"…I've seen you do some shit things in your time, Carling, but Saturday night's actions from you was some o' the most disgraceful I 'ave ever seen in my life."

Ray hung his head in shame as he stood in the Guv's office. He had been enduring the anger and disappointment of Gene Hunt for a good fifteen minutes now. It was Monday morning, and everyone was in the station. Word had got round about Ray coming onto Alex at the Police Ball, and like typical gossip, the story had been blown way out of proportion.

Rumours had flown round CID like buzzing bees and everyone had heard a different set of events. Chris and Shaz had heard that Alex and Ray had kissed passionately in the middle of the dance floor. Viv was told by officers from Fenchurch West that Alex had dumped Gene and was now seeing Ray. Poirot and Terry were talking about how Alex had cheated on the Guv and shagged Ray round the back of the building, until Bammo rushed over to tell them that they didn't go that far, but Alex had sucked Ray off behind the bandstand.

Gene had been livid when he heard these rumours and Alex had never felt angrier at her colleagues, determined to give them a piece of her mind. However, the vulgarity of the rumours and the fact that everyone believed them soon caused Alex to burst into tears, causing the fury in Gene's stomach to bubble uncontrollably.

After comforting Alex and roaring at the whole of CID to put the story straight, the detectives apologised to Alex and their Guv and swallowed nervously as Gene barked for Ray to enter his office, the door slamming brutishly behind him.

Everyone kept their heads down, too embarrassed and guilty to face their female DI. Shaz was the only one who had the courage.

"I didn't believe any of it, Ma'am," Shaz said quietly, "I knew you wouldn't do any of those things. You've got too much respect for yourself. For the Guv."

Alex sniffed, smiling weakly.

"Um," Shaz stuttered, "if ya don't mind me asking, Ma'am…what did happen with you and Ray?"

Alex sighed. "Nothing. Absolutely nothing, not seriously. He'd had too much to drink and came onto me, like he would any bird. He…tried to kiss my neck, feel me up…and get me to respond. But I wouldn't. Because of Gene. I think he would have respected that, but Gene came over and just lost it. Thankfully he didn't blame me."

Shaz nodded, understanding. "He wouldn't anyway. The Guv knows he can trust you."

Alex smiled. "I don't really think Ray feels strongly about me. It's purely his male instincts – he sees bare legs and a bit of cleavage and he's off. Doesn't matter to him who the woman is. It wouldn't matter if the woman was the ugliest on the planet or had no personality; he'd shag her if she showed enough flesh."

Shaz laughed in agreement. "You got that right, Ma'am."

Alex sniggered, looking through the glass into Gene's office. It wasn't looking good for Ray. Gene's eyes were burning into him as his lips curled in fury.

"Where've you been for the past couple o' months, Carling?" Gene spat. "Were you not about when DI Drake was drugged and sexually assaulted? Betrayed by a man she had feelings for? Held captive and then nearly raped? Were you not paying attention during those frustrating weeks when she was completely traumatised? Too scared of men to let me in her bed, too frightened to interview scum, having panic attacks and terrifying flashbacks left, right and centre, waking up in the middle of the night screaming…"

Ray sighed. "I know, Guv. I messed up. I'm sorry."

"Sorry?" Gene snarled. "Yer sorry? That it? Alex has made such brilliant progress since her awful experience. It took her weeks to get over that man's assaulting touch. And yer know what you did, Carling? You as good as put her through it again, because I know for a fact she did not want your grubby hands on her tits or arse!"

Ray winced. "Guv, I didn't assault her! I was pissed! Anyway, she's okay. She's more upset about the rumour that I shagged her round the back –"

"ENOUGH!" Gene roared, slamming his fist violently on his desk. "The point is, Carling, is that she didn't want you touching her! You could've ruined everythin', everythin' we've worked for! You could've put my Bolly back to square one, flinching away from a man's touch, and you don't seem ter give a flying fuck!"

"I do!" Ray protested. "I feel shit, Guv, honest."

"You owe 'er an apology," Gene growled, "and yer on paperwork for two months. Now get your sorry arse out there and be grateful it isn't more!"

"Yes Guv," Ray mumbled, feeling extremely disappointed in himself.

"I won't forget this," Gene glared, "…I've seen you do some shit things in your time, Carling, but Saturday night's actions from you was some o' the most disgraceful I 'ave ever seen in my life."

Ray was silent. Gene sighed, draining his whisky. Just then, there was the shrill ring of his phone so Gene turned moodily to Ray.

"Piss off and do some police work," he ordered, picking up the phone, "and apologise to Alex."

Ray nodded, opening the door and leaving Gene's office, taking a deep breath as he made his way over to Alex's desk as everyone else pretended to be doing work.

"Drake?" Ray said uncomfortably. "I…er…didn't mean to, yer know. I'm…I'm…well, I'm sorry."

Alex nodded weakly. "Apology accepted, Ray," she sighed, "let's just forget about it. I know you didn't mean any harm."

"Thanks," Ray mumbled, sitting down at his desk in embarrassment. Chris was staring at him. Looking at both of his DIs, gawping, Chris leaned into Ray.

