A/N: Thank you so much for all the support so far :D I really appreciate it, so here's an extra-long chapter for you all! Over 4000 words :O heehee love Roxannaaaax
"So everyone's clear on what we're doin'? I don't want any mistakes. We need ter catch this bastard, so we can't afford any slip-ups."
"Yes Guv," the CID officers grunted. It was the next day, and time was ticking on. The evening was upon them, and as soon as everything was ready, they were going undercover to catch Quasim Laghari dealing illegal drugs at a raunchy Soho strip club. Shaz had gone out a couple of hours ago to pick up their undercover outfits, and they were all waiting on her return.
"You still sure you want to do this, Bolls?" Gene checked, trying not to show how nervous he was for her. Alex smiled at him encouragingly.
"I'll be fine, Gene," she assured him, "we've got the wires. We've got the back-up. We're all informed, and everyone's clear on the code-word. Diamond, right?"
"Right," Gene nodded, "as soon as one of us has evidence of the drug dealing; we call 'diamond' into our wire. Back-up arrives, we arrest the bastard, and everyone goes home happy buggers."
"Just got ter be alert," Ray reminded them, "as he could go for anyone. He could try to sell the drugs ter me and the Guv whilst we're having a look at the ladies, Chris and the others whilst they're pulling the pints or Drake whilst she's gettin' her kit off."
"Excuse me?" Alex and Gene spluttered in unison. Ray waggled his eyebrows.
"Yer a prostitute, Drake," he grinned, "these ones at the club do sexy strip-teases for the punters before they go an' shag their brains out."
"You are not taking your clothes off for a load o' old pervs," Gene ordered Alex forcefully, his face a picture of jealousy and protectiveness, "I don't want you doin' anything like that."
"Gene, the real punters and prostitutes will know something's up if I don't!" Alex protested. "Laghari will know something's up. I have to play the part, but I have to say I draw the line at shagging a punter."
Gene's blood tingled. "Well you can be my prostitute then."
"She already is," Ray sniggered as Alex glared at him.
"Shut it, Carling!" Gene snapped. "No, you can strip off for me, Bolls, but no-one else."
"Well that's just pathetic," Alex argued, "if I'm stuck to you all night there's no way I'm going to get any evidence or get close to Laghari! We need to split up, but remain in sight. I have to act the part a bit."
Gene pouted. "Fine," he muttered, "but if anyone touches you, I'll smash their face in."
Alex sighed and was about to retaliate when Shaz walked in, their outfits in bags. Gene, Alex, Ray, Chris, Terry and Poirot stood up eagerly as the other officers got back to filing their reports.
"Got 'em all," Shaz announced proudly, "wi' false name badges for Chris and DC Terry and DC Poirot. That way, they'll look more convincing as the bar staff."
"Excellent, Shaz," Gene praised her as they all took the bag with their undercover clothes. Gene and Ray's weren't very exciting – just your usual men's attire but with open-necked shirts and rolled up sleeves for that sleazy edge.
Chris, Terry and Poirot all had matching black trousers and black shirts with name badges bearing a fake name to clip on. Fake IDs had also been provided. The outfits looked authentic and matched the ones the bar staff wore in the Soho strip club they were infiltrating.
Alex looked inside her bag and her face flushed, becoming a brilliant shade of magenta. "Erm, I'm just going to go and change," she stuttered. Gene stopped her.
"Hold up, Bolls, we all showed each other our undercover clothes. We'll all get changed in a second, but I'm seeing yours before you get into it. I want to see what you're wearing."
"And you will…in a minute," Alex said in embarrassment. It was coming up to nine o'clock, so they all had to get a move on as they still had the wires to attach. Alex didn't want them all to see the outfit before she put it on; it would just make it all the more embarrassing for her to walk out in it.
Pouting moodily, Gene nodded as all the undercover officers left to get changed and Shaz sorted out all the wires, making sure they were all connected, the battery packs were fully charged and all six of the detectives undercover had one assigned. They had ordered the most high-tech equipment they could get their hands on so that they didn't have to communicate through the bulky radios they usually carried. This way, communication could be done sneakily.
Gene, Ray, Chris, Terry and Poirot returned quite quickly, Gene and Ray in casual clothes to blend in with the punters and the DCs in their false bar uniform. Alex however, seemed to be taking her time.
