv's mind. And now the deadline for the deal was approaching and the agreed strategy was arse-about-face wrong.

He looked up from the booth at the sound of the door to the gents clicking closed. The Guv wandered back to their table, sitting down alongside Ray. "Any sign of Sniffer?"

"Not yet, Guv." Ray stared down into his pint.

"Still early. Although I see our friends are starting to look a bit worried."

"Aye, Guv." Smithy and Carter were huddled close at the bar, their gazes now bouncing nervously around the room, at the door, at each other. "We all set?"

Gene patted his pocket and nodded. Their intel was that the deal would take place in the rear car park, with Sniffer offloading a couple of pounds of Class As to Smithy and Carter. Chris was sitting with another DC at a table on the other side of the pub, following his instructions and keeping an eye on Carter. Gene and Ray sat together in the booth, talking quietly, waiting for signs of action.

At about 8.45, Smithy put his empty pint glass on the bar and nodded to Carter. He shrugged into a jacket and made his way towards the pub's front door. Gene nudged Ray, hoping he'd get the message – their target was on the move – but Ray was reluctant to follow, wanting to keep an eye on Carter instead. "Move it," hissed Gene, pushing past Ray to follow Smithy himself.

At that moment, Ray made a decision. The Guv was wrong. Carter was the force behind this deal and Ray wasn't going to leave him to Chris to deal with. In any case, their intel was that the deal would be in the rear car park and Smithy had gone out the front door. Ray remained seated, watching as Carter waited at the bar, calmly sipping his pint and chewing on a pork scratching.

At the sound of the first gunshot, Ray slammed his pint on the table, heartbeat racing. He raced to the back door, where the sound had come from, Chris following close behind. He paused for a moment as he heard a second shot ring out, then took a deep breath and pushed through the pub's rear door.

The scene in the car park was confusing at first. Two men were grappling near the pub wall and another was lying nearby on the floor, groaning and clutching his leg.

After a moment, Ray realised that the man on the floor was Smithy and that Gene was trying to overpower Sniffer McHarris. Ray ran across to Gene, shouting to Chris to get cuffs on Smithy, pulling Sniffer off Gene and laying a strike across his jaw, smiling grimly as he heard the bones crunch.

Looking up, he saw that Chris had managed to cuff Smithy to a drainpipe. "Chris," he shouted, "get inside and pick up Carter." He grabbed Sniffer and pulled his hands behind his back, snapping handcuffs around his wrists. Sniffer dropped to the floor beside Gene, spitting out blood. Gene struggled to his feet, breathing heavily, a look of anger on his face.

"Where were you, Ray?"

Ray stood his ground. "I thought I should stick with Carter."

Biting out a frustrated sigh, Gene muttered, "I needed you here. Smithy took a shot at me before I could make the arrest." For the first time, Ray noticed that the side of Gene's shirt was smeared with blood. He blinked.

"You all right?"

Gene looked down at his side and shrugged. "Just a flesh wound," he said, wincing. "Managed to get a round off at Smithy but then our friend Sniffer here joined in." He gave Sniffer a half-hearted kick before fixing Ray with an intensely angry stare.

Ray swallowed and looked at the floor. "Carter just didn't seem the type to lead a deal like this one, Guv. Didn't want to leave him in the back with Chris."

Gene shook his head, watching as Chris brought a handcuffed Carter through to the car park. "You were wrong, though, Ray. And this op was just a couple of inches from being a complete bloody disaster." He turned to Chris. "Get an ambulance for Smithy, make sure you stay with him at the hospital. Give Carter to uniform to bring in. Ray and I will take care of Sniffer." But Ray had gone, the door swinging behind him as he left.

~ x ~

Alex asked Luigi for a glass of white and sat back on her stool to await the arrival of the team. She knew about the op planned for that evening and hoped it had gone well. She'd miss that part of the job when she transferred to a new division.

