A/N: Sorry for the wait and OMG how incredible was series three? I'm still in tears! So amazing, but soooo sad :'( personally I think Alex should have stayed with Gene if she couldn't have Molly. The final Galex moment was heartbreaking! But lovely (: Anyway I'll continue to write this story (even though it's hard knowing the real end!) if people are still interested after seeing the finale! It's very different obviously! Roxannaaaax
Alex struggled to open her eyes. They felt extremely heavy as her lids tentatively glimpsed her surroundings. She felt sick; she had a headache…and no recollection of the night's events.
Shit, Alex thought desperately, where's Oliver? We didn't…
Alex turned round groggily to face an empty bed. She sighed, almost relieved. Either she unknowingly slept with Oliver and the bastard buggered off or she got escorted home, legless, and flopped into bed. Noticing her state of dress, she was placing her bets on the second.
Alex was still wearing her short little turquoise dress, but her eyes widened when she saw dirt all over it, bite marks on her neck and nail marks on her thighs. Sitting up, horrified, Alex's breathing started to stagger.
It was then that Gene woke up from his position slumped in a chair, grunting uncomfortably, and then that Alex noticed she was not alone in her bedroom.
"Gene!" Alex yelped, utterly confused.
"Bolls," Gene muttered, rubbing his eyes, "Bolls, are you okay?"
"What happened?" Alex whispered weakly, surprised at how broken her voice sounded.
Gene looked at her. "Yer don't remember? Yer don't remember last night?"
Alex shook her head, biting her lip. Then her eyes widened as she pulled the sheets around herself almost protectively. "You…you! You…took advantage of me…"
"WHAT?" Gene thundered, standing up furiously as Alex squeaked in fear.
Tears streamed down Alex's face. "You're in my room! My dress is hitched up around me! I have nail marks all along my legs and bite marks on my…I don't remember a thing…you…"
"Nice ter see how little you think of me, Drake!" Gene spat maliciously. "How dare you even think such a thing? If you weren't such a drunken little tart we wouldn't even be here right now. I wouldn't 'ave 'ad ter save your sorry little arse from a gang of thugs that were all too happy to get yer ankles round yer ears, I wouldn't 'ave 'ad to carry you 'ome legless and drugged up and I certainly wouldn't 'ave 'ad ter spend a night in this bleedin' chair just to make sure you were okay!"
Alex's jaw dropped. Her eyes found Gene's. "You…you saved me?"
"Yes I bloody well did, you ungrateful, stupid woman."
"But…but…who from?" Alex gasped. "What happened, Gene?" she whispered, tears rolling down her cheeks.
It broke Gene's heart to see Alex cry. He sat down on the bed next to her and took her hand in his, rubbing it soothingly.
"All that matters now, Bolly, is that yer okay. It was those blokes that call themselves Sarouche's mates. Yer…had a bit too much to drink, and they…well."
Alex's eyes widened, if possible, even more. "They drugged me?" she squeaked, trembling.
Gene sighed. "Yes Bolls," he said quietly, "you were very ill last night. Pissed as a penguin, hazy-eyed as a regular druggie and puking up like you'd just seen Ray's arse or something."
Gene rubbed her arm as Alex stared at him, trying to comprehend what happened.
"Oh my God," Alex wept, her voice trembling, "they raped me!"
Gene's blood froze and his throat closed up. "What?" he hissed furiously. "Bolly…Alex…"
"They must have date-raped me, Gene!" Alex wailed, drawing her legs up, frightened. "I…I…I was drunk, drugged and my dress is ripped…evidence of their scummy hands touching me all over…"
"Alex," Gene said desperately, "sweetheart, yer told me last night that I got there just in time. Yer said yer weren't…you hadn't been…"
"I don't remember," Alex cried, "Gene…I don't remember! I can't remember, Gene, I can't remember what happened!"
Gene's arms were around her then, embracing her fully, sheltering and protecting her from the rest of the world as he gently rubbed her back.
"I'm such an idiot," Alex sniffed, tears still flowing, "how could I be so stupid…"
"Hey, hey, we'll have none o' that, Bollykecks," Gene soothed her, "yer not stupid. Not your fault. Not your fault. Only those bastards to blame."
Alex clung to Gene, shivering violently. "Gene," she whispered, "can I…can I go to the doctors? Please? I need to find out…to find out what happened to me last night."
Gene pulled away slightly; wiping Alex's smudged mascara from her eyes. "Course yer can, love. Tell yer what, have a shower and take the day off. I'll be back round here for about five, and then I can take yer to the doctors this evening to…to get everything checked out."
