Gene barely left her side. He couldn't: no matter what Keats said or accused him of and however much Shaz (who had pretty much forgiven him, even if the others hadn't,) tried to persuade him to go home and get a proper night's sleep. How could he? When it was his fault she'd nearly died, that...

The nurse's words would haunt him forever. "I'm sorry, Mr. Hunt... even if Ms. Drake was pregnant it was very early, there's no way it could have survived, not with the bullet where it was. I'm sorry..."

That had been six weeks ago. Six weeks since his Bolly had undergone surgery to save her life. Six weeks since he'd seen her pretty eyes looking back at him. Six weeks since...

He needed her. Every night he'd dream she woke up, even if it was to attack him, tell him she didn't love him, he didn't care, he just needed her back.

Every day someone from the station would turn up during visiting hours: Ray, Chris, Shaz, Viv, they seemed to have worked out a rota amongst themselves. Ray was still snippy with him, telling Gene, "We need the Boss to know her friends are here for her when she's ready to wake up." Since when had Ray Carling become Alex Drake's great protector? He didn't even like her, did he?

Running away wasn't going to help, however tempting that might be. Alex needed him to be here when she woke up. Gene didn't leave her aside for his daily trip back to their flat for a shower and the occasional sandwich. He'd been sleeping on the plastic chair beside her bed for the past 42 days. Any nurse that tried to move him on just got a flash of his warrant card and a torrent of abuse. They soon learned.

Every day, was the same routine. He would sit there talking to her, playing the radio softly in the background, her left hand in his right, his thumb gently stroking the engagement ring she still wore; he'd asked the nurses not to remove it yet.

Every night was the same. Before he went to sleep, his head resting awkwardly against hers on the pillow, he'd tell her, "Sleep well, darlin'. I'll still be here in the morning... promise..."

888888

But when she eventually awoke it was to Ray soddin' Carling. It happened during the ten minutes Gene had nipped out for a sandwich and it wasn't even a god sandwich; he'd been though every choice of filling the hospital canteen stocked twice over.

When he came back, Alex was sat up looking, ironically, exhausted. Fenchurch East's newest DI was uncharacteristically holding her hand and beaming with relief.

"Bolly," was all Gene managed to choke out, overwhelmed with emotion. He'd been imagining this moment for so long and this wasn't how it was supposed to go. The doctor and the nurse in the room gave him a quizzical look. He'd been so aggressive they were surprised to see him lost for words.

Eventually, after what felt like forever, everyone left them alone. Gene had even scared Ray off with a nasty scowl. He might be suspended indefinitely as DCI and Jim flamin' Keats might be sniffing around but Bolly was still his territory. It was him that was engaged to Alex and him that loved her; he needed to make it clear she was strictly off limits.

Gene held her hand lovingly. "I'm so glad you're awake, Bolls. Hasn't been the same without you, too bloody quiet." He raised her knuckles to his lips and kissed there gently. The Nurse had allowed him two extra minutes beyond visiting hours with her but now Alex was awake they were insisting he went home at night so she could rest properly.

"They're probably going to let me out in two days," she said, her voice frosty. "Can you... can you get your things out of my flat by then?"

It was like a knife in his heart. Of course she wasn't going to forgive him.

"I need some time," she carried on. "You shot me."

"Do you remember what happened?"

"I remember everything."

888888

He needed her back. This was non-negotiable; they were engaged for Christ's sake! He loved her and she loved him, it should be simple, stupid girls and their stupid feelings over-complicating everything!

He'd called the hospital. They were releasing her at 3.00 p.m. When he turned up to collect her he was wearing her favourite blue shirt, the one she liked best on him. He'd even been to the florist and bought her a massive bouquet of flowers and a little stuffed toy unicorn... he'd do anything to make this right with her, even if he did have to act like a poof.

Except it was too late. He watched them together, furtively through the window to her room. They were all there: Ray, Chris, Shaz... they looked like a little family unit, the best of friends. Ray carrying her bag for her, Shaz making sure all of Alex's things were neatly packed, Chris... well, being Chris, but he was there nevertheless. Gene didn't belong. He might used to have but now... everything had changed. They thought he'd shot her on purpose. How could they even think that? Wasn't it obvious? Despite everything, their Guv was besotted with their DI. He was in love with her. Why couldn't they see it, why couldn't they believe it?

Maybe he'd never be welcomed back. Maybe Bolly really didn't need him anymore. She looked pretty cosy with Carling, after all, it had been Ray's voice she'd woken up to, not his. She had Chris and Shaz too; clearly they were good friends to her. The four of them. Looking like the cast of 'I Love Lucy.' Maybe she was better off without him...