"So yer didn't shag the boss?" Chris whispered.

Ray glared at him. "Piss off!" he spat.

Alex laughed weakly as Chris turned away, and gradually, the hustle and bustle of CID began to resurface. Chatter began to take over the office, and Alex was extremely glad that none of it seemed to be about her. She was just getting on with some work when a loud crash of doors made Alex jump out of her skin.

The detectives looked up to see DCI Waltham of Fenchurch West charge into the station. The atmosphere changed instantly. Fenchurch West and Fenchurch East were well known rivals, and DCI Waltham had a reputation of being a nasty piece of work. Credit where credit's due, he did clear the scum in his patch of London but he demanded respect from his junior officers rather than earned it like Gene.

"DCI Bill Waltham, Fenchurch West," Bill Waltham declared as he sauntered into the room. He was about six foot two and in his mid forties with dark hair and a broad body. Some would say he was quite attractive, but his physical presence didn't hide the superior glare in his eyes.

"Yeah, and what do yer want?" Ray barked rudely, causing Alex to roll her eyes and DCI Waltham to smirk.

"Need to talk to your DCI," Waltham said smoothly.

"He's on the phone right now," Alex piped up, standing up and walking around her desk to face Waltham, "but maybe I can help you. I'm DI Drake."

Waltham smirked again, looking Alex up and down in appreciation in such an obvious manner that made her visibly recoil. She was wearing a short black skirt today due to the summer weather and a light blouse, accompanied with her classic black heels.

"DI?" Waltham repeated. "Thought you were the entertainment, love. The CID prozzie."

Alex opened her mouth to speak but someone else got there first.

"Don't talk to 'er like that!" Ray snapped, standing up in Alex's defence. DCI Waltham sneered at him, and then his mouth opened in comprehension. He looked back and forth between the two of them.

"Of course, DI Drake," Waltham realised, making an obvious display of checking out Alex's legs, "Gene Hunt's bird? Well, shagging your superior is one way to climb the career ladder, sweetheart. What he do when he found out you were snogging DI Carling?" he asked with a sneer.

"I wasn't," Alex said primly, offended, "and you may be a DCI, sir, but you have absolutely no right to speak to me like that."

"OI!" Gene shouted suddenly, storming out of his office. "What the bloody hell do you want, Waltham?"

Waltham tore his gaze away from Alex and faced Gene. "To see you, Hunt. Something happened at the Police Ball that needs discussing, and I'm not talking about the sexual entanglement between your two DIs here."

"You watch yer mouth!" Gene growled, opening his door. "Get your arse in 'ere. You too, Bolly."

"Bolly?" Waltham laughed. "What sort of name is that?"

"Nothing," Alex muttered darkly, walking into the room after him but determined not to make eye contact with this rude and nasty DCI.

"Now what are you on my patch for?" Gene asked bluntly, closing the door and putting his arm around Alex's waist. Waltham noticed this, and raised an eyebrow.

"As you're aware, over two grand was raised for the Police Widows' Charity on Saturday night," Waltham explained, "but what's only just been discovered, is that a good half of the money has been stolen. And it was stolen during the ball, which means it was one of our own. An officer, or officers, from Fenchurch West, Fenchurch East or the other divisions."

"Well I can assure you that none of my officers would steal from our charity," Gene said confidently, "so yer wasting yer time. Examine yer own, Waltham, 'cos those bastards you work with are much more likely ter do it."

"I'm just alerting you, Gene," Waltham snapped, ignoring his comment, "I'm leading this investigation and if I have to interview your officers, I will."

"I don't think so, matey boy," Gene snarled, "if anyone's goin' ter be interviewing my officers, its going ter be me."

"Well that's hardly fair, Gene," Waltham said patronisingly, leaning on Gene's desk, "you're not exactly going to be hard on them." Waltham stared at Alex then, noticing that she had been quiet throughout this conversation. "Wouldn't you agree, Bolly?"

Gene and Alex froze. Gene felt his stomach buzz like angry bees and Alex's mouth dried up.

"What?" she said, flabbergasted.

"That is your name, isn't it, Bolly?" Waltham smirked at her.

"Listen 'ere, shit face," Gene snarled, "no-one calls 'er Bolly but me, you got it? I will interview my officers, I will decide whether my division is worth putting into the equation and you can piss off back to your station and get on with this investigation. Capiche?"

Waltham left without a word then, sneering at the both of them as he left CID. Alex breathed out.

"All I can say is I'm sure as hell glad that he's not my DCI," she sighed. Gene pouted.

"I should hope not," he winked at her, "the thought of him in your bed makes me quite sick actually."

Alex laughed. It had become a regular and expected thing that Gene now came home to the flat with her and shared her bed. In fact, he even had half the wardrobe now. Sometimes, Alex couldn't help but think about what it would be like officially living with Gene…in a house…their house…

"Oi, Bolls," Gene said sharply, snapping Alex out of her trance.

"Hmm? Sorry, what were you saying?" Alex burbled, staring up at him innocently.

