Extension

Gene had originally insisted that he be allowed to stay by Alex's bedside until she came round and had even written to the Super asking for leave. However, they still had a prozzie-killing nutter on the loose and eventually he had to return to work. He left the hospital staff with strict instructions to give him reports on Alex's condition every hour and to call him the minute she came round.

If she came round.

They hadn't bothered to interview the robbers- what was the point when everybody had seen what they had done? Something had bothered him though- the way one of them had screamed "Get Hunt" and what the other one had said about someone being able to stop it.

Gene told himself he was being silly. Conspiracies were Alex's territory and didn't exist anyway. They probably had some grudge against him, maybe he nicked their uncle or something. But then, who could've stopped it?

They had no new leads on the murder. Ray had gone around the Horse and Trap, muttering under his breath the whole way, but to no avail. Gene was sure Capstone had said the Horse and Falcon. Hadn't he recognised the name of the pub as soon as Capstone had mentioned it? The Horse and Trap was much closer to the river and barely five metres from where one of the bodies was found, but there was no proof.

Maybe it was the Horse and Trap and he was just losing his marbles.

His phone rang. Gene held the receiver to his ear for about twenty seconds before replacing it firmly and running out of CID and into his Quattro.

XXX

"She's been shouting for you," smiled the nurse as Gene entered Alex's room.

Gene barely heard. He had eyes only for Alex.

"How are you?" she asked timidly- that wasn't like her.

"Fine," he frowned, shouldn't he be asking her that? "An' you?"

She seemed not to hear, instead looking at the card she held in her hand- his get-well card, he noted with a stab of joy.

"I was worried," she began quietly, "that something might have happened."

"It did, didn't it?" said Gene, and Alex looked up so sharply he jumped. "I mean, you took a bullet in the ticker and nearly… nearly died."

"How long was I out for?"

"Few days. When are they letting you outta here?"

"We need to observe her tonight," answered the nurse, "and then we can discharge her tomorrow."

XXX

Gene came to the hospital to pick her up and take her back to her flat. He refused to let her carry anything, except her stack of get-well cards. Alex made him a cup of tea and asked him what the robbers had meant about "Get Hunt!"

"Do you think there's some kind of vendetta against you? Who wants you dead?"

"Most of the criminal underworld, Bolls," Gene sighed.

"Yes, maybe," said Alex doubtfully. She knew it must've been the same people that had sent her the letters. This was their way of carrying out their threat. She had not left the force, so Gene had to die. It was pure good luck that the bullet had got her and not him.

When she came round, she was in a state of panic, convinced that someone was going to tell her Gene had died. She had called for him, like she had called for her parents in the nights after their deaths. The nurses had shown her an unopened envelope containing Gene's card, Bolls scrawled at the top and his name scribbled underneath, completely devoid of any sentimental words or kisses. Still Alex had clutched it to herself and had almost forgotten about the other cards.

She eventually opened them just as the nurses told her that Gene was on his way. Amongst the cards she had been expecting- Ray, Chris, Shaz and Viv, was another envelope with her name typed across it, rather than written.

She opened it with shaky fingers to reveal a piece of yellow card.

See how serious we are Alex? If you're reading this, we'll assume you didn't die. What a pity. That was one way to get you out of the Force after all.

The fact remains that you are still employed by the Met and Hunt is still alive. So, we will give you an extension. Hand in your notice by next Monday or we will kill Gene Hunt. If you tell anyone about these notes, we will kill Gene Hunt. This time, we will not make mistakes.

As she sat on the sofa next to Gene, she considered her position. It was Monday and she had a week to quit. She was no longer in any doubt that whoever was writing those letters was serious about the threats and they probably weren't going to help her get home. She tried to ask about interviewing the robbers but they had already been taken from Fenchurch East and put into a prison. She didn't know how to tell Gene she wanted to talk to them without him asking questions that she couldn't answer. Not without risking his life.

Gene left Alex's flat mid-afternoon and made his way back to the station, having agreed that she would be back at work on Thursday. It wasn't until he was back in his office that he realised.

Alex had made no argument about returning to work on Thursday. Before her injury, she would have fought with him, tooth and nail, to return earlier. He had to carry her out of the office during her flu spell, literally kicking and screaming.

Why had she given in so easily? What had changed?

Sorry if you feel that Alex came round too quickly but the story can't progress if Alex is out for too long. Thank you for reviewing the other chapters and if you want, please review this one…? Thank you!