Title: Conflict Resolution: Gene Hunt Style
Fandom: Ashes to Ashes
Characters/Pairings: Gene/Alex
Rating: 18/M/NC-17
Warnings: Contains scenes of a sexual nature, mild kink and inappropriate use of metropolitan police handcuffs. Don't read if it's not your thing - you have been warned.

Summary: Gene and Alex's friendship has been on the rocks for several months. After yet another argument, Gene decides enough is enough and sets about rectifying the issue.

Disclaimer: I don't own Ashes to Ashes. If I did, we'd have had a different ending! The franchise and its characters belong to Kudos and BBC and I am not making any money from writing this

Chapter 1

"Oh, you insufferable man!" yelled Alex. "Why can't you see th-"

"My office, my department, my kingdom an' my decisions. When are yer goin' ter bloody well learn that? Yer think yer'd 'ave realised by now that your lah-di-dah posh bollocks won't work all the flamin' time. Yer've been 'ere long enough."

"Not through choice, I can assure you," she muttered under her breath, but Gene heard every word.

"Y'know, yer always goin' on about gettin' out o' 'ere and goin' 'ome. Well no-one's stoppin' yer. If we're really that terrible ter work with and yer really want out, then go. I'll sign yer transfer papers 'appily." Alex was taken aback by Gene's words; things had been strained between them for a while but she never thought it would come to this. She was damned if her was going to see how much what he said had hurt her though, so she lashed right back at him.

"What, so you can go back to punching and kicking a confession out of people?" Y'know that makes you no better than the thugs we're trying to put away!"

"Fer the last time Drake…"

"No! I've had enough. Maybe you're right; maybe this isn't the right department for me. Find me a transfer. I don't care where it is, as long as it's away from you!" Gene's face paled at her words, he'd never thought she'd actually go, no matter how many times either of them threatened it. Satisfied with her response, Alex turned sharply and flung open the door with such force that it shook on its hinges. All of CID turned to watch as she stormed through the office and out of the double doors.

"Drake!" Gene called after her. "Come back 'ere. We're not finished! Drake." It was useless though she didn't stop or even give him a second look as she made her way out of the building. Not willing to chase her through the entire station, Gene let her go, returning to CID in a fury. "What the 'ell are you lot starin' at?" he barked, feeling everyone's eyes on him. "Get some bloody work done!" He slammed the door to his office behind him and punctuated his outburst with a swift kick to the rubbish bin. "Bloody woman!"

Alex soon regretted storming out of the office; she'd neglected to pick up her coat and it was pouring down outside. She thought briefly about going back for it, but she didn't want to give Gene the satisfaction, so braving it, she walked down the steps towards home. Despite living just around the corner and practically running all the way, she was soaked to the skin when she arrived home, so she went straight to the bathroom and set the taps running. A nice warm bath was just what she needed. She poured herself a glass of wine from the kitchen before returning to the bathroom, peeling off her wet clothes and sank down into the water.

She began replaying the argument in her head. She remembered Gene had made some comment about making a suspect talk and she'd blown up at him, and the argument had snowballed from there. She couldn't understand what had happened to them. They'd seemed to be getting closer; more 'unbreakable' than ever, but a couple of months ago Gene had started to put up this wall between them. He would be broodier than usual and would be off hand with her, sniping at her for the littlest thing. Instead of doing the sensible thing; ignoring it and rising above it, she'd hit back and then had to watch their relationship disintegrate in front of her eyes. The arguments had gotten progressively louder, longer and more frequent and the insults viler and more hurtful. Now they barely spoke and, on the occasions where they did it would inevitably turn into a slanging match.

She didn't know what it was about Gene Hunt that made her so irritable and touchy. If anyone else had been the one goading her, her thick skin would have meant that she would haven't paid it the slightest bit of attention. But it wasn't just anybody…it was Gene. The Guv. The Manc Lion. Alex didn't want to analyse the way she reacted to Gene…she was scared of what she would find. So instead, she sunk even lower into the water, letting it flow over her head, as she tried to wash away the frustrations and stresses of the day.

Gene sat at his desk glass of whisky in one hand and a cigarette in the other. He knew he should be out in the department finding out where they were up to with the latest investigation, but he knew all they'd be talking about was the latest in a long line of blow ups between him and Alex. He wasn't hiding; no, Gene Hunt didn't hide, he just didn't want to discuss it.

Alex Drake was the bane of his life at the moment. Not because of her modern, cutting edge policing or even because of her psychology but because of how she made him feel. Gene didn't usually acknowledge he even had feelings, he thought it made him appear weak and 'soft'. But with Alex it was impossible to ignore. He'd wanted to shag her senseless since the moment he'd first laid eyes on her; dressed as a prostitute in a dress that barely covered her navel but it had become about more than that now. He couldn't put his finger on what exactly it was, although he had his suspicions but he wouldn't admit to them. He had this almighty urge to protect her, to sweep her up in his arms and hold her tightly when she needed comforting and to spend as much time as possible with her. It was affecting his work as well, he was more worried about her safety on shouts than on apprehending the suspects and he was bending to her will more and more when making decisions on cases, and it was making him look weak in front of the team. It was his department, not hers.

It had all come to a head a couple of months ago when he'd overheard Chris and Ray talking in the kitchen. They were making comments about his leadership and how Alex had him wrapped round her little finger. Ray had also said that if the Guv thought he had a chance with Alex he was living in a cloud cuckoo land. That there was no way she'd go for a guy like him; she preferred posh, Thacherite wankers. Gene had made a decision in that moment, as he slipped away from the kitchen unnoticed. He had let this go on long enough. It was time to end it. He needed to put as much distance between him and Alex as possible. So he'd started being off with her, giving her menial tasks and biting at her about the tiniest thing. He thought she'd just ignore him and their relationship would go back to being professional. Once he'd started the ball rolling however, and she'd began hitting back, he couldn't stop it. It was like she just knew which buttons to press to wind him up. Now she'd decided she wanted a transfer. He didn't want her to leave; never did. He knew the benefits she brought to the department and he couldn't imagine not being able to see her every day.

