A slightly extended edition of what should have happened in the vault! I've tried really hard to avoid the clichés, but I now appreciate that it's quite hard to write Gene lurrrrrrve scenes in character. So bear with me!

Obviously, I own nothing. Or do I?!?!?

Well no, I don't. But I had you there for a second, didn't I?

________________________________________

The Vault

Alex was panicking, a rare thing for her. It seemed that her fate was inevitable, unavoidable, and yet her mind worked furiously to convince her that it was not, and that Gene was over-reacting. Still, even her brain, accomplished at lying to its self, could not hold back the knowledge that she was going to die. Her terror seeped into her words to Gene: 'I can't die. Can I?'

Gene, on the other hand, had been focused on something entirely different. Alex had kindly removed her shirt, and the view provided a welcome respite to the sneaking fear that threatened to envelop him. But her words surprised him so much that he simply looked into her eyes for a few seconds, before beckoning her towards him with a twitch of his arm.

It was a pleasant surprise that her emotional vulnerability had drawn sympathy from Gene, and she readily leant her head on his chest. Considering their situation, they both felt strangely comfortable. Like what they were doing was so natural. She couldn't die, could she? Where would she go? Somehow she didn't think it would be 2008. This couldn't be the grand reveal about her past, and human nature, that she was sure was needed to send her home. She hadn't learnt anything. Perhaps that instinct was to be trusted. But that was hardly an epiphany. She simply couldn't die without learning about her parents. Could she?

'Gene?' Alex muttered as the light spluttered, signalling the last of their precious oxygen being used. She shuffled her head anxiously up on to his shoulder.

He looked into her eyes, the dancing shine of the lighters fire making them all the more radiant. The gaze was loaded with emotion and blunt honesty, but it only gave him slight pause. He didn't know whether she meant to talk about the oxygen or the tension he could sense between them, but as her fingers toyed with his chain, he began to suspect the latter.

'I know.' The flame flickered out briefly, but came back on. They had minutes left, and Gene couldn't ignore the increasingly strained breathing Alex was failing to conceal. Preferably he'd go first, so he wouldn't have to feel Bolly's life ebb away. The light gave him brief glimpses of her face, still staring up at him. Well, if he had to go somehow, it might as well be in the company of a beautiful woman in her underwear. It wouldn't look too bad when they were found as well… he'd be a legend… he banished the thought. You're deflecting, Gene…

She could see his mind whirring. Screw it.

Her lips passionately met his.

Gene's lips were still for the first few seconds, before his mind caught up. She felt his grip on her arm tighten, almost painfully, as she swung her leg over to straddle him. His fingers moved to lace behind her back, and he pulled her in tighter as they greedily toyed with each others mouths. She pulled her arms free from his grasp and cupped the side of his face, her kisses moving from his mouth to trail up to his earlobe, nibbling it as softly as she could manage. He groaned as he pulled her in tighter, unwinding his hands to run them down to the small of her back. He admired her aggressive approach all the more as she ground against him, moaning in to his ear.

They were both gasping, but for all together different reasons, as Gene pulled at the straps of Alex's bustier and yanked it down, revealing her exquisite breasts and taking an erect nipple into his mouth. She sighed as he played with it, sucking and licking, only increasing the wetness between her legs and the growing stiffness between his.

The flame disappeared for a few seconds, but flickered back in to life.

She slid her fingers behind his neck and head, pushing it further into her chest. But he pulled his mouth away, reaching out with his tongue rather than sucking as before, flicking at her stiff buds. Their heavy panting continued as she gave up trying to make him go faster, sliding her hands instead down his chest, towards his crotch – 'Bolly…' Gene growled.

'Yes?'

The lighter finally gave up. It was enough to make Gene stop, grab Alex's thighs and roll her off him, an act much against his natural instincts. She fell, annoyed, into her previous position under his arm. Her hand remained where it was, toying with the buttons of his trousers. He resisted the urge to let her continue. 'The light's gone out.' he muttered.

Alex's hand finally abandoned its mission, despair returning. 'I know.'

'You know what that means, right?'

'Of course.' She pulled up her bustier, an act Gene noticed even in the pitch blackness of the vault.

'Shame though. That was just getting' good…'

'Shut up Gene.'

Alex took one last breath, preparing to die – it was a shallow one, and she felt her head beginning to spin –

The door moved with a clunking roar and opened, flooding the room with light and fresh air. The first thought through Alex's mind, however, was 'thank God I pulled my top up.' She grabbed her shirt as Gene quickly pulled away, standing up to grab that all important file. She could sense the accusatory gazes of Chris, Shaz and Ray boring into her as she covered herself up, but she didn't care. She was alive.