Ashes to mars

Dress scence

Walking back into C.I.D she knew, objectively, that she looked good.

1970s attire seemed more flattering on her figure and this black jumpsuit was no exception.

Almost cut down to her navel, she knew she'd be giving the lads more than an eyeful. But she'd still managed to look very classy, choosing to avoid some of the more garish make-up of the period.

Still, as she walked in to wolf whistles and appreciative glances, there was only one man's opinion she really cared about and he wasn't giving anything away. He just stood by his office door, hands in pockets, eyes unwavering.

"Christ on a bike."

Alex smiled as Chris blushed furiously, realising he'd spoken out loud. "Too much?"

"You're a dead knock-out." Sam said sincerely. God, she loved him the only man who at least tried to look at her face. "You'll do great. Phyllis wire you up, ok?"

Alex bit a grin back as they all let a general groan of disappointment.

"Police work just your day job, is it Ma'am?"

She turned to Ray, as he made no effort to stop looking at her. Both of them still yet to find a common ground after yesterday's argument.

"Of course, Carling, gone 10 o'clock at night, I work the streets praying a dirty old punter like you doesn't start crawling the curb." Even Sam grinned at that one.

Finally, she gave the Guv her attention and prayed she wasn't blushing. She raised an eyebrow; what do you think, then?

Gene stepped forward, but said nothing.

He reached into his pocket, pulling it out by a long stripped wire, the rest soon coming into view. The radio.

"Drake, you know anything about this?" Alex opened her mouth, all it did was make inaudible noise. Gene leaned in closer to her ear." right now I'm going to pretend this didn't happen but we are having a chat about your washes later"

He stepped back smirking walking over clapping his hand on Chris' shoulder.
"Put your tongue back in your gob, Christopher, and hand me the lady's coat." Chris obliged; the Guv looked at them all expectantly before eventually scowling.

"Go get in the cars then, we haven't got all evenin'!"

Watching them all scuffle around and out with Sam slow to follow, a smug smirk on his face, Alex felt distinctly awkward being left alone with Gene.

It wasn't a familiar experience, denial had made everything so much easier. She bit the inside of her cheek, waiting, waiting for him to say something, but there he was, giving her that look again. Eventually, he broke the moment, holding her coat out open for her. Well, his coat really and his clothes and shoes, it'd all been bought with money he'd lent her.

"I've got your change if you..." She offered quietly, as he helped put her arms into the fur coat.

But he still said nothing, as he put the other arm threw, his hands coming to rest on her shoulders. She turned back to him, smiling nervously at how close they stood. A soft smile tugged at his lips, just for a second. "Worth every penny, Bolls."

And then he was off to his car with the rest of the lads, some of them staking out Luddy's keeping an eye on her, the others off to The Cave to do some snooping. She shook her head, closing her eyes, a thank you. No, now was not the time to realise that she was in love with him.