A/N: so... a little smut to keep us going, with a couple of small plot developments thrown in for good measure. And, oh, did I mention angst?

Ongoing thanks to Handy for wearing the beta-hat. And thanks to everyone who's reading and reviewing - you probably shouldn't encourage me, but I like it when you do!

"If you keep lookin' at me like that Bolly, something very bad is gonna 'appen," Gene Hunt growled, smoothing the palm of his right hand across Alex's stomach.

She was sprawled on the bed; her brunette curls fell across the pillow like an autumn storm, her tawny eyes mischievous and dark with lust. Flawless skin glowed ivory against the deep blue satin of her bra and knickers and one leg stretched straight out towards Gene, who was lying sideways across the duvet. The other leg was bent up exposing her inner thigh to his touch. His chin rested on top of her knee as he lazily ran his finger from her belly button, down across the damp fabric of her panties and up her thigh to his mouth, where he kissed the top of his finger and sent it on its journey again. She shivered at the delicate contact.

"Or something very good?" she raised her eyebrows, trying in vain to keep her breath steady. "I'm ready when you are Gene." Her perfect lips settled in a seductive pout.

In truth, her heart rate had barely returned to normal after the almost violent passion she and her DCI had just shared. He had driven like a madman back from the riverside, and they had barely made it through the door before their lips crashed in a bruising kiss. Gene's hands cradled Alex's face as his tongue explored her mouth; her hands flew over his body, undoing his shirt… his belt… his zip. Her palms ran the length of his torso, up under his vest, their kiss breaking for just long enough to pull it over his head.

They staggered across the floor together; Gene collapsed down to a sitting position on the sofa pulling Alex on top of him. They stayed like this for a while, kissing, stroking and touching one another as their hips writhed together. Gene wrenched his mouth from hers and kissed his way down her neck, across her collarbone and to her breasts, which he gathered to his mouth with his hands. Alex leaned back, groaning with pleasure. She reached a hand down between them, stroking Gene and pulling him to her. Suddenly, she slid backwards, dropping to the floor and kneeling between his legs. She placed light kisses on his thighs and stomach as her hands made to pull his briefs to the floor. Sighing a long sigh, Gene sank back into the sofa, his fingers tangled in Alex's hair. He groaned as Alex slipped his underwear down and his cock sprang free. He could feel her breath on him.

He forced himself to speak.

"Bolly… uuh… wait," he gasped. "'Ang on... mmMMMmm…I don't want… uuuhhhh…" he lost the ability to speak as she ran the tip of her tongue up his length and then closed her warm wet lips around him. She stopped and looked up, questioningly.

"I, errr, look Bols," he breathed, "Yer not a prozzie… I mean, I don't expect…" He looked down at her, half wincing at the sight of her poised there.

"Oh, come on Gene," she sighed in playful exasperation. "It's the 21st century!"

She took his hand and placed a kiss on his palm.

"I want to. I want to feel you in my mouth…" She lowered her head again.

The 21st century? That was the last coherent thought in Gene's head before everything went black and he was spinning through stars.

A banner floated above the door in CID "Congratulations Ray"… tins of beer were opened and clunked together with whoops and giggles… Shaz on Chris's knee… Ray stood to make a speech, a party hat sat lopsided on his head…

The images flickered like 8mm film in Gene's head, his breath racing as he spiralled towards orgasm. He gripped Alex's hand tighter…

"Well, a toast to that Alex Drake bloke"… Ray raised a tin of lager…"I don't know why 'e never showed up but I, fer one, am gonna thank 'im!" Gene watched himself put an arm round his friend… "Ahem! Nonces and ponces, twonks and plonks, I give you…. Our new Detective Inspector Carling!" … a cheer rose…

Gene struggled to rid his mind of the images - he wanted to be in the here and now, but his efforts were in vain. The scene changed.

… A balcony… he was standing in the warm summer night air, overlooking the twinkling sodium lights of London… snakes of red and white light moved through the city…. Arms around his waist… a low voice in his ear… "Come back to bed Gene." He turned to face Alex, her hair was sleek… a dark bob with a blunt fringe… they kissed… his hand slipped under her robe and he pushed her gently against the balcony… she faced away from him, spreading her legs apart…

"Oh… God…" Gene cried out, he couldn't stop himself. His hips shuddered as he came, feeling the hot liquid rise, pouring out of him and down Alex's throat. He panted, trying to breathe. He opened his eyes: through his blurred vision he could make out her face move towards him to kiss his forehead. She dropped her head to his shoulder, following the rise and fall as his breathing slowly returned to normal. Gene raised a hand to his face. He covered his eyes, frantically trying to regain focus. Alex's weight shifted off him and her heard her voice like treacle in his ear: "I'll be waiting next door for you." She walked through to her bedroom, peeling off her clothes as she went.

