It's All In My Head
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Chapter 4
The sound of the vacuum cleaner being switched on was what woke Gene up the next morning as he lay on the sofa, his mouth was dry but his head didn't ache which he was thankful for.
"What time did you roll in last night?" Ruth hissed, switching the machine off having used it for its purpose of waking him up "I never heard you come in, I assumed you weren't coming home"
His words sounded gravely as he sat up, running his hands down his face "I stayed until last orders"
"I don't know why I even ask anymore, it's not like you give a shit about my day so why should I care about yours"
Gene looked at her, for what seemed like the first time in a long time. Her dark blonde hair was pulled back into a low ponytail and her face was thick with make-up, like she was trying to make an effort, but that effort wasn't for him anymore, it was for her friends and their families, it was for anyone that paid an interest in her life. Their marriage had been over long ago, but it was easier to stay together than to make it official. Gene made just enough money for them to live without Ruth having to work, although her part time job working Avon brought in a little extra and it gave her something to do. The upside to a failing marriage was that Ruth lived comfortably and that he had a cooked meal waiting in the microwave when he came in from the pub, and he had a choice of the spare room or the sofa for sleeping, it all depended on how drunk he was as to whether he could clamber up the stairs to sleep in bed.
"Right, I'd best go get ready for work" he grumbled, hauling himself to his feet and heading upstairs for a shower.
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Alex opened her eyes and winced at the beam of light peeking through from behind the curtains. Rolling onto her back she groaned as the thumping in her head began to make its presence known. To say she had sunk god knows how much alcohol the night before she didn't feel as bad as she would have thought she'd be, but she knew all too well that her hangover would gradually progress that morning until she would want to curl up in a ball under her desk and cry. She had rather hoped to be able to enjoy taking the time to get herself ready that morning, but after throwing back the duvet and hauling herself off of the bed she forced herself to take a shower, hoping that a burst of cold water would wake her up a little. She chose to wear a pair of flared jeans with a purple cotton blouse tucked in, paired with some suede heeled Mary Janes.
After a quick scout in the kitchen she concluded there was nothing in to try and make herself a healthy breakfast that might possibly help fight the hangover, and that instead she would just have to stop off at a café and grab something quick on her way to work.
There weren't too many people around when she left the building, and the slight breeze in the air felt lovely against her clammy skin. When she found herself at the greasy spoon around down the street, a little place named Kaths Café that had coffee cup ring stains on the tables and an overweight woman chain smoking as she served customers at the till.
"I never thought I'd see you in this place Drake"
Alex turned around, about to order herself a bacon sandwich when the voice of Gene Hunt could be heard from a table in the corner. He had a mug of something hot and a plate of something greasy in front of him.
"It's just my luck that I'd run into you this morning" she pouted, strolling over and sitting down in the chair in front of him "It's all your fault I'm feeling delicate this morning"
"Delicate?!" he scoffed, stabbing a sausage with his fork and cutting off a chunk "You didn't come across as a wallflower last night when you were drinking the pub out of wine"
"Please don't try and start an argument with me today, I'm in no mood to battle it out with anyone" She reached across the table and plucked the other half of the sausage from his plate, dipping it in the tomato sauce of his half cold beans before taking a bite "Hmm, not too shabby actually"
"I'm pretty sure stealing a blokes sausage is punishable by death somewhere in the world"
She smiled, trying to eat it in the most lady like way possible before wiping her fingers on his napkin. The door to the shop opened and Sam walked in, eyebrows raising when he saw the pair sat together.
"Morning, nice night was it?" he grinned, joining them at the table "I notice you didn't come back to the pub after walking DI Drake home, you two best be careful otherwise you'll be the talk of the station"
"I'll have you know I was nothing but a gent, Tyler, you bloody pervert"
Sam watched as Alexs cheeks turned a not so subtle shade of red "Yeah, I believe you Guv"
Alex fiddled with the dirty napkin, clearly embarrassed by the way the conversation was heading "Honestly, he walked me to my door and nothing else"
Giving her a gentle nudge with his elbow, Sam nodded "I know, I'm winding you both up! Right, I promised Annie a bacon buttie so I best get my backside in gear"
Within minutes Sam had gotten his sandwiches and left, leaving Gene and Alex sat in an awkward silence for a while.
"Well, I'll let you finish your breakfast" she spoke as she forced a smile "See you at work"
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When Gene sauntered into CID ten minutes late he sensed that Alex was keeping herself to herself. Surely the thought of spending the night with him wasn't that bad, surely? So far he had to say he was enjoying having her in CID, she'd proven herself to be a dab hand at paperwork the day before as well as her drinking capabilities; he could just tell that things were going to liven up. He plonked himself down behind his desk, office door open as he observed his officers starting work for the day; Ray drinking a cup of tea and chatting to Chris about whatever dopey topic he'd brought up, Sam and Annie stood cooing over each other being the soppy loved up pair that they had now become, and yet he was drawn to Alex, sat reading notes from a file that Phyllis must have fetched in before he arrived.
"Drake, get in here!"
She looked up towards his office like a kitten being approached by a Great Dane, unsure and a little fearful. As she rose to her feet he called out and instructed her to fetch the file. He had to say, she looked damn good in denim.
"The rude woman at reception brought this in earlier" she pouted "Somebody called and gave an anonymous tip about an armed robbery due to take place tomorrow afternoon"
He rubbed his hands together, chuckling "Oh I do love an armed blag, todays turning into a good day!"
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Thanks for the reviews so far guys! I love hearing what you think about this! TPAS x