I didn't want to leave the Guv in suspense for too long, so without further ado …

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Chapter 16

"Promise me something, Alex?"

"What?"

She blinked at him, smirking as the Cortina took a corner on the other side of the road. His driving was almost as bad as Gene's nowadays.

"You'll keep out of the way however tempting it might be to get involved?"

Sam glanced over at her and she looked away, biting her lip nervously.

"Look, you and I know all the signs point to you being a copper but at the moment we have no proof. This is a potential siege situation, Alex. If the Super even knew I'd let you come along he'd have my balls on a platter."

She sighed.

"OK, I promise. And Sam?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks."

He flashed her a grin.

"Like you'd have stayed behind even if I'd insisted? At least here I can keep an eye on you …"

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The sound of footsteps in the corridor. A key turning in the lock. He was as wound up as a coiled spring, but he lay on his side with his head resting on his hand, hiding the fact it was no longer restrained. Patience, Gene. Better if you can catch her off guard. He mumbled, blinking as though he was still half asleep, holding himself in check until the last possible moment.

"Awake at last then?"

As she reached down to touch his face a hand shot out and gripped her arm, twisting so she lost her balance and toppled awkwardly onto the bed with a strangled shriek. After a brief struggle she found herself flat on her back underneath sixteen stones of determined DCI, her hands pinned above her head, both of them breathing heavily.

"Oh, I'm awake alright, luv."

He looked down into her flushed face, noting her enlarged pupils and the rapid rise and fall of her chest, and realisation dawned that they were groin to groin and she wasn't protesting.

"Jesus. Yer actually enjoying this, aren't yer?"

Moving back off her, he dragged her up the bed and she gasped as he closed the open cuff round her right wrist with a satisfying click.

"Let's see how you like it, shall we?"

He delved into her right jeans pocket, grinning as his fingers closed over the key.

"Now, where's me clothes? Wardrobe seems like a good bet."

Trousers, shirt, jacket. Socks and shoes. He breathed a sigh of relief. Thank God she hadn't decided to hide them. Or burn them. Tufty was one thing, but he drew the line at dressing as a WPC, even in extreme emergency.

As he stepped into his trousers, she seemed to rouse herself from the shock.

"Gene? You're not leaving, are you? Please don't go, don't walk out on me. I couldn't bear it …"

There was a note of panic, the words coming out in a garbled rush, and he glanced up at her, shaking his head in disbelief.

"As third dates go it's been interesting, luv, but under the circumstances I'm sure yer'll understand if I don't stay fer lunch."

"I thought you liked me. I just wanted to be with you …"

Her voice wobbled and he paused part way through buttoning his shirt, the intensity in his piercing gaze causing her to flinch and look away.

"WPC Ross. Yer made threats. Yer damaged me property. Yer drugged me, fetched me here against me will and kept me a prisoner. Exactly what did yer think was goin' ter happen? We'd be sendin' out weddin' invites? Yer need help, luv, yer really do."

Her eyes were huge and dark in her pale face, and as he watched a tear trickled slowly down her cheek. Her breathing was erratic as she tried unsuccessfully to control her emotions.

"I'm s…sorry. I'm so sorry. I just … wanted you so much … and I didn't know … w … what to do."

Gene reached for his shoes and slipped them on.

"So cuffin' me to a bed was the best yer could come up with? Admittedly, it's not the first time a woman's felt the urge, but it's usually a lot more fun."

"B … but you don't understand. I love you, Gene …"

He snorted, grabbing his jacket from the wardrobe.

"Luv me? Yer hardly know me, woman! And what about Alex? Didn't yer stop ter think I might already be in luv with her?"

"D … don't leave me all on m …my own, Guv. P … please. I'm afraid …"

She was sobbing uncontrollably now and he sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair. Why did she have to call him 'Guv'? He couldn't believe he was letting her get to him after everything she'd done, but he never could resist a damsel in distress, even a crazy one who'd put him through hell.

"Look. I'm not goin' ter leave yer on yer own, I'm just goin' ter call fer back-up, OK?"

