If Alex seriously thought she could get through a date with Oliver without running into the skinheads, she was very much mistaken. She had been disappointed to learn that they could not be arrested or formally charged because there had been no solid proof to suggest they were the ones that drugged Alex, and in her drunken state she had actually consented to going with them. Gene had been furious about this as he wanted the bastards locked up forever, but all they could do was just move on from it.

Alex and Oliver were having a drink at Luigi's before he drove her to a restaurant in one of the more upper class areas of London. Oliver was dressed in tight, black jeans and a slightly open crisp white shirt, showing off his tanned, toned torso. Alex had opted for a short black dress that ended mid-thigh, revealing a bit more cleavage than she perhaps wanted. Her makeup was light and her hair pinned back slightly in a light quiff.

Things were going brilliantly between Alex and Oliver, when the familiar bulk of Rick Gordon filled the room.

"Oh no…" Alex whimpered, subconsciously shrinking closer to Oliver.

"Gordon, piss off," Oliver ordered, "you caused enough trouble the other night. Leave us alone."

Gordon sneered at the pair of them, glaring at Oliver and leering at Alex. "Only buying a drink. Not a crime, is it? Gonna arrest me, Detective Inspector?"

Alex said nothing, trying to keep her breathing level.

"I'll buy you a drink, mate," Gordon decided, nodding at Oliver, "as an apology from us lot. Then I'm off."

Oliver looked at Gordon hard, before shaking his hand. "You're on. Then leave us to it, yeah?"

Gordon winked at Oliver before snarling at Alex. "Will do," he grinned maliciously, stalking off to the bar to get himself and Oliver a drink. "You sure ya don't want one, Alex?" Gordon called back, taunting her nastily.

"No," Alex said quickly and bluntly. Swallowing, she focused her attention on Oliver, the man whose company she was determined to enjoy tonight. He smiled at her warmly, leaning across to kiss her cheek lovingly as he threaded his fingers through hers.

Luckily, Gordon was true to his word and cleared off after depositing Oliver with his drink. The handsome man knocked it back heavily, the alcohol swimming around his throat.

"Let's get out of here, hey babe?" Oliver suggested, kissing Alex's hand. "Before I have one too many and go over the limit! Need to drive you to the restaurant I've booked. It's exquisite. Perfect for you."

Alex blushed as they exited Luigi's, Oliver's hand draped around her waist possessively as she snuggled into his arms. As they reached the cool air of outside, Oliver spun Alex around and pressed her up against the wall, his mouth ascending on hers as he kissed her passionately, one hand stroking her cheek and the other firmly on her arse.

Although unexpected, Alex relaxed into the kiss as she opened her mouth slightly to allow him access. Running her fingers through his dark hair as their tongues danced, Alex found herself catching clumps of hair gel uncomfortably.

Urgh, I hate this stuff, Alex thought as Oliver ran his hands over her thighs suggestively, makes men's hair go all gooey. Gene doesn't bother with the stuff…his hair is so much softer…

Alex mentally cursed herself. What was she doing, thinking about Gene at a time like this? Here she was, pressed up against a wall having the life kissed out of her by an extremely gorgeous man and all she could think about was how Gene Hunt's hair was softer.

I'm supposed to be annoyed with him anyway, Alex reminded herself as Oliver's hands became more confident, bloody controlling man, not letting me see who I bloody well want…

It was only when Oliver's hands began to caress her breasts that Alex pulled out from the kiss, pushing Oliver's away from her body.

"No, Oliver," Alex said firmly, memories of her night with the drunks flashing through her mind, "I…I don't want to…"

Oliver stroked her cheek, kissing her lightly on the lips. "Sorry, sweetheart. I got a bit carried away there. I mean, who can blame me?" Oliver looked Alex up and down, winking at her seductively. "You're bloody gorgeous."

Alex blushed as she allowed Oliver to kiss her cheek again, threading his fingers through hers as he led her to his car.

"C'mon," Oliver smiled, "I can't wait for you to see the restaurant. You're going to love it."

Alex relaxed in Oliver's arms as he led her over to the car, getting in happily and pulling the seatbelt across.

"You're lucky my DCI isn't here," Alex remarked as Oliver clipped his seatbelt in too, "doesn't believe in wearing seatbelts, that man!"

Oliver gave a half-hearted laugh as he started the car and Alex scolded herself once again. Why did she have to bring bloody Gene Hunt up again? This was getting ridiculous. She was on a date with Oliver. Oliver was supposed to be the man on her mind.

"It's about a fifteen minute drive," Oliver informed her as he pulled out into the street, "the restaurant's in Leicester Square. Lovely one."

"Great," Alex smiled at him, jumping slightly as Oliver hit the curb rather violently.

"Whoops!" Oliver chuckled. "Misjudged that a bit!"

