A/N: I've apparently killed several people reading by killing Robin :-/ Erm… sorry for that – I think I killed myself in the process though… There are four more chapters and an epilogue left after this one, and I promise this one contains extremely minimal levels of angst!
~xXx~
Chapter Twenty Nine
Alex turned to look at them one last time before she left the room; Robin finally asleep through exhaustion after all the tears had taken their toll and Simon lying beside him, staring at him as though guarding him from any more pain. She bowed her head a little as she closed the door and walked down the corridor to another room then knocked gently on the door.
"Gene, it's me," she said quietly.
She waited for a few moments and finally the door opened. The relief that flooded through her at the sight of Gene was powerful. Just being close to him brought her warmth and comfort and she felt herself drawn to him before she could do or say anything more. She closed her eyes and pressed herself against him as his arms stretched around her for a moment. He didn't need to say anything. His arms did that perfectly. Eventually they broke apart and he closed the door behind her.
"How's he doing?" Gene asked, his voice tense.
"Sleeping," sighed Alex, "at last. I think he finally wore himself out from the crying and the brandy did the rest."
"We'll have to buy him some bloody painkillers in the morning," said Gene.
"It is morning," Alex said weakly as she looked out the window where the first signs of the sunrise were starting to show. She sank onto the bed. "Simon's staying with him."
"We'll drive back tonight," Gene told her, "get some kip first. Or try to." He paused. "Might try to do a couple of things while were up here if Shoebury's happy to babysit. Got some lose ends to tie up."
"Oh Gene, you're not going to go and laugh at Nelson's I Love London merchandise are you?" she asked, "the poor man, you know he thinks he got a good deal."
"No," Gene promised, "but I do need to stick me head in the Railway Arms. Someone else I need to see. If Nelson will let me."
"That probably depends on what you say about his London things," Alex pointed out. She lay back against the pillows, ignoring the tacky hotel duvet cover and looked at Gene with sad eyes. "Gene," she whispered, "how is Robin going to survive this?"
Gene laid beside her.
"I don't know, Bols," he said quietly.
"It's so unfair," Alex whispered, "six more weeks… that was all they had." She could see Gene didn't have any answers but that didn't stop her wishing that he did. "And Kim," she whispered, "she's lost everything, all at once. What's she got left now? How is she ever going to cope?"
Gene breathed in deeply.
"Because," he began, "someone not million miles from me described her as the strongest person she knew," he raised an eyebrow. It was true. Alex knew that Kim was a strong soul. But this was more than anyone should have to cope with.
"What's going on, Gene?" she whispered, "why has so much happened… so much that's dark? So much that's almost destroyed us… and people we know… people close to us?"
Gene shook his head slowly.
"I don't know," he told her honestly, "but we've been through rough times before. We'll survive because we always do. Not going to get out that habit now."
They both fell silent as they lay side by side, knowing that just along the corridor a broken man was sleeping. They both knew Robin was going to need a world of support. They knew life was going to take a long time to get back on an even keel. But they were stronger now they were together again. They would survive, every one of them.
~xXx~
Gene shovelled down another forkful of chips.
"How can you eat that for breakfast?" Alex pulled a face.
Gene swallowed his mouthful.
"Because we went to sleep at bloody breakfast time and woke up at the end of lunch," he said simply as though that answered anything.
"You couldn't have picked a more neutral choice? A sandwich? Fruit perhaps?"
"Chips are made from potatoes, which are vegetables, which are more or less the cousins of fruit," Gene told her, "Therefore I win." He stabbed the last few chips with his fork and ate them quickly.
"Why are you eating in such a hurry if we're not leaving until this evening?" Alex asked, "I don't even know of Robin's awake yet."
Gene swallowed and laid down his fork.
"Told you Bolly, got some things to do while I'm here."
"You're going to go and make fun of DCI Litton for that 'My Moustache Through the Ages' article you told me about, aren't you?" Alex accused.
"No," said Gene, "but you're just giving me ideas though."
"What then?" Alex asked.
