Silver Lining
One Shot
I'm writing this because it popped into my head will trying not to be sick at school so now I'm at home feeling as rough as hell and writing this to occupy my brain and help me get over the angst of watching series 3 episode 8 because that episode dissolves me to tears but I am getting over it sort of. Hope this is not too bad but I'm not up to my usually speck please forgive. And last but not least I think Keats is haunting me because I feel so bloody boiling right now.
7 o'clock in the morning a shrill beeping noise filled the air. Reverberating around the room like some over energetic child celebrating Christmas morning. From the depths of a duvet covered bed a groan of annoyance escaped from the sheets. With a huge amount of energy which frankly she didn't have Alex Drake heaved herself on to her side picked up the demon alarm clocked and catapulted it away from herself in a attempt to vent her hatred of that bastard piece of technology. The constant noise halted after a definite crake which emanated from somewhere at the far side of her room. With a small smile of satisfaction she collapsed back on to her back and let sleep claim her. 10 minutes or so later she came to feeling severely grotty. Her brain was enveloped in a haze of grey fog, her head ached horrendously so much so she felt that any movement would make her head come off and she felt absolutely boiling which was absolutely ridiculous as it was early December and she was wearing one of Gene's old shirts which he had left in the wardrobe from the days he used the flat as a somewhere to crash after being hammered.
Alex was never a quitter ever since her mum had said 'Alex Price don't you dare be a quitter'. So with all the determination she could muster she gritted her teeth and slowly uncoiled her legs while desperately trying to keep her head straight in an attempt to not make her headache throb any more. As she gradually elevated herself a sea of unforgiving dizziness swept over her, she fell back on the bed. With pure 21st century style women steely grit and good old determination she made a second attempt to get up. Once she found her way into the bathroom she felt absolutely shattered and it was only a short little trip from room to room. Riffling through the little mirrored cupboard on the wall where she kept her medicine supply and a small bottle of booze, she found a bright blue and white box containing paracetomal. Chucking two back to the back of her throat she swallowed without water and stared at the ghost of a reflection. She looked so weak and fragile. Like a little porcelain doll which could break as soon as you look at her. Running her fingers through her hair, she washed her face and applied a bit of lipstick and some mascara she just could not be asked to apply the whole lot because that required effort which she was unable to give plus she didn't care what people thought, she used to go to work every day without make-up. Pulling on a grey knee length shirt and a cream semi see-through blouse and a pair of small black peep toed heels she left the flat intent at getting to work on time.
She staggered into work felling disastrous. Every PC who walked passed her seemed to stare at her. So what she didn't feel great end of bloody story. They were where there to work not to stare at how crap their ma'am looked. She quietly slipped into CID without her usual entrance by swing both the double doors open at the same time. Instead she quietly sat behind her desk quietly rubbing her forehead and started to make a start on the uncompleted files and forms on her desk.
"Oh Ma'am didn't see you there, Oh god you ok coz you look bloody terrible if ya don't mind me sayin so"
"I'm find Shaz honestly just picked up one of those bugs you know the thing but I'm fine really I am"
"What you women talking about you're supposed to be working not having a bloody mother's meeting"
"Oh Guv, its Ma'am she looks terrible I think she is really sick"
"Well Bollykecks, see you ain't got the war paint on today so you must fell shit. Too much to drink last night?"
"For you information GUV I was in here sorting out yesterdays investigation to 2 bloody a clock this morning with all of you. I haven't exactly had time to go and get legless have I?"
Gene surveyed her up and down then with a loud audible sniff he turned round again and started talking to Poirot and Bammo about 'bloody women'. Then with an almighty crash Ray entered CID face like thunder and making a hell of a lot of racket. Which was not helping Alex's headache one bit.
"What the bleedin hell"
"Guv, that filthy raping bastard scum is not bloody admitting to the rapes he wouldn't bloody talk Grrrr."
"Right me and Drake will have a nice little chat with him. She can talk about psycho bullocks and if he doesn't confess to escape her mental rabbititing I will let her sneeze over him instead"
This statement roused the detectives from their own little words and they began to chuckle at Gene's statement. He received a knock out glare from Alex who was fanning herself with a statement sheet. As Alex got up from her chair and rounded her desk towards him he checked that no one was looking then whispered something barely audible.
"You all right Alex? Really?"
This brought a small smile to Alex's face. The way he said it with such tenderness was heartbreaking yet intriguing because Gene Hunt never showed a softer side until now it seemed. She out stretched her arm and lade her hand on his arm.
"Thanks Gene for caring I'm just a bit under the weather that is all honest"
They both burst out of CID and were about to round the corner when Gene noticed Alex swaying slightly and almost like slow motion watched her plummet downwards. Gene instincts to protect Bolly kicked in and his arms shout out around her waist she had passed out in his arms and was scorching hot. He pulled her up into his arms like a bridal carry and went back to CID.
"Right you pathetic morons I'm taking Drakey home. She has just passed out and is obviously too ill to be in work. I will take her back to her flat and sit with her till her privately educated arse decides to stir, so while I'm away get bloody working."
And with that Gene marched out of the station with Alex securely in his arms.
She lay silently and peaceful diagonally across a double bed. He sat by her side in an old rickety wicker chair and watched her sleep. Watched how her eye lashes gracefully fluttered, the way she tossed and turned and how her plump blossom red lips moved while she muttered something incoherent. Gene was struck in awe at how peaceful and innocently beautiful she looked. He kept having these 'Southern Nancy' ideas like she was the police force's version of sleeping beauty.
After what seemed like a torturous long time Alex began to come to. Her pale eye lids fluttered open to revel emerald green orb like eyes which was filled with worry and confusion. She sat bolt upright and looked around in a frenzied state. Her hand rubbing her head she turned to face Gene who was slightly smiling at her.