Gene tutted. "Dozy mare. I was asking yer what yer thought of doing somethin' a bit different tonight. Maybe goin' the pictures or somethin'."

Alex beamed. She never went to the cinema much as a child because Evan was always fiercely overprotective about what she was watching.

"I'd love to!" Alex nodded happily. "What do you want to see?"

Gene grinned, his smile stretching from ear to ear. "I have just the film in mind."

-xx-

"Jesus!"

Alex jumped and hid in Gene's chest instantly, her heart pounding as the cinema filled with screams. Gene tried not to laugh as he threw his arm around Alex, stroking her back as she buried her face into him.

They were sitting in the corner at the back of a half-full cinema, Gene laughing at the film and Alex absolutely terrified of it.

"You are a bastard, Gene Hunt," Alex hissed as she surfaced briefly, "this is not funny!"

Gene chuckled. "I think it is," he whispered back as Alex dove for cover again, "come on, Bolls, its not that scary!"

"I can't do scary films!" Alex snapped at him, cuddling up in his arms as he enveloped her, "Ev- erm, my godfather never let me watch anything remotely scary when I was younger, so now I find the worst films a lot scarier than most people."

Gene kissed her head. "I know, sweetheart. Yer told me."

"I told you?" Alex said quietly, frowning. "But…then why?...Gene Hunt, you utter bastard!"

"How else am I goin' ter get a bit of action in the back of the cinema?" Gene smiled at her, kissing her forehead. "If you were watching a film you liked then you wouldn't let me near yer!"

Alex smiled then, ignoring the gasps from the cinema audience as something horrifying happened on the big screen. "True," Alex purred, kissing Gene softly as her tongue danced with his.

They were the only ones in the back few rows of the cinema so Alex confidently straddled Gene, her mouth battling with his for dominance as she smoothed her hands down his shoulders and he massaged her breasts.

Grinding on him, Alex let out a blissful moan as Gene began to trail his fingers up her bare legs and under her skirt, reaching his destination.

"Uuhhh," Alex moaned, "Gene…"

"Shh," Gene hushed her, "dirty girl, moaning like that in public…"

They returned to kissing then, both of their breathing becoming more erratic as they became more aroused. Gene nuzzled Alex's neck, biting her lovingly as he squeezed her firm and peachy arse. The final minutes of the film flew by as Alex and Gene continued to make out at the back of the cinema like a couple of randy teenagers.

It was only when the lights switched on as the credits rolled that Alex hopped off Gene quickly, straightening her clothes and hair as he groaned, trying to hide the massive bulge in his trousers.

Alex laughed. "It's your fault, you know. You started it."

Gene smacked her arse as they got to their feet, desperate thoughts of Ray in a tutu streaming through Gene's mind in attempt to lose his excitement until they got home.

They walked out of the cinema hand-in-hand, Alex nuzzled in Gene's arms as he held her protectively. However, before they could leave, they were approached by a beefy security guard who did not look impressed.

"I'd like a word, please," the security guard said sternly, beckoning Gene and Alex to the side. They looked at each other in confusion.

"I've just seen some extremely interesting footage on the CCTV cameras," the security guard explained firmly, "including some extremely inappropriate behaviour and sexual displays from the two of you. Due to this being in a public cinema viewing, I'm going to have to fine you –"

Suddenly, Gene dropped his arms from around Alex and whipped out his badge. The blood drained from the security guard's face.

"DCI Gene Hunt, Metropolitan Police," Gene growled, "now you, Sonny Jim, could have just blown an extremely dangerous undercover operation. A murdering bastard 'as been known to use this cinema every Monday night and his targets are couples that get it on during the film. If he's seen this little episode with you, you my friend have just blown this entire investigation!"

The security guard looked mortified as Alex tried to stifle her giggles.

"Oh…I'm sorry, sir, I didn't realise…um, yes, you're free to go…"

"Thank you," Gene spat, putting his badge away and throwing his arm back around Alex, leading her out of the cinema as they both burst out laughing.

"Gene Hunt!" Alex sniggered, cuddling up to him as they walked back to the Quattro, "was that you abusing your badge there?"

"Most certainly was," Gene winked as they approached the car, stopping in his tracks and claiming Alex's lips with his own. He kissed her passionately, lovingly, fiercely…as if they only had seconds left together.

Pulling away, Gene gazed into Alex's eyes, lightly stroking her face.

"How did I get so lucky?" he murmured, more to himself than to Alex. "You're so beautiful."

Alex smiled, rubbing her face against his hand, her eyes closed in bliss. Upon opening them, Alex noticed that Gene was pouting nervously.

"Alex," Gene croaked, holding her hand, "you mean a lot to me, and, well…"

Alex looked up at him, her eyes shining. "Yes?"

Gene took a deep breath. "Well, you're the first woman who I've ever loved since me wife and…well…"

"Yes?" Alex prompted him.

Gene swallowed. "Alex…I'd like to introduce you to my children."

A/N: Dun-dun-duuuuuun! Heehee let me know what you think! :D x