Sighing, Gene turned and left before anyone spotted him. Later. He'd see her later...

888888

He waited outside out of sight in the Quattro until he was sure Ray had left, sick with jealousy. Why had Ray spent three hours in Bolly's flat, his and Bolly's flat, their home?

Gene raced up the stairs, two at a time. He couldn't wait to see her, his heart was pounding with excitement and nerves. Knocking on the door, he nervously transferred the flowers and soft toy he bought her earlier from hand to hand, waiting.

When she opened the door she was wearing a pair of leggings and a light jumper. Despite it being August, it was a chilly night and she looked thin and cold.

"Gene." She sounded surprised.

"Hi, Bolls." He was trying to sound casual but he was edgy. "Can I come in?"

"It's late; I was just going to bed..."

"Please? I'll be five minutes."

"Okay." She stepped aside to let him in. "Those for me?" She asked, gesturing to the flowers in his hand, trying to make small talk.

"Yeah." He handed them to her. "This too."

The unicorn made her smile at least. "Thanks, I'll put it with the others." Alex had quite the selection of stuffed toys on her mantelpiece along with two other bunches of flowers. It seemed like the done thing. "Would you like a cup of tea?"

He hated that things were this strained between them. "No, ta. Can I see the goldfish?"

"Of course, he is yours, after all. Thanks for taking care of him for me."

"You're welcome." Shit, he must be nervous. The Gene-Genie was being polite. Looking at the little fish in the bowl he remarked, "He looks good, Alex."

She smiled. "He didn't swim away."

"What?"

"He hides if I look at him. He must like you."

"He's a fish, Bolly. His memory is only three seconds long."

"Well, actually, in the future, scientists will discover..." she trailed off, the memory of being back with Molly in 2008 just too painful. "Yeah... I forgot that." Her hand was unconsciously twirling the engagement ring around her finger.

"I brought you this back, too." Gene retrieved her warrant card from his jacket pocket. He seemed to remember her throwing it at him in a rage when they'd fought before. "You'll be needing it."

"Gene, you know I'm going to be clearing you with Keats, don't you?" It took all of her resolve not to go to him, to have him take her in his arms and make it all better.

He shrugged.

"I know we argued," she went on. "But I know you didn't mean to shoot me, you didn't mean to hurt..." She bit her lip to try to stop herself from crying. Gene didn't need that. "I just think we moved a bit fast and I got scared."

He nodded. Maybe he had pushed for things to happen too quickly between them. "As long as you're okay, Alex."

"I'm okay," she reassured him with a faux brave smile, hoping he was fooled. "I just need some time by myself right now."

888888

The impromptu CID party was wrapping up. Much to the chagrin of the team, Luigi was fumigating the restaurant all this week, depriving them of their usual drinking hole, hence the spur of the moment celebration at the office.

People were leaving, eager to get home. Alex noticed Gene was still here, staring out of his office window at the pouring rain outside. She'd politely declined Chris' offer to walk her home and instead slipped into Gene's office, seemingly unheard and unnoticed. On instinct, she put her hands on his shoulders, the diamond on her finger glinting in the moonlight. She'd thought about taking it off but couldn't, her finger looked too bare without it and she'd instantly longed for the familiar weight to come back. "What's on your mind?" she asked, gently squeezing away the tension in his back.

"You," he answered softly, not missing a beat.

She smiled tenderly. He was so sweet when they were alone together.

"You're still wearing the ring," he noticed, his heart quivering in hope.

"Yeah... I couldn't stand it take it off. Is that okay?"

"Of course you can keep it, it's yours, Bolls."

"No, Gene." She nudged him backwards, away from the window so they were facing each other. "Is it okay if I still wear it... for you?"

It took all of his self-control to not take her in his arms and snog her face off. Control. She wanted to take it slow.

"Course it is, you daft mare! What else would I want?" He checked his watch. Alex looked tired. He suspected she was on a lot of medication and he was concerned. "Can I walk you home?"

"No thanks, I'll be okay; it's only five hundred yards away."

"Okay." Shyly he kissed her cheek. "Goodnight, Alex. Phone me here so I know you got home, okay?"

She nodded. He really was the perfect gentleman. "Goodnight, Gene."

Exactly four minutes after she left (he nervously counted the seconds, resisting the urge to rush after her,) the phone rang. "Hello?"

"Got home okay."

"Good. Great. I'll see you tomorrow. Get out of those wet clothes, have a bath, get warm."

"Gene?"

He sighed. She was probably going to yell at him for being overbearing. "Yeah?"

"Thanks. I love you."

"I love you too, Alex. Never stop."

They said their final goodbyes and when he hung up, for once, there was a hint of a smile on Gene Hunt's face...