She remembered back to her conversation with Gene about Molly. All in all, she thought, he'd taken it incredibly well. Perhaps she'd underestimated him. Wouldn't be the first time. Alex still dwelt for longer than she wanted to on thoughts of Molly, the longing now more a dull ache than a sharp stab but painful nonetheless. She smiled at the memory of her daughter's smile, the softness of her touch. She would leave Gene without question for the chance to be with her daughter again. But, she was realising, the separation from Gene behind would be almost as painful as the loss of her daughter.

Pushing aside her melancholy thoughts, she looked up and smiled as Shaz and Chris made their way through the restaurant towards her. "Evening, Ma'am," Chris greeted, sitting on a stool next to her and pulling his girl into the crook of his arm.

"Chris, Shaz, nice to see you. How'd it go this evening? Where's the Guv?"

Shaz and Chris glanced at each other. Chris gave Shaz's arm a squeeze before turning to Luigi to place his drinks order. Alex looked at Shaz, a niggle of worry beginning to worm its way through her. "Shaz?"

"He's in hospital. He should be back any minute."

"Hospital?" Alex reached out to the bar for support. "What do you mean? What happened?" Why didn't he tell me?

"There was a problem with the op. The Guv got shot. But they said he'll be fine, just a graze really."

Shot. Gene, shot. Alex struggled to process the words, barely aware of the odd look that Shaz was giving her. "Well, where is he? I want to see him. When can I see him?"

Shaz looked a little confused. "I don't know, Ma'am. Like I said, he'll probably be here in a bit."

Trying to pull herself together, Alex sent Shaz a tight smile. "Yes. Of course. He'll be here in a bit." She watched as Chris picked up his drinks and led Shaz across to a nearby table.

He'd be fine. Shaz said so, just a graze. Nothing serious. Alex's mind raced as she tried to remember what she'd said to him as he'd left the flat that morning. Had she been nice to him? Kissed him goodbye?

She knew he'd be fine, that any minute he'd walk through the door and be the same old Guv that she knew and lov– hold on a moment. Just hold it right there. Was that it? They'd never talked about their relationship, taking every day as it came, enjoying each moment but making no assumptions about the future. In a moment of clarity, Alex knew that would no longer be enough. The thought of Gene being injured, maybe even killed, was enough to make her understand her feelings, and she had an almost palpable urge to tell him.

Where the hell was he? She tapped her foot against the leg of her stool, try to relieve her nervous energy. He might not feel the same but she had to let him know. Owed it to herself, to him. Needing to feel close to him, she left her glass on the bar and headed out of the restaurant, hurrying across the road to CID, certain that he'd visit the office before going to Luigi's.

She was disappointed when she saw the squad room empty, just a few lamps humming quietly on untidy desks. Sighing, she made her way to the kitchen, putting the kettle on and resigning herself to a lengthy wait. She was just dropping the soggy teabag into the bin when she sensed someone standing in the door frame. Looking up, her smile faltered only a fraction when she saw it was Ray.

He looked surprised to see her. "Ma'am. What you doing here?"

"Just looking for the Guv. Thought he might pop in here before going over the road."

Ray nodded slowly. "He's not there yet then?"

"No. Shaz said she thought he was still in hospital." Alex paused but her curiosity got the better of her. "What happened, Ray? How did the Guv come to be shot?"

Ray sighed and slumped against the worktop. "Were my fault, Ma'am."

"What do you mean? How could it be your fault?" She took a seat at the small table, gesturing that he should join her.

He slunk into the chair, shoulders sagging, head in his hands. "I disobeyed a direct order. Followed my own instinct instead of the Guv's. And the Guv got shot as a result." Ray groaned. "If Horseshoe Smithy'd had a better aim, the Guv might not have survived to give me the bollocking that he's probably planning, even as we speak."

"You haven't spoken to him yet?"

Ray sighed. "I didn't know what to do. Left the scene, went for a walk, clear my head. Haven't seen him since."

