Chapter One

As he pulled up the door, which, up until now had refused to budge, Gene became more panicked as he had yet to hear her again, calling out to her whilst making his way through the run-down building.

"Bolly!"

Turning her head in the direction of Gene's voice, Alex summoned the last of her strength as she whispered.

"Guv."

Before letting her eyes for what she thought would be the last time.

Grateful to finally find her, Gene came up to her bedside as he said hoarsely. "Alex."

Gene looks at the drip, realising quickly that she was hooked up to a form of pain inducement and gently removes it as he tried to rouse her.

"Alex. Wake up. Alex, wake up! Come on, wake up. Alex, wake up. Wake up, Alex! Come on!" shaking her firmly to try and get a reaction.

Eventually she comes to and gazes up at him. Still slightly drowsy from the pain, she looks at him in disbelief as she asks.

"Am I dead?"

Keen to cover his relief at her waking up, Gene utters sarcastically.

"Not unless I'm St Peter. And I find that highly unlikely, don't you?"

As he goes to remove her restraints, Alex can't help as her bottom lip quivers with barely repressed emotion at both her torment and him coming to rescue her once again.

After removing her feet restraints, Gene looks up to see her eyes glossy with unshed tears threatening to spill. Meeting his gaze, Alex gulps back a sob as he comes to stand beside her and offers his hand to help her up. Taking her small, delicate hand in his leather-clad gloved one, Gene squeezes it in what he hopes a reassuring manner which she returns with a weak smile before moving his other hand to help her sit up straight, supporting her at the small of her back as she took a few steadying breathes.

Looking anywhere but his face for fear of the anger she'd see in his eyes at her wondering off, Alex shivered slightly at his gentle touch as it burned its way through her sheer top as he asked quietly.

"You alright, Bolls?"

Seeing she was refusing to look at him, Gene felt her begin to tremble ever so slightly before he leaned down an inch and gently cupped her chin in his hand that was no longer holding hers and lifted her head, bringing them eye-level. Noticing the look of panic in her eyes, Gene softly stroked his thumb across her jaw and watched her eyes close at the contact as he tried again.

"Bolls?"

Shielding herself from his gaze, Alex closed her eyes as she felt his thumb gently stroke across her jaw, bringing fresh tears to her eyes at his tender touch and soothing voice. Knowing he was not mad at her, gave her the courage to open her eyes again and hold his gaze as he continued to stroke her jaw affectionately.

Watching the look of adoration that settled across his face, Alex smiled warmly and leaned into his hand as he brought it up to cup her cheek. Fascinated by the peaceful expression on her features, Gene looked on in amazement as she turned her head just a fraction of an inch and pressed a tender kiss to his wrist before turning back and smiling warmly at him as he continued to look at her with a slight smile gracing his lips.

Leaning in just a little bit closer, Gene watched attentively as he noticed her pupils dilated slightly, smiling a little more as she unconsciously leaned in closer to him. Feeling her breath on his face, Gene snapped out of his pleasant stupor pulled back abruptly, clearing his throat as he watched her blush with embarrassment at being caught out too. Cheerily smiling at her, Gene offered his arm as he turned slightly in the interest of leaving.

Smiling back, Alex took the offered arm as support as she rose shakily to her feet. Glad to have Gene close by, as she was sure she'd have fallen down by now were it not for his assistance, Alex stole a glance at him as they made their way to the Quattro in comfortable silence. Seeing him tense as he took purposeful strides to the car, she squeezed is arm gently to try and distract him from what she guessed were vengeful thoughts.

Jumping slightly at her warm touch, Gene looked sideways for a second before returning his attention to getting her safely to the Quattro and brought his hand to covers and squeezed back in thanks, earning himself a soft smile from her as she looked upon him in admiration before coming to a stop as he let go of her to hold open the passenger door, uttering fondly.

"Hop in, Bolls. Your chariot awaits."

Alex sits on the sofa, feeling pretty shaken, glancing at the photographs with 'Pont de l'Alma' scrawled on them; Gene walks into her lounge and hands her a glass of water which she takes gratefully as he sits on the other end of the sofa's arm, saying.

