Hey everyone! Sorry about the delay between chapters, I have no excuse! This chapter is a little longer to make up for it, and full of Galex arguing which everyone seems to love at the moment. I hope you like this chapter, please read and review. Thanks for all the support so far and all of the wonderful reviews x

Alex had decided that, instead of waiting for Hunt to track her down, it was best for her to return to the office as soon as possible to explain herself. As soon as she arrived in CID, she had regretted her decision.

"You," barked Gene, "in here, now." Alex entered his office apprehensively. "Come on, let's here it. Why the hell did you help Stoke escape?"

Alex was worried. He was so angry that he hadn't even raised his voice. But she could see the contempt in his eyes, and it shamed her. "I know I should have ran it past you first, Gov, but..."

"You're damn right you should have!"

"... I knew you wouldn't have listened to my reason behind it and would have said no!"

"So, hang on. You knew it would piss me off, yet you did it anyway. This isn't making me feel any better, Drake."

"I knew that as soon as this operation was over, he would know that I had stitched him up; I was the only person he had told everything to. If it had gone wrong, we would have been back to square one. Even if it had gone smoothly, we would have still had some work to do to find out more about the supply chain. So, I told him that I had spotted you and helped them escape, which shows Stoke that he can trust me. I can get more information from him now, Gov, can't you see that?"

"All I can see is a wasted sting operation, and you becoming more and more like Stoke's accomplice rather than my officer. You are seriously scaring me, Bolly, with the lengths you will go to for that bastard."

"I did this to help our investigation. I got some more information about the passports, so it wasn't a waste of time."

"I could have got the same info if I had got Stoke to a bloody interview room!"

"What? By beating it out of him? Why can't you, just for once, try things my way?"

"We did today, and I lost my dealer! From now on, we have daily briefings together. And you are going to be straight with me, got it?"

Alex sighed. "Yes, Gov. But you have to start listening to me."

"In case it has slipped your mind, but I am your DCI. You take orders from me, and not vice versa, okay?"

Alex gave a curt nod and left his office, trying desperately to hold back the tears welling in her eyes. She didn't usually let their arguments upset her like this, but this time she had realised that this investigation had all but torn them apart. Their relationship was complicated at the best of times, but this case had pushed them to breaking point. They were as stubborn as each other, which was the cause of most of their arguments. They never liked to admit that they were wrong, or give the other too much credit for a joint effort or take the other's advice. When they worked together, they were unbreakable but when they clashed, it was toxic.

Alex knew, deep down, that when this had blown over, she and Gene would be back to normal and all would be forgotten. One would buy a drink for the other, and the whole CID gang would be reunited. She knew that she could push Gene and make him hate her for a while without it having a long term effect, and this was dangerous logic.

Gene knew that Alex did her job well and with pride. Well, she used to... It seemed the longer she was around him, the more fiery and defiant she became, caring about consequences less and less as time passed by. He tended to have that effect on people. Deep down, he knew Alex's actions would have had a positive impact on her relationship with Stoke which could buy her valuable time and information. What he was not so sure of was her true motive behind doing so. His concern for Alex's safety was genuine, but his jealousy had taken up most of his emotion, and he couldn't bear the thought of her with him for any longer than necessary.

He hadn't realised, but he had been staring at Alex for some time now through his office windows. She looked up from her desk after collecting her things and briefly caught his eye, causing him to hastily look away and try to look busy. She walked over to his office, opened the door and leant over the threshold.

"I'm off, Stoke wants me to go over to the club."

"Bolly..." Gene said quietly as she turned to leave. "Come in for a second."

She turned slowly, suspiciously and took a seat opposite him after closing the door. "What is it?"

"I need to ask you something, and I need an honest answer." Alex gulped almost audibly. "What exactly is going on between you and Stoke?"

"I told you, he made a move but..."

"I know what you told me, and I'm asking you again. If I, if this place, means anything to you, you will tell me the truth."

Alex began to tremble; there was so much she wanted to say. Her eyes began to sting and a stray tear trickled down her left cheek. She opened her mouth to speak, but her throat was completely dry: for once, she was speechless.

Gene ran a hand through his hair and exhaled loudly. "Are you sleeping with him?"

"No!"

"But you want to?"

"What?"

"I've seen how you act around him. And I know you're not that good an actress."

"You don't know me at all." Alex spat, like a petulant teenager.

"You're right. I thought we had an understanding, Bolls, but it turns out I was wrong. All those things you said to me in Luigi's... it showed me just how callous and cold-hearted you can really be."

Alex looked up at him, wide-eyed and apologetic. "Gene, I didn't mean any of that. I was just angry with you, for what you said about me... I'm so sorry. Jesus, this is such a mess..." Her emotion overwhelmed her, and she broke down in front of him.

"If you aren't sleeping with him, why would you imply that you were, and not correct me when I assumed you were in Luigi's? You don't usually shy away from telling me I'm wrong."

"You want the honest answer?" Alex yelled. "I wanted to wind you up, see how you reacted to me being with someone else!"

"You were trying to make me jealous?"

"Yes, maybe! Stoke flattered me, okay? He wasn't afraid to tell me how he felt, what he wanted, unlike some."

Gene opened his mouth to speak but quickly closed it again as he realised what she was trying to insinuate. "What are you trying to say?" he asked, knowing perfectly well what she meant.

"Did it work?"

"Do you even have to ask that question?" Gene's voice sounded tired. "But why would you try to get close to Stoke first. Why would you pick him over... over me?"

Alex was shocked by his sudden vulnerability. "I didn't choose him. And you never chose me."