Alex put a sympathetic hand on his arm but her mind was whirring. "Why, Ray? Why would you be second-guessing the Guv after all these years?"

Ray gave her a look. "Come on, Ma'am. You know yourself, it's not like he's been on the ball recently. Why should we all just do what he says without questioning it?"

Alex asked quietly, "What do you mean, I know myself? You're not making any sense."

Looking faintly embarrassed, Ray muttered, "Well, we've all heard the rumours that you want to transfer out. Can't say I blame you after what the Guv did. You don't want to work with him any more, and I'm not sure I do either."

~ x ~

Gene pushed quietly through the double doors into the dark squad room. His side ached a little but he really had been very lucky – the bullet had nicked him but hadn't caused any serious damage, nothing that a few painkillers couldn't deal with. It probably helped that his professional confidence had made a welcome return, his instinct on Carter and Smithy having been spot on. There was the hint of a spring in his step as he strolled between the desks, wanting to pick up the file on the arrests and then get over the road to Luigi's. He intended to persuade Alex to make it an early night and have her kiss him better.

Half way to his office, he made out the sound of voices coming from the kitchen. He could tell who they belonged to but couldn't quite catch what they were saying. What was Alex doing here? And talking to that bloody idiot? He reached the door frame, peered in, but Ray and Alex were intent on their conversation and didn't notice him there.

"… You don't want to work with him any more, and I'm not sure I do either."

Instinctively Gene pulled back, out of their sight but within their hearing. It was wrong, all shades of wrong, but he'd been a detective more than half his life and old habits died hard. As he listened, he could hear the smile in Alex's voice as she said, "I think there's been a misunderstanding."

"Not sure about that, Ma'am," Ray replied gruffly. "You are transferring, aren't you?"

"I am. But –"

"So you don't have to be loyal to him any more. You can say what you really think."

"You're right. I can."

Go on, Alex, Gene thought to himself. Tell him what you really think. Tell me.

He heard her take a deep breath. "The thing is, Ray." She paused. "The thing is, I'm not transferring out of Fenchurch East because I don't trust the Guv. I do, I trust him completely. I'd trust him with my life." In the shadows, Gene smiled. That's my girl. Alex continued, "I'm transferring because – well – because our personal relationship makes it impossible for me to stay."

Ray sounded confused. "But that's exactly my point. Ma'am."

Exasperated, Alex blurted, "No, you don't understand. Our personal relationship. Our–" she paused significantly – "very personal relationship."

Sweat began prickling across Gene's body. He should let them know he was there. He didn't move.

"What personal relationship? Since when?"

"Since a few weeks ago. Just after the shooting."

It was quiet for a moment and Gene could almost hear the cogs turning. Eventually Ray stuttered, "You mean you… and the Guv… you're… you know."

"Yes Ray. We are 'you know'."

"But, why?" asked Ray faintly.

"Why?" She paused. "Because he's Gene. Because he's the Manc Lion. Because, and I can hardly believe I'm saying this myself, but because, well, apparently, I love him."

Gene swallowed hard then clapped his hands together, striding through the doorway. He saw Ray and Alex jump slightly, Ray staring down at his hands, Alex putting a hand to her hair. He stared at them. "Right then, you two. Bolls, don't go away, I want a word with you. But not until I've strung this one up by his short and curlies. Carling, my office, now."

"Right Guv," Ray signed, resigned. Gene followed Ray through to his office, his mind not wholly focused on the dressing down he needed to give Ray. He went through the motions, gave Ray a verbal warning for disobeying orders, all the while aware of Alex sitting at her desk, half watching as she rifled through files, chewed at the lid on a pen.

Eventually, after he thought even Ray must have got the message, he walked across to the door of his office and opened it, signalling for Ray to go through. Ray paused in the doorway, nodding towards Alex then back at Gene. "You and DI Drake," he said quietly. He waggled his eyebrows. "You did well there, Guv. Never knew you had it in you."