"Nothing important," Gene told her. He wiped his mouth, stood up and waited. "You coming or what?"
"Coming where?"
"To check on Batman."
"Why do you want to check on 'Batman'?"
"Need to borrow his sidekick," Gene told her and left the table before she could even ask. She groaned and shook her head as she followed him. As though the sleep deprivation hadn't twisted her head enough, Gene's half-nonsense ramblings were finishing the job nicely.
~xXx~
"You knock."
"Why should I knock?"
"Why not?"
"You were the one who said we should check on them."
"If I knock they'll probably think it's a raid."
Alex sighed and gave Gene a withering glance before knocking gently on the door and waiting. She tapped her foot on the ground and listened for footsteps.
"They might still be asleep," she warned.
"Shoebury won't be asleep when I give him his wakeup call," Gene told her.
Alex frowned.
"Have you got it in for Simon today or something?" she asked.
Before Gene could reply they heard the catch being taken off and the door opened. A very tired-looking Simon appeared, one hand to his face, rubbing his eyes. His skin seemed almost grey and his expression dark.
"Morning," he said quietly.
"Afternoon," Gene corrected.
"How's Robin?" Alex asked.
"He's still sleeping," Simon said quietly, "I'm trying not to wake him." He looked down and shuffled on the floor. "He's been having nightmares."
"You look shattered," Alex said quietly.
"I've been afraid to sleep in case he wakes up," Simon said quietly.
"You know what you need?" said Gene, "A brisk stroll and a guided tour through the 'ighlights of me home town."
"No thanks," Simon sighed, "I need to stay here for when Robin wakes up."
"It'll do you good," said Gene, "discovering yer cultural heritage."
"Gene, I have to stay here," frowned Simon, "Robin won't be sleeping for much longer, I can't go out."
"Bolly will babysit," Gene told him.
"I will?" frowned Alex, "I don't remember agreeing to this."
"Thanks, but I'd rather stay he- Oof," Simon gasped as Gene pulled him out of the room.
"I'll take up ten minutes of yer time," he said,
"What, the Gene universe where ten minutes means half my bloody day?" Simon folded his arms, "I know your 'ten minutes of your time'. I've fallen for that before."
Gene wasn't going to take no for an answer though. He politely but firmly pushed Alex into the hotel room and herded Simon down the corridor. A man on a mission, that was him.
"What exactly do you want with me?" Simon demanded.
"A trip down memory lane for a start," said Gene.
Simon froze and stared at him in horror.
"Please, please don't tell me you're about to take me on a guided tour of the location where you… and my mother…"
"Jesus, what do you take me for Shoebury?" cried Gene, "A pervert of the highest order? No!" he gripped Simon by the collar and pulled him to the hotel lifts. "I need yer help."
"In what way need my help?" Simon asked suspiciously.
Gene looked somewhat uncomfortable.
"I think you'll understand when we get there," he said.
~xXx~
"Oh God, Gene, no," Simon covered his eyes, "For god's sake, why have you brought me here? It's even worse than the thought of you showing me my..." he blanched, "place of conception."
"Will you calm down and stop behaving like a bloody mouse-man?" Gene demanded.
"Well why have you brought me back to the place Robin arrived?" Simon cried, gesturing to the jewellery shop nearby, "this whole thing isn't something I want to revisit, for many reasons."
"It's got nothing to do with bloody Batman," said Gene."
"If you're thinking of buying him a new watch, don't waste your money," Simon pouted.
"I need yer assistance," Gene told him, "think of it more like a replay."
Simon frowned in confusion as he watched Gene walking towards the jewellers and quickly ran on behind.
"For god's sake, Gene, I've had no sleep, I can't my brain in gear and you're going for the bloody cryptic clues? What are we doing here?"
Gene stopped just short of the doorway and turned to Simon looking awkward. He shuffled his feet against the paving slabs and cleared his throat.
"Look," he mumbled, "When me better half woke up in two thousand and bollocks her ring vanished."
"Her ring?"
