Disclaimer: All characters belong to the BBC and Kudos Company, and i'm jealous naturally!

Okay this one really is the last chapter! Hope you like it!

Alex watched her life flash before her eyes; the car bomb that killed her parents, a red balloon floating up into the sky, and Molly. Her darling Molly, jumping up to catch her kiss.

She felt like she was floating. Her legs wouldn't move. They were heavy and restricted but still she remained upright, a white light in her eyes. She felt blinded.

Was this what it was like? Dying…slowly slipping away? Floating up towards the white light? Would there be a great bearded figure waiting for her at the pearly gates? Alex could see it now. He'd hold out his hand to her and smile softly. She had to see it.

Alex opened her eyes, her pupils shrinking in response to the bright light. She gasped when the light retreated, leaving her in the dark. A few seconds later her eyes adjusted and she found she was still in the basement.

Gene stood on the stairs, his gun pointing at Alex, smoke rising lazily from the barrel, torch in his other hand. The intensity in his narrowed eyes made Alex hold her breath.

She followed his gaze and all at once she knew she wasn't dying. The light in her eyes had been Gene's torch beam, which had moved momentarily when he'd fired his gun.

As for her legs… her kidnapper lay heavily across her feet, a scarlet pool flowing from his head. Alex raised her head quickly to focus back on Gene.

The quick movement brought his intense cold stare onto her, as if he had forgotten she was there for a minute. Gene holstered his gun and rushed down the stairs, the noise of back up crashing through the house upstairs.

Kicking Forsyth onto his front and away from Alex, Gene bent down to check his pulse before starting on the bonds at Alex's feet. He could feel her shaking under his fingers.

Alex watched as he straightened up and began to undo the ropes and ties across her collarbone, his face full of concentration as he worked. Alex wished she could stop crying. A small sob escaped her and he snapped his eyes up to meet hers.

"Yer alright Bolls, yer fine now. I'm 'ere."

He freed the last of her bonds and she gripped his shoulders for support while he took her gag off. He threw it behind him before pulling her towards him, planting a kiss on her cheek before folding her into his arms.

The last of her strength and resolve melted away and her knees went from under her as she broke. Gene bent them both to the floor, resting his back against the wall and rocking the sobbing Alex back and forth in his arms.

"Shhh, it's alright Alex. 'e's gone…e's gone."

Gene frowned as he handed Alex a coffee.

"I swear t' god Drake, yer ever scare us like that again, 'n' I'll kill yer meself."

Alex smiled and took a sip from her cup. The hot, bracing liquid was extremely welcome right now, more so because Gene had made it. The Gene who had held her while she cried earlier was supposed to be gone, but she could still see him peeking through the Manc Lion mask.

He was a little more subtle now, but when you knew what he was like everyday, it was obvious. He was running around after her, making her coffee and teasing her gently.

She knew his reflex reaction would have been to shout at her and tell her how stupid she had been, but he'd held back. He knew she was feeling delicate and seeing as they were alone in his office, he saw no harm in being nice for a change.

Gene threw his feet up on the desk and leaned back in his chair. It had been a very long day. They would have to start anew soon, the boys would be rolling in around eight and Gene didn't see the point in going home for an hour.

Gene frowned a little when he saw that Alex was smiling into her cup.

"Say somethin' funny did it?"

"Hmmm?"

"What are yer smilin' at?"

"I was just thinking."

"Care t' enlighten me?"

Her eyes found his and narrowed slightly

She smiled and shook her head.

"No. Any chance of a lift home?"

"Well we can't 'ave yer wanderin' off again can we?"

"Do you want to come in for a coffee? You didn't get to drink most of the last one."

Gene wondered if she was offering him a drink or something else. Only one way to find out. He gave a stiff nod and the pair climbed out of the car and up the steps to Alex's flat.

He'd insisted on standing in the kitchen with her while she made the coffees. She'd refused to go to hospital, but Gene wasn't convinced she was 100%.

He took the cups from her hands and carried them through to the front room for her. Alex rolled her eyes and resisted the urge to smile again.

"I'm not made out of china Gene!"

"Yer s'posed to be takin' it easy Drake."

"Well I'd hardly describe making a cup of tea as hard work."

She flopped down on the sofa and he handed her the cup before carefully sitting down next to her.

"How did you find me?"

Gene dropped his eyes to his feet.

"Took the drawing t' the hospital."

"That's what I-"

"I know. If I'd 'ave listened…just fer a few more seconds-"

"It doesn't matter. It's all over now."

While his gaze was still on his feet, Alex rested a hand on his forearm. He raised his head and looked at her hand for a moment before looking up into her eyes.

"You were there Gene. A second later and you might have been too late. But you weren't, you came right on time. You saved my life."

She applied a little pressure to his arm and he glanced down again.

"If I'd 'ave listened in the first place yer wouldn't 'ave 'ad t' go through all that."

Alex smiled and tilted her head to the side.

"Oh come on, it wasn't so bad. I got a kiss didn't I?"

Gene's eyes snapped up to hers, her teasing note not lost on him.

"I- I was just tryin' t' take…let yer know yer weren't- I mean…"

"I got a cuddle too."

"Yer were cryin'- what the 'ell else was I sposed t' do?"

"I think I'll have to get kidnapped more often. Just for the rescue of course."

Gene opened his mouth to reply then stopped, her words finally sinking in. He raised his chin and pouted slightly.

"Course. Yer only a woman after all Bolly."

Alex laughed softly, daring to lean forward a little.

"I think I'm in danger Gene."

Gene knew the amusement was visible in his eyes without him smiling. He let his eyes travel to her lips, watching as her tongue flicked out to wet her bottom lip.

"In danger of what?"

