RUN.
Chapter III - Closing In.

A/N: Thanks again for all of the lovely reviews! I think I may have figured out a plot for this, zomg! Lyrics (C) Imogen Heap.

Is it safe now?

Will your arms be open?

I just have to kiss you,

Try and stop me

Closing in

I hope that you make it

I hope that you find your way

It's all that I want in the whole world

Please be there, please be there...

Alex stood in a long corridor; a long line of lights bore down on her, searing hot white, forever burning. They marked the full length of the corridor and seemed to go on and on and on and on and on and on... Looking down at herself, she frowned; she was back in clothes from 1982. Alex shook her head - she didn't understand, what was going on? She shivered and hugged herself; where was she? Her teeth chattered, she could see her breath in the cold air.

"Hello?" she whispered, looking around meekly.

She was greeted by nothing but silence.

".. H-hello?"

Suddenly, the lights started going off. It started at the far end of the corridor, each light cracking and fizzling violently out of existence. Alex's arms dropped to her sides like dead-weights and she took an uneasy step back, her hazel eyes widened in fear. She inhaled shakily, the speed of each light flickering out was growing faster and faster, they were catching up to her now.

"Hello?!" she called out, her voice showing tones of panic.

Her eyes were still skywards, watching the lights going out. Alex started edging back again, her breaths grew laboured. Her eyes glossed over as she panicked and kept stumbling backwards. FlickFlickFlickFlickFlick...

"No.. No! Leave me alone!" she cried.

She made to turn to run but as she did, she collided into something... or someone. Alex uttered a cry and shut her eyes tight as they grabbed roughly onto her. She made to fight back, her hands pressed against their chest - and push herself away, but a familiar, gruff voice spoke out to her.

"Bolly, Bolly - it's me, calm down!"

Alex froze and swallowed had; she slowly looked up and opened her eyes. The lights had stopped flicking out and they were left alone in the corridor under one, lone light. She broke the silence with a short gasp, gazing back at her were a pair of soft, blue eyes.

"Gene..." she murmured, taking in a shaky breath.

Alex looked at his chest and smoothened down lapels of his coat; her hand paused over his heart and she silently felt for a heartbeat. She held her breath when she found the dull, regular beat of his heart and let a smile twinge at her lips for a moment. She shook her head, this was so real.

Her heart ached; she didn't know what she wanted anymore. She wanted to be with Molly, but as she stood in the gloom in a silently embrace – she found herself wanting the man in front of her. Alex exhaled softly; she was flooded with so many thoughts and feelings. He was a construct, nothing more. But she couldn't help feel how she did about him. During her time in his world, she wanted to distance herself from him and concentrate on getting home. But over time, she had become drawn to him. She needed him. All the while, as Alex's mind became a battlefield, Gene was staring down at her longingly, a bittersweet hint lingered in his eyes; Alex caught his look when she gazed back up at him.

"This can't be... I.." she faltered, "Is this real?"

Gene sighed sadly, "Bolls..."

"I want this to be real, Gene..." she whispered, inching closer to him.

He tried to speak again, but Alex cut him out.

"Help me, Gene..." she told him, reaching up with one hand and holding it to his face, "Don't let me go..."

"Alex..." he started but sighed and trailed off.

He lowered his head closer to hers, they eyes met once more – a gentle clash of blue and hazel. Alex, ghosted her fingertips over his lower lip, they traced down the side of his face and along his jaw line. She licked at her lips. The moment seemed to drag out forever as they just looked at one another. Gene glanced at Alex's lips; they were pouted and parted ever so slightly. He raised one of his hands from her waist to caress her neck before he gently brushed his lips against hers in a soft kiss.

This was real, Alex knew it. She closed her eyes, His lips against hers – it never felt so perfect, so liberating.

Their moment did not last, as their kiss deepened, a voice called out to Alex.

"Mummy?"

Alex slowly opened her eyes and inhaled, her head felt groggy. She was greeted by white and sterile conditions, hospital... she was back in hospital. Swallowing hard, she blinked and tried to wake herself up more before looking to where Molly's voice had come from. At her side appeared a very worried little girl, she was biting down on her lower lip, holding onto her hand. Alex's eyebrows raised a fraction and she remembered. She'd ran up... she was on the roof... but what happened?

"Oh Molls... I'm so sorry..." she said sadly.

"You gave us quite a scare there, Alex," the Doctor walked in with a clipboard.

"I got... spooked," Alex said lamely, "Everything's still a little... fuzzy"

The Doctor gave her a sympathetic look, "You've been through a lot, it's understandable," he penned something down on his clipboard, "You must rest Alex, alright? No more running off,"

He gave her a nod before walking out the room, Alex watched him go before turning back to her daughter. Molly reached forward to give her mum a hug and sniffled softly, Alex blinked and hushed her.

"Hey, no tears..." she told him, "I didn't mean to run out like that. My head's just so jumbled up right now..."

"I missed you, Mum..." Molly said gently.

"I miss you too, Molls..." Alex said softly.

Alex reached and rubbed her daughter back, still trying to soothe her. She glanced nervously across the room at the TV screen just at the side of her bed, her breath held as she waited for Gene to start shouting at her through the screen. But he didn't appear. He'd disappeared, for now.

Gene sighed and gathered all of Alex's tapes together as the train slowly pulled into Manchester. It had been a long night, he was exhausted and he had a feeling he was starting to get a little too sober than he normally liked. Sodding trains. If only he had the Quattro. As he stepped off the train into the start of the early morning rush of people trying to get to work, he headed straight over to the nearest phone box he could find. Digging into his pocket for some change, he hastily punched in a number and waited impatiently as it rang.

"Hello?" a familiar female's voice called.

"Annie..." he sighed softly, "It's me,"

She paused on her end of the phone; Gene could feel an awkwardness across line. He listened to the sound of a child's voice on her end, Annie hushed them before sighing.

"Gene... long time no speak," she said to him, "How've yer been?"

"I've 'ad better days," he said with a tired chuckle. "Listen, love.." he felt bad, he didn't want to throw this on Annie like this. But who else could he trust?

"I need a favour..."