Ashes to mars

Held in the arms

Many Jack Daniels later, it occurred to her that whiskey on a rather empty stomach probably wasn't the best way to start her first day on the job, and definitely not to impress the Guv.

But she'd spent the first few weeks of her time in 1981 in a drunken haze and it hadn't completely ruined his impression of her, so she gave it little thought.

Instead, she drained her glass, as she tried to remain balanced on the bar stool.

"First lady Inspector in our department, but with the size of that plum in your gob, I can't think what you're doing up 'ere."

Gene seemed genuinely interested, but she assumed that vague was best for now. And as for the truth, well, that had gone down like a lead balloon last time.

"Wanted a change of scenery, I guess." Lies, but she couldn't help it, she'd learnt from her mistakes

"Yeah, well," He sniffed, throwing his own drink back, "you livened the place up a bit."

Alex blinked slowly, a flirtatious smile naturally coming to her lips. "Is that a compliment?"

"It's an observation." He leaned back into his stool as if to do an observation right there and then. "Not every day we get a nice bit of totty or get punched in the gob."

Alex leant on her hand, taking the time to really look at him.
It was starting to come to her attention, not only how at home he appeared here, but how different he was.

He looked younger. Not only appearance well really looks-wise he didn't look to different.

But in fact here, he seemed more at peace, less troubled. As if the weight of the world had been on him at Fenchurch.

Or, at least, the fact he had someone to share its weight with here. Sam's death. She had no idea it would hit him so hard.

"You're different here." She pouted thoughtfully, admiring his smile - which was always so rare in those distant years ahead. "Softer." She commented

He mirrored her, propping his chin up. "You calling me soft?" Once again, a smile tugged at his mouth.

She sighed on the inside, wishing he'd held on to this when he moved down to London. "You smile more, too."

More smiley and more ballsy, apparently, as she looked down sharply to see Gene touching her knee "What is this, satin?" He frowned, the dress touched the tips of his fingers. "No, somethin' else."

She barked a laugh."You're drunk."

"Hmmm, probably." He agreed, before rubbing a hand over his face, sighing to himself. "Wife won't be best pleased. Like this already on Monday. At least I can prepare her for the next few weeks"

Alex swallowed dumbly and sat up slightly, the intimacy broken between them as he wisely let go of her dress. "Wife?" She shook her head, trying to defog her brain. "You're married." She stated, didn't question. How could she forget that? It's 1975, of course he's married.

"You sound almost disappointed." Gene tried for another flirty joke, but his eyebrows hit his hairline to think she actually was a little put-out.

He cleared his throat, awkwardly. "You not married, then?"

The question took her aback, but she answered anyway."I was, once upon a time. He rather put me off the partnership thing." She muttered, starting to feel uncomfortable and looking around the pub.

She could only imagine what Ray, Chris and the other stragglers of C.I.D thought of her now. How she was desperately throwing herself at their married Guv. How pathetic. "I wonder where Sam's got to?"