"The one you gave me some vague assistance in choosing," Gene grunted, "It didn't go with her. Didn't come back when she did, either."
Simon began to understand.
"Sorry," he said quietly.
"I need to slap a band on her finger," Gene said delicately.
"Of course," Simon nodded quietly.
"Think Batman's bleeding heart story got to me last night" Gene said reluctantly, "wasted enough bloody time in the past. Last time I put a ring on her finger I knew she could wake up at any time. That always scared the living Ridgeleys out of me. This time," he straightened his jacket a little, "I know she won't vanish into thin air."
Simon nodded.
"True," she said.
"Thing is," Gene reminded him, "Gene Hunt does not do girly jewellery."
Simon closed his eyes and sighed, leaning back against the doorway.
"Oh right, I forgot," he sighed, "Sorry."
"Nor does Gene Hunt do poncey jewellery shops."
"Is there anything Gene Hunt does do?" Simon demanded.
"Yes," said Gene, "punching."
He waved his fist under Simon's nose, who gulped and quickly opened the door.
"Right," he said, "in that case let's get this over with."
Simon stood back and waited for Gene to pass through into the shop before he followed him. It felt strange and a little sad to think that they'd been there only a week or so before in time to see Robin's shock entrance into the world. How much had happened since then? It was terrifying to think about. He noticed Gene hanging back and shooing him towards the counter. He scowled and rolled his eyes but reluctantly paced towards the shop assistant.
"Good afternoon sir," she smiled, "how can I help you?"
Simon sighed.
"Hello," he began, "The gentleman over there," he pointed to Gene, "is looking for a replacement engagement ring for his fiancée."
"Oh," the assistant glanced at him, "well, if the gentlemanwould like to come and tell me what kind of ring he's looking for then –"
"Here's the thing, "Simon folded his arms and leaned across the counter, "unfortunately the aforementioned gentleman doesn't do poncey jewellery shops, neither does he do jewellery purchased therein. He will not respond positively here to the use of words and phrases such as 'beautiful', 'delicate', 'romantic' or 'this ring will make your proposal a moment to cherish'."
The assistant seemed somewhat nervous.
"Oh," she said again.
"So I thought it was best to warn you," Simon continued, "that your success in selling this gentleman a ring today will depend upon your ability to keep away from certain topics and words. Any direct reference to his engagement results in no sale. Any questions about the big day or comments about taking someone up the aisle will result in no sale. Questions pertaining to his fiancée's birthstone, eye colour, hair colour or favourite colour will result in no sale. This whole transaction is going to move as swiftly and clinically as possible without any reference to love, passion, romance or spending an eternity together."
"And is there anything that I am allowed to do?" the assistant asked sarcastically.
"Yes," said Simon. He looked at her pleadingly, "shove a ring under his nose, demand that he buys it and then we can get out of here and this whole thing will be over as quickly and cleanly as possible."
The shop assistant threw him a withering glance and really wished that she'd looked for a different job. Maybe working in the fish market? Or in an abattoir, for that matter. Anything would have been better than encountering those two gentlemen and their unusual ring-buying technique. She fastened the side of the desk and walked out towards Gene with a llarge and mostly false smile upon her face.
"Good afternoon, Sir," she said, "I hear you're interested I buying a –"
She glanced at Simon who seemed to be panicking and mouthing;
'Don't mention rings! Don't mention rings!'
"A… round item of finger-wear," she said instead,
Gene jabbed his finger at a display case.
"That one," he said.
The woman frowned.
"Pardon?"
"I want that one."
The woman looked at the extremely delicate, beautiful and romantic ring in question, then turned a glare on Simon.
"Are you sure, sir?" she asked through gritted teeth, "only your stooge here seemed to be suggesting you would be going for something rather less –"
"Expensive?" Simon cut off her glare as he looked at the price tag.
The woman hesitated. That was a mighty fine price indeed. She could see her commission for the month going through the roof with a few more customers like Gene. She gave him a charming smile and took out the key to unlock the cabinet.
"It will be a pleasure to help you sir," she said.
