Disclaimers: All characters belong to BBC and Kudos –drat!

Summary: Gene writes a letter

I memorize ev'ry line
I kiss the name that you sign
And darlin, then I read again right from the start
Love letters straight from your heart

(Love Letters, lyrics by Victor Young/Edward Hayman)

Dear Alex,

I'm not much of a letter writer – doodling is more my thing. I wish someone would invent a system where you could just type a letter and then press a button and it would be gone – no stamps or envelopes, just delivered quick as you like. Maybe they could do it with that heap of junk that sits on my desk – must be good for something one day eh? I digress – quite a lot actually.

You left pretty smartish – not even a chance to say goodbye! Although I probably would have made a mess of it. You see, I didn't want you to go, although I never really said so. You would have thought I was big jessie if I'd said something, if I'd asked you to stay – so I didn't. Besides, you had that daughter of yours to get back to and I couldn't ask you to choose.

First day I met you, I knew you were going to be trouble with a capital T – and you were. (That doesn't stand for Tart by the way). Always arguing, always knowing best, shouting the odds. You're a good copper Bols, and if you just let your instincts guide you once in a while, you will be a really great one – trust the Gene Genie. Still, I actually enjoyed it when we had a good row – made me feel alive again, useful, needed.

Suppose I can tell you now, given than you're not actually here and I don't know if you'll get this letter. I loved ya, you know – there I said it. Actually, still love you even though you're not here. Not just ya bra straps, longs legs, tarty clothes and size C boobs (definitely a C cup) – everything about you. I was just too scared to tell you but now I wish I had.

That last dinner we had was probably the best night of my entire life – and we didn't even shag, errr make love, although if you'd given me the nod I wouldn't have turned you down. Really felt we were getting somewhere that night but then you said you were probably leaving and I just felt like I'd been punched in the gut. Never felt so bad in all me life, not even when Sam died and that was pretty bad.

Place is not the same without you here Alex. Even Ray misses you though he would rather have his 'tache plucked out hair by hair before he would admit anything. So if you ever want to come back and help us out, we'll all be glad to see you and you could bring your daughter along – I'm sure we'll have some pink wafers somewhere.

But sod that lot – I miss you. So next time we meet (and I think there will be a next time), we'll go to dinner and talk – lots. I'll tell you everything you want to know and you'll tell me everything – that's how it should be between friends – and (possibly) lovers eh?

If you ever need me, just yell and I'll be there

Love always

Gene xxxx