She bit her lip and moved closer still.

"Of giving you what you want."

Gene dipped his head, stopping agonising inches away,

"All heroes need rewardin' yer know."

"I think I'm going to be your hero in that respect."

Alex let her nose touch his, smiling as her gaze flicked to his lips. Gene moved to nudge her nose up, tilting her head a little.

"I'm definitely gonna need rescuin'"

Gene pushed his lips against hers in urgency, god knows he'd held back long enough. One hand cupped the back of her head, pulling her closer and urging her to respond.

Respond she did, her hands going inside his suit jacket, trying to force it from his shoulders. Gene shrugged it off before easing her back on the sofa, one steadying hand at her hip.

Unsatisfied, Alex started on the buttons of his shirt before pulling it free from the waist band of his trousers. Gene refused to break the kiss, pulling her a little more upright as he struggled to get his arms out of the unbuttoned shirt.

Then, wanting to feel her soft flesh against his, he pulled the top off over her head, all delicacy forgotten. Alex's giggle was smothered by his mouth crashing down on to hers once more, his tongue requesting entry by licking her lower lips slowly.

Alex moaned and Gene slipped his tongue into her mouth, deepening the kiss and getting to work on her fly. The lacy material of her bra grazing across his chest was sending him to distraction and he groaned into her mouth.

Taking advantage of his momentary stillness, Alex pushed him back, taking the dominant position by sitting astride him. She looked down into his eyes, a mischievous smile tugging at the corner of her lips as she grazed her fingertips up her body and cupped her breasts, manipulating the flesh while rocking against him provocatively.

Gene growled and pull her down to him finding her mouth while his fingers went to work on the clasp of her bra, releasing the tingling flesh and throwing the garment away. Gene lifted her a little higher onto his chest, sucking her hardening nipple into his mouth and teasing her with his tongue.

Alex arched against him and whimpered, desperate for more. His hand went to the other breast, cupping her for a moment before tugging her nipple gently. He grazed his teeth over the other and Alex cried out once more.

"Gene!"

Gene lifted her, resting her back on the sofa so he could pull off her boots. One hand continued to play with the sensitive flesh at her breast while he removed his own boots too. He began to tug her jeans down, aided by Alex who was trying to shove them off from above, eager to feel his touch again.

He ran a hand over the lace, deliberately brushing over her sensitive spot and encouraging another mewl from Alex. His hand dipped inside her knickers, finding and massaging his target. Alex's hand tangled in the hair at his nape as she bucked towards to him.

Gene dropped his head to her collarbone, kissing and nipping her neck and moving his hand faster against her. She flung out her arm, tugging at his belt and yanking it from the loops. Gene felt all the more turned on, knowing she was affected by him in the same way he was affected by her.

With a slight moan, Alex came against him and pulled away, yanking off his trousers, intent on paying him similar attentions. She stroked him through the material of his boxers and smiled when she felt him tense. She dipped her head to lick along the obvious length of him, not concerned about the material between them.

Gene groaned and whispered her name. He could feel the warmth and moisture of her tongue seeping through the material.

"Alex…Can't take much more."

When she paid no attention and continued to torture him, he pulled her up his chest roughly, closing his eyes as her body slid up his. He sat her across his stomach, leaning forward to tease her nipples with his tongue while he struggled out of his boxers.

Having freed them of that barrier, he lifted his head, catching her bottom lip between his teeth while his hands came to rest on her hips. He traced patterns up the sensitive skin at her sides, grazing up and down over her ribs before sliding them down and cupping her bottom.

He stopped kissing her, pulling his head back to look into her eyes while he guided her down sheathing him inside her. Alex left out a soft moan which Gene quickly stifled, pressing his lips to hers gently.

He held on to her hips as she rocked against him, fingers pressing hard into her flesh. He wanted to close his eyes but couldn't. Not with Alex so close, the evidence of her pleasure written all over her face and heard in her soft moans.

She picked up the pace, moving faster and dropping lower taking him deeper inside her. Gene groaned and moved his hips up to meet her, holding her hips steady as he did.

"Oooh…Gene! So…you're so…mmmm."

Gene could feel himself getting closer to the edge and let his eyes close in spite of himself. Her shaking and bucking against him was his undoing, and he thrust harder into her, biting on her shoulder to stop himself from screaming out.

Alex on the other hand was doing nothing to keep quiet.

"Oh god! So close…you're making me… oh!"

Her walls moved and clamped down around him and he tore his mouth away from her shoulder, unable to stop the low growl from his throat.

She continued to move against him, riding out her orgasm and bringing him over the edge to his. Her pace slowed and she dropped her head to his chest trying to catch her breath.

Gene rested his chin on the top of her head, breathing in the scent of her and feeling light headed.

"Well that was some bloody rescue Bolls."

"Mmmm, I think that's going to have to go right up into my top ten rescues."

Gene stroked the skin at her back, sending tingles down her spine.

"Top ten? Cheeky bleeder!"

Alex giggled against his chest.

"Well, if you work at it, maybe you'll work up to say...mmm…number 6?"

"I think I'm gonna have t' show yer again Bolly."

"Is that a threat Mr. Hunt? If so, I could well be in danger again."

Gene lifted her into his arms and got to his feet, smirking down at her as he led her to the bedroom.

"It's no threat Bolls, it's a promise."

Alex giggled, as Gene kicked the bedroom door shut behind them.

END

Well there you have it! Secrets is at an end, i hope you've enjoyed reading it as much as i've enjoyed writing it! Thanks to all who left reviews throughout, you've spoiled me rotten :D Lastly, a massive thanks to my ever encouraging and super speedy beta Emzi.x! Thanks again! LQ xxxx