Whilst they waited for their female DI, Shaz attached the wires to the five men. Tucking the battery pack in their trousers, the wire was threaded up their tops and clipped on the inside so the microphone was hidden but could easily pick up the slightest sound.
"BOLLS!" Gene roared as Shaz finished attaching the wires to all five of them. "HURRY UP!"
The double doors opened then, and Alex walked in extremely self-consciously. All the CID lads snapped their heads up and stared, their mouths gaping in appreciation.
"Bloody hell," Ray said slowly, trailing his eyes up her body lustfully. Shaz rolled her eyes, and then glared at Chris as she caught him too drooling over their female DI.
Alex looked like something out of one of Gene's fantasies, the DCI realised as he gawped at her. But then he remembered the circumstances to which she was dressed like this.
"No," Gene muttered, "find something else, Alex. I'm not having you that exposed."
"Oh for God's sake," Alex sighed in frustration, "I'm supposed to look like a prostitute, Gene!"
And that she did. Her bobbed dark hair was flowing loosely, lightly back-combed for some volume. Her eye make-up was darker with thick, long, fluttering black eyelashes and she had the traditional tarty red lipstick coating her lips.
The outfit was the skimpiest thing Alex had ever worn. The top wasn't even a top; it was more like a bra. A lacy, black bra with red frills around the cups as it pushed her breasts up significantly, giving her a huge cleavage. Alex's flat stomach and soft back were bare, with the next item of clothing down being a pair of skimpy, slutty hot pants. The red frills tickled at her hip bones and the black material barely covered her arse. Stocking-clad long legs followed next with black suspenders attached to the frilly hot pants, and on her feet were a pair of high, black heels. Alex felt like she was standing there in her underwear.
Gene swallowed uncomfortable. She looked like the sexiest thing on two legs. She looked extremely shaggable, and every man in the station proved this theory to him by leering at her lustfully.
"I am not letting you out dressed like that, Drake," Gene said firmly, "and that's final."
"Stop being ridiculous!" Alex complained. "If I wasn't your girlfriend, Gene, you'd have no problem! You'd be loving it! 'Wear something slutty, Bolls' – remember that?"
"As much as I know you love ter think this is about me bein' a controlling bastard," Gene spat, "I'm actually thinking about where the bloody hell we're goin' ter put your wire, DI Sluttyknickers."
"Nowhere ter hide it in that get-up," Ray chuckled, nudging the other lads as they all continued to gawp at her.
"I'm serious, Bolls, yer not goin' if yer don't have back-up," Gene said strictly, "you need to be wired up, and quite frankly, I can't see a battery pack hiding in yer bra or knickers."
"Well I'll have to go without," Alex shrugged, "we can't jeopardise this operation simply because I'm not wired up. If you can see me at all times, you'll know I'm safe. But that doesn't mean I have to stick to you like glue. Just keep an eye on me."
"That won't be hard," Ray mumbled as Gene shot him an angry snarl.
"Fine, but I don't like it," Gene gave up, realising they were pushed for time and needed to get to the club, "rule number one though, Drake: you don't let yerself out o' my sight."
"Okay," Alex sighed in agreement, not really listening as she grabbed a fluffy faux-fur coat to drape over her shoulders. This only heightened the look of a prostitute, and as this was an undercover operation that was a very good thing.
They were taking three registered Fenchurch cars, all unrecognisable and undistinguishable. It was decided earlier on that taking the Quattro would just be suicide as every criminal in London quaked in their boots when Gene Hunt skidded round the corner in his bright red car.
Chris, Terry and Poirot were all arriving together in one car acting as the bar staff going in to begin their shift, Alex was arriving on her own to go in the side entrance for the working girls and Gene and Ray were in the last car with money to pay the club fee as punters. Gene and Ray arrived first, but that was so they could park opposite the club and watch from the car, skulking in the shadows to ensure Alex was safe and the DCs got in without hassle.
