Again I am sorry for the lateness of this Chapter, I've been working seven days a week and haven't had much time to write… but that's all finished now so hopefully updates will be a bit more frequent! Thanks to everyone who continues to read and review!

I don't own Ashes to Ashes.

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The shrill of the alarm startled Alex into consciousness and she blearily lent over, fumbling on the dressing table as she tried to locate the alarm and it's off button. She hit the small rectangle and the noise stopped just as she felt Gene's hand wandering up her leg.

'Gene, we have to get to work, 'bomb setting bastards' remember.'

He pulled her towards him, running his hands along her ribcage up to her breasts, gently grazing them with his fingertips. 'You know when you swear it only turns me on, that posh, private school voice cursing away, an' anyway I remember a certain promise you made about doing anythin' I wanted when were in the flat.'

She grinned. 'I think that promise has expired Gene, you should have collected on it when you had the chance.'

'Wot when we were in the bloody patrol car? Actually I do quite like the thought of that.'

'Well I'm sure the poor P.C who has to drive it wouldn't so you'll just have to think of something else.'

He kissed her softly, running his thumbs over her nipples, feeling her gasp into his mouth. 'Well right now this beds seemin' like a pretty good idea.'

She kissed him hard on the mouth, sliding her hand down his torso to find him already hard. She squeezed him gently. 'We really don't have time Gene.' Nipping at his lower lip.

'I'll be quick. In, out; yer won't even know I was there.'

'That I doubt very much.'

'Keep goin' with that Alex yer workin' wonders fer me ego.'

She laughed. 'Your ego doesn't need any help, its big enough without any assistance from me.'

He moved over her so he was straddling her, dipping his head to take an aching nipple into his mouth, relishing her soft moans. He felt her fingers twining into his hair as he snuck his hand down between their bodies to gently caress her, feeling her wet heat on his fingers.

'Alright then.' She gasped out. 'Just a quick one.'

He lifted his head, eyes glinting. 'Be over in a jiffy.'

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'Bolly! Would you bloody hurry up!' Gene bellowed in the general direction of the bedroom.

'Why are you waiting for me? I thought we weren't supposed to go into work together, we're being professional remember?'

'I'm not gonna wait fer yer but as your boss I would appreciate it if just fer once you could arrive at the same time as the rest of us do!'

The bedroom door opened and a tube of mascara sailed out, narrowly missing his ear.

'Oi!'

'It's my 'bosses' fault I'm late anyway, I said we didn't have time but you seem to have all the self control of a… a sock!'

'You very quickly changed your mind about not having enough time, in fact I distinctly remember you telling me not to stop!' He paused, frowning. 'A sock?'

'Yes a bloody sock, now go away so I can finish getting ready in peace, I'll be quicker if I'm not having this ridiculous argument with you!'

'You're the one who's bloody ridiculous.' Gene muttered as he grabbed his coat and made for the door.

'Oh thanks, I love you too!'. It burst out before she could stop it. Shit, they hadn't said I love you yet. Shit, shit, shit! Please don't let him be freaked out, please let this be okay.

'Gene?' Alex peered out around the bedroom door to find the flat empty. He'd left, just walked out. She felt a wave of panic wash over her, she needed Gene, she relied upon him in so many ways. She hadn't meant it, that was just what you said when someone you liked insulted you, she said it to her friends all the time for Christ's sake! The panic was quickly being replaced with anger.

Fine she thought angrily, if he wants to act like a child, running away when things get scary then sod him! She slammed her bedroom door shut and continued getting ready, trying to ignore the way her hands were shaking.

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Much later than was technically acceptable Alex arrived at CID. She glanced over at Gene's office to see him apparently engrossed in paper work and determinedly not looking at her. Sighing she turned to Ray.

'Ray bring me up to speed please, have we had any leads on last nights bomb?'

