TITLE: Somebody That I Used To Know
AUTHOR: bolly69
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters or concept; they belong to the BBC/Ashley/Matthew, etc.
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Okay here's Chapter 9, or as I prefer to call it Chapter 8.2! Let's continue where we left off…
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Chapter 9
As they rounded a bend to head back towards the flat, Alex suddenly froze, her eyes wide and her face ashen.
"Alex… love?" Gene stopped in his tracks, watching her as she stared straight ahead; he was confused and searched her face for some clue, wondering if she was having another flashback.
"Th… that pub…" she weakly lifted her hand and pointed ahead into the distance.
Gene followed her gaze and saw it; there it was, on a corner standing out like a sore thumb in the middle of gleaming glass offices and expensive shops; it's shape and colour so distinctive; The Railway Arms. Nelson stood on the step leaning on the doorframe, his arms folded, a smile on his face. He lifted a long flower-shirted arm and waved a cheery wave at them both.
"Fuck" Gene trawled his fingers through his hair and put his arms around Alex, now visibly trembling.
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"Gene? Tell me it's not time? He hasn't come for you now has he?" Alex sobbed, "It's not fair, we haven't had time…"
Gene sighed and pulled her in to his chest, his hand stroking her hair, "I know love, it's not fair, none of it is. But I'm on borrowed time Alex, at least we were given this chance"
"But I need you, don't want to go on without you now… now I know… Gene…"
"Oh Alex, I know love, I know. But you can do this," he hooked a finger under her chin and lifted her face to gaze into her eyes, "you're such a strong and vibrant woman, and you have a beautiful daughter and you've brought her up on your own – you did that, all that she is is down to you. You're gonna climb through the ranks at work and you have your books to write; you're gonna be so good Alex, so great" he hesitated and looked away, "you don't need an old dinosaur like me holding you back, I'm out of my time Alex, couldn't adapt like you did so well.."
"But you could Gene, I'd help you…" her voice was small and faltering.
He shook his head sadly, "No love, I'm old and weary, it's my time to move on, to retire, to sleep. You've forgotten what I was really like Alex, of how often we fought with you trying to keep me the right side of the line that I always crossed; I'm a bastard at heart, too loose with my fists and too stupid to know any different" he was trying to make it easier for her to let him go, "you're better off without me love, you deserve better…"
She was crying now, tears flowing down her cheeks, leaving make-up tracks in their wake, "No, Gene, don't say that. I know what's in your heart, I've seen it, I know you. I love you Gene Hunt, always have if truth be told, from that very first moment I set eyes on you and that red car and those ridiculous boots; you are a good, decent man"
"I'm sorry Alex, so sorry," he kissed her forehead and breathed her in for the last time, closing his eyes to stop his tears, "you have to promise me that you'll be the best you can be; be incredible Alex, have a great full life," his voice cracked, "find a good man who loves you and you make sure you love him back, with all your heart; don't miss out on a thing love"
"No… Gene, no…"
He gently brushed away a tear from her face with his thumb, "Oh Bolls, I'll let you into a little secret; you know, I've always loved you too, you daft mare, got under my skin with that skimpy red dress and fur coat, swooning at my feet" she smiled through her tears and he kissed her lips, a long soft kiss, "don't you forget I'll always be around you love, just think of the Gene Genie and I'll be with you. Goodbye Alex"
She held onto him as though her life depended on it, her sobs wracking both their bodies, "I… I don't want you to go…" she could hardly get the words out, her voice a broken whisper.
"I know Alex, but it's time. You get on home now, go and call Mollie, get on with the rest of your life love"
He had to prise her arms from around him and with another kiss to her forehead he watched her walk sadly away; just before the corner she turned back to wave and forced a smile, and then she was gone; his Alex, lost to him again. He blinked away his own tears, his blue eyes burning brighter than ever, and with a deep breath he turned to walk to the Arms.
"Nelson" Gene nodded at him, shoving his hands deep into his pockets, waiting for the inevitable, to be let into the pub.
"Alright Guv, you got stuff sorted then?"
"Yes, and no. She'd forgotten me Nelson. And now she remembers. Broke both our bloody hearts, again…" he was on the verge on crying like a great big poof, and dragged his hand through his hair, feeling old and tired, "fuck it Nelson, you should have just let me in the first time, saved us both from this"
"Would you not have wanted these past few hours with her Guv?"
Gene gazed despairingly at his old friend, "'course I would Nelson, but I've broken her heart, left her in more of a mess than ever. I was selfish to come here, for my own reasons, and didn't think how it would affect her. Stupid thick Manc bastard that I am…"
"So you wouldn't want to stay then?"
Gene narrowed his eyes, part threat, part not believing the words Nelson was saying, "What? Nelson, don't you fucking mess with me…"
Nelson laughed, "No messing Gene. Let's just say I've pulled in a few favours; call it payback, a reward for all your years of loyal service" he pulled himself up to his full height and stepped towards Gene, "You can stay here. If you want to that is…"
Gene didn't know whether to punch Nelson or kiss him; he shook his head and stared at his boots, running the pros and cons through his head, "I… I don't fit in here Nelson, how could I?" his frown betrayed his inner turmoil, "she has a life here, without me; I'd fuck it all up for her, for us. What would I do for money, work? How do I explain who I am, where I'm from?"
Nelson laughed and shook his head, "Have faith Mon Brave, it's all sorted if you want it. There's a part time consultancy position just come up, by coincidence," he laughed heartily, too bloody happy by half Gene thought, "In Alex's department; if you want it of course… do you want it Guv?"
Gene was visibly shaken, "Christ Nelson, this is too much to take in. I don't know… I mean, Christ I'd give my right bollock to stay with her, but what will this do to her? I can't just expect her to take me in. Can I?"
"Gene… Guv, you already know what to do; it'll be like old times, but new times. The brave thing to do is to live each day without knowing what tomorrow might bring; to face the future together. Go to her Man, she needs you; you need her, more than you need this pint I have in here for you," he nodded his head towards the door, "Have a very long and very happy semi-retirement Guv. I'll see you around, when you're ready" Nelson held his hand out and Gene shook it warmly.
Gene smiled, "See you round Nelson. Hold that pint for me"
With that he turned and walked briskly to the river, not looking back, although his guts were churning. He kept on walking, turning these new events over in his head, unsure of what to do next. He eventually came to a small park, and found a bench in a quiet corner. He sat and chain smoked, swearing to himself that he'd cut down on the fags and booze and try to get in shape, to take care of himself; for her. Blinking away tears he thought about the second, no third chance he'd been given; another chance to be with Alex; he'd better not fuck it up though, he'd had lots of experience of doing that in the past. He'd been right when he said she deserved better than him; he certainly didn't deserve someone like her. But that was his burden to carry, she loved him and he loved her; he'd have to live with it, knowing that it was down to him to get it right. He wearily watched laughing couples walk by, hand in hand and wondered if he dared to hope to have that, to hope that she'd accept him, that he'd fit in here and be the man he wanted to be, the man that Alex deserved.
He didn't know how long it had been since he'd left Nelson, the evening light was fading fast; almost the end of another day, time to stop thinking. With a heavy heart, he pushed himself up from the bench and strode away.
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Thanks for reading! ;-)
Thanks to Ash & Matt for giving us fantastic characters to play with, to whatever ends…
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