A short time later, when he was sure his legs would carry him, Gene lifted himself from the sofa and followed her. Now here he was, lying on Luigi's cheap wicker bed, resting his chin on Alex's knee and teasing her with long slow strokes of his finger.

He turned his head and placed a gentle kiss on the inside of her knee. He continued stroking her, his gaze flicked between her eyes and the tiny firmness now faintly visible where his finger played. He kissed his way down her thigh and across the lace band at the top of her underwear, sliding one arm under her and lifting her bodily to his mouth. His tongue toyed in the hollow of her hip, as the finger that had been stroking her slipped under the elastic between her legs and caressed the silkiness it met there. Alex gasped and wriggled with pleasure. She lifted one leg and rested it over his shoulder; the weight of it pushed his face closer. He was immersed in the scent and heat of her as he stretched his left arm up, his palm moving across her skin to meet her breast. She clasped her hand over his, sliding the other one down and tugging at her knickers. She spread her legs wide.

"Mmmmm Bolly," Gene mumbled into her, "You're an impatient girl, aren't you?" He was smiling as he raised his eyes to meet hers. He hooked his finger under her pants, pulling them from side to side and kissing the exposed skin. "A very (kiss)… naughty (uuuhhh)… dirty (kiss)… impatient (mmMMmm)…. GIRL!" With the shout of the last word, he tugged hard at her knickers – the elastic gave way and the fabric ripped, leaving her completely laid bare before him. She let go a yell of excitement as he parted her lips and lapped at her, gently at first then faster until she shook around him, her fingers pulling at his hair.

Barely giving her time to recover, he slid his body up between her legs, hooking her knee over his right shoulder. "Mmmmm… I like this…" his voice rumbled as he placed heavy kisses on her neck and shoulder. "Maybe I'll start calling you Bendy Knickers…"

Alex had no time to think of a witty response to that one – the air was crushed out of her lungs as Gene lowered himself into her, pushing home, his hips rolling against her. Long fingered hands framed her face; she stared up at him as he thrust into her.

She bit her lip to stop from screaming and rolled her head to one side… kisses on her neck… she turned her eyes to the window… the blind was gone, deep chocolate velvet curtains billowed across the dark wood frames of the bay window… a white Victorian plaster rose on the ceiling… beside her on the bed, an abandoned bouquet of blue irises, white roses and thistles… she raised her left hand to stroke her lover's face… a platinum band glimmered on her finger…

"So close Alex…" Gene growled, moving deep within her, his speed increasing. Alex closed her eyes as her orgasm overtook her, biting down on Gene's shoulder as he spilled into her. They lay where they were, hot and breathless, before Gene rolled over and pulled her across him. One arm under her shoulders, he drew her head across his chest with the other. He stroked her hair and heard her murmur softly, "I've heard people say the Earth can move, but I didn't realise it was actually true. Making love with you is like… like..."

"… Like watching worlds collide?" he offered.

"You too?"

"Yeah, me too."

Alex stirred restlessly, inadvertently kicking Gene as she turned over and tried to get out of bed. "Oi!" he grumbled, grabbing her wrist, "Where d'y'think you're goin' ?"

"I'm starving Gene, let's get dressed and go down to Luigi's. The others will be there by now," she said, glancing at the clock. "Come on Grumpy," she teased, "You can't tell me you're not dying for a pint and a fag at least." With that, she climbed out of bed, gave him his hand back and scampered naked to the shower.

Twenty minutes later, they were close to leaving the flat. Alex finished putting on her make-up and wandered through to the living room where Gene was idly fiddling with the television set. As she walked behind him she suddenly stopped. The image stilled her heart. He turned his face to her, looking worried. He could hear his own pulse pounding in his ears.

"That's her, isn't it?" he said, pointing to the girl on the screen. Alex nodded silently.

Together they watched Molly approach her birthday cake; it was topped with glowing candles.

"You have to stop it. Stop!" the little girl said, before she took a deep breath and extinguished each tiny flame.

Darkness.

The picture buzzed and flickered and was replaced by Ian McCaskill, sticking little plastic clouds on a map of Britain.

"Looks like bad times ahead for those of you in London, although those in the north can expect drier weather, with some sunnier spells."