Gene couldn't have been on the case any quicker. The minute Shaz had found a bleeding "Ray" battered on the street corner and they learnt that "Alex" had been kidnapped; the whole of CID was on the search. Gene's Bolly was in danger, and that wasn't acceptable in his books. Unknown to him it was actually Ray who had been kidnapped, but Alex didn't really feel that this was the time to correct him on that.

"Guv!" Gene snatched up the radio as he drove the Quattro.

"Right talk to me, Christopher!" he barked urgently.

"The police car Ray and Ma'am were going ter use has been spotted near the old warehouse by the docks! It's CID registered!"

"Well move it, then!" Gene roared, speeding up himself. "DI Drake's in danger, not out on 'er morning walk!"

Alex stared at Gene from the back seat. She had been bandaged and bathed by Shaz and refused to be left at CID. Ray was in danger, and so was her body. Alex noticed that Gene's eyes were full of fear as he screeched round the corners, desperate to get to the warehouse.

"Whoa, slow down, Guv!" Alex winced as her bruises banged into the car door.

"I will not bloody slow down!" Gene thundered, swerving in and out of cars. "Some bastards 'ave got Alex…they could be doin' anything to her…"

"You really care," Alex whispered, but not quiet enough to go unheard.

"Of course I bloody care yer great poof!" Gene spat angrily, skidding to a halt outside the warehouse. Armed Response were there, warning Gene off.

"Give it a minute!" one of them called to him. "They could have bombs! These are the ones that ordered Rothmore House to be blown up, after all."

"You've got one minute," Gene rasped, stepping out of the Quattro with Alex following him. "Bolly's in there…"

Tears formed in Alex's eyes as she nursed the wounds on Ray's tough body. "I thought you didn't care."

Gene stared hard at her.

"You thought I didn't care? Listen 'ere, and don't you dare repeat this, Sergeant. I've nearly lost Alex way too many times, Ray. I even lost 'er to you. But I am not gonna let that happen again. Alex is the only person who's ever made me want to try harder, to be a better copper. She drives me absolutely insane, she spouts psychiatric crap, she wiggles her arse at every bloke within two meters, she's a loopy fruitcake and bloody posh tart. But I tell you one thing, Ray. She's my posh tart. She may not know it yet, but I'm determined to make 'er see. I'm fed up wi' playing games now. Her messin' around with you and me messin' around with Skyler; it proved nothing. The only time I ever really realise just how much the tarty fruitcake does mean to me is when she ain't here. Well, Bolly's strong. And I ain't letting her go without a fight."

Tears spilled from Alex's eyes. "Oh, oh Gene!"

She couldn't control it. Forgetting her pain, she threw herself at Gene and kissed him full on the mouth. It would have been a lovely moment, but she had forgotten one tiny detail…

Gene shoved Alex off him in alarm.

"WHAT – THE – FUCK?" Gene yelled, his face screwed up in pure horror and his eyes wide. "What the…that didn't just happen…that so didn't just happen…I didn't just kiss a bloke…shit…shit…"

"Oh my God, I'm sorry!" Alex gasped, covering her mouth. "I forgot…oh no…oh Gene, I'm sorry, is there anyway I can make it up to you?"

"JUST DON'T KISS ME!" Gene begged, wiping his mouth in disgust. "Why don't you…just get back there."

"Gene," Alex breathed, "I have to tell you something. I'm –"

"Yes I know you're a bloody gay poofter, Raymondo, I think we've established that."

"No! Gene. I'm not who you think I am. I'm –"

But the rest of Alex's sentence was cut off by a large rustle. It was Chris' voice coming through on the radio.

"Guv! You better go in! Armed Response says they saw four men with DI Drake, forcing her into the smallest room on the top floor! But they spotted bomb equipment, so you've got to be fast!"

"I'm on it, Chris!" Gene roared. "Raymondo, let's move! NOW!"

------------------

Ray was chained to a drain pipe in the warehouse, struggling viciously. The room was bright, with the light flooding in from the windows and broken walls.

Suddenly, one the doors burst open. Ray's jaw dropped. It was Skyler May and Doctor Marsh. Doctor Marsh from the hospital, where Ray first noticed the body swap. Was this the way out?

"Hello again, Alex Drake." Clearly it was not.

"Marsh," Ray spat, "and bloody Skyler May. Knew you were a stupid tart who couldn't be trusted." But then, Ray was stopped abruptly by a sharp slap connecting with his face. Marsh looked pleased with himself.

"You have a very pretty face, my dear, but I do wish you wouldn't open your mouth," Marsh said venomously, "unless it's for my pleasure."

"You dirty son of a –"

A backhander split Ray's lip and he winced in pain. Skyler laughed cruelly as Marsh approached Ray, getting way too close. His hand reached out lecherously as he grabbed Alex's body's left breast and gave it a vicious squeeze. Ray's eyes widened in alarm as Marsh's face loomed into his own.

Whoa, uncomfortable! Ray thought desperately. And this sicko is really invading my personal bubble…

"Enjoy breathing whilst you can, sweetheart," Marsh sneered, tracing Ray's face with his fingertips, "because in ten minutes, you're going to be blown to kingdom come. Rothmore House didn't go up in cinders, Skyler's spell on Hunt has broken…so this is the perfect way to make our statement."

Right you bastard, you're asking for this, Ray thought angrily, how dare you treat Alex's body like this…this is gonna bloody hurt!

And with that thought, Ray brought his knee up forcefully and kneed Marsh in the balls.

"AAAAARRRRGGHHH!" Marsh screamed in agony, collapsing to the floor.

"You stupid bitch!" screamed Skyler. "You're gonna get what's coming to you now!"

"No, Skyler," a booming voice from behind announced, "you are."