Back to the Future
Chapter 6: Old Times

Sorry for the delay in updates. I haven't been in a writing mood recently, but that's all changed now! There's probably going to be another 3 more chapters of this story. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all of my reviewers, who've been so supportive and just amazing! This chapter is for all of you! Enjoy! Xx

The next two days passed with very little incident for either of the Drakes or Gene. He had still not told Alex about the flash of his 1982 self he had whilst in the shower, and he had not any another vision since so he had pushed the memory to the back of his mind. As his strength returned, he found himself quite enjoying the experience of being in 2009. He was still getting used to the change in technology but he could get by without the knowledge. Gene knew he was enjoying Alex's company more than was healthy but he was determined to enjoy the time they had together. He had made the mistake of taking her for granted before and was certainly not going to let history repeat itself.

After spending one day off work and at home with him, Gene had persuaded Alex to go back to work. She had given him free reign of the house but many of the gadgets and appliances in the kitchen alone left him completely baffled.

"Bloody 21st century." He had muttered to himself on more than one occasion.

Despite all of the modern distractions, Gene found that the hours passed slowly when Alex was gone and wished for more time to spend with her. The opportunity arose the following day.

It was just like old times. Molly was spending the night at a friend's, something that had apparently been planned for weeks but things like this never usually slipped Alex's mind. She suspected deviousness on her daughter's part but didn't raise the issue with Molly, not wanting to face the awkward conversation that would inevitably follow. Instead she drove her daughter to her friend Amy's house, kissed Molly on the cheek and told her to get a good night's sleep. Molly returned the sentiment causing her mother to narrow her eyes at her. There was no doubt about it, the younger Drake had certainly inherited the same skills that made her mother so good at her job.

With Molly at her friend's house, Alex and Gene were left to amuse themselves in the empty house. Alex was cooking dinner for them while Gene sat the kitchen table.

"You could offer to help, you know?" Alex suggested with a grin as she adjusted the oven temperature. "Like a modern man."

"Bollocks." Gene replied, but he did get up to set the table. "Anyway," He said, sitting back down again. "I've got a good view from here."

Alex turned around from where she was bending down to take the lasagne out of the oven, to glare at him but her eyes danced with amusement. "Pour the wine, would you?" She suggested instead before the conversation took a dangerous turn.

Gene poured the wine into glasses while Alex dished up the lasagne. It seemed to natural; so normal to be sat here in the cosy kitchen eating dinner and drinking wine together.

"Cheap plonk not good enough for you anymore, Bolls?" Gene asked as he sipped at the deep red liquid.

"Sainsbury's." Alex replied, taking a sip of her own wine.

"Right." Gene looked at her blankly, thinking that he wouldn't be served anything of this quality at Luigi's without seriously lightening his wallet.

Alex grinned at him. "How's your lasagne?" She asked sweetly.

"It'll be better when I find the meat." Gene said thickly through a mouthful of pasta and vegetables.

Alex smirked to herself, glad she had already but the packaging in the bin.

While they ate it began to dark and Alex could see their reflections in the kitchen window. If anyone was passing by outside they would look an ordinary middle aged, possibly married couple. She sighed a little louder than she meant to as she felt a familiar ache in the heart; the ache she had been feeling up until Gene had walked back into her life.

When dinner was over Alex got up to close the curtains and began clearing up. As she reached for Gene's empty plate, he placed a hand over her's stopping her from moving away. There was an intensity in his eyes that scared her a little but also sent her libido rising through the roof. It had been a long time she had had sex and felt the release she so craved right now. Molly was to be out all night and they had the house to themselves, but she wasn't sure if it felt right. If they took their relationship to the next level would it be so much harder to let him if and when he had to leave. But then, if he was gone and she was alone again, would she regret not making the most of the second chance they'd been given?

"Gene?" She asked tentatively, trying to keep her voice light and even. "Can I have my hand back?"

He released his grip on her hand, looking away and silently cursing himself both for reacting this way and for not seeing his reaction through.

"Do you want to watch a movie?" Alex asked once she had loaded up the dishwasher with their plates. She had taken their glasses and the bottle of wine into the lounge where they sat awkwardly at separate ends of the sofa.

Gene had so desperately wanted time alone with Alex, but now he couldn't help wishing Molly was there to make the atmosphere a little more comfortable.

"Don't mind." He replied, sipping hungrily at his wine. In truth, if he had to see another movie where something exploded, he would scream.

Alex hated this; hated how awkward it was between them all of a sudden. If they were back in the eighties they'd be discussing whatever case they were working on. This gave Alex an idea, she was currently working on something and Gene might provide a different, yet helpful solution.

Alex's idea had definitely been a success and she could see that, even if Gene would deny it, he enjoyed being included in her life now. They were working their way through their second bottle of wine and conversation flowed more easily. She asked about their old time and they talked about the 'good old days' at length.

"I was..." She searched for the right word. "...cold, back then wasn't I?"

Gene almost choked on his wine. "Bloody uptight you mean, and you had bigger balls than half the men in my unit."

Alex smiled. "Why, Mr Hunt, was that a compliment?" She assumed the red tinge in his cheeks was from the alcohol, it was safer that way. "If I didn't have Molly, I would've behaved differently." She admitted. It wouldn't have changed her professional behaviour with colleagues, but she was sure that if she hadn't had anyone to come home to, she wouldn't have been quite so appropriate when it came to Gene.

Gene's eyes scanned her's, trying to pick up the meaning in her words. He thought he understood what she was trying to say but he didn't want to misinterpret her words either, that could ruin everything.

Alex was beginning to feel like an idiot, why had she expected Gene to feel the same way she did? She didn't have any evidence, any actual proof just feelings she had picked up on. She put her wine glass back on the coffee table even though it was more than half full.

"Going t-total on me now Bolls?" Gene asked, who was steadily working his way through his own wine.

"No, I just think I've had enough for tonight." She tried to smile but even she could tell that it looked false.

"Alex?" He asked seriously now, feeling like he had done something wrong that he wasn't aware of. After all, women weren't exactly his strong suit especially complex, modern women like Alex Drake. "Are you okay?"

Before she could reply, he clutched tightly at his wine glass feeling it crush in grasp but oblivious to the pain. He was back in 1982, seeing himself laying in a hospital bed, which looked strangely dated after his short stay in a 2009 era hospital. He could see Ray, Chris and Shaz around his bedside another man he didn't recognise but assumed was his doctor.

"We can enter Mr Hunt in the drug trial tomorrow, if there is any effect it should happen soon but please don't get your hopes up too much."

Gene wanted to scream at them to stop, that he wanted more time here in 2009. He knew it was more than likely that he would have to return home soon but he wasn't ready to go yet. He came back to the present, aware of Alex mopping up red wine and putting the smashed glass into the bin.

"Are you alright Gene? Your shirt is ruined." But he ignored her, pushing the cloth out of her hands and reaching for her, dragging her down onto his lap and kissing her hungrily. She was too stunned to respond and felt her lips kissing back, her slim fingers grabbing at the soaked cotton of his shirt. She was also beginning to realise how little time they had together and as they made their way up the stairs to her bedroom, shedding clothes as they went, she was more than happy to push aside her regrets for another time and place.

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