Sleazy music and jeering could be heard from inside the club, with a heavy drum bass and lights flashing. Six foot five beefy bouncers were stationed outside of the two entrances. It would be easy to pass as punters for Gene and Ray, but getting the other four in was going to be a lot harder. Chris, Terry and Poirot were going to have to blend in with the other waiters and Alex was going to have to strut her stuff with the other strippers and prostitutes. They all had to be convincing to avoid detection and blowing the whole operation.
"Yer sure about this, Guv?" Ray murmured, sitting in the car with his DCI as they waited for the others to arrive.
"Course I'm sure," Gene snapped, "they've been instructed to park down the road and walk up. They'll all be 'ere any second."
They could clearly see the dingy side entrance of the strip club in a dimly lit alley with two intimidating bouncers guarding it. The front entrance was visible too; the doors wide open as rich coloured lights spilled out onto the dark streets. Again, two bouncers were standing outside.
"Hey up," Ray nodded, "here comes Chris and the others."
"C'mon Chris, don't let me down," Gene muttered to himself, worried that the young DC might panic and fluff up. Luckily, following the leads of Terry and Poirot, Chris flashed his fake ID of employment and sauntered into the club after the others, getting ready to prop up their position behind the bar to pull the pints – and of course keep an eye out for Quasim Laghari.
"Baby Bear ter Daddy Bear, we are set behind the bar. Packed with punters, prozzies and loud music, but no sign o' Laghari. Over."
Gene went to pick up his radio, and then realised he had a wire. Looking down at the small device, he spoke into it. "Act casual. Keep an eye out for anything suspicious. Daddy Bear over and out."
Gene turned to Ray. "They're in. Now we're just waitin' on Lady Bolls."
"She hasn't got far to walk, 'as she?" Ray asked worriedly. "I mean…dressed like that. She looks good an' everything but some sick bastard down an alley would think the same thing, especially as she's leaving that fur coat in the car."
Gene's stomach tied in knots and his fists clenched. "Cheers for that, Ray," he growled sarcastically, "thanks for pointing out the bleedin' obvious – that my girlfriend could be in serious danger!"
"Oh. Sorry Guv. I'm sure she'll be fine," Ray stuttered. He still found it a bit awkward and uncomfortable that the Guv and DI Drake were an item. He'd always been protective over her, but now the slightest thing made his blood rile.
A couple of minutes passed and it was spent in deadly silence. Both Gene and Ray were worrying about Alex. She was hardly wearing any clothes, it was dark, and she was tottering about in ridiculously high heels by the sleazy alleys and strip clubs of Soho. But Alex was tough. She was feisty and kept her wits about her. She would be okay. She had to be.
"There she is, Guv!" Ray breathed out in relief as they both sat up a little straighter, their eyes fixed on Alex.
"Come on, Bolls," Gene murmured, praying she wouldn't get any trouble from the bouncers. Alex was really acting the part as she sashayed up to the side entrance, swaying her hips and pausing by the bouncers.
Gene visibly stiffened as the bouncers' eyes lit up, both of them appreciating her body. One of the huge men weaved his arm around Alex's waist as she charmed them, flirting shamelessly and giggling madly. Suddenly, Alex leant up on her tip-toes towards the bouncer touching her, and whispered in his ear seductively.
Ray shot a furtive look at Gene as the DCI watched the bouncer slip his hand down lower and squeeze Drake's arse. He looked livid as the second bouncer stroked her cheek and then planted a harsh and controlling kiss on her lips before shoving a bit of crumpled paper into her hand. Laughing, Alex waved flirtatiously at the two of them and sauntered inside, leaving the two bouncers staring after her. Turning back to each other, they started chatting animatedly as they made crude and suggestive gestures.
Gene breathed out raggedly. Ray put his head in his hands as he gave his Guv a minute. He still looked furious.
Finally, Gene seemed to snap into action. "Right. We're going in."
Ray nodded, but just then Gene's wire crackled.
"Mummy Bear to Daddy Bear. I've got to be quick, as I'm pretending to flirt with Baby Bear as I talk through his wire. I'm in, and I've got in with a couple of the girls who work here, pretending I'm new. It's going fine. No sign of Laghari. Over."
"We're on our way in," Gene replied, "keep an eye out. Over."
"Right. I'd better go; they're starting me off with a lap dance…"
Gene took a sharp intake of breath as Ray's ears pricked up. Gene sighed, panicked. "For God's sake, Bolly, watch yer back in there. Don't go too far. Keep in Chris' sight until we get there. Over."
