The team were overjoyed at having their leader back, so they showed their appreciation the only way they knew how. Alcohol. The last time Alex counted, Gene had 5 pints and 2 double whiskeys on the table in front of him. The booze kept flowing but Alex stopped counting a long time ago, she was just glad to have her Gene back.

Wait, her Gene. When did he go from just Gene, to her Gene? Alex frowned at the thought; the change was so subtle that she didn't even notice. But now she had, and there was definitely no way that things could be the same. Or that she could be the same for that matter.

She sipped at her wine as she considered the thought. Could she really turn a professional relationship into an extremely personal one? Never mind that, does he even want to? He had shown interest whilst they were undercover, but could that have been because they were undercover and they were meant to?

Alex shook her head to rid her of the teenage insecurities that were filling her mind. If something happened between them, then that would be great. If not, well she would just have to deal with her feelings. Even though she was secretly hoping that she didn't have to and that something would happen.

She slipped off her stool to go and talk to the others. Distracting herself from filling her head with thoughts of Gene was what she needed.

Gene saw her out of the corner of his eye as he sipped his fourth whiskey. He had kept an eye on her since Ray came in and they had sprung apart like frightened cats. He'd watched as she'd laughed and joked with Shaz. He'd watched as she had begged Luigi to cook her, her favourite pasta. And he'd watched her as she had walked over to Vicky and apologised for something and nothing; as far as he was concerned anyway. It was safe to say that she was not moving without Gene watching her.

But that was all he did, watch her.

Every fibre of his being wanted him to go over there and kiss her. Or at least have a sly look down her top whilst he talked to her. But he couldn't, he had a reputation to uphold. Now more than ever. He had been vulnerable. He wouldn't dare admit it, but for that brief period of time he wasn't in control of anything. And he would do everything in his power to not be in that position again. At least for now anyway. There's no saying what he would do if she were to head on up to her flat, alone. A smile slowly crept onto his face as he thought that. After all, lions waited for their prey to be accessible and then they would strike.

Vicky was sat joking, and unashamedly flirting, with Ste. She'd had a few drinks and she didn't care. Besides, he was reciprocating the affection in equal manner. Even more so, if you count the hand he had skilfully gliding up her leg. She blushed as she looked at him and saw the lustful smile he gave her. She scanned the room to see if they could make a clean and quick getaway and her eyes landed on Gene.

Wait, that look he was directing at Alex was the exact same look Ste just gave her. So it wasn't just acting, she thought to herself. And judging by the way Alex reacted to Gene being missing, she had a hunch that Alex felt the same way.

It's a shame that she can't see the way he's looking at her, how will she ever find out. She contemplated the facts for a moment. This calls for a plan, she thought as she smiled to herself.

"You ready to go?" Ste's question broke her thoughts and her eyes searched for his. What she saw there stunned her for a second. There she saw lust, obviously. But also hope, and, was that, anxiety? What was he to be anxious about? That she would say no? That would never happen.

He doesn't think he's good enough for me, she realised. Well that's ending right now.

"Yes" she beamed, and watched as he mirrored her smile, the anxiety displaced with one word. His hand slid off her leg and entwined with hers.

This feels right. She thought as they got up and walked out, totally unnoticed by anyone else.

The plan can wait, for tonight at least. She concluded as they signalled a taxi and climbed in.