Alex really was speechless. Gene could see that she was searching for the right words, the right questions, to ask but Alex was having trouble ordering her thoughts, never mind her words.

"Like you, like Sam and like the many others before you. Like the many others who will follow." Gene helped Alex over to the couch: she had frozen with a look of confusion on her face. "Alex? Look at, look at me, Alex."

There was a slight delay in Alex's movements and thoughts. While Gene had Alex quiet, he decided that this was the perfect opportunity to tell her the truth, so he did. He told her everything he knew. About how she had gotten here, how he had gotten there, where they actually were. Alex stayed in a stunned silence throughout the arduous explanations and Gene wondered how much Alex could take in. Gene told her that she had done well from what he heard from the tapes, figuring out at least that she had a purpose. This triggered Alex into asking her first question.

"So, I was right? I have a purpose to fulfil and then I can go home?" It was the question Gene had dreaded the most.

"It depends..." Gene then launched back into an informative description, this time of exactly where they were. Alex's frozen stare changed to shock and tears readily started to fall. Gene tried his best to explain, but he didn't have all of the answers.

"But, if I'm not dead, then why am I in Purgatory? Even if I was... dead, what did I do to end up in Purgatory. Maybe if I rectify that, then I can go home?"

"I'm really not sure Alex. But, I'm pretty sure that if you clear your soul as it were, you you'd go to Heaven, not home. But then again, if you're technically alive... I don't know Alex, I really don't. And, I have no idea why a woman such as yourself wouldn't go straight to Heaven. You're an angel, Alex and you're my angel, but, hell, am I glad you did show up here. Not that I'm glad you were shot, but..."

"Gene, I know what you meant. You're too adorable sometimes." Alex paused and Gene knew she was about to ask a risky question. "Why are you still here, Gene, in Purgatory?"

Gene knew that there was a sub-context to her question: what had he done to merit a sentence this prolonged in Purgatory. Initially, he felt hurt, but understood her doubts. "The truth is I'm not really sure why I'm still here. I could leave, but I don't want to. I have nothing to go back to. I'm dead, Alex. I don't know what Heaven is, but I like it here in limbo."

"When you say you know how to leave...?"

"If you wanted to leave and I could help you, I would. I know it would mean losing you, but I understand that you need your daughter, I really do. Because you're not dead, going to Heaven would be stupid 'cause then you definitely wouldn't see your daughter again. That would be final, that would be it. The only way for you to get back to your world is by fulfilling a purpose and being strong enough to survive in both worlds. And, I swear to God Alex, I will help you and be here for you until the end, you got that?"

Alex nodded wildly as yet more tears fell. Gene lifted his hand and stroked the tears away. "Gene, you know I love you, but I have to see Molly. I have to get back to my daughter."

"Sshhh, Alex, I know, I know."

Alex melted into his arms as Gene tried to calm her. Although Gene had just given her invaluable information and had vowed to help and stand by her, the task seemed all the more complicated and impossible. She knew that she couldn't lose faith; Gene had just told her, she needs to stay strong to make things happen. No matter why Gene had ended up here, Alex knew he was the best kind of man, the best kind of person.

In the pressured silence between them, Alex and Gene realised what a mistake sleeping together was. At the time, they had big doubts as to whether they should act on their feelings but, eventually they had just bubbled over and they followed their powerful desires. Now that everything was out in the open, they realised that their night of passion simply gave them more to lose, and further and harder to fall. Their bond was too strong for them to break away unscathed and, although they were glad they were in this together, they knew it could only end in tears to say the least.

That settled it; Gene and Alex were going to get through together. Neither of them wanted to think about what Alex's success would mean. The small comfort they had was that there was someone who knew their secret. They both had somewhere to turn and someone who could understand. Either way, Gene and Alex knew theirs was a relationship that they could take that to their graves and die remembering an eternal love which crossed the barrier of time to survive. They could die in the knowledge that they had lived and loved in the highest esteem and fullest extent.

THE END! I have decided to end it here because I honestly didn't think I could take it much further. I hope you enjoyed it and I hope you will take the time to review. I thought it a nice way to end: Alex finding out most of the truth and them still staying together. Obviously, this is set way before the finale, but it obviously wouldn't fit in with the real storyline. It was just a bit of fun!