Ray shook his head. 'We're still waiting fer forensics, its gonna take them a while because the buildin' was so badly damaged. Skips ringing everyone that we know was in the club last night ter get them to come in and give a statement so we're just waiting fer them ter start arriving.'

Alex nodded, a small frown creasing her brow. 'Was there a tip off this time?'

Ray shook his head. 'No, nothing.'

She smiled in triumph. 'I knew it! It's a completely different M.O! The first bomb was set on a quiet street and we were given warning, it clearly wasn't intended to produce mass casualties; but last nights bomb was in a busy location and we were given no warning! I don't think we should treat these attacks as being linked, at least not until we can compare the two forensic reports.'

'Wot if the first bomb was just a warnin', wot if it's some nut job workin' 'is way up, plannin' a big finish?'

Alex turned to see Gene leaning in the office of his doorway. She searched his face for some clue as to his feelings about what had happened earlier but found nothing.

'There would still be some similarity in the attacks. Criminals have patterns, certain traits or characteristics and so far there are none that I can see that indicate any kind of link between these two attacks. I really think we should be looking for two separate bombers.'

'You just 'ave ter make my life that little bit 'arder don't you Drake.' His words seemed to be laced with unspoken meaning and Alex didn't know how to reply. She could feel Ray's curious gaze on her back as he sensed this was something more than the usual disagreements between his two superior officers. Her face began to flush as she realised she had no retort, not with the morning's incident hanging so freshly between them. The silence seemed to stretch as she struggled to meet Gene's gaze until it was most unexpectedly broken.

'It doesn't matter if it's one or one hundred bombers we're lookin' for we're gonna get 'em, fer Shaz.'

Alex turned in surprise for the second time that morning. 'Chris? Chris, you shouldn't be here, you need to rest.'

'How's Shaz?' Gene asked in an uncharacteristically public display of concern.

'She woke up this mornin', only fer a few minutes though, the pain killers were makin' 'er all woozy.'

'You should be with her Chris, she'll want you to be there when she wakes up again.' Alex said quietly, her mind drifting to 2008, to the cold clinical room she was lying in. Was Molly still waiting for her, or had she given up? 'Unlikely she will ever wake up' her own prognosis swam round her head making her feel dizzy as she tried to accept it. Unlikely her doctor had said, but not impossible, somehow that seemed to make it worse. Should she try to build a life here? Live this strange existence to the full until the day she woke up, or focus her attentions solely on getting home without forming any ties to this world? The slight flip of her stomach as she glanced back at Gene told her it was already too late for the former option.

Chris shook his head. 'I'll be there when I can look 'er in the eye an' tell 'er I've caught the bastard that did this to 'er.'

Alex couldn't help the small smile that spread across her face. Sometimes she forgot that Chris was a copper, that beneath the awkward often foolish exterior lay a brave man who had joined the force because he wanted to catch criminals and protect others.

'Good man.' Gene gave Chris a firm clap on his shoulder, firm enough to knock Chris so far forward that he almost fell.

Chris cleared his throat awkwardly, as if suddenly realising he had very much made himself the centre of attention. 'So er… what leads do we 'ave.'

'None so far, we're still waiting on forensics and witnesses from the club to arrive for interviewing.' Alex supplied.

Chris nodded. 'Right then.' He looked around as if searching the office for some new clue or task that would lead them to their bomber.

Gene rolled his eyes. 'Chris, Ray an' Bolly start helpin' Viv phone the witnesses from last night. I'll be in my office when they get 'ere.'

Alex nodded and dutifully followed Chris and Ray out of the room. Although logically she knew that it was Gene's job as her superior to delegate responsibilities to her she still couldn't help feeling like he was using his power to send her away. Had it really bothered him so much that he could no longer stand the sight of her?

She took the list Viv handed her and settled down to the mindless task of phoning the witnesses.

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Several hours later Alex's head was aching. She had spent the day interviewing those present at the club at the time of the explosion and so far everyone had told her the same thing, namely that they knew nothing.

