AN:

Title: Hope You're Happy Too

Words: 1,792

Romantic Pairings: Gene&Alex.

About: Ashes To Ashes

Alex had gone back to her flat, she didn't want to stay in the station as Chris kept trying to apologise for telling Chris. She didn't want him to apologise, nobody knew what James had done other than herself and Gene.

She unlocked the door to the flat and wandered inside; removing her jacket she slumped down on the sofa and sighed.

"Peace at last"

As she reached for a magazine that was on the coffee table she noticed something move in the corner of her eye, turning to look she saw James.

"Hello Alex, how are you doing?"

"Get out!" she screamed, launching the magazine at him "Leave! Me! Alone!"

"There's no need to shout, I only want to talk" he had his hands up in submission "I know about the baby, I want to be a part of our baby's life"

"It's not your baby"

"How can you be so sure? Look, I know that a lot has happened but I want you to know that I'm not all bad, and Gene...well Gene isn't exactly the saint that he comes across as"

"I don't care about what ever lies you're going to try and tell me"

"Back in the day when I first met Gene, he was a bad cop Alex...he used to dish out the beating like no tomorrow, he could have killed anyone...in fact he nearly did"

"What do you mean?"

"There was one lad, a mate of mine, his name was John Denis, we all called him Johnny and one evening he had had a bit too much to drink, he got rowdy and a bit mouthy with Gene...he couldn't control himself, he hit out and didn't stop hitting until four of us dragged him off of Johnny, his face looked like a plate of spag boll"

"I don't believe you"

"You can speak to him yourself, I'm still in touch with him" James sighed "All I'm saying is that yes I did some terrible things, but haven't we all? And if you ever feel unsafe around Gene, just remember what I said...and I'm always here"

Alex watched as James left. She felt sick that he had been in her flat, probably routing through her belongings.

She made herself a drink; she could have done with something stronger but obviously couldn't. The door swung open not long after and a breathless Gene walked in.

"Are you alright? I saw James car driving off, I came up as quick as I could, he hasn't hurt you has he?"

She shook her head "No, he didn't touch me...he just spoke"

"What did he say?"

She had to make a choice here, ask Gene if what James had said was true or keep quiet.

"Nothing, he just wanted to know if it was true or not"

"And did you tell him?"

"Yes I did, but I don't think he'll cause as much trouble about this as we thought he would"

She watched as Gene went into one of the kitchen cupboards, retrieving a bottle of scotch and a glass.

"I know that you try to see the good in everyone Bolls, but there's nothing good about him"

"Gene..."

"He's bad news!" he shouted "Nothing decent can come from that man"

"Why are you acting like this? I don't understand why you're being so cold"

"Because he hurt you!" Gene tried to calm himself, he could feel his heart palpitating in his chest and it felt as though it was going to burst out of his body.

Alex sat down on the sofa, cradling her glass of water in both hands. Gene was stood by the window now, checking to see if James was outside, his hands pressed against the window pane.

"I know that you're angry and I know that you're upset, but you need to let go of all these issues"

"And do what, welcome him with open arms? Lend you to him for the weekend because there's a chance that you're having his kid?"

"Don't be like that!"

"For God sake Alex open your eyes!" yelled Gene, the volume in his voice made Alex jump.

"Gene you're scaring me" she spoke uneasily.

"You forgave him Alex, that's how we've ended up in this mess!"

"So you're saying all of this is my fault?" Alex scoffed.

"Yes it is! If you hadn't let him bring you up here in the first place we wouldn't be worrying about whether or not it's his!"

"That it is my baby!"

Gene stood silently for a few seconds "Exactly, it isn't mine is it?" he emphasised on that one word "It is yours and James'...I'm sure once it is here you'll be glad to get rid of me"

"I can't talk to you when you're like this Gene, we're getting nowhere"

Alex moved to leave the flat but Gene shifted and stood in her way, holding her wrists so that she couldn't move.

"No, you're going to stay here and we're going to have this out until everything's clear"

"You just can't stop can you Gene?" she felt a bitter wave of anger creep up from her stomach "Just like you couldn't stop with John Denis"

Gene let go of her, his eyes darkened and he felt nauseas "What did you just say?"