Gene narrowed his eyes. "Don't push your luck." Smirking a little, Ray shrugged into his jacket and headed for home.

Flicking off the light, Gene paused for a moment before closing his office door behind him. Alex was still at her desk. She looked up at him, an open smile on her face, and Gene felt something dislodge inside him. He felt lighter, suddenly. Like himself, but better. He swallowed. He didn't want to screw this up.

"So, Guv," Alex smiled, tapping her pen against the corner of her mouth. "You wanted to see me?"

"Always, Inspector." He covered the short distance to her desk and sat on the edge, drawing her up to join him, pulling her between his legs, into his arms.

"You're all right, then? The shooting?" Cupping his jaw in her fingers, she looked at him intently, smoothing her thumb along his lower lip. She smiled as he turned his head and dropped a kiss against her palm.

"Really, I'm fine. Small bruise. Nothing to worry about."

"Good," she nodded. "I'm glad. I was worried."

He pulled back a little so he could see her face clearly. "Were you now?"

"I was. Very." Taking a deep breath, she continued, "When I heard you were shot, I just wanted to find you, make sure you were okay."

"I thought I'd be out of hospital sooner than I managed or I'd have called you. You shouldn't have worried. Take more than a tiny little bullet to take out the Gene Genie."

She frowned up at him. "Didn't sound like a tiny little bullet wound to me. You had to go to hospital. And I might remind you that I've had my own direct experience of the damage a tiny little bullet can do."

Softening, he pulled her a little closer. "I know. And I'm sorry you worried. You needn't have."

"Can't help it." She nuzzled into his neck. "You sure you're not hurt?"

"Am fine. Taken so many painkillers I'm rattling, but fine." If she carried on nibbling his neck like that he wouldn't be able to walk out of the office.

Wrapping her arms around him, she edged closer, feeling him pressing hard against her stomach. She felt herself heating from the centre, warm to her fingers and toes. Edging her mouth along his jaw, she took his lips in hers, teasing gently with her tongue, reassuring herself about his taste, his feel beneath her fingers. Whispering against his mouth, she asked, "Do you want to take this back to my place?"

"Oh, I do, Bolly," he groaned. "But listen. I, um. I heard you talking to Ray. Just now."

He saw confusion, then wariness, cloud her eyes. "What do you mean?"

"I know you told him about us."

"Oh. I'm sorry." She looked down, biting slightly at her lip. "I know I should have talked to you about it first, but he really didn't understand what had been going on and I just wanted to get him back on side. Make him see that if I could get over the thing with you shooting me, then he certainly should."

"It's all right, Bolls. I don't mind that you told him. Happy about it, in fact."

"You don't mind?"

"Why would I? I don't like hiding things, Alex. Our private life is private, but I don't like sneaking around." He cleared his throat. "I'm proud to be seen with you."

"Me too, Gene." She squeezed his arm.

Looking at the floor, he mumbled, "I heard the other thing too."

Her heart began to beat a little faster. "Other thing?"

"What you said to Ray. About why you were with me." This was excruciating. Why was he so bad at this?

"Oh." She bit her lip. "That thing."

He swallowed. "And I just wanted to say, good. And, me too."

"You too?" Smiling, she looked up at him, saw him looking at the ceiling. She pulled his head down to hers, pressing her lips against his mouth. "Thank you, Gene," she murmured. She knew this was hard for him, was a huge admission, and it might not be wine and roses but it was good enough for her. In fact, it was perfect.

"Right then," he smirked, pulling himself together. "Didn't you just offer to entertain me in your delightful boudoir? Let's get to it, Inspector." She yelped as he hit her smartly on the behind, giggling as she led him from the office back to her place. Perfect.

- The End -

AN - thank you so much for everyone's kind comments, reviews and favouriting. I hope you've enjoyed this fic - I've certainly enjoyed writing it. Who knows, maybe I'll return with an epilogue at some point...

Louella x