Disclaimer I do not own anything related to Ashes to Ashes or Life on Mars. Anything related to them belongs to Kudos. No copyright infringement intended. THis story takes place about six months after Back to the Beginning.

Brothers in Arms?

Ray walked along the corridor towards the Squad Room. He couldn't help but think about what he had learnt at the prison, which admittedly wasn't much. He felt sick at the thought that Sharon was missing. He really wanted to be out there looking for her rather than talking to idiots and getting absolutely no where. He looked up as Gene walked towards him.

"Ray" Gene almost barked. It had been a long time since he had seen his boss and old friend look so tired and worried.

"Guv" Ray answered.

"What did that little scrote have to say for himself?" Gene glared.

"Tommy Hughes reckons he doesn't know anything about Sharon going missing. Look Guv, this Frankie Hughes is a nasty piece of work. I got the impression that 'e was a bit scared 'o his brother" Ray really really wanted a cigarette. He was almost regretting giving them up when he had started dating Mia. He closed his eyes as he thought of Chris, knowing he would never be able to cope as well as the young man had if it had been his girlfriend that was missing.

"Well, he wants to be more scared of me than of that ponce" Gene ran his hand through his messy blonde hair as Alex joined them in the corridor.

"Ladies" She smiled as she stood with her hands on her hips. She has been spending too much time with me Gene thought. Gene stared at her as Ray sighed.

"Annie has found something, we have a lead"

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Sharon was beginning to feel more frustrated than scared. She had no idea how long she had been in the small room but she knew it had to be at least a few hours. Long enough for Chris and the others to miss me. Wonder if they have spoken to Mum yet? She'll go mental. Oh Mum. She wiped the tears from her eyes as she thought of how her mother would react when she found out that her only daughter had gone missing. She glared at the wall opposite her and folded her arms across her chest. The door opposite her was locked from the outside but there did seem to be a small slither of light that crept through between the door and it's frame. Maybe just maybe Sharon thought to herself as she began to think of a plan.

XX

Chris stared at his desk as he listened to Annie and Sam talking quietly. He clenched and unclenched his fists as he listened to them talk. He knew Annie had been digging in to the affairs of the Hughes brothers. It was clear from how the general feeling of pessimism had lifted that she had found something useful. He hoped she had. He felt useless, paralysed by the fear that Sharon was alone and afraid and he couldn't get to her. He turned his head as Alex, Gene and Ray walked in to the room. Gene clapped his hands, summoning the attention of all the members of CID as well as Viv and Phyllis who were still sat talking quietly. Phyllis was visibly upset.

"Right, Bolly 'ere tells me we have some information. Isnt that right Bolls?" Gene turned to her as Alex raised her eyebrows.

"Yes. Annie found something" She nodded towards the heavily pregnant DS. Annie pushed a strand of brown hair from her eyes as she walked towards the white board.

"Well, I don't know how useful it will be" She looked at Chris briefly before looking away. "I don't know"

"Annie" Sam started. He knew how much she liked Sharon, everyone seemed to treat the young woman as the baby of the team. She sighed as she heard Gene start talking.

"C'mon Annie luv, spit it out"

"I did a bit of ringing around. I knew I had heard the name Frankie Hughes from when we lived back in Manchester. I just couldn't think why. I mean we arrested Tommy so I assumed it was just in relation to that, but when I did a little bit of digging I realised"

"Realised what?" Chris spoke for the first time as Gene and Alex exchanged worried glances. Chris sounded exhausted and on the verge of tears.

"That four years ago Frankie was arrested as part of Operation Rose in the Moss Side area of Manchester. He only got out of Prison three months ago. He was found guilty of affray and GBH. Beat a copper up during the arrest. Anyway I rang the new DI at GMP and got her to go through the files for me. When Frankie was inside he had a girlfriend, Suzie Anthony. She lives in London, just outside of Fenchurch but has a shop in town. The shop closed last September, probably due to the recession but she still has access to the building" Annie watched as Gene and Sam frowned. Sam swore quietly under his breath.

"Operation Rose?" Alex asked, a brief flashback to her coma dream startled her. She remembered feeling powerless, terrified that Gene didn't trust her anymore. He frowned slightly as he caught her gaze.

"Yeah, we ran it the month before we came down 'ere" Chris answered.

"Yeah" Annie answered.

"Frankie Hughes, 35 white male, 6ft 2 inches. Black hair, slightly balding. Thick set, almost no other discernable features apart from a tattoo of a snake on his left forarm. Arrested for beating seven bells out of a PC during the drugs raid. Nasty little sod. Chris you were the arresting officer" Phyllis suddenly realised what she had said as Chris seemed to turn as pale as a ghost. He ran from the Squad Room as Gene called after him.

"Chris!" Gene yelled after him.

"Let him go" Alex rested a hand on his arm as he yelled.

"I'll go" Ray was out the door and heading towards the Men's Toilets before anyone could stop him. He knew exactly where his friend was headed.

"So" Sam stared at the rest of the team as they all sat silently. "Looks like we got a nutter out for revenge. Not just for putting his psychopathic brother in prison but putting him there too. Annie, dig out everything you can on Operation Rose. Phyllis can you contact a few old faces back in Manchester? See if we still have some friends in the GMP? Thanks" He shot Phyllis a grateful smile.

"Aye, course I will luv" Phyllis nodded.

"Ok then, Annie you said this bird of his has a shop? Where?" Gene turned to her.

"Callaghan Rd"

"Right, Annie keep Chris 'ere if you can. Send Ray after us. Sam, Bolly you are wiv me?" Gene marched towards the door.

"Where you off to?" Viv spoke up for the first time.

"We" He turned to the desk officer "We are going to rattle a few feathers, get our girl and nick the scrawny arsed little scrote that thinks he can take his revenge for us putting 'im where 'e was supposed to be in the first place!" Gene bellowed as he pushed the Squad Room doors open with both palms outstretched. Alex grapped her jacket as Sam followed them. He sighed, he just hoped his Guv was right.

authors note. Short chapter, a filler. Is Hughes really after revenge? More soon.

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