Alex nodded. "I'm coming to CID though," she insisted, "I'm not taking the day off. I can't…I can't be on my own. Not thinking the worst…"
Gene sighed. "All right. Get your bony arse in that shower then we're off to work. Take it easy today though, yeah? You 'ad a rough night last night, Bolls. No point making yerself worse."
Alex smiled weakly as she hopped off the bed towards the shower, breathing deeply. "Yes Guv."
-xx-
Arriving together forty minutes late was never going to look good for Gene and Alex. As the pair walked through the doors together, everyone in CID looked up, nudging each other. It was only Ray that swallowed uncomfortably, knowing exactly why Drake and the Guv were together.
"Good night last night, Ma'am, Guv?" Chris sniggered.
"Shut yer face, Skelton," Gene sneered as Alex looked down uncomfortably, "right you tossers, what 'ave yer got for me?"
"Witness says they saw a tall, slim built man run away from the alley not long before Ellie Parker was discovered," Ray cut in, "not much to go on 'cos it was dark, but who else do we know that's tall and slim?"
"Mitch Roberts," Gene realised, "bring him in."
"Guv, seriously?" Alex piped up, tightening her blazer across her chest. "Mitch Roberts would not report the murder of his girlfriend if he did it. He also wouldn't murder his colleague and his girlfriend's friend to draw even more attention to himself."
"Yes, thank you Miss Psychiatry," Gene dismissed her, "but this is a lead!"
"Tall and slim!" Alex exclaimed. "That could be anyone! That description matches three quarters of the men in London – it could even match Chris and Ray!"
"Hardly, Bolls. Chris isn't tall and Ray's not slim."
"Oh for God's sake," Alex muttered as Ray gawped in disgust, "just trust me, Guv. It's not Mitch Roberts."
Gene turned round and glared at her. She'd covered herself up a lot today in tight jeans and no flesh on display, reflecting her vulnerability. Alex's eyes were still red and puffy but this didn't stop their classic 'Guv and Bolly' arguments.
"Any ideas who is our murderer then, Madame Fruitcake?"
Alex exhaled, annoyed. "No…"
"Precisely. So shut yer lipstick and get on wi' some work, woman."
Alex scowled as she sat down at her desk. She really thought Gene might go easy on her today, but no. He was still a grouchy bastard.
Alex fiddled with her pen as Gene stormed out to call in Mitch Roberts again. Watching him go, Alex sighed sadly. Feeling someone's eyes on her, she looked up. Ray was staring at her, chewing his lip anxiously. Then, checking no-one was watching, he approached her desk.
"Are you all right, Alex?" Ray asked tentatively.
Alex was surprised. She smiled weakly at her fellow DI, nodding. Ray looked uncomfortable.
"I just wanted ter say, like…I'm sorry about what happened to yer last night. If I ever see those bastards again I'll beat 'em to a pulp. And…I shouldn't 'ave said some of the things I did the other day. About shoving a dick in your mouth or whatever…you don't deserve that, Alex, and…"
Alex's face crumpled, her bottom lip wobbling and her eyes watering as the fears of what might have happened last night whilst she was intoxicated overwhelmed her. Ray noticed this, and he breathed in harshly. He understood why she was upset.
"Oh God," Ray muttered, "come 'ere, Alex."
He was round her desk then, enveloping her in his arms. Alex relaxed in Ray's embrace for the first time, gentle tears splashing onto his shoulder.
"Some blokes are bastards," Ray mumbled, "but the Guv will look after yer. Don't worry."
Alex clung to Ray, hoping and wishing that was true. Suddenly, the pair sprung apart as a thunderous voice echoed throughout the office.
"What the bloody hell is going on here?"
Alex and Ray whipped around to see Gene in the doorway, his face a picture of disbelief and disgust.
"Guv," Ray stammered, "you might want ter…Drake's a state…"
Gene shoved Ray aside jealously as he tenderly took Alex's face in his gloved hands.
"Do yer want to go to the doctors now, sweetheart?" Gene said quietly. "Get it over with. Leave Ray in charge for a bit, God help us…"
"No," Alex sniffed, "I…I don't want to mess up your work…make people think I'm weak…"
"Alex," Gene said firmly, "you are not weak. Yer the strongest woman I've ever met, but if somethin'…happened…last night, we need ter get you seen to and do somethin' about it. All right?"
Alex nodded, smiling weakly.
"Good," Gene sighed, helping her up, "now get yer gorgeous arse in the Quattro."