Ray didn't say a word when he pulled up outside one of the roughest estates in London. He took one look at his female colleague in the Guv's arms and sharply took an intake of breath. Ray didn't know what had happened to Drake in that house with those men, and quite frankly, he didn't want to know. Ray knew he was just there to drive. The Guv would take care of Drake, like he always did.
Ray opened the door to the Quattro and helped Gene guide a barely conscious Alex into the backseat. In any other situation, Ray would have been enjoying copping a feel and an eyeful but he realised that Drake was hurt. Those bastards hurt her, and Ray just wanted this to be over as quick as possible.
Shrugging off his jacket, Gene joined Alex in the backseat and laid the jacket over her quivering form, lying her down so that her back was leaning against his chest. Ray hastily got into the driver's seat under strict instructions from Gene to step on it and not scratch the Quattro.
"Gene…" Alex murmured.
"Shh," Gene whispered, stroking her hair as Ray drove quickly, trying to ignore the scene behind him, "I'm here, love. Sleep it off, sweetheart."
Alex's eyes drooped once more as her breathing became steady. She curled into Gene, relaxing in his arms and embrace as he held her protectively.
They finally pulled up outside Luigi's half an hour later and Gene leant down to kiss Alex's forehead. Her eyes fluttered open, still hazy. Suddenly, her face split into a huge grin.
"Hi," she sniggered.
Gene sighed. Great. The drugs may have lain off a bit but Alex was still drunk. Ridiculously drunk.
"C'mon Sleeping Beauty," Gene decided, "let's get you in bed."
"You coming, Gene?" Alex giggled to herself as Ray snorted.
"Don't tempt me, Bolls," Gene muttered, "c'mon, yer dozy mare. Look, take Ray's hand. Ray, lift her out the car."
Alex squealed with laughter as Ray pulled her out of the Quattro, lifting her into his arms. Gene hopped out straight after, peeling Alex away from Ray and fully supporting her as she tottered in her heels.
"Cheers Ray," Gene nodded, "you get off 'ome now. I'll see Bollyknickers 'ere inside."
"Bye Ray!" Alex yelled before she was roughly dragged upstairs by Gene. Now that he knew the drugs hadn't had any serious effects and she was just extremely pissed, Gene couldn't help but feel angry. He was furious at Gordon and the gang for drugging her drink, livid with Oliver for abandoning her as his date and thunderous with Alex herself for letting herself get in such a vulnerable situation. Those men took advantage of her and he wasn't even sure just how far they went.
"Come on you dippy tart," Gene muttered, flinging Alex into his arms and carrying her up to her flat as she squealed in delight. Gene put her down when he reached her door, only for Alex to collapse by his feet in a heap, sniggering to herself.
"Oh for God's sake," Gene muttered, "up, now! Get up, Drake!"
Alex giggled and toppled over even more, hugging his legs and sliding to lie on the floor.
"Up yer get," Gene mumbled, hauling her to her feet from underneath her arms. One arm supporting her back, the other reached down to pull her dress down to its correct length. The skimpy thing only just about covered her arse anyway but even now, Gene wanted to protect her dignity.
Reaching into Alex's small cross-shoulder bag, Gene pulled out her keys and unlocked the door. Alex tottered inside, her body fused to Gene's, before Gene kicked the door shut behind them and turned on the lights.
"Gene, I'm home!" Alex exclaimed dramatically, flinging her arms around Gene's neck. He stumbled back in shock, seemingly confused as of what to do.
"No shit, Bolls," Gene frowned, gently untangling her from him.
"Weeeee!" Alex cackled, throwing herself on the sofa. She lay across it, long legs exposed and chest thrust out. Gene swallowed lustfully, unsure where to look.
"Come on, Gene," Alex growled, "come on…tonight's the night. S'your night, Genie boy. Yes you."