"What happened, how am I here, what you doing here?"
Alex reeled out her questions desperately trying to get her brain functioning properly again.
"Bloody hell woman give me a chance to breath. Jesus. You fainted at work so I brought you here to so you could rest but I was worried about you so I stayed for a bit but now your awake and are obviously feeling better if you can ask so many question, I'll be off. See you but not tomorrow I let you have day off because I don't want the whole bloody team saying they have this bug thingy."
Gene pulled his long black coat around his chest and was already half way to the door when a muffled voice reached his ears making him stop and turn around to look at her.
"Don't leave I hate being on my own when I'm ill"
Her face was sunken and depressed looking while her eyes were glistening from unshed tears she was trying to hold back. This made Gene guilty at the way he was so ready to just abandon her. Of course he wanted to stay but was so scared she would reject him and then that would not just shatter his heart but also his reputation.
"Stupid thing to ask you, you go you have CID to run don't worry about me"
"No it ain't Bolls, I will stay if you want me to just give two ticks to shove the kettle on and grab you a box of paracetomal and then I will be back"
Alex heart sword with emotion, that he cared enough about her to let the Guv mask slip a fraction to reveal the true Gene. She heard him bang around in the kitchen loudly just like men always seemly did when your head is beating out the rhythm of a samba. And yet the noise brought her a strange sense of safety, security and love. She heard him rummage around and make the tea which in some ways was very therapeutic. After a short while which seemed to drag for at least ten minutes to Alex, Gene was precariously balancing a tray of 1 mug full to the brim with strong and probably very sweet tea while in a cup and saucer was some earl grey tea for Alex. It was made to the exact strength which she preferred and to top it all off it was in her favourite cup and saucer which Shaz bought for her last birthday. Alex felt a small smile creep slowly up her face she was so touched how Gene had remembered her obsession with earl grey never mine how exactly perfect it was made.
"Oh thanks Gene, This tea is...perfect, just right, it's my favourite how did you know"
"Well firstly you stupid cow it was in your cupboard and the disgusting stuff clatters up the kitchenette at work and none of those dossers have the palette for Earl Grey"
Gene said this with his usually pout but without the harsh crisp tone in his voice. He felt really awkward he did not want her thinking he was stalking her. But he always showed an interest in what she liked what she didn't and if she was alright even if he didn't show it but he genuinely cared about her, very much in fact.
"Right Little Miss Germy knickers where is the paracetomal then"
She feebly pointed towards the bathroom and muttered mirror cabinet and within a second of her uttering those two words he was off like a flash and returned just as quick with his hands behind his back, a cocky smile plastered across his face and one blonde eyebrow raised.
She feebly pointed towards the bathroom and muttered mirror cabinet and within a second of her uttering those two words he was off like a flash and returned just as quick with his hands behind his back, a cocky smile plastered across his face and one blonde eyebrow raised.
"Now, now, now someone has been a naughty little Bollykecks haven't they?"
If it was physically possible Gene's smile enlarged even more as Alex returned a quizzical gaze towards him.
"I don't know what...oh that"
"Yes oh that frilly knickers, even I don't have a bottle of Smirnoff's best in the medicine cabinet your more than a boozer than I thought"
While Gene was saying this he swung the bottle right close to Alex's face to prove a point which neither she nor even he knew what it was. They stared at the bottle for a minute and then began to laugh. Full on hysterical laughter until Alex's eyes dilated in fear and ran towards the bathroom. Gene halted laughing and stood stock still, he could hear his Bolly being sick and all he could do was stand their listening. He hated sick, blood and other gruesome stuff he could handle but sick no way. Of course no one knew about this and never while do hopefully. But this was Bolly reaching her guts up in the bathroom. He knew what he had to do.
He was at the bathroom door in an instant. He took a deep breath and opened the door to find Alex bent over the cream toilet being sick and hair cascading down her face. His heart ached to see her like this so he strolled over bent down until he was on his knees and pulled all her hair back so it would not get covered with sick. Once she had stopped he passed her a piece of toilet roll to clean her lips. He took her face between his hands and turned it slowly, her mascara from earlier had made a journey down her heart shaped face and tears leaked from her puffy red eyes.
"Don't cry Bolls you ok promise"
"Didn't...mean..for you ...to see...me sick...sorry"
"shush don't worry shush shush"
Delicately he kissed her forehead with so much tenderness. This action happily surprised them both and their nervous smiles were reflected by one another. He pulled her to her feet and picked her up like a fragile piece of ornate glass. Gene lowered her gently on to the side of her bed and was about to vacate the space he was currently sitting in for the chair when a slender hand pulled at his shirt.
"Please stay here and hold me I just feel so cold and alone when I'm ill"
"Alright luv I'm here don't worry"
And with that they both lay back on the soft bed. Alex snuggling up to Gene seeking warmth and comfort and Gene was holding her and cuddling her all while revealing in thought of how well that fitted together and how right this all seemed to be. In no time at all he heard her breathing getting shallower so he sneaked a peek at her she was asleep and look utterly gorgeous even if she did feel as rough as hell. Gene Hunt smiled a genuine happy smile at the thought That Alex Drake his bolshie DI I felt content in his arms and maybe just maybe she felt the same about him like he feels about her. Of course he hated seeing Alex like this but every cloud had a silver lining he pondered while he to was devoured by sleep.
That's it. Thx for reading please review and if you want me to add another chapter to this I will because I have another real cute idea about Galex revolving around soup, kisses and pillows thx and again. Oh by the way you know I'm ill well I was boiling now I'm so cold I swear Jimbo is now working over my grave instead of trying to roast me alive. Lol
Love Alex –will get back to Trick or Treat soon as muse is back alive and kicking.