They had a date. A real, proper date. Alex hadn't had this kind of intimacy with Gene since 1981, when she believed she was having her final night with her 'imaginary constructs'.

This time it would be different. It was 1983, they had kissed, and neither of them were going anywhere, and Alex couldn't wait. However, they had to get through a whole day in the office before they could finally succumb to each other's charms.

Alex had donned her favourite black skinny jeans for work the next morning, the ones she knew made her arse look fantastic and her legs endless. Complete with a purple, silk shirt that was just low-cut enough to remain professional; Alex knew she was going to make an impression on Gene. And she was right, as she caught him giving her long, lingering looks many a times that morning, a sexy little smirk dancing on his face.

"Anything interesting on Ellie Parker's relationships, Bolls?" Gene asked her a few minutes later, sauntering over to her desk and looming over her.

"Not much," Alex replied, leaning forwards slightly, knowingly giving Gene a great view of her cleavage, "a few dodgy connections here and there, but nothing significant as of yet."

"Mmm-hmm," Gene murmured, his eyes never leaving Alex's chest, "well, you'd best crack on, Bolly."

"Guv!"

Gene turned round to face Ray, who was standing up with a file in his hand, looking quite shocked about something.

"What?"

Ray swallowed. "This file, it shows…bloody hell…"

Gene frowned. "Well spit it out, Raymondo, we haven't got all bloody year."

Ray walked over to Alex's desk to show both Gene and Alex his findings. "I was investigating Ellie Parker's stepfamily as yer said, and her mother married one Marcus Stone, who also had a son. I've just found that Ellie's stepbrother was called Edward Stone."

"So?" Gene shrugged. "Never heard of 'im, therefore he ain't got form, therefore this isn't a very promising link."

"Wait a minute!" Alex burst out. Edward Stone…Stone…Ed Stone…

Ray noticed Alex's eyes widening in comprehension. "You've got it in one, Drake," Ray nodded, "Ellie Parker's stepbrother was none other than Ed Stone, Guv. That big bloke that…well, yer know. The right-hand man of the leader of those thugs. Sarouche's mate."

"Shit!" Gene exclaimed, running his fingers through his hair. "You may just be onto something, Raymondo! That Stone certainly fits the bill as the murderer, and if Ellie was his stepsister then he must 'ave known Miranda…"

"And we know he's capable of drugging and raping women," Ray contributed, glancing uncertainly at Alex.

"We certainly do," Alex mumbled, swallowing nervously.

"And who's ter say he didn't know the other women?" Gene said confidently. "Slimy bastard probably tried it on wi' them and all. Nice work, Ray. Oi, Wonder Chris! Take Terry and Poirot and get your arses down ter the drunks' place. You too, Raymondo. I want Ed Stone back 'ere within the hour. Arrest 'im, and yer don't 'ave ter be nice about it!"

"Yes Guv," Ray grinned, grabbing his coat and following Chris and DCs Terry and Poirot out the door.

"But Guv!" Alex interjected as the doors slammed. "Think about it…witnesses said they saw a slim man fleeing the crime scene…Ed Stone is hardly slim, is he?"

Gene rolled his eyes. "Accomplices, Bolly. And it was dark. All I know is that Stone has a direct link to Ellie Parker, one we haven't followed up yet. It fits. He drugged you along with his mates, and, in case you don't remember, was about to take part in gang-raping you with those tossers."

"Of course I remember," Alex spat, "don't you dare even go there, Gene."

Gene sighed, shaking his head. "Look Bolls," he said calmly, "I know this is goin' ter be difficult for yer. But yer don't have to worry, sweetheart. I'll take Ray in to interview the bastard with me, and while I'm at it, I'll see if the tosser can provoke me enough to give him a punch for what he did to you."

Alex smiled weakly at him. "Thanks, Guv."

Gene smiled back at her; one of those rare, genuine smiles that she so loved. Swallowing the last of his drink, Gene squeezed Alex's hand lovingly before striding out of his office to see what progress everyone else had made.

It was nearly two hours later when Gene managed to get Stone in the interview room. He and Ray were present, sitting opposite the smirking face of Ed Stone as they stubbed their cigarettes out angrily.