"Yes Guv. Over and –"
"Alex?"
"Oh…yes?"
"I love you. Be careful."
"I will. I love you too. We'll catch this guy. Over and out."
-xx-
If there was one thing Gene could not stand, it was seeing Alex in the arms of another man. As the 'newbie', she had not been upgraded to stripping or actually sleeping with clients much to everyone's relief. Her job for the night was lap dancing for private clients and pole dancing for groups of lecherous punters.
Ray was thoroughly enjoying himself, and seemed to be forgetting that he was part of an undercover operation to catch a drug dealer. He had a busty blonde grinding in his lap as the music pounded through the club, strobe lights flashing as rowdy punters continuously ordered pints and leered over the girls, slipping money into their skimpy knickers or bras.
Gene however was proving to be less convincing as a punter. No-one had clocked Laghari yet and Chris, Poirot and Terry had tried to subtly ask the real bar staff about the guy but everyone had just shrugged as no-one really knew anything. Therefore, Gene had taken to keeping a very close eye on Alex.
His blood boiled as he saw her grinding into the lap of a good-looking man in his late thirties, the man's hands all over her. Either she was one hell of a good actress or she was enjoying this a bit too much, something which made Gene burn with rage. This resulted in him consuming more and more alcohol, getting steadily drunker. Within the hour, Gene was getting close to being completely pissed as he watched Alex in anger.
Hopping off the man she was grinding on, Alex signalled to Chris that she was going to the toilet as she pushed past the lecherous punters and tried to avoid the noises of drunken sex coming from some secluded booths. Walking into the ladies, Alex ran her fingers through her hair as one of the punters had significantly messed it up. There was only one other woman in there, and she was just coming out of one of the toilets.
"Oh. My. God. I just knew you were a right whore!"
Alex nearly screamed at the voice. Whipping round, she came face to face with Diana Hunt, makeup slapped on her face and dressed in an impeccably short skirt.
"Diana?" Alex shrieked. "What the hell are you doing here?"
"I think the question, sweetie, is what are you doin' 'ere?" Diana sneered, raising an eyebrow. "Does Gene know his new bird earns extra shagging blokes?"
"It's not like that," Alex hissed, "I…well…I can't say. But…we're undercover. But don't you dare blow it. Stop acting like you know me as well. Oh my God, why now? What the hell are you doing here?"
"My new bloke wanted to come, so the condition was I came too," Diana winked, "so Genie boy's here?"
Alex froze. "Don't go near him. We've got something to do. Just piss off."
Diana smirked. "Not very good of 'im, setting his girlfriend up as the prozzie. Especially if yer pregnant."
Alex's blood ran cold. She turned to face Diana, her eyes wide. Diana's smirk had broadened.
"How do you know?" Alex seethed, feeling sick.
"Don't take long for Gene ter get a bird pregnant…I would know," she taunted Alex, "good in the sack, that one is. I'd just hope your little baby ain't a girl."
"What? Why?" Alex spat, her heart hammering at the thought that someone else knew about her pregnancy…Diana of all people.
Diana cocked an eyebrow up. "Well," she sneered, "with you as a mother, the little bitch would grow up ter be the biggest slag in London."
Alex's eyes widened even further with pure anger. Her body shaking, she had no control over her next move as she swung her fist out of nowhere, smacking into Diana's jaw with such a force that the older woman toppled backwards. Satisfied, Alex breathed out.
"That's been a long time coming," Alex spat, "how dare you talk about me and my child like that. Well I'll tell you one thing, Diana. I've already got a daughter, and she blows your kids out of the water in every single way possible."
And with that, Alex stalked out of the toilets, fuming and leaving Diana clutching her jaw in furious pain.
Back in the strip club, Alex didn't get a chance to talk to Gene as she was beckoned back over to a table of men. Still fuming from her encounter with Diana, Alex decided to pull out all the stops.
Chris noticed from the bar that Gene was starting to lose it as Alex got up on one of the tables and began to twirl around the pole, pulling at her knickers like a regular little cock-tease as the table of men jeered. Alex was working that pole like a pro, something that made Ray draw his attentions away from his blonde and gawp with lust. Sliding down the pole to a crouched position, Alex stuck out her arse sexily as she began to lick up the pole.