She turned her attention to the latest interviewee, a slim girl with a shock of dark hair contrasting dramatically against the pallor of her skin.

'Thank you for coming in to see us, my name is DI Alex Drake, I just want to ask you some questions about last night.'

The girl nodded and Alex was about to begin the now painful routine of confirming the witnesses full name and address when the door was flung open.

'Inspector I want you wiv me while I interview the owner of the club, send this one ter Ray.' With that he turned on his heal and left, not bothering to close the door behind him.

Alex felt a stab of anger. How dare he ignore her all day, give no indication of his feelings about what had happened that morning and then burst in on her, embarrass her in front of a potential witness and demand that he needed her somewhere else!

She turned to the girl. 'I'm so sorry about that, I'll take you back up to the desk and the Sergeant will take you to DS Carling who will conduct your interview.'

The girl merely shrugged, as if she expected nothing less from the Met.

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Alex made her way to Gene's office, purposefully walking as slowly as she could. How could things between them have deteriorated so quickly? Was one Freudian slip all that it took to send Gene running for the hills? How could she even contemplate a future in this world if the man she had planned it around was acting like an angry child.

She opened his door without knocking.

'DI Drake, good of you ter join us.'

Alex said nothing, briefly noting that Gene had neglected to fetch a chair from the main office for her and choosing to lean awkwardly against the window sill. She took in the man seated at Gene's desk. He looked to be in his mid- thirties, his clothing and dark hair were both immaculate but the dark rings under his eyes gave away the stress he was under. His hands rested on the table in front of him and Alex could see that they were fisted so tightly that his nails had left deep marks across his palms. He was definitely nervous and quite possibly hiding something.

'Mr Brett 'ere is the owner of the club.' Gene lent back slightly, indicating that it was to be Alex that would begin the interview.

'Mr Brett, do you have any idea of why anyone would want to blow up your club?' She began.

He shook his head. 'It's just a club, no different from any of the others in London, I've got no idea why someone would want to target it.'

'Have you received any threats from anyone recently?'

Again he shook his head vehemently.

'You haven't had an argument that escalated into something more? Think carefully Mr Brett, is there anyone that you may have given cause to seek revenge upon you?'

'No.' He was becoming agitated, shifting anxiously in his seat. 'Look shouldn't you be out there catching whoever did this not interviewing me, I mean I'm the victim here!'

He was definitely hiding something she was sure. She could see Gene shifting impatiently in the corner of her eye and knew that he also suspected that Brett was lying and that he would not give her much longer to attempt to prise the truth from him without resorting to violence.

She decided to change tack. 'Mr Brett do you have any family? Is there anyone close to you who could maybe have been the intended target of the bomb? Do you have a wife or children who help you run the club?'

'No I do not have a wife, nor do I have any children and I fail to see what my marital status has to do with this investigation!'

He was really rattled now, why had the mention of family angered him so much?

Gene sighed impatiently, sitting up suddenly to his full intimidating height and leaning towards Brett his hands splayed apart over the table. 'Mr Brett.' He spat the man's name from his lips as if it had personally affronted him in some way. 'Could the reason you don't have a family have anything to do with the fact that you are as bent as a nine bob note?'

'Guv-' Alex began.

But Brett was already resignedly nodding his head. 'Yes, I'm gay, a queer, a fairy, are you happy now?'

'Well not especially no. You've wasted my time and I 'ave no desire to see a man who spends most of his time in brown town sat at my bloody desk in my bloody office!'

'Stop it Guv!' The edge to Alex's voice made him look up, she sounded more upset than angry with him and he felt the first stab of guilt over his behaviour.

He watched her shift uncomfortably against the windowsill and felt a twinge of remorse for his childish actions. He stood up, indicating that she should take the chair. It was both a silent apology and a recognition that her methods would be of more use in this interview than his own.

She took the chair without a word and took a deep breath before beginning to question Brett again.