"Right," Gene growled, "let's get down to business shall we, shit-stick? What do you know about the murder of your stepsister Ellie Parker?"

Stone shrugged. "Nuffin," he smirked.

"Crap," Gene snarled bluntly, "where were you on the night of her murder?"

"At home wiv the lads," Stone answered.

"Can anyone proove that?" Ray challenged the skinhead.

"Gordon, Jaspers and Turner," Stone snapped back, "they were all there wiv me."

"Well that can be checked," Gene glared. "What can you say for yourself about the murders of Victoria Wentworth, Jessica Hampton, Ruth Anderson and Miranda Lawrence?"

Stone looked at the dates on the files presented in front of him. His knuckles curled, whitening instantly. "Pub on these two," Stone mumbled, "wiv the lads. Visiting my brother when Miranda was murdered and in hospital when Victoria was killed. Plenty of people to back me up."

Gene was stumped. This was going to take a lot more investigating. "Did you have any connection to the other women? Surely yer must 'ave known Miranda if she was yer stepsister's best mate."

"Just knew they were all bitches," Stone snarled.

"Oh, so yer knew them?" Gene spat at him, raising his eyebrows.

"What…no, I…no I didn't know them…just knew…of them, y'know…"

"Well aren't you a popular sod," Gene sneered, "you're the only bastard we've dragged in that's known all five women."

"I didn't know 'em!" Stone said in panic. "Just of 'em! Through mates and shit!"

"So yer knew 'em all," Ray ignored him, "and you've had previous with drugs and attempted rape. Yer know, Stone, you're starting to fit these murderer's shoes pretty snugly."

"I didn't do it!" Stone yelled, panic etched upon his face.

"Bollocks," Gene spat, "Ellie was drugged with rohypnol, as were the other women we've discovered. And rohypnol was the very substance found in the blood of none other than DI Drake, whom you disgustingly assaulted last week, and if I had my way, you'd be in a bloody men's jail now with your arsehole size expanding at the rate of China!"

"Doesn't mean I killed my stepsister though," Stone insisted, "yeah, I've had links wiv drugs and shit, but I didn't kill Ellie. Or them others."

"Don't seem very upset though, do yer?" Ray noticed. "Stepsister killed…I hear crying is the done thing."

"Piss off," Stone sneered, "I hated the bitch. She was a slag. A no-good, dirty little trollop. Like I care about her at all."

"Sounds like a very angry relationship you had goin' on there. What did she do to make you so pissed off?" Gene barked at him.

"Nuffin."

"To make you kill her? Her friend?"

"I said nuffin, you pig!"

"You know what, I think you killed them," Gene boomed, standing up violently, "I think you're responsible for the rapes and murders of all five of these women, you worthless scumbag!"

"The only one I had anything to do wiv is that Alex Drake!" Stone shouted, standing up just as angrily as Ray got to his feet in his Guv's defence. "And in case you ain't noticed, she ain't dead!"

"NO, BUT YOU DRUGGED AND NEARLY RAPED HER!" Gene thundered, his fists clenching furiously.

"Oh yeah," Stone taunted him, "and you know what, if you hadn't have burst in with your fists and beat us all, I would've had her! And she would've been so good!"

SMACK. That had done it. Gene's fist connected ferociously with Stone's jaw, sending him clattering to the ground. Gene leapt violently over the table and began to punch Stone thunderously, blood spurting from the man's nose as Ray hauled Gene off him, shouting at his Guv that this scumbag wasn't worth it.

"YOU BASTARD!" Gene roared, struggling against being restrained as Viv burst through the doors in shock.

"Guv, Ray, what's going on?" Viv shouted. With one final kick, Gene drew back and breathed heavily, fury evident in his eyes.

"Get 'im in the cells, Viv," Gene snarled as his Desk Sergeant helped Stone to his feet with the help of some uniformed officers, "and then dig up files on Gordon, Jaspers and Turner. His mates. Ask this scrotum for their first names."