~xXx~
Simon rubbed his ear miserably and focused in the road ahead with a scowl as Gene drove back to the hotel.
"Thanks, Gene," he snapped, "thank you so much for a brilliant afternoon. I don't know which part I enjoyed most, making a fool of myself at the counter to pave the way for a pain-free ring purchase for you, coming back to find you'd chosen the most feminine ring in the entire bloody shop, the shop assistant deliberately stamping on my foot as she went to get a box from the storeroom or the fact that she flipped and tried to pierce my ears with a pair of diamond studs in a frankly unprovoked attack – and insisted I had to buy the bloody things for hygiene reasons!" He shoved the box under Gene's nose. "What am I supposed to do with a pair of bloody diamond studs?"
"Save them as a thank you for the woman in the canteen when her big backside stops serving sprouts," Gene suggested as he pulled up into the hotel car park. He pushed Simon politely but firmly towards the car door. "Right. Thanks for yer assistance Shoebury but yer services are no longer required.
"They weren't required in the first place!" Simon cried, "What a waste of bloody time!"
"Get back to Batman and send Bolly down," Gene told him, "and not a word about the round item of finger-wear, OK?"
Simon opened the car door and stated to climb out.
"Why, where are you taking her?" Simon asked.
"For a drink," Gene said simply
"There's a perfectly good hotel bar for that," Simon told him.
"Staff aren't as friendly as where I'm going," said gene, "go on, bugger off. We'll be leaving at seven tonight, give you and Batman a chance to get something to eat before we leave. And make sure he eats; I've had enough of people fainting all over the place for one week. People need to stay on two feet for a while."
"Fine," Simon sighed, slamming the door and beginning to walk toward the hotel. He didn't see Gene leaning over to wind down the window so he didn't expect to hear Gene calling his name. He turned around slowly and sighed. "What now?" he asked, "more jewellery you don't really want any help buying with?"
Gene ignored that.
"Forgot to say thank you," Gene told him.
"No need," Simon mumbled, "my presence was hardly required," he folded his arms, "except for comedy purposes."
Gene shook his head.
"Last time I couldn't even point at a bloody ring," he said, "I think having you around…" he waved his hand, "doesn't matter. Thanks anyway, Shoebury."
Simon stared, slightly confused. What was Gene saying? Has Simon had helped him to mellow a bit? To get over his fear of poncy jewellery shops? Or maybe to realise there were more important things in life tan saving face or keeping up an image. He gave Gene a slight smile and nodded
"Not a problem," he said, and began trudging back towards the hotel again.
Gene nodded slowly as he watched him go. Whether as a friend or secret long-lost offspring, he had a very strong feeling Simon was always supposed to end up at Fenchurch East. Like both Alex and Sam before him his influence had helped Gene to evolve and change, to keep up with the rest of the world as it marched on by. He was starting to feel grateful for that.
Maybe change wasn't always for the worse.
~xXx~
#...Now that we're alone
No more hide and seek
You are the highest dream to me
And as you softly sleep
Then I can tell you what it means
Locked in my arms like lovers lie
I will not let you slip away
Is this the summer of them all
Is this my night of nights
That you came to stay
Here you are, owner of my heart
Just the way that love should be
And there is something I must say to you
If you promise to believe
That it's you I'm living for
And, I could not love you more
Seasons may come and seasons go
But these are the truest words I know
Face to face, eye to eye
This is the summer of our lives
One love that cannot die
Here you are, owner of my soul
Never let you say goodbye
And there is something I must say to you
We leave the world outside
And you have come to me at last, we start
Open up your heart
Let my deepest love inside
I'm only doing what I have to do
If you promise to believe
That I could not love you more
Here you are, owner of my heart
Just the way that love should be
And there is something I must say to you
We leave the world outside
And you have come to me at last, we start
Open up your heart
Let my deepest love inside
I'm only doing what I have to do
If you promise to believe
That it's you I'm living for
And, I could not love you more…#
~ I Could Not Love You More – The BeeGees