Alex laughed weakly, but couldn't shake the feeling inside her. She'd been on countless rides in the Quattro with Gene, many of them exceeding the speed limit and threatening her life, but she'd always felt safe. She'd always felt safe with Gene's judgement and his uncontrollable driving.

But now, driving with Oliver, even five minutes into the journey, something didn't feel right. His reactions were off and his judgements hazy. Alex was beginning to feel uneasy.

Oh please no, Alex thought desperately, please don't let something happen…not again…

"So Alex," Oliver said loudly, interrupting her thoughts and fears, "how are you coming along with the case at work?"

Alex swallowed as Oliver nearly crashed into the back of a car. Talk about the case…take your mind off his driving…

"We're making links," Alex explained, wincing as Oliver hit another curb turning a corner, "all of the women have been raped, dumped in an alley and then murdered. They were all murdered by the use of some sort of thin rope, strangling them…we have one man who keeps popping up, but I really don't think it's him – CAREFUL, OLIVER, A RED LIGHT!"

Oliver ran it, swearing blindly as he zoomed through the crossing, causing a number of cars to honk their horns and skid violently.

"Bloody hell!" Alex seethed. "What's wrong with you?"

"Sorry babe!" Oliver gasped. "I dunno what's wrong…I'm normally a great driver…"

"Well sort it out!" Alex said desperately. Her heart was pounding as Oliver began to make more and more mistakes on the road. Looking over at her date, Alex noticed that even Oliver looked scared and confused.

Oliver began speeding up, and he was going way too fast.

"Oliver, please! Slow down!" Alex begged, becoming more and more scared.

"I'm trying! Shit!" Oliver panicked; swerving dangerously as he very nearly hit a car. "I've only had one bloody drink…"

Drink…Alex thought, scared, Gordon bought him a drink…oh please, not again!

"Stop the car," Alex ordered, "just STOP!"

"I'm trying!" Oliver yelled. "I'm trying to brake, but it won't work!"

"What do you mean it won't work?" Alex squeaked, horrified.

"Shit, the car won't break, Alex!" Oliver shouted. It was then that they saw it. The lights had just turned red and a huge lorry was going from left to right. Unable to brake, Alex screamed in terror as Oliver couldn't control the car and they zoomed over the traffic lights, heading right for the lorry at speed.

Alex closed her eyes, her throat hoarse from screaming, and shielded her head with her arms as she thought desperately of Gene, how she never said sorry to him, never really admitted how she felt, never thanked him for everything he'd done for her…

There was a sickening crash as Oliver's car connected with the side of the lorry, and Alex and Oliver were shot forwards, thumping into the front of the car, their world's blacking out instantly with a scream.

-xx-

Gene thanked his lucky stars that tonight was the night he, Ray and Chris had stayed behind late at CID. Because if no-one was there to answer that phone, he would have never forgiven himself.

Chris and Ray returned sheepishly into the room after Alex had stormed out, proclaiming loudly that she didn't need Gene. They both knew this was a lie. Who was going to save her from freezers if she didn't have the Guv? Slap her out of a coma? Throw themselves on top of her when threatened with a gun? Save her from these mad, sick, leering blokes that she always seemed to attract?

The couple of hours passed slowly as Gene sulked in his office, going over some final statements. Chris and Ray were finishing the work they should have done ages ago, and then clearing up so they could get off to Luigi's.

"You coming, Guv?" Ray called to Gene as he and Chris began to collect their coats.

Gene looked up miserably. "I suppose, Raymondo. Time to 'ead off."

"Yeah, been a long day," Chris nodded, collecting his jacket. As Gene exited his office and began to follow his two right-hand men out, a shrill ring was heard from the phone on Shaz's desk.

Gene grabbed it in annoyance, thrusting it to his ear.

"What?" he spat, miffed that someone obviously thought it important to ring at this time in the evening.

Ray and Chris hovered as they waited for their Guv to finish taking the call, and their eyes widened in fear as they saw Gene's face visibly pale and his mouth drop open in shock, his fists clenching.

"What?" Gene seethed, fear and panic evident in his voice. "Is she okay? Please tell me she's all right…"

Ray and Chris looked at each other in confusion.

"Guv?" Ray frowned, shrinking back as Gene waved his hand viciously in attempt to shut his male DI up.

"Cut brakes on the car?" Gene gasped. "Shit…but she's not…she's not?...Oh thank Christ…St Bartholomew's Hospital? We're on our way."

Gene slammed the phone down and swore furiously, kicking the bin in anger. "CHRIS, RAY, WITH ME, NOW!"

"What's happened, Guv?" Chris asked hastily as he and Ray jogged to keep up with Gene's vicious strides.

Gene ran his fingers through his hair desperately as he pulled open the door to the Quattro violently, fear still etched upon his face. "It's Bolly. She's been in a car accident. She's hurt."