Gene and Ray stalked past Stone as they exited the room. Stone looked up from under his bruises, glaring maliciously at the pair of them.

"This is for Alex," Gene sneered before thumping Stone in the stomach, causing the man to double over in pain. Gene stormed away then, desperate to get away from this scumbag and be back with the people he cared about. His team. And Alex.

-xx-

"I'm sure hitting him wasn't the answer, Gene."

"You didn't 'ear what he said about you."

"It doesn't matter. That's over now. I don't want you risking your job for some vile little pervert that knows how to get to you."

"Oh shut up, you dozy mare. We're 'ere now. At least act like you want ter be with me."

Alex smiled slightly as Gene pulled up outside a swanky restaurant, parking the Quattro. "Oh don't be like that," she said softly, stroking his arm in a way that made his body tingle, "of course I want to be with you. I wouldn't have said yes otherwise."

Gene looked at her, a vision of beauty in a stunning white dress that split and flowed by the knee and had a low-cut 'V'. With her bobbed hair natural, eyelashes longer than usual and lips full and red, Gene couldn't think of a time when he had wanted her more.

Gene scrubbed up well too in his smart suit and open neck, Alex noticed as she took his arm as they walked into the restaurant. The place was lovely, decorated with rich materials and candles illuminating every table. Live violinists were playing the most beautiful of melodies as a waiter showed Alex and Gene to their table, leaving them alone as he fetched them some drinks.

"Oh Gene, its wonderful," Alex beamed at him, "I can't believe we haven't come here before."

Gene chuckled. "Can you imagine the boys from CID getting raunchy and pissed here every night after work instead o' Luigi's? Wouldn't go down too well, Bolls."

Alex laughed lightly, flashing Gene a stunning smile. "No, I don't suppose it would."

The food was exquisite and some of the best Alex had ever tasted. They made light conversation as they ate, just enjoying being alone and in each other's company. As the waiter cleared their plates and asked if they wanted any dessert, Gene really took in Alex's appearance.

"You, er…look very nice this evening, Bolls," Gene said uncomfortably, shuffling in his seat. Alex blushed. It wasn't often she got a genuine compliment from Gene. It was usually just 'nice tits, Bolls'.

"Thank you," Alex said softly, dazzling Gene once again, "as do you. See what a bit of effort does for you?"

Gene snorted. "Me? Nah. There's only one beauty at this table, and that's you."

Alex stared at Gene as he mentally cursed himself. Beauty. That was such a poof's word!

Alex, however, was touched. She didn't think Gene had ever called her beautiful before. Gorgeous, maybe. Pretty had even slipped his tongue. But not beautiful. It was much more of a compliment than 'fit' or 'sexy'.

Gene and Alex gazed into each other's eyes as they paid the bill, the atmosphere thickening as they seduced each other with their longing looks.

Helping Alex to her feet, Gene whispered in her ear. "Let's get out of 'ere, 'ey?"

Alex giggled. "Certainly, Mr Hunt."

Walking out into the cold night air, Gene felt like a teenager all over again. As they walked, Gene longed to just hold Alex, to touch her. Simply throwing his arms around her shoulders would make her think he only wanted to be mates…it was too playful, too friendly…but if he put his arm around her waist, knowing Alex, she'd think he was copping a feel, that he felt he had an all-access pass to her body now that he'd taken her to dinner.

Sweating, Gene tenderly reached for Alex's hand, brushing his fingers against hers and curling them round, interlacing their fingers together. Gene let out a breath as Alex pressed her body up against him and then turned her head towards his, kissing his lips lovingly. One hand still intertwined with hers, Gene softly caressed her neck with the other. Breaking apart, they both smiled at each other.

"My place or yours?" Gene winked.

"Mine," Alex breathed, pressing feather-light kisses to his jaw, "its closer."

"I like the way you think, Bollykecks," Gene grinned, kissing her forehead as he opened the door to the Quattro for her, shutting the door lightly before joining her as he got behind the wheel. They looked at each other before Gene started the car, and the passion burned through each of their gazes. Lunging forwards at the same time, their lips connected once more as they succumbed to the passion and needs of each other's kisses.