Sorry this third chapter is a little later than expected, I had to alter a few things. As you can probably already guess, the chapter names are references to the song 'Stay With Me' by DJ Ironik. This is merely because the song was my primary influence for this fic. Before we get down to business, I just want to stress that this fic is Angst/Tragedy for a reason. I don't want to spoil anything, but at the same time I want to warn readers before anybody says that they weren't warned of what's to come. So now you have. Anyway, enough of the talk, let's get on with the story. Enjoy!


Gene solemnly paced down the clean corridor at the hospital ward, stuffing the Quattro's keys into an outside pocket in his black greatcoat

Gene solemnly paced down the clean corridor at the hospital ward, stuffing the Quattro's keys into an outside pocket in his black greatcoat. She had been supplied with her own private room simply because she had status as a member of the police.

He stepped into her room and took in the view of a lifeless DI Drake, wired up to all sorts of machinery, clinging to her last lifelines. Pulling up a chair at her bedside, Gene touched her hand carefully to tell her of his presence.

'Sam always used to talk about people in comas, how you have to talk to them whether or not you think they're listening. Have to pretend they're part of the conversation, still a human being. He knew quite a lot about comas, so he must've spoken from experience,' Gene reminisced while addressing a sleeping Alex, eyes shut firmly.

The heart rate monitor beeped rhythmically in the background, filling in the silence between Gene's speech.

'He said music helps, so I've brought you some, er, Adam And The Ants and a bit of Roxy, just in case. Rejects from the Met Christmas do, and I know you like them,' he chuckled to himself, fumbling in his deep pocket with the free hand, recovering two small cassette tapes and placing them on the bedside cabinet.

'Luckily, someone's already brought you a cassette player, so here you go,' Gene let go of her hand to take one of the cassettes out of its case, opened the player and proceeded to start the tape running, the sounds of Adam And The Ants' Ant Invasion echoed through the room as Gene rolled his eyes.

'God, I hate this song. Not that I'm complaining, got to keep the customer happy, eh?' he smiled to himself, taking her hand once again and giving it a kind squeeze.

Gene glanced around the room to find another topic of conversation, when his gaze landed on the discarded tray of Yorkshire puddings and gravy on another table in the corner.

'Well at least the food's better than the last time I came to a hospital,' he sighed, remembering the time when Sam brought him to see a victim of knife crime in the early 70s. 'Deepak Ghandi, I think he was,' he spoke out loud, forgetting that he hadn't mentioned the whole story, 'the bloke I was last came to see in one of these, I mean. Record store owner, caught in the crossfire of a drugs deal.'

Gene looked up to see her closed eyelids, paler than usual and missing their usual blue shading.

'I can't stand this. I'm talking to someone who probably can't even hear me, so I'm wasting my breath. But I'll say it anyway. We all need you here, Alex. The station's gone arse-up since you've been in here.' Gene watched a doctor pass between the open blinds on the windows of the ward.

'I hope they're looking after you well, or I'll have to kick in some of these white-coats,' Gene laughed to himself quietly.

'I… I, er… too many things to say, but I've still not got the courage to say them, even when you're not listening,' Gene looked down at the hand he was holding, her blue veins appearing closer to the surface than before.

That pain behind his eyes started again. He squinted hard, rolling his eyes to the ceiling in agony. Stabbing pain, blinding pain, as if something inside was telling him to do something.

'Both Luigi and something inside me would never forgive me if I didn't tell you, so um,' Gene paused to contemplate the words he could use, 'I'm nothing without you, Alex, I, er… love you. So don't you dare leave me now, okay? You won't hear the last of it if you do.'

Gene looked down at their entwined hands awkwardly, instinctively avoiding the stern gaze that he was sure he would receive, if only she was awake.

'I know, I probably deserve a slap for that. I can tell you, that's something I've not missed since you've been here,' he joked.

'Anyway, there's so much going on at the station right now, tracing whoever Chas had sent to collect you and all that, and you know how I never leave Chris and Ray in charge. So I better go now love,' Gene raised himself from the seat, leaning forward and kissing her forehead gently.

'See you soon, Alex,' he sighed, only letting go of her hand when she was sufficiently out of reach. As he reached the doorway and swung the door open, he paused and turned to watch her once more, the regular metallic beeping of her heart monitor invading his thoughts, 'don't you ever stop beating,' he thought to himself, before reluctantly turning and walking away.


Never fear, for it doesn't end there! I've definitely got two more chapters in the pipeline, and they should be up within the next day or so once I've done some spring cleaning of it all. Please write some reviews, it's good to get some feedback from readers.