He paused with his fingers on the door handle. Christ on a bike. Had he just admitted that he loved Bolly? Blinking a couple of times, he decided now was not the time to worry too much about that one. Maybe sometime in the next decade or two …

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Sam took a deep breath and let it out slowly, running through the arrangements in his head, making sure everything was in place. He'd positioned a couple of uniformed officers either side of the building and one round the back in case she tried to escape that way. Ray and Chris were stationed on either side of the door, guns at the ready. Alex was hidden safely out of sight at the bottom of the drive, and he'd extracted a promise that she'd stay there until he gave the all-clear. Right. It was time. He squared his shoulders and knocked on the door.

Gene was standing in the middle of the living room, puffing out his cheeks and scratching his head in frustration. There was no sign of a phone anywhere in the flat; it looked like he would have to leave her for a couple of minutes while he went to find one of the neighbours, even if he didn't like doing it. When the rap at the door echoed through the silent hallway he jumped violently and swung round, his heart racing, his whole body suddenly tense. Quietly he made his way over to the open doorway, keeping out of sight while he assessed the situation.

There was another bout of knocking, and then a rattle of the letter box.

"Erm … postman, luv. I've got a parcel for you, needs signing for …"

Gene grinned, his shoulders relaxing as all the tension left his body. He'd know that voice anywhere. His grin widened. This should be fun.

There was the sound of a bolt being drawn back, and Sam motioned to Ray and Chris to be ready as the door swung slowly open. His jaw hit the floor.

"What the … Guv?"

Gene crossed his arms and quirked an eyebrow at him, his lips twitching. He gave an affected sigh.

"Yer never learn do yer, Gladys? The correct phrase is 'Yer surrounded by armed bastards.' And what the bloody hell kept yer?"

Then they were punching one another awkwardly on the shoulder with Ray and Chris joining in, and everybody talking and laughing at once. Suddenly, all three of them were barged unceremoniously aside and Alex was hanging round his neck, kissing his eyelids, his nose, his lips, and pressing herself up against him as though she'd never let him go.

"Gene … oh, Gene … I've been so worried … are you OK?"

She felt the rumble of his chuckle through his chest.

"I'm fine, luv. Starvin' hungry, but otherwise unscathed."

She beamed at him, cocking her head to one side.

"So what're you waiting for, then? Kiss me, you big lummox."

He pulled her hard against him as his mouth found hers, their tongues greedy, demanding, possessive, and for a few moments the rest of the world fell away as she tangled her fingers in his hair, her legs turning to jelly. And then the sound of cheers and wolf whistles alerted them to the fact they actually had an interested audience. She giggled, burying her face in his neck to hide her embarrassment.

"Hmmm. I think we just went public, Bols."

He pouted down at her and she stroked his cheek.

"Do you mind?"

The pout turned into a smirk.

"Nah. They had ter find out sooner or later."

He moved her back for a second while he reached into his pocket, passing Sam the key to the handcuffs.

"She's in the bedroom."

As Sam made to walk past him, Gene caught his arm, leaning in and speaking quietly.

"Be gentle with her, Sam. I know she behaved like a complete nutter but she's more like a frightened kid now."

Sam nodded, patting him on the shoulder reassuringly, and after he'd gone Alex gazed up at him, her expression soft. He narrowed his eyes, pout back in place.

"Wot?"

She smiled affectionately.

"I was right, you really are a nice man, aren't you, Guv?"

He pulled her in close and nipped her ear, his warm breath sending a shiver down her spine.

"Just remember what I said about yer pretty little head …"

Giggling, she buried her face in his neck once more, breathing him in, half afraid to let go in case he suddenly disappeared again.

"Um … Alex?"

They broke apart reluctantly, turning to look at Sam. He was scratching the back of his neck awkwardly, glancing at Gene in trepidation before his eyes met hers again.

"Sorry, but I think I'm going to need your help. She's got a gun and she's threatening to shoot herself …"

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OK, hands up all those who immediately thought 'Let her'! That's not very kind, is it? And we know Alex won't be able to resist, don't we?

Hope you're still enjoying. Please let me know, it's lovely to get the feedback.