'Mr Brett is your sexuality common knowledge?'

He sighed, his head sinking into his hands. 'Not until a few months ago. I was always very discreet, not even my own parents know for Christ's sake!' His voice trembled slightly and Gene snorted in disgust.

'Go on Mr Brett.' She said gently.

'I was seen one night with another man, I was drunk and careless and for one stupid moment I didn't care who saw me.'

Alex nodded in sympathetic understanding.

'A group of lads were shouting at us, I thought they were just drunken teenagers, that they would lose interest once we left.' He paused again, trying to compose himself.

'But they didn't did they?' Alex said quietly.

He shook his head. 'They followed me back to the club, I've got a flat above it that I sometimes stay at when I've had a few too many to drive. I locked myself in and they left, I thought that would be the end of it, but they came back two nights later. They were shouting more abuse, smashing windows, scratching my car, that sort of thing.'

'You didn't contact the police at any time?'

'Why so I could sit here and get more abuse hurled at me from the likes of him.' He jerked his thumb angrily in Gene's direction. 'No thank you!'

Alex cursed herself, of course he hadn't been to the police. 'Mr Brett do you believe it is possible that the gang that have been terrorising you could have stepped up their game to the extent of planting a bomb in your club?'

'I don't know, I don't know what anyone's capable of anymore. Can I go now please, I just… I need to go home now.'

'Before you go you need to give descriptions of the gang to PC Suthers, he will work with you to create a picture of them that will hopefully allow us to trace them.'

'I can't I don't want people to know, what would they say when they knew the truth about me, who I really am.' His face was wracked with anxiety.

Alex felt a wave of empathy for the man opposite her and the huge secret he was forced to bear. 'I know its hard Mr Brett but without your help we can't do anything to prevent them from hurting you or someone else again.' She felt guilty, knowing how she would feel if someone was attempting to force her to relinquish her own secret, to tell them who she really was. 'Please Mr Brett.' Alex forced her conscience back down.

At last he nodded, looking far older than he had when she had first laid eyes upon him. 'Okay. Okay I'll do this sketch and then I can go?'

Alex nodded. 'Yes, we will contact you as soon as we have any information.'

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By time Alex had set Brett up with PC Suthers it was almost six and she found herself cautiously making her way back to Gene's office. She needed to talk to him, to explain that she hadn't meant it. No! Why should she explain, any adult man capable of being in a real relationship would have seen it for what it was, a mistake, a slip of the tongue. Surely it was he who should be doing the explaining.

She knocked at his door before entering his office, trying to appear as if she wasn't on the offensive.

She surveyed him cautiously. His tie was discarded on his desk, crumpled next to the half empty tumbler of scotch his long fingers were tightly wrapped around. He looked so tired and in that moment all she wanted was to prise the glass from his fingers and curl up against him until all of his worries faded away.

'Gene, can we talk about this morning?'

Gene closed his eyes. He really didn't want this now, he knew he'd been a dickhead running off like that, she hadn't meant anything by it, of course she hadn't. He forced his eyes to open, drinking her in. She looking amazing, her clothes, her hair, but he found he could see through it all now. He could see her strength but also her vulnerability. She stood tall in front of him, not willing to be cowed even by the Manc Lion but her eyes betrayed her, he could see the emotion surging through them, the fear and the indecision. He realised then that he didn't care whether she loved him, he wasn't afraid of her loving him, it was his own ability to love her back that he feared, to love her in the way that she deserved. He didn't do love, he never had, he wasn't sure if he could.

'Gene?'Alex prompted, brow creased with worry now.

He wondered how long he had been sat there staring at her.

'Not now Alex, I need… I need ter get me 'ead together. We're both off tomorrow I'll take you fer lunch or somethin' an' we can-' He broke off, 'talk' sounded horribly clichéd and ineffectual. 'I'll just pick you up about twelve okay?'

Alex nodded.