"Cor!" the men leered, their raunchy tones blaring over the music. "Hey darlin', lose the clothes yeah?"
It was when one of them leant up and tucked a fiver in Alex's bra that Gene felt it was getting out of hand. The punter grabbed Alex off the pole, hauling her over his shoulder in a fireman's lift and pulling her back into the seats with them, reaching behind her to unhook her bra as Alex panicked, scrabbling at them helplessly, her eyes wide with fear.
Gene was in there like a shot. He wasn't going to let this happen to her. Not again. Stumbling drunkenly, Gene wrenched Alex out of their grasp and pulled her into his chest as the punters voiced their protests, standing up angrily.
"OI! GET YOUR OWN!" the one that tucked money down Alex's bra roared.
"Oh piss off, dickhead!" Gene bellowed back. "I've paid for this one in advance! Find one that ain't booked for the night!"
They all complained loudly, missing the sexy display that Alex was putting on for them. Gene didn't know if he was angry or just worried about her. Alex was pregnant. Carrying his child. And she was acting like this. Yes, she was part of an undercover operation, but she didn't have to go that far.
"Get over 'ere, now," Gene growled dangerously, anger seeping through his veins. He dragged her almost violently towards a secluded booth were punters were being kissed fiercely by prostitutes. Claiming the corner booth, Gene shoved Alex in first and rounded on her, still drunk.
"What the fuck d'you think you're playin'at?" Gene spat venomously, throwing his arms around drunkenly as Alex sniffed, trying to calm her racing heart. She looked up at him in confusion.
"What do you mean?" Alex frowned. "I'm undercover!"
"A bit too fucking good at it," Gene snarled, "sure yer weren't a hooker in yer past, Drake?"
Alex chose to ignore that dig as her blood bubbled. "I'm doing my bloody job," she barked, "just because I was in his lap doesn't mean I fancy him! Get that in your head, Gene, and stop accusing me of sleeping with everyone!"
"S'not my fault you're a –"
"Oh for God's sake, how much have you drank? You're drunk!"
"Yer know what, fuck off," Gene snapped at her, "piss off out o' my sight. Go back to bein' the slag everyone seems ter think you are and get out m' sight. S'talk later."
And then he stalked away, fury flowing through him almost visibly. Left alone in the booth, Alex tried to comprehend what he had just said to her. Gene, the man she loved. Checking no-one could see her, Alex swallowed uncomfortably as a tear slipped down her cheek. Then another. And then another, finally followed by a gut-wrenching cry as she began to sob.
Gene didn't notice however as he was charging drunkenly back to the bar for another drink. This operation was going shit. Chris, Terry and Poirot weren't getting anything out of anyone, no-one had sighted Laghari, Gene was raging with jealous and drunken fury and Alex was being an object of someone's sexual desires once again. In fact, the only one who seemed to be enjoying themselves was Ray.
It was getting to the point now where Gene was beginning to stagger, his limbs feeling heavy, his words slurring and his judgement poor. Knocking back yet another drink, Gene was at the stage where back home Luigi would be confiscating his car keys, resulting in Chris and Ray having to support him all the way back home to Alex. Propping himself up sloppily on the bar, Gene felt completely out of it.
Just then, he felt an arm snake around his waist. Gene smirked almost like a kid at the intimate contact, thoroughly intoxicated. Groggily looking around, his eyes fell on his ex-wife. Diana was smiling at him, and then leant forwards and kissed him on the lips.
"Gorgeous," he slurred, "s'gorgeous…come 'ere, baby…"
Diana grinned. "Your place or mine, Gene my lovely?"
"Mine," Gene murmured, nibbling her ear as she groaned, "my bed…s'nicer than yours…"
As Diana supported her drunken ex-husband, Ray had come to look for his Guv. He'd spotted Quasim Laghari so it was time to move the operation along, but seeing Gene stalk off with Diana, Ray's mouth opened in shock.
Shit. That bitch had got her claws in when Gene was drunk. Gene never turned down a woman when seriously drunk, and that wasn't going to change just because he was with Alex.
Ray gasped. Shit. Alex.