Alex leapt up and grabbed Gene, toppling backwards and pulling Gene down onto the sofa with her. He gasped in shock as he fell down on top of Alex on the sofa, her legs around him as she pulled him closer.
"Bolls…Alex…yer pissed, love, yer don't want this…"
"So gorgeous, Gene," Alex slurred, "want you…want you…only you…"
Gene tried to move but Alex pulled him back down.
"Stay!" she commanded. "GENIE!"
"Bolly," Gene snapped, "let me go. Come on. That's enough."
"No," Alex said simply, gripping his head and pulling it down to meet hers. Alex's lips were on his and Gene's mind was in bliss. He was kissing her. He was kissing Alex Drake…but it wasn't right.
Gene pulled away and stared down into Alex's huge eyes, wide, hurt and confused.
"Bolls," Gene said softly, "no. I want this ter happen when you're one hundred per cent sure yer want it. When yer sober enough ter say no. You've 'ad enough o' blokes taking advantage of you for one night."
Gene didn't expect what came next. Alex's eyes filled with tears, and all of a sudden, she was sobbing. Heartbreaking, gut-wrenching sobs. Gene got up off her and pulled her into his arms, stroking her hair and rubbing her back soothingly.
"Christ Bolls, yer don't need to cry about not gettin' a shag from the Gene Genie," Gene muttered, "you'll get one soon enough if I 'ave anything to say about it!"
"They hurt me, Gene," Alex wept.
Gene's blood froze. Slowly, he turned Alex round to face him, wiping the mascara trails from her cheeks and the tears from her eyes.
"Bolly," Gene said seriously, "Alex. I…I need you ter tell me what they did, sweetheart. I need to know."
Gene's panicked eyes looked into Alex's drunken hazy ones. She swallowed, hiccupping.
"They touched me," Alex whispered, her eyes wide and an alcoholic slur still evident in her voice. Gene's inhaled sharply.
"Where did they touch you, Alex?" Gene asked sternly, rubbing her shoulder tentatively.
"Here," Alex whimpered, grabbing her breasts, "and…everywhere." Alex's voice shook as more tears flooded down her face.
"Shh, it's all right, Bolly. I'm here. I'm goin' ter get them for this, Bolls. You're safe." Gene embraced her again, anger burning in his stomach. He swallowed once more. "Alex," he said seriously again, "did they…were you…have you been…"
Alex's eyes were wide as Gene pulled away slightly to look at her. He took a breath. "Did they force themselves on you?" Gene said carefully.
"Mmm," Alex whimpered, "they touched me. Where I didn't want them to."
"I know, sweetheart," Gene said desperately, "I know they did. They're nasty, vicious scumbags and I'm goin' ter get 'em. But Alex…did they force you to…you know…did they force you to have sex with them?"
Alex looked into Gene's eyes and shook her head.
"Are you sure, love?" Gene checked, his heart hammering. "Because if they did, we can sort it out…they'll be locked up, we can get you to a doctor…"
Alex shook her head again.
"He took his trousers off," Alex whispered, "and said…said he was going first. But then you came."
Gene sighed in relief, hatred for the scumbags bubbling. He looked into Alex's drunken eyes once more, and saw them widen.
"Gene," she mumbled, "I'm gonna be sick…"
"Oh bloody 'ell," Gene muttered as Alex charged into the bathroom, stumbling on the way in her heels and hitting the wall painfully. Gene caught her as she fell and manoeuvred her intoxicated body to the toilet where he lowered them both to the floor and carefully lifted the seat up for her. As Alex retched forwards, Gene scraped her hair back and out of the way for her, rubbing her back and sighing.
"Thank you, Gene," Alex slurred, "M'sorry, sorrysorry…"
"It's okay, Alex," Gene sighed as she was sick again, "it's okay."
Gene watched over her that night. Carefully pulling off her shoes and lying her in bed, he sat by her bedside all night. If she was scared, ill, wanted a cry or just wanted to talk…he was going to be there.