"I know about what you did to him, I know that you beat him within an inch of his life! Is that what you'd do to James, is it Gene? Would you hit him until you couldn't hit him anymore?"

"I'm not talking about this" Gene walked into the bedroom and called back "You win Alex, do what you like because I'm going to bed"

Alex listened to him moving around in the bedroom, when the silence overcame that flat she sat back down on the sofa. Reaching for a pillow she held it in her arms and used it to hush her tears.

James Summers had been in bed for hours and was in a deep sleep when his phone began to ring; he stirred and groaned before reaching across to the bedside table, he picked up the receiver and placed it to his ear.

"Hello?" he grumbled.

"It's Alex, can we talk?"

He sat up and yawned "Yeah, yeah of course we can"

"I've been doing a lot of thinking and...I believe what you said about that John man, me and Gene argued this evening and I saw a side of him I have never seen before"

"Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I just need..." she sighed "I don't know what I need anymore"

"Do you want me to come round?"

Alex made a rash decision "Yeah, but only to pick me up...I need to get away from here for a few days, clear my head"

"I'm on my way"

Alex hung up the phone and pulled her cardigan further around herself. She finished her glass of water and waited by the window, it was five minutes later when she saw James pull up outside.

She turned and picked up the bag of belongings that she had packed in the darkness of her bedroom, Gene asleep not far from her. As she made her way to the front door, she put the letter addressed to Gene she had written on the table then pushed the bedroom door open a little and took one last glance at Gene.

"I'm sorry...I am so, so sorry" she whispered.

Alex moved to the front door, she paused as she took hold of the door handle. She felt like she would regret what she was going to do, but she needed to get away for a while.

James was stood waiting for her when she opened the door, he took her bag and put an arm around her as they walked away from the flat.

Gene Hunt awoke at half past nine in the morning. Rolling over to find the other side of the bed empty and cold, which wasn't a surprise as Alex was probably getting ready for work.

"Bolls?" he sat up and yawned "Bolly?"

He got out of bed and checked the bathroom. Nothing. He went into the living room. Nothing. Sitting down on the sofa he noticed an envelope on the coffee table, he ripped it open and slid the letter out, it was from Alex.

To Gene,

You're probably wondering what is going on, you've probably woken up to an empty flat and I'm nowhere to be seen. I have to go, I don't know when I will be back and I don't want you to come looking for me. It's silly but I need some time alone, you're the best thing that has happened to me and you've been amazing since we found out about the baby. At least you can go out with the lads and play football whenever you like. Promise me you won't come after me, please? I'm sorry for hurting you like this, I love you and you have to remember that but I need to clear my head so that I can think things through properly.

Alex xxx

Tears began to roll down Genes face; he slammed the letter down on the coffee table before getting up and thumping his fists against the wall. He wanted to shout and yell and throw stuff about but he had to control himself.

There was a knock at the door and Gene answered it immediately, hoping that it was Alex, but stood before him was Shaz.

"Guv, I wanted to..." she stopped "Are you alright?"

"It's Alex, she's gone" he groaned "She's just gone; she left me a letter and nothing else"

"Oh Guv" Shaz sighed "What on earth is going on? The both of you were so happy"

"No we weren't, you remember James don't you? Well he's not as nice as people think he is and he could be the father of Alex's baby"

Shaz didn't know what to say, Gene and Alex had always seemed so strong but deep down, underneath their sturdy facade they were crumbling. Gene turned away from her as he let tears stream down his face.

"Guv?"

Shaz moved through the doorway and put her arms around her superior officer, letting him cry against her. Minutes passed and his crying died down, standing up straight he sighed.

"If you tell anybody that you saw me cry I'll have you clean the Quattro for the next two years"

"Tell anybody what?" Shaz smiled at him then rubbed her hands together "Right, let's get that kettle on shall we? I'll make you something to eat if you like, you go get a shower and get ready for work"

Just before he went into the bathroom Gene turned to her "Thank-you Shaz"