A/N here is the next chapter enjoy! Sadly I don't own Ashes to Ashes, I'm just borrowing the characters

Then from the doorway a group of people chorused "Replacing us already?"

Gene stared at the figures in shock. Alex stood next to Ray and Chris. Shaz hurried away from the group and into the kitchenette. Chris and Ray went to their desks and sat down a secret smile on their faces. Gene glared at them and turned to Alex taking in her appearance. Her hair was messy, her eyes looked tired but it was her blood stained shirt and the man that stood next to her that caused his mouth to fall open. She smiled at this. She watched carefully as Gene pulled out his hip flask and took a deep swig.

"I see you still wear protection Guv." The man remarked the smirk evident in his voice. He took a step away from Alex. She watched him carefully as if he could vanish in a second. Shaz reappeared at Gene's side a coffee cup in her hand.

"Tea, five sugars" She informed him and sat down next to Chris. Alex smiled and Gene just stared at Sam. The gears turned in Gene's head and before anyone could react, Sam was lifted off the floor by his lapels. Alex gave a small gasp and stepped forward as Gene slammed Sam in to the nearest filling cabinet.

"Where the hell have you been Tyler?" Gene Hunt demanded in a voice that could stop a herd of rampaging elephants. Sam choked a little and rolled his eyes.

Alex jumped forwards and before anyone could say anything, Gene felt the effects of her right-hook again. "Guv!" She screamed her voice dangerous and commanding. "Stop it!" she ordered. "Don't you ever think? Where would Sam have been, not talking to anyone, not seeing his friends and family and getting a ridiculous amount of injuries?"

"Alex! Calm down." Sam sounded calm and collected the only give away was his rapid breathing. He put his hands on her shoulders. She relaxed and he put his head against hers. "In answer to your question Guv, for the past three years I have been held hostage they wondered when one of you would come for me. I don't think they expected it to take so long. And I didn't expect Alex to be the one who figured it out." Alex looked rather guilty and Gene looked ashamed of himself.

Gene decided to take a different line of approach. "Why didn't you tell me?" He demanded of Alex.

Alex then lost it. "Didn't tell you?" She shrieked. "Don't you think I tried? You never listen to me. Not since Martin-"She went very quiet she had almost mentioned Operation Rose. There was a thin veil that CID had drawn over that day and the months that followed. That veil was now wavering dangerously. "Don't you remember that two days ago I came to talk to you about Sam? You were with her. Don't you even remember that? Oh no because your Gene Hunt. You are never wrong. You never trust me not since-"the veil fell to the floor."-Operation Rose." Alex finished. Silence and shock were the main reactions of CID. They knew that Alex had now crossed a line.

Sam turned to Gene and looked at him blankly. Personally he had some questions of his own to ask him. "Alex, leave it" He said voice still calm. "We do this all the time. Don't we Guv?" Gene nodded silently still in shock at the reappearance of his old friend, Alex's blood stained shirt and the mentioned of the worst time of his life. Alex took Sam's hand and got a reassuring squeeze in return. At the moment their hands touched Alex noticed something in the corner of the room. She stared in horror at figure that stood there. He raised a hand and pointed at the television. Alex followed the decomposed man's hand. On the TV her mouth open in a silence scream was Molly. Sam noticed Alex's body tense and her rapid glances around the room. "Ale-"He began.

"Molly." Sam froze; he spun Alex around to face him.

"Crap." He breathed as Alex fainted. Sam glanced up at the TV where she had just been looking. All he saw was a flick of blond hair and a disappearing girl in school uniform.

"Bolly?" Gene slipped back into using her nickname the moment she was in danger. He watched in silent horror as Alex whisper a name and faint. "Alex!" He cried as Sam caught her quickly and gently sat down with Alex in his lap. Sam gently felt her pulse.

"Alex," Sam spoke gently to her he knew what was happening. Well, vaguely knew. He understood that something had happened to cause Alex to see her daughter. "Come on," He encouraged her and then he had an idea. "Molly's here!" He hissed too low for anyone to hear. He got his desired reaction. Alex's eyes flew open. CID jumped as their DI's eyes searched the room with a savage desperation.

"Sam?" Her voice was shaking as she tried to maintain control over it. "You said she was here. I heard you. I saw her." She whispered the last part to Sam.

"Alex," Sam told her gently. "She's not here, she's still at home." Alex nodded silently. She began to shake all over with relief and sadness, tears formed in her eyes and threatened to spill over. "Chris she needs to lie down where can I take her?" Sam was immediately in control of the situation. Chris led the way down the stairs to a couch where Sam laid Alex down gently.

"I know what you're going to say Guv. I didn't walk into here acting king of the jungle. I need to help my friend. I owe Alex my life in more ways than you will ever know. And before you say anything, Alex is going to need me alive. Because she needs me I'm the only one who could help her in this world." Sam spoke quietly he didn't even turn around to face Gene. He just sat next to Alex and held her as she cried into his jacket.

Gene was admittedly highly confused. Ten minutes ago he had been about fire his DIs, DC and one of his PCs. Now he had three DIs one of whom had been dead for the past three years. Another who had just fainted and a third that had begun chain-smoking in the corner. Chris and Shaz were standing in the doorway watching Alex's shaking form. He was tempted to pick Sam up and take his place but he watched with a brand new emotion as Alex dried her eyes and buried her face in Sam's jacket once more. Sam was whispering soothing things in her ear and rubbing her shoulders gently. Gene realised what the emotion was as Sam kissed Alex's forehead. Jealousy.

TBC
One Word REVIEW