"Someone went to a lot of trouble to freak you out, Bolly."

Nodding in agreement, Alex replies quietly.

"I know."

Knowing she was still feeling a bit shaken, Gene decided to disarm the tension by adding in good humour.

"You attract nutters. I've noticed that about you."

Looking pointedly in his direction, Alex retorted with mirth and a hint of irony.

"Yeah, so have I."

Inwardly chuckling at her retort, Gene focused on the details of their current case in order to distract Alex, and himself if he was being honest.

"We checked Kevin Hales' alibi the night that Sally was shot. He said he was in a police cell, but I read his charge sheet. He was banged up for five minutes before a mate let him out."

Going to get up, Alex said in quiet urgency.

"Well let's go and get him now." Only to have Gene wave her back down dismissively as he added calmly.

"No, it's fine. Ray and Chris have got it under control." At which point GENE's radio crackles into life.

"Guv. Guv! Guv, we're outside Hales' flat and the bastard's firing at us! Armed response are on their way."

Sighing as he rolled his eyes, Gene picked up the radio and said in irritation to Ray.

"A simple bloody arrest."

"He was going nuts before we even got here!"

Frowning slightly, Alex asked out loud.

"Well why, if he didn't even know we were coming for him?"

Silently fuming at having Ray interrupt their nice, and for once, calm conversation, Gene retorted in annoyance.

"Don't know, don't care."

Seeing that Gene was getting up to leave; Alex got up and made to follow as he asked puzzled.

"Where d'you think you're going?"

Replying a little breathlessly, Alex said with conviction.

"I'm coming with you."

Inwardly glowing with pride for this woman, Gene was pleased his faith in her was well-founded. Covering up any outward sign of his thoughts, Gene said rhetorically.

"Can't get enough, can you?"

As he turned to the door, Gene missed the smirk that appeared on Alex's face at his words as she remembered their earlier rather intimate exchange, causing her smirk to widen at her own thoughts.

Back in her flat, Alex is watching television as she tries to figure out why Gene was so cold after their little exchange earlier. Him having been so tender and caring, only to have him shut her out, literally. Focusing her attention back on her television screen, Alex realises that Margaret Thatcher is speaking.

"I'm talking very quietly about succeeding, in a very quiet, I hope British, way."

Not wanting to re-live that particular part of history, Alex changes the channel just as the telephone rings. Leaning over, Alex picks up the receiver and answers.
"Hello."

Noticing the television has footage of the Prince and Princess of Wales on some sort of State visit, Alex watches nostalgically before recognising the voice as a man retorts in an Irish accent.
"Did you like the flower?"

Eyes widening at his question, Alex looks round and sees a single red rose lying on top of the fridgebefore replying with her own question, her voice trembling slightly in genuine terror at having been stalked.
"How did you get in?"

Clutching the phone to her ear, Alex hears his continued interrogation as he asks.

"Are you going to be my partner, or my enemy?"

Determined not to be intimidated, Alex retorts defiantly in almost a whisper-like voice .
"I'm putting this phone down -"

Only to be interrupted as he continues his questions.
- "Pont de l'Alma. Still haven't got it, have you? I was there at the funeral. Holding back the grieving hordes?"

Knowing what he's referring to, Alex turns to her television screen to see footage of the 'then' Princess Diana.

Remembering the pictures that were left in Gene's office that day, Alex thought out loud as she said.
"Pont de l'Alma. It's the tunnel where she died."

Alex started going through the ramifications of this new revelations as he asked.
"Do you remember where you were the day she crashed?"

Disturbed by the possibility of changing the future, Alex retorted in panic.
"But that was 1997."

Only to hear him reply menacingly.
"More than a decade without her."

Not wanting to believe what he was suggesting, Alex replied in disbelief.
"But she hasn't died yet! This is 1982!"

All she received for her troubles was a non-committal response as he said.
"Isn't it just."

Not wanting to hear anymore, Alex hung up immediately and made her way slowly towards the rose. Seeing it lying on top of the fridge, Alex felt more isolated and confused now than ever in this world as she realised with a sickening feeling she had also just lost Gene.

TBC...