Sighing, he looked at his watch and made a decision. He was going to sort this out…now. He stood up from his chair and took his coat off the stand. He stepped out into the outer office and there was a sudden silence. Gene was embarrassed and annoyed. "'Ave you lot got nothin' better ter do than engage in idle gossipin''?" There was a sudden rustle of papers and furious typing from Shaz as they all tried to look better. "Good. I'm clockin' off early. You'd better 'ave made a breakthrough by the time I get in in the mornin'! I don't care 'ow long it takes yer, stay all night if yer 'ave to but I want our man." Several officer groaned, which did nothing to dispel Gene's annoyance. "An' if yer don't like it, there's always a place fer you in the dole queue!" His point made, he exited the office, with no doubt in anyone's mind where he was headed.

Alex's bath hadn't had the effect she'd been hoping for; she was still upset and wound up by the afternoon's events, and the more she thought about it the more angry she became. She just couldn't believe Gene would so willingly throw her away, not after everything they'd been through. No matter how bad their arguments got she'd always thought she'd have a place in his department. He was the only constant she had in this world and now it seemed he had deserted her. She flopped down on the sofa and poured herself another glass of wine. There was some rubbish flicking across the TV screen but Alex wasn't really watching it. It was only on to distract her from the thoughts in her head; the last thing she wanted to think about was Gene Hunt.

Fate was not on her side though. A loud pounding on her door indicated that Gene had arrived and wanted to be let in. Alex ignored him. She did not want anything to do with him right now. Gene, it seemed, was not going to take the hint.

"Drake! Open this door." Alex continued to ignore him. "I know you're in there, I can 'ear the telly. Open this bloody door or I'll break it down!"

"Oh piss off Gene," she called through the door.

"Flamin' 'ell, Bolly. Let me in!" Alex looked up at the door in surprise; he hadn't used his nickname for her in such a long time; and it was her undoing. She stood up and walked towards the door. She slipped the chain into place before opening it and peering round the gap.

"What do you want?"

"We need ter sort a few things out. An' I'd rather not 'ave ter shout through the door if it's all the same ter you."

"I don't see there's anything to sort out Guv," she spat the last word and closed the door, removing the chain out of habit.

"Drake!" Gene warned, hurling his entire body at the door.

"What the-? Gene what the hell are you doing?" Alex screamed as the door shook in its frame.

"I told yer I'd break the bloody thing down if yer didn't let me in." He lurched at it again but Alex was too quick, she reached for the handle and opened the door. Gene stumbled into her flat, crashing into the wall on the opposite side of the hallway. If the situation had been different, Alex would have laughed but she could see from the look in Gene's eyes as her straightened up and turned around, that he was not amused. "Bloody 'ell Drake!" he growled, advancing towards her, backing her up against the now closed door. "Could've done me some damage then. What in God's name were yer thinkin'?"

"Well I'm rather fond of my front door," she explained. "Anyway, if you hadn't been trying to be some macho tough guy and break it down-"

"Well if you'd 'ave let me in," he retorted defensively, "I wouldn't have had to. Come ter think of it, if you 'adn't acted like a complete fruitcake earlier and stormed off -"

"Me? You're blaming all this on me? God I don't believe you. You're the one who's been acting like a complete bastard towards me recently."

"Oi, yer've not exactly been an angel yerself yer know. 'Ardly the professional were yer? Yer supposed ter be settin' an example." That was the last straw for Alex; something snapped inside her. How dare he insult her professionalism.

"You complete and utter pig headed bastard!" she screamed. All her pent up anger and frustration from the past months came bubbling to surface and she lashed out. Soon she was pounding his chest with her fists, the blows coming thick and fast. Gene stepped back to try and avoid them but Alex went with him, not relenting her attack. After a bit of a struggle, Gene managed to get a firm grip on her wrists and lifted them above her head. She was still fighting against him so he knew he had to act quickly to prevent getting a punch in the face. He'd experienced Alex's right hook before and didn't not want to go there again. Keeping a tight grip on her wrists with one hand, he pushed her back against the door and reached into his suit pocket to retrieve something out of instinct. Before Alex knew what had happened he'd slammed her round to face the door and yanked her arms behind her back and she heard the distinct clink of metal. Gene had handcuffed her. He span her back around so she was facing him once more. Pinning her to the door by the shoulders, he smirked. Alex was aghast,

"Let me go!" she shrieked and began to squirm, trying to get free of his grip.

"No thanks, I rather value certain parts of my anatomy. 'Eaven knows what'll 'apppen to 'em wi' you in this state. When yer've calmed down, I'll think about it."

"I mean it Gene, uncuff me. Now." She was panting, exhausted from her emotional outburst and fighting against her restraints. Gene looked at her; really looked at her for the first time since he'd arrived. He hadn't noticed before, they'd been too busy arguing, but she was wearing nothing but her bathrobe and the sight of her scantily clad body cuffed and breathless, her chest heaving was having an enormous effect on him. Those parts of his anatomy he'd told her he valued...well, they were making their presence known in a big way, and he could no longer keep his desires to himself. He stepped closer to her, so she could feel his breath on her face. She stilled.

"No." he said authoritatively. "Interestin' thing...the sight o' you, dressed like that, in my 'andcuffs...gives me the 'orn. Question is, what am I goin' ter do about it?"

A/N: Well...what is he going to do about it? Leave me a review if you want the next bit.